Should have posted here:- SL500/320
Discussion
I WAS torn between a SLK and a R129 but I'm sold on the SL now! r129sl said:
The m103 is bulletproof. There is no more to be said about it.
The m104 is prone to failed head gaskets. By prone, I mean it will probably need doing once at around 100,000miles. From 1993 to 1996 the m104 also suffers from disintegrating engine wiring looms. Most will have been replaced by now. The m104 is otherwise pretty bulletproof.
You should note that there is a big difference between early and later m104 engines. The first were badged 300 SL-24 and have a capacity of 3.0litres; the second were badged either SL 280 or SL 320 and have capacities of 2.8 and 3.2litres. So far as I can tell, they are completely different engines.
The 722.5 5speed transmission is less robust than the unburstable 4speeder; but you would have to be unlucky for it to let you down.
The 722.6 5speed transmission can suffer from fluid leaks around the diagnostic connector. If left unchecked, fluid flows along the wiring harness and into the transmission ECU where it causes an expensive failure.
Great summaryThe m104 is prone to failed head gaskets. By prone, I mean it will probably need doing once at around 100,000miles. From 1993 to 1996 the m104 also suffers from disintegrating engine wiring looms. Most will have been replaced by now. The m104 is otherwise pretty bulletproof.
You should note that there is a big difference between early and later m104 engines. The first were badged 300 SL-24 and have a capacity of 3.0litres; the second were badged either SL 280 or SL 320 and have capacities of 2.8 and 3.2litres. So far as I can tell, they are completely different engines.
The 722.5 5speed transmission is less robust than the unburstable 4speeder; but you would have to be unlucky for it to let you down.
The 722.6 5speed transmission can suffer from fluid leaks around the diagnostic connector. If left unchecked, fluid flows along the wiring harness and into the transmission ECU where it causes an expensive failure.
I'd disagree about the M104 being prone to headgasket failure. I've only seen two proper failures where the exhaust gases blow out the coolant. By contrast they all leak oil - but that's isn't a head gasket failure, it's an oil leak caused by a design flaw. They'll happily leak for years
I don't think the M103 is blameless when it comes to headgaskets
Early vs late m104s: the early 3-litre engine has mechanical injection and electronic ignition with a distributor. It's a very top-endy engine which loves to rev. The later 2.8 and 3.2 versions have HFM electronic injection & ignition with three coil packs and no distributor. They have the engine bay loom which degrades, as does the V8. This engine is a more of a traditional Benz unit - smooth, almost bland. Very "On Message" for MB. They are both fantastic engines but the 3.2 has more torque and more punch
The early 5-speed box is a hydraulic 4-speed with an electrically-operated overdrive 5th. Some people say they're unreliable but I love them. AFAIK the later 5-speed is an all-electronic box from a later generation of gearboxes
Nick Froome
truck71 said:
Hi Folks, at what point did the 5 speed box take over from the 4 speed? I've read through R129's post but cant see it or must have missed it? Thanks.
For engines & boxes I think the R129 pretty much follows the timeline of the W124 till 1996. So 5-speed as an option from around 1992 starting with the 300-24. The later electronic gearbox will be post-97 but I couldn't say from which dateW124 Timeline
http://www.w124.co.uk/timeline.html
Nick Froome
I think you could have the 722.5 5-speed auto with the 300-24 pretty much from the off in 1990; I think that was the same with the 124, wasn't it Nick? The other motors came with the 4-speeder until about late-1996 or early-1997 when the 722.6 came along.
People bang on about the reliability of these transmissions and I had a 722.5 literally disintegrate on my in my 124.092, but the reality is they are very solid. The 722.6 I think is still in use and took all the power and torque the 55 AMG, 65 AMG and SLR cars could throw at it. The 722.6 in my SL500 has 220,000miles on it and is flawless (hostage to fortune).
People bang on about the reliability of these transmissions and I had a 722.5 literally disintegrate on my in my 124.092, but the reality is they are very solid. The 722.6 I think is still in use and took all the power and torque the 55 AMG, 65 AMG and SLR cars could throw at it. The 722.6 in my SL500 has 220,000miles on it and is flawless (hostage to fortune).
I think that only the sixes were available with the 5speed auto (the 722.5 transmission) until about 1996; from then on, I think all cars came with the 5speed auto (the 722.6) as standard. The 4speed is a lovely box and works well with a large capacity engine like the 500 or 600. With these cars, you can't really get hung up on specification so much as condition. A good condition 4speed 300SL will always be better than a mediocre 5speed 500.
