New R230 Fan.

[oddworld]

Hi there everyone, we just acquired a 2003 R230 SL500 (BM 230.475) and are having a couple of issues with the car which I hope members can assist with.

1. The key-less go doesn't work and I don't know the reason. A contributing factor, or main reason, may be the damaged drivers door sensor that needs to be replaced.
2. The baffle noise in the fuel tank, I understand this to be a common issue and I'm going to try and install the spring as discussed elsewhere on this forum.
3. SRS light remains on. I think this may be due to a fault on the connection for the passenger seat as after the MB Dealer removed the fault code, the light remained off until someone sat in the passenger seat.
4. The ABC fault appears on the dash, most often after driving (slowly) over a speed bump or driving down a very undulating road. Sometimes it appears RED.
5. The most irritating issue is that every time I get in the car, after standing for more than 1 day, the 'electrical consumable offline' fault appears and somethings are not working, e.g. seat memory, cigarette lighter, park distance control, roof, etc, and occasionally even the a/c doesn't work or blows warm air. I understand this is a common issue with this model and I have tried to clean the terminals for the second battery but that didn't seem to help.
6. The air compressor, p/n 000583 05 02, is missing. If anyone out there has, or knows of, a spare unit, please let me know as I need one and a new unit from MB is very expensive.
7. Same goes for the navigation CD, it's also missing and I would love to get my hands on any one that may be lying around in a drawer somewhere.

I hope someone here can assist me with some or any of these issues, any fixes or advice available from the specialists here would be greatly appreciated as we are enjoying the car so much with top down motoring in the South African summer sun, probably the finest Mercedes-Benz we've ever had.

Thank you very much everyone, kind regards,

 

[A.J.]

Hi oddworld, and welcome to the forum. are we to assume you took custody of this car knowing the faults and it was priced to accommodate those issues ?.

I think you will find there are plenty of SL owners on here able to give you some valuable help that you need. Me, never owned one so I can't help. Good luck with your challenges

 

[LostKiwi]

Hi and welcome.

The keyless go will likely need star but to be honest I'd leave it as is as keyless go is seriously insecure.

The SRS issue is the occupancy sensor is damaged (usually because someone has knelt on the seat or put a heavy sharp object on it). You may be able to get an emulator to fool the electronics into thinking the seat is occupied (eBay). Otherwise strip the seat and replace the occupancy sensor.

The ABC problem is probably a damper sphere needs replacing. I'd get it checked ASAP as ABC issues can be expensive.

The consumer issue is a bad battery most likely or you have can electrical drain.

 

[John Laidlaw]

^ what he said...hope you didn’t pay a lot for this 230 as you’re likely looking at a fair bill to start off your ownership proper!
Welcome though, if we can help in any way we will of course!!

 

[flowrider]

Some good advice above already.........

1. Keyless go is a gimmick really so you aren't missing much, just use the remote key to open and start the car then spend the money elsewhere.

2. This is a common problem which is expensive to fix but I have heard of people successfully removing the loose baffle through the sender unit opening.

3. The SRS issue should be a cheapish fix if a bit tricky.

4. This is the more worrying fault, ABC fixes are expensive. Any individual fix is going to cost about £1k so I recommend you find a good Indy that knows their stuff.

5. Either a faulty battery or a current drain, replacement battery will cost about £150 and is where I would start.

6. Can't help with this one.

7. EBay could be you friend, satnav CD's can be had for about £20 but will likely be copies, worth a punt though.

 

[LostKiwi]

EBay could be you friend, satnav CD's can be had for about £20 but will likely be copies, worth a punt though.

If it uses CDs as opposed to dvds you can still buy them genuine and new for about £80.

 

[oddworld]

Many thanks guys (or girls), I knew that i could rely on getting some great advice from you, really appreciate it!

I got the car for a steal and after a month of hard negotiation, that included the know faults on the car, I practically broke the guys arm shaking it. Had to drive the car back home over 600 kilometers (without any problems) and was very pleased when I discovered that he had filled the fuel tank up for me, until part way back when I heard, for the first time, the loose baffle in the fuel tank, then I understood the real reason for filling the tank.

I am going to address all the above issues, first of all is to get the ABC sorted then try and install a spring on the fuel tank baffle through the sender unit opening, I don't think it can be removed through there. Then the electrical consumable issue and the seat sensor.

What I am really urgently looking for though is help in obtaining the last 2 items as over here they are as rare as hens teeth and in may cases eBay will not ship to South Africa (so not a very nice friend).

In addition I would like to remove the 2nd Cat's to improve the exhaust sound, no 'green' police here or annual tests to worry about.

I am really excited about being on this forum and reading other owners experience and knowledge, I hope I will be able to contribute in some small way too.

 

[LostKiwi]

Are there maps available for South Africa for that SatNav?

 

[oddworld]

Are there maps available for South Africa for that SatNav?

Yes there are, I've asked around at some of the MB Dealers who I know quite well, to see if there are any discs in drawers or just lying around, without any luck so far. I don't know what happens to these discs.....?

 

[00slk]

Yes there are, I've asked around at some of the MB Dealers who I know quite well, to see if there are any discs in drawers or just lying around, without any luck so far. I don't know what happens to these discs.....?

Previous owners sell them separately when they sell the car??