I Finally Bought A Mercedes SL55 AMG!
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 25 ธ.ค. 2023
- I've always had a big soft spot for these cars and now feels like the right time to get onboard!
But - what will the ownership experience be like. I'm under no illusions it could end up being very expensive! Please do sub to the channel and I'll keep you updated.
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I got a 2005 SL55 AMG and yes, I did have the ABC "issue" - at a price-tag of €10,000 for two front struts, etc...
However: I'd rather pay those 10 Grand every other year than the 15 Grand it takes every three years to keep a Ferrari 360 road-worthy.
The SL55 AMG is the perfect package. Torque, V-Max. etc. are just overwhelming. Before buying the SL55 I was looking into buying a SL63, Ferrari 360 or 430, Audi R8 V10 and even a Lamborghini LP 520. I went with the SL55 because it's purchase price was so much lower - just €29,000... And I was aware of that I was going to have to spend a significant amount on the ABC, etc. soon.
Four years later I'm still totally happy with my decision. The SL55 is brutally powerful, extremely fast and I'm yet to dare to actually go full throttle on it. I drive 500hp Turbo-Porsches, a cammed Corvette, etc. and they're all fun. But the bone-stock SL is still the most brutal car I own. And yet it's a true luxury car. One that you might take to drive up to the opera house or a five star hotel without hesitating. Simply because you can take the SL55 on a road-trip for hundreds of miles without worrying, without getting any back pain or getting exhausted. If you're travelling in Germany, you might want to set the cruise control to 130mph and not pay a second thought to it until you arrive at your destination.
Love reading this! They just have something about them right? It's hard to believe they still have that much capability given their age now.
Wonderful things!
What is the abc problem?
I had a 2007 SL55 AMG for 6.5 years. Such a great car. So underated and the bargain of the century. I highly recommend them.
Nice, facelift and one of the last ones ever made! Good taste!
Nice content. Thanks !
I understand how you feel. I just sold my Z3M roadster & replaced it with a low mileage R231 SL500 in hyacinth red with cream leather. Same torque as your SL55 AMG.
Not the AMG SL63 admittedly. But not much less power or performance. It's more than enough. In fact I'm in awe of it. The fact it takes an extra 200 or 300 milliseconds to reach the legal speed limit compared to the AMG 63 is immaterial. 0 - 60 in 4.5 is fine with me.
I'm loving it to bits. When I collected it from the dealer in Paignton to drive it home to Southampton, i wasn't smiling at the performance. I was laughing with joy 🙂
I considered an SLK55. But they're almost as expensive. A great little V8 roadster, but less car for the money. SLK55 £55k new compaired to SL500 £85k new, but only £3 or £4k more second hand for the SL. And it's an almost all aluminium engineering masterpiece. With the SLK the engine felt special. With my SL500 the whole car feels special.
That's what it's all about. Giving yourself some joy and it sounds like your absolutely doing that! Might be worth checking the subframe for any corrosion. Merc should offer some goodwill if there is any significant.
Looks great 👍🏼
Great color!
I just bought an SL350 of the same age. I bought it on a whim. I was aware of the ABC issues on the bigger versions and the 350 is fine for me. Love the colour! of yours!
Good taste! Hope you enjoy that 350, show it some love and it'll do the same to you. 👍🏻
What a wonderful colour and will be interesting to follow the journey. As you know, I have an SL380 from 1986, way less tech, but a good example of an SL, a very pretty car that is an icon within an icon brand! I now have my interest renewed in something similar to yours, it is so brilliant a car!!! Well done, let’s see how it goes for you. Love that hard top, really cool
Thanks! Really enjoying it so far! We'll have to get them out together... Be good to see the R107!
Congrats mate. Will watch this series with interest. Easily my favourite era of SL. As you say, think there is an element of bravery with the potential running costs…. 🤞Such a cool car though, and looks really tidy.
Thanks, yeah, looking forward to getting it as immaculate as we can! Hopefully see you at a meet soon! 👍🏻
I've just found your channel after researching SL55's to understand more about them, with a potential purchase in mind at some point so this is good timing and I'll be following along! The age of them now, along with the suspension are my big apprehensions, with the potential wallet emptying fixes that may go with them. It'll be quite a jump in the deep end compared to what I've owned previously.
Are there any rattles you've noticed so far in the cabin that come with having an 'old' car? Looking forward to seeing how you find living with it.
They're great cars, just need to go in with an open heart and wallet! 😆
No major rattles, seems very solid. More content out on Tuesday!
