Mercedes-Benz SL-Class Roadster · 5th generation SL

R230

Coupe. Roadster. Sixteen seconds.

Production: 2001–2011
Built: 169,434
Roof: Vario hardtop
Top power: 612 PS

Launched in 2001, the R230 reinvented the SL around a folding Vario roof: a genuine roadster that became a steel-roofed coupe in sixteen seconds, ending three decades of lift-off hardtops.

It arrived loaded with technology from the Formula 1 era of the McLaren–Mercedes partnership — Active Body Control suspension, Sensotronic electro-hydraulic braking and keyless entry — and the SL 55 AMG did duty as the official F1 safety car.

Across a decade and two facelifts, Mercedes-Benz built 169,434 examples, from the V6 SL 280 to the SL 65 AMG, whose twin-turbocharged V12 delivered 612 PS and a driveline-protecting 1,000 N·m of torque.

R230 interior — The driver-focused cockpit of the SL 65 AMG, built around the COMAND system.

Every model.

17 distinct series across 2003–2011 — from the V6 SL 280 to the twin-turbo V12 SL 65 AMG, each identified by its chassis, engine and transmission numbers.

Model	Model years	Chassis	Engine	Transmission	Total
SL 280	2008–2009	230.454	272.949	722.999	708
SL 300	2009–2011	230.454	272.949	722.999	1,206
SL 350	2003–2006	230.467	112.973	716.670 · 722.644	21,520
SL 350	2006–2008	230.456	272.966	722.906	12,834
SL 350	2008–2011	230.458	272.968	722.904	included above
SL 500	2003–2006	230.475	113.963	722.633 · 722.901	72,778
SL 550	2006–2008	230.471	273.965	722.904	26,778
SL 550	2008–2011	230.471	273.965	722.904	included above
SL 55 AMG	2003–2006	230.474	113.992	722.643	19,022
SL 55 AMG	2006–2008	230.472	113.995	722.643	2,553
SL 63 AMG	2008–2011	230.470	156.981	722.930	4,940
SL 600	2003–2006	230.476	275.951	722.649	3,086
SL 600	2006–2008	230.477	275.954	722.649	930
SL 600	2008–2011	230.477	275.954	722.649	included above
SL 65 AMG	2004–2006	230.479	275.981	722.649	1,892
SL 65 AMG	2006–2008	230.479	275.983	722.649	1,163
SL 65 AMG	2008–2011	230.479	275.983	722.649	included above

* The published production figure covers every series of that model; the source does not break it down further.

716.6x 6-speed manual722.6x 5-speed automatic722.9x 7G-Tronic 7-speed automatic

Roof up, the Vario hardtop gives the R230 a genuine coupe silhouette.

Year by year.

Two facelifts and a decade of running changes shaped the R230. These are the milestones that matter when comparing cars.

2004
- SL 65 AMG flagship introduced: 6.0-liter twin-turbo V12 with 612 PS and 1,000 N·m of torque, electronically limited to protect the driveline.
2006
- First facelift: revised bumpers, grille and side skirts.
- New M272 3.5-liter V6 replaces the M112 in the SL 350.
- New M273 5.5-liter V8: the SL 500 becomes the SL 550.
- 7G-Tronic seven-speed automatic standard on V6 and V8 models.
- SL 55 AMG raised to 517 PS; SL 600 raised to 517 PS.
2008
- Second facelift (for model year 2009): reshaped hood with twin power domes, single-louvre grille, LED daytime running lights and new mirrors.
- SL 63 AMG with the naturally aspirated 6.2-liter M156 V8 replaces the SL 55 AMG, paired with the AMG Speedshift MCT 7-speed transmission.
- Entry-level SL 280 joins the range (renamed SL 300 for 2009).
- Direct-steer variable-ratio steering introduced.

R230 rear three-quarter view — Wide rear track and quad exhausts mark out the V12-powered AMG models.

From V6 to twin-turbo V12.

Six engine families powered the R230. The SL 65 AMG's twin-turbocharged M275 produces 1,000 N·m of torque — so much it had to be electronically limited.

