From the factory, the SL 55 intercooler system shares coolant with the engine. It's a common modification to split the system so the intercooler circuit will run cooler.

I bought a 2003 sl55 new. I drove to NJ to pick it up and drove back to NH. Paid cash. The car needs maintenance . You must get familiar with the car! ABC fluids change, engine oil. brakes/fluid, tranny oil. everything. If you cant or wont it can get very expensive .Some The drive train is legendary and the best MB ever made. I'm an engineer so this car has an angel looking after it. I live to drive this car.

The final 2008 model was the best one to buy, the ABC issues were fixed which made the car a whole lot more reliable and 510 bhp and 525ftlb! Saying that though I've enjoyed my 2008 SL65 as a daily for the last year. Here in Florida you really do need an IC and pump upgrade to make these cars perfectly reliable. I had an SL55 F1 Edition when I lived back in the UK and it was pretty reliable although I did have to replace the ABC pump when the car was OUT of warranty and that cost me £1500 or around about $2000 to get the whole job done from Mercedes + that included a full service of the ABC system which I guess isn't all that bad really. These are beautiful cars and the M113K is legendary, I really hope you enjoy the SL55.

I went with a coilover setup silvers neomax with swift springs to be exact and never looked back . Still rides smooth as eggs handles well and no more ABC headaches and less weight !

2007-2008 is the best year for SL55 as there were significant upgrades from the earlier model years. An absolute blast of a car however.

Drainage of battery is an important part to be attended. I had the same issue with my 2000 model SL 600 V 12 super charger which took Mercedes a while to locate the fault. All this happened after the car got exposed to high moisture in the air for few months when the car was stored inside covered area. So i advise thes cars need to be given long drives every few days and stored under dehumidifier conditions if moisture is high ..

I have an 2003 500 SL (non AMG), owned it now for almost 8 months. Mine was much more of a project. So, hang in there with your refurb. I too had electrical issues that weren't battery related, it was a component alternator part that was a really cheap fix, solved all those problems. If you can find a non dealership mechanic it will save you a fortune. Preferably someone you really trust. Many mechanics really like working on these SLs. Must be a German thing. Big issue with these cars is the ABC suspension, if yours is fine now thank the Lord because that fix can make you cry. Sounds like your engine and tranny mounts are fine (I replaced those too) and if your roof is working well, that is a nice problem to have as well Like I said find a mechanic you really trust, if that's the dealership than so be it. Once I got my buggy running right, I absolutely grew to love my SL. These cars are so ahead of their time and most people have no idea what year they are because of the styling. You'll never be sheepish to pull up in your ride anywhere because it's basically now or close to a classic that will hold its own against many Vettes/911s/muscle cars. And these cars need to be driven, so don't park and plug, they like to run. Your car is sweet pal, enjoy it, some day soon you won't sell it! ps: I'm looking to upgrade to the Gen 5 AMG, they're pricey now and like yours won't depreciate much if any going forward. So hold onto yours and drive it! I do however accept all charitable donations... 😛😛😛 Cheers!

Dang Mikey, you never cease to amaze me. I like it!

I had a German car, different make with a similar battery issue that was never resolved even by their own technicians. Got so bad I had to disconnect the battery whenever I parked the car otherwise the battery would die, (luckily the battery was in the boot). Got rid of it eventually and never looked back. What really ticked me off was that the car's brain talked to the battery and was programmed (supposedly) to always maintain sufficient power to start the car which it never did. The battery cost $800.oo, like I said, I've never looked back.

First thing replaced with mine was voltage regulator and 100amp fuse . Ended up replacing bcm also because its common problem.

I’m from Modesto it caught me off guard when you said that, nice video

The SL55 AMG comes with a black card which is a keyless start, you simply keep the card in the car and push down on the button on top of the shifter to start the car.

I own an 2007 SL350. Concerning aux battery, it is a heavy duty start and stop type. I installed a 5 dollars cutter on the minus. I use every time my Benz stays unused for a few days.

