Dnk Posted June 29, 2017 Share Posted June 29, 2017 In the not too distant future i'm thinking of selling my E46 330 Ci M sport vert and looking at replacing it with either SL55 AMG, SLK55 AMG or BMW M3 4.0 DCT convertibles £20K buying budget Whats your thoughts on these I think the BMW ticks nearly all the boxes but falls short on looks, the Mercs both look great but is the SLK the hairdressers model but for similar money i can find lower mileage younger cars than the SL Would you go near the Mercs regardless of looks as i read a few scary stories on reliability which the BMW doesn't seem to have Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Wilson Posted June 29, 2017 Share Posted June 29, 2017 I work on quite a few SL55 AMG's and they can be hugely expensive. They suffer a lot with CAN BUS electrical issues, the fold away hard top is massively expensive to fix if it goes wrong, and although they are quick as hell, the costs of maintaining / fixing up a 20K one would frighten me. I have an 8,000 miler here that just might be coming up for sale, it's been here two years now and the owner has never put his posterior on the seat in that time... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dnk Posted June 29, 2017 Author Share Posted June 29, 2017 Pretty much what i've been reading, ignoring running costs out of the 3 cars i listed the SL55 is my favorite Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Bailey Posted June 29, 2017 Share Posted June 29, 2017 Not interested in another supra Dunk? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tooquicktostop Posted June 29, 2017 Share Posted June 29, 2017 The AMG 55 engine is a great power unit, I had the E55 AMG and loved the car, such fun to drive, mine had done a fair few miles and when it needed some work (O2 sensors) they were very expensive but if you are going to drive an AMG this is part of the deal but given the spend on your RR you know this lol I have since owned S500, SL 500 and I have never been disappointed with the amount of car you get for the money, I actually think the big engine Mercs offer the best bang for buck in so many ways There is a CL600 for sale at a dealer in Yardley, only 60K miles and all this car for £4K, very tempting Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pig Posted June 29, 2017 Share Posted June 29, 2017 SL55 is a great bit of kit! Its a bit of an angry animal and sounds great. SLK55 is a bit tame in comparison. Never driven an M3 so can't comment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Wilson Posted June 29, 2017 Share Posted June 29, 2017 The mileage is coming down from 83K and the price going up from £3495.... I have to say you take my prize for the brave car buyer of 2017, a seventeen year old V12 Mercedes, from a dealer in Yardley. http://birminghamclearancecarcentre.co.uk/vehicle/name/mercedes-cl-cl600/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tooquicktostop Posted June 29, 2017 Share Posted June 29, 2017 The mileage is coming down from 83K and the price going up from £3495.... I have to say you take my prize for the brave car buyer of 2017, a seventeen year old V12 Mercedes, from a dealer in Yardley. http://birminghamclearancecarcentre.co.uk/vehicle/name/mercedes-cl-cl600/ I have a history of doing this, maybe I need help lol However I have done it so may times, can we meet up at the Swan Centre to pick up the award please ....... At that price I might actually go and see it, however he also has a "Mint" RS6 and a Hummer so could bag a trio Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pig Posted June 29, 2017 Share Posted June 29, 2017 I have a history of doing this, maybe I need help lol However I have done it so may times, can we meet up at the Swan Centre to pick up the award please ....... At that price I might actually go and see it, however he also has a "Mint" RS6 and a Hummer so could bag a trio If I remember correctly they have air suspension issues which can cost £1k per corner to fix and they are a very uninspiring drive. Electrical gremlins and oxidisation should also be a big consideration. My advise would be avoid unless you are going to fit the manifold that makes it sound like a zonda Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tooquicktostop Posted June 29, 2017 Share Posted June 29, 2017 If I remember correctly they have air suspension issues which can cost £1k per corner to fix and they are a very uninspiring drive. Electrical gremlins and oxidisation should also be a big consideration. My advise would be avoid unless you are going to fit the manifold that makes it sound like a zonda /QUOTE] To be honest mate I am a lost cause, I buy anything that is shiny and interesting, started buying boats now as well, I am a lost cause so leave well alone lol ............ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Wilson Posted June 29, 2017 Share Posted June 29, 2017 To be honest mate I am a lost cause, I buy anything that is shiny and interesting, started buying boats now as well, I am a lost cause so leave well alone lol ............ A pal has always said, often out loud and in company, especially in the company of "expensive" looking women, "If it flies, floats or f****, rent it". