Just to clarify - prices in this video are AUSTRALIAN dollars and if you exclude the replacement of the fuel tank, it’s about US$3,500 including a new ABC strut...

I have this car for the last three years. I spent on repairs and extra thinks over 10 thousand pounds every pound is worth spending on this car I love it and I only drive it from May to November. I recommend this car.

Totally agree with you about the R230 series and being a superb timeless design. 👍

Woah, that’s a lot to keep this car on the road. My clk 63 cabrio has cost $350 in one year with a full Mercedes dealership service at 55 kms.I hope this coming year is better for you.The red leather is reminiscent of the older classics, and really suits it. All the best. 😀

I've owned three R230s, first an SL600 V12 twin turbo, then an SL550 with a 32-valve V8, then an SL55 AMG with its 5.5 supercharged V8. . The R230 is a masterpiece whatever engine you go with. But the SL55 AMG is the one I own now. I bought it with 92k miles and it looks, runs and drives as a new car. It cost over $120,000 when new. I got new motor mounts, ABC accumulators, new water pump, alternator and idler pulley, new spark plugs and wires (Engine takes 16 of them). At 20 years old now and with the mileage those parts should be expected to wear out by now. Very few cars compare at all to an R230!! None of mine ever had any fuel tank issue. A car of this caliber can run into some very expensive repairs but for almost any repair there is a way to avoid spending like a millionaire. Rule number one, never trust a dealership, they will rob you blind. Been there, done that!! All my repairs cost me less than 30% of what a dealership would charge. You have to be smart because most shops see you have a Benz and think you're rich and want to overcharge you. Engine mounts in Mercedes are hydraulic and are expected to be replaced at around 75-100K miles.

Excellent video! First time I've heard about a fuel tank issue. Definitely worth the repairs.

Great video.Invaluable content on cost of ownership of this sensational SL.

Thanks for the informative review. Really useful purchase tips.

great vid, i purchased a 2003 cl55 in oct last year low kms 90000 similar to yours in it came with a stack of receipts abc pump had been done trans mounts and engine mounts had been done, so far i have replaced two rear struts, front end bushes, ball joints and control arms, boot lock actuator, battery, voltage regulator and had to clean out the throttle body still to do is rear tail light malfunction rear headrests not working driver seat bolsters not working and i have a misfire in cylinder 2, all in all not to bad and i love the car ...

The abc suspension is expensive but the ride and handling is worth every cent. Great video

Very interesting. Beautiful car - I love the interior

Wow! It's a beautiful car.. I from Germany and.. I would do so much to drive this thing.. And btw good editing! Subscribed!

Really nice Video, thanks 👌🏼

I was looking at buying the SL55 here in the UK, but after some research, and watching this video, i decided to spend some extra cash, and buy a 2015 V6 Jaguar F Type, but the SL looks and sounds great, especially with the red interior.

I have the similar colour combo on my 55AMG. Fell in love like yourself, with the red leather interior! Mine is the darker cubana silver. I to had the 500 SL previously and prior to that the 350 SL. I also owned the cl55AMG supercharged version which was in black with black leather. All great cars in their own way. I always really wanted the SL 55 and am happy that I have finally got one. Yes they can be expensive to maintain but you have to figure this against the 500 bhp and the 100k price tag when new! Prices in the U.K. are quite reasonable and I believe can only go up. I paid near to top end price with a UK dealer but I wanted all of the issues sorted before I handed over the money. Something you can do with a dealer . The only major problem was a front strut bottom joint worn which normally results in a complete strut assembly replacement at the cost of at least 1k uk pounds but there is a company that can press them out and use the existing strut which saves a lot of money. The Mercedes owners in my area are very lucky to have a young specialist who works for himself and also loves Mercedes in fact he owns a 55AMG. Obviously, unless a millionaire, you do not want to be going any where near the main dealers. I have been very fortunate in my many years of motoring, to have owned some very desirable cars including a DE Tomasso Panterra GT 5 now worth a lot of money, a Lamborghini Countach, several Ferraris but proper manual carb. ones! , and the biggest horse power car a Nissan Skyline with 700 bhp.

