SL55/63/65/R230 AMG: SL 55 poor brakes
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SL 55 AMG, ML420 cdi, E320 cdi
SL 55 poor brakes
Hi
Has anyone had problems with poor brakes.
I have my car (2003 model) for three and a half years now and it has been in out of the dealers about ten times. It took three attemps to get all the air out of the calipers. When you go off the throttle on to the brake it you really have to push hard on the pedal to make it stop. I have two other Mercs a E320 cdi and a ML420 cdi, the brakes feel far better on these two cars compared to the SL 55. With the size of calipers on the SL it should be far better than the other cars. I just have the impression that the engine is trying to push the car on when braking. If try an emergency stop at say 40 mph it will slide the front wheels and the rear brakes seem to do very little.
Can anyone help please?
John
Has anyone had problems with poor brakes.
I have my car (2003 model) for three and a half years now and it has been in out of the dealers about ten times. It took three attemps to get all the air out of the calipers. When you go off the throttle on to the brake it you really have to push hard on the pedal to make it stop. I have two other Mercs a E320 cdi and a ML420 cdi, the brakes feel far better on these two cars compared to the SL 55. With the size of calipers on the SL it should be far better than the other cars. I just have the impression that the engine is trying to push the car on when braking. If try an emergency stop at say 40 mph it will slide the front wheels and the rear brakes seem to do very little.
Can anyone help please?
John
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G55, SLS, smart eq
The 2002/2003/2004 SL and S AMG brakes on the S55 and SL55 are notoriously bad. And by bad I mean really bad. I had my 2003 SL55 brakes replaced by the 030 ones: World of difference. My 2003 S55 still has original brakes and they SUCK.
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SL 55 AMG, ML420 cdi, E320 cdi
SL AMG Brakes
Thanks for that.
The dealer has checked the SBC on two occasions. A month ago was the last time and there was a software update installed and the pressures were increased. (I was informed?).
The car is back there at the moment but I don't expect anything to improve, I'm afraid.
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,653
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From: Ann Arbor
'03 SL55
Thanks for that.
The dealer has checked the SBC on two occasions. A month ago was the last time and there was a software update installed and the pressures were increased. (I was informed?).
The car is back there at the moment but I don't expect anything to improve, I'm afraid.
The dealer has checked the SBC on two occasions. A month ago was the last time and there was a software update installed and the pressures were increased. (I was informed?).
The car is back there at the moment but I don't expect anything to improve, I'm afraid.
FWIW the brakes on my 2003 are dialed-in perfectly. I just had to do an emergency stop on Tuesday to avoid hitting a car a car head-on. The other driver was heading toward me and wanted to turn left in front of me. She remembered to look left and right but forgot to look straight. Fortunately the SL stopped straight, true, and short.
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,838
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G55, SLS, smart eq
030 is the sports package from AMG. Bigger (and more importantly better) brakes are one of the components. I go them via www.mbenznl.com
Anyway, apparently there are people that are satisfied with the brakes on the 2003 cars, but I heard plenty of people that aren't. Don't know if it has to do with wear or proper 'dial-in' or pads or whatever. As said my 2003 S55 and SL55 both suffered, and I've heard of 2003 E55 with the same 'problem'.
The problem wasn't SBC in my case as the new 030 brakes on my SL55 do the job perfectly compared to the original brakes.
Anyway, apparently there are people that are satisfied with the brakes on the 2003 cars, but I heard plenty of people that aren't. Don't know if it has to do with wear or proper 'dial-in' or pads or whatever. As said my 2003 S55 and SL55 both suffered, and I've heard of 2003 E55 with the same 'problem'.
The problem wasn't SBC in my case as the new 030 brakes on my SL55 do the job perfectly compared to the original brakes.
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Joined: Dec 2006
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From: Clifton, NJ
96 and 08 911 turbos
Didn't you leave because you got owned about 600 times.
now you're back at this bs.
you're a joke, plain and simple.
go drive your sl63 and stop trying to convince everyone (and yourself) that its better than the Sl55, because its not.
now you're back at this bs.
you're a joke, plain and simple.
go drive your sl63 and stop trying to convince everyone (and yourself) that its better than the Sl55, because its not.
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Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 2,838
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From: U.K.
SL 63 W/B AMG , S600,C220
But it's ignoramious people like you that spoil it with your
My car is better than yours .....attitude.
And try to speak English, then I'll understand.
