Buying an SL55 AMG

[robpoo90]

Hi all.

My first post - perhaps there will be more after this weekend as I am looking to purchase my first Mercedes!

I have a couple of 2003 SL55 AMG viewings lined up for Saturday. I hope there are some passionate knowledgable people that can provide pointers, things to ask, things to look for, warning signs.... you get my drift. It's obviously a chunky investment so kindly ask for any advice to help me spend wisely

I anticipate your reply.

Rob

 

[A210AMG]

Hello

Welcome, nice choice...


There will be people round soon to help, my dad was after a SL55 purely as he liked te 'kit' and looked at several I can only comment that he was very suprised how a few he looked at were poorly kept, looked well 'used' and millage didn't seem to corespond to wear..


So look very carefully, check eveything works. Are they at a MB dealer (so you get a warranty?)


My dad settled for a lower millage SL500 and is more than happy with it


Pleanty about so take you time and be picky, its a buyers market. Check the options they have as these can add several thousand to the new price, it all depends what you would like I guess..Pano roof, keyless go, air seats, parktronic etc etc


Hope its nice for your test drives and report back

 

[Ellsy Tanners]

Hello, very nice choice Rob.

I few things to look out for.

1, check in the boot for signs of water ingress, lift up the boot pannel and check around the spare for signs of damp or where it might of been damp in the past.

2, check the roof for rattles on the road test, they can sometimes be quite noisy.

3, listen out for a rattle from behind the seats over bumps etc, fuel tank baffles can break and be noisy.

4, make sure the tyres have loads of tread as those big beasts are pricey.


But most of all be prepared to be very impressed with what are amazing cars.

 

[television]

Hell and welcome Bourne end bucks or Herts ?

All dealers make a mountain over the extras on a car, most of which are standard.
The 500 extras are; the things that I love are marked §
The AMG extras are marked with a **** or Strandard


AMG body styling § Standard
AMG or other wheels § Standard
Comfort ventilated seats § ****
Distromic § ****
Exclusive leather § ****
Keyless go § not on AMG
Linguaretronic ****
Mobile phone § ****
Multicotour seats with massage §
Panoramic roof 10-02 on ****
Parktronic § ****
Bose surround sound § Standard AMG
Telehone pre wiring' ****
TV tuner § ****
Tyre preasure monitor ****
Wood steering wheel ****
Garage door opener § ****
Fir extinguisher ****
350 over the above

ABC suspension § Standard
Bi xenon lights § Standard
CD changer § Standard

feel free to ask anything

 

[robpoo90]

A210AMG - Thanks for the reply. One I am testing is at a dealer and one is private but bought from a reputable local dealer just 4 weeks ago so still has 11 months of warrenty. I imagine the sellers wife has him under the thumb and is forcing him to get rid of his new prized posession! Both cars I am looking at have around 16,000 miles on the clock and had recent major services (apparently!). One thing i need to get to grips with is the extras, the list seems to go on forever! Anything in particular people recommend as a must have? I do like the SL65 AMG split rim 19" alloys a lot of people upgrade to.

Ellsy - Great advice and certainly absorbed - can't wait for the test drive! Sure hope it lives up to my expectations! I will be sure to report back.

Any more words of wisdom would be well received

 

[television]

A210AMG - Thanks for the reply. One I am testing is at a dealer and one is private but bought from a reputable local dealer just 4 weeks ago so still has 11 months of warrenty. I imagine the sellers wife has him under the thumb and is forcing him to get rid of his new prized posession! Both cars I am looking at have around 16,000 miles on the clock and had recent major services (apparently!). One thing i need to get to grips with is the extras, the list seems to go on forever! Anything in particular people recommend as a must have? I do like the SL65 AMG split rim 19" alloys a lot of people upgrade to.

Ellsy - Great advice and certainly absorbed - can't wait for the test drive! Sure hope it lives up to my expectations! I will be sure to report back.

Any more words of wisdom would be well received

Maybe you did not see the list of extra's that I put up for you. I have every possible extra on my 500

 

[robpoo90]

Television - What a timely post! you answered one of my queries while I was tapping out the question! I like this forum!

I am Bourne End - Bucks - near the Thames.

I hear the Linguaretronic is pretty crap! Need the roof up, music off and no engine noise for it to work!? A friend had a new SL500 shipped over two weeks ago (it is actually the Burgendy one in all their marketing) and apparently the latest model has been sorted out leaving Linguaretronic working amazingly... picks up voice perfectly. It might hear him well, but it's still a bad colour in my eyes!!

 

[television]

Television - What a timely post! you answered one of my queries while I was tapping out the question! I like this forum!

I am Bourne End - Bucks - near the Thames.

I hear the Linguaretronic is pretty crap! Need the roof up, music off and no engine noise for it to work!? A friend had a new SL500 shipped over two weeks ago (it is actually the Burgendy one in all their marketing) and apparently the latest model has been sorted out leaving Linguaretronic working amazingly... picks up voice perfectly. It might hear him well, but it's still a bad colour in my eyes!!

They are dream car,, just ask anything, if you do not understand the extras I will try and clarify,, Yes the linguatronic is not that good,,she gets it right in a closed car though, and she is some one to talk too

 

[type49]

As stated about the roof/boot sealing. The main seal being at the bottom of the folding "C" pillar - seal is about 10" long, this is quite an expensive job. Heavy on brakes as well as tyres. Some are de-restricted & have ceramic discs, different air ducts in front spoiler & extra cooling for engine oil. Roof can be noisy over bumps but can be cured with modified pivot bolts (couple of quid) or an hours labour with someone who's experienced with these roofs. No real interior problems, just check every switch does something. All suspension is ABC hydrolic, sometimes change pumps, struts, valve blocks so check it all works & check for leaks after a road test - also check just in front of NSR wheel, wheel arch/sill area, they can leak here. Dont expect it to be cheap to run, be picky, be observant. There are plenty out there, get a good one & you won't be dissapointed.

