R230 sl500 shed/project / massive money pit
Discussion
Your car is similar to my SL500 '02 I had for a couple years. Mine had virtually every fault it could have. Yours looks like a good part of the major work has been done by the previous but might be a good idea to get the ABC flushed with fresh oil like someone else said to keep the suspension as good as possible.
IF as is most likely the case the boot/roof seals leaked into the boot then the PSE pump is busted and will need replaced or refurbed. I'm sure someone on this forum or the Mercedes one can help. Until then you can use the emergency key blade. Pain but you're getting there and they look good in black with the same AMG alloys mine had. Easy to clean and hard to better the look of a 5 spoke alloy.
Looking forward to following progress as you can see I've a thing for SLs, old before my time I guess ;-)
IF as is most likely the case the boot/roof seals leaked into the boot then the PSE pump is busted and will need replaced or refurbed. I'm sure someone on this forum or the Mercedes one can help. Until then you can use the emergency key blade. Pain but you're getting there and they look good in black with the same AMG alloys mine had. Easy to clean and hard to better the look of a 5 spoke alloy.
Looking forward to following progress as you can see I've a thing for SLs, old before my time I guess ;-)
hoppo4.2 said:
Right so a bit of a productive day. Faulty pipe removed and it's being made as we speak for less than half Mercs price should be done by the morning so tomorrow I might get to have a drive.
I spent the rest of the day cleaning up the inside and it's now mould free.
I've also cleared all the fault codes and the only one that I can't clear is no communication with passenger side SAM?
I removed IT and cleaned it all up. Looks like it's been wet.
Anyway my understanding is that it works the lights wipers and locking
All the lights work as do the wipers but the locking won't. I guess that's more to do with the vac pump being soaked.
I'll take a few pics for you all tomorrow
Do you have a Star system ?I spent the rest of the day cleaning up the inside and it's now mould free.
I've also cleared all the fault codes and the only one that I can't clear is no communication with passenger side SAM?
I removed IT and cleaned it all up. Looks like it's been wet.
Anyway my understanding is that it works the lights wipers and locking
All the lights work as do the wipers but the locking won't. I guess that's more to do with the vac pump being soaked.
I'll take a few pics for you all tomorrow
So another very productive day. Got the new pipe fitted and now all is good in the world of abc.
Then I fixed the boot lock so It opens with the handle.
Next I stripped down the pse pump
I got it all working again but the motor is very poor it's been very hot in the past. So hot it's melted the bolder for the brushes. So I think that will need replacing.
Inside is looking a lot cleaned too
So now I need to sort a few bulbs for the mot.
Passengers dip beam ( not the bulb)??
Drivers main beam
Drivers indicator
Then I fixed the boot lock so It opens with the handle.
Next I stripped down the pse pump
I got it all working again but the motor is very poor it's been very hot in the past. So hot it's melted the bolder for the brushes. So I think that will need replacing.
Inside is looking a lot cleaned too
So now I need to sort a few bulbs for the mot.
Passengers dip beam ( not the bulb)??
Drivers main beam
Drivers indicator
Just had to bleed it out at the nipple then raise and lower it a few times.
The discs are ok just need a clean up which I'll do when I do the service.
I have a suspicion that the lighting issues are going to be linked to this left SAM problem.
Typically there are none listed on eBay at the min with my part number. (A0265453332)
The discs are ok just need a clean up which I'll do when I do the service.
I have a suspicion that the lighting issues are going to be linked to this left SAM problem.
Typically there are none listed on eBay at the min with my part number. (A0265453332)
Wow she's looking good already, the Alpaca grey interior is v classy especially against black.
What did you do to fix the pump and boot handle? Is there a guide online? My PSE pump is working but wouldn't suck the boot lid closed, fixed by pulling the fuse. However the multi contour/massage seat function isn't working on mine and I'm pretty sure it's linked to PSE pump. Pulse button lights for about 15 secs then goes off. Anyone any insights? Is it another fuse needing pulled and reinserted? Boot lid handle on mine is stiff too. Takes notions to work but I'd like it to be better. Keep up the good work it they are a lovely drive when they work especially roof down.
What did you do to fix the pump and boot handle? Is there a guide online? My PSE pump is working but wouldn't suck the boot lid closed, fixed by pulling the fuse. However the multi contour/massage seat function isn't working on mine and I'm pretty sure it's linked to PSE pump. Pulse button lights for about 15 secs then goes off. Anyone any insights? Is it another fuse needing pulled and reinserted? Boot lid handle on mine is stiff too. Takes notions to work but I'd like it to be better. Keep up the good work it they are a lovely drive when they work especially roof down.
The boot lock is a bit of a faf to get out but it was just seized up to so plenty of wd and work it in till free.
The pump is fairly basic in my case the motor has been burnt out I got it going again but it's very weak and not up to the job. So I think I'll just buy a cheap c class one and use the motor from that. I'm not paying 600 for a sl one.
