SL55/63/65/R230 AMG: SL65 AMG Is Inexpensive Entry to 200MPH Club
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SL65 AMG Is Inexpensive Entry to 200MPH Club
This SL65 AMG listed on Craigslist is priced under $50,000, and even better still, it's had some work done by the formidable RENNtech.
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E55, GLS450, GL63, GLE350
There is nothing inexpensive about an SL65. Sure, the initial price is a fraction of what it cost new but the maintenance costs are still what a $200,000 car would consume.
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From: Austin, TX
21 E450 Wagon and 07 SL55
Everything is relative a SL65 will cost more to keep alive than a SL500 but R230 SL have ABC in the US.
But will is cost as much to maintain a Ferrari with cam belts and an F1 transmission? No it won't
Unless you are comparing it to a 200 mph car with a push rod engine it will not be that bad to maintain. I guess a Turbo Porsche that can reach 200 may cost less to maintain unless it has carbon brakes and sees real track duty.
There are loads of SL65s out there for under 40K and outside of a few engine out jobs like mounts, turbos, and ABC pumps the coil packs are the only other common costly gotchas.
I think the biggest issue we have with these cars are they are getting old and even most of the dealers out there don't really understand ABC and real need for fluid flushes being based on time and environment.
But will is cost as much to maintain a Ferrari with cam belts and an F1 transmission? No it won't
Unless you are comparing it to a 200 mph car with a push rod engine it will not be that bad to maintain. I guess a Turbo Porsche that can reach 200 may cost less to maintain unless it has carbon brakes and sees real track duty.
There are loads of SL65s out there for under 40K and outside of a few engine out jobs like mounts, turbos, and ABC pumps the coil packs are the only other common costly gotchas.
I think the biggest issue we have with these cars are they are getting old and even most of the dealers out there don't really understand ABC and real need for fluid flushes being based on time and environment.
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From: Kansas
2003 E55, 2003 SL55, 2014 CLS63, 2018 q50 Redsport, 1968 Camaro SS, 1999 Trans am Firehawk
I'm pretty sure a delimited SL55 went over 200mph at a track day sponsored by AMG when the model debuted. They had to make special one off tires for use for that day only since there were no tires in production speed rated to go that fast on a vehicle that heavy.
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From: West Chester, PA - USA
2003 SL55 AMG
Yes, a delimited 2002 (Euro model) SL55 AMG ran to 203.xx mph at Nardo - large oval (or round) track in southern Italy. Speed in a straight line would be a bit higher, as 'turning' reduces speed. So - perhaps a GOOD SL55 is an even less expensive entry into the 200+ mph club! You just have to get both limiters removed and be sure all 16 spark plugs are working well - ha.
Last edited by kittyandgary; Dec 7, 2015 at 09:07 AM.
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From: Northern Virginia
1999 E55, 2005 SL65
"Expensive" - what does that mean exactly? I've been reading for years how SL65s are "expensive" to maintain. I've had my 05 for 4+ years and have had few repairs; maintenance costs have been kept to a minimum using a very good indy. I drive it ~8 mos of the year and I drive it hard - again, very few repairs and, to date, no expensive ones. Will they occur? I'm sure they will - expensive cars will have expensive repairs.
However, I don't agree with blanket statements that SL65s are "expensive" to maintain. Are they all cheap to run? No. Are they all "expensive" to run? No.
All that being said, if you're on food stamps or have a history of collecting unemployment - perhaps another brand is for you.
If you're looking for a cheap ride, go with a cheap brand...
However, I don't agree with blanket statements that SL65s are "expensive" to maintain. Are they all cheap to run? No. Are they all "expensive" to run? No.
All that being said, if you're on food stamps or have a history of collecting unemployment - perhaps another brand is for you.
If you're looking for a cheap ride, go with a cheap brand...
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From: In my garage
E55, GLS450, GL63, GLE350
pjdough, how many miles are on your SL65 and how many miles do you drive your SL65 in a year. This may or may not apply to you but it always seems like the guy that says these are cheap to maintain always has a 10 year old car with less than 50k miles.
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From: Kansas
2003 E55, 2003 SL55, 2014 CLS63, 2018 q50 Redsport, 1968 Camaro SS, 1999 Trans am Firehawk
An SL65 is going to be more expensive to maintain than an SL55. The main costs are rotors, engine mounts, coil packs. You also have 8 more spark plugs than an SL55, but other than those 3 items the maintenance will be the same. The problem is those 3 items are very expensive ones. You gotta pay to play though and that extra 100 hp and better brakes may not be worth the extra cost over an SL55 if all that someone is trying to do is reach the 200mph club.
