SL55/63/65/R230 AMG: SL55 Weight
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 2,214
Likes: 29
2011 E63, 2013 CLS63
SL55 Weight
How hard is it to get the SL55 down to 1600kg, with full interior except replacing seats. Let's assume body parts are dry carbon and such. Lightest wheels and all etc etc. Alot of work but is it likely or unlikely to get there?
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 4,268
Likes: 253
Well they did something similar to the sl65 bs and... It is still a pig.
Raise it on a lift and look underneath. You will understand why the car is so heavy. The sheetmetal and interior pieces are a small part of the weight. The car has been conceived as a convertible and as such its body integrity is not a result of add ons but is part of it's DNA. The car is just solid. And heavy.
Raise it on a lift and look underneath. You will understand why the car is so heavy. The sheetmetal and interior pieces are a small part of the weight. The car has been conceived as a convertible and as such its body integrity is not a result of add ons but is part of it's DNA. The car is just solid. And heavy.
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 2,214
Likes: 29
2011 E63, 2013 CLS63
Jesus Christ, these cars are PIGS!! The weight, weight kills everything, I know I'm obsessing about it but no car I've had that I haven't thought about weight. My E46 M3 was 1440kg, I did alot of lightweight mods and I still thought it was heavy, when I got the E55 it was a daily so didn't notice it as much but as a project car Mercedes really doesn't offer much. 900 pounds is insane, and that would only get it down to an "acceptable" weight. The Black is a PIG, it weighs more than the E55 with all that lightening, hard roof. If it wasn't for the way the SL looks I wouldn't even be looking at one, but they're so damn gorgeous!! Especially when you do the SL63 facelift, or even the SL Black kits which are far more common than a CLK Black kit.
Trending Topics
Member
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 179
Likes: 5
From: Kingdom of Bahrain
AMG
Lose the convertable mechanism
Lighter Wheels
Lighter Brake Rotars
Get rid of the RIDICULOUS ABC suspension (im looking around too)
The seats, i heard each seat weighs around 80lbs.
And there you go, not 1,600 kilo's, but good enough for an Autobahn missle.
My car weighs around 1750 kilo's right now. Im going further down, but my interior is a one-off by FabDesign so i wont be doing much to my interior. Hopefully I find a good and lighter suspension. Don't really care if the ride gets stiff or not.
Anyone with some details?
Lighter Wheels
Lighter Brake Rotars
Get rid of the RIDICULOUS ABC suspension (im looking around too)
The seats, i heard each seat weighs around 80lbs.
And there you go, not 1,600 kilo's, but good enough for an Autobahn missle.
My car weighs around 1750 kilo's right now. Im going further down, but my interior is a one-off by FabDesign so i wont be doing much to my interior. Hopefully I find a good and lighter suspension. Don't really care if the ride gets stiff or not.
Anyone with some details?
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
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 4,268
Likes: 253
Autobahn missile? You know weight has very little to do with acceleration at high speeds, right? After say 100 it is all aero and tq (straight or via gearing) to the wheels...
Keep the car in it's element and enjoy it for what it was intended to be- a luxo cruiser with a fantastic engine.
Keep the car in it's element and enjoy it for what it was intended to be- a luxo cruiser with a fantastic engine.
Last edited by alx; Jul 31, 2011 at 10:13 AM.
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 idea of a weight loss program for the SL55 sounds really good on paper, but frankly, the car is not designed to be an Elise. It is a heavy, solid car.
I keep hearing lots of critics about the handling. If you are any good it really is deceptively good. I instruct, and have been out in an instructor only sessions with the 55, and have managed to put lots of pressure on GT3s and Z06s. The weak point isn't the handling, it is the brakes. At the track, 5-6 laps, thats it for me.
Just like any car, you have to adapt your driving style to the dynamics. Early on I had considered doing some big time weight loss on the car and came to the conclusion it just wasn't a good place to spend money. There are other cars that are more focussed and a better starting point for track work.
I keep hearing lots of critics about the handling. If you are any good it really is deceptively good. I instruct, and have been out in an instructor only sessions with the 55, and have managed to put lots of pressure on GT3s and Z06s. The weak point isn't the handling, it is the brakes. At the track, 5-6 laps, thats it for me.
Just like any car, you have to adapt your driving style to the dynamics. Early on I had considered doing some big time weight loss on the car and came to the conclusion it just wasn't a good place to spend money. There are other cars that are more focussed and a better starting point for track work.
Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 211
Likes: 1
From: SF Bay Area
2001 Lamborghini Diablo, 2009 SL65 (sold), 1998 CL600 (sold), 1989 560SEL (sold)
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 2,214
Likes: 29
2011 E63, 2013 CLS63
Not exactly trolling, thought it was a valid suggestion. Thought you wanted a lightweight roadster that looks like a SL with 500+hp.
The SLK is a dressed up girls car, it's too small to take seriously, even the AMG looks like a hairdresser-mobile whereas a widebody SL like the one on this forum is just menacing. I would never even consider an SLK, respect to whoever owns one but for me it's just no, it's not that light either, for the size it's actually heavy. The Boxster is definitely better in that category. The point is the SL is an amazing car, solid as a rock but I think it could use some weight savings. By the way, has anyone weighed their car? My E55 weighs 4062 lbs (no pano). It's amazing the SL weighs more as it's smaller in size. Has anybody weighed theirs?
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,653
Likes: 5
From: Ann Arbor
'03 SL55
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 417
Likes: 2
996tt
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 6,897
Likes: 85
From: Central WI (BFE)
SL55, ML500 & Acura TL
Thank you John for posting this. I have told a few of my "E" buddies that the SL weighs more than the E but they think i am using it as an excuse for my slow car. One of my "E" buddies has similar mods to me. He runs about 11.5 on DRs. My PB is 11.86 on streets. The better sixty from the DRs and the 300 pound difference in weight in my opinoin explains being slower by 3.5 tenths or so perfectly.
Sorry to the OP for highjacking the thread.
Sorry to the OP for highjacking the thread.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,653
Likes: 5
From: Ann Arbor
'03 SL55
Thank you John for posting this. I have told a few of my "E" buddies that the SL weighs more than the E but they think i am using it as an excuse for my slow car. One of my "E" buddies has similar mods to me. He runs about 11.5 on DRs. My PB is 11.86 on streets. The better sixty from the DRs and the 300 pound difference in weight in my opinoin explains being slower by 3.5 tenths or so perfectly.
Sorry to the OP for highjacking the thread.
Sorry to the OP for highjacking the thread.
Glad to share the info.
Love the R230 but it's definitely a heavy beast!
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 2,214
Likes: 29
2011 E63, 2013 CLS63
Sorry to the OP for highjacking the thread.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 8,137
Likes: 26
From: Maryland
Eurocharged 2004 E500, Eurocharged ECU/TCU 2005 SL600, 2010 Caddy SwaggerWagon
My SL600, on stock wheels. Still had all of the tool, spare, air pump etc...in the car. This is without driver and 1/8 tank of fuel.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 6,897
Likes: 85
From: Central WI (BFE)
SL55, ML500 & Acura TL
I was thinking I could shave 200+ pounds off of the SL if I could get my fat a$$ out of the car by teaching my 4 pound Chihuahua to drive. Problem is, I don't think I could find a helmet small enough to fit her.
