SL55/63/65/R230 AMG: thinking about buying an 04 sl55 amg
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2004 SL55 AMG
thinking about buying an 04 sl55 amg
I found a primo 2004 sl55 amg with 14k miles. Any issues for this year model that I should worry about? Any advice you could give to a new owner would be appreciated.
Thanks
Thanks
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From: Georgia
E 63S Wagon Renntech, E55 Renntech, SL65, SL 55 030, ML, bunch of old ones--they come, they go...
Sounds nice, but I'd....
move to an 05 if you find it. Way better nav (although it's still farily crappy, at least you can update the disc, which you can't on an 04), audio , and phone. If you're VERY lucky, you might find one with a couple months warranty, which will make your extended warranty--which I wouldn't be without--much cheaper.
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From: michigan
SL63
abc's of an sl55
the abc suspension is the most costly repair issue in this vehicle. you should get an extended warranty that will cover the cost of repairing the system when it goes bad (note, i did not say SHOULD it go bad).
the problems with the abc suspension are legendary and this is one of the reasons the car has such a poor resale value IMHO
the problems with the abc suspension are legendary and this is one of the reasons the car has such a poor resale value IMHO
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2004 SL55 AMG
I guess I'm a little more worried about reliability and expense than you owners are. The electronics are a nightmare according to the mb service reps and any who were foolish enough to buy one didn't own it for long. Just on this forum alone there are several cars with systems that cut out the engine while car is moving.
Anyway the guy selling his 14k miles 2004 claims that the car was perfect with no problems. I looked at the car and it was beautiful. However when I ran the vin through my mb contacts turns out the car was a nightmare car. I guess that's why a 5 year car only had 14k miles on it; car spent more time on a flatbed than on the road.
Anyway the guy selling his 14k miles 2004 claims that the car was perfect with no problems. I looked at the car and it was beautiful. However when I ran the vin through my mb contacts turns out the car was a nightmare car. I guess that's why a 5 year car only had 14k miles on it; car spent more time on a flatbed than on the road.
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 2,619
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From: Georgia
E 63S Wagon Renntech, E55 Renntech, SL65, SL 55 030, ML, bunch of old ones--they come, they go...
Nightmare how?
Title, accident, or salvage problems, or just a bunch of trips to the shop?
As I mentioned before, that's another reason why the 05 up cars are a better choice--they are not perfect by any means, but lots of the bugs are worked out by then. Anyway, you just have to take each car on individual merit and go from there. Sort of a black art.....good luck.
As I mentioned before, that's another reason why the 05 up cars are a better choice--they are not perfect by any means, but lots of the bugs are worked out by then. Anyway, you just have to take each car on individual merit and go from there. Sort of a black art.....good luck.
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2004 SL55 AMG
The car was plagued with system failures. icp , abc, and the dreaded and unresolved random engine STOP.
Looked into the '05 and turns out it's just as bad as '04, perhaps worse.
I don't use nav systems. I'm only interested in the performance and panache of the sl55. Oh and I don't care about music, boom box cars suck.
Anyway I investigated the engine stop issue and found out that it is a known issue with mb sl55 03-05. It cannot be fixed. Buyback is the resort. MB settled with DOT and agreed to redesign in '06 but not remedy previous years.
Looked into the '05 and turns out it's just as bad as '04, perhaps worse.
I don't use nav systems. I'm only interested in the performance and panache of the sl55. Oh and I don't care about music, boom box cars suck.
Anyway I investigated the engine stop issue and found out that it is a known issue with mb sl55 03-05. It cannot be fixed. Buyback is the resort. MB settled with DOT and agreed to redesign in '06 but not remedy previous years.
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Joined: Dec 2005
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From: Ann Arbor
'03 SL55
I guess I'm a little more worried about reliability and expense than you owners are. The electronics are a nightmare according to the mb service reps and any who were foolish enough to buy one didn't own it for long. Just on this forum alone there are several cars with systems that cut out the engine while car is moving.
Anyway the guy selling his 14k miles 2004 claims that the car was perfect with no problems. I looked at the car and it was beautiful. However when I ran the vin through my mb contacts turns out the car was a nightmare car. I guess that's why a 5 year car only had 14k miles on it; car spent more time on a flatbed than on the road.
Anyway the guy selling his 14k miles 2004 claims that the car was perfect with no problems. I looked at the car and it was beautiful. However when I ran the vin through my mb contacts turns out the car was a nightmare car. I guess that's why a 5 year car only had 14k miles on it; car spent more time on a flatbed than on the road.
Clearly there are problematic R230s out there and, generally speaking, the older the R230 the greater the number of problems. However not all early model R230s are troublesome. Would be owners need to do their due diligence to make certain they are buying one of the reliable ones.
It sounds like you are taking the right steps with your search. Good luck! Hope you find one of the good ones!.
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2004 SL55 AMG
Good points. I think you have to proceed believing that only a good experience will result. I've always had good luck with vehicles. I'm closing in on a SK55 AMG. Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead....
Well, my personal experience has been different than that. I bought a 2003 SL55 in 2005. I've since driven it 44,000 miles. It's never failed to start and run. Never died while running. Never been on a flat bed or towed for any reason. In fact, I just returned from a 3,000 mile driving vacation during which the car performed flawlessly. It was a delight to drive and never gave me cause for complaint.
Clearly there are problematic R230s out there and, generally speaking, the older the R230 the greater the number of problems. However not all early model R230s are troublesome. Would be owners need to do their due diligence to make certain they are buying one of the reliable ones.
It sounds like you are taking the right steps with your search. Good luck! Hope you find one of the good ones!.
Clearly there are problematic R230s out there and, generally speaking, the older the R230 the greater the number of problems. However not all early model R230s are troublesome. Would be owners need to do their due diligence to make certain they are buying one of the reliable ones.
It sounds like you are taking the right steps with your search. Good luck! Hope you find one of the good ones!.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 2,619
Likes: 53
From: Georgia
E 63S Wagon Renntech, E55 Renntech, SL65, SL 55 030, ML, bunch of old ones--they come, they go...
I've had....
2 03's, an 04, an 05 and an 06. Of all of them, the 06 has been the least troublesome (only one real issue, AC, which was dealt with)--even though it is the most complicated (55). The first 03 was late production, the second one was an early production, and it was more problematic. I think you just have to take them all on their own merit, although generally speaking, later production cars are often less troublesome. No gurantee of that though...
