SL55 AMG Thinking of buying
Discussion
Hi mate, where do i start??!!!
Check for:
Leaking roof seals
Corrosion especially on the vario roof frame, and the metal part of the rear window which the lower seal mounts on.
Noisy compressor/supercharger
Corrosion on wheels, corroded wheel bolts. If it has corroded wheels that have been kerbed, Merc will not replace them under warranty, even if the corrosion is not near the kerb damage.
SBC brake system, can be troublesome, make sure the PO37 recall has been done, can be easily checked but the fluid hose to the SBC pump should be plain rubber and not braided fabric covered rubber.
Electrical faults, especially SRS faults
Service history, the service around 45-50,000m is expensive
Tyre wear, castor arm bushes on all Mercs wear quickly, same with ball joints, anti roll bar links etc.
Central loking faults, usually caused by water leaks from the roof shorting out the PSE pump that controls central locking.
Check roof operation, make sure it fits square and is not twisted.
Gearbox multiplugs leak transmission oil into the wiring loom, it eventually finds its way into the control unit.
Jerky transmission, can be a simple case of re adapting the shift pattern, but can also be a strip and rebuild. Remember the early cars have the AMG speedshift 5 speed, not the 7 speed of the new evo cars.
Various bits of trim are inexcusibly cheap for this type of car, especially if it has the chrismas tree decoration style aluminium interior trim.
If you find one not at a main dealer, get the car to one before you buy and get them to carry out a diagnostic ( quick or short ) test to find any faults or events in the system.
We do see some fantastic 55's where i work, but the majority of them are well abused.
Do not buy an import, as warranty is only 2 years and not 3 as a uk car is.
Im sure ill think of more, if i do ill edit this post!!
As of owning one, i wouldnt, if you have the money go for the new CL63 which is fabulous and looks the nuts in the flesh ( especially in white ).
But after driving all the AMG range, you cant beat an SLK55, they are mental!
Ben
Check for:
Leaking roof seals
Corrosion especially on the vario roof frame, and the metal part of the rear window which the lower seal mounts on.
Noisy compressor/supercharger
Corrosion on wheels, corroded wheel bolts. If it has corroded wheels that have been kerbed, Merc will not replace them under warranty, even if the corrosion is not near the kerb damage.
SBC brake system, can be troublesome, make sure the PO37 recall has been done, can be easily checked but the fluid hose to the SBC pump should be plain rubber and not braided fabric covered rubber.
Electrical faults, especially SRS faults
Service history, the service around 45-50,000m is expensive
Tyre wear, castor arm bushes on all Mercs wear quickly, same with ball joints, anti roll bar links etc.
Central loking faults, usually caused by water leaks from the roof shorting out the PSE pump that controls central locking.
Check roof operation, make sure it fits square and is not twisted.
Gearbox multiplugs leak transmission oil into the wiring loom, it eventually finds its way into the control unit.
Jerky transmission, can be a simple case of re adapting the shift pattern, but can also be a strip and rebuild. Remember the early cars have the AMG speedshift 5 speed, not the 7 speed of the new evo cars.
Various bits of trim are inexcusibly cheap for this type of car, especially if it has the chrismas tree decoration style aluminium interior trim.
If you find one not at a main dealer, get the car to one before you buy and get them to carry out a diagnostic ( quick or short ) test to find any faults or events in the system.
We do see some fantastic 55's where i work, but the majority of them are well abused.
Do not buy an import, as warranty is only 2 years and not 3 as a uk car is.
Im sure ill think of more, if i do ill edit this post!!
As of owning one, i wouldnt, if you have the money go for the new CL63 which is fabulous and looks the nuts in the flesh ( especially in white ).
But after driving all the AMG range, you cant beat an SLK55, they are mental!
Ben
Edited by bloodyniceben on Friday 1st June 10:58
Edited by nubbin. on Friday 1st June 13:40
Edited by bloodyniceben on Friday 1st June 16:27
bloodyniceben said:
We do see some fantastic 55's where i work, but the majority of them are well abused.
Would you mind clarifying what you mean by the term abused?Do you mean most have have stone chips on the front, the odd kerbed alloy and have been driven very quickly, occasionally on the limiter. Or do you mean, thoroughly tracked, not serviced according to schedule, thrashed when engines cold etc.
DAZ
You can get an extended warranty.
I mean thrashed as not run in properly, which you must with AMG engines, poorly looked after, faults galore, poorly repaired accident damage, warranty issues that havent been dealt with by the customer, the car goes out of warranty so the proplems dont get fixed at all, like corroded wheels etc.
Ben
I mean thrashed as not run in properly, which you must with AMG engines, poorly looked after, faults galore, poorly repaired accident damage, warranty issues that havent been dealt with by the customer, the car goes out of warranty so the proplems dont get fixed at all, like corroded wheels etc.
Ben
Gassing Station | Mercedes | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff