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

SL55/63/65/R230 AMG: New SL63 AMG in shop

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Rate Thread
 
Old Feb 24, 2009 | 11:26 AM
  #1  
bensitto's Avatar
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
 
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,338
Likes: 34
From: Germantown, MD
S550, R350, GL550, ML63 AMG
New SL63 AMG in shop

I was at the dealer the other day getting work done to my car when I noticed a SL63 AMG on a lift with the engine and tranny out. It was a brand new car. Wonder what happened to to it?
Reply
Old Feb 24, 2009 | 11:58 AM
  #2  
transferred's Avatar
MBWorld Fanatic!
 
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,318
Likes: 0
From: OC, SoCal
08 S65, 06 M3 CS(stick), 02 BMW X5 4.6iS, 07 R1 Raven, 08 F-450 4x4, 08 CooperS JCW
Clutches are new to AMG. Maybe the MB diehards will realize that SMG issues are par for the course with new technology
Reply
Old Feb 24, 2009 | 05:58 PM
  #3  
alx's Avatar
alx
MBWorld Fanatic!
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 4,268
Likes: 253
no.

some 63 motors have developed top end noise.

amg is investigating..

alex
few cars
Reply
Old Feb 24, 2009 | 08:24 PM
  #4  
bensitto's Avatar
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
 
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,338
Likes: 34
From: Germantown, MD
S550, R350, GL550, ML63 AMG
they should slap on twin turbos while it's up there!

Reply
Old Feb 24, 2009 | 09:10 PM
  #5  
photonut's Avatar
Member
 
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 153
Likes: 0
From: michigan
SL63
we need feedback!

Originally Posted by bensitto
I was at the dealer the other day getting work done to my car when I noticed a SL63 AMG on a lift with the engine and tranny out. It was a brand new car. Wonder what happened to to it?
please call the dealer and report to this thread!!!!!!
Reply
Old Feb 25, 2009 | 07:03 PM
  #6  
Xeron's Avatar
Member
 
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 209
Likes: 0
04 SL55 (sold),05 SL55, 09 SL63, 07 C2S cab Porsche,
Mine was just in the shop. Has a rattle under the floor board nobody can find. Had a SL55 which was solid. This is really an irritant as I'm afraid to push the car incase it's something hazardous.
Reply
Old Feb 28, 2009 | 06:47 PM
  #7  
spnslc's Avatar
Member
 
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 241
Likes: 0
'08 Audi R8, '09 SL63, '10 GLK, '10 ML550
Originally Posted by transferred
Clutches are new to AMG.
I agree. That was probably the issue. Mine was lemoned at 3000 miles due to the wet clutch. I had no other issues with the car except the wet clutch (which was fairly major ) My second copy of the car is perfect. I enjoy it a lot, especially the MCT.
Reply
Old Mar 1, 2009 | 03:10 AM
  #8  
Xeron's Avatar
Member
 
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 209
Likes: 0
04 SL55 (sold),05 SL55, 09 SL63, 07 C2S cab Porsche,
Shop still can't diagnose the rattle. Getting fed up. Sounds like a manifold or exhaust tube to me . Haven't even made my first payment on the car yet. Wish I kept my SL55.
Reply
MB World Stories

The Best of Mercedes & AMG

story-0

6 Mercedes Models That Did NOT Age Well (But Are Somehow Still Cool)

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

Mercedes 300D Has Pushed Well Past 1 Million Miles and It Ain't Stopping

 Verdad Gallardo
story-9

10 Most Reliable Mercedes-Benz Models You Can Buy Used

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Mar 1, 2009 | 04:11 AM
  #9  
a_Y's Avatar
a_Y
Member
 
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 244
Likes: 0
SL63 AMG, E46 M3, CL500
Originally Posted by spnslc
I agree. That was probably the issue. Mine was lemoned at 3000 miles due to the wet clutch. I had no other issues with the car except the wet clutch (which was fairly major ) My second copy of the car is perfect. I enjoy it a lot, especially the MCT.
do you mind sharing with us the details of your problems? i just wanted to know so that i have a heads up with mine..
Reply
Old Mar 1, 2009 | 04:23 AM
  #10  
Fantasm's Avatar
MBWorld Fanatic!
 
