Back in an AMG...an SL55

Johnnyamg

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Hello all,
Following on from my intro I thought I would start a thread about my latest car.


So after just over a week of ownership I have to say I am really smitten with the car. It ticks every box for what I need in a car(weekend work, V8, relatively low cost, luxury, performance, looks and comfort). We went down to the New Forest last weekend and it was a joy. I even got the roof down for an hour. Completely unnecessary but couldn’t resist.

Generally the car has been well looked after which is evident by the massive service and history file that came with the car but it is still not at the OCD level I like to be at.


Here is the list of jobs/tasks I have already tackled.
  • New boot struts installed and boot is operating as it should.
  • I got an low oil warning the day I collected it and added 0.5lt of oil. WTF is with the lack of dip stick?
  • New MB wiper blades installed.
  • New AMG floor mats installed. Would love to get matching red set to keep the car original but they are no longer sold by MB. will keep an eye on and a set might come up at some stage.
  • One of the rear number plate bulbs is blown and I noticed that the lenses are cracked so installed new lamp glass, cleaned contacts and new bulbs.
  • The sun blind in the Pano roof was sticking so freed that up and lubricated.
  • I am chipping away at the interior. Its a long time since the leather had any treatment so I applied a good thick coat of Gliptone Leather Treatment.
  • So I have started working on the boot seals. I obviously had a good look at the boot area during my PPI and there is one tiny area on the jack with some light rust but this may have been caused by using it on a rainy day and putting it away damp. I pulled all the insulation away from around the pump and the electronics and there is zero evidence of water/rust. The previous owner said the car was never driven in the rain however this may not be the case with me. I checked the two drain holes and one was totally blocked while the other was almost blocked so cleaned and flushed them out. I washed the car on Saturday with a power washer and did not make any concessions around the seals/rear window area. Before I started I put two absorbent clothes in the boot to mop up and catch any ingress however when I opened the boot afterwards I am unable to tell if the few drops that were there were from the washing or just dripped off the boot lid when I opened it. The car is parked in an underground car park so rarely gets wet but I want to make sure I have no issues with water ingress. as the investigation continues.
  • I went around all rubber/plastics and applied silicone lubricant and just ordered some Gummi Pflege .
  • New fuel cap filler. Small rubber cord that attaches the cap to car was broken.
  • Bonnet opening handle was sticking. Took the panel off and the spring mechanism on the interior handle is knackered. New one ordered and on the way.
  • Applied Gliptone leather treatment to all leather. And wow! what a difference that made. There are a few areas where I will apply a second coat.


What’s next on the list.
  • Get rid of condensation in the wing mirrors. I have ordered two large damp eater bags. I will put them in a large plastic bag and seal around the wing mirror tomorrow.
  • Exterior paint correction, headlamp restoration and Alloys refurbished.
  • Recovered steering wheel.
  • When I got the PPI done there was one fault on STAR. “Communication error of AC bus with component B32/2 (AAC sun sensor (4 in total))”. I noticed that the auto AC was a bit erratic. Not sure if this is how it is supposed to function but at times it seemed to blow very warm then quite cool especially after opening a window etc. Could it be the heater shutoff valve?
  • ABC fluid needs to be changed.
  • Try and find a replacement glass for the drives side mirror. (MB charge £300 for them)
  • The drivers side heated seat has stopped working on the base only. MB are telling me the leather cover is £650 and 2 hours to fit...So looking at around £1,000 to fix which is very high. I know there are 3rd party replacement mats. Has anyone bee successful in repairs the elements rather than replace.
And the good news is that the Mrs loves the car.

On a side note called into MB Brentford and their parts dept in next to the body shop. I counted at least 4 C63 and a GT-S all crashed. Sad to see so many AMGs in a bad way.

fullsizeoutput_14ed_zpsrcr8tmoz.jpeg



After Gliptone.
IMG_0883_zps76usptts.jpg


I was dead certain I would change the alloys to the Style IV 19" alloys but the alphards are growing on me. I am 50/50 whether to change them. Opinions?
 

JBell

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fullsizeoutput_14ed_zpsrcr8tmoz.jpeg


I was dead certain I would change the alloys to the Style IV 19" alloys but the alphards are growing on me. I am 50/50 whether to change them. Opinions?

Keep them, they are lovely
 

V6Matty

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I'd keep them as well, there different but I can see why your in two minds the amg IV are a nice alloy too
 

drmw

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the top of the dash is a tad shiny !
 
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Johnnyamg

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the top of the dash is a tad shiny !


I had just applied the leather treatment so it had not been absorbed at that stage. And with low light/flash it looks more shiny than it is.

Its dulled down a lot since then and the leather feels great.
 
