I'm sorry to disagree with the previous post, but the 2004 SL500 models had the 7 speed transmission. The AMG versions (SL55) and the SL600, if I'm not mistaken, had the 5 speed.
I have the 7-speed in my 2004 SL500. I had one issue with the transmission and the dealer fixed it. It was the speed senor that attaches to the transmission. It took a month for the dealer to fix the transmission. Every time I brought my car in, the dealer said there was nothing wrong. So one day when my car could not go above 30 mphs, I called the dealership and had the master technician ready to hop in my car when I drove by.
They dealer fixed the problem and I was able to get out of a ticket with the service receipt. For some reason my car would not go above 30mphs or it would accelerate. The transmission runs great with no issues now.
Model changes are usually introduced after the summer break here in Germany - so a pre Sept '04 car will not have the 7-speed.
The 5-speed tranny is one of the most reliable ever made by Mercedes, and should you ever run into problems, replacement parts are easily available.
I was dead set against the 7-speed when I bought my SL, simply because Mercedes has an appaling track record when it comes to beta-testing at the customer's xpense. I was even willing to settle for the older CD-GPS just to avoid that risk.
But having also owned an SLK350 with the 7-speed, I must admit that it is a VERY elegant solution indeed. Smooth, fast and seamless, I'd say it's the best automatic I have ever driven.
Still, the question of reliability remains - why does Mercedes not put this tranny in the beefier (AMG) SL models?
Model changes are usually introduced after the summer break here in Germany - so a pre Sept '04 car will not have the 7-speed.
The 5-speed tranny is one of the most reliable ever made by Mercedes, and should you ever run into problems, replacement parts are easily available.
I was dead set against the 7-speed when I bought my SL, simply because Mercedes has an appaling track record when it comes to beta-testing at the customer's xpense. I was even willing to settle for the older CD-GPS just to avoid that risk.
But having also owned an SLK350 with the 7-speed, I must admit that it is a VERY elegant solution indeed. Smooth, fast and seamless, I'd say it's the best automatic I have ever driven.
Still, the question of reliability remains - why does Mercedes not put this tranny in the beefier (AMG) SL models?
Quote:
Transmission Standard AMG-enhanced 7-speed automatic with AMG SPEEDSHIFT™. Electronically controlled shifting.
I see it in the AMG SL63, but not in the AMG SL65.
Last edited by tiggerfink : 06-27-2008 at 09:31 AM.
My guess would be that it took MB quite some re-engineering to make the 7-speed withstand the torque delivered by the V8 and V12 engines.
That would also explain why the 7-speed has been available for quite some time paired with the smaller engines, where it apparently performs and lasts very well.
Linear Mode
