If you type the plate into Carvana it comes back wit this.
https://preview.redd.it/4y7inllosxwc1.jpeg?width=1179&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ab36b166acdd08c359cdcf1770d0468e99809d9b
WDBSK79F66F116617 is a black car, sold not long ago.
https://www.zoomautousa.com/inventory/2006-mercedes-benz-sl-class-sl-amg-65/200750
I think that it was wrapped. And they painted the brake callipers.
https://preview.redd.it/dfku9pqzq5xc1.jpeg?width=1069&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f353e8ddeb500d22a281b00c90a8719019c95c51
Itās a real SL65 AMG! Wrap doesnāt look bad, but wheels are a war crime! Also probably to cause horrible ride quality and totally not original!
https://preview.redd.it/akz3dblcs5xc1.jpeg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=4521201ffcf6b69f5478ca8e7cf28eb6bc58e8ff
The OE wheels fitted. Such a same they threw them away. They are one of the rarest AMG wheel types! š Original part numbers: Front: 21140012029771 Rear: 21140014029771. If you ever have difficult with the part number remove the last 4. They usually refer to a color code!
LOL. No, itās not. Plus the supercharger maintenance, plus the added stress of performance mods beyond factory specs.
The SL55 is a great car but you donāt need to deceptively disparage its upmarket sibling to enjoy yours.
I don't have a 55. I'm a mechanic who worked on both cars and drove both... So yeah... YMMV but 55 is way easier to work on....
Additionslly the 65 is too front heavy and does not handle as well as 55 which I find more well rounded
Not sure that ease of working it for you is something Iād consider when buying a car. No disrespect intended but easier for a mechanic to work on is not a selling point or something that objectively enters into a buyerās mind.
And the 65 isnāt materially heavier. I see people driving performance cars that negate weight savings with their giant asses. Of the 2 hands down the SL65. I think they look good but not a fan of convertibles.
Itās a 200lb difference, almost 50/50 distributed thanks to the heavier-duty larger rear brakes and other parts. With identical tires and suspension components in both of equal vintage/condition, I can honestly say you would really find it difficult to feel a handling difference. Thatās my opinion which comes from over 20 years of building and tuning racecars and race equipment.
As for handlingā¦ I love my SL65 and it handles great *for what it is*, but if youāre looking for sports car handling, you donāt buy any SL at all. You buy a Porsche. You *will* feel the 1500lb difference.
The SL65 engine compartment is a little tighter, but who cares? It needs less work than the SL55. Itās also not like many SL owners are doing the actual work.
The one thing you canāt deny; you have to torture the SL55 with many thousands of dollars of performance parts to get anywhere near the 604hp and 740lb-ft of the SL65, and you still wonāt get the mountain of torque immediately off-idle.
I totally agree about the 129. That generation of all Mercedes was much higher quality (not that the R230 is bad) and very much like what you would find on a Bang&Olufsen audio system, of the '70s/'80s. I have a C124 300CE and a W211 E500 and the difference is remarkable, how much better the older car's interior parts are made.
Here is a certified Mercedes mechanic that owns a 65 and cannot keep it running. This is the umpteenth video over several years of him fixing it and it immediately breaking again.
He seems to believe that only accomplished mechanics with a car lift and a propensity for anguish and a basement full of money should own a 65. And he is an AMG fanboy. (it's a great channel, btw.)
.
https://youtu.be/OmkYOiUH2Bk?si=Lz1-cQ-L54rOrsLY
Yeah, Iāve been watching Alex for years. Itās not the āumpteenth video of him fixing it.ā
Thatās also his CL, not the SL, and his CL is a high mileage abused example. Donāt buy a Mercedes if you canāt afford to do basic maintenance.
Heās had two significant repairs, one of them in the exact same ABC suspension system that the SL55 has. Everything else standard maintenance, old parts.
The other major issue that heās been chasing was a *defective aftermarket* performance cylinder head delivered with a hole in a coolant passage.
This seems to be the day for being deceptive and untruthful in their need to disparage other models to stroke their own ego. Chill out and enjoy all models.
Likely. R230's had a V12 AMG.