 

[100%Bitch]

I have every possible extra on my 500

And that includes the driver.

 

[television]

And that includes the driver.

It includes me, but it needs someone like you to balance things up

 

[television]

Type 49 about the near side front wheel arch is a good point, I hade a sensor in the valve block come lose and lost all the fluid,,it was an easy DIY for me, but not for everyone.

The tell tale signs are look on the insides of the wheels and tyres for oil marks, this will also cover the struts

 

[robpoo90]

Thanks for the help...
I will report after the viewings and test drives tomorrow and let you know how I got on
Fair amount to look out for, think i'll be taking a clip board and tick list! Certainly am excited, it's like that Christmas Eve feeling from when I was 5!
Any one have any experience with mercedes benz of reading - Greenoaks?

 

[colechelle]

yes, heard through the trade that they are one of the worst about, but thats just the word of course!!!! i have never delt with them myself but know a lot who have, answers are always the same, even if you buy it there you can always use another dealer if you dont find them helpful, after you test drive that you will feel like all your x,mas,s have come at once, they are nothing less than a weapon!!!!

 

[ricky s]

My experience with Greenoaks of Reading, is unfortunately in line with colechelle's comments, albeit a good 14 months ago, I found them, upon my initial car enquiry,(E55) to be very uninterested in my enquiry, and whilst I pursued the car they supposedly had coming in many times, they stalled all the time, with promises to call me back, but never did, after numerous attempts to chase this particular car, I gave up, they blantantly were not interested, and I for one would never deal with them again, not impressed, and if that's their service before buying, what's their after sales like? But this is only my personal experience!

 

[robpoo90]

Well i'm nothing less than blown away by the quality of the SL 55's that I went out in yesterday. I'm already addicted! The power is awesome and the luxury is close behind. I would like opinions though and have a few questions....

I first went to a private seller, who bought from Greenoaks of Reading about 5 weeks ago. It's a lovely spec, all the options and SL65 wheels factory fitted. 2003 but is in fantastic condition, only 15,000 miles. So that leads to my first query, is that bad, only 15000 miles on a late 2003 car of this sort???

The guy is selling the SL55 becuase he also has a stunning '05 plate M5 on the drive and he clearly loves that with a passion. I think his expectations of the SL 55 were too high, so one of the high powered cars on the drive had to go as his third kid is on the way. The warranty he bought was Tier 1 with Mercedes. It can be transferred and has about 11 months on it. They are £1500 to renew each year. But what does the warrenty cover - is it anything and everything? Say for example this leaking NSR wheel arch... if that started to happen or was happpening, would it not be covered anyway?

So I was blown away by the private SL55 and it's exactly the spec I am after. I went to Greenoaks to look at one they had - the price was crap and the spec no where near as good. The sales guy though, was the same chap that sold the SL55 to the private seller!! Touch!! I asked a few questions and got some great information out of him. He said that car was a beauty, amazing condition, the bloke who bought it negotiated a very good deal at £43k and Greenoaks are putting in an ofer to buy it back off him at £40k. Interesting I asked if the warranty could be transferred, he said no -l ike you would expect (then a his boss corrected him - you definately can!) and his final comments - it would be a great buy, you should go for it! Rare for a car sales man to mug himself of a potential deal.

As long as HPI checks etc clear OK, it sounds like a situation too good to be true! I was expecting to pay more around the 48-50k mark for the SL55 with the exact spec I desired. I would prefer if it was a 2004, but the milage is low.

I'm wondering if there are any glaring mistakes or anything more I should do to make sure this private buy is a sensible thing to do??? Am I jumping the gun?

Again, feedback and comments are really appreciated and anticipated.

Rob

 

[colechelle]

Thats a lot of car for the money, the tier 1 warranty is the best about, my c320 that i just got rid off had mb phone kit, it was crap!! booked in, new radio and phone control unit, no cost to me, car was nearly 4 years old, it sounds like the car sold itself, low miles and warranty, sounds good to me!!!

 

[stumpy]

Low mileage on a car like this is quite common. They are often 2nd, 3rd, or 4th cars and not used that much. Hign numbers of owners often too. I looked at a red one at Purslow last year - 3 years old and 3k miles. The owner gets a new one every 3 years!

 

[robpoo90]

Yup, a lot I have seen around the internet are low mileage and lots of owners. The one I'm looking at is with it's second owner. He has had it for just 4-5 weeks. Before that it was a lady in Chelsea that had it from new. I will 'potentially' be the 3rd owner

My concern around the low mileage is really to do with any negative impact on the engine and whether a lack of regular use causes performance concerns or problems if I start driving it regularly?

 

[Dave's E55 AMG]

Low mileage on a car like this is quite common. They are often 2nd, 3rd, or 4th cars and not used that much. Hign numbers of owners often too. I looked at a red one at Purslow last year - 3 years old and 3k miles. The owner gets a new one every 3 years!

Stumpy's right these cars don't get used much. Only people like me use this kind of car for everyday use (25K a year). Go for the private deal, just have it checked out regarding HP.