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SL500 BHP figures?

malc350

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Oct 20, 2007
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Seem to be hard to reliably find out so I thought I would ask the owners!

I am referring to the 02 - 07 models. My research seems to point to 306 BHP or thereabouts though are there power increases throughout the model range and any ideas of the manufacturer's performance figures?

Thanks, Malc
 
Seem to be hard to reliably find out so I thought I would ask the owners!

I am referring to the 02 - 07 models. My research seems to point to 306 BHP or thereabouts though are there power increases throughout the model range and any ideas of the manufacturer's performance figures?

Thanks, Malc
From one Malc to another Malc

From 02-06 - 306hp - 0---60nph 6.2 sec combined fuel 23.3
from March-06 - 388hp - 0---60mph 5.4 sec " " " " " " " 23.2
 
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388 Bhp?

Cheers Malc! I presume the higher output was an option? Is there any way to tell if this option was specified if looking at a used example as this is much more attractive to a petrolhead...

I did see a review that stated that "the 500 is nearly as fast as the SL55" which I dismissed as the usual "reporter with no knowledge" syndrome.

I would still imagine a noticeable performance disparity between the SL500 and SL55 but it does close the gap a little...

Malc
 
Try this link:
http://www2.mercedes-benz.co.uk/content/unitedkingdom/mpc/mpc_unitedkingdom_website/en/home_mpc.html
As I understand it, the enlarged, 5.4 litre naturally aspirated V8 with 388 bhp was installed in the SL500 from late 2006/early 2007 and before that, from 2002, it had the 306 bhp motor. However, even with 2007-reg examples you need to check the documentation to know which engine it has.

I recently test drove a MB dealer's slightly lethargic saleroom-mileage 2007-reg CLS500 fitted, so he told me, with the 5.4 litre mill ('they all had them from 2006'). When asked for proof of its output (i.e. I disbelieved the salesman's spiel) after a lot of play-acting the rep was forced to to admit it didn't have the larger engine but instead had the old 306 bhp motor. So watch out, dealers and MB UK are dumping 2007-reg smaller block 500's cars on the UK market. It may not just be the CLS that they are sliding in under the radar.
 
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From one Malc to another Malc

From 02-06 - 306hp - 0---60nph 6.2 sec combined fuel 23.3
from 03-06 - 388hp - 0---60mph 5.4 sec " " " " " " " 23.2

I defer to your superior knowledge.
So the 2003 SL500 had a 388bhp version of the M113 engine - I can't see it referred to on Wiki but that doesn't mean it wasn't fitted. All I can find is the supercharged 500bhp version of the M113 in the SL55 and the 306bhp in the SL500. Until 2006 that is, when they fitted the new 388 bhp M273 version to the SL500.....subject to my earlier caveat:)
 
I defer to your superior knowledge.
So the 2003 SL500 had a 388bhp version of the M113 engine - I can't see it referred to on Wiki but that doesn't mean it wasn't fitted. All I can find is the supercharged 500bhp version of the M113 in the SL55 and the 306bhp in the SL500. Until 2006 that is, when they fitted the new 388 bhp M273 version to the SL500.....subject to my earlier caveat:)

Sorry that was a stupid way that I wrote it ,by 03-06 I should have said march 06 and I have altered the original post

Very sorry and yes the new one is 5461cc
 
mmmmmm.....

There's a seller punting a 2002 SL with 388 bhp on autotrader which is a bit suspect as he couldn't sell it at 25k so he's raised the price to £27,500.

Maybe trying to make it sound better than it is though 3 owners sounds like a lot for a 5 year old SL....

Malc
 
There's a seller punting a 2002 SL with 388 bhp on autotrader which is a bit suspect as he couldn't sell it at 25k so he's raised the price to £27,500.

Maybe trying to make it sound better than it is though 3 owners sounds like a lot for a 5 year old SL....

Malc

Yes that cant be so, OK mine has 3 owners including me, and there were not so many around this time last year, I do not think of the value now as I have no intentions of selling, but at the time I bought the best one that I could find. This time last year they were going from £32k up to the normal price of £39k. The price this year is from £34k and down to under £27k.

