Buying dilemma: CLS/E55 vs SL55 vs R171 SLK55…

[AMGeed]

If its not the ABC, its water leaks on the R230.
I can't understand why such a lovely looking car is so badly designed that it leaks

My choice would be a CLS55 if only 2 seats in the rear are OK or an E55. That supercharger is so addictive

 

[flowrider]

If its not the ABC, its water leaks on the R230.
I can't understand why such a lovely looking car is so badly designed that it leaks

My choice would be a CLS55 if only 2 seats in the rear are OK or an E55. That supercharger is so addictive

ABC and water leaks on the R230 are rather exaggerated on the Internet. As long as you keep the rear weather seals in good condition and regularly maintain ABC then the majority of owners won't have any serious problems.

 

[alabbasi]

I can't speak for the R172, but the R171 SLK certainly doesn't have ABC. You're not thinking of the R230, are you?

I did not read past the title

Buying dilemma: CLS/E55 vs SL55 vs R171 SLK55…

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

Bear with me: What do you actually want to do with it? Why wouldn't you just buy an older M3 ?

From there we can deduce whether you are friendless, with not much need for luggage, and have a great beautician business.
Are friendless, occasionally do a fortnight's holiday with a woman who packs light and probably play golf,
Occasionally bring drunken friends back from the pub, have grown up children who seldom see you....
Or are lumbered with bloody children, a wife you can't travel without separate suitcases for her clothes and shoes....
etc etc....

OK, ridiculously rude, and TBH not accurate, but no-one can discuss suitability without discussing what your requirements and compromises really are.

As a nudge, I'd ask you to clarify why / when you'd drive the AMG instead of your M3....

They are all great cars, but the differences at the £15k price level are pretty straightforward.
Having had two R230's and lots of friends who have had them, I don't believe the ABC risk is anywhere near as the "AMG maintenance and routine repair" risk. (No-one, but no-one, drives an AMG, or M3, for more than ten years just to quietly drive to and from Mass on Sunday)

 

[Buffy d]

Bear with me: What do you actually want to do with it? Why wouldn't you just buy an older M3 ?

From there we can deduce whether you are friendless, with not much need for luggage, and have a great beautician business.
Are friendless, occasionally do a fortnight's holiday with a woman who packs light and probably play golf,
Occasionally bring drunken friends back from the pub, have grown up children who seldom see you....
Or are lumbered with bloody children, a wife you can't travel without separate suitcases for her clothes and shoes....
etc etc....

OK, ridiculously rude, and TBH not accurate, but no-one can discuss suitability without discussing what your requirements and compromises really are.

They are all great cars, but the differences at the £15k price level are pretty straightforward.
Having had two R230's and lots of friends who have had them, I don't believe the ABC risk is anywhere near as the "AMG maintenance and routine repair" risk. (No-one, but no-one, drives an AMG, or M3, for more than ten years just to quietly drive to and from Mass on Sunday)

I want something I will enjoy but will be slightly less precious about than my M3. It was already an expensive purchase for me, now that it's supercharged it's become, for me, a very expensive car in terms of value and what it's worth to me personally, and I'm just not the happy when I leave it in the supermarket car park etc. That's not to say I would neglect whatever I bought, but I would feel slightly less anxious about a car that's 1/3 or 1/2 its value and that I haven't spent a lot of time and effort making my own. Regarding the M3, if you're talking about the E46 it's a good car but I've never really wanted one all that much and they rust quite badly (I had an E46 330i), the engine has a lot of problems (VANOS, head gasket, rod bearings), the rear subframe is a huge issue (if it's fine you have to spend money on preventative maintenance, if it's not you have to spend a lot more money on repairs) and it would be expensive to run properly. I like the fact that on the CLS, for example, the engine and gearbox are tough and there's "only" Airmatic and SBC to really worry about.

I am a girl, I am single, no kids, no pets, so I am buying whatever I am buying because I like it I don't need something as big as the CLS, but I think it's a very-sexy looking thing and would love to own it. The same applies to the SL and SLK. There are no requirements here, it's just what I like which is why it's quite a mix of cars I've chosen

 

[Smart320]

Well go and try driving an SLK55, I use ours for shopping , not too big for a supermarket bay, plenty of space for two average sized people, very reliable ( well at least our R172 is ) very fast if you want , light on fuel on a long run if you use Eco mode ( 4 cylinder cruising ) , boot plenty big enough for luggage when away a week or two. Great with top down in summer and winter but make sure you get one with Airscarf
Am sure a good R171 would also be a hoot, understand they sound even better than the later model.

