SL55/63/65/R230 AMG: New buyer..
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
From: Melbourne FL
2006 E-350 1999 SLK230
New buyer..
Ok I think I made my mind up thanks to you folks and my hours scouring the boards. I'm pretty well settled on a SL55. I found an 05 Designo with about 55k on it for $38k... would this be considered a good deal? does the Designo stigma do anything for resale (I just like it because it is black with the tan and black interior) Any major things I should worry about before I take this plunge? Looking to you guys with expirence with these cars, I'm not a rich guy but I know what I like! Thanks in advance
Newbie
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
sl55 amg
Im also looking to buy an SL55 and from my research that looks like a good price. But reading the message on here, I'm a little worried about the reliability of the car - and the huge costs to repair it if anything goes wrong so am looking for a lower mileage car. Im sure someone will help us out with some Manheim auction prices to compare with
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 3,703
Likes: 5
From: Arizona
SL55AMG, Ferrari 348, Ferrari Testarossa, Ferrari F40, Ferrari Mondial t, Ducati 916, Indycar
The biggest challenge is finding a good car that has been taken care of. Original owner, books, tools, complete service history, etc. is a good place to start.
These cars are very reliable....... if they are cared for. Mine has been bullet proof, and I have had it since '03.
I have a number of clients who got a 'deal' and ended up spending another $20K making the car right. Sometimes the best deal isn't about the money.
These cars are very reliable....... if they are cared for. Mine has been bullet proof, and I have had it since '03.
I have a number of clients who got a 'deal' and ended up spending another $20K making the car right. Sometimes the best deal isn't about the money.
Last edited by IngenereAMG; Sep 6, 2010 at 10:26 PM.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 8,137
Likes: 26
From: Maryland
Eurocharged 2004 E500, Eurocharged ECU/TCU 2005 SL600, 2010 Caddy SwaggerWagon
I couldn't agree more. You don't want to price shop these cars and just buy the cheapest one in the color you like. It's really worth paying a premium for a 'no stories' car.
And I can't stress enough that you need to budget another 3-5K for a warranty. You do not want to own one of these out of warranty. It's not that they break a lot, they don't....well some do, I suppose. But the good ones don't. But when they do, you can't get out of the dealer for less than a grand. Couple visits to the dealer and the warranty has paid for itself.
The convertible top is a very complex piece of engineering and expensive when things don't work properly. The ABC system is another common source of making your wallet lighter.
And I can't stress enough that you need to budget another 3-5K for a warranty. You do not want to own one of these out of warranty. It's not that they break a lot, they don't....well some do, I suppose. But the good ones don't. But when they do, you can't get out of the dealer for less than a grand. Couple visits to the dealer and the warranty has paid for itself.
The convertible top is a very complex piece of engineering and expensive when things don't work properly. The ABC system is another common source of making your wallet lighter.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,261
Likes: 0
From: Sacramento, CA
Several MB's Superperformance MK III Cobra
Ok I think I made my mind up thanks to you folks and my hours scouring the boards. I'm pretty well settled on a SL55. I found an 05 Designo with about 55k on it for $38k... would this be considered a good deal? does the Designo stigma do anything for resale (I just like it because it is black with the tan and black interior) Any major things I should worry about before I take this plunge? Looking to you guys with expirence with these cars, I'm not a rich guy but I know what I like! Thanks in advance
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
From: Melbourne FL
2006 E-350 1999 SLK230
Thanks for the advice thus far. I now have the question as to a good warranty company that will cover the problems that the SL55 could have. I don't want to pay for a warranty only to find out that the stuff that breaks is so dang special that it isn't covered. Tough to submit to $4k in repair cost right out the gate but from what you folks are saying that may be the right call...
Trending Topics
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 4,268
Likes: 253
Ok I think I made my mind up thanks to you folks and my hours scouring the boards. I'm pretty well settled on a SL55. I found an 05 Designo with about 55k on it for $38k... would this be considered a good deal? does the Designo stigma do anything for resale (I just like it because it is black with the tan and black interior) Any major things I should worry about before I take this plunge? Looking to you guys with expirence with these cars, I'm not a rich guy but I know what I like! Thanks in advance
MB World Stories
The Best of Mercedes & AMG
Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Verdad Gallardo
8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine
Verdad Gallardo
Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction
Verdad Gallardo
Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes 300D Has Pushed Well Past 1 Million Miles and It Ain't Stopping
Verdad Gallardo
10 Most Reliable Mercedes-Benz Models You Can Buy Used
Verdad Gallardo
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 444
Likes: 8
From: Sweden
2008 MB CL600. 2020 MB E300 de. 1987 BMW M535i.
Why do most people in the US throw their service books away..? Or don't fill them out...
At least that goes for all the cars I've come across here (in Sweden), that have been imported from the US.
Strangly enough they tend to NEVER have a service book...