I guess that battery issue is the fuse behind the subwoofer

Get rid of those wheels. Put some SL65 wheels on it instead. The battery drain is probably just a seat module. $50 used on eBay. Dealer will charge you $300+ Upgrade the intercooler pump to Bosch 010 pump. Upgrade the heat exchanger to a PLM. Replace the ABC fluid if it hasn’t been replaced in the last 40k miles. The wood isn’t faux it’s real wood trim.

Loved the SL 55 outran most super cars of its time while being more comfortable...go for an SLS gullwing next or even an AMG GT, if u want to get crazy AMG Black Series Cars are monsters and skyrocketing in value too

Los elevalunas debes resetearlos cada vez que desconectes la batería de servicios o se haya quedado sin energía. Para ello tienes que bajar los dos cristales de cada lado por completo y volverlos a subir. Con eso queda solucionado el tema de los cristales siempre que se mantenga la batería con un voltaje adecuado. Recuerda eso, cada vez que se baje el voltaje o desconectes la batería hay que hacer esta maniobra con los elevalunas para que vuelvan a quedar configurados.👍🏽

once the IC pump is updated it turns to a menace its a great car

Nice car Mike!!!

My dram car for now is 2003-2007 AMG SL 55

I have the problem with the windows going down. It's programmed in as a feature to help you close the door. However a failing battery will sometimes struggle to close it by itself and therefore you have to close it manually. Also when you keep swapping batterys or using a charger it might take a while to re-programme itself.

That fake wood trim is actually real walnut wood. This isn't a Buick it's a an SClass

Every older car is going to have problems, things wear out with age, like humans😊….yes some cars more than others depending on the level of technology in the car. Mercedes Benz engineers were given an open cheque book when designing this car. I own a 2003 SL55 and have done so for the last 4 years and yes I’ve had some maintenance costs, replaced an ABC strut, replaced the consumer battery, replaced rubber seals in the boot….but when I drive this car on a sunny day or warm night, there’s nothing better, the power, the exhaust note… it’s still a good looking car even after 19 years….. I plan to keep mine for a long time.

I’ve had mine for 6 months now it’s it’s a real joy to be honest. Of course there will be a few maintenance items and repairs but consider the cost of a new Mercedes GT with the same power at a cost of $150k + Still good value. Waiting for my cooling kit to arrive so I can complete the pulley and tune job.

Just turned 20, wanted to get a cheap v8 while I go to a mechanic training program to learn more about cars. This is what I want seeing you rip it makes me want it even more. Simple good looking car with power

How did you fix your battery issue with the 3003 SL55AMG? I have the same issue on just 2007 SL550.

I would love to have more Videos on this!!! I'm thinking about getting a CL55 🤔 just been looking for a clean one

ABC fluid has to be changed every 30k miles….

had my orange Prowler for a couple of years recently sold it , could not withstand the Brooklyn streets! picked up a 09 SLK55 a little more practical then the Prowler and appears to be mechanically simpler then the SL55 AMG , its also some what rare with the V8 in it ! enjoying it , so far it was a good move !

As it stands it looks pretty classy. Kinda “timeless” it might be a stretch for me to call it that but it does look VERY clean.

Very nice car I have a 2004 sl55 Amg I charge the suspension to coil over. You should change the supercharger oil

It’s the syclone in the back for me. I have typhoon love it

Hey--my taste change as well--just enjoy the newness of the imports!! i like alot of different cars just like you-AMG is great!

The consumer electronics and convenience is all run by the battery in the trunk, aka the back up secondary unit. And never buy a pre 2005 version of these unless you want trouble. AdLP640 said the ABC was fixed by 2008 in its last year but it was never “fixed”, just minor tweaks. If the ABC is not maintained it will fail, and they fail with age, it’s just a normal case of wear and tear. Thankfully they got rid of the hydro system but still kept it in some vehicles for awhile and was an air system in just the rear later in various cars.

