SL55/63/65/R230 AMG: In the market for used SL55
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Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 2,434
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From: So Cal
2010 RRS ; BMW K1200R; 14 E350 ; 14 RRS on order
In the market for used SL55
Hi everyone,
I'm going to upgrade from my W211 to a used SL55 in the next year or so. I have a lot of questions:
1) Is there a year that was better in anyway (02,03,04,05)?
2) Anything specific I should look for when looking at one of these used?
3) What sort of insurance increase should I look forward to?
4) How often do you change tires and breaks
5) Is there an extended service contract? what does it cover? what are the parameters?
6) How many times do you end up at the service department for repairs each year?
7) What other cars did you look at or consider?
8) Is the body style set to change any time soon? Any pix?
9) Whats the best way to buy this car used? Ebay? Private? Dealer?
I'll keep it at that for now. Thanks for your time.
I'm going to upgrade from my W211 to a used SL55 in the next year or so. I have a lot of questions:
1) Is there a year that was better in anyway (02,03,04,05)?
2) Anything specific I should look for when looking at one of these used?
3) What sort of insurance increase should I look forward to?
4) How often do you change tires and breaks
5) Is there an extended service contract? what does it cover? what are the parameters?
6) How many times do you end up at the service department for repairs each year?
7) What other cars did you look at or consider?
8) Is the body style set to change any time soon? Any pix?
9) Whats the best way to buy this car used? Ebay? Private? Dealer?
I'll keep it at that for now. Thanks for your time.
Last edited by TREZ63; Mar 16, 2006 at 03:24 PM.
Almost a Member!
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 29
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2003 SL55
never get a 03!
must have extended warrante!
I have 40000 miles on it (original owner since May 03), and total ~4 months in the shop!
04 and up have upgraded ceramic paint (better)
do not get black unless you like to wash wax your car every 3 days
there will be very minor body and power changes in 07
must have extended warrante!
I have 40000 miles on it (original owner since May 03), and total ~4 months in the shop!
04 and up have upgraded ceramic paint (better)
do not get black unless you like to wash wax your car every 3 days
there will be very minor body and power changes in 07
Almost a Member!
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 35
Likes: 0
2004 SL55
I did the same swap last year. The best advice I got was from my MB service advisor. Her first piece of advice was to buy a 04 or later. She said 03, being the first year, was the most problematic. After that, every car I was even considering she looked up the service history and gave me a yea or nay. It was a really great help.
I wanted an 05 but found a deal on a 04 that I just couldn't refuse. It only had 21K miles so that left me with lots of warranty to go. Now, the reason I wanted an 05 was mostly for the updated Command and DVD Nav.
My car has been in the shop about a half a dozen times in the last year. Three times for wind noise on the passenger side that is still not really fixed (only a problem at 90+MPH). I had a bad front strut. I had a bad parktronic sensor. I had a bad air pump. My point is, buy a car in warranty because it's still a used car and an extremely sophisticated one at that.
Over the last 10 years, I've had the habit of changing cars about every 18 months. I just got bored with them. Three Porsche's, two BMW's and an SL. My wife and I were talking about it last night at dinner and she was amazed that I said that this was the best one ever. It might even make it to two years
.
Hope any of this helps.
I wanted an 05 but found a deal on a 04 that I just couldn't refuse. It only had 21K miles so that left me with lots of warranty to go. Now, the reason I wanted an 05 was mostly for the updated Command and DVD Nav.
My car has been in the shop about a half a dozen times in the last year. Three times for wind noise on the passenger side that is still not really fixed (only a problem at 90+MPH). I had a bad front strut. I had a bad parktronic sensor. I had a bad air pump. My point is, buy a car in warranty because it's still a used car and an extremely sophisticated one at that.
Over the last 10 years, I've had the habit of changing cars about every 18 months. I just got bored with them. Three Porsche's, two BMW's and an SL. My wife and I were talking about it last night at dinner and she was amazed that I said that this was the best one ever. It might even make it to two years
.Hope any of this helps.
Almost a Member!
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 29
Likes: 0
2003 SL55
Originally Posted by JCortney
I did the same swap last year. The best advice I got was from my MB service advisor. Her first piece of advice was to buy a 04 or later. She said 03, being the first year, was the most problematic. After that, every car I was even considering she looked up the service history and gave me a yea or nay. It was a really great help.
I wanted an 05 but found a deal on a 04 that I just couldn't refuse. It only had 21K miles so that left me with lots of warranty to go. Now, the reason I wanted an 05 was mostly for the updated Command and DVD Nav.
My car has been in the shop about a half a dozen times in the last year. Three times for wind noise on the passenger side that is still not really fixed (only a problem at 90+MPH). I had a bad front strut. I had a bad parktronic sensor. I had a bad air pump. My point is, buy a car in warranty because it's still a used car and an extremely sophisticated one at that.
Over the last 10 years, I've had the habit of changing cars about every 18 months. I just got bored with them. Three Porsche's, two BMW's and an SL. My wife and I were talking about it last night at dinner and she was amazed that I said that this was the best one ever. It might even make it to two years.
Hope any of this helps.
I wanted an 05 but found a deal on a 04 that I just couldn't refuse. It only had 21K miles so that left me with lots of warranty to go. Now, the reason I wanted an 05 was mostly for the updated Command and DVD Nav.
My car has been in the shop about a half a dozen times in the last year. Three times for wind noise on the passenger side that is still not really fixed (only a problem at 90+MPH). I had a bad front strut. I had a bad parktronic sensor. I had a bad air pump. My point is, buy a car in warranty because it's still a used car and an extremely sophisticated one at that.
Over the last 10 years, I've had the habit of changing cars about every 18 months. I just got bored with them. Three Porsche's, two BMW's and an SL. My wife and I were talking about it last night at dinner and she was amazed that I said that this was the best one ever. It might even make it to two years
.Hope any of this helps.
