2004 Mercedes-Benz SL 55 AMG (R230) |

PRIVATE Sale

2004 Mercedes-Benz SL 55 AMG (R230)

This vehicle is now available as a private sale - you can make an offer by the Buy It Now button below.

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£12,999

Mileage~101,165 on clock
TransmissionAutomatic
Engine5.4L
LocationWarwick

FOR SALE

2004 Mercedes-Benz SL 55 AMG (R230)

Now available for sale

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Introduction

Glyn Parry

Professional Consigner

When it comes to performance and luxury, the team at AMG really know how to deliver a fantastic car.

Originally launched in 1954, the SL is a two-seater roadster which has grown in popularity to become one of the most iconic models in Mercedes-Benz history, providing the perfect mixture of performance and luxury.

Over the years the cars were available as a soft top convertible, then moving forward with the addition of a removable hardtop as well as the hardtop. This was a good idea and perfect for the winter months, with the hardtop making it more like a normal bodied car. The car is equipped with a very attractive AMG body kit, larger wheels, and some exquisite detailing to set it apart from the standard SLs.

Stylish aggressive looks, supercar performance and at the touch of a button it becomes a convertible. The V8 engine from the SL55 has been modified by AMG resulting in a significant increase in power from its predecessors delivering ~493BHP. This is enough to launch the SL55 from 0-60MPH in around 4.5 seconds, making it one of the fastest production Mercedes-Benz cars ever.

This AMG comes to market from ~4 years ownership, with under ~3,000 miles being covered in that time. In addition to this, the last servicing was carried out in March 2021 where the engine oil, coolant, oil, air and pollen filters were replaced. The SL55 has benefitted from regular servicing over its history, a recent SAM unit and overhead control panel upgrade.

This listing was written from information supplied by Glyn after meeting Keith the owner, and having visited and photographed the vehicle.

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Secure Auctions

We verify all our sellers and buyers to keep our community safe whilst also providing the highest levels of website security.

Full Transparency

8 out of 10 people that buy cars via our service don’t feel the need to visit due to the transparency and thoroughness of our listings.

Vehicle Delivery

We're there every step of your buying journey and will even arrange pick-up and delivery of your new vehicle.

Meet the owner

The SL 55 AMG is my absolute dream car, I waited a long time to get hold of one and this model is everything I wanted it to be.

Several years ago Keith, the current owner, bought an SL 350 and loved it, but he was in business at the time covering many miles a year. The upgrade to an SL 55 just wasn't justified at the time given his work and mileage for his job. However, once in retirement, he decided to find an SL 55 and spent several years trying to find a nice example, Keith said, "The SL55 AMG is my favourite car of all time. The Mercedes stood out for me as it had been well maintained and obviously loved over its life".

All of the ongoing servicing work whilst in Keith's ownership has been conducted by a Mercedes specialist using only genuine M-B parts, Keith said, "I wanted to keep the car as original as possible and to maintain the prestige of the AMG".

With another car at home now getting a little more attention than the Mercedes, Keith mentions, "It is time for the car to go on to a new owner who will appreciate its qualities and to keep it maintained. I have only covered around ~1,000 miles a year, as I have other performance cars that need to be used a little to keep everything working. I will miss my Silver Arrow".

Keith will be happy to answer any questions in the comments below should these be required.

Keith

Vehicle Owner

Ask Questions

CONTACT OWNER

Exterior
Interior
Mechanics
History
Images
All Images

EXTERIOR VIDEO

Exterior

With a lovely aggressive stance and open top driving, the SL 55 is finished in Brilliant Silver Metallic; the perfect colour choice for this Silver Arrow.

Wheels and Tyres

The SL 55 is fitted with a really smart multi-spoke set of 18" AMG Mercedes wheels. These are in great condition with very few marks on the edges. The centre caps show a smart level of presentation although the front nearside centre cap was missing.

Complete with a set of Goodyear Eagle F1 tyres with a spec of 255/40 to the front and 285/35 to the rear, the tyres are showing date codes from 2018. The condition of tyres looks great overall with no obvious cracking or major signs of wear.

