SL55/63/65/R230 AMG: Any reason to NOT buy an '03 with 12k miles?
Junior Member
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 33
Likes: 0
From: taxachusetts
C32amg, SL65amg, CRX Si turbo, Nissan Frontier, HD Sportster, Dinli quad, Bass Tracker V18
You are fooling yourself if you think you will be happy with the SL500 for now. You will regret not having the additional 200HP IMMEDIATELY! (not to mention all the other improvements of the 500). I wouldn't just worry about getting a car with the lowest miles. The money you save on a car with an additional 10,000mi on it more than another would probably pay for an extended warranty. I would get the lowest mileage SL55 that you feel you could afford with an extended warranty. That way you would have what you are really trying to end up getting to with the piece of mind that you can drive it for the next 4-5 years without too much to worry about.
Super Member
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 571
Likes: 5
From: Sweden
SL55AMG + SL600 + E320 + A180
Don’t buy either a AMG55 or a SL500 if you’re on a limited budget and you can't DIY ....... they will suck you dry if you have to go to the stealership every time there’s an issue 
...... for there will be ….. remember it’s just cars ……………
...... for there will be ….. remember it’s just cars ……………
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 1,141
Likes: 30
From: Texas
M6 Gran Coupe
The 2007 had the new engine....382 HP....so it's not as much of a difference as you think.
I believe the ABC problem is not as prevalent in the later SL's (I believe 2007 would qualify as later), either.
So yes....that might not be a bad choice.
I believe the ABC problem is not as prevalent in the later SL's (I believe 2007 would qualify as later), either.
So yes....that might not be a bad choice.
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 443
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From: Bay Area
03 SL55
Super Member
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 930
Likes: 24
06 SL65AMG, 13 Tesla Model S 60kwh, 02 Jaguar S-Type 3.0, 12 S550 4 Matic, 07 E320 Bluetec, 06 LX470
SL500 is soooooo sloowwww, Dish out a little more for a SL55 AMG, that extra power is worth it, Before I out my SL65 I had an SL55 and it was very fun to drive, as for the 03 models,
If you have keyless entry, the 03s will require u to have those cards, that they stopped right after 03.
The Command System is much more of a headache in the 03-04
The parts are very prone to failing esp the ABC, which is very expensive so your gonna need a full bumper to bumper and trust me its worth it, It will pay for itself
If you have keyless entry, the 03s will require u to have those cards, that they stopped right after 03.
The Command System is much more of a headache in the 03-04
The parts are very prone to failing esp the ABC, which is very expensive so your gonna need a full bumper to bumper and trust me its worth it, It will pay for itself
Junior Member
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 39
Likes: 1
From: Alexandria, Virginia USA
2003 SL55 AMG
The relationship between mileage and price is simple: reduce the value $1500 for every additional 10,000 miles on the odometer.
I base that figure on a study I did last year after my '03 got totaled and I was negotiating with the insurance company. I compiled price data for around 100 SL55 cars from '03-'05. I made a chart of mileage vs. cost and did a least-squares fit to the data. It's pretty consistent - $0.15 per mile.
By that theory, a car with 12K miles is worth $9K more than a car with 70K miles, as long as it doesn't have problems.
I base that figure on a study I did last year after my '03 got totaled and I was negotiating with the insurance company. I compiled price data for around 100 SL55 cars from '03-'05. I made a chart of mileage vs. cost and did a least-squares fit to the data. It's pretty consistent - $0.15 per mile.
By that theory, a car with 12K miles is worth $9K more than a car with 70K miles, as long as it doesn't have problems.
