Sell your 2005 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class for cash

The 2005 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class is a two-seat sports car that came with a choice of 5.0L 8-cyl, 5.4L 8-cyl, 5.5L 12-cyl and 6.0L 12-cyl engines. At 21 years old, many are reaching the point where repairs cost more than the car is worth. Running or not, we'll make you an offer and tow it away for free.

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2005 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class at a glance

Body styleTwo Seaters
Engines5.0L 8-cyl, 5.4L 8-cyl, 5.5L 12-cyl, 6.0L 12-cyl (turbocharged versions available) (supercharged versions available)
TransmissionsAutomatic 7-spd, Automatic (S5), Automatic 5-spd
DriveRear-Wheel Drive
FuelPremium Gasoline
Fuel economy11–14 city / 18–21 highway / 13–17 combined MPG
EPA annual fuel cost$4,850–$6,300 a year (EPA estimate at current fuel prices, 15,000 miles)
Tailpipe CO₂523–684 grams per mile
Versions tested by EPA4 configurations: SL500, SL55 AMG, SL600, SL65 AMG
Age21 years

Specs, fuel cost and emissions from the EPA's fueleconomy.gov data. Your car's exact equipment may differ.

What affects its junk value

  • Age: at 21 years old, most of a 2005 SL-Class's value comes from reusable parts and scrap metal, not resale.
  • Weight: as a two-seat sports car, it weighs less than a truck or SUV, so its value leans more on parts than on scrap weight. See how scrap prices by weight work.
  • Catalytic converter: like all gas and diesel cars, it has a catalytic converter containing precious metals, one of the most valuable parts on a junk car. An offer assumes it's still in place. More on catalytic converters.
  • Recalls: NHTSA lists 2 recalls for the 2005 SL-Class. Open recalls don't stop you from selling or junking it.
  • Known problems: owners reported the most issues with the service brakes, typically around 50,000 miles. If that's what failed on yours, it can still be sold as-is.

How junk car offers are calculated

2005 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class recalls

NHTSA lists 2 safety recalls covering the 2005 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class. Open recalls don't stop you from selling or junking the car, but check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which apply to yours.

SuspensionAug 2008 · NHTSA campaign 08V405000

Mercedes benz is recalling 4,564 my 2001-2006 cl-class (model 215), my 2002-2006 s-class (model 220), my 2003-2007 SL-Class (model 230), my 2007-2008 cl-class (model 216), and my 2007 s-class (model 221)passenger vehicles equipped with active body control (abc) acceleration sensors on the front struts. These sensors measure…

Risk: A variation in the transmitted values between affected and unaffected sensors can result in one front strut adjusting to a value indicating body movement while another strut does not adjust presenting the driver with an uneven front suspens

Service Brakes, HydraulicApr 2005 · NHTSA campaign 05V133000

On certain vehicles, the sensotronic brake control (sbc) system may prematurely shift to the hydraulic back-up function mode, due to deterioration of the wiring harness connection, or due to premature failure of the hydraulic pump.

Risk: In the hydraulic back-up mode, the driver has braking power sufficient to stop the vehicle, although greater brake pedal pressure is required and the brake pedal travel will be noticeably longer.

Common 2005 SL-Class problems

Owners have filed 28 complaints about the 2005 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class with NHTSA. 3 reports involved a crash and 2 reports involved a fire. Owners reported 3 injuries.

Complaints are reports from owners and aren't verified by NHTSA. One complaint can list several components. Mileage is the median odometer reading owners reported for that component.

Most-reported components

  • Service Brakes7
  • Electrical System5
  • Power Train3
  • Air Bags2
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic2
  • Suspension2

Typical mileage when problems were reported

  • Service Brakes50,000 mi
  • Electrical System16,000 mi
  • Power Train60,000 mi
  • Air Bags22,000 mi
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic116,000 mi
  • Suspension87,000 mi

2005 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class service bulletins

Manufacturers have filed 59 technical service bulletins and communications with NHTSA covering the 2005 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class. These are repair instructions for known issues, not recalls.

1 of them is a warranty extension. Warranty extensions mean the manufacturer agreed to cover a specific repair beyond the normal warranty. They rarely still apply to a car this age, but they point to known weak spots.

Most common bulletin topics

  • Exterior Lighting10
  • Power Train7
  • Service Brakes6
  • Electrical System5
  • Equipment3
  • Structure3

Recent bulletins

  • Service Bulletin/Repair InstructionsSep 2026 · LI42.10-P-078779

    Complaint Repeat workshop visit for vehicle vibration while braking from 60MPH. NOTE: Although the symptom is similar to a tire or wheel vibration, it is usually readily

  • Service Bulletin/Repair InstructionsSep 2026 · LI82.62-P-078631

    Complaint Clanking noise from the area of the speakers in the doors. Cause Under analysis. Remedy To narrow down the cause, first of all remove the door trim. • If the no

  • Service Bulletin/Repair InstructionsAug 2026 · LI82.62-P-078631

    Complaint Clanking noise from the area of the speakers in the doors. Cause Under analysis. Remedy To narrow down the cause, first of all remove the door trim. • If the no

  • Service Bulletin/Repair InstructionsJul 2026 · LI35.30-P-058566

    Single throttle lift-off clunking noise from the side shaft when moving off (audible at the outboard end). The noise is heard once in each instance when changing directio

  • Service Bulletin/Repair InstructionsJun 2014 · LI27.60-P-059296

    Selector lever blocks in position "P" (brake applied)

  • Service Bulletin/Repair InstructionsFeb 2013 · LI83.00-P-052510

    Malfunctions of various control units and/or on-board power supply problems caused by water in the control unit tray under the driver/front passenger seat (dislocated, pi

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications (technical service bulletins).

Other Mercedes-Benz SL-Class years

‹ Sell a 2004 SL-Class · Sell a 2006 SL-Class › · All Mercedes-Benz SL-Class years

Other 2005 Mercedes-Benz models

Selling a 2005 SL-Class: questions

How much is a 2005 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class worth for junk?

It depends on its condition, whether major parts like the engine, transmission and catalytic converter are still there, and current scrap and parts prices where you live. Its parts make up much of its value. Enter your ZIP code above for a free offer on your specific car.

Can I junk a 2005 SL-Class that doesn't run?

Yes. We buy 2005 SL-Classs that don't start, were in an accident, failed inspection or have a blown engine or transmission. Towing is always free.

Can I sell a 2005 SL-Class with open recalls?

Yes. Open recalls don't prevent a junk sale. NHTSA lists 2 recalls for the 2005 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class; you can check whether any are still open on yours with the VIN lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What paperwork do I need to sell my 2005 SL-Class?

Usually the title and a photo ID. Rules differ by state, including what to do with your plates and whether to file a notice of sale. Check our state-by-state car title guides for the official forms.

Before you sell

Sources

Data retrieved October 2026.

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