Looks very nice.

Interesting and informative 🇯🇲

Very nice 💪🏽

You should hear it with the resonator delete and ECU upgrade to 595HP.

Gr8 car and review 😁

Great video - ABC is terrifying when you understand all that can go wrong, but the ride is worth it, I'd have another ABC car in a heartbeat!

I know its not the same, but I purchased a 2009 SLK300 a year ago and have put 13,000 kilometres on it; checked out my "annual" costs = $4,500 Cdn, all done by local Mercedes dealership from reg services + belts and seals. I think if you buy an older "premium" car it is something you have to expect. Just like you I love my SLK, it's my daily driver (though not in the snow !!) so I am prepared to "pay the price" to keep it fully and properly maintained so I can enjoy driving it - and as I said its not the same as the SL, but to me it is my pride and joy. Must admit I do love that red interior on your SL !!

Very nice video! Enjoy your SL!! Car looks great! I also like silver SL cars. I'm currently looking at R230 AMG though I already have slightly modded CLS55. Yeah, tank issue looks like a bad luck though honestly Idk if that issue is rather rare or not. Regarding running cost here are my considerations. I think $7000 (9800 AUD = about 7000 USD) in a first year is pricy. I really hope your second year will be easier. I think everyone who is interested in R230 AMG should first put aside such amount and consider putting aside half of it each year and if you don't have that money then buying SL it's not even a gamble, but rather like intentionally stepping on a land mine. Of course you could DIY some issues but when you have a full time job and almost no spare time you should also understand you may not be able to DIY anything. Personally I like DIY repairs but sometimes it may be too difficult, too dirty and takes too much time. Here is my advice to all potential SL buyers: I think unless you can put aside $7000 for after-purchase repairs and $3000 each year for keeping it alive don't buy it. OR if you have another car or two and those cars are much more reliable and much simpler (like Honda or Toyota) you may buy it and in case something happens you will have time to think how to solve that issue.

You are obviously passionate about your cars - $9k in the first year!!! I love the car and it would be great to be able to own one and keep it on the road - but I would have to get a second job 😩. I imagine insurance wouldn't be exactly cheap either ☺️

I looked at a SL 55 for sale in Victoria today and it looks like the one in the video. Its advertised on car sales at $79k. Just thought you might want to know.

Hi there, l noticed that you had CLS 19’’ alloy wheels on the non sl55 they look fantastic. Please let me know the tyre and rim sizes please and were they polished. Thanks 🙏

If interested I added an update to my post of one year ago. Still adore my car.

Informative vid of your superb car!😊👍 as a car enthusiast and car collector I would much liked to have an SL55 AMG, the look is awesome and it goes like stink!!! Looked at a mint conditioned vehicle last year, with only 40000 km since 2004.(ended up buying a 2010 Mustang Roush Stage 3 550 hp/700nm 8600 km instead) But All the faults these kind of high tec Merc's have, it puts me away of buying one, the CL500/55 AMG is also a beautiful car, it costed HUGE money when new.... think it was something like € 270 000!!! Back in early 2000 Bought a 2006 Gelandewagen G55 AMG in 2021, looks like a new vehicle with 31000 km done. Same engine/gearbox as all MB 55's have. No ABC to go wrong on the Gelandewagen thankfully😊🙏 cheers from me in Norway

I would love to know the kms on his car. I sure hope it was huge kms. I have a 2007 P030 SL 55 AMG with 52k and am not happy with some of the issues eg. Fuel leak that has been outlined in this video. I am up for high cost, but the costs outlined are scary. To date my SL runs great, and the costs have been well in line with my other cars, foreign and domestic. It truly is a Beast and the best driving roadster I have ever owned, in fact it’s luxury sans rear seats, compares to my 750L BMW sedan when the top is up. Fingers crossed that the improvement to the ABC in 07 solved the issues that added up on the subject car....but with that said I think 5k for maintenance is likely what annual costs will be, but will still be pissed if it costs me that much over time.