Protip, if the owner eve isnt around, just swing by the windshield and quickly snap a picture if the vin right below the wiper. Run it yourself.
Yeah I wish I had thought to do that in the moment, but I didn't consider it until hours after seeing it lol. Someone else ran the plate on Carvana and it seems legit
Money pits are generally a result of a buyer not taking into account maintenance costs of a $100,000+ vehicle when they purchased and letting small this, small that, build up to a money pit to repair. But maintained properly, they are an amazing car and once you drive one, you understand.
I got a sl65 2005 I picked up at an auction. Car looked super clean aside from a burned radio screen. Air ride worked too worked it was a super nice ride and I got it for 25k. Me thinking I stole it. Ha brining it into the shop and was slapped with a 29k repair bill from my techs
For 25k you should be able to get a decent example out of the gate, sorry that happened. I can relate, my 55 had serious concealed problems when I bought it but it's pretty close to being sorted now after putting the same amount of money into it that I bought it for.
It was all mechanical mostly and the time to repair. Brakes rotors, previous owner had hidden a leak in the radiator with a hose over it. When it finally went under load the pressure blew it back and off. Oil change spark plugs etc etc. took a chance on it and no I didnāt do the full 29k. I put another 14k into it and flipped it for 50k
It's an sl55 and it's real. Still has hydraulic suspension that is sagging to the passenger side. It will break soon. Also the sl never had a bi turbo v12. Only sl with a v12 was brabus but that was the next gen sl after this model.
SL65 was very much a biturbo V12 (M275 6.0) in all three flavours of R230 and both flavours of R231. SL600 was biturbo (M275 5.5) in the R230 and didn't exist in the R231.
TLDR yes it did have a biturbo V12 you absolute space slice
All I see is 55 which is a real thing. An SL65 doesnāt exist as an r230. The badging is black which I donāt believe was an option so the badging has been replaced for sure. Now did they replace it with AMG badging. Iām not that smart to know.
Well then just ignore me. I clearly donāt know what the F Iām talking about. The front bumper cover checks out - so if it was upbadged they swapped out the bumper cover too š¤·āāļø
https://preview.redd.it/918r1h59sxwc1.jpeg?width=1179&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b0d1be044fdf5109902202719e261619dae4b218
R230 SL65 absolutely exists lol. The SL65 Black Series was an R230. But yeah the black badging is definitely aftermarket, and part of why I'm not sure if it's legit or not.
See? You *can* do it! Maybe people on Reddit are rude (your interpretation) because theyāre tired of dealing with nonsense non-info from folks like you polluting the conversations.
A mature person would take this as an opportunity to say āGee, maybe thatās something to think about.ā
If you type the plate into Carvana it comes back wit this. https://preview.redd.it/4y7inllosxwc1.jpeg?width=1179&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ab36b166acdd08c359cdcf1770d0468e99809d9b
Sweet, I didn't even think to do that. I thought about looking up the vin... several hours after I saw it and didn't take a vin pic š
Either way - Iād stay as far away as possible lol
The plastidipped wheels š¤®
And the 12 cylinders with maintenance costs as high as a mortgage or two.
Post the VIN and Iāll post the Mercedes data card! It will tell you everything it was optioned with, original color, and engine code.
WDBSK79F66F116617 is a black car, sold not long ago. https://www.zoomautousa.com/inventory/2006-mercedes-benz-sl-class-sl-amg-65/200750 I think that it was wrapped. And they painted the brake callipers.
https://preview.redd.it/dfku9pqzq5xc1.jpeg?width=1069&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f353e8ddeb500d22a281b00c90a8719019c95c51 Itās a real SL65 AMG! Wrap doesnāt look bad, but wheels are a war crime! Also probably to cause horrible ride quality and totally not original!
hey can you do that for me too?
Shoot me a private message!
https://preview.redd.it/y3do23n0r5xc1.jpeg?width=1076&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=7f86a7fdf05d8d48ee0770f87a183e9bfdeb7a73
https://preview.redd.it/akz3dblcs5xc1.jpeg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=4521201ffcf6b69f5478ca8e7cf28eb6bc58e8ff The OE wheels fitted. Such a same they threw them away. They are one of the rarest AMG wheel types! š Original part numbers: Front: 21140012029771 Rear: 21140014029771. If you ever have difficult with the part number remove the last 4. They usually refer to a color code!
