Getting To Know The Sl500

[dewimerc]

I’ve just exchanged my SL320 (R129) 1996 for an SL500 (R230) 2002 model.
The R230 is like a spaceship in comparison to the R129 and there are 1 or 2 areas where I would appreciate guidance.

LEAKING BOOT
I’ve read the threads regarding this fault and am amazed that MB are not prepared to fix this inherent defect at their own cost.
Is it worth replacing the boot seals and if so does this overcome the problem and provide a 100% waterproof boot.
If the car had replacement seals fitted under warranty is it still covered if it starts leaking again? The car is now 6 years old.

BOOT LOADING AID
The folded roof is supposed to lift up when you press the red button but it does not work on mine. Any ideas what the fault could be?

TELEPHONE
Is it worth buying a Nokia 6210 that fits into the cradle in the armrest. If it works well that’s fair enough but this is quite a dated mobile phone.

That’s it for now but there are likely to be many more queries over the next few weeks as I try and figure out various features of the COMAND system.

 

[television]

I’ve just exchanged my SL320 (R129) 1996 for an SL500 (R230) 2002 model.
The R230 is like a spaceship in comparison to the R129 and there are 1 or 2 areas where I would appreciate guidance.

LEAKING BOOT
I’ve read the threads regarding this fault and am amazed that MB are not prepared to fix this inherent defect at their own cost.
Is it worth replacing the boot seals and if so does this overcome the problem and provide a 100% waterproof boot.
If the car had replacement seals fitted under warranty is it still covered if it starts leaking again? The car is now 6 years old.

The new rubbers cost some £1900 and take ages to fit,, there are mods that you can do to stop the leaks to 95%

BOOT LOADING AID
The folded roof is supposed to lift up when you press the red button but it does not work on mine. Any ideas what the fault could be?

The boot lid must be pushed right up before this will work, mine is getting to the point where I need two new gas struts

TELEPHONE
Is it worth buying a Nokia 6210 that fits into the cradle in the armrest. If it works well that’s fair enough but this is quite a dated mobile phone.

I use the 6210 from Ebay £15 and its fine for the car,,you can upgrade but check to see what phones you can use from MB or go blue tooth

That’s it for now but there are likely to be many more queries over the next few weeks as I try and figure out various features of the COMAND system.

They are nice to drive and own

 

[dewimerc]

Can you advice further regarding the modifications to stop the boot leaking.
I've already ensured that the drainage holes are clear and applied vaseline to the seals to see if this improves things.
Leak is worst behind C pillar on passenger side.

 

[television]

They leak worst on both C pillars I am re doing mine in the next few days and I will put up the pics and other things to check, like where the boot seal that runs around the edge of the boot, must be glued down where the C pillar joins the boot.

The new seals from MB are all self adhesive and stick down all over unlike ours

 

[dragon]

They are nice to drive and own

Would like to own one but as it post 2001, the VED will be high next year?

 

[television]

Would like to own one but as it post 2001, the VED will be high next year?

I may wake up dead then anyway I am saving my kids 40%

 

[dragon]

Would be nice how the Fifth Gear last episode acquired an X reg S-class for £6K and even tip to check for blocked drainage in case the electric loom get flooded.

 

[dragon]

Would be nice how the Fifth Gear last episode acquired an X reg S-class for £6K and even tip to check for blocked drainage in case the electric loom get flooded.

 

[television]

Many cars get water in, either in the boot, car and module boxes under the bonnet, mainly caused through poor stampings

 

[BlackC55]

Doing the roof seal repair is long winded and if you don't do it properly it will leak again.

At the bottom of the rear window; that seal is one of the important ones. Make sure ALL the glue from the old seal is removed.

 

[Matt45]

I managed to fix any boot leaks very sucessfully and it wasn't hard either. I'm sure my fix isn't approved but it works.
The seal along the bottom of the rear window is pushed onto the car frame and glued with black mastick. If there is a break in the glue the water runs under the seal and along the inside of the seal and out at the ends under the C pillar, and then down inside the boot affecting the electrics.
I got some clear silicone [although Halfords sell it in clear and black should you choose] and squeezed some all along the underside of the seal from end to end. When the seal is pushed flat it squeezes out and is easily wiped off. This has the effect of not allowing further water under the seal and fills any gaps in the mastick thus stopping any water being able to travel along and into the boot. It took abot 2 goes to get it perfect but the result is good and even the guys at MB said it was a good fix. My seals were the post update seals but I think the fix works on both. I now have a dry car and I use a power washer and have left it out in heavy rain and all OK. Hope this helps. Matt

 

[television]