Please take a look at the photos and videos for a detailed view of the exterior of the SL 55 and a closer look at the wheels and tyres.

Bodywork

The bodywork looks excellent with the panel lines looking straight and no major dings noted on the exterior - there were a few small marks to the panelling but nothing major here.

Both doors and bonnet and boot open and close well without concern.

Taking a look around the exterior showed the car in good stead, when we looked closer at the inside of the rear wheel arches we did note a few signs of corrosion starting to bubble up, which we've captured in our mechanical review video.

We've highlighted in more detail our observations through our hi-resolution images and videos, so please take time to look through all the media files for a detailed view at what’s on offer, and for you to assess the condition of the car for yourselves.

Paint

With its Brilliant Silver Metallic paint, the AMG is absolutely timeless and looks great in its stand out colour. The finish is even in colour and coat on each panel of the car from our observations.

We noted a little sign of paint wear to the grille section and on the underside of the front bumper where there were some scratch marks, but nothing that was a real area of concern. There were a couple of stone chips looking over the exterior but we had to look fairly closely to spot these. We did note some signs of lacquer peel to the leading edge of the rear wing.

Again, we have taken high resolution images and videos of the car for you to assess the condition of the bodywork for yourselves. The images are taken from a few different angles to show off the car as you would see it if you were standing there for yourselves. So please take the time to fully assess these high resolution images and videos of the car, for you to make up your own minds about the condition of the paint.

Glass and Trim

Windscreen section, side windows and mirrors all appear in great condition and we could see no sign of major scratching or chips on the glass. The chrome areas around the car were looking good too when we reviewed the exterior sections. The seals on the whole look good around the car and in line with the rest of the condition of the body.

All the trim across the car looks in great condition and presents as expected, the V8 badges subtly located above the air intakes above the front wings.

We inspected the side mounted indicators as part of our visit also, the drivers side section was showing without issue but the passenger side had a small note of condensation.

Looking over the headlights, these did show with a few signs of yellowing with age and could benefit from a little restorative work from the future owner.

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INTERIOR VIDEO

Interior

Smart all-black leathers provides luxury and comfort and with bespoke AMG styling matching the exterior, the cabin of the SL 55 is a very lovely place to be.

Seats and Carpets

The seats are firm, but comfortable and are electrically adjustable showing very little signs of wear to note. There was a little sign of the stitching on the seats starting to fade somewhat, but overall the cabin area showed in a really nice level of condition.

Carpets through the Mercedes interior showed nicely which have been well protected by the mat sections in the car. We also reviewed the boot section which again displayed really nicely.

We've captured high-resolution photos and a full interior video tour through the car. This covers off the angles inside the car for you to review and appreciate the condition of what's on offer here in our interior review section.

Dashboard

Centre mounted infotainment system gives the driver control of radio / stereo and phone integration. Dash instruments present really well showing no signs of fogging or display issues and shows with ~101,165 miles at the time of our visit.

The instruments are all nice and clean with a lovely level of presentation and are all functional. We noted no issues with any warning lights and the oil temp, rev counter, speedometer and fuel gauge were all functioning without concern. Our interior gallery section takes you over some closer images of the SL 55 dashboard, head over and see the car's interior in finer detail.

Steering Wheel / Gear Stick

A nicely presented 4-spoke leather bound multi-function Mercedes wheel shows in great condition without major signs of wear. The in line wheel functions for infotainment and mobile phone calls are reported to work without issue.

The auto gear selector shows well without concern and holds the roof button in the same section.

We've captured high-resolution photos for you to review and appreciate the condition of the interior in our gallery section.

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'ON THE ROAD' VIDEO

Mechanics

A 5.4L V8 coupled to an automatic gearbox makes driving the SL 55 AMG a fantastic driving experience, and with ~493BHP on tap, this is one quick car.

Engine and Gearbox

We take the car on a short drive out on some local roads to get a better sense of what the SL 55 is all about. Keith worked through the motions without issue and we observed no problems with the transmission when we were out on the open road. The 5.4L V8 sounded great when we were out in the car with the automatic gearbox delivering the power down well and is capable of delivering 0-60MPH ~4.5 seconds, a seriously rapid drive.