I will post some more pics when its stops raining. It is going to be a small project to get it back to how it should look.
Mechanically the car is great but it has been abused internally.
Needs 2x doors cards in beige
Both seats require retrimming.
Vanity mirror hinges broken both sides
Both interior lights in the dome are missing plus quite a few other bits and pieces.
Wrong spare wheel
Ideally I need to find a late car with a nice interior that is being broken for spares and cherry pick the bits I need.
Mechanically the car is great but it has been abused internally.
Needs 2x doors cards in beige
Both seats require retrimming.
Vanity mirror hinges broken both sides
Both interior lights in the dome are missing plus quite a few other bits and pieces.
Wrong spare wheel
Ideally I need to find a late car with a nice interior that is being broken for spares and cherry pick the bits I need.
MarsellusWallace said:
Why does the SL500 lose 20bhp between the youngest and oldest models?
The original 500 had the M119 4valve per cylinder engine with 326bhp at launch, which I think got downgraded to about 315 a couple of years later.At the final facelift (late 98, easiest way to spot: rounded wing mirrors), this was replaced by the M113 3valve per cylinder engine with 306bhp.
When I was looking for my car, I drove cars with both engines and actually preferred the throttle response and noise of the later engine. The later enigne does seem to be a bit more fuel efficient than the earlier one (only a bit, its still a 5L V8).
If you look at M119 vs M113 on the internet there's an awful lot of tosh written about how the later engine is not as well built as the earlier one, victim of chrysler cost-cutting etc etc... But for me it still a lovelty engine that brings a smile to my face every time I put my foot right down.
Just breathing life back into this definitive topic and very useful info from 129sl.
Picked up my very own SL320 on Tuesday, following a delay collecting as I was away for a month. Drove fine down home 86 odd miles.
Noted a few things on way and then after arrival. The radio (Pioneer with cassette) would only pick up one station, then gradually stopped doing even that......likely diagnosis, think it could be an aerial/motor issue, noted on other threads?
The seat back when switch used to move it back was pressed, it then started moving forward instead after reaching a certain point....issue?
The upper metal trim on drivers door where it meets window has come partly adrift, needs replaced or can be reattached
Finally, the key fobs aint working, no flashes from little red window on corner, just battery or central locking issue ( can open drivers door and lock it no effect on passengers door)? Reading a few more posts/threads, not seen the red/green flashing on mirror, expensive fix?
Hopefully you can see a pic of my latest pride and joy.
Picked up my very own SL320 on Tuesday, following a delay collecting as I was away for a month. Drove fine down home 86 odd miles.
Noted a few things on way and then after arrival. The radio (Pioneer with cassette) would only pick up one station, then gradually stopped doing even that......likely diagnosis, think it could be an aerial/motor issue, noted on other threads?
The seat back when switch used to move it back was pressed, it then started moving forward instead after reaching a certain point....issue?
The upper metal trim on drivers door where it meets window has come partly adrift, needs replaced or can be reattached
Finally, the key fobs aint working, no flashes from little red window on corner, just battery or central locking issue ( can open drivers door and lock it no effect on passengers door)? Reading a few more posts/threads, not seen the red/green flashing on mirror, expensive fix?
Hopefully you can see a pic of my latest pride and joy.
Parisien said:
Just breathing life back into this definitive topic and very useful info from 129sl.
Picked up my very own SL320 on Tuesday, following a delay collecting as I was away for a month. Drove fine down home 86 odd miles.
Noted a few things on way and then after arrival. The radio (Pioneer with cassette) would only pick up one station, then gradually stopped doing even that......likely diagnosis, think it could be an aerial/motor issue, noted on other threads?
The seat back when switch used to move it back was pressed, it then started moving forward instead after reaching a certain point....issue?
The upper metal trim on drivers door where it meets window has come partly adrift, needs replaced or can be reattached
Finally, the key fobs aint working, no flashes from little red window on corner, just battery or central locking issue ( can open drivers door and lock it no effect on passengers door)? Reading a few more posts/threads, not seen the red/green flashing on mirror, expensive fix?
Hopefully you can see a pic of my latest pride and joy.]
Congrats on the purchase. I can't answer all your questions, but on my car (97) the key fob only flashes occasionally, although the central locking works faultlessly every time - not sure if that's intentional, or whether the fob works ok but the LED is a visual signal only and is failing. The key operates the central locking all round so sounds it could be a central locking issue with the car, possibly a fault in the vacuum system. Picked up my very own SL320 on Tuesday, following a delay collecting as I was away for a month. Drove fine down home 86 odd miles.
