SL55 AMG, SL63 AMG, SL65 AMG (R230) 2002 - 2011 (2003 US for SL55 and 2004 for the SL65)

SL55/63/65/R230 AMG: Opinions please on this SL55.

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Old Jun 11, 2006 | 09:41 PM
  #1  
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2005 SL55, 2000 CL500
Opinions please on this SL55.

OK guys need your help.
Getting ready to pull the trigger on this SL55.
http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.js...=en&cardist=17

Test drove it yesterday. Seems in good order.
Needs Tires. Is not perfect. Minor issues.
Dealer is holding on the $89K. Still not a bad price for a 2005.
Just wanted one with more bells and whistles.
Parktronic, Panorama roof. CPO.

Opinions please.

This will be a weekend car.
Going to keep my CL500 for daily use.
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Old Jun 11, 2006 | 10:28 PM
  #2  
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Looks clean as far as I can see from the pics... try to work on that price. Good Luck.
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Old Jun 12, 2006 | 12:31 AM
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Originally Posted by bltserv
OK guys need your help.
Getting ready to pull the trigger on this SL55.
http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.js...=en&cardist=17

Test drove it yesterday. Seems in good order.
Needs Tires. Is not perfect. Minor issues.
Dealer is holding on the $89K. Still not a bad price for a 2005.
Just wanted one with more bells and whistles.
Parktronic, Panorama roof. CPO.

Opinions please.

This will be a weekend car.
Going to keep my CL500 for daily use.
That looks good esp for a weekend car. Btw, I have brand NEW rear tires for those wheels (285/35/18). They are Michelin Pilot Sport. PM me if you are interested.

Good luck
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Old Jun 12, 2006 | 02:16 AM
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Cool

Originally Posted by bltserv
OK guys need your help.
Getting ready to pull the trigger on this SL55.
http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.js...=en&cardist=17

Test drove it yesterday. Seems in good order.
Needs Tires. Is not perfect. Minor issues.
Dealer is holding on the $89K. Still not a bad price for a 2005.
Just wanted one with more bells and whistles.
Parktronic, Panorama roof. CPO.

Opinions please.

This will be a weekend car.
Going to keep my CL500 for daily use.

Looks good from here though just try to make sure you get the history (complete if possible) of the car so at least you'll have a good idea how the car was taken care of.
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Old Jun 12, 2006 | 04:09 AM
  #5  
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Not a bad price at all considering someone paid probably $135k-$140k out the door and two years later sold it to the dealer for less than $89k .. thats a pretty huge depreciation hit.
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Old Jun 12, 2006 | 05:53 PM
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Originally Posted by Vik888
Not a bad price at all considering someone paid probably $135k-$140k out the door and two years later sold it to the dealer for less than $89k .. thats a pretty huge depreciation hit.
Looks a good deal to me!
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Old Jun 12, 2006 | 07:46 PM
  #7  
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That car is all about the miles........which are high for an '05. A friend of mine just bought an '05 for 105K....but it has 5K miles. If the car checks out and you don't mind the miles, its a good buy.
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Old Jun 12, 2006 | 08:00 PM
  #8  
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Originally Posted by Vik888
Not a bad price at all considering someone paid probably $135k-$140k out the door and two years later sold it to the dealer for less than $89k .. thats a pretty huge depreciation hit.
I know I'm not buying one as an investment.

I'm starting to not sleep....

Last edited by idrive; Jun 12, 2006 at 08:07 PM.
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Old Jun 13, 2006 | 06:36 PM
  #9  
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2005 SL55, 2000 CL500
Talking About ready to take the plunge to AMG ownership

Originally Posted by IngenereAMG
That car is all about the miles........which are high for an '05. A friend of mine just bought an '05 for 105K....but it has 5K miles. If the car checks out and you don't mind the miles, its a good buy.
Dealer has had it since Feb 09, 2006 on the lot.
So she did get driven hard in 11 months. Dealer claims it was a lady who
drove it from OC to Carlsbad daily. So its all freeway. Getting the service
records this week. 100 Miles R/T daily. It makes sense. Just seems odd
that someone would use a car like this for a daily commuter. She traded
it in for an new Audi A8.

Dealer has reduced price 3 times to move the car. If I can get him to kick a couple of G`s off I am going to take her home. I do mind the miles. But for
$15K less. Its an acceptable trade off.
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Old Jun 13, 2006 | 07:06 PM
  #10  
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2022 GLE450, 2024 RAM 1500 Limited, 2014 E63 AMG S-Model 4Matic Wagon (sold), 2021 GLE63S AMG (sold)
I bought a black/charcoal 2005 SL600 with only 3800 miles on it for only $92K flat just under a month ago from FJ Mercedes in nearby Newporsche Beach. It had the sport pkg., parktronic, keyless go, custom wheels, and is Mercedes certified for that extra year or 100K miles.

