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Wow thanks very informative. My 2003 55 AMG now on 37k miles and none of those issues have happened to mine......yet but I'm aware of all the possible issues ! However it is garaged and molicoddled !😊 It's amazing how folk ruin the interiors but some of that's down to missuse and leaving them in the sun etc. My Father always parked his cars in the shade and it rubbed off on me, as it protects the paintwork, headlamps, rubber trim and interior etc. I've changed the ABC fluid and fitted the upgraded filter to the reservoir. I've bought the upgraded roof flap brackets ready to fit. Mine have sagged a couple of mm. I've bought some valve block seal kits ready just incase. Great cars to drive and judging by modern cars of today which are so ugly, they are no more unreliable. So many emission strangling devices to go wrong now, you won't catch me in a car younger than 15 years old 😊
Very well done video. I keep my R230 garaged, and with over 110,000 miles on it, I haven't had any of the interior components fall apart like on your example. I have had to rebuild most of the ABC system, including all four shocks, accumulators, and more. That rebuild was over 5 years ago, and I've heavily tracked the car during those 5 years. The system is still functioning great with no errors or issues to date. I replaced the front lock cylinder for the top because that was leaking at one point. I've also done MANY other jobs on this car including the windshield washer pump, pneumatic pump, vario top issues, control arm bushings, alternator, window switches, and more. These cars are fabulous when they are working, but they are very high maintenance machines.
The R230have the finest suspension and brakes of any production car- this all formula 1 tech . My 04 has never failed me. The cars you are looking at were never maintained.
The majority must've not be maintained either as we see them day in and day out. The two you own does not make the majority, we apologize if we've upset you. Personally, I am a big fan of ABC and SBC but that doesn't change the facts.
My 2004 500 SL with 120,000 miles has none of the problems that you mentioned. The only problem was the ABS brake system, that after it reaches a couple of 100,000 miles, has to be renewed. It costs $3,500. Mine was covered by Mercedes. Most people don't know that MB has extended the Warranty to LIFELONG! But you have to ask for it. I am truly satisfied with my car, but I maintain it properly. The 600 SL you showed is a piece of sh*t!
Very informative video. My friend just bought a 2007 SL55 and the suspension is in need of costly repairs. He went from a R129 to R230 and I know he regrets the move. I'll be moving from my R129 SL500 to a R231 SL550 w/o ABC soon. That newer model has waaaay less issues. Thanks again for the video.
Glad you enjoyed it! ABC Plus in the MY07-up Cars is much better and by MY14 when Magic Body Control was introduced, haven't seen a single issue out of.
I have a beautiful 2005 SL 500 and love it. The only problems I have had was replacing the front grill which I hated because it looked like a Mimi blind mistake, with a single chrome version on black Matt. I also replaced the outdated “command center” with a top,of the line Kenwood stereo system, Garmin GPS with Apple everything. I’ve maintained the car and it is awesome. Just went on a road trip from San Francisco to visit friends in Marina Del Ray and got 35 miles to the gallon. Smooth, totally wonderful and I might add, stunning looking car. It just takes maintenance like any other car. Not a cheap car or ride but in my opinion my Mr. Sly is worth the investment.
Got my 04 sl500 AMG pkg 6 yrs ago. Had 52k miles. Just tripped 60k. Only thing i hate is that 2nd conveniences battery. Newer battery, but if i don't run 2 weeks, have to sit and wait to charge. I don't want to do the trickle battery thing...Fast, comfortable, great handling, good looking ride. Did replace ABC couple yrs back. Saved by not letting dealer do it, but an ex Benz mechanic with his own shop. Going to have to sell due to being old with bad hip/knees. Hard to get out of. 😂
Having your pentosin fluid changed every few years along with the filter is what’s considered “so tough”? $100+k car and you feel like you’re hovering in it, replacing the abc system is like buying a dodge hellcat and getting rid of the supercharger because you read inaccurate info on the internet
Hahahaha exactly!! It's common knowledge (I think) that Benz power steering fluid from these time periods should be changed (or flushed) every 2 years along with brake fluid. Given the hydraulic steering uses the same hydraulic fluid as the hydraulic ABC system, you would think......oh, nevermind hahaha!! Hey, it keeps them cheaper for the rest of us!
