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

SL55/63/65/R230 AMG: Other SL63 owners-is this normal? (and another question)

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Old Apr 2, 2010 | 08:07 AM
  #1  
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Other SL63 owners-is this normal? (and another question)

Hey guys,
I recently bought a SL63-so far I love the car. I had a SLK55 before that, and this car is in another league of its own. I had a question that maybe one of you guys could answer for me-i've been mostly just curious about it more than anything. When i initially take off in first gear, there generally is a small lag/hesitation (not sure what to call it). To me it seems like there is a brief period where the wet clutch is kind of disengaging or something before the transmission kicks in. Its strange in that i've never experienced it in an automatic transmission before, but to me it seems like it could be easily explained due to the different drivetrain than the SLK55, or it could be a problem, i'm not really sure honestly. It's not super annoying, and I've gotten used to it, but again, just curious.

The other thing i'm wondering (and I think i know the answer) is what options i have re the command unit. The previous owner (or more likely his detailer) scrubbed the snot out of the display, and it looks to me like some protective coating or something got taken off. Not a huge deal, but for a crazy perfectionist like me, it kind of drives me crazy. Am I stuck just replacing the whole unit? I asked the dealer about it and that's kind of the response that I got (i didn't even bother to ask how expensive that would have been).

Thanks guys! Glad to be here in the forum. One of these days I'll buy a 600 or a '65 and trick it out like soulsearcher.
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Old Apr 2, 2010 | 08:17 AM
  #2  
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-may have found cheaper answer re other question

Apparently some other dude had this same issue with a SL550. I have no idea how i stumbled on this website-other than good google luck.

http://www.nushield.com/cs_8.php

Seems like a way cheaper option if it actually works. If someone has actually done this I'd love to hear how it went/looks!
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Old Apr 2, 2010 | 01:07 PM
  #3  
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SL 63 W/B AMG , S600,C220
Originally Posted by jag85215
Hey guys,
I recently bought a SL63-so far I love the car. I had a SLK55 before that, and this car is in another league of its own. I had a question that maybe one of you guys could answer for me-i've been mostly just curious about it more than anything. When i initially take off in first gear, there generally is a small lag/hesitation (not sure what to call it). To me it seems like there is a brief period where the wet clutch is kind of disengaging or something before the transmission kicks in. Its strange in that i've never experienced it in an automatic transmission before, but to me it seems like it could be easily explained due to the different drivetrain than the SLK55, or it could be a problem, i'm not really sure honestly. It's not super annoying, and I've gotten used to it, but again, just curious.

The other thing i'm wondering (and I think i know the answer) is what options i have re the command unit. The previous owner (or more likely his detailer) scrubbed the snot out of the display, and it looks to me like some protective coating or something got taken off. Not a huge deal, but for a crazy perfectionist like me, it kind of drives me crazy. Am I stuck just replacing the whole unit? I asked the dealer about it and that's kind of the response that I got (i didn't even bother to ask how expensive that would have been).

Thanks guys! Glad to be here in the forum. One of these days I'll buy a 600 or a '65 and trick it out like soulsearcher.
My SL63 is a bit jerky on gearchange when cold, ok when fully warmed up. The best thing to do when cold is overide the change with the paddles.It seems you are a perfectionist so don't buy anything unless perfect, and always buy with warranty.
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Old Apr 3, 2010 | 01:06 AM
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just to clarify...

Thanks Sound8 for your thoughts. Just to clarify what I'm seeing, the "jerkiness" is ONLY occurring when i am in first gear (just starting out pressing the accelerator), although I am pretty sure it is worse when the engine is cold, so there must be something to that. The transmission shifts through the other gears so quickly and smoothly (especially under hard acceleration) that it almost has to be experienced to be believed...
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Old Apr 3, 2010 | 04:12 AM
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You have to replace the whole unit to fix the screen, and I'm sure it'll probably be $2K-$3K at least (probably $3K+).

