I don't know how often people cross-shop these two vehicles, but the prices for a 2004 model year for both variants has plummeted sufficiently that I can finally snag one. My only questions then are:

(1) which is generally "preferred" ?

(2) assuming full extended warranty, how is the reliability / maintenance of each?

(3) are there any costs to be expected even while under warranty?

(4) assuming i acquire a car with around 40,000 miles, what should i expect to go wrong for (a) SL 55 and (b) SL 600 before the extended warranty expires at 100,000 miles?

(5) what does the extended warranty NOT cover on BOTH cars?

Thank you!!

I should say, I'm perfectly content going with the base SL 500, but obviously, all things being equal, i'm happy to spend a little extra and snag a clean SL 55 or SL 600.

Finally, for what it's worth, my heart feels more attached to the SL 55. Besides, SL 600 just seems too "old man" somehow. Besides, I just love the supercharaged motor of the 55, even though I know in a straight line, the SL 600 will eventually pull on it.

Thanks,

--Marc

 

actually, i think i'm over the SL55 / 600 ...... check THIS out:

http://autos.yahoo.com/used-cars/mer...ny&picstart=10

 

If your goal is to have more of an around performance car, the SL55 is the better choice. If what you want is straight line frenzy, the 600 can be made to be pretty intense. That's not to say that a tuned 55 is weak, because it's not.

From a 'things going wrong' side. The 600 has that 12, which is allot more complicated that the V8. So expect more $ if some fails.

We tune both cars and they respond very well, but I personally prefer the character of the 55 over the 600.

 

You should test drive all three, SL55, 600 and 500, before you decide which one is right for you. If you are considering the 500, then you should at least drive a 55 to compare. I think the SL55 is so much better (as a complete car) than the SL500 that it is worth taking a test spin before you decide on the 500. Especially with the new SL coming out, you should be able to get a great discount on any model you decide to go with.

 

Not that I have own one but I'd go for the awesome SL600 just for its massive Torque but the SL55 is fun to drive.

 

That SL500 is $50k you can get an SL55 for not much more.... and its a huge difference

 

Having owned both I would have to say the 55 has more "seat of the pants" fun built in. The 600 is no slouch, but the 55 is just grinning fun!

 

I have driven them all.

SL500, SL550, SL600, SL65. And very soon the SL63. Going to the dealer tonight to check out its arrival at MBLN.

Each car has its strong points and personality. Alway get as late a Model as you can afford. The AMG has the bells an whistles that make the car special.
As well as the hand made engine quality. Like others have said. If you want just raw HP the 12 Cylinder is the way to go. But warranty and repair will be more. Try to find a later model with some existing warranty or a CPO car. Its worth the extra cash. Beware of 3rd party warranty. Check with your dealer first and make sure the 3 party warranty will be accepted.

My choice. SL55. It can be a daily driver and is very stealth. And has the best exhaust note and no Tubo Lag. The difference between a SL550/500 and a SL55 can be HUGE. Completly different feel and power.....
Make sure you test drive both or you will hate yourself later.

 

I've owned both V8 kompressor and V12 bi-turbo.

They are both very different engines but I'll try to explain the best i could:

The V8 komressor is more jumpy and sporty. It seems to always want to burn off my tires at the lights. Its a beast and wants to make you go fast. It seems to be more responsive. It makes my gf's head slam into the head rest when I floor it.

The V12 Bi-turbo is more gentle yet it has massive power. Its power is very smooth and very comfortable. If you open the windows on narrow roads or tunnels, you could actually hear the turbo a bit (which is cool). It doesnt make you want to drive fast tho, and it doesnt slam my gf's head against the head rest when I floor it. Instead, the head rest pushes onto her head and she gets pushed harder and harder into the it when the rpm gets higher...

sorry bout the headrest example, thats the biggest thing I noticed ever since I got the Sl600...she doesnt complain as much...

 

If anyone is interested in this one let me know via PM. It's about 3 miles from my father's house on the lake and I'd like an excuse to go look at it myself.

 

save a little more and get the 55/600.
My gf used to own an SL500 and compared to the 600, its a HUGE difference in power. Not much diff in looks tho....If you want both, get the 55!

 

Both cars are terrific with differences that some people find subtle and others find significant. SL600 is faster in a straight-line and easier to mod. SL55 is slightly lighter and some people find that it handles slightly better.

 

600 is the better engine. 55 is the better car.

You decide what's important. You need a test drive and you need to look at the exterior and interior differences.

