R230 SL600 versions

[K12AN]

Hello all

I love the SL600 and am doing some research into buying one.
I know these cars were launched in 2003-2008 - after which there was a fairly heavy facelift to the front.
However, was there a minor update around 2005/6? The notable differences (I believe) were the stero, nav etc?
I've also read that the transmission was improved (7-speed 7G-Tronic), as was the ABC suspension, sport button etc.


I'd be most grateful for any information regarding this update and the differences to the earlier R230's. Are they a better buy than the 2003 version? Which year cars would this apply to?

Many thanks
Kiran

[Toltec]

In the last few weeks I have also started to look at these, more as a way of having a V12 before it becomes impossible without very deep pockets than to specifically have an sl. At the moment I am trying to find a good reason not to, finding that I can insure one for only £250 is only making the need stronger.

Any info from owners will be most welcome.

[02joe]

My mother has a 2003 SL600 which we have owned for 8 years now. It has been a fantastic car and I drive it on a regular basis and love. My friend came down the other day in a P1 and was surprised by how much effort he had to put in to catch up with the big 600.

In terms of reliability it has been very good. Not many issues to report. The roof seals have been slightly problematic, but many of these are covered by the Mercedes extended warranty which we have chosen to take out each year. Running costs are high, as you would expect for such a car. 26MPG is achievable but you have to be very careful to achieve that. I have seen as low as 10MPG from it on a run.

The acceleration is relentless and it now represents stupendous value for money.

Changes on the R230 SL started to take place in 2005 when they changed the nav system and from then on we saw some minor changes to front grille, bumpers, rear bumpers, rear lights etc. There was another facelift late in 2007 which gave it the more masculine front end which also brought some other changes to the car. Interior changes such as the seats with airscarf. At some point the power was hiked from 493 to 517.

The 600 and 65 I believe had the same 5 speed automatic throughout their lifecycle. In fact, the first V12 Mercedes to receive the 7 speed auto I believe is the latest S65 AMG Saloon and Coupe.

Any other questions let me know, Overall we have loved it and it has been an excellent car to live with.

[Toltec]

Looking at the howmanyleft site it appears as if few, if any, 600s were registered after 2005, I wonder if buyers went either for the 55 or 65 AMG instead?

As much as a 65 AMG appeals if you go that way it is easy to start browsing for a Brabus SV12...

On the whole I think sticking to the 600 is going to give the best balance between costs and enjoyment.

[Rocksteadyeddie]

I've recently bought a 05 facelift car with approx. 45k miles on it. It's an almighty piece of kit. Out the factory they were quoted at 500bhp. More than one person has told me that you might expect them to be making a good 30-40bhp more than this, and that 500bhp was the number the factory quoted as they didn't wish to usurp the SL55 AMG. The guy I bought the car off once had a drag race against his mate who owned a '55. His mate wouldn't race again... Certainly to my backside it feels as if it's making at least the quoted numbers.

There are a few areas to check before buying:

1) Suspension problems. There are specialists who can help out - as the cost of a new strut from MB is something like £1200 a corner - but if it goes wrong it won't be cheap to fix any which way.You can visually check for leaks but you need the car on a ramp, or at least with the wheels off. ABC is a great system and in comfort the car rides exceptionally well (better than my FFRR).
2) Check the boot for leaks. The seal along the bottom edge of the rear window is pretty suspect. It was replaced my MB on the facelift cars but some owners still note problems. The issue is that the water gets into the boot and settles in the wheel well where all the electrics are based. This is not a good place to be. Easy enough to check by whipping the boot floor up and sticking your hand in and checking for signs of moisture. Youtube has some ingenious fixes that are at least as good as those MB seems to manage.
3) Check the roof works up and down without issue. Hydraulic issues are not common, but nor are they unheard of.
4) There's a lot of electrics in the car. Problems are expensive to fix when stuff goes wrong.
5) There are two batteries. The front one is an odd size and seems to be MB only. The rear is a big lump but is a more generic size. They are £150 each to replace.
6) Rust in the usual places.

For me the key is who you are buying the car from. I much prefer to buy this sort of vehicle privately as you can judge the previous owner. For me this is almost as important as the history of the car (although there will also be a very strong correlation between the owner you want and the history). The chap I bought mine from was a pilot who had changed it for an Aston DBS. ALWAYS remember you are buying a car that was six-figures new (mine was £102,000 almost 10 years ago) and so parts, servicing and consumables can be very expensive. You need someone who hasn't cut too many corners along the way because a 3 grand bill made them st their pants.

In short the SL600 is an awful lot of car for 15-20 grand. Yes fuel consumption is woeful, but it's well equipped, very quick, understated, and to my eye right up there with the prettiest SLs ever made (much better looking than the R129 - although I have one of those too). They are unlikely to make many more V12s so the time to grab a piece of history is now. Happy to help further. Pop me a PM or post here.

Cheers

Ed

Edited by Rocksteadyeddie on Sunday 11th January 16:43