LOVEMYBS

Coming over from the CLK55 board. Yesterday I bought an 06 SL55 black/black with 12K miles from a local Merc dealer with every option except distronic. It even has the rare OEM $14K 030 Performance Package. Retail in 06 was $153,500. I think I got a good deal for $67K which includes a 100K CPO good to late 2012. When I say every option it also includes the $3,500 Nappa leather interior. It's a one owner lease turn-in. I traded my CLK55 and took a beating on it at $25K (49.7K miles). Oh well, I think the SL will hold its value better over time. I know it's not a smoking deal but it's a good one and I don't have buyers remorse, at least not yet. I'm turning my E55 into a daily driver (my CLK55 was the driver, BTW GREAT CARS!) because I'm tooo upside down on it to do anything else. I love my E55 too so I'm not upset about driving it on a daily basis. With 30K miles and an extended OEM warranty good for another three years I should be okay. I'll post pictures when I get it really cleaned-up. Right now it's tooooo cold in northern VA to do anything except buy cars.

speedfreak81

Bruce, congrats on the purchase. I look forward to seeing it!

sprins

You just bought one of the most fun (driving) and elegant (looking) cars there is. Enjoy.

velvet fog

We won't believe you until we see some pictures. This is the internet after all.

LOVEMYBS

Attached are photos taken at the dealership. Some of you may have seen this car on eBay for $79K. The dealers window sticker was $84,995.

velvet fog

Looks pretty sweet.

MR. BLACK

Nice. congrats!

pj57

Small world! I was looking for an 030 and came upon the car you now own. At the time they weren't willing to budge much off of the $79K. I had purchased two other MBZ from ASC, but no deal. You got a great deal. I ended up finding an 030 in New York. Congrats. I hope you love yours as much as I do mine. I like the uniqueness of having that option. PJ

LOVEMYBS

Congratulations on your car! I'm glad you were able to find another one. According to ASC approximately 10% of the total SL55 production run of approximately 700+ cars in 06 came with the 030 package. They are rare by any measure. I watched this car on the ASC website for over two months but didn't get really interested in it until I saw the $10K price reduction. At $79K I thought it was over priced even with the 030 package. Shortly thereafter I visited ASC and was able to negotiate a further price reduction. It was a cold windy Saturday with a few people on the lot looking at C240's and I think they wanted to move some of the higher priced cars. I was also watching their 06 S65 for $89.9. I looked and test drove it also. Beautiful car, fast as a Ferrari and pulls like a freight train on steroids! However, I didn't like the color and with a similar E55 in my garage it didn't make sense to pursue it further. BTW, their price is now $61K with some additional room to negotiate. That is another smokin' deal for sure! Where are you located? Several other local owners here in NVA are making plans for a get together.

mgoblue_austin

Congrats 4ociousE55, I've been shopping for nearly two months now for a 2005/2005 SL55 AMG with the 030 performance package with low miles (sub 20k) and that is a really good deal (considering the warranty extension, 030, and nappa leather additions). If you have any leads on other 030s, please do let me know as they are obviously very hard to find (I am about to engage a hi-line buyer to find one for me...as close to wholesale as possible).

Couple of quick questions:
1. You reference "according to ASC" in your post several times. Newbie question, but what is ASC an acronym for?
2. Whom is selling that SL65 AMG for $61K, would you kindly shoot me a link?

Congrats again, what a great Thanksgiving gift to yourself! Beautiful car.

IngenereAMG

If you want an 030 SL55, I may be able to help. PM me with exactly what you want as well your budget and I'll let you know if we can help.

We just don't make 'em go faster!

LOVEMYBS

Thanks Mr MOGUBLUE_AUSTIN for your response. ASC is American Service Center in Alexandria, VA. They are a very reputable full line Mercedes dealer and their email address is http://www.justmercedes.com/. Don't be fooled by the website price of $89,900 for the 06 S65, it's $61K on their sales sheet with a CPO and they want to move the car. I was shocked at the price reduction when my salesman Mr. Rene Ayala showed it to me. As I mentioned earlier, I test drove the car and it is like new but just not my style right now. However, if I was in the market for an S65 I would have bought it last Saturday. If you contact them refer to my purchase, they will remember it and take good care of you. One piece of advice though, S65's are hard to insure. Good luck and if I see another SL55 with the 030 I'll PM you.