We noted no signs of excessive smoke or noise when the car was started up and running. We take a closer look around the engine bay section and highlight more about the mechanics in the cold start section of the mechanical review video.

Suspension and Brakes

On the drive out, Keith took us around some local roads, we heard no knocks, bangs or squeaks from the suspension and overall the car performed as to be expected with no observed issues. The brakes felt to have no pull or vibrations that stood out to us when on the journey and brought the car to a stop nicely.

A great note is that the Mercedes is equipped with air suspension which uses air springs that adapt to the road and effectively absorb the impact of shocks from rough roads. This can also be changed to different settings with the push of a button.

We noted on the last MOT that the strut ball joint, rear nearside and offside front suspension arm pin / bush is worn and was noted as an advisory. Also noted on our visit were signs of rusting on the steering and front lower arm. We cover off the underside of the SL 55 in our Mechanical Gallery section. Head over to our video section where we've summarised our visit in more detail for you to view for yourself, we take you around the mechanical elements of the car and give you an overview of what's on offer with this car.

The Drive

AMG took the V8 from the SL 500 and strengthened it in almost all areas to cope with the SL 55’s extra power, delivered via a lovely five-speed auto transmission. Some of that extra power came from mechanical changes including a faster-spinning supercharger, making it one of the fastest production Mercedes-Benz cars ever.

SL 55 AMG is extremely powerful, brimming with incredible levels of performance but it's also smooth and quiet when it needs to be.

Electrics and Other

The 55 has a great driver benefit with its retractable power metal folding vario-roof making the car really versatile. The folding roof changes it from the open-air fun of a convertible to the quiet comfort of a luxury coupe - opening and closing in around ~16 seconds.

The Mercedes is also equipped with traction control, sport mode, air suspension lift, Mercedes Bluetooth module, electric window controls and an integrated (analogue) TV function.

Keith told us that he has no issues with the electrical elements on the car and to the best of his knowledge, everything was working as it should.

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History and Paperwork

A good service history shows the Mercedes has been regularly maintained over its history.

Despite being ~18 years old, the SL 55 is a really timeless car showing a great sense of class.

The car was fitted with number plate '3 KWS' - that's now been taken off the car and assigned its original plate of 'CU04 SFJ'.

In April 2023 the overhead control panel had some diagnosis carried out where the control panel was replaced and reprogrammed costing over ~£1,000. In March 2023, the starter battery was replaced along with the nearside headlamp and SAM unit at a cost of over ~£1,044 which came from MB Germany. New boot struts were changed in May 2020 and 2 new tyres were replaced in January 2020. Just prior to Keith's ownership ~4 years ago, the brakes had a complete overall with new discs and pads.

Servicing was carried out on the Mercedes in August 2006, July 2008, November 2009, November 2010, May 2012, September 2013, July 2014, July 2015, 2016, August 2018, March 2020 and in March 2021. Since its last service in 2021 the car has travelled fewer than ~400 miles.

Should there be any questions required, Keith would be happy to answer these in the section below.

We’ve done all our usual seller checks including photo ID, V5 and also actioned a HPi check on the vehicle.

We've summarised our own view on the car based on information gained from the seller in the listing above, however, and as you can see, we go to great lengths to photograph and video the car in hi-resolution detail - this has been done for you to make your own assessment from the comfort of your sofa. So please sit back, have a cuppa and take your time to review everything on this listing in order to make your own assessment on the vehicle's condition. Viewings are also welcomed with all our listings, so please get in touch with us to arrange a suitable time - we just need to speak to you first and receive a valid photo ID before confirming.

If there's anything you're unsure about, no matter how small, then please first ask the owner in the comments area below before placing your bid/s, as bids can't be retracted and form a binding contract if you win the car - just like a traditional auction house. Please note, the car may be in daily use, so the mileage may increase from that shown here - you can request an update check with us after you register your interest.

