SL55, back at the specialists yet again.

[mars1960]

Im assuming you have bought the remap with the pulley?

you will need to remap it to avoid fuel starvation, last thing you want is something else going wrong

Yes the guys that done the original remap are fitting the pulley then plugging it in again to do their stuff.
TBH i was a little disappointed with the original remap, that only gave 10 bhp across the rev range, but peak torque did increased by 40 ft/lb between 2500 and 4500 rpm.

 

[Silver CL55]

Can you actually put any of this extra power down though?
Does the computer not just reduce it until the tyres grip?

C.

 

[mars1960]

Can you actually put any of this extra power down though?
Does the computer not just reduce it until the tyres grip?

C.

Well it can do but judicial use of the throttle with traction control/esp off and yes you can use the extra power, it doesn't do much for 0-60 times, maybe 0.2 secs but i'm more interested in mid/top range hence having the limiter removed, i go to Germany at least three times a year and this is were i'm looking to utilise that extra power, i'm just one of those power/speed crazy petrol heads.

 

[lxi]

charge cooler pump - very uncommon
throttle sensor packed - very uncommon
tensioner pulley - very uncommon
baffle has now come loose in the fuel tank - very uncommon

boot seal - common - easy fix at total cost about £5.00 (five pounds)
PSE pump - reasonably common - caused 95% of time by leaky seals

Obviously a run of very bad luck particularly with the tank baffle.

Sometimes the PSE can be salvaged depending on how badly it was allowed to get wet -

Keeping it in persepctive and bearing in mind most people arrive here due to a problem rather than to say how great everything is, obviously all these things do happen so a poll of R230 owners here would show a much much higher percentage of members who have experienced these issues than a poll of all R230 owners

I'm on my third 230 - Sl500 for 3 years, SL55 for 3.5 years and SL63 for 6 months - I've fixed boot leaks on all three, 2 PSE pumps, 2 ABC struts (due to ball joint wear - no leaks) but none of the other faults

 

[mars1960]

Keeping it in persepctive and bearing in mind most people arrive here due to a problem rather than to say how great everything is, obviously all these things do happen so a poll of R230 owners here would show a much much higher percentage of members who have experienced these issues than a poll of all R230 owners

I'm on my third 230 - Sl500 for 3 years, SL55 for 3.5 years and SL63 for 6 months - I've fixed boot leaks on all three, 2 PSE pumps, 2 ABC struts (due to ball joint wear - no leaks) but none of the other faults

Looks like you have a bit of an SL addiction too .
How do you rate the 63 over the 55? much difference?

 

[lxi]

Looks like you have a bit of an SL addiction too .
How do you rate the 63 over the 55? much difference?

Quite different in lots of small ways and tbh I prefer it. The interior is much improved, the gearbox (7 spd) is lightening fast on changes and the car makes a better noise. It lacks the massive torque of the 55 although it has plenty, so you tend to rev it more :bannana: Handling - not sure how to explain, but better than the 55 for reasons I can't put my finger on. All in all, I find I drive it harder than I did the 55 which was effortless point & squirt. I had a (sad) year away with an Aston - an itch that needed to be scratched, but that just made me appreciate the 63 all the more. The 55 and 63 are very, very close siblings and I'm sure you will enjoy yours greatly once you get over the current annoying (and expensive!) issues

 

[mars1960]

Quite different in lots of small ways and tbh I prefer it. The interior is much improved, the gearbox (7 spd) is lightening fast on changes and the car makes a better noise. It lacks the massive torque of the 55 although it has plenty, so you tend to rev it more :bannana: Handling - not sure how to explain, but better than the 55 for reasons I can't put my finger on. All in all, I find I drive it harder than I did the 55 which was effortless point & squirt. I had a (sad) year away with an Aston - an itch that needed to be scratched, but that just made me appreciate the 63 all the more. The 55 and 63 are very, very close siblings and I'm sure you will enjoy yours greatly once you get over the current annoying (and expensive!) issues

Interesting and food for thought.
I do love it but i am beginning to get a little disheartened, so much so sometimes that i must admit i keep looking at DB9 volante's, i think a test drive in one for a day may be the best way to make up my mind once and for all, we'll still have our clk500 after all.

 

[lxi]

Interesting and food for thought.
I do love it but i am beginning to get a little disheartened, so much so sometimes that i must admit i keep looking at DB9 volante's, i think a test drive in one for a day may be the best way to make up my mind once and for all, we'll still have our clk500 after all.

