Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Buyer’s Guide: Specs, Value and What to Look For

The SLS AMG was the first car designed and built from the ground up by Mercedes-AMG, and a deliberate modern echo of the 1950s 300SL: gullwing doors, a long bonnet, and a naturally aspirated V8 up front. It arrived with a hand-built 6.2-litre engine and has become the gullwing collectors quietly seek out.

This guide covers the full specification, where values sit today, how the range compares, and what matters most when you buy one.

Specification

Years of production	2010–2014
Body styles	Coupé (gullwing) & Roadster
Engine	6.2 L naturally aspirated V8 (M159)
Power	571 hp (420 kW); GT 583 hp
Torque	479 lb-ft (650 Nm)
Transmission	7-speed dual-clutch (rear transaxle)
0–60 mph	~3.6 sec
Top speed	197 mph (317 km/h)
Layout	Front-mid engine, rear-wheel drive
Price when new	~$200,000 (2011)

Performance in context

The appeal is the engine: a hand-assembled 6.2-litre V8 with no turbos, revving hard and driving the rear wheels through a transaxle for balance. It is one of the last great naturally aspirated AMG engines.

The market: what an SLS AMG is worth now

Standard SLS coupes and roadsters have settled into an accessible band, typically $150,000 to $250,000, with the gullwing doors and NA V8 underpinning values. The limited GT and, especially, the Black Series sit well above (the Black Series is covered separately).

Indicative market guidance, October 2026. Sources: CLASSIC.COM, Hagerty. Typical ranges, not a quotation.

What to look for when buying

• Coupe vs Roadster — the gullwing coupe is the icon and usually the stronger buy; roadsters trade a little below.
• Service history — the M159 V8 is robust; confirm regular servicing and any transaxle or clutch work.
• Condition and mileage — low-mileage, well-kept cars command the premium.
• Options and colour — carbon trim, ceramic brakes and desirable colours help value.
• Originality — unmodified cars are preferred; check for prior damage and repaint.