pj57

Hey 4ocious! I'd like to get together with you NoVA folks, but I moved from the area about a year ago. I lived in Alexandria but now live near Chicago. Sadly, I'm going to be putting my SL along with the Harley into heated storage soon. That's an interesting stat on the production numbers. Are you saying roughly 70 030s in 2006? Sounds like our cars are real close in terms of equipment - only difference, you've got the exclusive leather and mine has distronic. I would have preferred the leather upgrade over the distronic, but obviously I couldn't be choosy. I was just happy to find the car. MSRP on mine was $151,200. Naturally, the folks on the site need pictures as proof of ownership so I'll try to oblige. Congrats again on your beautiful car. ASC is the best dealership in the area I think. Enjoy! PJ

KALong28

I looked at that car and the salesperson at ASC would not come down on the price. Almost bought a 2005 SL 55 several months ago - they were asking $68000, I offered $60000 they said "Okay" and then switched the price while I was filling out the paperwork - to $63000.
Enjoy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

chiurw

That is a nice SL55. I also purchased mine used last year, with the same color, options. Can you tell from the VIN if the SL55 has the 030 option or is that restricted to the window sticker?

LOVEMYBS

She's a beauty, thanks for the compliment. I don't think the VIN number contains any 030 info. The dealer printed out a copy of the original window sticker that shows the options. You can tell it has the 030 Package by the following.

The performance package for the SL 55 AMG comprises:

Internally ventilated composite front brake discs, size 390 x 36 mm

Multi-disc rear locking differential with 30% locking effect for additional traction

19-inch twin-spoke AMG alloy wheels, multipiece, size 8.5 x 19 with 255/35 R 19 tyres (front) and size 9.5 x 19 with 285/30 R 19 tyres (rear)

AMG performance suspension based on Active Body Control (ABC)

Additional oil cooler

AMG front apron with larger air intakes (very obvious)

AMG ergonomic sports steering wheel in leather/black Alcantara, with silver-coloured aluminium shift paddles
__________________

adam205348

Congrats on the new car.

What year was the first year for the 030 Performance Package. I am currently looking for a SL55 AMG and want to be on the look out. I have found several 2004-2006 for high 30's to high 40's which is where I want to stay. I am in the North Texas Region so if anyone knows of any good deals I would appreciate a heads up.

adam205348

BTW for whoever is looking there is a 2007 SL55 with the 030 package for 68K with only 15K miles at http://www.diamondmotorworks.com/det...g-3607039.html

LOVEMYBS

And I thought mine was a good deal at $67K! Not sure i like the rims though.

adam205348

I agree on the wheels. And you did get a good deal on yours since it was from a actual Mercedes Dealership versus some other used car lot. Any idea when the first SL55 had the option of the 030 package?

LOVEMYBS

I got a little curious so decided to do some research on the web. It appears that the SL55 030 Performance Package was available in 2003 although I have never seen one. I found several photos of 2003's with the 030 without any write-ups. I also found a 2004, no 2005's, and I found a 2006 Merc SL sales brochure; there is no mention of the of the 030 as an option. My production date is 07/05 so it qualifies as an 06 which should have the 030 data available. I'm going to dig deeper but this is getting a bit strange. Stay tuned, perhaps these cars are rarer than we think.

pj57

Hey 4ociousE55 - It is my understanding that the 030 package on the SL55 was available starting with MY03 through MY08 for European models. The 030 was offered for US models beginning in MY06. PJ

LOVEMYBS

Very interesting. My 06 SL sales brochure makes no mention of the 030 package as a dealer option so I can only speculate that the 030 option was made available after they were printed. Does anyone have an 07 sales brochure that offers the 030 package?

m_berman

Check your trunk for a spare tire. On my CLS 55 w/ 030, the spare is a delete and a air pump with green gunk are the substitutes. This is due to the smaller diameter donut spare which will slip the clutches in the LSD to the point of burn out.

pj57

The wealth of information on this site continues to amaze me. I always wondered why my SL55 030 did not have the donut spare. Now I know. BTW, I somehow pulled up print ad by Mercedes which specifically discusses the 2006SL55 030. I look for it again and post link. PJ