I spend some time wandering around the MB showrooms just looking at the ones for sale, that makes me happy when I look at mine

There must be an easing on the drop before long as they will soon clash with the 129
 
SL500s are indeed looking like a bargain (as are SL55s.....) and a perhaps a more fun alternative to the CL series I was originally interested in.

On that note is the 388 BHP engine fitted to the SL from '06 the same as the CL55's pre-'03 normally aspirated lump? I.e. does the pre-'03 CL55 have 388 BHP?

Malc
 
SL500s are indeed looking like a bargain (as are SL55s.....) and a perhaps a more fun alternative to the CL series I was originally interested in.

On that note is the 388 BHP engine fitted to the SL from '06 the same as the CL55's pre-'03 normally aspirated lump? I.e. does the pre-'03 CL55 have 388 BHP?

Malc

In May 04 the CL500 had the 306BHP 113 engine. the CL55 was 5439 BHP

I do not think that the new engine with 388bhp came out until 06
 
Its crazy to think you can have a SL500 or SL55 for the price of a new ok spec SLK..

Thats what made my dad go for his weekend toy.

DSCF4882-1.jpg
 
That sure is a GOOD looking car!

a real beauty!
 
Malcolm,

He has a 2004 E320Cdi estate as his mile muncher and he loves that, had it since new. He sold an SLK he had since new in 1998 to get this SL for his weekend toy.

He was looking at a new SLK, then the SL55's (hence the plate..) but decided he doesn't need the power so looked at SL350's also a lot of the SL55's looked 'well' used which seemed odd.

This turned up in the lakes at a dealers and very good price.

He is more than happy with it, Its already been over to Europe and on a run he can see close on 30mpg.

I took it round the block and its a lovely car. Looks and sounds great with some nice toys in it.

He priced it up new and I'm sure it was close on 80K !!!
 
This gives you the info you're looking for.

There is only the 306bhp SL500 until March 2006, as television said, when the larger 5.4 litre V8 engine was introduced offering 382bhp and 391ft·lb.

Look here for the full info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercedes-Benz_SL-Class

If someone is advertising a pre-2006 SL500 with 388bhp they are misleading you - it had a 306bhp 4996cc motor.

I think the SL500 had the 5439cc M113 V8 fitted briefly from March 2006 before it was replaced by the new M273 5.5 L (5461 cc) version. On the M273 output is 388 hp (285 kW) at 6000 rpm with 391 ft·lb (530 N·m) of torque at 2800-4800 rpm.
 
This gives you the info you're looking for.

There is only the 306bhp SL500 until March 2006, as television said, when the larger 5.4 litre V8 engine was introduced offering 382bhp and 391ft·lb.

Look here for the full info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercedes-Benz_SL-Class

If someone is advertising a pre-2006 SL500 with 388bhp they are misleading you - it had a 306bhp 4996cc motor.

I think the SL500 had the 5439cc M113 V8 fitted briefly from March 2006 before it was replaced by the new M273 5.5 L (5461 cc) version. On the M273 output is 388 hp (285 kW) at 6000 rpm with 391 ft·lb (530 N·m) of torque at 2800-4800 rpm.

The output from that engine starts getting near the 55 though the old 113 engine with 500bhp did the 0-60MPH in 4.7 sec and the new post 06 engine does it in 4.5 sec
 
The output from that engine starts getting near the 55 though the old 113 engine with 500bhp did the 0-60MPH in 4.7 sec and the new post 06 engine does it in 4.5 sec

That's why I was looking at the new CLS500 and the E500. A near-AMG performance with the standard car's maintenance costs, I thought. But the 5.5 litre naturally aspirated engine (whether M113 or M273) isn't always in the car that it should be in, I discovered. Both the low-mileage demonstrator 2007 E500 and 2007 CLS500 had the 306bhp engine more often than not. Is this because they sat in a field somewhere for a year, waiting for a sale-room back-log to clear? Or has MB been sneaking its surplus 4996cc V8's into 2007 demonstrators so that they are sold pre-registered (second-hand). Then there's no comeback against the dealer if the engine is the 'wrong' one for the model year. I rather suspect that's the reason.
 
Big girl - my front brake discs are £150 each :rolleyes: :D :eek: :o :( .
 

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