Or as I said, if they DO have one (10% chance) it sure is an empty one...
How come..?
We all know about "Car Fax", and how that is a system you seem to trust to the fullest, but still...
(Car Fax is btw a system that I find nice and smart'n all. Too bad we don't have that here!)
But trying to sell a car here with no service book at all, and just refer to the computers, is like selling a three-legged donkey...
Last edited by maxabo; Sep 8, 2010 at 04:44 AM.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 4,268
Likes: 253
Then I must ask you guys this;
Why do most people in the US throw their service books away..? Or don't fill them out...
At least that goes for all the cars I've come across here (in Sweden), that have been imported from the US.
Strangly enough they tend to NEVER have a service book...
Or as I said, if they DO have one (10% chance) it sure is an empty one...
How come..?
We all know about "Car Fax", and how that is a system you seem to trust to the fullest, but still...
(Car Fax is btw a system that I find nice and smart'n all. Too bad we don't have that here!)
But trying to sell a car here with no service book at all, and just refer to the computers, is like selling a three-legged donkey...
Why do most people in the US throw their service books away..? Or don't fill them out...
At least that goes for all the cars I've come across here (in Sweden), that have been imported from the US.
Strangly enough they tend to NEVER have a service book...
Or as I said, if they DO have one (10% chance) it sure is an empty one...
How come..?
We all know about "Car Fax", and how that is a system you seem to trust to the fullest, but still...
(Car Fax is btw a system that I find nice and smart'n all. Too bad we don't have that here!)
But trying to sell a car here with no service book at all, and just refer to the computers, is like selling a three-legged donkey...
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 444
Likes: 8
From: Sweden
2008 MB CL600. 2020 MB E300 de. 1987 BMW M535i.
But what about the third buyer/owner there, isn't the maintenance history a pretty important part when deciding if the deal is good or not..?
And if he has to go threw some kind of an investigation when he's buying the car, why not have the book stamped and filled out then, since it's NOT gonna be any easier down the line..!
I mean, he PROBABLY wants to sell his car one day...
Last edited by maxabo; Sep 9, 2010 at 02:09 AM. Reason: gramma
Newbie
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
sl55 amg
I moved to the US from England where they do the same - car has to have a full service history book or it will struggle to sell at the going price
Speaking of price, does anyone have any up to date auction prices for 2005 SL55 AMGs?
Speaking of price, does anyone have any up to date auction prices for 2005 SL55 AMGs?
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,615
Likes: 0
From: Maryland
SL55 AMG
Agreed. Look around and don't go lowest bidder. drive the cars, and see what you like best. Older cars with higher miles don't mean they are problematic and newer cars with low miles don't mean they are perfect...get history and records if possible...and get the aftermarket service contract or save for a rainy day it's upto you...there are folks who go each path with this one.
Member
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 244
Likes: 1
From: Louisiana
2005 SL500
Mileage on used cars
This is personal opinion only, but with Mercedes especially, I tend toward cars that show the more common number of miles appropriate for their age. Something that is 5-6 years old should have 50K-70K miles on it which should tell you two things: 1. The owner drove the vehicle often enough to exercise the mechanical (and rubber) components that require movement or heat/cool cycles to operate properly and 2. the car ran well enough that the owner probably used it as a DD or drove it quite often (i.e.- it wasn't in the shop all the time). Granted, these are assumptions but combine that with the fact that most MB's are just getting broken in and seated by about 50K miles and can easily top 150K-200K with regards to the drivetrain. A good one/two owner vehicle that wasn't a "garage queen" should work well for someone who drives it as much as it should be driven. My '05 SL500 is my DD and has worked great in the three years I've owned it.
-ROOK
P.S.- I've been looking around becuase I'm considering purchasing an '05-'06 SL55 and noticed that those prices have a really huge range. There's a private seller letting his '05 SL55 go for no less than $59,000! No perf mods on it either!
-ROOK
P.S.- I've been looking around becuase I'm considering purchasing an '05-'06 SL55 and noticed that those prices have a really huge range. There's a private seller letting his '05 SL55 go for no less than $59,000! No perf mods on it either!
Last edited by Rook3300; Sep 22, 2010 at 09:34 PM.
Member
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 99
Likes: 0
2005 SL 55
I have to disagree with the higher mileage being more favorable. I bought my 2005 a year ago and it had 14,000 miles. The car was still under warranty and I had an air pump replaced when I bought the car, nothing since. I would much rather buy a lower mileage car because of future resale value and it usually means the car is still under warranty or just recently out and any work that it might have needed was done and done correctly at a dealership. Now, if your using the vehicle for work or put a lot of miles on during the year than that's a different story. I only put 3-4k on my car a year. Anyone thinking of purchasing a used SL should find an after market warranty, I got a Chrysler 5 yr while they were available for $2400. Bottom line is that these are AWESOME cars and a thrill to drive and own. 
