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V12 maintenance: coil packs, oil cooler seals, and the 'any V12 costs money' reality

Mercedes-Benz SL (R230) · mechanical

V12 SL600 buyers probe for ignition coil-pack history and oil-cooler seal leaks, and sellers document V12-specific work such as oil cooler seals/gaskets, PSE pump, and fuel-tank replacement to cure a known internal baffle rattle. The accepted wisdom is that any V12 carries higher upkeep, but owners report the engine itself running strong at high mileage.