 

Although that Yahoo one isn't the 55 I'd prefer, I have to drive right by that dealership on the way to take my 12 year old son to visit grandpa so I will probably swing in there and take a look at it while i am in the area. My dad tells me that a friend of his has a similar car for sale just up the road from where this one is listed. Since it's from an individual, it's probably going to be a better deal. I also think my dad's friends car is either a 2003 or a 2004 so there may be some additional cost savings there as well so I'll get a good comparison of true market cost for these cars now. I wasn't really planning on buying one yet but if the deal is right, this may be the weekend. I'd REALLY like to get another 55 as the engine on my 2001 CLK55 was SO strong but may be able to be "talked" into one of the 500's IF the price is right.

 

Well, I did swing in and took a look at this SL500 that was on Yahoo. This 2005 was built 12/04. The paint on the car is pretty good. A "minor" 2 inch long scratch on the rider side front fender that can really be buffed out. This car really doesn't have the keyless go nor the Pano not either 'tronic. Pretty much just standard stuff like Xenon's and NAVI. The interior did look good in really good shape though and it had new tires. The roof would not automatically retract and the sales guy said that it was "probably the second battery"? I've never sat in one that didn't work so don't know how accurate that may, or may not be.

One thing I really did NOT like was the rust on the calipers (not the rotors as that is normal), but rather on the bolts on the calipers of this car as well as all the underbody components looked like they had simply been "left out in the weather". I found a likely reason after I left the lot and will gt into that later in this review.

However, this may not have been the best bargains on this lot. They had two SL55's. One was a black/black 2004 with keyless go, std 55 wheels and 44K miles that they are asking $54K for (so you can probably buy it for less) that didn't exhibit the weather issues of the 2005. Unfortunately, that one was placed into service 12/20/2003 so it's out of warranty, right?

The second was that pale blue (not a real "manly" color but was attractive IMO) with some nicer custom wheels and they are only asking $44K for this one but it's miles are 57K and it also (of course) is out of warranty. But it has both the Pano roof as well as the keyless go options. This seems like a "bargain" but is well out of warranty and I understand that getting an aftermarket warranty on AMG's can be tough. The salesperson acted like it was "no problem" and even stated that they could give me an extended warranty from GMAC. Really, I didn't think they warranted AMG's.

Oh well, I asked my dad about why this particular place seems to have SO MANY high end cars (there are about 50 Benz's and 40 BMW's, 8 Lexus GX's, etc and even a 355 Ferrari. He said that the MAJORITY of these cars come from lease programs up north. As such, most of the cars have been exposed to the northern winters salt and slag roads (probably explains the caliper rust). As I understand it, this market allows a bigger mark up than the same car on a lot up north. If they don't seel them fairly quickly, they forward them to the auto auctions in Florida.

They also had a 90K mile 2003 SL500. I didn't even bother asking about the price of that one.

 

Forget it... So many people wanting cars( I want a SL55, I want a SL600 bla bla bla) most are full of it..

I guess I'm gonna delete my post.. I am being as straight as I can be.. So much negativity always getting accused of trying to screw someone....BS..\\

Car is verified as having warranty by my local Mercedes dealer and is going in tommorrow to do an inspection to see if anything needs to be done or repaired under warranty..

 

I deleted mine as it was a bit un-necessarily caustic. However, but you will want to verify how the CPO warranty details so that you are not surprised by how they actually work. Regular warranty is one thing. However, in your original post you were claiming that the CPO warranty would carry over to anyone you sold it to even though you were not the original CPO purchaser. That's just not how it works. Sorry if you were not aware of that small (but significant) fact.

Good luck with the flip. As long as you didn't get the one (listed in another similar thread) that had the front fender bolts mis-aligned (due to an un-reported impact) you should be fine. Run a search on the details behind that car in this same section.

 

Carfax shows the car to have warranty also....





2004 Mercedes-Benz SL600
VIN: WDBSK76F64F067968
Body Style: ROADSTER
Engine Size: 5.5L V12 SFI
Drivetrain: Rear Wheel Drive
Certified on 04/21/2005

Original Manufacturer's Warranty:
Basic Warranty Active

The original manufacturer's warranty includes:
48 months or 50,000 miles




Information excerpted from the CARFAX Vehicle History Report and/or Safety & Reliability Ratings; see full reports for additional information, glossary of terms, source attributions,disclaimers & limitations. Go to carfax.com for complete Buyback Guarantee terms and conditions.


