SL55/63/65/R230 AMG: SL Quality Issues......
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2003 SL55
I have a 2003 and bought it brand new in May 2003. So dar it is full of ****s!!I have almost 3 months time spent in dealer for many problems. e.g. un-resolvable roof rattle, returning gas tank noise, returning supercharger noise, both seat adjustment switch broke off, roof operation mal-function, easy trunk loading switch mal-function, steering gear shifting button came off, sattlite antenna came off, a AMG wheel crack, anti roll over bar mal-function, battery replaced, dealer scratched my car while repairing the roof, key mal-function, door pocket won't close, glove and seat pocket open by them self, un-diagnosible battery light went on and went off by itself.......This is my second MB and also the last. Besides, the car sounds more like American V8. MB guality really sucks now!! 
Thread Starter
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From: Arizona
SL55AMG, Ferrari 348, Ferrari Testarossa, Ferrari F40, Ferrari Mondial t, Ducati 916, Indycar
Originally Posted by rtingdds
I have a 2003 and bought it brand new in May 2003. So dar it is full of ****s!!I have almost 3 months time spent in dealer for many problems. e.g. un-resolvable roof rattle, returning gas tank noise, returning supercharger noise, both seat adjustment switch broke off, roof operation mal-function, easy trunk loading switch mal-function, steering gear shifting button came off, sattlite antenna came off, a AMG wheel crack, anti roll over bar mal-function, battery replaced, dealer scratched my car while repairing the roof, key mal-function, door pocket won't close, glove and seat pocket open by them self, un-diagnosible battery light went on and went off by itself.......This is my second MB and also the last. Besides, the car sounds more like American V8. MB guality really sucks now!!
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Joined: Mar 2002
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From: South Florida
2008 CLS 63 & 2005 SL55
2004 SL55 delivered Sept 29, 2003... 3000 miles thru Jan 2005... In shop 16+ weeks ..... Every problem imaginable Lemmoned it !! ....2005 SL55 delivered Jan 27, 2005... only 750 miles but zero problems so far...If problems occur with this one, I'll never buy another Mercedes.
Bear
Bear
Last edited by 55-BEAR; Jun 6, 2005 at 10:12 PM.
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From: 2000 ft over the FL coast in a B-17
Various
Originally Posted by 55-BEAR
2004 SL55 delivered Sept 29, 2003... 3000 miles thru Jan 2005... In shop 16+ weeks ..... Every problem imaginable Lemmoned it !! ....2005 SL55 delivered Jan 27, 2005... only 750 miles but zero problems so far...If problems occur with this one, I'll never buy another Mercedes.
Bear
Bear
Regards,
Member
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 136
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From: South Florida
2008 CLS 63 & 2005 SL55
Originally Posted by RJC
Yikes I had no idea you were having so many problems. I've had to Lemon 2 MB's recently and MB did not want to do anything to help prior to the lemon law papers being submitted. What dealer did you work with and were they and or MB helpful prior to?
Regards,
Regards,
Service manager {John Clark} worked with me and MB to resolve the problem
So far I'm very happy with the 2005
All the best,
Barry
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From: Palm Springs, CA
2012 E63
I have a 04 SL55 with 16k miles. I recently had the water pump for the supercharger intercooler replaced. At the same time something with the brake fluid reservour was replaced. My fingers are crossed!
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2003 SL55
I talked to my service manager about SL 65 yesterday. She told me that she absolutely would not recommend me to switch to a SL65. Because comparing to 65s, the my not reliable SL55s are a lot more reliable. She just simply saw too many horrible things happened to the SL 65s. By the way, I read the newest Consumer Report Magazine (still in books stores) MB S and E classes were rated "extremely poor" on reliability. 
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Out Of Control!!
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 28,933
Likes: 12
Your service manager said that the twin turbo V12 AMG was not reliable, and said that your SL55 was more reliable?
Damn, the SL65 must NEVER run then!
Get the SL65 if you have the oppurtunity to. It's a dream car.
Damn, the SL65 must NEVER run then!
Get the SL65 if you have the oppurtunity to. It's a dream car.
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2003 SL55
Originally Posted by theboogers
03 with 9.5k miles. still no real issues. sometimes notice pump and fuel tank noise so i am thinking of getting this worked on. otherwise great experience. reccommend a ecu upgrade from speedtuningusa for anyone of you.