Aston repairs make MB look like poundstretcher

The aston cars are beautiful to look at and have a charisma MB could never achieve but that's the only good news.

They are not oustandingly quick and the build quality is appalling. The attitude of the manufacturer stinks when it comes to any warranty claims (and there are lots). Paint finish is awful, paint faults abound, they are unbelievably uneconomical and most of the interior is held together with velcro (I kid you not). I had mine for 11 months and in that time in total, it spent over a month with the dealers. If you are looking at spending that sort of money, do try a 63 - I think you would be pleasantly, albeit inexplicably, surprised

 

[C240Sport97]

Quite different in lots of small ways and tbh I prefer it. The interior is much improved, the gearbox (7 spd) is lightening fast on changes and the car makes a better noise. It lacks the massive torque of the 55 although it has plenty, so you tend to rev it more :bannana: Handling - not sure how to explain, but better than the 55 for reasons I can't put my finger on. All in all, I find I drive it harder than I did the 55 which was effortless point & squirt. I had a (sad) year away with an Aston - an itch that needed to be scratched, but that just made me appreciate the 63 all the more. The 55 and 63 are very, very close siblings and I'm sure you will enjoy yours greatly once you get over the current annoying (and expensive!) issues

Chris Harris reckons that the R230 SL63 is a massive improvement on the 55 ..

 

[mars1960]

Aston repairs make MB look like poundstretcher

The aston cars are beautiful to look at and have a charisma MB could never achieve but that's the only good news.

They are not oustandingly quick and the build quality is appalling. The attitude of the manufacturer stinks when it comes to any warranty claims (and there are lots). Paint finish is awful, paint faults abound, they are unbelievably uneconomical and most of the interior is held together with velcro (I kid you not). I had mine for 11 months and in that time in total, it spent over a month with the dealers. If you are looking at spending that sort of money, do try a 63 - I think you would be pleasantly, albeit inexplicably, surprised

Wow, i'll forget the test drive, you just made up my mind.
Now if a can get 3 years without anymore expense then i'll probably look at the 2008 model .

 

[sssammm]

the Baffle repair I had done does not entail any drilling or springs,

sam

 

[DSLiverpool]

I had a DB9 Volante before the SL55 with a Maserati 4200 in the middle, I had a lovely SL with 65 split rims and in blue but it didn't make you feel like you feel pressing the starter on an Aston. If it's a daily driver I couldn't choose but as a Sunday special an SL isn't special enough in my opinion.

 

[Terry_]

the Baffle repair I had done does not entail any drilling or springs,

sam

What was the repair?

 

[sssammm]

keyhole surgery through the sender,

a contortionist gynacologist could do it any better

 

[mars1960]

I had a DB9 Volante before the SL55 with a Maserati 4200 in the middle, I had a lovely SL with 65 split rims and in blue but it didn't make you feel like you feel pressing the starter on an Aston. If it's a daily driver I couldn't choose but as a Sunday special an SL isn't special enough in my opinion.

Very well put, i know exactly what you mean .

 

[cb1965]

I had a DB9 Volante before the SL55 with a Maserati 4200 in the middle, I had a lovely SL with 65 split rims and in blue but it didn't make you feel like you feel pressing the starter on an Aston. If it's a daily driver I couldn't choose but as a Sunday special an SL isn't special enough in my opinion.

The SL makes me feel special, but I know if I had had a DB9 Volante it probably wouldn't Lovely cars Astons and a notch up from most AMGs on the special scale if we are all honest!

 

[DSB SL AMG]

Yes but does staring at Ford switch gear make you really feel that special...

PS. The noise made by a V8 Aston and Maserati is pretty special...
Astons current engine supplier is also Ford Cologne...new deal recently signed between Aston and AMG for future engine development and supply!

The SL makes me feel special, but I know if I had had a DB9 Volante it probably wouldn't Lovely cars Astons and a notch up from most AMGs on the special scale if we are all honest!

 

[mars1960]

Quick update.
PSE pump and boot seal fitted after sanding, rust proofing and painting, total cost £1630.
Picked up last night and been out in the rain all night and all morning, just checked boot and dry as a bone thank goodness to Autotechnic Norfolk.

All i need now is some very nice man near to Norfolk to fit my 180mm crank pulley kit and give it a remap .

 

[frank dolan]

How did u fix ur leaky boot. ?

 

[frank dolan]

I took my car to MB, with my leaky boot.they want to change the back window , at a cost of £1200. Can u give me any info, on how to fix it , without changing the back window.
Thanks frank