MB2timer

That drifting was lit.

Hjplatt2

Software updated on our SL63 last week. Picked the car up yesterday. No issues when I drove it home. Parked the car in the garage and ‘double clicked’ key to lock it. Put the key in our laundry room drawer about 30’ away from the car. I came back out to the garage about 90 minutes later and the door handles were extended and ILLUMINATED. No one had been near the car with keys. I suspect there is another issue with this model. To be prepared, I opened a Case with MBUSA Customer Service this morning. I shared an earlier message I had received about keeping the key away from the car and how the signal can travel through Sheetrock.

My mistake as I forgot to ask the obvious ‘How far can the signal travel through Sheetrock question before we bought the $195,000 car!’

The Agent was Great and laughed at the ‘Sheetrock’ message.

Hjplatt2

No one should have to regularly use a trickle charger for normal/regular low mileage use. Different story if the car is stored for weeks or months. Moreover, in any case, this idiosyncrasy should be disclosed before purchase!

Streamliner

I would just LOVE to know how these agents are prepped to interact with customers. I’m getting the feeling that these MBUSA agents & dealer service advisors are routinely instructed on how to respond to customer questions and complaints. I believe that they may be given specific answers to use, especially for “irritation” issues, such as pop-out door handles, poorly functioning haptic steering wheel controls, MBUX losing all your settings, low battery warnings, etc. They try to sound like they are taking you seriously, while at the same time, they make light of the problems, while trying to give you the idea that YOU are the only one with such issues, This thing about keeping the key away from the car when parked in your locked garage is just absolutely absurd—and it’s been an issue for YEARS now, without being addressed in the owner’s manual. Hello, Stuttgart? Anyone home???

Mike P

I'm still debating about eventually ordering a SL63S E...........the MB build site is still limited to 2023 models!!! Let's assume MB decided to title cars by actual calendar year, it's March. Is it possible the 2024 model year will be skipped???? Normally the first year is the beta test, this is far from old normal

I looked at Cars.com, over 450 R232 cars are for sale, mostly 2023 models. The R107 and R129 had waiting lists. The R232 is without a doubt, the worse model introduction in the 70 years of SLs in terms of sales and issues. I miss the old MB. Start by firing the entire senior management........send them to clown college.

Streamliner

I have no facts to support this, it’s just my gut feeling as a long time MB owner: I believe that many “senior management” at MB retired just before and in the midst of the CCP virus fiasco. I believe that much younger, much less experienced folks are currently calling the shots in Stuttgart and I believe we are all seeing the results now. Having a brand new “halo” car like the R232 continue to suffer the humiliation of all these ongoing issues, year in and year out is absolutely unacceptable and one would think a complete and utter disgrace to the home of the 3-Pointed Star.

Hjplatt2

Did NOT fix it

Mike P

HJPlatt:

I would drop it off at the dealer (LEMON law) and wait until the beta test is over..............ridiculous!!!! The Consumer Reports ratings appear to be correct. Fire the senior management.

Hjplatt2

Elevated to senior management

wem

The latest software updates made by MBUSA did not fix the battery issue. In some ways it got worse. The trickle charger was all green when I went to sleep last night. This morning it was down to the second yellow light. The car is going back for the third attempt in 2 weeks. I have plenty of pictures and documentation. Given how the car market has changed from a year ago, it might make sense to Lemon Law it and recoup more in the buy back than what the car is worth in the current market.

Streamliner

I don't know about Georgia, but in California, after 18 months of use and about 12,000 miles, when MBUSA "repurchased" my 2022 S580, because it qualified as a "Lemon" under CA law, I received every penny I had put down, paid on the lease, sales tax, etc. It was as if I used their car for 18 months and all I had to do was pay for gas & insurance. In addition to this being a good thing for those who get out from under problematic vehicles, it sends MB a message that their customers are UNHAPPY and that they NEED to fix things. I highly recommend going for a Lemon buy back.

wem

In Georgia, the period is the earlier of 24 months or 24,000 miles. There is a usage formula for a buy back in Georgia (purchase price x miles)/ 120,000. The miles are when the problem was first documented by the authorized service center. In my case I will be out of pocket about $6,800 based on the formula. That is still much less than the $60k or so I would lose in depreciation if I tried to sell the car. Years ago, I had a lemon law claim in Connecticut. In that instance the arbitrators gave me everything back, including finance charges, aftermarket equipment, etc.

