What is reliability like on a facelift R230 SL?

[swisstoni]

Venisonpie said:

I thought I'd register a first issue with my SL500. Central locking and boot soft close have stopped working and a quick Google points towards the PSE pump.

Good news is there's an abundance of experience on Youtube and in general about how to suss out the extent of failure and repair. It's too bloody cold today but I'm going to have a go at sorting it myself rather than just throw money at it. Starting with the fuse..

They were relatively (to the UK) big sellers in the US so most of the good youtubes, etc are from there.

[Dog Star]

Funnily enough I’ve also had my first issue. Got a slight oil leak from the top rear of the engine which ends up on the exhaust. Very common issue with the v6, it’s the pcv valve gasket. New valves are about £25. Mine arrived yesterday and I’m going to fit it when I get out of bed.

Not really an R230 specific fault though.

[Venisonpie]

swisstoni said:

Venisonpie said:

I thought I'd register a first issue with my SL500. Central locking and boot soft close have stopped working and a quick Google points towards the PSE pump.

Good news is there's an abundance of experience on Youtube and in general about how to suss out the extent of failure and repair. It's too bloody cold today but I'm going to have a go at sorting it myself rather than just throw money at it. Starting with the fuse..

They were relatively (to the UK) big sellers in the US so most of the good youtubes, etc are from there.

Yes, there's some really good vids on how to remove the pump and replace the turbines in the motor. Having checked the fuse mine is fine which suggests the motor may not be the culprit. I'll live with it for now as need the car but once I'm clear of family duties I'll attempt removing it - there's a guy in Dartford who repairs them if you send it to him which I think I'll aim for unless there's something obvious when I remove it.

[TREMAiNE]

Venisonpie said:

I thought I'd register a first issue with my SL500. Central locking and boot soft close have stopped working and a quick Google points towards the PSE pump.

Good news is there's an abundance of experience on Youtube and in general about how to suss out the extent of failure and repair. It's too bloody cold today but I'm going to have a go at sorting it myself rather than just throw money at it. Starting with the fuse..

Keep me updated with the fix and cost!

Still on the hunt, a few that interest me but are priced at double what WBAC would theoretically offer, so waiting for prices to soften a little before taking the plunge.

[PositronicRay]

TREMAiNE said:

Venisonpie said:

I thought I'd register a first issue with my SL500. Central locking and boot soft close have stopped working and a quick Google points towards the PSE pump.

Good news is there's an abundance of experience on Youtube and in general about how to suss out the extent of failure and repair. It's too bloody cold today but I'm going to have a go at sorting it myself rather than just throw money at it. Starting with the fuse..

Keep me updated with the fix and cost!

Still on the hunt, a few that interest me but are priced at double what WBAC would theoretically offer, so waiting for prices to soften a little before taking the plunge.

WBAC work on auction averages, for recent cars its a fair guide. For older cars, decent stuff will be priced considerably over average auction prices, and quite rightly so.
Don't buy on price, assess each car on its individual merits.

[TREMAiNE]

PositronicRay said:

TREMAiNE said:

Venisonpie said:

I thought I'd register a first issue with my SL500. Central locking and boot soft close have stopped working and a quick Google points towards the PSE pump.

Good news is there's an abundance of experience on Youtube and in general about how to suss out the extent of failure and repair. It's too bloody cold today but I'm going to have a go at sorting it myself rather than just throw money at it. Starting with the fuse..

Keep me updated with the fix and cost!

Still on the hunt, a few that interest me but are priced at double what WBAC would theoretically offer, so waiting for prices to soften a little before taking the plunge.

WBAC work on auction averages, for recent cars its a fair guide. For older cars, decent stuff will be priced considerably over average auction prices, and quite rightly so.
Don't buy on price, assess each car on its individual merits.

Should I really be paying £15k for a 12-year-old SL350 with around 50k miles though?

I'd be expecting £11-13k being about right for the better examples given the age of the car, age of the platform and fact its the base model.

[PositronicRay]

TREMAiNE said:

PositronicRay said:

TREMAiNE said:

Venisonpie said:

I thought I'd register a first issue with my SL500. Central locking and boot soft close have stopped working and a quick Google points towards the PSE pump.

Good news is there's an abundance of experience on Youtube and in general about how to suss out the extent of failure and repair. It's too bloody cold today but I'm going to have a go at sorting it myself rather than just throw money at it. Starting with the fuse..

Keep me updated with the fix and cost!

Still on the hunt, a few that interest me but are priced at double what WBAC would theoretically offer, so waiting for prices to soften a little before taking the plunge.

WBAC work on auction averages, for recent cars its a fair guide. For older cars, decent stuff will be priced considerably over average auction prices, and quite rightly so.
Don't buy on price, assess each car on its individual merits.

Should I really be paying £15k for a 12-year-old SL350 with around 50k miles though?

I'd be expecting £11-13k being about right for the better examples given the age of the car, age of the platform and fact its the base model.

Chancers top, middle and bottom of the market.

I aim for middle and try to weed out the chancers.

[Workshy Fop]

Spotted my old SL on AutoTrader.
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2023060581...

[Venisonpie]

Venisonpie said:

I thought I'd register a first issue with my SL500. Central locking and boot soft close have stopped working and a quick Google points towards the PSE pump.

Good news is there's an abundance of experience on Youtube and in general about how to suss out the extent of failure and repair. It's too bloody cold today but I'm going to have a go at sorting it myself rather than just throw money at it. Starting with the fuse..

Update on the above, the PSE pump had failed. Merc want circa £950 plus vat for the part and if you wanted them to fit it they would need to diagnose and add labour to replace. I suspect inc vat this would quickly be £1500 at least.

Having tried the fuses it seemed the motor wasn't seized which causes an overload (and the fuse to fail) I decided to contact Fawad who is based in Maidstone (not Dartford as I mentioned previously). He's an electronics engineer and has a sideline business mending PSE pumps including for Merc indi's. He has fitted a recon pump (exchange) this morning for £580 (his prices vary depending on various factors including the serviceability of the existing pump). He's super helpful/knowledgeable and well known in the Merc community - recommended. His contact no. is 07532 208541 and offers mail order repairs to broken pumps or will fit one if you want to visit him.

Mine is now operating as it should.

[Venisonpie]

Latest update.

R230 had a B service, gearbox service and MOT (passed, no advisories) with a local indy which came in at just under £900. I held my nose and paid the £695 annual RFL and on it goes for another year.

Now on 55,000 miles having done 8,000 since last year when I bought it. I also notice the trip computer suggesting an average of 25mpg over that period, it hit the dizzy heights of 29 on one trip last year. Not great by modern standards but respectable for a 12 year old, 2 ton 5.5 V8 I think.