Mercedes SL55 AMG - Buying Advice
Discussion
BigBen said:
bonnim said:
Also, I have noticed the smallest amount of water in the boot after its been raining. The water seems to settle on the inner roof contraption (the thing you need to have in place in order to put down the roof). But the carpets themselves have not collected water so I reckon only a small amount of water is coming in. Is it possible that the seals just need a good clean, rather than replacing? I suppose if they are not clean then water could back up.
Where on the carpet thing? In the middle or on one of the 'wings' at the edge of the cover? Worth cleaning the seals and using some rubber seal rejuvinating stuff to make sure they keep their 'sprinyness'. If that doesn't work then the two fixes have been discussed at some length on this very thread 
I'd be whipping it in to a specialist for a once over if I were you anyway.
Thanks very much swisstoni!
Well before I bought the car I had an MB specialist do an inspection check for me. They said the car passed with flying colours and only noted some rust coming up on the inside of the wheel arches, which they advised me to sort in the summer.
However, now I am a little concerned seeing that (i) I know for a fact that a small amount of water is definitely coming into the car and (ii) there is some liquid on the abc pump. Maybe I should wipe it with a rag and see if it comes back?
Well before I bought the car I had an MB specialist do an inspection check for me. They said the car passed with flying colours and only noted some rust coming up on the inside of the wheel arches, which they advised me to sort in the summer.
However, now I am a little concerned seeing that (i) I know for a fact that a small amount of water is definitely coming into the car and (ii) there is some liquid on the abc pump. Maybe I should wipe it with a rag and see if it comes back?
Have a read about the ABC. There's a dipstick affair in there somewhere ( I haven't delved in there myself yet (only had mine a little while) and one level is for engine on and suspension in use, and another level for everything off.
Sometimes people fill up to the wrong level - could be happening to yours. Would certainly be the cheapest answer.
Sometimes people fill up to the wrong level - could be happening to yours. Would certainly be the cheapest answer.
Hi Bonnim, have you checked the triangular shaped seals on the outside edges of the boot lid at the base of the rear window. These can come unstuck and this is where the use of some delicately applied adhesive can work.
Underneath where those seals contact the seals on the boot surround, there are two drain holes, one each side, which channel the water draining off the rear window away from the boot. Make sure these are clear, they block up with debris quite quickly.
Can't help on the ABC pump, but hopefully it is spillage rather than a leak.
Underneath where those seals contact the seals on the boot surround, there are two drain holes, one each side, which channel the water draining off the rear window away from the boot. Make sure these are clear, they block up with debris quite quickly.
Can't help on the ABC pump, but hopefully it is spillage rather than a leak.
Monkeylegend said:
Hi Bonnim, have you checked the triangular shaped seals on the outside edges of the boot lid at the base of the rear window. These can come unstuck and this is where the use of some delicately applied adhesive can work.
Underneath where those seals contact the seals on the boot surround, there are two drain holes, one each side, which channel the water draining off the rear window away from the boot. Make sure these are clear, they block up with debris quite quickly.
Can't help on the ABC pump, but hopefully it is spillage rather than a leak.
Yes this was what I was saying earlier before that mentalist took things off course. Underneath where those seals contact the seals on the boot surround, there are two drain holes, one each side, which channel the water draining off the rear window away from the boot. Make sure these are clear, they block up with debris quite quickly.
Can't help on the ABC pump, but hopefully it is spillage rather than a leak.
The ABC dipstick is on top of the ABC fluid tank (obviously) which is on the passenger side of the engine bay toward the front.
To the OP: the picture you posted is not your ABC pump it's your fluid reservoir (you would have thought Bighead Ben the Bodger would have been able to point that out to you, but hey ho) and that leak is probably not a leak, it's more likely where the dipstick has not been pushed fully home I would say. Or are you saying the pump is leaking as well?
If you park the car up for a few days does the suspension stay level or does it sag.... if you have a leak it will do the latter! I wouldn't worry though as doubtless there's a £10 fix available form the genius above!
If you park the car up for a few days does the suspension stay level or does it sag.... if you have a leak it will do the latter! I wouldn't worry though as doubtless there's a £10 fix available form the genius above!
cb1965 said:
To the OP: the picture you posted is not your ABC pump it's your fluid reservoir (you would have thought Bighead Ben the Bodger would have been able to point that out to you, but hey ho) and that leak is probably not a leak, it's more likely where the dipstick has not been pushed fully home I would say. Or are you saying the pump is leaking as well?
If you park the car up for a few days does the suspension stay level or does it sag.... if you have a leak it will do the latter! I wouldn't worry though as doubtless there's a £10 fix available form the genius above!
I didn't see that picture but agree with you (again) which is what makes your attitude all the stranger.If you park the car up for a few days does the suspension stay level or does it sag.... if you have a leak it will do the latter! I wouldn't worry though as doubtless there's a £10 fix available form the genius above!
bonnim said:
The dipstick is the rubber bung the other screw top is the fluid return pipe which has a filter attached to it inside the tank.