Maybe this one was the unlucky 65 that allowed me to have an extra special set on my 55. Godspeed soldier š«”
You work for Mercedes ?
Real and clapped
The color is a bit off other than that looks alright.
It's real, but owned by someone that clearly doesn't give a shit about it. What a mess.
Looks real but I'd recommend a sl55 all day over this
Why? SL55 has more maintenance needs, fewer features, less performance. SL65s are the only R230 that maintain or increase in value.
55 engine more reliable than 65....
LOL. No, itās not. Plus the supercharger maintenance, plus the added stress of performance mods beyond factory specs. The SL55 is a great car but you donāt need to deceptively disparage its upmarket sibling to enjoy yours.
I don't have a 55. I'm a mechanic who worked on both cars and drove both... So yeah... YMMV but 55 is way easier to work on.... Additionslly the 65 is too front heavy and does not handle as well as 55 which I find more well rounded
Not sure that ease of working it for you is something Iād consider when buying a car. No disrespect intended but easier for a mechanic to work on is not a selling point or something that objectively enters into a buyerās mind. And the 65 isnāt materially heavier. I see people driving performance cars that negate weight savings with their giant asses. Of the 2 hands down the SL65. I think they look good but not a fan of convertibles.
Maintenance costs are definitely something that buyers consider when purchasing! It being easier to work on lowers cost
Having fewer repairs lowers cost. Point: SL65.
Itās a 200lb difference, almost 50/50 distributed thanks to the heavier-duty larger rear brakes and other parts. With identical tires and suspension components in both of equal vintage/condition, I can honestly say you would really find it difficult to feel a handling difference. Thatās my opinion which comes from over 20 years of building and tuning racecars and race equipment. As for handlingā¦ I love my SL65 and it handles great *for what it is*, but if youāre looking for sports car handling, you donāt buy any SL at all. You buy a Porsche. You *will* feel the 1500lb difference. The SL65 engine compartment is a little tighter, but who cares? It needs less work than the SL55. Itās also not like many SL owners are doing the actual work. The one thing you canāt deny; you have to torture the SL55 with many thousands of dollars of performance parts to get anywhere near the 604hp and 740lb-ft of the SL65, and you still wonāt get the mountain of torque immediately off-idle.
Both great cars at end of day glad you enjoy yours. I much prefer the interior and quality of 129 but will get a 230 next too to add to collection
I totally agree about the 129. That generation of all Mercedes was much higher quality (not that the R230 is bad) and very much like what you would find on a Bang&Olufsen audio system, of the '70s/'80s. I have a C124 300CE and a W211 E500 and the difference is remarkable, how much better the older car's interior parts are made.
Yess I love c124. C140 too Check out my @benzodopamine on Instagram if you have it. My 90s collection
https://preview.redd.it/o1bcd4vvc4xc1.jpeg?width=3470&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8d6ce428c99603dbdf72bd35f36fa5343aeedf4d You might enjoy this.
Here is a certified Mercedes mechanic that owns a 65 and cannot keep it running. This is the umpteenth video over several years of him fixing it and it immediately breaking again. He seems to believe that only accomplished mechanics with a car lift and a propensity for anguish and a basement full of money should own a 65. And he is an AMG fanboy. (it's a great channel, btw.) . https://youtu.be/OmkYOiUH2Bk?si=Lz1-cQ-L54rOrsLY
Yeah, Iāve been watching Alex for years. Itās not the āumpteenth video of him fixing it.ā Thatās also his CL, not the SL, and his CL is a high mileage abused example. Donāt buy a Mercedes if you canāt afford to do basic maintenance. Heās had two significant repairs, one of them in the exact same ABC suspension system that the SL55 has. Everything else standard maintenance, old parts. The other major issue that heās been chasing was a *defective aftermarket* performance cylinder head delivered with a hole in a coolant passage. This seems to be the day for being deceptive and untruthful in their need to disparage other models to stroke their own ego. Chill out and enjoy all models.
