Last night i pulled into the bank to deposit some checks before heading back into the city. I had my GF, my friend, a floor jack, tools, weekend bags for all of us...so the car was heavy. Anyway, as i filled out my deposit slip i hear another car pull up with a booming stereo. Some dweeb enters and takes cash out of the ATM. I look outside and see that it was a burgandy late ('99) SL500. Anyway, the guy leaves and I thought nothing more of it.

A few minutes later I hit the road and start to make some good progress. A few miles from the bank, I can see that I am coming up on what looks like the same guy from the bank. He's chillin with his top down, stereo blaring and he's doing 75 in a 55, so he's moving...luckily, so was I...

I slowly approach from the rear quarter so I could double check the "digits" on the trunk lid. The driver must have seen me creeping because he looks back at me. (Either the fogs or the SS exaust gave me away) We line up and we hit it, I start in 3rd, and by the time I shift to forth I'm already pulling hard. THIS IS A 500? I'm thinking...

I shut her down at about 100mph, and the next light up ahead changed to red. OK, here we go...I'm thinking. However, light turns green, I hit it, and it was no contest. A steady even pull starting with 1st gear. Too bad, :( I wanted more of a challenge. I know the older 500's aren't super fast, but they did have over 300hp, and I thought they were at least quick. This was a slaughter, even with my car loaded with sh*t.

Mods to date: Turner CAI/ASC delete/SS exhaust

Thanks for reading.

Well done, I'm always skeptical about racing when I have a lot of extra weight but it obviously didn't stop you. What would have happened if you were by yourself with no jack or tools, ouch for the SL500. I wonder how an E36 M3 would do against a new SL500.

Well done, I'm always skeptical about racing when I have a lot of extra weight but it obviously didn't stop you. What would have happened if you were by yourself with no jack or tools, ouch for the SL500. I wonder how an E36 M3 would do against a new SL500.

You should be able to hold them off with no problem's

i had a good 3cl's by the time i hit 100

i had a good 3cl's by the time i hit 100 Against a new SL500?

I ran against my buddy in his E36 M3 that trapped 99mph in the 1/4 mile. I was driving a 96 sl500. I was expecting it to be a decent race. The older sl500's make something like 300hp and 325ftlbs. I think??

At the time I owned an E36 M3 and was fairly confident I would be able to give him a decent run at highway speeds. Nope.

The e36 m3 embarrassed the sl500.

The older sl500 convert's weighed close to 5000 lbs IIRC.

-C

Yeah, power to weight is their enemy, I think they run like mid 14's or something, so an E36 M3 should be able to handle them...

Nice kill!

Nice kill!

Thanks. it was fun. The new SS exhaust really woke up the car. I love it.

:redspot

Old Sl500's are DAMN slow

They even have a hard time holding me off! :eek: :rofl:

Old Sl500's are DAMN slow

They even have a hard time holding me off! :eek: :rofl:

Hey, Hey, Hey, easy now guys.

I've spanked a few M3s. It's not all BHPs as we know.

C.

new or old SL500 are about 14 sec cars. nice kill.

off the line they suck, but on the freeway they're pretty good.

Man I thought those cars were faster than that... Very nice kill

new or old SL500 are about 14 sec cars. nice kill.

off the line they suck, but on the freeway they're pretty good.

They're aren't quick off the line, but from a rolling start, say 20 mph or so, to 50 or 60 MPH. Then from 80 to about 120 MPH.

C.

Last night i pulled into the bank to deposit some checks before heading back into the city. I had my GF, my friend, a floor jack, tools, weekend bags for all of us...so the car was heavy. Anyway, as i filled out my deposit slip i hear another car pull up with a booming stereo. Some dweeb enters and takes cash out of the ATM. I look outside and see that it was a burgandy late ('99) SL500. Anyway, the guy leaves and I thought nothing more of it.

A few minutes later I hit the road and start to make some good progress. A few miles from the bank, I can see that I am coming up on what looks like the same guy from the bank. He's chillin with his top down, stereo blaring and he's doing 75 in a 55, so he's moving...luckily, so was I...

I slowly approach from the rear quarter so I could double check the "digits" on the trunk lid. The driver must have seen me creeping because he looks back at me. (Either the fogs or the SS exaust gave me away) We line up and we hit it, I start in 3rd, and by the time I shift to forth I'm already pulling hard. THIS IS A 500? I'm thinking...

I shut her down at about 100mph, and the next light up ahead changed to red. OK, here we go...I'm thinking. However, light turns green, I hit it, and it was no contest. A steady even pull starting with 1st gear. Too bad, :( I wanted more of a challenge. I know the older 500's aren't super fast, but they did have over 300hp, and I thought they were at least quick. This was a slaughter, even with my car loaded with sh*t.

Mods to date: Turner CAI/ASC delete/SS exhaust

Thanks for reading.
The older SL500 are really slow and any stock E36 M3 would beat it.
The newer SL500 performance wise has approx. 306bhp which is approx. 26bhp more than the older version! These figs are quoted from UK magazines.

My 750 wasted the new SL500 EASILY regardless of launches, 50 - 100 etc. I didn't feel threatened in any way. The only way it might take a little longer to catch him is if you both raced but he started say with 3-4 car lengths in front!

So any tuned up or not M3's new or old should sort them out no probs!

