Hi All.
Firstly, great forum which has already provided me with so much advice, so thank you all!
I have a 2004 SL350, R230, 3.7. I inherited it, (2 weeks ago), and whilst it is no spring chicken, I love the car and for sentimental reasons I am keen to keep her on the road. I am use to working on cars, however this one is FULL of electrics and sensors, and until I can fork out for SDS, I am extra reliant on you helpful bunch.
She is mostly ok bar a few issues which I will list below. Any advice or guidance would be very much appreciated.
1) When I unlock her, after the locks have popped, there is a whining which lasts for maybe 5 seconds. This same, (or very similar), noise sometimes comes on a slow speeds when turning. I was thinking initially serpentine belt, or something linked to the power steering, however the steering is tight with no play. On a thread here the secondary air compressor was mentioned, and that made me think if its using pneumatics to open the door locks, is it then slipping, or a bearing noise, when priming whatever small compressor there is in case I ask more of the pneumatics prior to start up. This noise is all prior to engine start... except when I am turning at slow speeds obviously. Any ideas?
2) Whilst I have only felt it once, there was grating/grinding through the brake pedal. Its not discs or pads, and there was no servo assist at the time as it was reverse at very slow speeds. My concern was transmission niggle, but it was only once. Any ideas?
3) Broken boot handle... well I think it is just a return spring. Either way, where do you fine folks based in the UK tend to go for small spares such as these. I am not having much luck online, and it seems only scrap yards would be the option. I cant really afford to go to a MB dealer for bits and bobs...thus saving for SDS.
4) I am one HID (dipped beam) down, and yesterday the other didn't power up. I ordered some cheap ballasts because its a fair job removing the lights and I felt it would be worth changing them anyway because a new bulb was not the solution. The new temperamental one, came back to life after I had stopped and restarted it.... but clearly its having a senior car moment... could it be something I am missing?
5) The last thing is a slight wobble from the rear, (felt in bum not hands), above 60mph. It does not really worsen with increased speed, but also does not go away. I was hoping just wheel balance however its new tyres and I know my uncle put it in for a wheel balance prior to it being handed down. My thoughts are on alignment, however just curious if tis is something that any of you have experienced and therefore what it may be.
Lastly... as I mentioned I am looking at SDS. Am I required when doing for example the brakes, to electronically wind back the pistons, or will a standard opening of the reservoir, and manual push back of the pistons do the job? I ask because I am not sure yet how the servo assist actually works, and it is really hard to find any workshop manuals, even paid for, or indeed any exploded diagrams.
This also leads me to add, does anyone know where I can purchase a workshop manual for this model?
Thank you all so much in advance... hope to hear from some of you.
Cheers, Will
Firstly, great forum which has already provided me with so much advice, so thank you all!
I have a 2004 SL350, R230, 3.7. I inherited it, (2 weeks ago), and whilst it is no spring chicken, I love the car and for sentimental reasons I am keen to keep her on the road. I am use to working on cars, however this one is FULL of electrics and sensors, and until I can fork out for SDS, I am extra reliant on you helpful bunch.
She is mostly ok bar a few issues which I will list below. Any advice or guidance would be very much appreciated.
1) When I unlock her, after the locks have popped, there is a whining which lasts for maybe 5 seconds. This same, (or very similar), noise sometimes comes on a slow speeds when turning. I was thinking initially serpentine belt, or something linked to the power steering, however the steering is tight with no play. On a thread here the secondary air compressor was mentioned, and that made me think if its using pneumatics to open the door locks, is it then slipping, or a bearing noise, when priming whatever small compressor there is in case I ask more of the pneumatics prior to start up. This noise is all prior to engine start... except when I am turning at slow speeds obviously. Any ideas?
2) Whilst I have only felt it once, there was grating/grinding through the brake pedal. Its not discs or pads, and there was no servo assist at the time as it was reverse at very slow speeds. My concern was transmission niggle, but it was only once. Any ideas?
3) Broken boot handle... well I think it is just a return spring. Either way, where do you fine folks based in the UK tend to go for small spares such as these. I am not having much luck online, and it seems only scrap yards would be the option. I cant really afford to go to a MB dealer for bits and bobs...thus saving for SDS.
4) I am one HID (dipped beam) down, and yesterday the other didn't power up. I ordered some cheap ballasts because its a fair job removing the lights and I felt it would be worth changing them anyway because a new bulb was not the solution. The new temperamental one, came back to life after I had stopped and restarted it.... but clearly its having a senior car moment... could it be something I am missing?
5) The last thing is a slight wobble from the rear, (felt in bum not hands), above 60mph. It does not really worsen with increased speed, but also does not go away. I was hoping just wheel balance however its new tyres and I know my uncle put it in for a wheel balance prior to it being handed down. My thoughts are on alignment, however just curious if tis is something that any of you have experienced and therefore what it may be.
Lastly... as I mentioned I am looking at SDS. Am I required when doing for example the brakes, to electronically wind back the pistons, or will a standard opening of the reservoir, and manual push back of the pistons do the job? I ask because I am not sure yet how the servo assist actually works, and it is really hard to find any workshop manuals, even paid for, or indeed any exploded diagrams.
This also leads me to add, does anyone know where I can purchase a workshop manual for this model?
Thank you all so much in advance... hope to hear from some of you.
Cheers, Will