 

[Buffy d]

Well go and try driving an SLK55, I use ours for shopping , not too big for a supermarket bay, plenty of space for two average sized people, very reliable ( well at least our R172 is ) very fast if you want , light on fuel on a long run if you use Eco mode ( 4 cylinder cruising ) , boot plenty big enough for luggage when away a week or two. Great with top down in summer and winter but make sure you get one with Airscarf
Am sure a good R171 would also be a hoot, understand they sound even better than the later model.

Thanks And I think I will have to try all 3

 

[rockits]

If it were my choice for me it would have to be the CLS55. Been close to buying one recently and seem to present good VFM and a great all round package.

 

[AMGeed]

ABC and water leaks on the R230 are rather exaggerated on the Internet. As long as you keep the rear weather seals in good condition and regularly maintain ABC then the majority of owners won't have any serious problems.

Exaggerated you say? This is just some of the leaks reported on the forum alone. Think how many that don't even know about forums to air their complaint.

Leaking SL boot
R230 freaking boot leak!!!!
R230 Water Leaks - Drivers Footwell
R230 Roof leak - front
R230 SL rear screen leak?
R230 ROOF LEAK

and then this forum

Water leaks on R230 SL500
Have you got damp in your R230 ?
SL R230 roof seal questions
FOR SALE: R230 SL: Rubber Seals to prevent leaking roof
Help my dad with his SL500 water under passenger wheel arch?

and the US cars haven't escaped the leaks either.

R230 Water leak in Boot - No Power to PSE/Central Locking
R230 Trunk Leak - MBWorld.org Forums
Water leak into the lower boot - MBWorld.org Forums
Roof leak - MBWorld.org Forums
My trunk is leaking again on the SL - MBWorld.org Forums

There are plenty more but you get the picture. I don't think its wrong to say this model in particular is poorly designed to allow water to ingress ino the cabin and boot. Some of these may have been prevented by your suggestion of lubricating the rubbers, but many have still leaked after doing just that.

As for ABC faults, I could copy and paste just as many owners complaints into this thread , but I think the point has been made, not exaggerated.

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

The R230 ABC and water leaks ARE exaggerated. They caused a lot of grief when they first happened, but are now well-documented issues that can easily be identified and addressed. You can see it before it happens and, in the case of ABC, Indys know what to do.

In the context of £70- £100k cars they are an insignificant maintenance expense in V8 cars which are insanely reliable overall. You don't have to drift very far into competitor territory to see even worse stories of complete vehicle write off. My brother spent most of last year waiting for BMW to do a complete engine replacement on his eight year old 50,000 mile Beemer. They did it, in the end and, thanks to warranty, it was fully paid for and he had a loan car, but had it been a private purchase, the car would have been a write off.

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

Going back to the exam question, to my eyes the solution can't be the family saloons. It must be a folding top convertible.

They drive very differently. The SLK is a smaller performance car, the SL is a luxury Grand Tourer, often owned by people who just have too much money on their hands. (Steve Jobs being the most famous example: he took delivery of a brand new one every six months so that he wouldn't have to have a number plate on it- sic)

You'll know as soon as you test drive them. You'll like the SLK because it's small, the SL55 because it's a statement.

The only way you can choose between them is to drive them. (Not just sit in the driver's seat).

That, as our Americans would say, would be my five cents.

You've probably seen it already but here's an infamous young lady, back in the day, giving her own comments and saying "Oh Muck" when she pretends that she has activated the roll-over bar on the S by mistake.

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[flowrider]

Exaggerated you say? This is just some of the leaks reported on the forum alone. Think how many that don't even know about forums to air their complaint.

Leaking SL boot
R230 freaking boot leak!!!!
R230 Water Leaks - Drivers Footwell
R230 Roof leak - front
R230 SL rear screen leak?
R230 ROOF LEAK

and then this forum

Water leaks on R230 SL500
Have you got damp in your R230 ?
SL R230 roof seal questions
FOR SALE: R230 SL: Rubber Seals to prevent leaking roof
Help my dad with his SL500 water under passenger wheel arch?

and the US cars haven't escaped the leaks either.

R230 Water leak in Boot - No Power to PSE/Central Locking
R230 Trunk Leak - MBWorld.org Forums
Water leak into the lower boot - MBWorld.org Forums
Roof leak - MBWorld.org Forums
My trunk is leaking again on the SL - MBWorld.org Forums

There are plenty more but you get the picture. I don't think its wrong to say this model in particular is poorly designed to allow water to ingress ino the cabin and boot. Some of these may have been prevented by your suggestion of lubricating the rubbers, but many have still leaked after doing just that.

