SLk 55 opinions - advice

[steve1968]

Hi all

Have been considering changing 987 boxster for either Cayman s or early 997 but having read so much regarding possible engine issues i decided to spread the search a little wider and came accross the SLK 55 which quite appeals however not had the chance to veiw one yet .

Has anyone on here got any driving/ownbership experiance they could share ?

Would we looking around 15-20k , earlier lower tax bracket car if possible , would be one of five vehicles so probably only 2-3k miles max a year .

Were there any changes between 2005-2010 ?

What is the gearbox like ? is it comparable to 997 tiptronic , better or worse .

Any advice welcome

[MattyB_]

This is quite a good thread to read through:
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=125...

Re: Gearbox - never tried a Tip, but the gearbox is great for touring, not so great on B-roads (a little slow/indecisive)

There was a facelift in 2008; body revisions (front bumper) interior upgrades (COMAND, other styling) but nothing mechanical.

I too was put off by reliability stories in the Porsche which is why I went with the '55, and although I had to rebuild my gearbox (£3000) it was a lot cheaper than a Porsche engine rebuild! They are very reliable cars though, I love my '55, but unfortunately I do have to sell mine

[ZX10R NIN]

They're pretty robust cars you can speed up the responsiveness of the gearbox by sending the ECU to someone like Weistec & you can also retro fit the paddles. It's about the same as the tiptronic.

[JockySteer]

I run a late 2005 55 AMG. Monstrous car, in a good way!

Facelift was c.2008 and they also made changes to the brakes. Earlier 55's such as mine have the floating discs, which they did away with on the facelift I think. Keep an eye out for them when you're shopping around and check they don't need replacing too soon as they're not cheap! Last time I looked, OEM's are going to cost anywhere up to £2000. I did find some Brembo front discs for roughly £450 each which I'd be happy to pay. I've had my 55 for 13 months and the discs are still going strong.

If it helps at all, here's what I've spent on the car in the time I've owned it:

Tax: £295 x2
Insurance: 24, 6 yr NCD, £820 first year, then £700 just renewed
Major Service @ local indy: £700
MOT: £45
Faulty Fuse repair: £110
Aesthetic/performance/exhaust modifying: Lots

Aside from a faulty fuse, the car has been exceptionally reliable and I haven't once regretted not buying something else. Aside from this weekend following my friend in his AMG GTS, but what can I do.

Performance is stonking, the noise is intoxicating and I can't see myself changing it for a long while yet.

[ZX10R NIN]

Hey Jocky I just thought I'd let you know that you can use the non floating discs on your car.

[buzzer]

I love mine, we took it around Wales last week!

as people have said, you can get the discs for around £470 for the pair for the none floating type that go straight on the early cars.

[JockySteer]

ZX10R NIN said:

Hey Jocky I just thought I'd let you know that you can use the non floating discs on your car.

Really? I didn't know that. I thought I had to have certain brakes on mine? Maybe I'm getting confused between floating discs and 6 pots? I'm pretty sure my car needs the 6 pot discs.

[ZX10R NIN]

Yes it does need the disc to match but they sell a floating & non floating, they worked fine on my SL55

[buzzsaw]

Who sells the direct fit non floating discs?

[rgv250ads]

ZX10R NIN said:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/EBC-PREMIUM-OE-FRONT-DIS...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MERCEDES-BENZ-SL-55-AMG-...

Textar Brake disc part number: 104220846

Remember the 6 pot Floating discs are 340mm Diameter, not 345mm...........
The 345mm ones will foul on the caliper strength bar/bolt.

[buzzer]

The early cars with 6 pot callipers are 340 mm diameter and as people are pointing out, if you use the 345 discs they catch the calliper bolts.

These are the discs I used on my car, they are a direct replacement and bolt straight on and are exactly the same dimensions as original, just not the floating type

[ZX10R NIN]

My mistake I thought they were similar to SL ones.

[buzzsaw]

buzzer said:

The early cars with 6 pot callipers are 340 mm diameter and as people are pointing out, if you use the 345 discs they catch the calliper bolts.

These are the discs I used on my car, they are a direct replacement and bolt straight on and are exactly the same dimensions as original, just not the floating type

Are they direct replacements or do they need a hole drilled for the fixing screw?

[kippax]

JockySteer said:

I run a late 2005 55 AMG. Monstrous car, in a good way!

Facelift was c.2008 and they also made changes to the brakes. Earlier 55's such as mine have the floating discs, which they did away with on the facelift I think. Keep an eye out for them when you're shopping around and check they don't need replacing too soon as they're not cheap! Last time I looked, OEM's are going to cost anywhere up to £2000. I did find some Brembo front discs for roughly £450 each which I'd be happy to pay. I've had my 55 for 13 months and the discs are still going strong.

If it helps at all, here's what I've spent on the car in the time I've owned it:

Tax: £295 x2
Insurance: 24, 6 yr NCD, £820 first year, then £700 just renewed
Major Service @ local indy: £700
MOT: £45
Faulty Fuse repair: £110
Aesthetic/performance/exhaust modifying: Lots

Aside from a faulty fuse, the car has been exceptionally reliable and I haven't once regretted not buying something else. Aside from this weekend following my friend in his AMG GTS, but what can I do.

Performance is stonking, the noise is intoxicating and I can't see myself changing it for a long while yet.

I've just bought a 2009 model what performance upgrades did you go with?
The exhaust mod do you mean the X pipe?