SL suspension - is this the 'bad' one?

SL suspension - is this the 'bad' one?

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Ari

Original Poster:

19,477 posts

220 months

Sunday 17th November 2019
quotequote all
I've read a bit in here about SLs, and received wisdom seems to be avoid air suspension on older cars.

This one has adjustable suspension, but does that mean air suspension?

https://stock.mercedes-benz.co.uk/used/vehicle-det...

I tend to buy nice cars for (to me) a lot of money but then keep them a very long time to try and make that as financially viable as possible, so if I did buy this it's entirely likely I'd still own and run it past 10 years and 100,000 miles so big bills are to be avoided if possible (bit of an oxmoron with a big Merc, but at least try and dodge some of it!)

TarquinMX5

2,018 posts

85 months

Sunday 17th November 2019
quotequote all
No, not air suspension.

IF the description is correct, ie it has the AMG active suspension (as standard fitment on same-model SL63 & SL65s), that is basically oil filled units above each spring, in place of anti-roll bars. It might be worth checking that it actually does have it (I think the option number is 487) as I wouldn't have thought many 400s were fitted with it. It cost over £3000 in 2013.

Adaptive suspension (dampers) was standard.

Whilst it isn't air suspension, I would suggest that it's more complex than the standard fitment and, therefore, might be more of a reliability (cost) issue when the car's older. Having said that, I've no personal knowledge of problems with it and a couple of people I know with / have had SL63s haven't experienced any problems with it. Yet biggrin

The suspension on the previous model SL500s and AMGs (proper AMGs, not trim lines) from early 2000s (model R230), however, could be problematic and expensive to fix.

Ari

Original Poster:

19,477 posts

220 months

Sunday 17th November 2019
quotequote all
That's really helpful, thank you. beer