I didn't even take the plastic screen protector off mine when I bought mine new so that I could avoid getting it scratched or dirty, lol.
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Old Apr 3, 2010 | 09:07 AM
  #6  
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SL 63 W/B AMG , S600,C220
Originally Posted by jag85215
Thanks Sound8 for your thoughts. Just to clarify what I'm seeing, the "jerkiness" is ONLY occurring when i am in first gear (just starting out pressing the accelerator), although I am pretty sure it is worse when the engine is cold, so there must be something to that. The transmission shifts through the other gears so quickly and smoothly (especially under hard acceleration) that it almost has to be experienced to be believed...
Sounds pretty much the same as mine. I think that the gearbox is so finely tuned ( like a racehorse) it doesn't like going slow, works best in sport plus
with your foot down, then it's brilliant.
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Old Apr 5, 2010 | 03:06 PM
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If I may suggest keep the car in C mode until the engine gets to 99 Degrees C. Then put it in the more aggressive S Plus mode.
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Old Apr 6, 2010 | 01:37 AM
  #8  
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Originally Posted by jag85215
Hey guys,
I recently bought a SL63-so far I love the car. I had a SLK55 before that, and this car is in another league of its own. I had a question that maybe one of you guys could answer for me-i've been mostly just curious about it more than anything. When i initially take off in first gear, there generally is a small lag/hesitation (not sure what to call it). To me it seems like there is a brief period where the wet clutch is kind of disengaging or something before the transmission kicks in. Its strange in that i've never experienced it in an automatic transmission before, but to me it seems like it could be easily explained due to the different drivetrain than the SLK55, or it could be a problem, i'm not really sure honestly. It's not super annoying, and I've gotten used to it, but again, just curious.

The other thing i'm wondering (and I think i know the answer) is what options i have re the command unit. The previous owner (or more likely his detailer) scrubbed the snot out of the display, and it looks to me like some protective coating or something got taken off. Not a huge deal, but for a crazy perfectionist like me, it kind of drives me crazy. Am I stuck just replacing the whole unit? I asked the dealer about it and that's kind of the response that I got (i didn't even bother to ask how expensive that would have been).

Thanks guys! Glad to be here in the forum. One of these days I'll buy a 600 or a '65 and trick it out like soulsearcher.
The SL63 does not have an automatic transmission.
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Old Apr 7, 2010 | 07:06 AM
  #9  
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my sl63 has a similar jerk when cold. i almost always drive in manual mode, and this obviates the problem. my vehicle has over 4K miles on it and i have to make my first service call: an oil change because the car is 1 year old.
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Old Apr 7, 2010 | 09:42 PM
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my sl63 tranny was so bad i freaking forced MBZ to take my car back after i hired a lawyer.

gl to you all
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Old Apr 8, 2010 | 01:05 PM
  #11  
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Originally Posted by Fantasm
my sl63 tranny was so bad i freaking forced MBZ to take my car back after i hired a lawyer.

