I Finally Bought A Mercedes SL55 AMG! 

I got a 2005 SL55 AMG and yes, I did have the ABC "issue" - at a price-tag of €10,000 for two front struts, etc... However: I'd rather pay those 10 Grand every other year than the 15 Grand it takes every three years to keep a Ferrari 360 road-worthy. The SL55 AMG is the perfect package. Torque, V-Max. etc. are just overwhelming. Before buying the SL55 I was looking into buying a SL63, Ferrari 360 or 430, Audi R8 V10 and even a Lamborghini LP 520. I went with the SL55 because it's purchase price was so much lower - just €29,000... And I was aware of that I was going to have to spend a significant amount on the ABC, etc. soon. Four years later I'm still totally happy with my decision. The SL55 is brutally powerful, extremely fast and I'm yet to dare to actually go full throttle on it. I drive 500hp Turbo-Porsches, a cammed Corvette, etc. and they're all fun. But the bone-stock SL is still the most brutal car I own. And yet it's a true luxury car. One that you might take to drive up to the opera house or a five star hotel without hesitating. Simply because you can take the SL55 on a road-trip for hundreds of miles without worrying, without getting any back pain or getting exhausted. If you're travelling in Germany, you might want to set the cruise control to 130mph and not pay a second thought to it until you arrive at your destination.

I had a 2007 SL55 AMG for 6.5 years. Such a great car. So underated and the bargain of the century. I highly recommend them.

The same year I was picking up my 53-plate CLK280 in that colour from the Mercedes factory in Bremen and one of the test drivers took me round the banked track in an SL55 AMG… 150 mph into the banking was awesome 🤩

I just bought an SL350 of the same age. I bought it on a whim. I was aware of the ABC issues on the bigger versions and the 350 is fine for me. Love the colour! of yours!

Congrats mate. Will watch this series with interest. Easily my favourite era of SL. As you say, think there is an element of bravery with the potential running costs…. 🤞Such a cool car though, and looks really tidy.

Beautiful car and exceptional colour combo. I fully agree with your approach of having it back to its full glory, no mods, just take care of it!

Congratulations man!! These cars are amazing! I have a CL55 AMG going on 4 years of ownership now. I know you were planning on keeping it stock, but you should consider deleting the resonators, not obnoxious but gives it a little more sound. You’ll love it even more:)

Looks great 👍🏼

I understand how you feel. I just sold my Z3M roadster & replaced it with a low mileage R231 SL500 in hyacinth red with cream leather. Same torque as your SL55 AMG. Not the AMG SL63 admittedly. But not much less power or performance. It's more than enough. In fact I'm in awe of it. The fact it takes an extra 200 or 300 milliseconds to reach the legal speed limit compared to the AMG 63 is immaterial. 0 - 60 in 4.5 is fine with me. I'm loving it to bits. When I collected it from the dealer in Paignton to drive it home to Southampton, i wasn't smiling at the performance. I was laughing with joy 🙂 I considered an SLK55. But they're almost as expensive. A great little V8 roadster, but less car for the money. SLK55 £55k new compaired to SL500 £85k new, but only £3 or £4k more second hand for the SL. And it's an almost all aluminium engineering masterpiece. With the SLK the engine felt special. With my SL500 the whole car feels special.

I’ve still got my 2005 SL55 which I bought new. It was my every day runner for the first six years by which time it had covered around 60k miles. Right now it’s got 78k on the clock and still used for trips down to Spain and the continent. I simply couldn’t part with it when the time came, and the depreciation was horrendous! You’ve already said all the right things on your channel, I would just add; one of the best pieces of over-engineering you will find anywhere! Mine will probably become a family heirloom one day. Good luck with yours! 👍 ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-vFOfq-Cte4E.htmlsi=aXWqWl0hqze5r79p

Found your channel via your Taycan values video. Saw you’d bought an R230 and subscribed immediately. We had our 2003 350 for eleven years, covering 50k plus miles including most of Europe and it was a sublime experience. It died eventually three years ago but more of that later I suspect……..TonyS

What a wonderful colour and will be interesting to follow the journey. As you know, I have an SL380 from 1986, way less tech, but a good example of an SL, a very pretty car that is an icon within an icon brand! I now have my interest renewed in something similar to yours, it is so brilliant a car!!! Well done, let’s see how it goes for you. Love that hard top, really cool

I have my 2006 SL350. Man i keep seeing the headlights and can’t stop telling myself it’s an SLR 😂

jeremy clarkson spec

I've just found your channel after researching SL55's to understand more about them, with a potential purchase in mind at some point so this is good timing and I'll be following along! The age of them now, along with the suspension are my big apprehensions, with the potential wallet emptying fixes that may go with them. It'll be quite a jump in the deep end compared to what I've owned previously. Are there any rattles you've noticed so far in the cabin that come with having an 'old' car? Looking forward to seeing how you find living with it.

Yes I have one but with black series body kit, it’s a beast, my abc pump has just gone managed to get a pump from Poland £430 with year warranty you can repair your own pump which is what I shall do and keep as a spare as they are hard to get hold of!! Enjoy looks great in that blue! 👍

Nice content. Thanks !

04 Sl was my dream car. Didn't have $100k then!! After searching for long time, found titanium silver, 53k mile 6 yrs ago with AMG package. CherryDid not want sl55 due to horror stories about cost of engine. Took Amtrak, picked my 500 up and drove it home. Just tripped 60k. Beautiful, comfortable, amazing handling machine. Mine has the 385hp engine and clocked 0-60 just at 5 sec. Unfortunately am considering selling due to back surgery and getting out of it difficult. But they really are NICE !!

Great color!

I Went with his hiro Coil overs.. Just just replace these struts and have the liquid drain out of it I didn't worry about the rest of that abc system and I'll tell you something it's a little bit faster and it handles much better! .. The difference in the ride I can't remember it it's where the market really small,, Do not get the old man's mode I think you will be disappointed I drive it at the sport mode and the difference is just negligible.. Race cars require sway bars I didn't notice it in my driving time... I wonder whether the cell value will go up I doubt it?

My favorite car, seriously. Like in my opinion its the best bang for buck, its not a hyper car, its jot muscle. It just checks all the blocks. V8, superchsrged, luxury, can build more power easily, great design in parts. Its bad ass

Congrats 🎉 about time you had a V8 back on the drive 😉

Defintly brave. Congratulations for such a beauty.

As soon as the abc let go id go the coilover route

It says twin Turbo! Supercharger is Kompressor in Merc Lingo!

5.20 ,,,'doing 12,000 rpm ' omg I hope not.. But seriously , great car ,, main potential problems are the roof hydraulics , the brakes and the ABC .. Drivetrain is usually trouble free ,,just maintenance.

Lad, you have the exact color and wheels as Jeremy Clarkson’s SL55

Thinking of buying my uncles 07 sl55 amg. Its got 95k km on it. Worth getting?

Interior is so old fashioned. These cars are money pits and spare parts are ridiculous !

You got a shit color but it is a very beautiful car