Hello MB World Members,

My name is Dave and I live in Northern Virginia. I have been watch/trolling this board, for the last month or so, trying to soak up as much information on the SL65's that I can; and I have to say you Guys are a fantastic source of information - thanks. I didn't see anywhere to introduce myself, but I am new member and to give you a little background about myself. I have always been into performance cars and motorcycles, I have had two V-12 (Jags) and they were so smooth to drive and most recently I had a 3000GT VR-4 Mitsubishi (twin turbo) that I sold back in March. Currently have two Harley Screamin' Eagle V-Rods (those are the ones Porsche worked with Harley to design the engine).

Anyway, I (well should say my Wife and I), are now in a position to buy a nice car. I was originally looking at Vettes and Vipers, but none of those went over well with the Wife. Thought about an Aston Vantage, but hose look like they would be a PITA to work on and may have dependability issues, so I started to consider other cars and researched Mercedes the SL65 specifically. The more I read and hear about the SL65 the more I think this would be the classy car the Wife will accept, with the performance I am looking for and a fun car to drive.

Please don't anyone take offense (regarding years or colors) - but what I am looking for is either a 2007 or a 2008 SL65, preferably in Silver but would consider other colors - other than black; (Wife doesn't like black) - which appears to be by far the majority. Bottom line - if anyone hears or knows of a nice SL65 with low mileage (prefer less than 30K), that isn't black - please let me know.

Thanks,

Dave

P.S. Will be selling my 395-HP SUV, Friday, and will have an empty garage, soon.

 

I know you are looking for a 2007/08 but I am selling my 2005. I am about 45 minutes west of Reston (I am in Bluemont). Here are some links to the info on my car. It has a full warranty until 6/2015 and would be quite a bit less then a 2007/08.

http://www.benzworld.org/forums/r230...ing-car-2.html

https://mbworld.org/forums/sl55-amg-...-amg-sale.html

http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-s...Radius=25&mmt=[MB[SL65AMG[]][]]&listingId=334851630&Log=0

Thanks

 

Hi Gary,

Wow you have a very nice car and I know exactly where you are -right off Snickersville and Mountain View. Great roads in your area, I ride up there on my Harley, very nice area.

I have just started my quest/search and for right now I am inclined to stay with the 07/08's. I think I missed out on a real nice car in Palm Beach - it had everything on it - Distronic, Panorama Roof, Parktonic, keyless go and Voice control. Here is the ad still on Autotrader: http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-s...gIndex=3&Log=0 I called them Friday and they sold it the previous Wednesday - oh well dollar short day late.

Thanks for the reply - you do have a very nice car but I just started to look let me see what all is out there. Thanks again, best of luck.

Dave

 

Dave - make sure to get an SL with a warranty or better yet, a CPO vehicle. Since you're buying a used car you have no idea how the prev owner treated your car

But you have already heard that advice.

Good luck on your purchase

 

Make sure to do a PPI for a couple hundred bucks or so and make sure the OBD codes as part of the PPI to pick up on any possible engine issues, i.e. typical bad coil packs on the V12TT, etc...

Awesome cars!!

 

Hi, I just bought a SL65. Try and buy a late one as they have a paddle change not buttons , and of course a warranty.

 

Thanks Everyone,

Great info, I am trying to look for a newer year - of the older design - I like the front end on the last generation SL's better than the newer ones. Hay, but that is just me, not putting them down but I have always liked the small light next to the larger light on the front end. And looking at the newer 07/08 my chances of finding one with a warranty is better.

Great suggestion abiazia - regarding the PPI (I am not totally sure what PPI stands for but I suspect that is a code read out from the OBD unit) - I'll do that - can I get this done anywhere or only at a Dealer? I would really like to know where I stand with one - I am guessing they are OBD-II? I have seen, on this board, the issue with the coil packs and not knowing where they are located I am guessing again - they maybe susceptible to heat this V-12 generates that causes them to go bad, but from what I have seen looks like at around 60K miles. I know in other cars I have owned I have had to replace coils, but with this one it appears there are 6 coils? Gota love V-12's there are multiples of everything.

Thanks Sound 8, from what I can tell most of the 07/08's, in the pictures I have seen, have paddles shifters. Question when using the paddles will they override the automatic shifts or will it shift on its own regardless?Thanks again,

Dave

 

PPI = "Pre purchase inspection" by a mercedes dealer or independent shop to determine what may be needed for a car to be in good working condition, etc....anywhere from $ 100 to $ 200......worth it.....you can use results to negotiate price downwards or get seller to fix before taking possession, if anything serious, i.e. ABC suspension leaks, etc...

The OBD readout may show other things, i.e. voltage transformer that regulates the coils, etc....crank position sensor issues if there have been misfires, etc....

Good luck in your purchase!!!

 

Thanks Abiazis,

For a few hundred bucks, that is an excellent suggestion and one I will act upon, once I find a car. I really appreciate all the input thanks again to everyone.

Funny thing is, I have been watching and there hasn't been too many new listings, heck on eBay there is only 3 cars listed for 2007 and 2008 combined. Maybe folks will get new cars and it will get better after the Holidays.

Dave :-)

 

I want to thank everyone for helping me out in my search and all your great advice. My Search is over, I picked up a 2011 SL65 today with just a tad over 5500 miles on it, it is a darkish red, and I’ll get the exact color down later. The main thing I have been doing is reading the owner’s manual and all those menus options.

I also have a message that states something like Service B is over due by 250 miles. As far as I can tell that is just an oil and filter change. I just have to figure out the easiest way to remove the engine cover and how difficult it is to change the filter. Filter looks like it is a canister filter and I would think MB has a drain plug on the top just like it does on my Father's SLK350.

Again thank you all and if you know where I can get a Service manual please let me know - I think I have seen some CD's on eBay but not sure if they are he real thing or not.

Dave