Based on that I think $89K for a 2005 SL55 with 22K miles and no extra factory warranty may be a little high.
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Old Jun 14, 2006 | 01:59 PM
  #11  
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2005 SL55, 2000 CL500
SL600 vs SL55. Decisions.

Originally Posted by AnotherSL
I bought a black/charcoal 2005 SL600 with only 3800 miles on it for only $92K flat just under a month ago from FJ Mercedes in nearby Newporsche Beach. It had the sport pkg., parktronic, keyless go, custom wheels, and is Mercedes certified for that extra year or 100K miles.

Based on that I think $89K for a 2005 SL55 with 22K miles and no extra factory warranty may be a little high.
AnotherSL
That`s a smokin deal from FJ. You must know someone good over there.
Everytime I go down Jamboree they take forever to quote me a "real deal".
I guess my old 2000 CL500 is too "ghetto" for them.

I really want to go "AMG Package" on this purchase. Going to offer them
$ 85K today and see if they bite.

Enjoy your SL600. Awesome deal !!
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Old Jun 14, 2006 | 02:45 PM
  #12  
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thats an awesome deal. check for accidents as it sounds too good to be true.
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Old Jun 14, 2006 | 06:04 PM
  #13  
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I don't think Mercedes or any other manufacturer will certify a preowned vehcile that has anything more than just very minor paint scrapes.

You're right about FJ Mercedes being very difficult to deal with. I was in there for 5-1/2 hours working that deal with them! They admitted to me that that car had been on their lot for 56 days, and also admitted that there is about $10K factory cash in the trunk on leftover 2006 SL600s right now which was killing the trade-in and resale value of 2004/2005 SLs. (There's also $7500 in the trunk on SL500s. I don't know about SL55s.)

So I don't regret putting in all that time & effort to get that deal, but you would think their management could have given me the deal I knew I was going to get anyway without wasting so much of my time and theirs!
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Old Jun 15, 2006 | 01:15 AM
  #14  
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2005 SL55, 2000 CL500
Talking Another SL55 Owner has arrived

Originally Posted by AnotherSL
ISo I don't regret putting in all that time & effort to get that deal, but you would think their management could have given me the deal I knew I was going to get anyway without wasting so much of my time and theirs!
So I went to the Audi Dealer in MV that had the SL55.
Took it for another test drive. Top up. Everything seems tight.

Salesman wanted to know what that ESP and ABC button mean ?
He was worried that I pushed the ABC button and it went red. Is that bad ????
Whats that yellow triangle on the speedo. Did you over rev ?
Yee Ha. Man this aint no Audi. Everythings cool.

Made my offer. $ 86K.

Had to leave, go to do some customer work.
That "hang out at the dealer" garbage for hours is bogus.
Almost is like being in jail or at the dentist.
Told the guy to call me if they want to do this deal.

Hookup. Deal done.

Going to go get her tomorrow. Will post good pics over the weekend.
Damn. I own a SL55 AMG.

I knew going to the AMG Challenge was going to do this to me.
Oh well. What a way to go.
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Old Jun 16, 2006 | 11:32 AM
  #15  
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Originally Posted by bltserv
So I went to the Audi Dealer in MV that had the SL55.
Took it for another test drive. Top up. Everything seems tight.

Salesman wanted to know what that ESP and ABC button mean ?
He was worried that I pushed the ABC button and it went red. Is that bad ????
Whats that yellow triangle on the speedo. Did you over rev ?
Yee Ha. Man this aint no Audi. Everythings cool.

Made my offer. $ 86K.

Had to leave, go to do some customer work.
That "hang out at the dealer" garbage for hours is bogus.
Almost is like being in jail or at the dentist.
Told the guy to call me if they want to do this deal.

Hookup. Deal done.

Going to go get her tomorrow. Will post good pics over the weekend.
***** I own a SL55 AMG.

I knew going to the AMG Challenge was going to do this to me.
Oh well. What a way to go.
Congratulated with the deal, welcome to the happy 'club' of SL 55 owners!
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Old Jun 17, 2006 | 10:02 AM
  #16  
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2005 SL55, 2000 CL500
Thumbs up Opinions on driving it.

Had it a couple days now.

Notice that when you drive this car.
Just a little thottle and everything is mellow and normal.
But a little more and off she goes into that "other world".
I love that buried in the seat feeling. Your hands pulling
off the steering wheel from the G`s. The sound is awesome.

Feel a little tire noise/bearing noise from 0-15 MPH in the front left.
Going to have the Dealer give it the once over just to make sure
all is in order.