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From: san diego
2001 viper rt-10, 2007 SL65
OK, you got me there. My SL65 only has 36,000 miles on it. What's more, I've only had it 3 months with no problems. But i think i can defer to my previous car. Bought it new in 2005 when the mb drop top hardtop was almost impossible to find. Dealers in San Diego were charging a "market price" which was thousands above sticker. That was for the 500's. You had to special order a 55, 600, or 65 and don't even begin to negotiate price. So when i found a new 600 at $40,000 off sticker, the last thing on my mind was upkeep. I did find out the front tires didn't last to long and alignment and brakes were expensive. I did have the car 10 years with 86,000 miles when i traded it for my 65. Yes, standard maintenance is more expensive than your average Lexus, but the driving experience more than makes up for that. The most expensive item i dealt with were the coils (both at about 70,000 miles). The 600 was a great and dependable car and i would have kept it another 10 years except for unexpected circumstances. I now get to commiserate with my new AMG pals about the car i am now enjoying. You can get a bad car from any line, be it Ford,Chevy, or BMW, but you cannot get the driving experience of an 12tt amg with any other car. I thought about the SLS AMG, but i would have to choose a rag top or a coupe. The SL65 was still my choice. Drive and enjoy. It's worth it!
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From: Asheville, Atlanta
SL 65 AMG, Porsche 911 (993), 2014 Cayenne GTS, 2013 Toyota Highlander Limited
ABC fluid change
How often do you change the fluid for the ABC system? I was told that it did not need changed but only topped up? which did't sound right......I raise and lower theca each month to keep the lubrication through the system, and assume it helps......
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From: san diego
2001 viper rt-10, 2007 SL65
Sorry, guess you didn't get my point. The SL600 was a 10 year old car with 86,000 miles on it and had none of the mind boggling problems i have read about on this site. I would have kept it another 10 years if some lady had not t-boned me in a Von's parking lot. I lost use of the car for 3 months and i was missing it. To compound the problem, the body shop did a terrible job on it. To get it fixed would have cost $5000 and the mb dealer screwed up the upholstery on the passenger side to the tune of $ 4500. These things could have been repaired and the car would be like new, but i did not want to go without my car for another extended period. Although i have a strange feeling about my old car. Kind of like i lost an old friend, i hope the new owner will appreciate as i did. I am now happy that i traded up to an AMG. It has a completely different feel. A 100 pounds and a 100 horsepower somehow makes it a completely different car. I will certainly let you know if my new car has any of the ongoing and niggling problems that have seemed to turn you off!
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E55, GLS450, GL63, GLE350
I got what you were saying and I also got that your SL has next to no mileage without you saying it first. This is not my first rodeo with a biturbo V12 MB. I've put over $5k in maintenance and repairs on my SL in less than 6 months and my old CL consumed 3x that amount. I know the cost to maintain these.
Far too often, we hear how dependable the SL is but 99.9% of those owners cars have accumulated less half the normal miles of a car in that age range. It gives people a false sense of dependability and people act on the info and end up in financial trouble. Make no mistake, 2003 -2006 years were very dark to MB. The least reliable cars I've ever owned were produced in that time frame. The 230 SL is, in my opinion, the most beautiful MB roadsters ever produced and that's why I have one.
Far too often, we hear how dependable the SL is but 99.9% of those owners cars have accumulated less half the normal miles of a car in that age range. It gives people a false sense of dependability and people act on the info and end up in financial trouble. Make no mistake, 2003 -2006 years were very dark to MB. The least reliable cars I've ever owned were produced in that time frame. The 230 SL is, in my opinion, the most beautiful MB roadsters ever produced and that's why I have one.
Last edited by BlownV8; Dec 8, 2015 at 03:21 PM.
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From: Kansas
2003 E55, 2003 SL55, 2014 CLS63, 2018 q50 Redsport, 1968 Camaro SS, 1999 Trans am Firehawk
each bottle of pentosin has a 'use by' expiration date. I wouldn't leave any fluid in a car longer than what it takes the same fluid to supposedly go bad just sitting on a shelf. The ABC is certainly not a 'lifetime fluid' system contrary to what any dealer may tell you. search the forums and you can find an easy DIY that will only cost at most a couple hundred dollars. often amazon has giant 5 gallon jugs of the fluid cheap.