As for your soft close and seats not working it's prob a vaccum leak. This would cause the pump to time out and need resetting by removing the fuse. Eventuality this will burn your motor out like mine.
It's common for the boot soft closer to fail but a simple enough fix. There's lots online about it
The pump is fairly basic in my case the motor has been burnt out I got it going again but it's very weak and not up to the job. So I think I'll just buy a cheap c class one and use the motor from that. I'm not paying 600 for a sl one.
As for your soft close and seats not working it's prob a vaccum leak. This would cause the pump to time out and need resetting by removing the fuse. Eventuality this will burn your motor out like mine.
It's common for the boot soft closer to fail but a simple enough fix. There's lots online about it
Thanks for the insight sir. I usually open the boot from the interior switch or remote so it's not a big issue but I'd like to get it right. The soft close on the bootlid is working for the time being since I pulled and reinserted the fuse for the PSE. The seat issue isn't a big deal either but like you I suspect an air leak.
My major concerns with mine are a boot leak which I know from previous is a disaster for the PSE if left unchecked.
Looking at the rust on your PSE it's been damp too. I assume you're going to DIY the roof seals? I've seen Youtube videos of guys repairing these DIY and cheaply with great success but has anyone here done it and have any advice on the matter?
I'm not a mechanic and lacking in confidence but willing to try and learn. Keep up the good work as it's giving me inspiration.
My major concerns with mine are a boot leak which I know from previous is a disaster for the PSE if left unchecked.
Looking at the rust on your PSE it's been damp too. I assume you're going to DIY the roof seals? I've seen Youtube videos of guys repairing these DIY and cheaply with great success but has anyone here done it and have any advice on the matter?
I'm not a mechanic and lacking in confidence but willing to try and learn. Keep up the good work as it's giving me inspiration.
It's my old man's r129. Carved from granite compared to the r230.
So I today I removed the SAM again completely stripped it and the fuse box again cleaned it all and rebuilt but no joy.
Need to find a new one.
I've also ordered a pse from a c class from the bay which I'll strip and pinch it's motor
So I have up in a huff and went back to cleaning it up.
So I today I removed the SAM again completely stripped it and the fuse box again cleaned it all and rebuilt but no joy.
Need to find a new one.
I've also ordered a pse from a c class from the bay which I'll strip and pinch it's motor
So I have up in a huff and went back to cleaning it up.
OMG what a transformation. You've done a really job job buffing her up, what have you used? I agree with you that the R129 is a more solidly built car, I have an SL320 but the R230 when properly fettled is a better drivers car and has the folding roof, be it metal or glass.
My SL500 had the same interior and high spec like yours seems to be, BOSE, Keyless, multi function massage seats etc etc. The grey interior is the best shade in these (although the bordello red is my second fav) and the black is good too. My current R230 an SL55 PP is Black but also has dark interior which isn't my fav but beggars n choosers etc.
Slowly bringing mine up to scratch and getting inspiration from the other posters on PH be it Merc or others who are passionate about keeping good cars alive. ;-)
My SL500 had the same interior and high spec like yours seems to be, BOSE, Keyless, multi function massage seats etc etc. The grey interior is the best shade in these (although the bordello red is my second fav) and the black is good too. My current R230 an SL55 PP is Black but also has dark interior which isn't my fav but beggars n choosers etc.
Slowly bringing mine up to scratch and getting inspiration from the other posters on PH be it Merc or others who are passionate about keeping good cars alive. ;-)
😁 thank you. I washed it about 8 times then got a toothbrush in all the seals and trim gaps.
Took about 2 hours to go over it with paint renovator (autoglim) one wing is going to need paint and then some super resin polish. I'll get a buffer on it at some point but didn't have one to hand today.
The inside took more effort a combination of steam cleaner sugger soap bleach spray and even 2k thinners.
But in the end most of it came up good with leather cleaner and a nail brush.
The only biti can't get clean is the air vents nothing will touch them. They seem to be covered in a sticky dryed on sap type substance which has gone black with mould.
Thinner on a cotton bud moves it but takes the paint too.
The 129 is an old boat but you can't fault it. He's had it for 12 years or more and I think it's had 1 fault.
Took about 2 hours to go over it with paint renovator (autoglim) one wing is going to need paint and then some super resin polish. I'll get a buffer on it at some point but didn't have one to hand today.
The inside took more effort a combination of steam cleaner sugger soap bleach spray and even 2k thinners.
But in the end most of it came up good with leather cleaner and a nail brush.
The only biti can't get clean is the air vents nothing will touch them. They seem to be covered in a sticky dryed on sap type substance which has gone black with mould.
Thinner on a cotton bud moves it but takes the paint too.
The 129 is an old boat but you can't fault it. He's had it for 12 years or more and I think it's had 1 fault.
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