As for ABC faults, I could copy and paste just as many owners complaints into this thread , but I think the point has been made, not exaggerated.

Im not saying there haven't been some owners with problems, it's just that forums can be misleading to the actual real risk. There have been a little over 133k SL's built with ABC plus however many CL's and other models. Forums are magnets for owners with issues.

 

[Jobsworth]

Despite the fact you can buy one for £15k, they still have the running costs associated with a £100k car. Some ten or twelve years ago a young man pitched up at my shop. He had saved up thirty grand and bought his dream car, an SL55 AMG. He’d taken it for an MoT, and it had failed quite spectacularly. A whole gamut of faults. Leaking ABC struts, balljoints, brakes, tyres, airbag light on. I priced it all up at circa £6000. I’d never seen a grown man cry before.

 

[John]

I want something I will enjoy but will be slightly less precious about than my M3. It was already an expensive purchase for me, now that it's supercharged it's become, for me, a very expensive car in terms of value and what it's worth to me personally, and I'm just not the happy when I leave it in the supermarket car park etc. That's not to say I would neglect whatever I bought, but I would feel slightly less anxious about a car that's 1/3 or 1/2 its value and that I haven't spent a lot of time and effort making my own. Regarding the M3, if you're talking about the E46 it's a good car but I've never really wanted one all that much and they rust quite badly (I had an E46 330i), the engine has a lot of problems (VANOS, head gasket, rod bearings), the rear subframe is a huge issue (if it's fine you have to spend money on preventative maintenance, if it's not you have to spend a lot more money on repairs) and it would be expensive to run properly. I like the fact that on the CLS, for example, the engine and gearbox are tough and there's "only" Airmatic and SBC to really worry about.

I am a girl, I am single, no kids, no pets, so I am buying whatever I am buying because I like it I don't need something as big as the CLS, but I think it's a very-sexy looking thing and would love to own it. The same applies to the SL and SLK. There are no requirements here, it's just what I like which is why it's quite a mix of cars I've chosen

As you've already ploughed a lot of money into your M3 which is your pride and joy, maybe another expensive motor is not ideal.

The CLS, E and SL AMGs are all getting on a bit now and have the potential to cost a lot of money quite quickly. Each AirMATIC strut is around £700 per corner (OEM, other options are available) if you get a leaky one and the SBC units were around £1200 all in albeit you should only need to do that once. There are other components too which can soon add up. IIRC, I spent £15k over 5.5 years on my E55K and that was when it was 6 years old until getting on for 12 years old so a lot younger. So if you are going to take one of them on, I'd have a decent slush fund to avoid disappointment (perhaps £5K)! If you can do work yourself then obviously you will make a huge saving on labour costs.

As this car is a daily and you don't really want to worry about it, it's probably better to go with something a bit simpler but still spicy enough to keep your interest - I would think the best SLK55 in your budget might be your best bet.

 

[alabbasi]

Thanks And I think I will have to try all 3

Best way to do it and try to find the best one you can find. If you go to a dealer, ask to the see the VMI (a TLA for Vehicle Master Inquiry) which will report all the work done by the dealer. More work done, the better the chances that you don't have to deal with it. Don't discount the SL600 or SL65 either. It's cheaper than private school tuition fees.

 

[Abb]

Best way to do it and try to find the best one you can find. If you go to a dealer, ask to the see the VMI (a TLA for Vehicle Master Inquiry) which will report all the work done by the dealer. More work done, the better the chances that you don't have to deal with it. Don't discount the SL600 or SL65 either. It's cheaper than private school tuition fees.

The OPs budget is £15k!

 

[Buffy d]

Despite the fact you can buy one for £15k, they still have the running costs associated with a £100k car. Some ten or twelve years ago a young man pitched up at my shop. He had saved up thirty grand and bought his dream car, an SL55 AMG. He’d taken it for an MoT, and it had failed quite spectacularly. A whole gamut of faults. Leaking ABC struts, balljoints, brakes, tyres, airbag light on. I priced it all up at circa £6000. I’d never seen a grown man cry before.

Of course - whatever I buy I would ensure I have enough money set aside to be able to cover repairs

As you've already ploughed a lot of money into your M3 which is your pride and joy, maybe another expensive motor is not ideal.

