Illinois man buys an abandoned SL65 AMG for $3,000 and fixes everything to turn it into a $45,000 car
Published on Oct 07, 2026 at 10:38 AM (UTC-4)
by Ben Thompson
Last updated on Oct 07, 2026 at 10:38 AM (UTC-4)
Edited by
Mason Jones
This Illinois man secured an abandoned SL65 AMG for just $3,000 before turning it into a ‘$45,000 car’.
He’d bought it sight unseen after it went into ‘limp mode’ on the previous owner.
Having spent its last four years sitting outside, the car was in need of some fine-tuning, to say the least.
But what would need fixing to return this car to its former glory?
Finding an abandoned SL65 AMG for dirt cheap
This isn’t the first time we’ve seen someone buy what should be an expensive car for pocket change – just take a look at how much this guy spent on a Range Rover.
And even that was nothing compared to what another spent on the ‘cheapest Range Rover in the world’.
At any rate, if a car is going for such a low price, there’s got to be a catch, right?
Well, in the case of this SL65 AMG, it was quite evident what the problem was.
Having gone into ‘limp mode’ and spent four years stationary outside, it was evidently in need of some TLC.
YouTuber LegitStreetCars was the man for the job, but how much would work would it take?
The massive repair job required to fix everything
“The previous owner dumped it for so cheap because it went into limp mode and started misfiring,” Alex, the channel’s host, explained.
“Scared of $20,000 for a used engine and who knows how much for parts and labor to fix the slammed suspension.
“He let it sit outside for about four years, further lowering its value to most buyers, but not me because I have a lot of experience with these cars.”
The first port of call was to clean the car up, which he did by washing the body and degreasing the engine bay.
Despite hearing of the engine troubles that had plagued the previous owner, he hit the jackpot.
“I was still planning for the worst, but I simply got lucky,” he said.
“The engine looked great during my pre-start inspection, and after replacing the batteries, it fired right up and I found out it only has 60,000 miles.
“For three grand on an SL65, you don’t even ask the seller how many miles it has.”
How this abandoned SL65 AMG became a $45,000 car
To get rid of the engine misfire, he began an ambitious repair job on the engine.
All 12 fuel injectors were cleaned and bench-tested, while the valve cover gaskets were replaced.
To banish the misfire, a rebuilt ignition coil pack was introduced.
Other fixes included a replacement of the front rotors and pads, while restoring the rear rotors.
The broken ABC suspension level sensors were also replaced.
When it came time to do a road test, it was like a brand new car, pulling hard with 604hp.
By the video’s end, the only remaining flaw in his eyes was a bubbling dashboard.
“I’ll probably just find a good used dash. I had to replace the one in my GLS63, my AMG GTR,” Alex said.
“It’s a Mercedes thing, but whatever. I don’t really care about that right now. All I care about is how cool this car is, man.”
He wasn’t sure what lay in the future for this new and improved car, but he was perfectly content with how things were presently.
Ben joined Supercar Blondie in February 2025 after being published by international organizations including LADbible, The Sun, the New York Post, and the Daily Mail. He covers supercars, rare and collectible vehicles, aviation, luxury assets, and the fascinating people behind them. His reporting has explored everything from seven-figure supercars and historic Ferrari collections to unusual aircraft adventures and extraordinary automotive discoveries from around the world. Ben has also gained first-hand insight into vehicle craftsmanship and customization, including visiting specialist workshops to see bespoke vehicles up close.