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,200
Likes: 0
From: Irvine, CA
Car Whore
Originally Posted by Xeron
Shop still can't diagnose the rattle. Getting fed up. Sounds like a manifold or exhaust tube to me . Haven't even made my first payment on the car yet. Wish I kept my SL55.
I have had 0 issues, fwiw
Reply
Old Mar 1, 2009 | 02:04 PM
  #11  
spnslc's Avatar
Member
 
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 241
Likes: 0
'08 Audi R8, '09 SL63, '10 GLK, '10 ML550
Originally Posted by a_Y
do you mind sharing with us the details of your problems? i just wanted to know so that i have a heads up with mine..
As with every car, those first few thousand miles will tell you if you have a keeper or not (and not all cars will be keepers). My car shifted funky from day one and it eventually stalled all the time. The wet clutch couldn't hold the car at idle. My car was one of the first copies in the country. I took delivery on May 1, '08, which was the US launch date. There were no wet clutch replacements last summer, so I had to get a whole new car. My new SL63 is flawless and the MCT is exceptional, but this tranny is new high-tech engineering and it is subject to failures and kinks, so it is my guess the car (above) was getting a new wet clutch. I have owned two SL63s now, but I have only had a problem with the wet clutch in one of them (I have had no rattles or top-end noise in either, they were flawless otherwise), but who knows what is really going on with the car (above). You could walk into your local MB dealership on any day at any time and find a car in their service bays with its tranny pulled out. I know of a SL55 that has come into my dealership TWICE with a blown tranny. Hmmm. We have owned/own many MBs and tranny issues are a problem for (at least) some of cars in every model line. The SL63 is such a high profile car that people take notice when they are in for service, so threads such as this one are born.

While on the subject, we also own an Audi R8 and that tranny isn't nearly as quick and smooth as the AMG MCT. On a daily basis when I walk out into the garage, I take the SL. I love my SL. The MCT is very cool and light-years ahead of the R8's tranny. Thanks to AMG for giving us this very fun technology.

If you are through your break-in period and you aren't having problems with your tranny now, you shouldn't anticipate any problems in the future.
Reply
Old Mar 1, 2009 | 02:33 PM
  #12  
spnslc's Avatar
Member
 
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 241
Likes: 0
'08 Audi R8, '09 SL63, '10 GLK, '10 ML550
Originally Posted by bensitto
I was at the dealer the other day getting work done to my car when I noticed a SL63 AMG on a lift with the engine and tranny out. It was a brand new car. Wonder what happened to to it?
Although, I do wonder why both the engine and tranny were out. That's really extreme.
Reply
Old Mar 1, 2009 | 02:33 PM
  #13  
Fantasm's Avatar
MBWorld Fanatic!
 
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,200
Likes: 0
From: Irvine, CA
Car Whore
i cant do a burn out with this tranny though... it seems to just stall out
Reply
Old Mar 1, 2009 | 10:07 PM
  #14  
a_Y's Avatar
a_Y
Member
 
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 244
Likes: 0
SL63 AMG, E46 M3, CL500
thanks for the info! i will be sure to feel if there's anything wrong within the break-in period.. hopefully not..
Reply
Old Mar 2, 2009 | 08:23 AM
  #15  
Dean Cole's Avatar
Newbie
 
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
c63 amg
Originally Posted by a_Y
thanks for the info! i will be sure to feel if there's anything wrong within the break-in period.. hopefully not..

any more pics of you sl63 with black HRE rims ? would love to see thanks
Reply
Old Mar 2, 2009 | 12:24 PM
  #16  
CynCarvin32's Avatar
MBWorld Fanatic!
 
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 2,923
Likes: 3
Mercedes Benz
Originally Posted by alx
no.

some 63 motors have developed top end noise.

amg is investigating..

alex
few cars
The TSB says its normal and to go home.

I have a tappet that 1/4 of the time is so stuck or not getting any lubrication and it makes the loudest ticking sound. Its not frequent enough for anyone to hear at the shop so I dont bother getting it fixed.

Now after spending 5 hrs detailing the car I pulled it outside to inspect the interior for streaks and the bottom end had a knocking sound at idle. I again wont worry about it. I think the motor will one day self destruct and then they will install a new one. Until then I will just drive it.

On a side note a friend of mine is a tech at a local dealership and he just finished re-building a CLS63 motor. It had a broken bearing in the bottom end (wrist pin) and the misaligned piston scored the block, wore the low friction surface off the side of the piston and had low compression. Car had 39k miles and the the factory authorized a new bottom end.

