SL55/63/65/R230 AMG: Grenaded the Rear Diff
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 460
Likes: 14
2006 SL65 ///AMG - GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN: 2005 E55; 2002 ML55; 2001 CLK55; 1992 BMW 850i; 1991 M5
Grenaded the Rear Diff
So, how many forum members have sent the piñon out the back of their rear diff? Happened to me the other day while puttering through a school zone at 20 mph. The Silver Hippo (as I affectionately call my SL65) started making a moaning, groaning sound ... kinda' like a hippo in heat. I was very close to home and limped her there. I noticed if I gave her a tiny bit of throttle to 'load' the driveline, the sound went away completely - let off the throttle to coast, moan groan moan. Ive always thought the 1-2 shift under full throttle seemed awfully violent. Now I guess I'm paying the price for a KLEEMANN tune that sends 800+ lb ft through a now 11 year old driveline! Half pissed, but its sort of a badge of honor, too! Brand new AMG diff for the 65 cars is $3,400 - reman unit is $2,600. My SA said he would push the new one through for $2,900. I say, WTF - easy come, easy go. (Accountant just told me I'm getting a nice fat refund for overpaying my quarterly estimates last year - I guess that means MB is getting my nice fat refund!) I've owned my Hippo outright for quite a while now and have become spoiled with no car payment. The repair is cheaper than buying something new that I know I won't like as much as my 650 hp V12 65!!!
Member
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 107
Likes: 17
From: Chicago
'06 SL65
I think a lot of these SL65s have been neglected from the required break-in oil fluid change. My first SL65 had ~25k miles when acquired. 2-owner car (i was the third). Service history was short; no mention of fluid ever being changed. Sure enough, the fill plug still had the chalk line, and the drain plug had never been touched.
My second SL65, 3000 mile car when acquired, same story.
By no means am I stating that this is your problem, but on some of these cars it's a contributing factor to the differential degradation.
My second SL65, 3000 mile car when acquired, same story.
By no means am I stating that this is your problem, but on some of these cars it's a contributing factor to the differential degradation.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 460
Likes: 14
2006 SL65 ///AMG - GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN: 2005 E55; 2002 ML55; 2001 CLK55; 1992 BMW 850i; 1991 M5
I got this 65 with about 25k miles and my first order of business was full fluid change: oil, trans, rear diff, brake, and coolant. I've stayed on schedule since. I thought about upgrading to Quaffe, but at 11 yrs old and 60k miles, when the next major shoe drops, I probably will make the move to the 911 Turbo that I've always wanted and never owned.
Super Member
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 955
Likes: 127
From: Kansas
2003 E55, 2003 SL55, 2014 CLS63, 2018 q50 Redsport, 1968 Camaro SS, 1999 Trans am Firehawk
the next major shoe is going to be either something in the ABC system or a motor mount. It is a 20-25 hour job on the v12 to replace those as the engine has to come out.
The coolant btw is good for 15 years/150k so there was really no reason to change it. Here is a nice write up about the MB cooling system & why the change interval is so long
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...ak8GJSQgrPEWnA
What really needs to be changed fluid wise is that ABC fluid. You can buy it in bulk by the gallon or 5 gallon on amazon fairly reasonable.
The coolant btw is good for 15 years/150k so there was really no reason to change it. Here is a nice write up about the MB cooling system & why the change interval is so long
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...ak8GJSQgrPEWnA
What really needs to be changed fluid wise is that ABC fluid. You can buy it in bulk by the gallon or 5 gallon on amazon fairly reasonable.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 460
Likes: 14
2006 SL65 ///AMG - GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN: 2005 E55; 2002 ML55; 2001 CLK55; 1992 BMW 850i; 1991 M5
I did replace the ABC fluid a while back along with the ABC pump. At that time all 4 shocks checked out fine. We'll see. This car has been a blast to own and drive, but she is my daily driver, nothing lasts forever.
Member
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 107
Likes: 17
From: Chicago
'06 SL65
I got this 65 with about 25k miles and my first order of business was full fluid change: oil, trans, rear diff, brake, and coolant. I've stayed on schedule since. I thought about upgrading to Quaffe, but at 11 yrs old and 60k miles, when the next major shoe drops, I probably will make the move to the 911 Turbo that I've always wanted and never owned.
just to be clear, the cars come with a sticker on the dash that requires the diff fluid to be changed at 800 miles.
Overall, they're good cars. hell, I'm on my second one. personally, I think these cars can only be enjoyable to those who are mechanically inclined and enjoy wrenching on them from time to time.
It's broke now, you sound handy, fix it and enjoy.