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Johnnyamg

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I'd keep them as well, there different but I can see why your in two minds the amg IV are a nice alloy too

I am leaning that way too. They are original to the car as well.

If i can pick up a bargain set of Style IV alloys I may try them out and keep the Alphards or run the 18s in winter and 19s in summer.
 

flowrider

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Love the car, black and red is a nice combination.

A bit of advice on the water drains........there are 4 at the back around the "c" pillars and check the drain in the airbox under the passenger side bonnet vent. It drains into the wheel arch.
 
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Johnnyamg

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Love the colour scheme. Nice interior! Quite like the wheels too.

Thanks...The last time I lived in London was from 2002-2007 and I remember seeing/hearing a black SL55 with red interior and thinking I would love to own one of them some day. That box has now been ticked....13 years later.

I think I got good value by buying at this time of the year when the market is at its lowest. Granted the car needs a few things sorted out but I enjoy fixing things as it gives me something to do. I did a full restoration on a 1967 mustang so I miss having a project. I have only moved back to London in the last 6 months after 9 years in Ireland with a 8mx5m man cave which I miss dearly.

I looked at a lot of cars and even though I bought this car from a private seller it was the extensive history file that swung it for me. I also looked at a 2004 low miles one with PP with the "full MB service" history which means the car was serviced but who knows what other works was done/not done on the car.

I am sitting here planning a roadtrip for the end of the summer so I need to make sure the car is as good as it can be before then. Dover>Calais>Affalterbach>Nuremberg>Vienna>Budepest>Zagreb>Split>Dubrovnik>Bari>Naples>Rome>Florence>Venice and back. Cant wait.
 
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Johnnyamg

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Love the car, black and red is a nice combination.

A bit of advice on the water drains........there are 4 at the back around the "c" pillars and check the drain in the airbox under the passenger side bonnet vent. It drains into the wheel arch.

I have checked the airbag and its bone dry but I have only found two of the water drains at the C Pillars.

Off to the garage I go for a look. :D
 

John Laidlaw

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Looks great!put that ABC fluid change to the top of your list....
 
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Johnnyamg

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Looks great!put that ABC fluid change to the top of your list....

Its right up there at No. 1. I plan on calling my local MB specialist to get prices early this week.......the more I research and read about these cars the more I am beginning to understand how much TLC the ABC needs.
 

davemercedes

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Keep them, they are lovely

+1
They look great and changing them is unlikely to improve the ride.
Car looks the part - good purchase, well done!
 
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Johnnyamg

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Love the car, black and red is a nice combination.

A bit of advice on the water drains........there are 4 at the back around the "c" pillars and check the drain in the airbox under the passenger side bonnet vent. It drains into the wheel arch.

I found the obvious ones at the base of the c-pillar where it meets the rear quarter panel.

Are these the other two?
P1010524_zpslgemp7wf.jpg
 

drmw

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that's them. I'm unaware of these causing any issues, but always possible. The main 2 are under where the "pointy ends" of the boot lid go when closed
 

00slk

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I do like the black, it suits these and the red leather is another nice touch too. I went to view a black one with red leather, but the owner (or seller in this case?) was reluctant to give me a reg number or chassis number, in fact he didn't have the log book either. That was the only saving grace and I didn't take a journey to London!
 
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Johnnyamg

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I do like the black, it suits these and the red leather is another nice touch too. I went to view a black one with red leather, but the owner (or seller in this case?) was reluctant to give me a reg number or chassis number, in fact he didn't have the log book either. That was the only saving grace and I didn't take a journey to London!


My general rule when viewing a car. Walk away if anything seems in any way odd...you did the right thing.


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00slk

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My general rule when viewing a car. Walk away if anything seems in any way odd...you did the right thing.


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I noticed the car was not advertised after I talked with this person :rolleyes:
 

Wighty

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Wow that is one serious road trip , what sort of time are you planning on doing it in and what sort of mileage is it . I though I was being adventurous by planning a drive to southern Spain and back in September via Calais .
 
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Johnnyamg

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Wow that is one serious road trip , what sort of time are you planning on doing it in and what sort of mileage is it . I though I was being adventurous by planning a drive to southern Spain and back in September via Calais .



I only hatched the plan this week so I am still in the very early planning phase. I should be able to take 17-20 days off work. I will probably do Germany alone then fly the better half into Vienna and meet her there for the next leg. Once I work out all the distances and driving times then I will tailor the plan to suit. As usual with my road trips there will be 2-3 long days(7+hours) driving and most other days will be 1-2 hours in the morning and the same in the evening which I find manageable.

I did France, North Italy and Switzerland last year in my C63 hence the reason for going a bit further east for something a bit different.




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