Noted a few things on way and then after arrival. The radio (Pioneer with cassette) would only pick up one station, then gradually stopped doing even that......likely diagnosis, think it could be an aerial/motor issue, noted on other threads?
The seat back when switch used to move it back was pressed, it then started moving forward instead after reaching a certain point....issue?
The upper metal trim on drivers door where it meets window has come partly adrift, needs replaced or can be reattached
Finally, the key fobs aint working, no flashes from little red window on corner, just battery or central locking issue ( can open drivers door and lock it no effect on passengers door)? Reading a few more posts/threads, not seen the red/green flashing on mirror, expensive fix?
Hopefully you can see a pic of my latest pride and joy.]
On the seats, they are set up not to clash with the rear trim, so when you recline it beyond a certain point, it moves the base forward, and as a corollary, when you move the base rearwards, it raises the backrest to avoid a clash.
Parisien said:
Just breathing life back into this definitive topic and very useful info from 129sl.
Picked up my very own SL320 on Tuesday, following a delay collecting as I was away for a month. Drove fine down home 86 odd miles.
Noted a few things on way and then after arrival. The radio (Pioneer with cassette) would only pick up one station, then gradually stopped doing even that......likely diagnosis, think it could be an aerial/motor issue, noted on other threads?
The seat back when switch used to move it back was pressed, it then started moving forward instead after reaching a certain point....issue?
The upper metal trim on drivers door where it meets window has come partly adrift, needs replaced or can be reattached
Finally, the key fobs aint working, no flashes from little red window on corner, just battery or central locking issue ( can open drivers door and lock it no effect on passengers door)? Reading a few more posts/threads, not seen the red/green flashing on mirror, expensive fix?
Hopefully you can see a pic of my latest pride and joy.
Hi FrankPicked up my very own SL320 on Tuesday, following a delay collecting as I was away for a month. Drove fine down home 86 odd miles.
Noted a few things on way and then after arrival. The radio (Pioneer with cassette) would only pick up one station, then gradually stopped doing even that......likely diagnosis, think it could be an aerial/motor issue, noted on other threads?
The seat back when switch used to move it back was pressed, it then started moving forward instead after reaching a certain point....issue?
The upper metal trim on drivers door where it meets window has come partly adrift, needs replaced or can be reattached
Finally, the key fobs aint working, no flashes from little red window on corner, just battery or central locking issue ( can open drivers door and lock it no effect on passengers door)? Reading a few more posts/threads, not seen the red/green flashing on mirror, expensive fix?
Hopefully you can see a pic of my latest pride and joy.
Glad you got home safely and hope the car serves you well. I must be the only person on Pistonheads who is selling a R129 these days rather than buying one!
Re the rladio - I did have other stations tuned in OK when I got it. Did you raise the aerial? It will not operate automatically but you can pull it up manually. Also, there is a spare mast in the boot.
Re the key fob. I did get it working by synching with the green/red lights in the mirror, but then it died again after a while. As I wasn't using the car much I didn't bother with again.
Also, re your other post about waterproofing the roof, I did that just before you viewed it so you can forget about that job for a while I hope.
Enjoy.
Hi John, thanks for the up-date and feedback, didn't really want to trouble you again now its changed ownership. They are a complex car and I'd like to keep on top of problems. As I say, drove well on way down, especially as dry and not much traffic.
Not sure the aerial went up, just assumed it did, its not fully retracted into its casing so will check it over the next week, and or stick new mast in, I believe the aerial motor itself can be repaired if its failed rather than a £125 new one.
I've gotten two sets of batteries and I'll ask my mechanic to hook it up and see if he can diagnose if its a fob/IR sensor/receptor issue or central locking, hes good in the electrics department and has access to diagnostic Star software.
Great re roof, spent a few hours doing a bit of cleaning and familiarising myself with manual and other bits and bobs.
Thanks again.
Not sure the aerial went up, just assumed it did, its not fully retracted into its casing so will check it over the next week, and or stick new mast in, I believe the aerial motor itself can be repaired if its failed rather than a £125 new one.
I've gotten two sets of batteries and I'll ask my mechanic to hook it up and see if he can diagnose if its a fob/IR sensor/receptor issue or central locking, hes good in the electrics department and has access to diagnostic Star software.
Great re roof, spent a few hours doing a bit of cleaning and familiarising myself with manual and other bits and bobs.
Thanks again.
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