gl to you all
What was it doing? sometimes I think there is a problem, but it goes away.
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Old Apr 8, 2010 | 02:30 PM
  #12  
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Originally Posted by sound 8
Sounds pretty much the same as mine. I think that the gearbox is so finely tuned ( like a racehorse) it doesn't like going slow, works best in sport plus
with your foot down, then it's brilliant.
Sl63 has a track record for issues (problems) with the MCT gearbox. This is a documented fact. MB has done more buybacks then they'd care to admit due to the issues. This gearbox is not anywhere near a "racehorse" more like a bucking diseased mule with a tight strap around it's bullocks
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Old Apr 8, 2010 | 03:31 PM
  #13  
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Originally Posted by Sunir
Sl63 has a track record for issues (problems) with the MCT gearbox. This is a documented fact. MB has done more buybacks then they'd care to admit due to the issues. This gearbox is not anywhere near a "racehorse" more like a bucking diseased mule with a tight strap around it's bullocks
I am sure it's called teething problems. I have had mine now over a year and 6k miles, and apart from some tiny issues that seem to have cured them self.
The same happened with my SL55. I bought a year old one that was literally the first to come to the UK, you should have seen the stack of returned invoices under warranty that it came with. You also can't get extras that later ones had,like Pano roof. An auto box is more like an old mule, the MCT is
worked by high tech gadgetry. I luuuve mine, after a year I think it's the dogs
nuts, wouldn't change it for the world, just a shame that earlier ones had some teething troubles. NO no Sunir I promise I don't work for Mercedes.
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Old Sep 30, 2011 | 02:15 PM
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Originally Posted by photonut
my sl63 has a similar jerk when cold. i almost always drive in manual mode, and this obviates the problem. my vehicle has over 4K miles on it and i have to make my first service call: an oil change because the car is 1 year old.
fast forward to sept 2011.
my tranny hesitates and then the car bucks when first started in the am, even in manual mode.
the problem is intermittent
12k miles on the car.
dealer has looked at it twice and cannot find a problem.
when they road test the vehicle, they cannot duplicate the symptom.
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Old Sep 30, 2011 | 03:16 PM
  #15  
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Originally Posted by photonut
fast forward to sept 2011.
my tranny hesitates and then the car bucks when first started in the am, even in manual mode.
the problem is intermittent
12k miles on the car.
dealer has looked at it twice and cannot find a problem.
when they road test the vehicle, they cannot duplicate the symptom.
trade it in on an SL55 and have some money left over to mod it....the SL63 wouln't keep up either way
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Old Oct 1, 2011 | 06:54 AM
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Originally Posted by Sunir
trade it in on an SL55 and have some money left over to mod it....the SL63 wouln't keep up either way
its not just about speed.
i think the sl63 is a way better, more refined vehicle than the sl55.
the growling exhaust note is fantastic on the sl63.
the electronics, improved abc suspension and (ahem--the tranny) are all updated as well.
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Old Oct 1, 2011 | 08:53 AM
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Originally Posted by photonut
its not just about speed.
i think the sl63 is a way better, more refined vehicle than the sl55.
the growling exhaust note is fantastic on the sl63.
the electronics, improved abc suspension and (ahem--the tranny) are all updated as well.
I have been reading about how the SL63 is so much more refined than the SL55. I am not sure what that means? Maybe I am just not refined enough myself to know. Could be why I love the visceral "kick in the butt" torque the SL63 can't deliver.
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Old Oct 2, 2011 | 03:46 PM
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Originally Posted by cal1
I have been reading about how the SL63 is so much more refined than the SL55. I am not sure what that means? Maybe I am just not refined enough myself to know. Could be why I love the visceral "kick in the butt" torque the SL63 can't deliver.
no question the sl55 has more torque. but have you driven the sl63?
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Old Oct 2, 2011 | 04:26 PM
  #19  
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Originally Posted by jag85215
It looks to me like some protective coating or something got taken off. Not a huge deal, but for a crazy perfectionist like me, it kind of drives me crazy.
I can hear you. I'm as much a perfectionist as you are. Whenever I drive a used car, I replace everything that shows any traces showing that the car has been used by someone else before. It's gotta feel like new!

I have the NTG 2.5 COMAND on my W164 ML and I saw the whole front panel (and just the front panel) popping up on ebay now and then. So... the front panel can definitely be removed from the main unit. It looks like it is mounted with just 4 screws.

I'm not sure if this is also true for the SL's NTG 2.5, but then again, I can't think of any reason why it should be handled differently there.
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Old Oct 2, 2011 | 05:11 PM
  #20  
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Originally Posted by photonut
no question the sl55 has more torque. but have you driven the sl63?
I drove an SL63 at Road Atlanta last year during an AMG driving school event. I like the 7 speed tranny and the traction control is better than the SL55. The exhaust note on all 6.3s are awesome.
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Old Oct 2, 2011 | 08:49 PM
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Originally Posted by cal1
Could be why I love the visceral "kick in the butt" torque the SL63 can't deliver.
That's exactly the point.

I drove several SL63 and they simply do not deliver the promised bang! Plus: there's that MCT-7G issue that starts to arise on just too many MB/AMG enthusiast's boards.

I guess I'll stick to my SL55 till the R231 is at least 2yrs old. That's the point where I'll most probably switch over to an AMG R231.
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