Found your channel via your Taycan values video. Saw you’d bought an R230 and subscribed immediately. We had our 2003 350 for eleven years, covering 50k plus miles including most of Europe and it was a sublime experience. It died eventually three years ago but more of that later I suspect……..TonyS
Thanks for the sub! These are fantastic cars, so much character! Sorry to hear yours gave up...
Congratulations man!! These cars are amazing! I have a CL55 AMG going on 4 years of ownership now. I know you were planning on keeping it stock, but you should consider deleting the resonators, not obnoxious but gives it a little more sound. You’ll love it even more:)
Thanks! I know - it's very tempting but was out for a drive earlier with the top down and sounded good enough! Very deep!
The same year I was picking up my 53-plate CLK280 in that colour from the Mercedes factory in Bremen and one of the test drivers took me round the banked track in an SL55 AMG… 150 mph into the banking was awesome 🤩
Sounds like quite the experience - they're still pretty amazing cars even 20 years later! Very impressive for the time!
Yes I have one but with black series body kit, it’s a beast, my abc pump has just gone managed to get a pump from Poland £430 with year warranty you can repair your own pump which is what I shall do and keep as a spare as they are hard to get hold of!!
Enjoy looks great in that blue! 👍
Thanks, and sorry to hear the ABC went! It's only a matter of time... Right? More content on this great car to come!
Congrats 🎉 about time you had a V8 back on the drive 😉
Cheers, looking forward to the meets!
Defintly brave. Congratulations for such a beauty.
Thanks, appreciated! 👍🏻
I Went with his hiro Coil overs.. Just just replace these struts and have the liquid drain out of it I didn't worry about the rest of that abc system and I'll tell you something it's a little bit faster and it handles much better! .. The difference in the ride I can't remember it it's where the market really small,, Do not get the old man's mode I think you will be disappointed I drive it at the sport mode and the difference is just negligible.. Race cars require sway bars I didn't notice it in my driving time... I wonder whether the cell value will go up I doubt it?
Hear you but I'm one of those folk who wants to keep this OEM. Also need the raise to be able to get it in to the driveway.
jeremy clarkson spec
My favorite car, seriously. Like in my opinion its the best bang for buck, its not a hyper car, its jot muscle. It just checks all the blocks. V8, superchsrged, luxury, can build more power easily, great design in parts. Its bad ass
You have superb taste! Yes - I've loved these cars since before they were even made! 😆
@@TABonTV seriously thoughit so overlooked, theres the cobra, gt500, hellcat, but believe it or not this is the car that started the horsepower wars, it was befkre all of them, and it us still on par with todays standards of performance. Impressive. And it is a beaut
As soon as the abc let go id go the coilover route
Yeah, I hear you, just not sure I can. It's so comfy and I need to be able to jack it up.
04 Sl was my dream car. Didn't have $100k then!! After searching for long time, found titanium silver, 53k mile 6 yrs ago with AMG package. CherryDid not want sl55 due to horror stories about cost of engine. Took Amtrak, picked my 500 up and drove it home. Just tripped 60k. Beautiful, comfortable, amazing handling machine. Mine has the 385hp engine and clocked 0-60 just at 5 sec. Unfortunately am considering selling due to back surgery and getting out of it difficult. But they really are NICE !!
Glad to hear it! I was in it same boat too all those years ago. Although I'm surprised you've heard that about the SL55 engine. One of the most reliable things on this car...
Had read the supercharged motor was very expensive to maintain. Glad you're doing well and keep enjoying behind the wheel 😊
@@rayblackard1974 it shouldn't be (mpg aside), it's everything BUT the motor that's expensive 😆
It says twin Turbo! Supercharger is Kompressor in Merc Lingo!
What says twin turbo? This is very much a supercharged car...
5.20 ,,,'doing 12,000 rpm ' omg I hope not..
But seriously , great car ,, main potential problems are the roof hydraulics , the brakes and the ABC ..
Drivetrain is usually trouble free ,,just maintenance.
Yeah, I hope not too! Maybe after the T.50 Cosworth conversion 😆
Lad, you have the exact color and wheels as Jeremy Clarkson’s SL55
Yes, he had good taste 👍🏻
Thinking of buying my uncles 07 sl55 amg. Its got 95k km on it. Worth getting?
Difficult to say from this, condition is more important than miles on these....
@@TABonTV he has taken great care of it. its still got the abc suspension with all its fluids updated. im thinking of giving it the vvk suspension if any problems do come up. i might have to change the batteries in the next 10k km as well.
You got a shit color but it is a very beautiful car
First person I've heard to not like the colour. Fair though. World is full of different tastes. Do you have an avocado bathroom suite?