RE: Mercedes SL55 AMG: Spotted

[Motorrad]

dvs_dave said:

I believe that the basic ABC system is Citroen tech but licensed and modified by Merc for extra functionality. Hardly a suprise that it has questionable reliability given its provenance

If it really had Citroen DNA it would likely be more reliable than it turned out to be.

[Daniel1]

I have a 2003 car in that tellurium (sp?) silver.

Best car ive ever owned (as a driving machine). Fantastic going fast and loud in a straight line, as easy to drive as my Vito work van around town. Crucially it also is totally happy at town speed, unlike my old R8 that just wanted to be ragged. It looks good, roof goes into the boot and hasnt missed a beat as yet. Sounds glorious to boot.

I also dont mind it being rubbish at going round corners because the car has an american muscle car feel and simply doesnt feel like it needs to.

Plus the 13 odd mpg is much more easy to swallow at the moment.

[Studio117]

said:

Excellent fodder for the classifieds trawler, naturally. Actual buyers are always advised to enter with a substantial contingency fund thanks to a significant bork factor.

Stopped reading after this. Cringe

I see the journalistic content still resembles the mutterings of an idiot.

[BigBen]

Motorrad said:

dvs_dave said:

I believe that the basic ABC system is Citroen tech but licensed and modified by Merc for extra functionality. Hardly a suprise that it has questionable reliability given its provenance

If it really had Citroen DNA it would likely be more reliable than it turned out to be.

I think it has FA to do with Citroen, who's suspension systems are generally reliable. The previous owner of my SL55 had spend around £10k on sorting the suspension, crucially with Arnot suspension struts from the US. It has been faultless in the 2 years I have owned it.

[Lostprophet]

Wait till you have an engine problem... You'll be crying.

My friend had a V12 SL. The car developed an engine issue which cost him £12k to fix at Mercedes. Nice.

[BigBen]

Lostprophet said:

Wait till you have an engine problem... You'll be crying.

My friend had a V12 SL. The car developed an engine issue which cost him £12k to fix at Mercedes. Nice.

The 55 engine is considered 'bomb proof', the V12 isn't.

[BIRMA]

I so nearly bought one of these a few years back, the dealer handed me the keys and said give it a try. I set the trip computer before starting off and as I had asked for the car not to be started before my test drive drove off with care. It didn't register much above 12-14MPG until warm, anyway I lowered the roof as it was a nice day checked the road was clear and hoofed it. What I remember to this day was the way it 'squirrelled' down the road but it sounded like a Messerschmitt fighter and a very brief glimpse at the trip computer amongst all this chaos read 6 MPG I think.
I was too worried about the suspension struts leaking and the fuel costs so chickened out. But what a wonderful supercharged engine.

[redroadster]

Big fan of this 200mph capable car,classic car in the making.

[dvs_dave]

BigBen said:

Motorrad said:

dvs_dave said:

I believe that the basic ABC system is Citroen tech but licensed and modified by Merc for extra functionality. Hardly a suprise that it has questionable reliability given its provenance

If it really had Citroen DNA it would likely be more reliable than it turned out to be.

I think it has FA to do with Citroen, who's suspension systems are generally reliable. The previous owner of my SL55 had spend around £10k on sorting the suspension, crucially with Arnot suspension struts from the US. It has been faultless in the 2 years I have owned it.

Whilst not explicitly "Mercedes ABC/Citroen Hydractive" the system has its roots in Citroen tech, and Merc did licence it off Citroen in the past. Reading the system descriptions, they are remarkably similar, albeit the Merc system is now their own version, but in true German style has been ridiculously over engineered and is even more complex and fault prone than ever.

[BigBen]

dvs_dave said:

BigBen said:

Motorrad said:

dvs_dave said:

I believe that the basic ABC system is Citroen tech but licensed and modified by Merc for extra functionality. Hardly a suprise that it has questionable reliability given its provenance

If it really had Citroen DNA it would likely be more reliable than it turned out to be.

I think it has FA to do with Citroen, who's suspension systems are generally reliable. The previous owner of my SL55 had spend around £10k on sorting the suspension, crucially with Arnot suspension struts from the US. It has been faultless in the 2 years I have owned it.

Whilst not explicitly "Mercedes ABC/Citroen Hydractive" the system has its roots in Citroen tech, and Merc did licence it off Citroen in the past. Reading the system descriptions, they are remarkably similar, albeit the Merc system is now their own version, but in true German style has been ridiculously over engineered and is even more complex and fault prone than ever.

Sounds about right. Certainly the 60s Mercs with hydro suspension did use Citroen tech. I still find being able to change the ride height of my car with a mere button press very cool!

[Baryonyx]

Such fantastic looking cars, a real high point in Mercedes design for me.

[JohnRS4]

Love mine. Much prefer this shape to the R231. More useable power with LSD fitted. ABC is something you have to be aware of and regular maintenance will help. Also recommend rubber seals are treated regularly as otherwise they will crack and cause leaks.

[CaptainRAVE]

Great cars, but for me I have always preferred the SLK 'F1 nose' styling. All AMG cars are fantastic though

[Motorrad]

Baryonyx said:

Such fantastic looking cars, a real high point in Mercedes design for me.

I'm with you there they just scare me as an ownership proposition.

A real shame, as if some of them (with a V8) had conventional suspension I'd likely have bitten the bullet and accepted inferior build quality over the R129.

If I'd gone for a 6 cylinder car I know I'd have felt bad about accepting second best. Plus given the weight involved they're no more economic and much slower.

[W124]

Oh, I have fond memories of these cars. Many years ago I delivered one - on the A42 near Ashby absolutely hoofed it. For miles. Figured I'd never get the chance again. Really, seriously fast. If I'd been caught it would have been straight to jail. I'd like to be able to say it handled it with supreme confidence but it was all over the place. They slide about madly if you just floor it. And they keep doing so up to silly speeds. Thing is, there is no faster car for that kind of coin that you can use every day. Ok, so bills can be awful, but that's the great randomness of cars. You might get a good one - or not. I've just pulled off a bit of a coup with some publishers in the US - if it comes off this may be the first insane car I buy. I feel that, if I can, I must. I have a great Merc specialist who has kept my cars on the road for years and I think that might be the clincher.

[Krikkit]

DSLiverpool said:

I bought this in 2010 it was a 2004 car paid £30k but it was the right colour and the right wheels, I find the right wheels essential on these cars or they can look meh.
Had no issues in 3 years apart from a reversing sensor and an AMG badge coming off the seat (huge job to put back) was great fun but needs the right tyres also as it can get skitty under hard acceleration on cheaper tyres.
Sold it for £22k last year.

Very nice, but the wheels are dictate four extra cylinders and a couple of turbochargers.

[Welshbeef]

Love the Merc 55k AMG units.

So so nearly bought an E55k AMG Wagon but instead went RS6purepy as it looked more aggressive. Wife wanted me to go for the Merc and maybe I should have done it. On my test drive I didn't top 16mpg from memory...


Anyway SL55 AMG a thing of great looks with the noise what's not to like.

[ZX10R NIN]

Loved my 55 great car especially with 680 brake great fun good looking to especially after I put the facelift on it.

[peterspr]

Thanks for the article and the comments!

I have just bought a 2002 model which I am really looking forward to collecting in a couple of weeks time.

[monthefish]

slk 32 said:

More sloppy, lazy journalism..

'When it comes to AMG, there are a few facets of its character guaranteed. Well there were until the 45 AMG range of cars. It will have a gratuitously large V8'

Erm... so what about the C32/ SLK 32 with a supercharged V6 then?

...not forgetting the V12's either.