SL55/63/65/R230 AMG: 05 sl65 (power loss + backfires?)
I found this board trying to get some info on what might be wrong with the car I just bought. I just flew out to Scottsdale and bought a second sl65 this past weekend. Driving around town the car feels fine, but once you try and get on it it is noticeably laggy and down on power. There are no check engine lights and when the car is hot it pops (assuming backfires) on deceleration. I tried searching the boards for similar problems with no luck, has anyone experienced anything like this before? I eliminated the possibility of bad gas by filling up from 1/4 tank and it still drove sluggishly. To check my SOTP meter was accurate I ran the car against my friends SLR Mclaren and Gallardo SE, both times I got absolutely raped. It should have been much closer. Does anyone have any suggestions? The car is under factory warranty still but I think without check engine lights they may come back to me and say its normal.
-Rob
It could be an IC pump that has gone bad. I know that will cause a power loss.
Is the car stock? Are there any mods to it that may be causing a problem?
Funny thing. I'm also in New Jersey Englewood Cliffs Bergen County....
Sorry to be off topic but I just had to point out.




I found this board trying to get some info on what might be wrong with the car I just bought. I just flew out to Scottsdale and bought a second sl65 this past weekend. Driving around town the car feels fine, but once you try and get on it it is noticeably laggy and down on power. There are no check engine lights and when the car is hot it pops (assuming backfires) on deceleration. I tried searching the boards for similar problems with no luck, has anyone experienced anything like this before? I eliminated the possibility of bad gas by filling up from 1/4 tank and it still drove sluggishly. To check my SOTP meter was accurate I ran the car against my friends SLR Mclaren and Gallardo SE, both times I got absolutely raped. It should have been much closer. Does anyone have any suggestions? The car is under factory warranty still but I think without check engine lights they may come back to me and say its normal.
-Rob
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there is the video, there was a serious loss of power and it backfired when hot on decel after the throttle was released.
The backfiring is due to the ECU restricting power, which occasionally causes the backfire, either way, get it into merc, they will sort it.
Just watched the 65vsgallardo vid, a gallardo should not do that to a 65, its gotta be running awful !!!
Good luck and film the re-match !!
I stopped uploading my filmed races, as i got convicted in the UK off a you tube vid, as they got my reg number, i run a 2 digit plate on 1 of my car's, it eventually got to the police, i got a 12 month ban, filmed at 139mph !
The backfiring is due to the ECU restricting power, which occasionally causes the backfire, either way, get it into merc, they will sort it.
Just watched the 65vsgallardo vid, a gallardo should not do that to a 65, its gotta be running awful !!!
Good luck and film the re-match !!
I stopped uploading my filmed races, as i got convicted in the UK off a you tube vid, as they got my reg number, i run a 2 digit plate on 1 of my car's, it eventually got to the police, i got a 12 month ban, filmed at 139mph !
I picked it up yesterday, and the Benz does feel much better now. Inmo, I still dont think it will beat my Gallardo. I also filmed a speedo run of 20-130mph in the exact same location as we did my SLR, and the SLR assrapes the Sl65.
I do however thinkt he SL65 makes a great daily driver!
I am trying to get someone here to race the Sl65 against my Gallardo, but that looks like it is not going to happen either, as I fly out to Florida and the Bahamas at 1pm. Again the Sl65 seems to have a harder initial shove then the Gallardo, but the Gallardo pulls much harder up top. Against my Gallardo, and I stress, my Gallardo, not an 04/05 Egear or whatnot, I put money that they will both be very very close.
As for the comparison to the SLR it is rediculous. If you search the net you will find video of the SLR beating CGT's, 599's and even a video of the SLR beating a modified Sl65 up until 200mph where the SlR peters out, and only then can the SL65 catch and pass it. A stock Sl65 isnt even in the same realm.
Ive enclosed some pictures incase you doubt what it is here, or the validity of the 65.
I am trying to get someone here to race the Sl65 against my Gallardo, but that looks like it is not going to happen either, as I fly out to Florida and the Bahamas at 1pm. Again the Sl65 seems to have a harder initial shove then the Gallardo, but the Gallardo pulls much harder up top. Against my Gallardo, and I stress, my Gallardo, not an 04/05 Egear or whatnot, I put money that they will both be very very close.
As for the comparison to the SLR it is rediculous. If you search the net you will find video of the SLR beating CGT's, 599's and even a video of the SLR beating a modified Sl65 up until 200mph where the SlR peters out, and only then can the SL65 catch and pass it. A stock Sl65 isnt even in the same realm.
Ive enclosed some pictures incase you doubt what it is here, or the validity of the 65.
Dude,unlike the lambo board people here actually know what a proper running SL65 would do to yours or any other Gallardo with exception to the TT'd ones. Look at any of the drag strip footage,dragtimes.com etc. They aren't even close.
As far as the SLR, I never said the SL65 would be close to it. I said in the 1/4 it wouldn't be too bad of a beating and I still stick to that. You also forget to mention your G isn't stock and you still could never get it under 12 sec. Sl's all over Arizona are smoking up the tracks in the 11's. Cars with just the ECU done are low 11's. The car is 604 hp and has 734FT Pnds of tq. The weight probably helps the traction and isn't a huge factor once the car is rolling. If you think the G is faster, good for you and it may be faster than the one you have at your house but in the real world it aint happening!
I found this board trying to get some info on what might be wrong with the car I just bought. I just flew out to Scottsdale and bought a second sl65 this past weekend. Driving around town the car feels fine, but once you try and get on it it is noticeably laggy and down on power. There are no check engine lights and when the car is hot it pops (assuming backfires) on deceleration. I tried searching the boards for similar problems with no luck, has anyone experienced anything like this before? I eliminated the possibility of bad gas by filling up from 1/4 tank and it still drove sluggishly. To check my SOTP meter was accurate I ran the car against my friends SLR Mclaren and Gallardo SE, both times I got absolutely raped. It should have been much closer. Does anyone have any suggestions? The car is under factory warranty still but I think without check engine lights they may come back to me and say its normal.
-Rob
Off topic, but do you run an exotic car company that begins with the letter G and make exotic car racing videos that begins with a T? If so, I think we met at your location near the airport.

