When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Hello everyone.
I bought a low kilometer 2012 SL350.
It was in storage for a month so last Friday it was time to go and get it. My testdrive to purchase was on a small frozen road so it was just to see if it all worked but it was a poor experience drive.
My daily driver is a 2019 BMW 5 series with a diesel engine but is actually a good piece of equipment. I sold a 2012 SLK 2 years ago which I sold because it is too small for me.
The car started righ up and its engine sound is of course way more impressive than my 4 cylinder diesel Beemer. The batteries worried me because the car was hardly used the last 4 to 5 years but it was all fine.
I have an AMG edition with sports suspension which I overlooked but in comfort mode it is quite comfortable.
the car shifts rather lazy I must say but stepping on its tail it surely wakes up!
the seats give a very good ride for sure. The difference in comfort compared to the SLK is considerable. But on a bad road its tail seems to wobble left to right a bit. I have experienced that in other cars before but my Beemer does not do that and feels a bit too loose for me. It is the only negative to me. On the highway it drives very smooth.
I love the view forward, that long nose and the fins which are very visible from behind the wheel.
The Harmon Cardon sound is a disapointment. I expected more from that. The car has no rear view camera which I would have liked to have, but sensors are working just fine.
But the overall road is very good. More or less what I expected. Everything works fine. This may sound weired but I hoped for a bigger driving experience difference with my daily driver.
There is some sort of rattle behind the wheel and a cracking sound from the drivers seat. I will have to look into this but is not a big issue.
I am looking forward to those summer drives with the roof down.
The Harmon Cardon sound is a disapointment. I expected more from that...
That was my experience as well of the HK. IIRC the system was set up for enhanced CD reproduction.
However after following the instructions in the link below the front/rear sound balance was greatly improved.
IMO the R231 SL is not a "sports" car, it's a GT cruiser. Handles OK and provides a quiet comfortable ride. The true AMG models come closer to a true sports car.
'13 SL550 Mars Red, Designo White interior, B and O sound
2013 -2016 Only According to the link provided...
Originally Posted by David2244
The Harmon Cardon sound is a disapointment. I expected more from that...
That was my experience as well of the HK. IIRC the system was set up for enhanced CD reproduction.
However after following the instructions in the link below the front/rear sound balance was greatly improved.
2020 S560 Sedan, 2019 SL450, 2019 E450 Luxury Trim Wagon, '24 BMW I7 on order...
Originally Posted by Bitbytr
I don't suppose you'll do any harm but those instructions are for 2013-2016 pre-facelift R231s: his is 2012...
I believe the R231 models debuted in Europe as 2012’s. Most everything about his car should be the same as a 2013.
By the way, to the OP: the rear view camera should be a relatively easy retrofit, as I believe most R231’s came with it. You might want to check that out. Oh, and can I please have your parking space?
Streamliner is correct. The R231 debuted in 2012 in Europe and the US but as a MY2012 in Europe while it was a MY13 in the US.
That said, the SL350 was only made for Europe and they were only built until 2014. Not a twin turbo but a naturally aspirated V6, if memory serves.
The car was a little light on power though so the it was replaced by the SL400.
I am also surprised at the lack of a rearview camera since the car seems well spec'd. May just not working? Take a pic of the rear trunk latch to check...
I have the base model and I'm sure amongst my paperwork the original owner paid extra for the camera, DAB radio, dash clock, HK sound system and other bits and pieces.
2015 SL400 (M276 Turbo), 2014 C350 Sport (M276 NA), 2004 SL500 (M113), 2004 Audi TT225 (BEA)
Run the VIN through https://www.lastvin.com to see a list of the configuration and all options (i.e., the DataCard).
The sound can be immensely improved with an add-on CarPlay system like Road Top: https://a.co/d/iTbQRZm See the sticky in this forum about installing a Road Top CarPlay system.
Try doing a transmission reset since you bought this car used and haven't driving it much. The transmission is adaptive and resetting it to factory restarts the adaptation process. You can search YouTube and get a bunch of videos. They generally all say the same, but vary in the length of time that you hold the pedal down. This one should work for you:
Just FYI. The camera was always a base option in the US-sold SL's but in Europe the options are added as individual options. HK stereo, electric windscreen, Air scarf, garage door opener, etc. all of the options were part of the base price here but had to be added as options elsewhere.
'13 SL550 Mars Red, Designo White interior, B and O sound
Originally Posted by Wolfman
Just FYI. The camera was always a base option in the US-sold SL's but in Europe the options are added as individual options. HK stereo, electric windscreen, Air scarf, garage door opener, etc. all of the options were part of the base price here but had to be added as options elsewhere.
...as is , of course, the B and O sound system (which I will say IMO totally obviates the need for faffing about with aftermarket CarPlay systems and its associated headaches. I'll add though, that the engineering hack to enable the fade from from to back, does make a difference with the B&O and I'd recommend implementing it. As an aside, I've not got cloth ears either, and others, too, have commented on the stereo stage width, high brilliance and low, clean, clear depth of the system playing streamed or recorded digital music, whether it be drum and bass, EDM, 70s prog, 90s grunge, Simon and Garfunkel, or Schubert and Gershwin!)
02-12-2023, 02:30 PM