California John

Same formula as California

twinzor1

Literally just returned from MB Coral Gables test driving a beautiful 2022 AMG SL63 in Monza Grey Magno. Originally $209K, now at $140K. 532 miles (yes, that's 5 hundred miles, only.) CPO with remainder of original warranty, plus CPO warranty. Hmm. Reviewed the 7 page Carfax which was a litany of battery replacements and computer reprogramming. Led me to this forum and after an hour of perusing your comments I got the answers I was (unfortunately) looking for. I have two BMWs at the condo here in Florida, (one a 2023 Competition 8) both left in the garage for 6-8 weeks at a time and they always start flawlessly, and there is nowhere to plug in a charger anyway. Bet this SL63 was one of yours!!

Fastcars1969

Really!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mike P

$69K in depreciation plus taxes and fees..........over $137 per mile. Ouch!! Imagine the cost per mile for early buyers that paid a premium. It's ALL fixed except battery/electrical/fuel pumps/contaminated coolants, etc

SteveL1

Really sad to hear all of this! I really wanted to order a ‘24 SL55 but have been holding off due to all the bad press. Having a hard time walking it to this with my eyes wide open, knowing that I would stand a good chance of having a bunch of issues, and at best, getting a great car that’s going to depreciate like an AMC Gremlin! Problem is, what’s the alternative? At nearly 70 years old, there just aren’t any other cars that are somewhat easy to get in and out of, fairly comfortable to drive and a top down driving experience. Aston Martins have gotten stupid expensive. Porsche 911’s are still hard to get and not that comfy. What’s out the under $200k that would make me grin every time a get in it?

xtdoc777

Perhaps I have had good luck--providing I double click the key to lock the the car, keep the key 20 feet away, drive the car at least once a week, I do not any battery issues. I love my 2023 SL55 for the same reasons you think you might. I hope you get one and enjoy it.

Streamliner

Well, I’m partial, but you might consider one of these. Very easy to get in and out of (I’m reasonably older than you) and mine puts a smile on my face every time I drive it, even with its fifth birthday approaching.

Streamliner

Yeah, many early buyers really took a haircut!

drgek

Let me second this. I have no problems with my ‘22 SL55, the only SL I’ve been attracted to in decades. It is a great driving experience and just beautiful to look at. Extremely comfortable. Sounds great. Very fast. Handling that belies its weight. Its horrible depreciation will force me to keep it longer than I typically would but I can’t think of an occasional use car I’d rather have anyway.

mr.rpm

22 SL63 here with approx 1,200 mi…..have had no issues…..fantastic car….I keep it on battery maintainer connected to the charging points in the engine compartment…..leave it unlocked and keys kept away from car….I have many cars so cars on maintainers are normal for me

khiroshima

Sharing a thought . . . A couple years back, I had been using a trickle charger on my 2019 Vantage, the unit was a Porsche-branded CTEK (you have all seen them) and I got a bug up my butt to "upgrade" that old charger to a JMR ( ), I had the CTEK for a decade and a friend of mine had a need, so I gave him the CTEK and I bought the JMR. Subsequently, I have gone to Mercedes and they gave me the Mercedes branded CTEK I have continued to use the JMR charger (AGM setting). I initially had some app warning issues, but for the past month, I haven't received a single warning (app or car) for critical starter battery condition.

NO CLUE if there is any correlation, but thought I would share a positive experience - BTW, I have no dog in the fight for CTEK or JMR, cheers! KH

ChrisGeR

After reading all this I’m a little bit shocked right now. I am living in Germany and my father and his wife bought a SL63 around Nov/Dec. last year. Around 3.000km, warranty, everything good so far.

when they had the appointment for the „delivery“ at the dealer, the dealer handed over the keys and my father and his wife wanted to leave but (surprise) the cat didn’t start, battery empty. The dealer was confused and got a colleague of his who jump started the car. Nearly every warning light came up after the first 5-10km but on the phone the dealer said „just drive a little bit, they will disappear“. Like he said, they disappeared after two hours… next day, everything good but after 2 days, Mercedes me app came up -> Battery low, please charge.

The dealer had no ideas but said, that he would check that. After they brought the car to the dealer and got it back, the dealer added a cigarette lighter to the trunk and said that my father could use that to load the car battery…

I saw him just a few hours ago and told him, that there must be an electronical issue because no car battery is empty after 2-3 days but right now, after I went to bed and started googleing a bit I found this topic full of broken sl63 battery’s 😄

so… greetings from Germany, you are not alone.

the next appointment is in a few days. The dealer would like to deep check the cars electric for 3 days. I will keep you updated.

christoph

MB2timer

Welcome to the forum christoph.
Took my SL to dealer yesterday for some unscheduled maintenance.
Air conditioning weak to nil.
SOS inop message.
I was informed that as part of a recall, I was getting a trickle charger.
I haven’t had any trouble with it, because I go through the full sleep routine, but I am not complaining.