ChrisTinaBruce

Looking to buy first SL65 & noticed many are difficult to sell, Why?

Having been a owner of a 2006 Viper SRT and many sports cars in the past I am completely aware of the rapid depreciation. My question is why does it appear that the 2005 - 2008 SL65 AMG are difficult to sell even with a huge depreciation?

Are there any major (expensive) items or issues I should be aware of? I have read about a few items to make sure to address or purchase a extended warranty such as:

1. ABC Pump
2. ABC Valve Block
3. Motor Mounts & Trans Mounts
4. Convertible Top Pump
5. Ignition coils

Thanks in advance for any insight for a soon to be new MB owner.
Chris Tina

F1BHP

That's a good list and is the main reason for the low prices. These items are all expensive to fix however relative to the original cost of the car they would be considered normal.

sl65_rockford

A great car to have, hard to move up in line after having one. IMHO, a Bently v12 would be next option...but

I would say to you buy from a forum member here. Don't buy from dealer. These guys here have already fixed most issues with these w275 engines. Once all common issues are resolved. The car runs forever. Having owned a 2006, with a recent conversion to 2009-2012 look, I will keep it till the wheel fall off and still it will be a beautiful car. But remember, buy from a passionate SL owner and most all have done the necessary remedies to these exotics. Good luck...

sl65_rockford

I bought mine with 50k miles and I ran a VMI and all the problems that were gonna happen with 100%certainty did not appear on the list. But every silly tiny issue was diagnosed with the car. I was a 2nd owner and I knew that I would be dealing with the certain issues to arrise, coil pack, mounts, abc..etc.

The owner sold before these issue arose and we're out of warranty claims..smart guy. So that's one reason...plus remember the SL65 is still a rare car among the SL,s

sound 8

Without doubt the 65 is special, just drive one.
Oh you forgot

Gearbox
ABC strut
leaking boot /trunk
ABC lines

and on and on, keep the miles low, and drive the family car week days.

You will smile every weekend when you get out a piece of iconic history.

ChrisTinaBruce

Thank you for all the quick replies.

Is the gear box in general a issue or a recall/repair item?

RoundTheBenz

The transmissions are pretty rock solid on these cars. Very few complaints that I've seen. The older R230's have the 5 speed and the newer ones have I believe 7.

F1BHP

Gearbox? I have only heard good things about the transmission/gearbox

ChrisTinaBruce

I asked about gearbox based on a comment posted...

Without doubt the 65 is special, just drive one.
Oh you forgot

Gearbox
ABC strut
leaking boot /trunk
ABC lines

and on and on, keep the miles low, and drive the family car week days.

You will smile every weekend when you get out a piece of iconic history.

Sir-Boost-a-Lot

iTrader: (1)

They're hard to sell because they're f**king junk, with regard to what they cost to buy new, and maintain. It's one of those "elephants in the corner" that no one who owns one wants to talk about because they don't want to see the car worth even less and become even harder to sell.

With that being said, an R230 SL is a fantastic machine when everything broken is fixed, and everything is performing to spec. They're fast, ride nice, and handle like a car that weighs 1500 lbs less. If you're single, you'll never have a shortage of volunteers for passenger seat occupancy.

Just grab your rain boots for the deluge of repair bills that come with fixing things you never thought yould be fixing on a Hyundai, let alone a car of this caliber.

sound 8

Just because a car is reliable it doesn't mean you would want to own it.
I know this sounds weird but sometimes I am glad when you get a small
inexpensive fault, you get a great feeling when you drive home from the dealer. In the 70's I had a BMW 3.3L , it spent more time at the garage
than it did at my house. each time it was fixed I swore I would sell it, but
after the drive home I was back in love with my thorough bred.
I think that all expensive well heeled cars are going to be unreliable, particularly after a few years. Just looking at my 65 is enough to make
me swoon.

Sir-Boost-a-Lot

iTrader: (1)

Yeah I agree, and I'm not saying "don't buy one" to anybody considering a purchase. I'm just stating why they're not only inexpensive to purchase, but take time to sell.
Just like a wife/girlfriend, the best ones are high maintenance

EXECMALIBU

The SL65s are no more prone to failures then any of the MBs with the ABC, SBC systems. Other then the V12 Coil Packs which seem to fail at around 40,000 Miles. The newer replacement type Coil Packs (07 and 08 part numbers) are supposedly much improved?
Other then around $2,200 for Coil Packs and higher tune up costs (24 plugs) the V12s cost basically the same to own as a SL550. They all have the same ABC issues. The 722 Transmissions are bullet proof and are even stronger in the SL65 (722.649).


Check the resale of most luxury cars, they all drop like a rock in a vacuum (except Lexus) compared to Hondas, Toyotas, Kias etc. Expensive cars are almost all leased and they all get dumped for the newest model when the lease terminates. To get into another lease usually costs little or nothing to upgrade to the newest model car. Plus what rich person wants to buy a 3-4 year old car in the "old" body style?