Fast AF, let me know when you're done with it. 👍

Mercedes makes some beautiful and rewarding automobiles. Most are very well built and real tanks! Some (The Daimler/Chrysler years) can be absolute heaps. One important aspect to owning a used model is to have an independent mechanic who is well versed in them. In my experience, many Mercedes dealership service departments aren't that great and will rake you over the coals like they have you by the nose hairs. CHEERS! 🇱🇷

What type of rims are those plz?

Traction control whether you turn it on or off automatically comes back on. The German nanny-state Way Back Then. I know I drive that car and these cars are extremely electrical and you must put a battery tender on your SL in the trunk. I suggest A CTech. So your windows not operating correctly are that

I have one, awesome car.

Had one and yes it was a sad mistake.

Hope you got a good deal on the car.

AMG SL55.....Like a boat you have two great days.....the day you buy it and the day you sell it! 🙈

Common fault on these is F52. Large 100amp fuse hidden under passenger footwell. Bet it's that 😉

It's not faux wood...

R230 SL’s are nowhere near as scary to own as people think…. All the common issues are now known. There are many many alternative (& safe) fixes to otherwise expensive repairs. The list of easy repairs are all over KZfaq & Benzworld. I’ve owned a 2003 R230 SL500 since 2008, these are not cheap cars to own, tell me a high end car that isn’t … the original price of my SL500 came in at £116,000 when new, I bought it from the first owner (family friend rate) for £26,000 from the first owner when they were still selling for £45,000 in 2008. Best car I’ve ever owned, I’ve owned high end cars before, but this thing is a timeless beauty & very easy to live with day to day. Keep the services up to date, change ALL the fluids regularly & the car will simply put a smile on your face. The only caveat, they need to be kept on a trickle charge… but that’s no big deal whatsoever !

We need an update on this car. Best car in your fleet

Let me know if you figure out what's draining the battery I have same problem

Sweet garage

HEY! I believe I have found this car for sale...did you get rid of it? Serious question here. If it is the same car should I buy it? Please let me know because I love the way they look, especially with the wide body kit which I would install later.

Faux wood? Mercedes Benz does not use fake wood!

These are fun but def not 4200 lbs, try 4400-4500 and even 600 crank hop from stock 469 hp, not 493 hp, they’re not that quick compared to many vehicles after 2012. They also can’t get over about 185 unrestricted . 5 spd just doesn’t have the gearing and not enough hp. Even 650 hp on the autobahn on flat road surface in cool air could an E55 or SL55 too 195 mph, yes with 650 hp. And some have been at the Texas 2k and 1 mile and still not get good speed. The engine is very reliable though. The 6.2L NA engine that followed this 5.4L supercharged motor was one of the worst. The twin turbo 5.5 is good. The newer twin turbo 4.0L is rubbish.

You’re repairing a $160,000 car…. Not a $25,000 one. Fantastic car. I own an sl 65. Its a monster once I learned how to drive it(went from an 03 e-55 to 08 sl65). Spent a ton of $ on e-55 over a period of over 100,000 miles , started at 60,000 miles ended at 186,000. Owned many cars… e-55 hard to beat overall but the 08 sl65 is a much better built car than the earlier versions . Less than 5,000 in repairs/replacements and the $200,000 car is beyond belief( coil pack cost 1800 and took an afternoon to fix). Its not for a paycheck to paycheck guy to be honest, was never intended to be, but its as close to a super car as im gonna get.

i want it

Get ready for swapping to coilovers. Hydraulics suck and will fail

Anyone has issues with GLB 200 suspension?

Expensive when they break.

Bad Relay,

These cars are total crap after they get over 10 years old.

Faux wood? Its a merc not a toyota!

sell sell now before is 2 late, mercedes are money pits

You’re first mistake was buying this pile of junk. You’re second mistake was taking it to Mercedes Benz dealership. Because of the last pile of junk Mercedes Benz I bought and the fact that Mercedes Benz treated me like garbage, I will NEVER buy another Mercedes Benz.