SL 55 AMG

[Roadburner]

I am contemplating the acquisition of an SL55 AMG and would be pleased to hear from anyone able to provide information in regards to reliability and general aspects of ownership. The car in question is year 2003.

 

[LostKiwi]

Thesecare complex vehicles and at the time were cutting edge...

All v8 R230s come with ABC and SBC.
Both are capable of throwing large bills.

ABC struts each are in excess of £600.
A leak that's undetected will burn out the pump in no time and that will result in a bill of over £1000. Check all struts for leaks. A slight weep is nothing to worry about but anything provoking a drip is in need of attention and probably a new strut.

ABC is the electronic braking system. It's programmed for a certain number of activations after which it will request a workshop visit. The dealer can reset the activation count higher but this will only but time before the pump need a replacing. Pumps are over £1000.

If you're still reading the roof can leak and flood the pump in the bottom of the boot floor (under the spare). Check for water or dampness and rectify asap.
There is a good guide to fixing common leaks on the forum.

Mechanically (engine and transmission) they're good.

 

[Craiglxviii]

You have a few things to look out for.

i. All electrics need to work. Press all the buttons and ensure everything works.
ii. ABC hydraulic suspension system needs to work, car raise and lower without engine revs dipping, fluid should be clean and dark green. If any suspension struts show signs of leakage then expensive repairs lie ahead.
iii. You will have SBC braking system (fly by wire). This has a preset limited life; at some point the pump will require replacing (£700).
iv. Check the boot carpet for dampness. The SBC pump lives underneath it in the lowest point; of the boot seals leak then they create a water bath for the pump.

Aside from those, you need to check for rust in general around wheelarches.

Look in the DIY section for boot seal modification, and also for wheelarch return flange mod. Both need doing to any R230 to prevent further corrosion or water leaks.

 

[Craiglxviii]

Beat me to it!

 

[LostKiwi]

SBC pump is under the bonnet. You're thinking PSE pump I think.

 

[Roadburner]

Thank you Craig and Lost Kiwi.

I am most grateful for your extremely prompt response to my enquiry. I should have mentioned that the car is for sale at Harbour Cars in Chichester, Sussex. I have yet to view it, but from the images it does appear to be a particularly nice example. I should add that the car will be garaged. The annual smileage would be less than three thousand smiles.

 

[Craiglxviii]

Ah maybe I am thinking PSE pump at that.

If the car is to do that limited a mileage you may bring on other issues- they like to be driven regularly! Will you do frequent short trips or several long trips thru the year?

 

[Roadburner]

Ah maybe I am thinking PSE pump at that.

If the car is to do that limited a mileage you may bring on other issues- they like to be driven regularly! Will you do frequent short trips or several long trips thru the year?

Thank you for your reply. I suspect the mileage will be accrued via journey's generally not exceeding on overall distance of seventy smiles.

 

[flowrider]

Here are some things to check on an R230........

1. Check the ABC struts, hoses and resevoir for leaks and check the fluid is a lightish green colour when looked at on a white cloth. Ask the seller when the fluid was last changed, it should be done every 2 years. Brown or black ABC fluid is bad and could mean trouble later on.

2. Check that the rubber seal between the bottom of the rear window and the boot lid is not leaking, this is a common issue but is easy to fix.

3. Whilst in the boot check in the spare wheel well for water (this is where the leaking window seal dumps its water), if there is any water or it looks damp check the PSE pump and the sponge that surrounds it (to the left of the spare wheel), a wet pump or sponge is bad and could be expensive if it has been wet for too long.

3. There is an airbox under the nearside hood vent that can collect water if the drain is blocked, the drain empties in the nearest wheel well and needs to be clear. If the airbox has any water in it then water can overflow into the inside of the car which causes havoc with the electrics. If any of the underside of the carpet in the passenger footwell is wet then that is an indication the airbox has overflowed.

4. Check the rear wheel arches for rust, mud and water collects under the rim and causes rust. Front arches are aluminium so no issues there.

5. Lastly check all the electrics are working and the roof operates smoothly, best to check the roof several times to ensure it operates smoothly.

Other checks are the normal ones for any car. If you can get an OBD reader and check if there are any fault codes.

 

[Roadburner]

Here are some things to check on an R230........

1. Check the ABC struts, hoses and resevoir for leaks and check the fluid is a lightish green colour when looked at on a white cloth. Ask the seller when the fluid was last changed, it should be done every 2 years. Brown or black ABC fluid is bad and could mean trouble later on.

2. Check that the rubber seal between the bottom of the rear window and the boot lid is not leaking, this is a common issue but is easy to fix.

3. Whilst in the boot check in the spare wheel well for water (this is where the leaking window seal dumps its water), if there is any water or it looks damp check the PSE pump and the sponge that surrounds it (to the left of the spare wheel), a wet pump or sponge is bad and could be expensive if it has been wet for too long.

3. There is an airbox under the nearside hood vent that can collect water if the drain is blocked, the drain empties in the nearest wheel well and needs to be clear. If the airbox has any water in it then water can overflow into the inside of the car which causes havoc with the electrics. If any of the underside of the carpet in the passenger footwell is wet then that is an indication the airbox has overflowed.

