R230 SL500

MRW

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Your Mercedes
SL 500 R230
I have just purchased a 2002 SL500. Apart from the ABC suspension is there anything else I should be concerned about and are there any preventive measures I can take?

Thanks
 

McDonald

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SL500 2004
You loved it, you bought it. Celebrate wildly. Post pics, tell us what you know about the car, how many owners? How many miles? What's the service history like? Tell us why you chose that model and that car.

Make sure the transmission fluid was changed at 40,000 miles. If not, change it.

Enjoy.
 

ajlsl600

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france
Your Mercedes
clk3202001,sl6002003 with everything regrettably sold ,A class 170cdi auto. NG/TF1800 ML250
plenty on here ref r230 ,just search for a while, great car. best looking in its class keep on top of abc fluid and filter change . instruction on here . check boot for water leak and sort ,again solution on here , check rear wheel arches and sort as required. think of it like a great chic ! great on yr arm ,but wants a new dress now and then ,on this car a new dress can be bxxxxy costly. if you dont feel up to doing these things yrself find a good recommended indy on here post yr area and someone will advise you. and i recommend you get him to give yr car the once over and first service .
 

LostKiwi

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'93 500SL-32, '01 W210 Estate E240 (RIP), 02 R230 SL500, 04 Smart Roadster Coupe, 11 R350CDi
SBC pumps can fail at 80-120k depending on usage.
Check the boot for leaks as any water will take out the PSE pump. Removed Rem boot floor and feel the sponge under the roof pump (that's where the PSE pump lives). If it's wet fix it immediately.
 
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M

MRW

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SL 500 R230
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You loved it, you bought it. Celebrate wildly. Post pics, tell us what you know about the car, how many owners? How many miles? What's the service history like? Tell us why you chose that model and that car.

Make sure the transmission fluid was changed at 40,000 miles. If not, change it.

Enjoy.
To be honest, I have always like SLs but I bought this because it was a steal off my boss. 2002, 75k miles lots of history.
 

Mic

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Your Mercedes
MB SL500(2003), MB SLK320(2001), Volvo V70 XC AWD(2001)
Great motor cars and nothing that cannot be addressed cost effectively providing always that all issues are dealt with as the symptoms present themselves.

Preventive maintenance:
Keep all storm drains running freely.
Make sure that the seals at the bottom of the C pillars and the bottom of the rear screen are water tight (lots of information on "search").......otherwise apart from proper preventative maintenance of mechanicals and bodywork it is crisis management as for any motor car.

Be aware that many items have a "lifespan"........just like tyres, batteries, discs and pads...... ABC, sbc and pse pumps. Also pulsation dampers, level valves, gear box and engine mountings, ball joints.

Secondary cats. for many and fuel tank baffles.

Had mine for 15 years and 161,00 miles and it still drives beautifully.

Congratulations on your purchase.

Mic
 
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McDonald

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SL500 2004
To be honest, I have always like SLs but I bought this because it was a steal off my boss. 2002, 75k miles lots of history.
All good reasons. Knowing something about the car is a powerful incentive to buy. In my case it was sheer enthusiasm - I think these cars are beautiful.
 
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flowrider

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Your Mercedes
SL500 (R230)
I have just purchased a 2002 SL500. Apart from the ABC suspension is there anything else I should be concerned about and are there any preventive measures I can take?

Thanks
My thoughts..........

1. ABC - Check all the struts and hydraulic pipes for leaks or misting, check the ABC fluid is green (not brown and definitely not black), check the ride height all round is even, check the ABC goes up and down smoothly (test multiple times).
2. SBC - not much you can check on this other than that the brakes work, also check that the hold function is working.
3. Roof - Check that the roof operates smoothly multiple times.
4. Water drains - Check all drains are clear and not blocked, particularly the drain in the passenger side air box under the bonnet vent and the 2 drains below the rear window. Wet/damp carpets on the passenger side indicates a blocked air box drain (this can cause multiple electrical issues), wet/damp carpet in the boot indicates possible blocked drains and/or leaking rubber boot seal (this will cause the boot floor to be wet and possible PSE pump failure. Whilst in the boot check the sponge around the PSE pump is dry.
5. Check everything electrical works.
6. Look for engine breather cover gasket leaks, if the gaskets are leaking the oil drips onto the exhaust manifolds. A relatively easy and cheap fix.
7. Is the wind deflector included with the car, a replacement will cost about £300 to replace and is essential IMO.
 

LostKiwi

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'93 500SL-32, '01 W210 Estate E240 (RIP), 02 R230 SL500, 04 Smart Roadster Coupe, 11 R350CDi
SBC - not much you can check on this other than that the brakes work, also check that the hold function is working.
At that age it doesn't have hold.

Also check crankshaft pulley. If it wobbles while engines running replace it. The rubber bonding between the inner and outer parts delaminates.
 

flowrider

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SL500 (R230)
At that age it doesn't have hold.

Also check crankshaft pulley. If it wobbles while engines running replace it. The rubber bonding between the inner and outer parts delaminates.
You are of course correct, I did a cut and paste from another post of mine and missed that bit. I think the hold function came in mid 2003.
 

LostKiwi

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'93 500SL-32, '01 W210 Estate E240 (RIP), 02 R230 SL500, 04 Smart Roadster Coupe, 11 R350CDi
You are of course correct, I did a cut and paste from another post of mine and missed that bit. I think the hold function came in mid 2003.
I tried it in ours (Malcolm's). Not there :(
It's a 2002 also.
 

John Laidlaw

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Land Rover Discovery 4
If it’s any consolation I had it in my 2008 FL and it was.....well temperamental at best!
 

00slk

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2002 SL55 AMG, 2005 E320 CDi, 2014 SLK250 CDi, 2003 SLK200
What's this hold function??
 

John Laidlaw

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Land Rover Discovery 4
What's this hold function??
SBC Hold Peter - similar to the long press hold on latter day Mercedes- when you brake to a halt give another long push and the SBC H lights up, you can take your foot off the brake then at traffic lights for instance, press the gas when you’re ready to go and off you do go....genius (when it works):)
 

00slk

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2002 SL55 AMG, 2005 E320 CDi, 2014 SLK250 CDi, 2003 SLK200
SBC Hold Peter - similar to the long press hold on latter day Mercedes- when you brake to a halt give another long push and the SBC H lights up, you can take your foot off the brake then at traffic lights for instance, press the gas when you’re ready to go and off you do go....genius (when it works):)

Thanks for that John, gosh I never knew that. I'll try it out tomorrow on the 500 ;)
 

John Laidlaw

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Thanks for that John, gosh I never knew that. I'll try it out tomorrow on the 500 ;)
Worth a try, mine worked sometimes mostly not- it would flash SBC H unavailable consult manual....consult manual told you to consult workshop!
My Indy and I tried all sorts to fix it and failed :(
 

Capra

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W204 2013 C350 CDI Pan roof
SBC Hold Peter - similar to the long press hold on latter day Mercedes- when you brake to a halt give another long push and the SBC H lights up, you can take your foot off the brake then at traffic lights for instance, press the gas when you’re ready to go and off you do go....genius (when it works):)
One of my favourite features, hill starts are a thing of the past!
 

00slk

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Hill starts are non existent in the Fenlands :D
 

flowrider

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SL500 (R230)
Hold is a useful function and for me has worked every time I have needed it. In the USA Mercedes extended the warranty on SBC to 25 years, not in the UK though :mad:
 


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