Service History

Date	Type	Mileage
18.08.2023	MOT	101,232
25.07.2022	MOT	100,973
10.08.2021	MOT	100,849
17.03.2021	Service
10.08.2020	MOT	100,110
05.03.2020	Service	99,850
06.08.2019	MOT	99,519
20.08.2018	MOT	96,172
16.08.2018	Service	96,097
06.07.2017	MOT	91,245
09.06.2016	MOT	85,028
07.07.2015	Service	77,754
09.06.2015	MOT	76,961
25.07.2014	Service	67,876
09.06.2014	MOT	66,221
06.06.2014	Service	66,113
20.09.2013	Service	58,186
17.06.2013	MOT	55,935
31.05.2012	MOT	49,464
25.05.2012	Service	49,241
10.06.2011	MOT	42,114
12.11.2010	Service	38,277
15.06.2010	MOT	34,424
20.11.2009	Service	29,271
30.06.2009	MOT	23,325
19.12.2008	MOT	18,512
17.07.2008	Service	15,790
15.10.2007	MOT	8,443
19.08.2006	Service	5,572

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Key Details

ModelSL 55 AMG (R230)
TransmissionAutomatic
Reg. Date13.07.2004
CC5,439
Mileage~101,165
HistoryGood
ColourSilver
Interior ColourBlack
Interior TrimLeather
Chassis #WDB2304742F083078
Last Service17.03.2021
MOTYes. Exp 19.08.2024
HPi ClearYes - All Clear
Former Keepers7
Tyre BrandGoodyear
Tyre Age2018 / 2019
LHD or RHDRHD
VisitedYes
Sale TypePrivate
Owned~4 years, 4 months
Key FeatureTop Model
Auction ID1465

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All Images

All Videos

Ask Questions

Seller : Keith

Post a comment or ask the owner a question about the car.

Member

Hi Keith Can you confirm that the roof works as it should? Please confirm any issues that affect the folding top as this can be very expensive to fix!
Also do the air suspension struts work OK? Does the car sag over night for example suggesting a leak. these cost over £1400 each so need to be sure they are OK.
Finally is there any damp in the boot around the space saver and any smell of petrol as the tanks can leak and need replacing!
thanks, Reecer.

Author

Keith

The roof work well, no leaks in the car or boot.
The struts have not been changed in my ownership as they appear to work well. The car will lower if left for several days but regains its height as soon as the engine is started.

Author

Keith

I have not replaced the hydrolic struts during my ownership. They have not been a problem so may have been changed by a previous owner. Like all of these cars the suspension will drop a little if parked for some time but it recovers as soon as the engine is started.

Member

tj2k

Keith, I also wondered if you knew what fluid was leaking from underneath; you can see fluid dripping down toward the rear over the exhaust on both sides in the video. Obvious culprit would be hydraulic fluid, either from ABC or possibly roof mechanism & unlikely to be water (given environment when video was recorded). Also, lower engine bay surrounding looks like there’s a minor weep from video. Is there a sense from where thats coming from please? (This noticeable in the video near where the under tray is damaged)

Author

Keith

There are no leaks coming from under the car that I have observed either when parked up for some time or after a run so can only assume it may be the Aircon discharge

Member

sjk19016

Hi Keith, have any of the ABC hydropneumatic suspension struts ever been replaced ? Thanks, Steve

Author

Keith

They have not been repaired or replaced whilst in my ownership. I have had no problems with them so they may have been changed by a previous owner. These cars tend to drop when parked for some time but the car recovers as soon as the engine is started.

Member

tj2k

Hi Keith, have last years MOT advisories been attended to yet please? Thanks so much.

Author

Keith

The struts have not been changed. The mot station were not concerned and they stated that they commented as some wear was observed.

Insurance Quote

Average annual insurance premium for a Mercedes like this is TBC via our trusted partner ClassicLine.
GET AN INSURANCE QUOTEAnd get 10% off when you mention us.

*Quote is based on a garaged vehicle in CV32 5QY (Leamington Spa), travelling 3,000 miles per year, 1 driver who is 45 years of age and is free on accidents and convictions – valid Summer 2023.

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Vehicle Location

Warwick

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