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From: 2000 ft over the FL coast in a B-17
Various
Originally Posted by 55-BEAR
Dealer: Autohaus Pompano Beach, FL
Service manager {John Clark} worked with me and MB to resolve the problem
So far I'm very happy with the 2005
All the best,
Barry
Service manager {John Clark} worked with me and MB to resolve the problem
So far I'm very happy with the 2005
All the best,
Barry
I also go to Autohaus and know John... he seems to be a decent guy for the most part. Glad all is well with the new 55.
Member
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 128
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From: US
04 sl55amg, 04 H2, 02 corvette Z06, 01 bmw 530i(Sold), E60 M5 (507hp)
For those who feel like they ended up with a lemon, I wonder whose name is on their engine? Since all the engines are hand built, there maybe some correlation on assembly date and all. Maybe some drunk, disgruntal mechanic who's pissed off and secretly works for BMW or Audi 
Member
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 136
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From: South Florida
2008 CLS 63 & 2005 SL55
Originally Posted by pinoyamg
For those who feel like they ended up with a lemon, I wonder whose name is on their engine? Since all the engines are hand built, there maybe some correlation on assembly date and all. Maybe some drunk, disgruntal mechanic who's pissed off and secretly works for BMW or Audi
Bear
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From: South Florida
ML350
Originally Posted by sprins
I bought my 2002 SL55 last year after 'an old lady' had driven it for 16K miles for the 1st two years. Since I bought it 8 months ago I haven't had any problems with it at all.
T
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From: South Florida
ML350
Im very surprised you guys had a good experience with Autohaus in Pompano, FL. The service dept. must be different than the sales dept. cuz the sales guys are......let's just say they are special. When i was looking to flip my CLS55 the day before delivery, i called them to inquire what they would buy it for. They asked who my dealer was. Like an idiot i told them and they promptly called over there to try to sabotage my deal. I was trading in my 2003 SL55 which i had not been able to sell(and had no problems with). So by them trying to screw me and my sales guy, who was in trouble for the whole fiasco, i am slightly biased to say the least against Autohaus.
T
T
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Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 6,061
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From: 2000 ft over the FL coast in a B-17
Various
Originally Posted by Doctodd33
Im very surprised you guys had a good experience with Autohaus in Pompano, FL. The service dept. must be different than the sales dept. cuz the sales guys are......let's just say they are special. When i was looking to flip my CLS55 the day before delivery, i called them to inquire what they would buy it for. They asked who my dealer was. Like an idiot i told them and they promptly called over there to try to sabotage my deal. I was trading in my 2003 SL55 which i had not been able to sell(and had no problems with). So by them trying to screw me and my sales guy, who was in trouble for the whole fiasco, i am slightly biased to say the least against Autohaus.
T
T
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G55, SLS, smart eq
Originally Posted by Doctodd33
I didnt know they made an SL55 in 2002. :v
In Europe we get SLs first.
Member
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 136
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From: South Florida
2008 CLS 63 & 2005 SL55
Originally Posted by Doctodd33
Im very surprised you guys had a good experience with Autohaus in Pompano, FL. The service dept. must be different than the sales dept. cuz the sales guys are......let's just say they are special. When i was looking to flip my CLS55 the day before delivery, i called them to inquire what they would buy it for. They asked who my dealer was. Like an idiot i told them and they promptly called over there to try to sabotage my deal. I was trading in my 2003 SL55 which i had not been able to sell(and had no problems with). So by them trying to screw me and my sales guy, who was in trouble for the whole fiasco, i am slightly biased to say the least against Autohaus.
T
T
Oh well, maybe my next car after the 2006 RennTech SL600 will be a Bentley Continental GT....
Bear
Newbie
Joined: Jun 2005
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Suing Mercedes, Water leak, Electrical Faults
Hi
Got a R230 too, bought 2002 brand new from MB-dealer.
Since then water has been leaking into the car constantly. The central locking and hardtop failed 6 times. The battery is dead. The car has been to the dealer 9 times!!
The car is now rusting!!
Any one got similiar problems or has heard.
Ro
Got a R230 too, bought 2002 brand new from MB-dealer.
Since then water has been leaking into the car constantly. The central locking and hardtop failed 6 times. The battery is dead. The car has been to the dealer 9 times!!
The car is now rusting!!
Any one got similiar problems or has heard.
Ro
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,130
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From: Carefree az usa
2020 S560,14 ml350, 03 sl55, silver, pano, slr cams, evo headers, lsd, 2019 s63 cab.
had the gas tank replacement done, took 2 full days of working by the tech. had to remove the rear axle shafts, and a lot more. otherwise everything was done perfect and is running fine. i take mine to wand car wash a lot and never see water inside although it is garaged mostly in bad weather. no other problems.