If it was me I would clean the area and check on this during the next few days. If you check the dipstick look for a green coloured liquid if it looks more brown it could do with a change (in my research on this the lack of regular changes of this fluid causes a lot of ABC issues). Changing it is not a difficult process but it does take quite a few litres (11 if I remember rightly). The only reason the dipstick level will drop is if you have a leak in the system (unlike engine oil) so keep an eye on the level. Also the level when the engine is running is lower than when not.
This is a more in depth description of the ABC system
http://mercedes-abc-drive-carefully.blogspot.co.uk...
As for the boot rubbers. Check them for any sign of damage and treat them with a rubber seal conditioner as mentioned above. My SL55 has no leaks in the boot but if I open the boot with water on the lid then the front corners will drop a small amount onto the boot carpet. Check that this is not the issue here.
bonnim said:
The residue on the outside is spillage when someone clumsily filled it.
If get hold of the rubbery round thing and ease it out, it has a dip stick on it to check
your abc oil level.
Then the tank needs a proper outside clean.
Re any water in the boot, not good!
First job is to make sure both drain holes are clear [open boot lid look forward in the boot shut about level with the rear screen] Water should easily run out when pored from a watering can.
Then fill boot with tissues or similar and water all round to see which area is leaking.
[Seals on the rear lights are also suspect].
Good to see you have joined us 'Merc Men'.
Let us know how you get on.
Mark.
martindesu said:
Nice tips BigBen; did I read that you're in Cambridge? Me too! Fancy an SL55 meet some time?
That is a good plan. There was a St Neots Pistonheads meeting recently which I missed, I plan to go to the next one (whenever it may be). Think details were on the East Anglia spotted thread.Ben
swisstoni said:
Have a read about the ABC. There's a dipstick affair in there somewhere ( I haven't delved in there myself yet (only had mine a little while) and one level is for engine on and suspension in use, and another level for everything off.
Sometimes people fill up to the wrong level - could be happening to yours. Would certainly be the cheapest answer.
Hi Merc Guys,Sometimes people fill up to the wrong level - could be happening to yours. Would certainly be the cheapest answer.
Regarding the ABC reservoir leak, I think it was just spillage onto the reservoir as some of you suggested, so huge sigh of relief. Thanks to all for your help.
Regarding boot leak, I put newspaper and tissues inside the boot and washed my car the other day. After drying I opened the boot and clearly some water (not a lot in all fairness) had come in from somewhere under the rear windscreen (falling roughly where the boot hinge is, or more specifically, where the the thing is which you need to put into place in the boot order to collapse the roof - sorry no idea what it is called but it is covered in some sort of fabric). I have bought some Gumi Pfledge which I will use, but I reckon some part of the seal needs to be stuck down again. Can anyone recommend what adhesive to use?
Also, does anyone have a picture of the drainage holes some people mentioned, I have looked for them but can't seem to find them. I want to check that they are not blocked because this might be making it worse... It seems that the boot seals are designed so that water flows down inside the seals themselves.
One final thing, which is totally my fault. I was messing around with the luggage space behind the front seats and I accidentally knocked a small piece of aluminium trim on the side of the anti roll bar (the thing which comes up automatically if the car senses that you are going to roll over, which you can put up manually with a button next to the roof mechanism). I tried to put it back, which is super sharp by the way, and I managed to drop the piece of trim inside the mechanism. I am too scared to switch up the thing manually now for fear that it will break. Is there any way I can get inside it to retrieve this flimsy piece of trim? I hope that not having the trim in place will not damage it...
About driving the Sl55. I have had it for a few weeks now and, if possible, I am more and more impressed with it every day. It is such a treat to drive and when you put your foot down it's so fast and entertaining. I can't believe the technology and luxuriousness of the car which is now 13 years old. Love it.
Michael
bonnim said:
but I reckon some part of the seal needs to be stuck down again. Can anyone recommend what adhesive to use?
I think I used a loctite product but it was ages ago I did the job. This may seem obvious but look for a flexible adhesive that is capable of bonding even on damp surfaces. The drain holes are easy to find if you look for the pipes (one each side) that go from the boot seal toward the passenger compartment of the car then follow them back to the seal.
Ben
bonnim said:
Although it wasn't raining, the road was wet and I drove in 'winter' mode. Every time I was aggressive on the throttle the car span and moved from side to side, then the electronics kicked in and cut the power. Is that normal?
Yes if you have crap or worn tyres but even with new contis it will still squirm a bit.bonnim said:
Also, does anyone have a picture of the drainage holes some people mentioned, I have looked for them but can't seem to find them. I want to check that they are not blocked because this might be making it worse... It seems that the boot seals are designed so that water flows down inside the seals themselves.
Michael
Hi bonnim,Michael
I am no good with photo's, but if you look under the rubber seals at corner under the roof seal channel either side at the base of the window, you should see them. Follow the natural drain line down from the rear windscreen. They are about 10mm dia, but if blocked they might be obscured from view. They have a triangular grid moulded into the top, presumably to stop debris blockages in the pipes, so the debris sits on top. You will need to lift the seals to see them, and a torch will help, difficult to see otherwise.
HTH.
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