SLS Wet Sand

[Palmball]

Looks great, Andy
The only other thing you need to do is give the right side of the engine cover a tap.
I suspect that it's not quite clipped down and is sitting slightly higher than the left side.

Then the car has Rashman's approval

Thanks and well spotted Rash.....indeed, 2 of the 4 clips for the engine cover are actually broken which is why it sits like that. Fear not though, in my pursuit for perfection I have a new cover and clips on order

 

[whitenemesis]

Thanks ...but what are holograms? As I see it, it looks like the detailer missed the back end as it has swirling, albeit relatively minor.

The streaks radiating from the sun image on the back panel. Poor finishing or careless cleaning. Difficult to spot on silver but screams at one on black. My CLS looks terrible

 

[Rashman]

Thanks and well spotted Rash.....indeed, 2 of the 4 clips for the engine cover are actually broken which is why it sits like that. Fear not though, in my pursuit for perfection I have a new cover and clips on order

Hey bud,
Yeah, it's common for the clips to break and often happens on the M156 engine (not mine though, you understand! )

They usually break when a heavy handed techie removes the engine cover for oil changes etc.
But it be fair, you can be as careful as you can and still have them break.
Good to hear you have a new one on order.
I'd be doing the same.

 

[Vazza]

What comments have you got from your neighbours?

 

[Rashman]

What comments have you got from your neighbours?

They place a paper bag full of poo on his door step, set it alight, ring the door bell and run away.

 

[Palmball]

My neighbours typically have zero interest in cars so most don't know what it is. 'That looks beautiful' is the most common comment you get from non-car folk. Despite this, they do make the effort to talk and ask questions.

One of my neighbours' mums has a brand new Aston Martin DB9 which shows up a few times a week so the SLS has some reasonable competition!

 

[V800ELL]

loverly motor!

 

[jdrrco]

Thanks and yes, it's going back to AMG for quite a few things next month;

- Gearbox update

- New leather for the drivers seat

- Steering wheel recovered (still a leather/alcantara combo), with contrast tan stitching and a tan oversteer ring (exactly as per the GT-spec steering wheel but in a colour that matches my interior)

- New style gear lever, in tan to match the rest of the interior

- Retrofit of the integrated garage door opener (it's the only option the car doesn't have, and one which I would use if it had it!)

Fantastic car and lovely trim. You do intend actually driving it at some point though, do you?

 

[oddjob]

wow, this is my perfect spec SLS! Lovely car

Will definitely buy one when I win the lottery lol

 

[merc85]

Speechless, oh and that engine !!!!

 

[mikec32]

I'll contact you on Monday when I'm bk from miami working on some cars and mini holiday!

Cheers Michael

 

[Palmball]

You do intend actually driving it at some point though, do you?

I've done 1k in it since I've owned it which is waaaay above the average mileage an SLS does.

Any why do you think I'm finding an excuse to take it to Germany

 

[fchana786]

Lovely car mate! The best interior combination IMO! You sure have had some lovely cars in the past!

Your not too far away from Leicester id love to see and hear you roaring past one day!

 

[DSLiverpool]

- Retrofit of the integrated garage door opener (it's the only option the car doesn't have, and one which I would use if it had it!)

Hi Andrew - nice car, much better than a BMW in sense of occasion but I have my eye on a M6 cabrio if they drop a little more circa £40k.

The garage door opener - I assume the loom is already in for it and they have checked that as on my old CLS55 MB and a Indie couldn't retrofit it and make it work. Yes they could fit it and power it but it wouldn't work - never found out why - good luck.

 

[chriscls]

My neighbours typically have zero interest in cars so most don't know what it is. 'That looks beautiful' is the most common comment you get from non-car folk. Despite this, they do make the effort to talk and ask questions.

One of my neighbours' mums has a brand new Aston Martin DB9 which shows up a few times a week so the SLS has some reasonable competition!

Ohh trust me they know haha, I would be googling that three letter prefix haha.

 

[DSLiverpool]

Crikey anyone seen a bare metal SLS darn sarf ?

 

[Rashman]

Andy, are you able to attend Acid's get together next weekend?

http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/events/[email protected]

 

[Palmball]

Hi Andrew - nice car, much better than a BMW in sense of occasion but I have my eye on a M6 cabrio if they drop a little more circa £40k.

The garage door opener - I assume the loom is already in for it and they have checked that as on my old CLS55 MB and a Indie couldn't retrofit it and make it work. Yes they could fit it and power it but it wouldn't work - never found out why - good luck.

The SLS is very different to the M6, and in some respects I'd say the M6 is the 'better' car. But not nearly as special and the BMW is a whole lot more expensive once you factor in depreciation.

I'm still trying to work out if the SLS is faster than the M6...the Merc definitely has much better traction (hugely more, thanks to it's rear-biased weight distribution which you really feel the benefit from all the time) so it's undoubtedly quicker from a dig and out of corners but, once rolling, I don't think theres anything in it.

Where the SLS feels really special (and different to anything else I've ever driven) is in it's structural rigidity and the directness this imparts on the driving experience - theres just no slack to take up in the structure so it feels extraordinarily responsive like no car thats based on a regular model can.

As for the rear view mirror, I can only guess from the price I'm paying that they're having to do a lot of work so assume it'll function as if fitted at the factory (which essentially it is). I have the garage door opener option in the M6 and I did wonder if I'd ever get that to work as it's a right pain in the @rse to program...it definitely takes a fair bit of luck so I'd understand if you've never got yours to work as I very nearly gave up after hours of trying. Hopefully that experience taught me the knack so I can get it working in the SLS.

Ohh trust me they know haha, I would be googling that three letter prefix haha.

Ha, well maybe...I just get the odd funny looks. I also look quite young for my now ageing 35 years so that kind of blows peoples minds too!

Andy, are you able to attend Acid's get together next weekend?

I'd have loved to mate, especially as MSL we're the previous owners on my SLS's logbook But I can't as I'm taking it to AMG next weekend for the various little upgrades I'm having done.....we're going on holiday the following week so it made sense to take the car to Germany when I'm not going to need it.

 

[Rashman]

I'd have loved to mate, especially as MSL we're the previous owners on my SLS's logbook But I can't as I'm taking it to AMG next weekend for the various little upgrades I'm having done.....we're going on holiday the following week so it made sense to take the car to Germany when I'm not going to need it.

Ah, shame.
Never mind. I'll be seeing you soon enough I'm sure.
We'll be a Trax but I suspect you may still be on holiday.
No bother. We'll catch up soon no doubt.

I'm currently waiting to hear back from AMG myself regarding a little something I want them to do with my car in a few weeks.
A chap called Volker is making enquires and I am hoping to hear back from him soon.

Don't give them too much of a hard time, Andy... I don't want them getting the hump with us picky Brits and refusing to work on mine

 

[Palmball]

You'll definitely see me at Trax buddy...I'm all booked in for that (my holidays aren't that long!)

Yes, I know Volker....he's been the main point of contact for all UK enquires and has sorted me out for the last couple of years.

What do you want doing on yours? I thought it'd be a bit risky for you actually driving your car out there...I mean, what if you happen to drive over a dust patch on the way!? Think of the paint man!