Also most people (even rich people) are scared to death about owning a car with a "Super Exotic" V12 engine so the number of buyers is very limited. Even when brand new with a full MB warranty they sold VERY FEW V12s! In 2006 they only sold 390 SL65s during the entire year and less and less each year thereafter. Compare that to the fact MB probably sold 390 SL550s in a single week in 2006 proving that V12 were absolutely dead sellers.

Then for a used car buyer ad the terrifying thought of NO WARRANTY and having to pay to repair a V12 engine and also the fears about the limited gas milage issues with a V12 and deduct another 20-30% from the resale value.

I think the SL65s seem to have firmed up in the $50K range for near perfect low milage examples which is 25% of the cost when new which is an amazing deal for such a beautiful MONSTER of a car. But there are still very few people with the ***** to subject themselves to the potential drama of owning a used MB V12.

"Not sure how many shots I fired was it 5 or 6?.. Do you feel lucky? Well do you... Punk??"

RoundTheBenz

Have to agree with EXECMALIBU. My last car which was a Maserati dropped in value like a rock and talk about expensive to own and operate. I think the misconception here is that you can't afford to own one. Even with the potential repairs, this car still represents real value. To call it junk is a bit disingenuous.

sound 8

You cannot go through life denying yourself the experience of a driving
such a smooth car, with blistering acceleration, road holding and the rest,
unless you get off collecting stamps... I understand..

aeroman

I have had my SL65 for 3 months or so now and love it. I still miss my E63 that was wrecked but I really love this car. It still amazes me how pushing about an inch or so on the throttle at 70 and it rockets to 100 plus without even getting excited sounding. Floor it and you better know where you are going and what you are going to do when you get there.

pjdough

I've had my 05 SL65 going on 20 mos and have put ~8k miles on her (43k total). To date, I've had very, very few probs. The ones I've had my Fidelity Platinum has taken care of.
Like most of those that respond in this forum, I've had my share of sports and muscle cars. That said, there is not one I'd compare to my 65 for both luxury and brute force. Sure, my 911 straightened corners better; my '70 Boss 302 was the absolute ***** for sliding corners; and my 240Z was ourtright fun. That said, few cars compete with her lines - reminds me of a friend's '67 Vette convertible - very balanced.
With all my previous rides, I never worried about what my next car would be...I do now!
There is nothing that compares, in my mind or experience, to the 65. I've done little to trick her out (ECU/TCU upgrades, lowered 1", BBS Wheels, Meisterschaft stage 3 exhaust, and rear diffuser), but I'd want nothing more, or less, than what she is right now.
Sure, many people with give you a lot of reasons why you shouldn't get a 65. I say, take her for ride...then decide!

V12TTenthusiast

I've had my 65 for 2 years exact now, and drive it as my daily when the weather is good, so far I put around 28k miles on it, and I have another 22 k/2 years to go on my warranty.

Coil packs, engine mounts, parts on the ABC can be pricey but you have to remember this was a 200k+ when it was new so its not hard to expect parts to be up there. Warranty is a must on these cars.

Only thing that isn't mention on the list above that you will have to take car of depending on the mileage is the brakes. The rotors are 700-800 a pop but the rear tend to last much longer. I had to change my front brakes around 50k miles, I'm at 64k miles now and I haven't had any issue with the rear yet.

TTtodd

just picked up a 65. Went into it with my eyes wide open. Low 30k mileage car near perfect condition. with that mileage I know I can look forward to problems.

I also know that I can do the repairs myself. That keeps the cost down and adds to the ownership enjoyment. Just purchased a Star Diagnostic unit. I have owned many high end cars, all have problems. I have a habit of buying them at near bottom of depreciation and enjoy the crap out of em.

ChrisTinaBruce

Agree completely...hope you enjoy every moment.

Quadrobenz

Part of the original question related specifically to the '05-'08 model years. As an owner of both a 2005 and 2009 SL600 simultaneously I will offer some thoughts. The 09 R230 was restyled front and rear and bears a closer resemblance to the R231, making the 09's and newer R230's more desirable to many buyers. There were also a number of other less visible changes made. The most significant is the changeover to a hard disc based COMAND system in 2009.

BlownV8

I'm not a fan of the R231 at all but do like the face lifted 2009 R230. MB definitely got the styling right on the R230 it's just a shame that it's so unreliable but not much more so than any other ABC equipped MB.

sl65_rockford

Ttodd, your 100% right own. Problem after owning an sl65, is what to get next.

COOPERDB

`







Yes




`

sound 8

When your driving and a 230 comes up behind you it looks awesome, when
a 231 comes up behind you it's , is it a CL, or a CLA or is it CLS oh it's a SL.
Modern MB's are all the same from the front.