M272

272.9493.0 L · 2,996 cc
231 PS
170 kW · 228 hp at 6,000 rpm
300 N·m
221 lb·ft at 2,500 rpm
272.9663.5 L · 3,498 cc
272 PS
200 kW · 268 hp at 6,000 rpm
350 N·m
258 lb·ft at 2,400 rpm
272.9683.5 L · 3,498 cc
315 PS
232 kW · 311 hp at 6,500 rpm
360 N·m
266 lb·ft at 4,900 rpm

M112

112.9733.7 L · 3,724 cc
245 PS
180 kW · 241 hp at 5,750 rpm
350 N·m
258 lb·ft at 3,000 rpm

M113

113.9635.0 L · 4,966 cc
306 PS
225 kW · 302 hp at 5,600 rpm
460 N·m
339 lb·ft at 4,250 rpm
113.9925.4 L · 5,439 cc
476 PS
350 kW · 469 hp at 6,100 rpm
700 N·m
516 lb·ft at 4,500 rpm
113.9955.4 L · 5,439 cc
517 PS
380 kW · 510 hp at 6,100 rpm
720 N·m
531 lb·ft at 2,600 rpm

M273

273.9655.5 L · 5,461 cc
387 PS
285 kW · 382 hp at 6,000 rpm
530 N·m
391 lb·ft at 2,800 rpm

M156

156.9816.2 L · 6,208 cc
525 PS
386 kW · 518 hp at 6,800 rpm
630 N·m
465 lb·ft at 5,200 rpm

M275

V12

275.9515.5 L · 5,513 cc
500 PS
368 kW · 493 hp at 5,000 rpm
800 N·m
590 lb·ft at 1,800 rpm
275.9545.5 L · 5,513 cc
517 PS
380 kW · 510 hp at 5,000 rpm
830 N·m
612 lb·ft at 1,900 rpm
275.9816.0 L · 5,980 cc
612 PS
450 kW · 603 hp at 4,800 rpm
1000 N·m
738 lb·ft at 2,000 rpm
275.9836.0 L · 5,980 cc
612 PS
450 kW · 603 hp at 4,800 rpm
1000 N·m
738 lb·ft at 2,000 rpm

Factory wheels.

Every original wheel offered for the R230, from the 17″ Avior to the 19″ AMG styles — with sizes, tires and genuine part numbers.

5-Twin-Spoke

5-twin-spoke wheel

17″

8.5 J x 17 ET 35 · 255/45 R 17
B6 647 4472
Titanium silver finish; not for SL 600, SL 55 AMG or SL 65 AMG

Avior

5-spoke wheel

17″

8.5 J x 17 ET 35 · 255/45 R 17
B6 647 4273
Titanium silver finish; not for SL 600, SL 55 AMG or SL 65 AMG

Gorgona

5-spoke wheel

17″

8.5 J x 17 ET 35 · 255/45 R 17
B6 647 1701
Sterling silver finish; not for SL 600, SL 55 AMG or SL 65 AMG

Homan

7-spoke wheel

17″

8.5 J x 17 ET 35 · 255/45 R 17
B6 647 4140
Titanium silver finish; not for SL 600, SL 55 AMG or SL 65 AMG

10-Spoke

10-spoke wheel

18″

8.5 J x 18 ET 35 · 255/40 R 18
B6 647 4346
Sterling silver finish; not for SL 55 AMG or SL 65 AMG; titanium silver variation B6 647 4433
9.5 J x 18 ET 40 · RA 285/35 R 18
B6 647 4347
Sterling silver finish; not for SL 55 AMG or SL 65 AMG; not compatible with snow chains; titanium silver variation B6 647 4419

10-Twin-Spoke

10-twin-spoke wheel

18″

8.5 J x 18 ET 35 · 255/40 R 18
B6 647 4474
Titanium silver finish; not for SL 55 AMG or SL 65 AMG
9.5 J x 18 ET 40 · RA 285/35 R 18
B6 647 4479
Titanium silver finish; not for SL 55 AMG or SL 65 AMG; not compatible with snow chains