Hi DC motorwerks. I have 2006 cls55amg. 58000 miles. Looking into doing the valve cover gaskets and breather covers with good quality rtv. Bit of DIY. My question to you all is do I lever off the plug leads using tge valve covers and change the spark plugs before fitting new gaskets. That way I dont damage new valve cover seals? I'd really like your opinion on this
Did own SL500 (2004) without problems for about 8 years of ownership and at the same time SL 55 AMG for a short period equally without problems soon this car got replaced by the SL 65 AMG that once had an ABC problem and on the paddles for the hard-top but otherwise doing fine. Currently there is a minor oil dripping problem from the automatic transmission, it seems that there is a leak where a cable leads into. I wouldn't say that my SL experience is a money pit over the years but given this video I somewhat fear that it could become one down the road as I drive my SL 65 AMG now for about 16 years but has only about 70k km on the odometer. I will look for an Mercedes-Benz R230 specialist (older mechanic) to do a complete check (fluids other than motor oil) as I haven't serviced it based on the MB booklet for many years due to the low milage and the cost it would have involved but take note that it got inspected and serviced by a non Mercedes shop regularly and the car is in excellent condition as it never stood in the sun except when driving everything looks like brand new. Moreover I did a complete paint job 2 years ago. It's a stunning beauty to watch and a very muscular car to drive. I'm still loving it!
After researching these common issues I don't even mind. R230's feel like peak SL with the security and refinement of folding hardtop roofs or that twin turbo V12 power up on the interstates. But I do collect out of production parts before needing them like BCM's.
My 04 SL500 has saved my life several times when it corrected my driving errors at three times the legal limit on tree lined Parkways. Worth every penny to keep it working.
The R230 SL55 was the first legit 205 mph car and can still knock off a 1/4 mile in a little over 10 sec at 135mph . Still a great street racer. Have to keep it maintained or junk it.
The comment you made about the brake pads. Cleaning a rotor during the rain only happens if you have the windshield wipers on otherwise it doesn't know that it is raining or it is wet
You have to have that car serviced at Mercedes,,, you get 2 years warranty on parts at Mercedes. My Benz has 126,000 goes Everday at 150 miles or more and. Speed of 120mph ,, average at least 90 in south Jersey on the parkway and express ways.
When it's working it's in a class of it's own. When it's not... You'll know and your wallet will remind you. Thanks for the video on the R230 V12 engine out job for motor mounts. Did so much "while you're in there" stuff on my 04 SL600.
There were three facelifts. You had the 2003-2006, and the 2007-2008, you didn't however have the final facelift, the 2009-2012 with the single headlights. Great content, I watched your E class W210 video. Beautiful cars.
It is a big money pit. First brake system do not give confident how or will it stop where you wanted. The ABC system is a problem come and go, then hoses leak, replace with Swagelok will fixed the problem for good. Don't forget to replace the CHS.11 fluid every two years. Roof hydraulic reluctant on to open or close fully every time, Engine and transmission mounts need replacement every two years. Transmission fluid pump need replacement to the latest version with ball bearing. The bushing one just ease. If park for few day batteries need charging. Engine magnesium parts need replacement before them crack. CAN bus gateway, there are three, don't communicate with each other, need to replaced them all. All plastic parts in and out of the car get fall apart. And on and on. W210 Merc start the company on the down hill slope. Coming from W124, W126, and R129 this R230 stop me from buying anymore Merc.
@@DCMotorWerks Back then when Daimler took over Chrysler that was the beginning of the end for Making car. The management was only interest in maximum making money. The quality start to south, short cut on testing, reliable went out the window.
W211 E63 is the ONE! Good for you, sir. I honestly get more excited seeing one of those than I do supercars which may sound strange to some, but I just think they're very special.
The engines are bullet proof, they are a fantastic GT for touring, beautiful to look at, I've had 2 and no problems with ABC, if you do avoid the stealers at all costs then they are a brilliant car, if I have ABC problems then I will fit coilovers !
It’s a weekend car with brand new batteries, it’s on a CTEK trickle charge in the winter. I can live with the annoying battery light providing I can still drive it with a faulty BCM
Sometimes professional tuners can go into the ECU and turn off certain lights. I'd imagine these are old enough to be reasonably accessible to the right tuner
I own two SL- mine are always garaged . All these cars since 2000 are mostly plastic. The useful life on any plastic in the weather is 10 years. Then it gets brittle and breaks. Get a garage and a good car cover and stop complaining about stuff you can avoid .