Number of Owners:
Last owned in the following state/province: Georgia
Annual average mileage: 9,490

*Below industry annual average of 15,000 miles


None of these major title problems were reported by a state Department of Motor Vehicles:
Salvage, Junk, Rebuilt Guaranteed
No Problem
Fire / Flood, Hail damage, Buyback / Lemon Guaranteed
No Problem
Not Actual Mileage,
Exceeds Mechanical Limits Guaranteed
No Problem


No issues reported to CARFAX on the following:
Total Loss
No Issues Reported
Structural / Frame Damage
No Issues Reported
Airbag Deployment
No Issues Reported
Odometer Rollback
No Issues Reported
Other Accidents
No Issues Reported





© 2008 CARFAX, Inc., an R.L. Polk & Co. company. All rights reserved. Patents pending. 09.Apr.2008 00:09:53

For Personal Use Only

Accident Indicator
Various events could indicate an accident in a vehicle's history, such as: salvage auction, fire damage, police-reported accident, crash test vehicle, damage disclosure, collision repair facility and automotive recycler records. See the glossary for more information.Airbag Deployment
Occurs when the driver, passenger or side airbag has been used or deployed during a crash or other incident. If an airbag has been deployed, it must be replaced by a qualified technician. Have this car inspected by a mechanic prior to purchase.Total Loss
An insurance or fleet company declares a vehicle a total loss when a claim exceeds ~ 75% of its pre-damage value or if the vehicle is stolen and not recovered. This damage threshold varies by company. These companies typically take possession and obtain the title. Not all total loss vehicles result in a DMV-reported branded title, like a Salvage or Junk title. See the glossary for more information.Structural / Frame Damage
In most cases, a vehicle is inspected for structural or frame damage, depending on the body design, after an accident or other incident. All levels of accidents from minor to severe can cause structural / frame damage and in most cases it can be repaired. Odometer Rollback
If a more recent odometer reading is less than an older reading, then the odometer may have been tampered with and "rolled back".Manufacturer Recall
Automobile manufacturers issue recall notices to inform owners of car defects that have come to the manufacturer's attention. Recalls also suggest improvements that can be made to improve the safety of a particular vehicle. Most manufacturer recalls can be repaired at no cost to you.Basic Warranty
Most manufacturers offer a basic warranty for new vehicles. These warranties vary by manufacturer and typically last for a certain amount of time and/or a set number of miles.Salvage Title
A Salvage Title is issued on a vehicle damaged to the extent that the cost of repairing the vehicle exceeds ~ 75% of its pre-damage value. This damage threshold may vary by state. Some states treat Junk titles the same as Salvage but the majority use this title to indicate that a vehicle is not road worthy and cannot be titled again in that state. The following eleven States also use Salvage titles to identify stolen vehicles - AZ, FL, GA, IL, MD, MN, NJ, NM, NY, OK and OR.Junk Title
A Junk Title is issued on a vehicle damaged to the extent that the cost of repairing the vehicle exceeds ~ 75% of its pre-damage value. This damage threshold may vary by state. The majority of states use this title to indicate that a vehicle is not road worthy and cannot be titled again. Some states treat Junk titles the same as Salvage.Rebuilt/Reconstructed Title
A Rebuilt/Reconstructed vehicle is a salvage vehicle that has been repaired and restored to operation. These vehicles are often severely damaged before they are rebuilt and refurbished parts are typically used during reconstruction. In most states, an inspection of the vehicle is required before the vehicle is allowed to return to the road. Loss Due To Fire Title
The vehicle sustained major damage due to fire. In most states, fire damage titles are issued when the cost of repairing the vehicle for safe operation exceeds its fair market value.Flood Damage Title
States issue flood titles when a vehicle has been in a flood or has received extensive water damage. Hail Damage Title
The vehicle sustained major damage due to hail. In most states, hail damage titles are issued when the cost of repairing the vehicle for safe operation exceeds its fair market value.Manufacturer Buyback or Lemon
A DMV or a state agency marks an official document or issues a Manufacturer Buyback/Lemon title when a vehicle has been repurchased by the manufacturer. Not all states issue manufacturer buyback titles and the specific requirements for a lemon law vehicle varies by state.Not Actual Mileage Title
When the seller certifies, under the Federal Odometer Act, that the odometer reading does not reflect the vehicle's actual mileage. This may occur because the odometer was tampered with, broken, or replaced.Exceeds Mechanical Limits
A vehicle with a 5-digit odometer cannot accurately track mileage after 99,999 miles because the odometer rolls over. This title is the result of a seller certifying under the Federal Odometer Act, that the odometer reading EXCEEDS MECHANICAL LIMITS of the odometer.Standard Equipment
Power Windows, Power Steering, Air Conditioning, AM / FM CD, Power Brakes, Retractable roof, Tilt Wheel, 6-digit Odometer Safety Options
4 wheel ABS, Dual air bags front and sides/active (manual) belts
2004 MERCEDES-BENZ SL600
WDBSK76F64F067968
ROADSTER
5.5L V12 SFI / REAR WHEEL DRIVE
Standard Equipment | Safety Options
Mercedes-Benz Certified Pre-Owned - 04/21/2005