Cant seem to get the Keyless go to do its thing. Says it cant read the key.
Checked the battery in the key. 3.5 Volts. Maybe they never programmed it ?
Or am I missing something stupid ?

Took it up to Rancho SM last night. Top down. Love the effect it has on the
G-Friend. I let her drive it. Yikes. "Danger Danger". Thank god for ESP.
Great date car. My CL500 is nice. But this SL55 kicks ***.
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Old Jun 18, 2006 | 09:12 AM
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congrats on the car!!

Make sure you are hitting the brake pedal when using keyless go - only thing I can think of.

Congrats again on your new ride.

Now do the right thing and post some pictures!
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Old Jun 18, 2006 | 04:07 PM
  #18  
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2005 SL55, 2000 CL500
Originally Posted by jsloan01
Now do the right thing and post some pictures!
OK here are some quick pics. The digital was at the office.
Got the Keyless going. Only one of the keys seems to work Keyless.
Guess I kept trying the wrong one each time.
Want to get that pesky chime turned off too. Sugestions ?

Will get it detailed and take some pics by the ocean next
couple days.
Attached Thumbnails Opinions please on this SL55.-84x800.jpg   Opinions please on this SL55.-85x800.jpg   Opinions please on this SL55.-86x800.jpg   Opinions please on this SL55.-87x800.jpg  
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Old Jun 18, 2006 | 05:24 PM
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CLS55AMG-MKB, R500
NICE CAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!! I was looking at one but the CLS55 was too enticing-besides I can beat any stock SL55or65 with my CLS-YOU GOTTA MOD IT!!
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Old Jun 18, 2006 | 08:32 PM
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Very nice. Congrats on the new ride!
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Old Jun 18, 2006 | 11:47 PM
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2005 SL55, 2000 CL500
CLS55 and SL55

Originally Posted by AMGBOY1
NICE CAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!! I was looking at one but the CLS55 was too enticing-besides I can beat any stock SL55or65 with my CLS-YOU GOTTA MOD IT!!
I drove a couple new CLS55`s at the AMG Challenge. Yes, It may be a little
quicker than the SL55. Just having trouble with that 21st Century look.
Great car. Handles great. Sounds as good if not better than the SL on the track. Interesting growl to its resonence

Going to lay low on the "Mods". Its fast enough. Just going to enjoy what
I have. Yes it may be able to go faster. But will keep her a "virgin" for now.
If it aint broke. Dont fix it. The AMG goodies are just fine for me.
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Old Jun 19, 2006 | 10:13 AM
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Originally Posted by bltserv
OK here are some quick pics. The digital was at the office.
Got the Keyless going. Only one of the keys seems to work Keyless.
Guess I kept trying the wrong one each time.
Want to get that pesky chime turned off too. Sugestions ?

Will get it detailed and take some pics by the ocean next
couple days.
Very nice car, congratulations!

Regarding that second key, indeed maybe it must be programmed first. Read the instructions in the manual! Also when you buy a new key, it must be programmed first.

Good luck!
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Old Jun 20, 2006 | 04:34 PM
  #23  
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2005 SL55, 2000 CL500
Thumbs up Got the blessing from the dealer on My SL55

Took the car to the dealer this morning.

It had 4 recalls on it to cover.
Inspect Alternator/ Replace Regulator if necessary
SBC Suction Hose
SBC ground Harness Install
Secondary Air Injection Pump Relay replace.

The growl in the front is just the Pirelli`s being too hard and worn.
Going to wait about 3-4K miles and put new Michelin`s on it when I do its "A".

My SA says I got a "great deal". So I am a happy camper.

Got my first Porsche Kill last night. Red Carrera 4.
Sucker did a flyby after I slowed for my offramp.
But from 65-100 he was dust. The initial 8-10 lengths
on him were awesome.
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Old Jun 21, 2006 | 04:20 PM
  #24  
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That growl you're hearing from the front tires probably means they are cupped, which means your front alignment needs to be corrected.
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Old Jul 16, 2006 | 02:05 AM
  #25  
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2005 SL55, 2000 CL500
Steering wheel question.

Originally Posted by AnotherSL
That growl you're hearing from the front tires probably means they are cupped, which means your front alignment needs to be corrected.
Got =ew tires. Growl gone. Went with the Michelins.
Let Caliber do it. Tires and Align $ 1450.00
Not bad. Tire Rack was $ 1250.00 Tires only.

Got a new question for the experts here.

Seems like the steeering wheel has a mind of its own.
When you get out and open the door the steering wheel rises.
Sometimes it does. Sometimes it does not.

Am I once again missing something stupid ?

I like when it gives me the extra room to exit.
Yes, I looked in the book. But dont see the answer.
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