- The R 230 ushered in a new generation of the Mercedes-Benz SL tradition
- Its vario-roof transforms the coupé into a roadster (or vice versa) in just 16 seconds
- From comfortable touring car to high-performance AMG model: Exceptional versatility
- Mercedes-Benz MB-80 warranty package: Added peace of mind for modern classics
Stuttgart. The Mercedes-Benz R 230 SL launched on the market 25 years ago. It embodied the properties of a
sporty touring car in its purest form. With outstanding comfort, sophisticated performance and a timeless
design, it was equally suited for relaxed long-distance touring as well as dynamic driving. With technical and
safety innovations such as the vario-roof, the R 230 carried the Mercedes-Benz SL tradition into the
21st century. All of this now makes it a highly sought-after modern classic. At the same time, the model series
represents a generational shift in the SL tradition: never before had an SL so consistently combined the classic
virtues of a roadster with the technological opportunities of its times.
The vario-roof makes the R 230 a true master of transformation: at the touch of a button or via remote control,
it can be opened or closed in just 16 seconds. Eleven hydraulic cylinders, 17 limit switches and numerous
sensors perform the precisely choreographed sequence – and even rotate the rear window around its
horizontal axis so that luggage capacity increases when the roof is open. The R 230 therefore unifies the
advantages of a sports coupé and a roadster. As a world first, it also came with a panoramic vario-roof
featuring a glass element. This creates the feeling of driving in the open air even when the roof is closed.
Particularly exclusive are vehicles with special equipment features from the designo programme, a
predecessor of today’s MANUFAKTUR lines of equipment options. Bespoke exterior colours, premium nappa
leather, two-tone colour combinations and select trim elements give these vehicles an unmistakable character.
To this day, SL models with designo equipment options remain among the most desired variants of the model
series.
Refined performance with V8 and V12
The SL 500 celebrated its world premiere in Hamburg’s Deichtorhallen on 31 July 2001. With its 5-litre V8 and
225 kW (306 hp), it marked the beginning of a model range with an exceptionally broad performance
spectrum – from comfortable touring car all the way to high-performance sports car. Shortly after the market
launch, the range was extended to include the SL 55 AMG, featuring a V8 supercharged engine delivering
350 kW (476 hp). The range went on to reach its pinnacle with the V12 biturbo-powered SL 600 and the SL 65
AMG Black Series with 493 kW (670 hp).
Just two days before the world premiere of the new SL model series, the general public already witnessed a sporty representative in action. At the German Grand Prix on 29 July 2001, the SL 55 AMG took over as the Formula 1® Safety Car. Even before its official unveiling, the new model series thus demonstrated its sporty
character. In its 12/2001 issue, specialist magazine “sport auto” shared its first impressions of the new SL
generation: “The new model is not only visually stunning and technically extremely appealing, it also reveals
itself as [...] no stranger to genuine sporting capability.”
Safety and aerodynamics
The R 230 also set new standards in safety. Its passive safety concept is based on a body structure which
strategically combines high-strength steel, aluminium, magnesium and various plastics. Thanks to its
lightweight construction the R 230 is 20 per cent more torsionally rigid than its predecessor, the R 129. A
newly developed head-thorax side airbag, combining the functions of a window airbag and a side airbag,
reduces the risk of injury in case of an accident. Optimised aerodynamics also offer occupants better
protection from draughts when driving with the roof down, while the drag coefficient value is significantly
reduced to 0.29 compared to the R 129 (cd = 0.32).
Warranty cover for the classic: The MB-80 package
Today, the R 230 is regarded as one of the defining Mercedes-Benz vehicles of the early 2000s. The vario-roof,
distinctive design language and wide range extending from the comfortable touring car all the way to high-
performance AMG versions have all contributed to the status of the model series as sought-after modern
classics. A total of 169,433 sports cars were built at the Mercedes-Benz Bremen plant between 2001 and
2011. Their high level of reliability and excellent corrosion protection have ensured that many well-preserved
examples remain on the road today.
The Mercedes-Benz MB-80 warranty package is available for the R 230 and its successor, the R 231. It covers
unexpected repair costs for powertrain components and electronic components for vehicles up to 20 years old
with up to 200,000 kilometres on the odometer. Repairs are made using Mercedes-Benz Classic Genuine Parts
and the expertise of Mercedes-Benz service centres. MB-80 is the first Mercedes-Benz warranty which
customers can purchase retrospectively for a vehicle. The warranty package is available from any authorised
Mercedes-Benz partner Europe-wide.
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