4. Check the rear wheel arches for rust, mud and water collects under the rim and causes rust. Front arches are aluminium so no issues there.

5. Lastly check all the electrics are working and the roof operates smoothly, best to check the roof several times to ensure it operates smoothly.

Other checks are the normal ones for any car. If you can get an OBD reader and check if there are any fault codes.

Flowrider, thank you for the detailed information you have kindly provided which, along with information provided by other respondents is providing a clearer picture of what I should be looking for. Since posting on the Forum I have e-mailed the dealer (Harbour Cars of Chichester) and requested further information on number of owners and particularly for how long the last owner held the car. I have also asked for full details of the service history. Thank you again for your help.

 

[John Laidlaw]

That does look a particularly good example.
The fact the dealer has sold it previously brings some credibility.
Nothing too much to add to whats been said by my learned colleagues, a lot has been covered- just focusing on the ABC system, when you go see it do cycle the height up and down several times and ensure its smooth- also all 4 corners are level afterwards.
Struts are north of 1k, even recon pump north of £600, so not for the faint hearted
All that said, sublime vehicles

 

[Roadburner]

That does look a particularly good example.
The fact the dealer has sold it previously brings some credibility.
Nothing too much to add to whats been said by my learned colleagues, a lot has been covered- just focusing on the ABC system, when you go see it do cycle the height up and down several times and ensure its smooth- also all 4 corners are level afterwards.
Struts are north of 1k, even recon pump north of £600, so not for the faint hearted
All that said, sublime vehicles

John, Is the ABC system a height controlling mechanism and does this mean the height of the vehicle can be set at a variety of levels; sorry if this sounds obtuse but my knowledge of these machines really is absolutely negligible. Thank you once again for your kind help and this applies to everyone who has endeavoured to assist me. Whoops! I have once again read Lost Kiwi's post - I now understand that the ABC is to do with the braking system - but how does it affect the height/level of the car, please?

 

[LostKiwi]

SBC is the braking system.
ABC is the suspension system.
In broad terms ABC is development of the Citroen oleo-pneumatic system used in the XM, CX, BX etc cars but with far more control.
The system consists of a pump, struts, gas spheres, a valve block, sensors and ECU.
According to information received from the sensors (height, acceleration in both lateral and longitudinal direction, braking effort (from SBC) and rate of strut movement) the ECU adjusts the pressure in each strutto keep the car level.
On the centre console there are two SVC switches. One changes from comfort mode to Sport mode and the other provides the ability to lift the car to clear kerbs etc. There are 3 height settings. Normal ( no lights on), medium (one light on) and high (two lights). Each press cycles through to the next setting (low, med, high, low...) ABC will also lower the car slightly at speed.

 

[John Laidlaw]

John, Is the ABC system a height controlling mechanism and does this mean the height of the vehicle can be set at a variety of levels; sorry if this sounds obtuse but my knowledge of these machines really is absolutely negligible. Thank you once again for your kind help and this applies to everyone who has endeavoured to assist me. Whoops! I have once again read Lost Kiwi's post - I now understand that the ABC is to do with the braking system - but how does it affect the height/level of the car, please?

Apologies, I fell asleep without answering!
However LK has explained in depth..
Just so you have some more understanding ..
ABC = Active body control
SBC = Sensotronic Braking system
Easy to get those mixed up!

 

[Srdl]

Lovely car and at least you now know what the potential downsides are. Depends on your maintenance budget I suppose. Perhaps add a few grand to the £20k purchase price and set it aside for any future problems!

 

[John Laidlaw]

Lovely car and at least you now know what the potential downsides are. Depends on your maintenance budget I suppose. Perhaps add a few grand to the £20k purchase price and set it aside for any future problems!

Indeed, rule of thumb is this...
SL350= £350 per garage visit
SL500= £500 per garage visit
SL55= no! Not £55 but £550
Etc etc...

 

[LostKiwi]

Apologies, I fell asleep without answering!
However LK has explained in depth..
Just so you have some more understanding ..
ABC = Active body control
SBC = Sensotronic Braking system
Easy to get those mixed up!

Yeah and auto correct on phones will screw posts too. In my original one the second paragraph about brakes changed SBC to ABC hence the OPs confusion!

 

[John Laidlaw]

Yeah and auto correct on phones will screw posts too. In my original one the second paragraph about brakes changed SBC to ABC hence the OPs confusion!

They certainly do!
Been caught that way myself numerous times

 

[flowrider]

I always read my posts to myself to catch those autocorrect mistakes and still miss some!

 

[Wighty]

Above Flowrider mentions that the ABC fluid should be changed every 2 years , I think I am correct in saying that this requirement was never done by MB in this country so it is possible it has never been changed .
The 2 year change has come about more recently in this country by concerned owners / Independent specialists .
I think I have read that MB Europe did this 2 year ABC change ( but not us ) .
Hopefully someone will chime in with the accuracy of the above statements .