5-Spoke

5-spoke wheel

18″

8.5 J x 18 ET 35 · 255/40 R 18
B6 647 4475
Titanium silver finish; not for SL 55 AMG or SL 65 AMG
9.5 J x 18 ET 40 · RA 285/35 R 18
B6 647 4478
Titanium silver finish; not for SL 55 AMG or SL 65 AMG; not compatible with snow chains

5-Twin-Spoke

5-twin-spoke wheel

18″

8.5 J x 18 ET 35 · 255/40 R 18
B6 647 4473
Titanium silver finish, high-sheen; not for SL 55 AMG or SL 65 AMG
8.5 J x 18 ET 35 · 255/40 R 18
B6 647 4336
Sterling silver finish; not for SL 55 AMG or SL 65 AMG; titanium silver variation B6 647 4431
9.5 J x 18 ET 40 · RA 285/35 R 18
B6 647 4337
Sterling silver finish; not for SL 55 AMG or SL 65 AMG; not compatible with snow chains; titanium silver variation B6 647 4432
9.5 J x 18 ET 40 · RA 285/35 R 18
B6 647 4480
Titanium silver finish, high-sheen; not for SL 55 AMG or SL 65 AMG; not compatible with snow chains

Alphard

5-hole wheel

18″

8.5 J x 18 ET 35 · 255/40 R 18
B6 647 4260
High-sheen finish; not for SL 55 AMG or SL 65 AMG
9.5 J x 18 ET 40 · RA 285/35 R 18
B6 647 4261
High-sheen finish; not for SL 55 AMG or SL 65 AMG; not compatible with snow chains

Avior

5-spoke wheel

18″

8.5 J x 18 ET 35 · 255/40 R 18
B6 647 4060
Sterling silver finish; not for SL 55 AMG or SL 65 AMG
9.5 J x 18 ET 40 · RA 285/35 R 18
B6 647 4061
Sterling silver finish; not for SL 55 AMG or SL 65 AMG; not compatible with snow chains

Lalande

5-spoke wheel

18″

8.5 J x 18 ET 35 · 255/40 R 18
B6 647 4041
High-sheen finish; not for SL 55 AMG or SL 65 AMG
9.5 J x 18 ET 40 · RA 285/35 R 18
B6 647 4040
High-sheen finish; not for SL 55 AMG or SL 65 AMG; not compatible with snow chains

Nash

9-spoke wheel

18″

8.5 J x 18 ET 35 · 255/40 R 18
B6 647 4341
Sterling silver finish; not for SL 55 AMG or SL 65 AMG
9.5 J x 18 ET 40 · RA 285/35 R 18
B6 647 4342
Sterling silver finish; not for SL 55 AMG or SL 65 AMG; not compatible with snow chains

Nashira

5-twin-spoke wheel, multi-piece

18″

8.5 J x 18 ET 35 · 255/40 R 18
B6 647 1673
Sterling silver finish; high-sheen rim flange; not for SL 55 AMG or SL 65 AMG
9.5 J x 18 ET 40 · RA 285/35 R 18
B6 647 1674
Sterling silver finish; high-sheen rim flange; not for SL 55 AMG or SL 65 AMG; not compatible with snow chains

Style III

AMG 5-spoke wheel

18″

8.5 J x 18 ET 30 · 255/40 R 18
B6 603 1222
Sterling silver finish; not for SL 65 AMG or SL 55 AMG with performance package
9.5 J x 18 ET 33 · RA 285/35 R 18
B6 603 1223
Sterling silver finish; not for SL 65 AMG or SL 55 AMG with performance package

Style IV

AMG twin-spoke wheel

18″

8.5 J x 18 ET 30 · 255/40 R 18
B6 603 1313
Titanium silver finish; not for SL 65 AMG or SL 55 AMG with performance package
9.5 J x 18 ET 33 · RA 285/35 R 18
B6 603 1314
Titanium silver finish; not for SL 65 AMG or SL 55 AMG with performance package

