Have Mercedes-Benz SL55 AMG R230s bottomed out?

Who knew you could now buy a historied, sensible mileage R230 Mercedes-Benz SL55 AMG for less than eight grand? At April’s SWVA sale at Poole, a very decent black on black 2003 SL55 with warranted 71,000, history with nine mostly-main-agent stamps, ‘sheafs of bills’, full M-B book pack and two keys, was entered by its private owner of five years and made just £7600. That’s a record low, with prices for highish milers usually running at between £11k-£15k. There were some declared electric issues with the central locking and power roof, but not serious enough to warrant such a bargain price. The spec was good, with panoramic roof and heated seats and it looked extremely straight and level.

The previous cheapest SL55 at auction was in September 2022 at CCA when a 97,000 2002, also in black, was knocked down for £10,125. It’s clear that these supercharged V8s are a hard sell; trouser-wetting maintenance bills, £500-plus VED, 15mpg and pre-2006 models subject to ULEZ charges have suppressed demand and prices. But are we close to the very bottom of their depreciation curve – could they fall further? In its day the SL55 cost £90,000-plus, could hit 60 in 4.5 seconds and I remember a factory insider admitting an unmodified but delimited SL55 had broken 200mph while testing. The 2006-on SL55 is more reliable with better spec and even more urge, but for less than eight grand one of the early 2002-2005 V8 bruisers with a good history and sensible mileage looks an appealing proposition. Just make sure you have a competent Merc specialist nearby who doesn’t charge like a wounded rhino.

VALUE 2018 £13.5kVALUE NOW 2023 £12.75k