SLS AMG Gullwing (C197, R197) 2010 - 2014

SLS/R197/C197 AMG: Planning to buy a SLS : the maintenance plan was not respected

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Old Feb 17, 2026 | 01:15 PM
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Question Planning to buy a SLS : the maintenance plan was not respected

Hello,

I'm french, living in France. Sorry if my english is special

I am interested in a 2010 SLS AMG coupe, 15000km.

The big problem is that the maintenance plan was not respected.

There were only 2 services in total. They were carried out at Mercedes:

- In 2020 at 13600km : battery replacement, "pack plus" maintenance, gearbox oil change, bleeding the brake system, change engine oil
- In 2015 at 12000km : battery replacement, annual maintenance, change engine oil

That's all. No tire change or anything else.

I called the garage and they said "It's OK, this engine can't die", "We cannot force customers to do maintenance every year" and other sentences like this. For them, there is no risk of engine or gearbox failure because of this.

What do you think about it? Is it a red flag? Could the engine or gearbox have been silently damaged?

It's the lowest mileage available and the car is not far from me. But the lack of maintenance bother me and this will bother future buyers when I want to resell it.

Jérôme
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Old Feb 25, 2026 | 03:33 PM
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G55, SLS, smart eq
I certainly don’t do service every year on any of my AMGs, nor did I ever. I respect the km limits but if i drive 4000km a year I won’t be doing yearly service. That includes my SLS roadster.
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Old Mar 4, 2026 | 08:32 AM
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Maybe go inspect the car and decide for yourself. The engines are monsters. The transmission is the weak point, but still not terrible.
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Old Mar 4, 2026 | 09:39 AM
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My wife and I are retired so we dont drive much and have 5 cars. My wife’s toy is a 2023 SL55 AMG and when the warranty runs out, it will not be getting annual oil changes. She only drives in about 750 miles a year or less.

My toy is a 2009 Ferrari F430 and I drive that even less. It gets serviced every 2-3 years.

I wouldn’t worry about the car you are interested in. Go look at it and if it’s beat up, look elsewhere.
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