SLS Depreciation
Discussion
Brilliant! Looking forward to it now. They're still looking at the engine noise so don't know when it'll be back. I was a bit disappointed when trying the PDK in a cayman as it was too smooth in manual. Actually felt like a video game where you didn't feel any changes at all and had to look on the dial all the time to see the gear you were in. The changes to the TCU sound like it offers a more natural shift. So this is most likely the GT upgrade but not officially as AMG won't allow it?
Palmball said:
Is it under manufacturers warranty or extended? If the former, then charging you for diagnostics is outrageous. I'd fire off an email to MB and get their view on how a customer of their flagship car is being made to feel, as I'm sure it's not normal practice to charge this for a car in warranty.
It's worth changing the battery in the first instance, especially if the dealer can't find any specific drain on it. As stated above, both my SLS's have needed new batteries at around the 2.5 to 3 year mark.
It's extended Mercedes Benz warranty. I had a standard follow up call from MB yesterday asking how my experience with roadside assistance had been. They are now aware of the issue! (The roadside guy was fine, and had apparently noted that there was a drain which made specific dealer assistance necessary.).It's worth changing the battery in the first instance, especially if the dealer can't find any specific drain on it. As stated above, both my SLS's have needed new batteries at around the 2.5 to 3 year mark.
Edited by Palmball on Monday 11th August 08:12
The time all this stuff takes to sort out is what gets to me, but will see where we get to now.
Still a great car, just a poor dealer. Not all like that - I have had some upgrades. (Inc GT software) through MB Milton Keynes, and they couldn't have been more helpful.
I've just had confirmation from MB that my second failed battery will be replaced under warranty. This one has failed after only 10 months.
Does anyone have any ideas as to why these batteries seem to fail so easily? Is there a better alternative?
I keep the battery on trickle charge in-between use and it's reaching the point where I'm not confident that the car is going to start every-time that I want to use it.
Does anyone have any ideas as to why these batteries seem to fail so easily? Is there a better alternative?
I keep the battery on trickle charge in-between use and it's reaching the point where I'm not confident that the car is going to start every-time that I want to use it.
They're not really supposed to be in the same category as the SLC is supposed to be a 911 rival. There are obviously a few differences between the two such as no gull wing doors on SLC and new turbo engine. If it is anything like the 5.5 turbo then I believe it will be too quiet but, then again, AMG will most likely tune the noise differently for their new top of the range(ish) sports car. So hopefully SLS prices will drop slowly but again just enjoy the car for what it is and if it comes to selling and you don't lose too much that's a bonus
Sls residuals are going up at least for low mileage cars or it could be seasonal
Sold mine a couple of weeks ago, sold on so quick it never made it on to dealers website. Other dealers have sold cars too over last few weeks.
Hard to tell if these will substantially appreciate but they seem strong right now
Sold mine a couple of weeks ago, sold on so quick it never made it on to dealers website. Other dealers have sold cars too over last few weeks.
Hard to tell if these will substantially appreciate but they seem strong right now
I'm not sure (or at least us owners can hope) that they'll drop much more....just look at the supply - it's scarce. 14 for sale in the UK, 3-4 of which don't exist (when buying mine a couple of months ago, I think I enquired about most SLS's on sale, of which some adverts for non-existent cars are still live). Half of the remaining cars for sale are convertibles.
There have never been so few for sale and a couple of Merc dealers I spoke to suggested many are going abroad (not sure if this is true). It cost me the same to buy my (higher mileage) SLS this year as it did my first one last year, so they don't appear to be dropping. And most of the 'cheap' ones (under £110k) sell fast - Tom Hartley had one up in the last few days which must have sold almost instantly, despite it being (IIRC) nearly £110k for a 2010 car! Only the expensive (£130k+) cars are sticking around but if supply continues to shrink, when they're the only ones left they'll probably sell too. Convertibles appear to sell a lot slower. Not sure it's seasonal either as it was exactly this time last year when SLS values appeared to bottom out.
Anyway who knows, but it sure seems a better place for your money than most c.£100k cars. The AMG-GT's new bi-turbo needs to be very good to dent the appeal of the SLS.
There have never been so few for sale and a couple of Merc dealers I spoke to suggested many are going abroad (not sure if this is true). It cost me the same to buy my (higher mileage) SLS this year as it did my first one last year, so they don't appear to be dropping. And most of the 'cheap' ones (under £110k) sell fast - Tom Hartley had one up in the last few days which must have sold almost instantly, despite it being (IIRC) nearly £110k for a 2010 car! Only the expensive (£130k+) cars are sticking around but if supply continues to shrink, when they're the only ones left they'll probably sell too. Convertibles appear to sell a lot slower. Not sure it's seasonal either as it was exactly this time last year when SLS values appeared to bottom out.
Anyway who knows, but it sure seems a better place for your money than most c.£100k cars. The AMG-GT's new bi-turbo needs to be very good to dent the appeal of the SLS.
Paul, you well know I have no intention of selling my SLS, but should I by some miracle find AMG GT to be amazingly irresistible (not beyond the realms of possibility, as I accept I do have form!), then you will of course get first refusal 
It'll be good'un after AMG finish with it, that's for sure
It'll be good'un after AMG finish with it, that's for sure
Just wanted to say thanks to Andrew(Palmball) for bringing the gearbox software upgrade to my attention. Only just managed to go out for a proper run after getting the upgrade done and the difference really is night and day. Changes in manual are almost instantaneous and as mentioned, lots of popping and banging on the down change.
Now just have to wait until Andrew gets his back and gushes about how much better it is than the uk upgrade!
Btw when I had mine booked into brooklands they did say that it was a free software upgrade and didn't mention anything about warranty so I'm not sure if this is done as such because mine is still under warranty(just in case anyone has an older vehicle)
Now just have to wait until Andrew gets his back and gushes about how much better it is than the uk upgrade!
Btw when I had mine booked into brooklands they did say that it was a free software upgrade and didn't mention anything about warranty so I'm not sure if this is done as such because mine is still under warranty(just in case anyone has an older vehicle)
cho said:
Now just have to wait until Andrew gets his back and gushes about how much better it is than the uk upgrade!
You're welcome cho and I honestly don't think I'll be gushing about anything. In fact, I've reminded AMG of my request to only upgrade the software if their engineers think there'll be a noticeable improvement over my cars' latest software.I think the 'free' software upgrade now addresses any SLS gearbox shortcomings to probably become my favourite dual clutch transmission (in comparison to the BMW, Porsche and Audi iterations I've experienced). It's still not quite as sharp as the BMW/Porsche units in manual but in any of the auto modes (especially sport+), it's perfection.
Anyway, my car is staying at AMG for three weeks longer than planned due to a couple of 'issues' I wanted looking at, one of which was a gearbox whine. From memory, my last SLS also whined a little so I put this down to a characteristic of the car, however, it seems AMG think differently - I'll update properly on another thread when I have some solid info, but the last indication I got was they're going to replace the entire transmission free of charge.
My last one whined so I do think its characteristic of the car.
The only issue my car has logged in the service history was a gearbox oil leak, which was fixed some time ago under warranty by MB Birmingham Central. Maybe this has something to do with why AMG are replacing it, but I can't imagine its a cheap 'component' to replace. I'll update on whether the whine is still present on a new 'box!
The only issue my car has logged in the service history was a gearbox oil leak, which was fixed some time ago under warranty by MB Birmingham Central. Maybe this has something to do with why AMG are replacing it, but I can't imagine its a cheap 'component' to replace. I'll update on whether the whine is still present on a new 'box!
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