Nice story! and did he put the top back on to hide himself? He He He!!

Jeff Wong

The older SL500 are really slow and any stock E36 M3 would beat it.
The newer SL500 performance wise has approx. 306bhp which is approx. 26bhp more than the older version! These figs are quoted from UK magazines.

My 750 wasted the new SL500 EASILY regardless of launches, 50 - 100 etc. I didn't feel threatened in any way. The only way it might take a little longer to catch him is if you both raced but he started say with 3-4 car lengths in front!

So any tuned up or not M3's new or old should sort them out no probs!

Nice story! and did he put the top back on to hide himself? He He He!!

Jeff Wong

hey thanks everyone. For the record, we did run first from about 70mph...same result. I don't know how many car lengths I would be ahead if we went 0-100, but i have to imagine at least 5 or 6. :buttrock

My father has owned the old one, and owns a new one now. From driving it several times, I can say that this car is not intended to be a high-performance car. There's plenty of horsepower there if you need it.

Now if it was a new style SL55 with RennTech, it would shut everything up.

My father has owned the old one, and owns a new one now. From driving it several times, I can say that this car is not intended to be a high-performance car. There's plenty of horsepower there if you need it.

Now if it was a new style SL55 with RennTech, it would shut everything up.

Just out of curiosity, what would guys rather own, an 04' SL55 or 04' SL600?

C.

Just out of curiosity, what would guys rather own, an 04' SL55 or 04' SL600?

C.
Twin Turbo V-12 vs SC'ed V8, I think I would take whichever one is lighter, the SL55 I'm assuming.

Just out of curiosity, what would guys rather own, an 04' SL55 or 04' SL600?

C.

I'd rather have the 55.

I'd rather have the 55.

It's a tough one, I've got a year or so to decide.

I liked the torque in the 600, plus, I don't like the turbine wheels on the 55, I prefer the stock or sport wheels on the 600.

I happen to be an OEM wheel kind of guy, I think that the turbine wheels only looked good on the older BMWs, I don't like cross pollenation!

C.

It's a tough one, I've got a year or so to decide.

I liked the torque in the 600, plus, I don't like the turbine wheels on the 55, I prefer the stock or sport wheels on the 600.

I happen to be an OEM wheel kind of guy, I think that the turbine wheels only looked good on the older BMWs, I don't like cross pollenation!

C.

you can swap the SL55's AMG multi spoke wheels for the AMG style III as a no charge option I believe.

Personally I would take the SL55 because it has the AMG tuned suspension, steering wheel shift buttons, speedshift software, and a little cheaper.

Pretty cool kill.

you can swap the SL55's AMG multi spoke wheels for the AMG style III as a no charge option I believe.

Personally I would take the SL55 because it has the AMG tuned suspension, steering wheel shift buttons, speedshift software, and a little cheaper.

Those are some pretty substantial benifits, plus, no turbo lag, but, that torque.....

C.

The older SL500 are really slow and any stock E36 M3 would beat it.
The newer SL500 performance wise has approx. 306bhp which is approx. 26bhp more than the older version! These figs are quoted from UK magazines.



Actually, the prior gen 500 SL/SL 500 made 322 bhp. Like several of MB's Naturally Aspirated cars, including the NA V12s, the SL lost power when it went from the previous to the current generation, as they switched from 4 valve to 3 valve heads. The cars went on a serious diet, which is why performance stayed about the same or improved slightly.

you can swap the SL55's AMG multi spoke wheels for the AMG style III as a no charge option I believe.

Personally I would take the SL55 because it has the AMG tuned suspension, steering wheel shift buttons, speedshift software, and a little cheaper.

Those are some pretty substantial benifits, plus, no turbo lag, but, that torque with the twelve .....

C.

Those are some pretty substantial benifits, plus, no turbo lag, but, that torque.....

C.

i don't think the V12 bi-turbo will have any noticeble lag, if you know what I mean.

anywayz, if the AMG 55 torque ain't enough, nothing's ever enough...LOL I'm already happy w/ the 332lb-ft TQ I got right now. I can only imagine what's like having a 500-600lb-ft TQ car in the garage. :eek:

How would a 540 do against an sl?

I figure it would be close because of the weight similarity...

i don't think the V12 bi-turbo will have any noticeble lag, if you know what I mean.

anywayz, if the AMG 55 torque ain't enough, nothing's ever enough...LOL I'm already happy w/ the 332lb-ft TQ I got right now. I can only imagine what's like having a 500-600lb-ft TQ car in the garage. :eek:

An MB dealer loaned me a new 04' SL600 for a couple of days (out with 20 miles, returned with 280 or so)..... oh that torque..... I believe 600 foot pounds to be exact. But, $148k out the door, I decided to purchase another piece of real estate instead.

Yes, there was lag, it wasn't bad though. I guess that it also depends on the type of "rush" that you're looking for, ie, similar to what you experience with two stroke versus four stroke motorcycles, ie the old H2s.

Also, I prefer the stock look of an SL600 versus the SL55, plus, I'll probably de-badge the 600 when I do purchase it, used of course, after a year of depreciation.

C.

yeah, torque is NICE. i have 04 xjr--right at 400tq. (390 hp). For a big sedan (3800 lbs roughtly), it feels scary fast. I just keep switching off the dsc and burning through the tires.