Brilliant review, it’s always been my dream to own an R230. How many kms on the odometer out of curiosity? Edit: Subbed!

what is the total cost including purchase price and maintenance do you have into this SL55?

Great review video, thanks! What is the mileage on this car?

The labour is outrageous, glad I can wrench. Who is your mechanic and how many km on the car?

I bought 16 new spark plugs and a set of new spark plug wires for my SL55 AMG, and replaced them all in about 8 hours. It was a difficult job but not impossible. My cost for parts was $400. I called a Mercedes dealership service desk afterwards and asked them, "If I bring the car in and have you replace spark plugs and wires, what's the cost?" I was amazed when they said, "$3,940.00 US dollars." I called a second Mercedes dealer and they quoted about $300 less. LOL

How many kilometers did you do on the SL in a year?

Dont be this guy who gets everything done just because a mechanic said and spends 10,000 when he doesnt need to. Mechanics must love him.

How much did you pay? How many miles?

What and about 14 miles to a gallon ? Wow I would not purchase an old AMG SL now. I had a Porsche 987 and kept that running for 7 years and it was a fraction of the cost to maintain.

Informative content. $10k [roughly GBP 5k] is rough. Any good MB independents in Sydney/NSW? Thanks.

Wish my SL55 had that red interior...

Timeless for shops it sounds like

Lane cove

Lol 9k a year how many miles did you drive

Too many much newer cars these days that outperform this and aren't obscenely expensive to maintain. I can't believe people put the boot into BMW M series for reliability, these with ABC suspension are in an expense class of their own!

Lol Australians get shafted with prices for parts and labor. In the US these parts are 1/2 the price with exchange rate taken into consideration..

Did you ever have any convertible problems

this sl55 or your previous cl65 ? and why ?

Whereabouts is this in Australia?

Said to the ABC strut: "You have failed me for the last time..."

100 AUD = 72 USD = 61 EUR = 55 GBP

LOL only pro on the suspension is for shops

Ok, that’s a lot to keep this car on the road. I have one, drive around 7500 km / year. Now 4 years later, I had to spend one hydraulic pump and the accumulators, that's it.

Labour charge for the tank job is very reasonable when converted to GBP.

Learn to turn a wrench. I guess coming from poverty I’m more willing to do the job myself. I get to drive what I like though and keep most of my money in my pocket

Ioly op

Hey Simon, you sound very Brit 😀

This car is not “superior in ride quality” the problem is foremost that the chassi flexes a lot and seems to battle with that gigantic engine in front, furthermore it is not really elegant because the supercharging winding sound is intrusive and makes the engine rather sound cheap than sophisticated. The ABC suspension as well as other parts are cheaply made and break at all times if you talk to real SL owners they can tell you about there very expensive ownership experience - it’s unfair towards high paying owners and thus not necessarily a great car. Plastic interior parts remind you on the Mercedes-Benz C class - for example the door opener pull handle support part is so cheaply made it brakes as well - simple things break and usually everybody owning this car tries to get rid of it as soon as they can. Yes the design is great and reminds you on the Mercedes SLR but unfortunately the build quality went far down and in compare to the previous model. For all design features with this car, it’s technically a money pit. Takes all the fun out. Never SL again.

You could have gotten a newer version with less kms, without the need for so much maintenance. Surely you wouldn't be doing many kms in it... Strange. You're just fixing someone else's issues then moving the cars on.

dude, u start talking about the cost after over 7 minutes of ranting. Geez get on with it already!

Omg you got a lemon and money pit. You be better off riding a bicycle

By not giving mileage of car…he made video irrelevant…at 150k mi..and 20 yrs old you could expect $$$ repairs mentioned…at 65-70k mi…those repairs are outrageous…How many owners??…Cost of previous owners repairs?….How much did he pay for car??…Poorly done incomplete video