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sidewaysdan Posted June 29, 2017 Share Posted June 29, 2017 SL55 I drove one on a red letter day. Amazing car and sound amazing. But I would spen £20k on a rs6 that's already had the coilovers fitted and the 740hp tune Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Wilson Posted June 29, 2017 Share Posted June 29, 2017 I have a history of doing this, maybe I need help lol However I have done it so may times, can we meet up at the Swan Centre to pick up the award please ....... At that price I might actually go and see it, however he also has a "Mint" RS6 and a Hummer so could bag a trio Sorry, sidewaysdan has just trumped you to the award with a tuned £20K RS6, the car (even in totally stock form) I honestly thought was going to cause a customer to take an overdose a while back. If I hadn't been too busy banking his cheques I would have sought help for the fella'. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bayside_supra Posted June 29, 2017 Share Posted June 29, 2017 I've driven the M3 and the SL55 a lot and the SL is a monster in a straight line. M3 much better round corners nowhere near as fast though. My dad owned an SL55 for many years and even with less than 40k on the clock it was very unreliable. Rear arches rusted, air suspension went, constant warnings on the dash, one of the wheels split. All these things cost thousands to replace. The M3 should be much easier to live with. A friend had an SLK55 for a while and that thing was epic until the diff went. In comparison with the SL it was much more reliable though. I would go for the SLK for the rarity factor and the folding roof. They sound unbelievable as well. Shouldn't be too horrendous to run either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swampy442 Posted June 30, 2017 Share Posted June 30, 2017 My advise would be avoid unless you are going to fit the manifold that makes it sound like a zonda I looked around for one of those manifold sets, couldn't locate them, from Japan if I remember. I recently bought a bargain E55 AMG, Ive since learnt theres no such thing as a cheap AMG haha Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fullthrottle Posted June 30, 2017 Share Posted June 30, 2017 Jaguar xkr ?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dnk Posted June 30, 2017 Author Share Posted June 30, 2017 The Jag doesn't get onto my list purely on looks alone Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dnk Posted June 30, 2017 Author Share Posted June 30, 2017 Not interested in another supra Dunk? I was tempted with a couple of Supras recently but i'm looking for something i can just get in and drive as my daily and it really has to be a convertible The M3 V8 DCT looks like its going to be next, as much as i love the look of the Mercs i'm not prepared to throw a fortune at one keeping it on the road. I want the same reliability that i've had from my E46, in 4 years its needed an oil level switch, front lower arm bushes and the front calipers refurbed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jellybean Posted June 30, 2017 Share Posted June 30, 2017 Just buy a TVR, you only live once (literally) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jellybean Posted June 30, 2017 Share Posted June 30, 2017 Problem solved Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karl M N Posted June 30, 2017 Share Posted June 30, 2017 May I ask what your opinion on the 330ci was? I'm considering getting one to replace my daily providing insurance doesn't rob me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dnk Posted July 1, 2017 Author Share Posted July 1, 2017 May I ask what your opinion on the 330ci was? I'm considering getting one to replace my daily providing insurance doesn't rob me. My insurance is £207 fully comp on the 330, 56 clean licence with 6 years NCB on that policy and in a B rated postcode I think the E46 330 is a great car, i've had two 330 Ci M sport convertibles and both have had very few problems. Front lower arm bushes don't last long but are easily replaced and not expensive for OE parts, only other problems i've had were the oil level sensor packed up £70 ish, front calipers needed a refurb and drivers mirror failed. The drivers mirror packed up due to the ribbon cracking, which is a common problem and the only fix is risk a second hand mirror or buy a new one and they're around £300 from BM My cars a 2004 and only done 68,000 miles with lots of service history so its been looked after Round town i get approx 23 mpg but on a run cruising with no stops i got over 35 mpg on my last trip driving through France and down into Spain The rear subframe issue i think is the biggest problem and appears to happen on any E46 model but especially on the M3 with its bigger power and torque, mine has been inspected by a good mate who owns NCB Autokraft who are a local BMW specialist and no problems. The cracks that can appear in the floor can be fixed and a few places sell kits that you weld to the floor. The headlights aren't great but they are easily fixed with a HID kit which i wished i'd done much sooner Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karl M N Posted July 1, 2017 Share Posted July 1, 2017 Thanks for the review mate. Looks like I'll get my money's worth if I go on the hunt for a well like led after one then Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pudsey Posted July 1, 2017 Share Posted July 1, 2017 I like the SL55 AMG too. I once had a C43 AMG, and always fancied the SL. I recently looked at a SL500 by chance in a garage for sale, I guess they could be a cheaper alternative? Look forward to seeing what you end up with Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dnk Posted July 1, 2017 Author Share Posted July 1, 2017 Thanks for the review mate. Looks like I'll get my money's worth if I go on the hunt for a well like led after one then No problem, i'm only moving on from mine as i've had it four years and its time for a change. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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