SL55/63/65/R230 AMG: The hunt for mechanically sound sl55
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Jul 2021
Posts: 12
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From: St George, Utah
Corvette Z06
The hunt for mechanically sound sl55
How can a solid sl55 be found? I have been looking for 4 months and need help. I bought a 2008 from Shift in Los Angeles who offered a 7 day return (no questions asked). They had done an inspection of their own and deemed it perfect. I bought the car and shipped it to my town in Southern Utah and took it to my local MB dealer who found $5,000 worth of repairs needed (engine and transmission mounts, valve gaskets, new batteries, etc)...so I returned it. I found another one a month later at a different dealer Southern California and they agreed on a MB pre-purchase inspection. It was found to need $7,000 of work. I am frustrated. Thoughts?
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 385
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From: Bognor Regis UK
Alfa 159
None of those issues on the first car were insurmountable or that serious....If the rest of the car was good could you not have renegotiated the price with the dealer and got it sorted locally. Used cars are by their very nature...erm....used. Those items most would consider wear and tear items. You would be extremely lucky to find a car without at least one or two of those issues.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2012
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From: Orbiting the planet
This place is a joke.
The ABC system will be a never ending nightmare as long as you own it, unless you spend $14k up front and replace everything. Then you'll be good for 5-10 years.
Junior Member
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 27
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From: Olympic Peninsula WA State
‘97 C4S, ‘00 B4000, ‘03 Z06, ‘05 E55
‘ABC system a never ending nightmare’ ?
Go buy a Toyota you pessimist
My SL55 also came with a $5000 ppi list, just different parts. Tensioner and idler pulley bearings bad, valve cover leaks, overdue service, noisy roof… I do my own work, for the same $5k the dealer wanted I am fixing everything and giving it a serious under the hood update too. Find a good Indy and the best car you can justify the purchase price, get everything fixed and enjoy!
Go buy a Toyota you pessimist
My SL55 also came with a $5000 ppi list, just different parts. Tensioner and idler pulley bearings bad, valve cover leaks, overdue service, noisy roof… I do my own work, for the same $5k the dealer wanted I am fixing everything and giving it a serious under the hood update too. Find a good Indy and the best car you can justify the purchase price, get everything fixed and enjoy!
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 4,057
Likes: 341
From: NJ
2009 SL63 AMG
How can a solid sl55 be found? I have been looking for 4 months and need help. I bought a 2008 from Shift in Los Angeles who offered a 7 day return (no questions asked). They had done an inspection of their own and deemed it perfect. I bought the car and shipped it to my town in Southern Utah and took it to my local MB dealer who found $5,000 worth of repairs needed (engine and transmission mounts, valve gaskets, new batteries, etc)...so I returned it. I found another one a month later at a different dealer Southern California and they agreed on a MB pre-purchase inspection. It was found to need $7,000 of work. I am frustrated. Thoughts?
You made the right call in buying an '08 SL55, as it came with the upgraded and notably more robust ABC 2.
You made the wrong call in taking it to the dealer and then again by returning that car. Literally had the ideal year for an SL55 with only routine maintenance on the agenda. That was a solid example.
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Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 274
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From: Rocky Mountains, Colorado
Just sold my '11 Porsche TurboS cab for an '03 SL55!
After a few months looking into the SL55, I abandoned the tact of finding a "sound car", and went for cosmetics and general condition as well as my preferred colors etc., but I went "cheap" and assumed I'd need to pour some $ into it. I do my own work but needed to invest in a STAR/DAS and a couple of hand tools. The 67k mile car I bought for $13k ( probable $1-2k high) had just had a new ABC Pump, ABC Reservoir, ABS module and 2 new batteries. I'd say it has mid-pack cosmetics due to a few flaws in the paint, but the interior cleaned up beautifully after about 10 hours of work, by now have $18.5k in it (including the DAS and tools) and most the known deferred maintenance items are new (sans the rear Struts, and the Top actuators, which are still fine). But key to me is that know what I have. I still need to refurb the wheels and the underside of the front bumper and I'll do that myself too. Today, I'd guess that with a full and documented list of new parts, It's worth something more than I have in it. Getting the ABC right (droop in 1 corner, new accumulators and level) and changing the motor mounts were the hardest parts...….but that was primarily due to my steep learning curve as this was my first MB. But the price I paid for that learning will pay for itself down the road. Cheers!
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Jul 2021
Posts: 12
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From: St George, Utah
Corvette Z06
I am not a mechanic and don't intend to work on the car myself. Has anyone noticed that very few of these SL55s are offered by an actual Mercedes dealership? Why is that?
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 3,040
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From: Atlanta Metro
Current: C217 V12TT AMG Previously: C55 AMG, SL65 AMG
Manufacturer dealerships are in the business of selling new cars; most of the "older" vehicles they sell are 3-4 years old, which came in as lease returns; so they can put those returners into new cars again. Yes, sometimes those used cars for sale were purchased at auction; but you don't exactly bring in new-car-clientele by offering old used cars sitting out front. Not the right target market. Unless you've got something special in the showroom, like a Black Series, regardless of age.
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Sep 2018
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From: unbegrenzt
2017 GLE350 4MATIC
@pauldoxey you are looking for an old car.
If you take an old car to an establishment whose enrichment is based on performing car repairs, what is your expectation of the result of an inspection? A long list of work intended to enrich the establishment. It’s how it works. Don’t expect otherwise.
If you don’t DIY, and you don’t have a limitless flow of cash to pile into an old high performance German sports car, don’t buy one.
On the other hand, if you are able to and have the desire to pour large quantities of cash into this type of car, continue in the search.
If you take an old car to an establishment whose enrichment is based on performing car repairs, what is your expectation of the result of an inspection? A long list of work intended to enrich the establishment. It’s how it works. Don’t expect otherwise.
If you don’t DIY, and you don’t have a limitless flow of cash to pile into an old high performance German sports car, don’t buy one.
On the other hand, if you are able to and have the desire to pour large quantities of cash into this type of car, continue in the search.