If you are looking for a used CLS63 this car is owned by a southern California used car lot and it is going to be for sale starting today! Black/Black with big ugly chrome giovanna wheels. Might want to figure its had a hard life.
Reply
Old Mar 2, 2009 | 11:56 PM
  #17  
a_Y's Avatar
a_Y
Member
 
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 244
Likes: 0
SL63 AMG, E46 M3, CL500
Originally Posted by Dean Cole
any more pics of you sl63 with black HRE rims ? would love to see thanks
here ya go:






Reply
Old Mar 4, 2009 | 12:36 PM
  #18  
bensitto's Avatar
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
 
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,338
Likes: 34
From: Germantown, MD
S550, R350, GL550, ML63 AMG
Very nice!!!

Reply
Old Mar 4, 2009 | 02:12 PM
  #19  
sprins's Avatar
MBWorld Fanatic!
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
 
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,838
Likes: 7
G55, SLS, smart eq
Originally Posted by Xeron
Shop still can't diagnose the rattle. Getting fed up. Sounds like a manifold or exhaust tube to me . Haven't even made my first payment on the car yet. Wish I kept my SL55.
If it's a really cheap sounding rattle when going over small bumps it might be the 'hand brake' line that isn't completely tight (and thus rattling). One way to test is to tighten it one 'click' with your foot (which then shouldn't sound the hand-brake-alarm) and then drive around (if the rattle is gone you found it).

Last edited by sprins; Mar 4, 2009 at 02:14 PM.
Reply
Old Mar 5, 2009 | 10:03 AM
  #20  
Rick SL55's Avatar
Super Member
 
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 730
Likes: 0
From: Puerto Rico
2005 SL55 AMG, 1986 Porsche 930S, 1996 Porsche 993tt
Originally Posted by bensitto
Very nice!!!

agree 100%
Reply
Old Mar 8, 2009 | 04:35 PM
  #21  
Xeron's Avatar
Member
 
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 209
Likes: 0
04 SL55 (sold),05 SL55, 09 SL63, 07 C2S cab Porsche,
I still have the same rattle in my floorboard. They can't find it, it's not in any other SL63 I've driven. If they can't fix it, how can I get them to exchange it. How do I move toward getting the car lemoned? It's a month old.
Reply

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 


You have already rated this thread Rating: Thread Rating: 0 votes,  average.


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 04:12 PM.

story-0
6 Mercedes Models That Did NOT Age Well (But Are Somehow Still Cool)

Slideshow: Not every Mercedes design becomes timeless, some feel stuck in the era they came from.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:09:07


VIEW MORE
story-1
Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun

Slideshow: Yes, Mercedes built manual cars, and some of them are far more interesting than you'd expect.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-02 12:36:58


VIEW MORE
story-2
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren

Slideshow: A one-of-one U.S.-spec Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster became even rarer after a factory-backed transformation at McLaren's headquarters.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 11:19:28


VIEW MORE
story-3
8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine

Slideshow: Before curves took over, Mercedes mastered the art of the straight line, and some of those shapes still look right today.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-25 12:05:49


VIEW MORE
story-4
Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction

Slideshow: The 190E Evolution II shows how a homologation necessity became a six-figure collector icon.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-22 17:53:47


VIEW MORE
story-5
Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know

Slideshow: Mercedes is turning one of its core nameplates electric, and the details show just how serious this shift is.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:58:06


VIEW MORE
story-6
Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know

Slideshow: Faster charging, longer range, and a controversial steer-by-wire system define the latest evolution of Mercedes-Benz EQS.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-15 10:35:34


VIEW MORE
story-7
5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve

Slideshow: These overlooked Mercedes-Benz models never got the spotlight, but they quietly delivered more than most remember.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-13 19:35:45


VIEW MORE
story-8
Mercedes 300D Has Pushed Well Past 1 Million Miles and It Ain't Stopping

Slideshow: A well-used 1991 Mercedes-Benz 300D with more than one million miles is now looking for a new owner, and it still appears ready for more.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-10 10:05:15


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Most Reliable Mercedes-Benz Models You Can Buy Used

Slideshow: From bulletproof sedans to surprisingly tough SUVs, these Mercedes models proved that the three-pointed star can go the distance.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-08 09:55:49


VIEW MORE