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Joined: May 2005
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From: san diego
2001 viper rt-10, 2007 SL65
I got what you were saying and I also got that your SL has next to no mileage without you saying it first. This is not my first rodeo with a biturbo V12 MB. I've put over $5k in maintenance and repairs on my SL in less than 6 months and my old CL consumed 3x that amount. I know the cost to maintain these.
Far too often, we hear how dependable the SL is but 99.9% of those owners cars have accumulated less half the normal miles of a car in that age range. It gives people a false sense of dependability and people act on the info and end up in financial trouble. Make no mistake, 2003 -2006 years were very dark to MB. The least reliable cars I've ever owned were produced in that time frame. The 230 SL is, in my opinion, the most beautiful MB roadsters ever produced and that's why I have one.
Far too often, we hear how dependable the SL is but 99.9% of those owners cars have accumulated less half the normal miles of a car in that age range. It gives people a false sense of dependability and people act on the info and end up in financial trouble. Make no mistake, 2003 -2006 years were very dark to MB. The least reliable cars I've ever owned were produced in that time frame. The 230 SL is, in my opinion, the most beautiful MB roadsters ever produced and that's why I have one.
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Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 306
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From: West Chester, PA - USA
2003 SL55 AMG
Regarding the question about changing ABC fluid. It, like brake fluid is hygroscopic, thus it slowly absorbs water into the fluid. The water content in contact with the steel parts (primarily pump, probably valves due to the nearly 3000 psi of the system) will cause rust.
I plan to change mine on about 3 year intervals. I fully purged it 2 years ago, then replaced all the dampeners and pressure reservoirs last winter, along with multiple bleedings at all four bleed valves (with several up/downs between bleedings)with refills as needed during that procedure. I'll again purge the system, installing new Pentosin CHF 11S again next winter.
Your 'plan' may vary!!!
I plan to change mine on about 3 year intervals. I fully purged it 2 years ago, then replaced all the dampeners and pressure reservoirs last winter, along with multiple bleedings at all four bleed valves (with several up/downs between bleedings)with refills as needed during that procedure. I'll again purge the system, installing new Pentosin CHF 11S again next winter.
Your 'plan' may vary!!!
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Joined: Feb 2004
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From: Arizona
2003 SL55 AMG, 1989 348 Challenge, 1987 Testarossa, 1992 F40, 1989 Mondial t cab, 2001 X5 4.4 Sport
Tires were fine. I kept an eye on pressures and they all went up by 2-3 psi. But I wasn't at the double ton for more than a few seconds. I will say that after 200+, 140 seems like a crawl!
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From: san diego
2001 viper rt-10, 2007 SL65
My SL55 is delimited and on a deserted road in a lonely western state... touched 202mph. It was so easy that I reached down and hit the massager...... just to say I did!
Tires were fine. I kept an eye on pressures and they all went up by 2-3 psi. But I wasn't at the double ton for more than a few seconds. I will say that after 200+, 140 seems like a crawl!
Tires were fine. I kept an eye on pressures and they all went up by 2-3 psi. But I wasn't at the double ton for more than a few seconds. I will say that after 200+, 140 seems like a crawl!
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From: U.K.
SL 63 W/B AMG , S600,C220
Where do you plan to do 200 mph. A 65 will get to 170 quite quickly, I have had 2 and both re mapped, however at 170 the air your pushing out of the way is immense . Can
you imagine what it's like at 190mph. I had a 5 mile freeway where I live, almost empty
after 9pm, The most I ever got was around 170, it will go faster but it starts to take time.
For those who drag race they probably know what I am saying.
S8
you imagine what it's like at 190mph. I had a 5 mile freeway where I live, almost empty
after 9pm, The most I ever got was around 170, it will go faster but it starts to take time.
For those who drag race they probably know what I am saying.
S8
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From: Kansas
2003 E55, 2003 SL55, 2014 CLS63, 2018 q50 Redsport, 1968 Camaro SS, 1999 Trans am Firehawk
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CL65
With the same motor, but a different platform I was able to get over the 200 mph mark in a mile and a half. I think the CL has a slightly better drag coefficient which may help. Normally a stock setup would run out of breath a bit in the higher rpms but with catless down pipes and large intake tubing, mine did not. Travelingat a rate of over 3 miles per minute, it still accelerated a little more than 11 MPH in less than 10 seconds.
For a few bucks these cars can get to 200 mph relatively easy.
For a few bucks these cars can get to 200 mph relatively easy.
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CL65
The LSD will not help in obtaining top speed, the pump and supplemental heat exchange will help a bit with cooler intake air. 200mph may take a bit of real estate, but confirm with Renntech if it is delimited or limited to 186mph.
