from 65 grand to 20 grand. when I sold it.
SL55/63/65/R230 AMG: You own a SL55AMG ??? .... then you certainly need a second car for back-up
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Super Member
Joined: Feb 2011
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From: Sweden
SL55AMG + SL600 + E320 + A180
You own a SL55AMG ??? .... then you certainly need a second car for back-up
Her we go again ..... after pic-up at MB from a repair to almost 1600USD then I only manage to drive 900 miles before the bearing at the AC gave way - the bloody wheel flew off - terrible noise from the engine room and red lights start flashing everywhere .... then the notification "Visit Workshop" - as I couldn't guess that - what a crap and unreliable car - the car have only 93.000 mil - 
I mean - I have a Jeep which has run over 280.000 miles ! Never a prop. with the AC on that.....................
I mean - I have a Jeep which has run over 280.000 miles ! Never a prop. with the AC on that.....................
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G55, SLS, smart eq
Do I understand correctly that the pulley on the AC pump (or another pulley on that belt) dismounted? The pulleys seem to be a weak point on this car, I had many replaced already due to slack on the bearing. Which reminds me to check now immediately on my car...
A lot of things need preemptive care. Not to mention the ABC system, which (on the pre 2007 cars) is effectively a time bomb. Not if, but when will it fail
When it does work though it's a hell of a car
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Joined: Nov 2009
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From: Norway
SL 55 and a GT 3000 vr4 Here's my car: http://home.online.no/~ludvs/index.cfm
Why does the abc need preemtive care?
If you check the manual, is states that you don't need to do anything, unless you have a problem.
So, only do something with the abc if you got a problem.
If somebody here knows otherwise, i would like to know about it.
So, only do something with the abc if you got a problem.
If somebody here knows otherwise, i would like to know about it.
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ah.. any amg car is not a matter of if, but when will leave you stranded.
good that they are expensive so owners usually have other vehicles too.
i would not rely on any of my amg cars without a backup. they are toys with some practical aspects thrown in...
good that they are expensive so owners usually have other vehicles too.
i would not rely on any of my amg cars without a backup. they are toys with some practical aspects thrown in...
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G55, SLS, smart eq
The same with the transmission oil. In the early naughties it was thought that refreshing it was not necessary. Now they promote a change every 60k km.
The reason they don't want to work on ABC is that messing with it can open a can of worms for them as it can trigger problems. But that doesn't mean the ABC system doesn't need service.
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Member
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 185
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From: Norway
SL 55 and a GT 3000 vr4 Here's my car: http://home.online.no/~ludvs/index.cfm
Ok, thank you for the information, mine if from 2003 so it's probably time to take it to the dealer and do it.
Also the tranny at the same time.
It's almost 10 years old so I hope the abc will work as long as possible.
But i'm putting aside some money for the eventually repair of it.
Also the tranny at the same time.
It's almost 10 years old so I hope the abc will work as long as possible.
But i'm putting aside some money for the eventually repair of it.
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From: Sin City
2005 E55 AMG - - 2005 SL55 AMG - - - - - - 2006 SLK55 AMG - - - - - - 2013 Ducati Diavel AMG -
Ha! Your right, my SLK55 already left me stranded when its transmission blew! 
So you telling me having a third AMG for backup to my SL55 and SLK55 is not good??
This AMG however, should not break down.
So you telling me having a third AMG for backup to my SL55 and SLK55 is not good??
This AMG however, should not break down.
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G55, SLS, smart eq
I've had my 2003 SL since 2004 and have driven from 25k km to the actual 117k Km, if my calculations are correct that's around 7.500 miles a year for 8 years straight.
It can be a daily driver perfectly, you just have to repair some expensive stuff from time to time. The car has had 5 ABC shocks replaced (one due to an enourmous pothole). I've had the ABC pump replaced preemprively at 110k km as the car was in for some mayor repairs (due to the pothole). Up next are the ABC valve blocks as the car is sagging on one end in a couple of days (which ideally should be after a couple of weeks). Nothing acute (yet, they can also leak), but should be done some day. Then I will have had the whole ABC system replaced.
Furthermore I haven't had any real troubles really, but e.g. anything on the belts can break due to wear. And the electronics may break from time to time. But then, it's all 10 years old already...
It can be a daily driver perfectly, you just have to repair some expensive stuff from time to time. The car has had 5 ABC shocks replaced (one due to an enourmous pothole). I've had the ABC pump replaced preemprively at 110k km as the car was in for some mayor repairs (due to the pothole). Up next are the ABC valve blocks as the car is sagging on one end in a couple of days (which ideally should be after a couple of weeks). Nothing acute (yet, they can also leak), but should be done some day. Then I will have had the whole ABC system replaced.
Furthermore I haven't had any real troubles really, but e.g. anything on the belts can break due to wear. And the electronics may break from time to time. But then, it's all 10 years old already...
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From: Ann Arbor
'03 SL55
My 2003 SL55 was my daily driver from 2006 through 2011 when I switched to a Kona Jake the Snake.
The car had 7,000 miles when I purchased it in late 2005 and has 78,000 now, so I was averaging around 11,000 miles per year. In that time I never experienced a major component failure. The only time the car failed to get me to a destination was due to a tire shreded by a pot hole.
That's not to say that all SL55s are reliable, of course. People have had the issues described above and elsewhere. Some SL55s seem to be more reliable while others are less so. Caveat emptor, I suppose.
The car had 7,000 miles when I purchased it in late 2005 and has 78,000 now, so I was averaging around 11,000 miles per year. In that time I never experienced a major component failure. The only time the car failed to get me to a destination was due to a tire shreded by a pot hole.
That's not to say that all SL55s are reliable, of course. People have had the issues described above and elsewhere. Some SL55s seem to be more reliable while others are less so. Caveat emptor, I suppose.
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 571
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From: Sweden
SL55AMG + SL600 + E320 + A180
well – I have cooled down ….. and I love this car …. will do the jobs/repairs myself from this time and onward – I got the repair DVR – just looking for a proper diagnostic tool – guess I should start another thread about that.
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From: Ann Arbor
'03 SL55
Junior Member
Joined: Jul 2012
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From: Virginia
1999 SL500, 2003 E320, 2005 SL55
While I certainly don't drive mine everyday (don't even take it out in high humidity), my neighbor has used his as a daily driver since 2004. Granted he doesn't drive very much, but he says that it's been very reliable.