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Joined: Dec 2006
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From: Clifton, NJ
96 and 08 911 turbos
Wow thats rich. I have a "my car is better than yours attitude?" Lets see:
https://mbworld.org/forums/sl55-amg-...g-morning.html
Oh, and by the way, if you intend to insult someone's speaking (did you mean typing?) of the English language, perhaps you should properly edit your own posts (have have huh?).
I guess that makes it 601 times you've been owned.
Oh, and by the way, if you intend to insult someone's speaking (did you mean typing?) of the English language, perhaps you should properly edit your own posts (have have huh?).
I guess that makes it 601 times you've been owned.
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Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 3,703
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From: Arizona
SL55AMG, Ferrari 348, Ferrari Testarossa, Ferrari F40, Ferrari Mondial t, Ducati 916, Indycar
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 2,838
Likes: 19
From: U.K.
SL 63 W/B AMG , S600,C220
Wow thats rich. I have a "my car is better than yours attitude?" Lets see:
https://mbworld.org/forums/sl55-amg-...g-morning.html
Oh, and by the way, if you intend to insult someone's speaking (did you mean typing?) of the English language, perhaps you should properly edit your own posts (have have huh?).
I guess that makes it 601 times you've been owned.
https://mbworld.org/forums/sl55-amg-...g-morning.html
Oh, and by the way, if you intend to insult someone's speaking (did you mean typing?) of the English language, perhaps you should properly edit your own posts (have have huh?).
I guess that makes it 601 times you've been owned.
But 601 !!!
I have told you a million times NOT to exagerate!! lol
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Jul 2009
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SL 55 AMG, ML420 cdi, E320 cdi
SL55 Brakes update
The car has now been back to the Merc dealers and the there is no air in the system.
After further testing by me the findings are as follows:
If you come off the throttle onto the brakes for an emergency stop, there is a delay between pressing the pedal and the brakes actually working. This is the case if the car is in nuetral or in drive. If you slightly press the brake pedal before you go for the emergency stop the brakes work fine as they should do. It appears that the brakes are a little lazy and need waking up first. Makes the passengers hair stand up at times!
Can anyone help??
The car has now been back to the Merc dealers and the there is no air in the system.
After further testing by me the findings are as follows:
If you come off the throttle onto the brakes for an emergency stop, there is a delay between pressing the pedal and the brakes actually working. This is the case if the car is in nuetral or in drive. If you slightly press the brake pedal before you go for the emergency stop the brakes work fine as they should do. It appears that the brakes are a little lazy and need waking up first. Makes the passengers hair stand up at times!
Can anyone help??
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,653
Likes: 5
From: Ann Arbor
'03 SL55
SL55 Brakes update
The car has now been back to the Merc dealers and the there is no air in the system.
After further testing by me the findings are as follows:
If you come off the throttle onto the brakes for an emergency stop, there is a delay between pressing the pedal and the brakes actually working. This is the case if the car is in nuetral or in drive. If you slightly press the brake pedal before you go for the emergency stop the brakes work fine as they should do. It appears that the brakes are a little lazy and need waking up first. Makes the passengers hair stand up at times!
Can anyone help??
The car has now been back to the Merc dealers and the there is no air in the system.
After further testing by me the findings are as follows:
If you come off the throttle onto the brakes for an emergency stop, there is a delay between pressing the pedal and the brakes actually working. This is the case if the car is in nuetral or in drive. If you slightly press the brake pedal before you go for the emergency stop the brakes work fine as they should do. It appears that the brakes are a little lazy and need waking up first. Makes the passengers hair stand up at times!
Can anyone help??
It sounds like once the controller gets the idea that you want to stop, the system engages properly.
Hope you get to the root cause without too much more hassle!
Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 157
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From: Bruges, Belgiummmmmm!(chocolates)
2003 sl 55 amg, 2010 RRS TDV8
After reading all this, can someone tell me what the best available upgrade for the brakes could be ? Complete new system or not ? And where to get those parts ? (because europe is not like the States ! We have nothing compared to you guys overthere) Thanks ! 
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 11
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SL 55 AMG, ML420 cdi, E320 cdi
Hi thanks for that.
I have now been in touch with MB uk customer service and I believe that a MB AMG technician from MB UK is going to look into it and possibly test the car. One of the problems I have is the local MB garage doesn't believe there is a fault (..........).
I will keep you posted, thank you for help.
I have now been in touch with MB uk customer service and I believe that a MB AMG technician from MB UK is going to look into it and possibly test the car. One of the problems I have is the local MB garage doesn't believe there is a fault (..........).
I will keep you posted, thank you for help.