Amazing knowledge thanks for sharing it with us, DC MotorWerks 👍 SHARP DC MotorWerks 🎶 🎵 👌 From Nick Ayivor from London England UK 🇬🇧 23:19pm Good Night 😴 🥱
While these definitely have their issues owners seem to forget they were equivalent of 250k cars back when they were released of course it's going to be high maintenance
I have a 2003 SL500 with only 98k miles that is a paperweight for the past 10 years in my garage because the ABC line leaks and the hydrolic fluid goes everywhere when you put it in and they quoted me $5k to fix it. Also, because it sat waiting for the money to fix it to be saved up, the batteries died and when I tried to jump it, they said I messed up the computer so now they want like $12k to fix everything. Basically totaled the car. I don't know what to do with it.
@@DCMotorWerks how much would you guys charge to fix it if I did ship it? I love the look of the car but haven't been able to enjoy it because the ABC went within the first year of ownership.
Had our abc system fully fixed by local Benz dealer for under $3k along with 2 year warranty on it. It’s not the SL500’s fault you can’t afford to maintain your property.
@@DonZenOfficial "property"? You sound like an idiot. a whole 2 years? wowzers. Imagine paying $3k every 2-3 years on the same issue because of faulty engineering. Why don't you just pile up some money and light it on fire? Moreover, these cars are made with cheap materials overall, so you're gonna be paying for other repairs and paying a lot. It's true what they say, an idiot and his money are soon parted. I just drive one of my other 3 cars, like my BMW M6 with 200 more horsepower. Because I don't keep flushing bad money after bad money because I think a 20 year old Merc is flexing. Derp.
In the early 2000s Mercedes produced a fantastically terrible cupholders. Idk what they thought about such "transformers" back in early 2000s when they made them. Super uncomfortable especially by today's standards. Even in my 2006 CLS cupholders are slightly better but still not perfect. In today's cupholders are fine, but those early ones were and are a joke. My W140 doesn't have front cupholders (besides the one pseudo-cupholder in the glove box) and idk which is worse: to have such early 2000s cupholders or not to have any. That 2003 SL definitely seen better days. Maybe spent too much time in the street instead of being garaged. At some point owners simply ignored its issues but they obviously tinted the windows! 🤣And the amount of those issues only continued to grow. Please tell me where to get those updated parts for the folding roof and where to buy are top rebuild kit? PS: I always thought ABC stands for "Replace it with coilovers ASAP!" 😁
@@DCMotorWerks Thank you! I just bookmarked that website. My issue with ABC is that I'm not 100% sure it will be in great condition the next day after I drive it...
Buenas, Tengo un SL55 AMG del año 2000 con 130.000 Km. y no tengo nada, pero nada es nada, roto de lo que el tipo este saca a lo largo de todo el vídeo. No ha tenido un mantenimiento excepcional pero se ha tratado y conducido correctamente con medias habituales por encima de los 200 Km/hora en viajes largos por autopista. Creo que en este momento no hay mejor opción de compra para aquel que quiera un coche deportivo, biplaza y descapotable y si quieres un motor que te enamore, compra un SL55 AMG.
ABC problem solved With coil overs. You asked me What the riride differences That depends I'm how you drove the SL before Comfort Sport Or ABC I personally drove this in sport That I can tell you the right difference is minimal I think it appears faster More direct to the road Contact! Unless you Race that car I would go without any sway bars... On the Internet There is how to remove the red light simply pull the fuse
@@DCMotorWerks All I did was replace struts the ABC system with coil lovers we need not to worry about the rest of that stuff For $1000 Hiro Coil overs are fine with me unless you want to drive in in the old man mode What long term damage did I do????/
@@thedoo777 I mainly drive in “old man mode” (comfort) so im definitely swapping to coilovers. I dont track it at all so no need for such an expensive suspension😅
230-800-17-72 - $334 230-800-18-72 - $625 230-800-15-72 - $535 230-800-12-72 - $545 230-800-10-72 - $406 230-800-13-72 - $515 230-800-03-78 - $1770 230-800-09-72 - $376 230-800-11-72 - $595 230-800-14-72 - $545 230-800-16-72 - $320 230-800-08-72 - $480 $6446 in parts at LIST cost. Most dealers mark up list cost Hours billed vary but generally 21 or so hours for the full kit. Let’s say average of $220 an hour $4620. Add tax to the parts. Few quarts of fluid. Some shop fees. We’re approaching $12,000….tell me again how I’m full of BS?
In being full of BS, did you mean the roof rebuild should be closer to $20k instead of $10k? Would you like to know what my local dealer wanted to change my rear subframe mount BUSHINGS?! No, not the subframe. The bushings. OVER $7K!! (This was before the class action suit & subframe reimbursements, which I got instead.)
