R230 Buyers guide

[yewcheck]

Is there a buying guide for the SL55 AMG r230 marque on this site? [not the chris harris one, I found that!]

Dave

Edited by yewcheck on Tuesday 21st May 14:20

Edited by yewcheck on Tuesday 21st May 14:55

[DSLiverpool]

Not sure if their is a guide but the issues are well documented.
Chirp / power loss of s/c after several go stops
Water in boot / drain channels blocked
Check car rises and falls 4 square level
Listen for knocks as suspension legs are expensive
SBC pump wears out on higher mileage cars

Safest way is to get an enthusiast owned car and pop a warranty on it (like mine for sale now :-) )

[vilus]

A lot of info here on this download (3.1mb) assembled from various sources and hosted by an SL55 owner..


http://www3.sympatico.ca/gmacgruer/_MB_SL55_AMG.pd...

[yewcheck]

Thanks guys will have a look at this.

Dave

[tigerkoi]

Strangely enough I was actually going through the link above (the .pdf), yesterday, before this thread started.

It certainly is a great respository of all things '55 related. Bibliographic.

The '55 is an extremely charismatic, but complex car. Research certainly pays off.

DS - how come you are moving your one on?

[DSLiverpool]

tigerkoi said:

Strangely enough I was actually going through the link above (the .pdf), yesterday, before this thread started.

It certainly is a great respository of all things '55 related. Bibliographic.

The '55 is an extremely charismatic, but complex car. Research certainly pays off.

DS - how come you are moving your one on?

We have adopted two kids and I need a 4 seat convertible - looking at a Grancabrio or XKR-S so SL55 going in autotrader if no bites from PH or MB Club by Monday

http://img.pistonheads.com.s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws....

Edited by DSLiverpool on Wednesday 22 May 14:38

[DSLiverpool]

tigerkoi said:

Strangely enough I was actually going through the link above (the .pdf), yesterday, before this thread started.

It certainly is a great respository of all things '55 related. Bibliographic.

The '55 is an extremely charismatic, but complex car. Research certainly pays off.

DS - how come you are moving your one on?

We have adopted two kids and I need a 4 seat convertible - looking at a Grancabrio or XKR-S so SL55 going in autotrader if no bites from PH or MB Club by Monday

Edited by DSLiverpool on Wednesday 22 May 14:40

[tigerkoi]

DSLiverpool said:

tigerkoi said:

Strangely enough I was actually going through the link above (the .pdf), yesterday, before this thread started.

It certainly is a great respository of all things '55 related. Bibliographic.

The '55 is an extremely charismatic, but complex car. Research certainly pays off.

DS - how come you are moving your one on?

We have adopted two kids and I need a 4 seat convertible - looking at a Grancabrio or XKR-S so SL55 going in autotrader if no bites from PH or MB Club by Monday

Edited by DSLiverpool on Wednesday 22 May 14:40

Ah, I see. I'd poach your wheels, but already have the rest

The Grancabrio will have more space in the rear than the XKR-S I'd imagine? I 'borrowed' a friend's XKR convertible a few months back - he collided with the opposition goalkeeper and his kneecap had evidently shifted, and quick as a flash I'd asked to be substituted whilst we waited for St John's Amubulance. I knew his car would need driving home whilst he detoured to the hospital.... . I couldn't help but notice that the seats are very tight.

Good luck with the hunt, and sure that a car that looks as nice as your '55 will quickly be snapped up. Either way, trident or pouncing cat will give you similarly excellent aural pleasure!

[yewcheck]

The well documented problems with the suspension....is it related to ware and tear or just a weak point?

Oh and liverpool..your car looks so sweet, but a little out my price range GLWS.

Dave

[DSLiverpool]

Its been Sold to the first chap to see it via good old PH

[yewcheck]

Congrats...I was looking at the cars for sale and must say overall for the year/spec yours was the one to have......must save a little more

[yewcheck]

Been scouring the for sale ads of late, and came across a few 55,s that state "face lift model" apart from the radio they look very similar!

So what else would be different?

[DSLiverpool]

I think it's just later comand I didn't notice anything else, maybe a steering wheel

[yewcheck]

Would there be any problems buying a r230 with 130k on the clock, it has so say full history with it?

[DSLiverpool]

yewcheck said:

Would there be any problems buying a r230 with 130k on the clock, it has so say full history with it?

Put £5k aside for issues and it will be fine, so many for sale under 50k miles why bother ?

[yewcheck]

True but heard it was cheap ....possibly for a reason;)

[yewcheck]

Been reading threw all the threads on the sl55 [in the search facility] and am I right it presuming, that post 06 cars seem to be more reliable, or is it just that most people on here seem to have pre 06 models.

I should stop reading about the faults on cars I am continplating purchasing, as I really wanted a Tuscan s until I read all the horror stories!

So thought I would buy a SL55 AMG cant go wrong with German reliability...............how wrong was I!!!

Right off to see what else my money can buy, then read all the buying tips on those and start again then off to see what else my money can buy.... etc etc etc

Stick to my Jap I think

[DSLiverpool]

Your thinking too hard, on a forum how many people post that they have no issues with a car, by default people post to get answers to a problem as such all you are reading are peoples issues.
I have had 2 55k motors with no issues on either, an 06 CLS55 for 2.5 years and a 04 SL55 both gave no major issues and the minor stuff was the type you get on any car.
Get a SL55 under 40k miles and get it inspected or put a warranty on it that covers SBC and suspension legs and your done.

[yewcheck]

Question for you guys, if there is so many problems related to these cars..... ie: suspension, brakes, super charger etc why arnt any of the classified adds on here and other sites mentioning "they have this done or that done" surly by now some would have had to sucomb to these faults and if so I would have thought it would be a selling point to state if said work had been done!

I am increasing getting paranoid reading the potential pit falls with an sl 55!!!! even if I have the money put to one side, as most recomend, I still want a car which is pretty reliable!!

[Parisien]

yewcheck said:

Is there a buying guide for the SL55 AMG r230 marque on this site? [not the chris harris one, I found that!]

Dave

Edited by yewcheck on Tuesday 21st May 14:20

Edited by yewcheck on Tuesday 21st May 14:55

Can some one link up the Chris Harris guide? Only for the SL55 or whole R230 range?