The CLS, E and SL AMGs are all getting on a bit now and have the potential to cost a lot of money quite quickly. Each AirMATIC strut is around £700 per corner (OEM, other options are available) if you get a leaky one and the SBC units were around £1200 all in albeit you should only need to do that once. There are other components too which can soon add up. IIRC, I spent £15k over 5.5 years on my E55K and that was when it was 6 years old until getting on for 12 years old so a lot younger. So if you are going to take one of them on, I'd have a decent slush fund to avoid disappointment (perhaps £5K)! If you can do work yourself then obviously you will make a huge saving on labour costs.

As this car is a daily and you don't really want to worry about it, it's probably better to go with something a bit simpler but still spicy enough to keep your interest - I would think the best SLK55 in your budget might be your best bet.

Daily is a relative term as I don't use my car day-to-day, so it would just be the one I jump in when I need to go somewhere But I appreciate what you're saying and it makes sense.

 

[John]

Daily is a relative term as I don't use my car day-to-day, so it would just be the one I jump in when I need to go somewhere But I appreciate what you're saying and it makes sense.

Don't get me wrong though - I still stand by first post... the E55K for me is a heart car and there will always be a place for it there!

They are very practical and comfortable cars.

It's really down to getting the best one you can to start with, keeping up with maintenance which it sounds like you are more than familiar with - and a bit of luck (which is the same for whatever you buy out of your choice).

My usual advice to anyone is to try all the ones in your list and see what you prefer and what you think fits the bill most... they are all nice cars to start with.

 

[Buffy d]

Don't get me wrong though - I still stand by first post... the E55K for me is a heart car and there will always be a place for it there!

They are very practical and comfortable cars.

It's really down to getting the best one you can to start with, keeping up with maintenance which it sounds like you are more than familiar with - and a bit of luck (which is the same for whatever you buy out of your choice).

My usual advice to anyone is to try all the ones in your list and see what you prefer and what you think fits the bill most... they are all nice cars to start with.

I tend to follow my heart, but usually spend some time listening to my head to make sure that while I may not perhaps make a smart purchase, it won't be a completely stupid one either This is why I haven't ended up with an SL55 just yet, lol. I think for me it will have to be a combination of buying the best one I can but it also has to be the one I want at the same time because, for example, a silver SL55 with light grey leather on 18s just won't excite me to own like one with 19s and red leather. It has to be the right car on every level, so I won't be jumping in on anything, that's for sure I'm off on holiday in mid-April and will start my search properly then, it's how I bought my M3 and it felt the right way to do it because once I was home I could focus on my car hunt with no other distractions

 

[John]

I tend to follow my heart, but usually spend some time listening to my head to make sure that while I may not perhaps make a smart purchase, it won't be a completely stupid one either This is why I haven't ended up with an SL55 just yet, lol. I think for me it will have to be a combination of buying the best one I can but it also has to be the one I want at the same time because, for example, a silver SL55 with light grey leather on 18s just won't excite me to own like one with 19s and red leather. It has to be the right car on every level, so I won't be jumping in on anything, that's for sure I'm off on holiday in mid-April and will start my search properly then, it's how I bought my M3 and it felt the right way to do it because once I was home I could focus on my car hunt with no other distractions

The market for these cars is small and niche so you could say it's a buyer's market - this is great for those of us who like something quite fruity to drive.

The best examples sell fairly quickly sadly but if you are ready to go you can be one of those picking up a good one when you are ready.

Forum cars tend to be well looked after although you have to have your wits about you still.

I love the look of the SL55 (especially in black outside). I still remember seeing the first one I ever saw back in March/April 2002. The guy had a personal plate "G1NO R" on it as well. 476BHP in a road car back then was extraordinary. The Ferrari 360 from then was only chucking out 400BHP!

After ten minutes I managed to lift my lower jaw back in place!

ABC does add a layer of complexity over AirMATIC which itself is a great ride quality. AirMATIC is literally the car sat on air springs, instead of coils, and pumped up when required by the car with air running through the system.

ABC/MBC uses hydraulic fluid throughout the system and in the top of the springs to control the ride height based on pressure of fluid. ABC is reactive (MBC is proactive i.e. scans the road ahead but still based on ABC otherwise).

Problems tend to occur through knackered pumps, leaks (air / water per each system) and fluid/filter not being changed in ABC - which surprisingly is not a service item. I perhaps hear a "kerching" for MB there for those who take their cars to MB to be serviced throughout its life.

Good luck with the search!

EDIT: ^^^ Forgot to say... the reason for the stuff about ABC is if you consider an SL55 over an E55/CLS55.