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This vehicle qualifies for the CARFAX Buyback Guarantee
The last reported odometer reading was 19,691








A CARFAX Vehicle History Report is based only on information supplied to CARFAX. Other information about this vehicle, including problems, may not have been reported to CARFAX. Use this report as one important tool, along with a vehicle inspection and test drive, to make a better decision about your next used car.

The number of owners is estimated by CARFAX
Year purchased 2005
Type of owner Personal
Estimated length of ownership
2 yrs. 11 mo.
Owned in the following states/provinces Georgia
Estimated miles driven per year ---
Last reported odometer reading 19,691




CARFAX guarantees the information in this section
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No Problem
Fire/Flood | Hail Damage | Buyback/Lemon
Guaranteed
No Problem
Not Actual Mileage | Exceeds Mechanical Limits Guaranteed
No Problem
GUARANTEED - None of these major title problems were reported by a state Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). If you find that any of these title problems were reported by a DMV and not included in this report, CARFAX will buy this vehicle back.
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Not all accidents or other issues are reported to CARFAX
Total Loss Check

No total loss reported to CARFAX. No Issues Reported

Structural / Frame Damage Check

No structural / frame damage reported to CARFAX. No Issues Reported

Airbag Deployment Check

No airbag deployment reported to CARFAX. No Issues Reported

Odometer Rollback Check

No indication of an odometer rollback. No Issues Indicated

Accident Check

No accidents reported to CARFAX. No Issues Reported

Manufacturer Recall Check

No recalls still require repair. No Recalls Reported


Basic Warranty Check

Estimated to have 13 months or 30,309 miles remaining. Recalculate warranty
Interested in an extended warranty?
Warranty Active

 

Thanks for re-inforcing my comments that ONLY the ORIGINAL warranty (up to 50K) is in effect. This also means that any CPO extended warranty is "no longer" in effect.

 

Wrong.. The car was first sold on 11-2003 original warranty is up.. I got a card at my dealer to send in to change the warranty and sent it in. The warranty is transferred to me already. They said they do it all of the time and they are dealers also..

The CPO is fully transferrable,,, unless the car is a REPO then they void it. The cpo has been transferred to me and will be transferred to the next owner when I sell it.

This car is amazing.. The V12 is so smooth and its a terror on the Highway.. around town it doesnt seem that fast but on the highway 80-120mph is quick. It leaves the Ferrari behind.. 55s are torque monsters but the 600's are smooth rockets.

 

OK, I did read the Benz website. It does state that a "private party" sale can transfer an extended policy from the original owner (who bought it from Benz). Here's the exact quote form the Benz website... "Can I transfer the extended warranty coverage? If you sell your Mercedes-Benz Extended Limited Warranty-covered Mercedes-Benz vehicle to a private party, its new owner may continue the coverage." So it looks like you are "getting away" with yours since you actually bought it from an auction rather than a Benz owner. I don't see anything that shows that any subsequent owners would be able to take advantage of it but would leave that up to you and anyone who may buy it from you. Glad you are enjoying your ride.

 

From another one of these types of threads. Poster of this was mjr24..."If you buy a Benz from a non-MB dealer, that is supposed to void the STARMARK warranty. I bought my CL back in 2004 from a Bentley dealer. However, Mercedes somehow did not know I had done so....they assumed I bought from a Mercedes dealer. When I mentioned (2 years later)that I had bought the car from a non-MB dealer, they voided the STARMARK warranty right there.". Just make certain you never tell your Mercedes dealership the truth and you may be able to continue any starmark coverage already in place. You CERTAINLY cannot "sell" such a feature to anyone interested in buying the car without risking fraud charges.

Thread...
https://mbworld.org/forums/showthrea...40#post2749840

 

dont mention it then dumbass..

 

Hopefully, no one on here bought anything from that dealership. When I drove by there 2 two weeks ago I noticed that they only had about 20 cars on the lot. My dad said that he learned 30 minutes ago that the owner is now in jail for embezzlement so maybe the prices really were "TOO good" to be true... Just hope no one on here got burnt when he was taken down. Also a bit sad to see that avenue taken away. My dad didn't know all the details but the guy is in jail so...