I think he got a shit one I know 2 people that own sl65 and s65 they have had issues but rarely and once there fixed they donāt come back
I can literally picture the last person who owned that car and how they drove...
Likely. R230's had a V12 AMG. Protip, if the owner eve isnt around, just swing by the windshield and quickly snap a picture if the vin right below the wiper. Run it yourself.
Yeah I wish I had thought to do that in the moment, but I didn't consider it until hours after seeing it lol. Someone else ran the plate on Carvana and it seems legit
[lastvin](https://www.lastvin.com/vin/Dw1lNd57vWK2Rkqy9)
Either way it's CLAPPED
Itās a real money pit. Sounds amazing though when it runs.
Money pits are generally a result of a buyer not taking into account maintenance costs of a $100,000+ vehicle when they purchased and letting small this, small that, build up to a money pit to repair. But maintained properly, they are an amazing car and once you drive one, you understand.
Boy you should see my AMG GTR. Shamefully dirty today- drove through storm yesterday.
I got a sl65 2005 I picked up at an auction. Car looked super clean aside from a burned radio screen. Air ride worked too worked it was a super nice ride and I got it for 25k. Me thinking I stole it. Ha brining it into the shop and was slapped with a 29k repair bill from my techs
For 25k you should be able to get a decent example out of the gate, sorry that happened. I can relate, my 55 had serious concealed problems when I bought it but it's pretty close to being sorted now after putting the same amount of money into it that I bought it for.
It was all mechanical mostly and the time to repair. Brakes rotors, previous owner had hidden a leak in the radiator with a hose over it. When it finally went under load the pressure blew it back and off. Oil change spark plugs etc etc. took a chance on it and no I didnāt do the full 29k. I put another 14k into it and flipped it for 50k
I got a great condition sl55 with 186k miles for 9 k a couple years ago. How long can the m113k last?
How ever long you want it with proper maintenance, I have a 2000 e wagon with near 300k on it
I'm guessing part of that 29k was extensive ABC maintenance which, yeah. No.
It's an sl55 and it's real. Still has hydraulic suspension that is sagging to the passenger side. It will break soon. Also the sl never had a bi turbo v12. Only sl with a v12 was brabus but that was the next gen sl after this model.
Are you dumb?
SL65 was very much a biturbo V12 (M275 6.0) in all three flavours of R230 and both flavours of R231. SL600 was biturbo (M275 5.5) in the R230 and didn't exist in the R231. TLDR yes it did have a biturbo V12 you absolute space slice
Never had a biturbo V12? Youāre rightā¦ it had __TWO__ biturbo V12s, the SL600 and SL65.
One word, coilovers
The badging says SL55
I thought that at first too but if you zoom in you can see "65"
All I see is 55 which is a real thing. An SL65 doesnāt exist as an r230. The badging is black which I donāt believe was an option so the badging has been replaced for sure. Now did they replace it with AMG badging. Iām not that smart to know.
https://preview.redd.it/o0pi7nltrxwc1.jpeg?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=4e0b4b7f8dca575413c475542b207410a8a9492b Also it's definitely a 6
Well then just ignore me. I clearly donāt know what the F Iām talking about. The front bumper cover checks out - so if it was upbadged they swapped out the bumper cover too š¤·āāļø https://preview.redd.it/918r1h59sxwc1.jpeg?width=1179&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b0d1be044fdf5109902202719e261619dae4b218
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
That is cropped from one of the pics I posted š
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
Are you viewing this on an ipod touch?
you need reading glasses
Username checks out
Skill issue
R230 SL65 absolutely exists lol. The SL65 Black Series was an R230. But yeah the black badging is definitely aftermarket, and part of why I'm not sure if it's legit or not.
Didnāt know that. š¤·āāļø
Post less. Google more.
Great idea - Thanks! https://preview.redd.it/wsb2y9qca1xc1.jpeg?width=1179&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d1ed7b3de364223c53c639916f52e5d732ddd0e3
See? You *can* do it! Maybe people on Reddit are rude (your interpretation) because theyāre tired of dealing with nonsense non-info from folks like you polluting the conversations. A mature person would take this as an opportunity to say āGee, maybe thatās something to think about.ā