I hope you can get your car fixed. Is it here in NY/NJ? If so, would you be open to filming a race of your SL65 against an E55?
1/4 Mile
ET 1/4 Mile
MPH 1/8 Mile
ET 1/8 Mile
MPH 0-60 Foot
ET Temp F Car Year Driver
10.853*+ 124.929 6.973 103.605 1.583 61.0 Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG RENNtech 2005 Lou Fishgold
11.267* 123.729 7.273 1.675 77.0 Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG RennTech 2005 Lou Fishgold
11.324* 123.418 7.326 1.713 81.0 Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG RennTech 2005 Joe Curry
11.380 127.200 Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG 2005 Benjamin Treynor
11.389 127.200 1.660 70.0 Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG 2005 Benjamin Treynor
11.395*+ 127.190 Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG RENNtech 2005 treynor
11.420* 124.600 Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG 2005 randall@mbwerks.com
11.664* 124.530 7.680 96.310 1.950 Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG KLEEMAN 2005 Joe Cermin
11.694 117.830 7.588 1.790 Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG 2005 Schiznick
11.710* 125.600 1.880 65.0 Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG 2005 Benjamin Treynor
I am sure the 117 was probably a misprint. Schiznick is here so he will probably chime in but I think his car is stock ut may have drag radials. Compare these to the Gallardo page and it isn't even close. I would say that you have a one off fast Gallardo but your times sucked and your car is modded. Like I said, take what you can get for that car and run!!

Anyway, I hope Rob Feretti got out of this that he needs to have that intercooler pump checked!
Anyway.....back to the debate.......
I didn't ad my times on there because I could care less. Also, Schiz says he normally traps 122's not 119-120. What was your average again? 115 or was it 117?
A 122 trap, in the East coast, would not be possible in the desert, but you wouldnt know that would you?
Go back to magazine reading.
also as far as My gallardo I dont think it is really freak in the power dept. It dynoed right inline with others. The 6speed is just that much quicker then the Egear.
And as I said on the depreciation, who the cares, not to mention the Gallardo does not depreciate ANYTHING like the Sl65. But then again, i dont buy cars worrying about depreciation.
Go back to magazine reading.
also as far as My gallardo I dont think it is really freak in the power dept. It dynoed right inline with others. The 6speed is just that much quicker then the Egear.
And as I said on the depreciation, who the cares, not to mention the Gallardo does not depreciate ANYTHING like the Sl65. But then again, i dont buy cars worrying about depreciation.
I am with Juice on the depreciation.... I hate it but it certainly doesn't stop me from buying the cars I want.
If you don't flinch at throwing away 50K then I will PM you where you can send me some cash next time you feel like throwing it away. If you want, make it 250K and I can buy my own SLR to compare against the SL65.
Do you actually make the money you spend on cars? That could explain quite a bit of this.
Since we are paper racing......
The only drag times I could find on the SLR were between 11.42 (east coast FL) and 11.61 and traps between 124 and 129. Certainly not an assrape...
If you compare the best SLR time to my 11.69 you are talking about .27 seconds. What is that, 1/2 of a car length at best?
Cheers!
Sleeper X I do have both companies, I sent you a PM.
Thanks guys!


