SL55/63/65/R230 AMG: My new *to me* 2003 SL55
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Joined: Dec 2019
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2003 e55 AMG
My new *to me* 2003 SL55
Just picked up this ULTRA clean 2003 SL55. 120K miles. Original owner. Older gentleman who couldn’t drive it any longer. He bought it new as retirement gift to himself.
Have folder with every service record! Gotta sift through that to see what’s been done!
Got a screaming deal on it. Let’s just say I paid just a hairrrrrrr above 4 figures for it.
Seems solid. Everything seems to work on it. No leaks.
Baby is smooth. But is a LEAD SLED!!! Lol. You can feel every ounce of its significant heft! Much heavier feeling than my E55.
Nothing like cruising in a 500 hp Vert!
First order of business is getting slightly curb rashed wheels repaired and refinished. Curb rash drives me crazy!
ALL HAIL TO DEPRECIATION!!!!
Last edited by npappasan; Sep 2, 2021 at 07:18 AM.
Member
Joined: Feb 2019
Posts: 230
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From: Orchid Island, FL
SL 55 AMG, BMW M Roadster, Holden Commodore SSV
Looks to be in great condition. Suggest you change your SC oil, ABC fluid and replace both accumulators immediately. That's maintenance which almost certainly has not been done.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 63
Likes: 11
2003 e55 AMG
Member
Joined: Feb 2019
Posts: 230
Likes: 21
From: Orchid Island, FL
SL 55 AMG, BMW M Roadster, Holden Commodore SSV
An important part of the ABC system, they will go bad over time and if not replaced, can damage your entire suspension setup costing upwards of $10k to fix. Recommend you not take that chance, I sure didn't when i bought my 2008 SL55
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Junior Member
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 63
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2003 e55 AMG
when they go, **** is getting removed and swapped to coil overs.
Member
Joined: Feb 2019
Posts: 230
Likes: 21
From: Orchid Island, FL
SL 55 AMG, BMW M Roadster, Holden Commodore SSV
Yeah, coil overs is certainly an option. Cost is a about a third of full ABC replacement. Eleminates future ABC system exposure. Also save about 300lbs which is not insignificant!
Car will not feel the same however, will not corner flat and ride quality willl suffer.
Those are the trade offs imo.
Car will not feel the same however, will not corner flat and ride quality willl suffer.
Those are the trade offs imo.
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Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 274
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From: Rocky Mountains, Colorado
Just sold my '11 Porsche TurboS cab for an '03 SL55!
Consider taking a good look at the motor and trans mounts too, unless you see their replacement in the records. They only go about 60k mi. or so.
The points above are valid, but they also depend on recent service history. The accumulators are no big deal to replace, but in MHO, they can be addressed "on condition".
Good deal on it. I paid a bit more for mine, but it had 73k miles on it and also had a fair amount of deferred maintenance with limited records. Now its all correct, and I've put about $5k in to it including STAR/DAS, doing all the work myself. So I think I'm invested at or a few $k under market with everything refreshed. Hopefully at or near the bottom of the depreciation curve. Mine still needs all for wheels refurbed and some repair to the underside of the front bumper to go, I'll do that myself too.
Have fun with it.
The points above are valid, but they also depend on recent service history. The accumulators are no big deal to replace, but in MHO, they can be addressed "on condition".
Good deal on it. I paid a bit more for mine, but it had 73k miles on it and also had a fair amount of deferred maintenance with limited records. Now its all correct, and I've put about $5k in to it including STAR/DAS, doing all the work myself. So I think I'm invested at or a few $k under market with everything refreshed. Hopefully at or near the bottom of the depreciation curve. Mine still needs all for wheels refurbed and some repair to the underside of the front bumper to go, I'll do that myself too.
Have fun with it.