Style V

AMG multi-spoke wheel

18″

8.5 J x 18 ET 30 · 255/40 R 18
B6 603 1119
Silver finish, high-sheen; not for SL 65 AMG or SL 55 AMG with performance package
8.5 J x 18 ET 30 · 255/40 R 18
B6 603 1111
Silver finish, high-sheen; not for SL 65 AMG or SL 55 AMG with performance package
9.5 J x 18 ET 33 · RA 285/35 R 18
B6 603 1112
Silver finish, high-sheen; not for SL 65 AMG or SL 55 AMG with performance package
9.5 J x 18 ET 33 · RA 285/35 R 18
B6 603 1120
Silver finish, high-sheen; not for SL 65 AMG or SL 55 AMG with performance package

Veseli

5-twin-spoke wheel

18″

8.5 J x 18 ET 35 · 255/40 R 18
B6 647 1675
Sterling silver finish; not for SL 55 AMG or SL 65 AMG
9.5 J x 18 ET 40 · RA 285/35 R 18
B6 647 1676
Sterling silver finish; not for SL 55 AMG or SL 65 AMG; not compatible with snow chains

5-Twin-Spoke

5-twin-spoke wheel

19″

8.5 J x 19 ET 35 · 255/35 R 19
B6 647 4481
Titanium silver finish; not for SL 55 AMG or SL 65 AMG
9.5 J x 19 ET 40 · RA 285/30 R 19
B6 647 4482
Titanium silver finish; not for SL 55 AMG or SL 65 AMG; not compatible with snow chains

Style III

AMG 5-spoke wheel

19″

8.5 J x 19 ET 30 · 255/35 R 19
B6 603 1237
Titanium silver finish
8.5 J x 19 ET 34 · 255/35 R 19
B6 603 1226
High-sheen rim flange; not for SL 65 AMG
9.5 J x 19 ET 31 · RA 285/30 R 19
B6 603 1227
High-sheen rim flange; not for SL 65 AMG
9.5 J x 19 ET 31 · RA 285/30 R 19
B6 603 1238
Titanium silver finish

Style IV (forged)

AMG forged wheel

19″

8.5 J x 19 ET 30 · 255/35 R 19
B6 603 1067
Titanium gray finish, polished spokes
9.5 J x 19 ET 31 · RA 285/30 R 19
B6 603 1068
Titanium gray finish, polished spokes

Style IV (multi-piece)

AMG twin-spoke wheel, multi-piece

19″

8.5 J x 19 ET 25 · FA 255/35 R 19
B6 603 1092
Sterling silver finish; modification of bodywork necessary
8.5 J x 19 ET 30 · 255/35 R 19
B6 603 1360
Sterling silver finish; titanium gray variation B6 603 1369
9.5 J x 19 ET 31 · RA 285/30 R 19
B6 603 1361
Sterling silver finish; titanium gray variation B6 603 1370
10 J x 19 ET 28 · RA 285/30 R 19
B6 603 1093
Sterling silver finish; modification of bodywork necessary

Style VI (triple-spoke)

AMG triple-spoke wheel

19″

8.5 J x 19 ET 30 · 255/35 R 19
B6 603 1063
Titanium gray finish, high-sheen; silver high-sheen variation B6 603 1065
9.5 J x 19 ET 31 · RA 285/30 R 19
B6 603 1064
Titanium gray finish, high-sheen; silver high-sheen variation B6 603 1066

Style VI (5-spoke)

AMG 5-spoke wheel

19″

8.5 J x 19 ET 30 · 255/35 R 19
B6 603 1061
Silver finish, high-sheen
9.5 J x 19 ET 31 · RA 285/30 R 19
B6 603 1062
Silver finish, high-sheen

Tarka

5-spoke wheel

19″

8.5 J x 19 ET 35 · 255/35 R 19
B6 647 1677
Sterling silver finish; not for SL 55 AMG or SL 65 AMG
9.5 J x 19 ET 40 · RA 285/30 R 19
B6 647 1678
Sterling silver finish; not for SL 55 AMG or SL 65 AMG; not compatible with snow chains

Original brochures.

Factory sales literature for the R230, exactly as it left the dealership — every SL and AMG brochure in the archive, free to download as PDF.

Looking for other models? Browse the full brochure archive →