My 2013 SL63 AMG Bi Turbo (R231) In Designo Graphite Grey

[KillerHERTZ]

This is my 2013 SL63 AMG (R231), a replacement of my G55 AMG G-Wagen. I have just realised I never created a gallery thread on this car so here goes.

Purchased in June 2023, the cars specs are as follows:

-2013 SL63 AMG (R231)
-5.5l M157 Bi-Turbo V8 - 537hp with 800nm torque
-64k miles

Exterior
-Desinio Graphite 041
-AMG Forged Staggered Alloys, 19" Fronts, 20" Rears
-Carbon Fibre Bootlid
-Panoramic Glass roof

Interior
-Black Leather/Anthracite 501a
-Ash Tree wood interior trim
-AMG Performance Alcantara Steering Wheel
-Heated & Cooled, Dynamic seats
-Massaging seats
-Distronic Plus Active Cruise control with lane keeping assist and blind spot assist.
-AMG Illuminated door sills

When I first picked her up, G-Wagen in the background which I part ex'd:

A couple of days after I first picked her up, after a full machine polish which took me 3 hours:

Luckly the engine is the revised version with the stronger chain guides, earlier M157s can suffer from stretched chains:

One of the very first things I always do, get the floor matts into the washing machine:

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Starting with very basic modifications:

AMG Private Lounge Sticker, I rarely visit the site apart from the free AMG calender they give each yeah, but I like the AMG crest with its hologram sticker on my windscreen

Next up, post 2014 SL63 AMG models featured an AMG badge on the front grill, a quick search on eBay and I have my very own. I made sure it was in OEM location:

The rear brake calipers had a large amount of surface rust on them, as well as the rear hub. A quick coating of Black Hammerite on the rear Hubs and Sliver Hammerite on the rear calipers got the rear wheels respectable once again:

Video of the mods here:

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[KillerHERTZ]

Next up, one of the front wheel arch liner sections (the front) was ripped and part missing, replaced with an OEM part from my Local Mercedes. A total pig of a job resulting in swearing and cut knuckles:

The bottom side sections of the front bumper were cracked and totally stone chipped to hell, I thought id have a go at repairing this section myself. It will never be perfect but as its right at the bottom of the car its barely noticible + ill get the front bumper resprayed in time:

The car rewarded me with a flat tyre fairly early on, with a nail inside the side wall. No option but to source a rear replacement

After 2 months of ownership, I took my car to a certain racetrack in Germany, you may have heard of it

My SL is the 3rd car I have taken to the ring, previously I have gone in my CLS55 AMG and my CLS63 AMG, didnt take the G55 AMG for obvious reasons

Video of my lap here:

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30.3 Mpg for the entire 'ring trip, not bad eh?:

Next up, as winter is finally over, started on some exterior mods. The facelift R231 models feature rear light clusters which are completely red and do not feature the white sections.
With some high quality red tint film, I facelifted the rear lights:

Before:

After:

They look far better IMO, as the original section was white there are no issues with the colour of the Indicators when flashing. Nice & orange! As this is just film, I can remove them within 2 mins if I ever change my mind.

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[KillerHERTZ]

Sticking with wrapping, I have wrapped the front brushed chrome lower bumper trim with a gloss black wrap. After not touching any wrapping products for a couple of years, im amazed at the quality of vinyl these days:

New plate, subtle enough to look original:

Oh, and another basic mod before I forget, Nurburgring plate surround (with the red strip painted black as I think it looks better), and also Nurburgring Sticker:

Last up, on the sunroof a collection of stickers representing all the car related places I have been in the SL, they are located in a sutble enough place so that you can barely see them:

So whats next?
-Exhaust system: In 2 weeks time I will be getting the rear/centre resonators removed. The car sounds amazing already but a tad quiet compared to my previous CLS63 AMG. So watch this space.
-Spacers: The wheels need pulling out towards the arches, so they fit flush
-Wheels, I want to get the edges painted sliver, like the new style AMG wheels.

 

[Boxer70]

Stunning. I love the lines of the car with the roof on and some great subtle mods

 

[Sam87]

Beautiful car!
Designo graphite grey is such an amazing colour in the sun. I can’t stop staring at my S63 when it’s out on a nice sunny day

Nice to see Macaulay Carson Culkin going for a passenger ride with you at the Nurburgring

 

[KillerHERTZ]

Ha, thats my mate Edd. More of a "Blonde Jesus" than Mr Culkin

 

[HappytalkAgain]

Would/have you considered the controversial pan Americana grille upgrade? It’d would really modernise the front end. As like @ToeKnee ’s SL.

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

Blimey, I bet that post took a while to type! Imagine if you accidentally deleted it before posting!

Lovely car, enjoy

 

[ToeKnee]

Would/have you considered the controversial pan Americana grille upgrade? It’d would really modernise the front end. As like @ToeKnee ’s SL.

I don't believe they do a panamericana grille for the AMG, the bumper is slightly different to the normal model.

 

[KillerHERTZ]

Each to their own, and their own cars, but I dont think it suits the R231. Looks fine on somthing like a W205, but the front of the SL doesnt suit it. (IMO!)

 

[philnewmerc]

I've never thought of putting car mats in a washing machine, aren't they a tight fit? Do they keep their shape? Presumably all this is fine as it obviously works for you!

 

[ToeKnee]

Each to their own, and their own cars, but I dont think it suits the R231. Looks fine on somthing like a W205, but the front of the SL doesnt suit it. (IMO!)

Oh Karl, how you could you not love this face.......

 

[KillerHERTZ]

Oh Karl, how you could you not love this face.......

View attachment 156218

So here is a Photoshop of your new grill on mine:

I just dont think it looks 'right' against the lower part of the bumpers. Each to their own

It would look good on the Facelift I reckon?

 

[ToeKnee]

So here is a Photoshop of your new grill on mine:

I just dont think it looks 'right' against the lower part of the bumpers. Each to their own

It would look good on the Facelift I reckon?

I was just being jocular as, as you've already said, we all have different views on what looks good on our own cars! I'm in the process of painting the bonnet grilles body coloured as I don't like the "plastic" look but I'm sure many other are very happy with the way theirs look.

 

[jonboyE63]

So here is a Photoshop of your new grill on mine:

I just dont think it looks 'right' against the lower part of the bumpers. Each to their own

It would look good on the Facelift I reckon?

I think the OEM grill looks much better & suits the cars era etc...
Never been a fan of old cars trying to newer with different grills, keep it OEM.
Cracking looking car by the way.

 

[KillerHERTZ]

A quick summers evening trip down to my 'local' Caffeine & Machine (The Bowl) last night:

 

[KillerHERTZ]

Another annual trip to the Nurburgring, this time horrific weather!

Video here:

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[clk320x]

Who takes those photos? Look great

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

YouTuber Seen Through Glass took a group to the Nurburing recently and his recent video shows them on track and I’m sure there was an SL which looked very similar to yours @KillerHERTZ in the video. I was only half watching and saw it out of the corner of my eye. Might be worth a look.

 

[KillerHERTZ]

Seen through glass passes me with Misha giving him instructions at timestamp 04:05 on the video above. Did you see my car in Misha's video, he turns the camera around and points it at my car? (Not the first time one of my cars has been on his channel )

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@clk320x There are professional photographers dotted around the track during TF, you can purchase the pics for around €12 each - check Racetracker.de