I managed to fix any boot leaks very sucessfully and it wasn't hard either. I'm sure my fix isn't approved but it works.
The seal along the bottom of the rear window is pushed onto the car frame and glued with black mastick. If there is a break in the glue the water runs under the seal and along the inside of the seal and out at the ends under the C pillar, and then down inside the boot affecting the electrics.
I got some clear silicone [although Halfords sell it in clear and black should you choose] and squeezed some all along the underside of the seal from end to end. When the seal is pushed flat it squeezes out and is easily wiped off. This has the effect of not allowing further water under the seal and fills any gaps in the mastick thus stopping any water being able to travel along and into the boot. It took abot 2 goes to get it perfect but the result is good and even the guys at MB said it was a good fix. My seals were the post update seals but I think the fix works on both. I now have a dry car and I use a power washer and have left it out in heavy rain and all OK. Hope this helps. Matt

Hello Matt how nice to see you here,, yes I read your article on this.
I am going to improve mine, you are talking about the long piece that fit under the rear glass with two nuts each end, on mine the rubber is not stuck around the bottoms of C pillar and I am going to do that. the new rubbers come self adhesive. the other area where mine had been done is the ends of the bot seal where it is screwed down under a plate and these must be sealed 4" back along the boot rubber.

On later cars the PSE pump is mounted on the roof pump, and I am going to change mine a little and sit the pump on an insulating pad to stop the faom from filling up.

Where the water goes down via the cables,,I am going to make tray and drain tube that fits onto the cables to divert any if the above fails.

As said lovely to see you here

 

[Matt45]

Good to see you here to, I wondered where you'd gone to but enough of all that mess.

The rear seal at the botom of the rear window always seemed odd to me, I would have expected there to be an overlap in the natural sense, ie like a tile on a roof, not as it is with the flap facing upwards to catch water. When I pulled mine away after noticing a slight leak I could tell that the mastic wasn't sticking as it should and the clear silicone was the best thisng I had to hand. Only thing to note is that the seal must be absolutely dry inside if the silicone is going to stick it down. That's why I had to do it twice. It bubbled up a bit but I glued it back and now all is well.

I'm still having a few minor electrical problems with the battery going down if the car is left but I'm convinced it's just the milage I do not putting enough charge back into the old girl. I have a nice new charger and I use it every couple of weeks just to top up the rear battery. garage think there might be an intermittant charging fault so I'm thinking of changing the regulator at the back of the alternator as a first step. There was a recall for this fault on cars of my age so I'm thinking it might just be that.

Anyhow, nice to chat, I'd have PM'd you but not enough posts yet. take care

Matt

 

[television]

The main thing on a 230 is the Comand not going to sleep,,if the CD changer makes a few clicks, after the car is turned off the that is the problem.

Sure if the car is not used much,,then the rear GLM battery will drop to 11.75 where the consumers shut down. I have to charge mine one a month to keep it right up, the car uses less current locked, but even then 10 days is my max.

I will take my C pillar bottom rubbers off within a few days and put some photos up and I will remove the rail under the widow and look there

 

[100%Bitch]

The main thing on a 230 is the Comand not going to sleep,,if the CD changer makes a few clicks, after the car is turned off the that is the problem.

How do you cure that one? I heard a clicking/ticking noise when I stopped mine today and it was coming from that area.

 

[television]

How do you cure that one? I heard a clicking/ticking noise when I stopped mine today and it was coming from that area.

Short of sleeping tablets, the over head panel or the Comand has to be fixed.

I should have said that the clicking in the CD changer will go on for hours before the consumers turn it off.

Do not confuse this with the odd click that comes from the boot area,,thats normal

 

[Matt45]

Following your lead yesterday I sat in mine in the garage after I got home from work, turned it off and just sat to listen. There was some ticking but it turned out to be the car cooling down. The CD was quiet as I opened the cover and had a good listen. As expected the COMAND went to sleep after about 5 mins. This was with the car unlocked but the key out. I did hear all the usual noises in the boot but they were just the car going to sleep.
Malcolm, can you advise on the power drain from the SBC as since I took the car in for a recall about SBC the Pump runs for 10 seconds EVERY time I open the car, whereas before it only did it every now and again. Could this be a high current drain that is helping to exhaust the battery? Matt

 

[television]

Yes there has been 2 recalls and they made the pump run longer on each visit / update.

Re the C pillar seal, the bottom rubber is not stuck down all the way along the bottom edge as in the picture right round to the left hand side of the picture out of sight,,this left corner that you cannot see should be pulled back and sealed up to the third weld, mine had been done or modified on these two corners but not along the bottom all the way to what you can see in the picture, the under side is as important as the top side. So mine is now done at last.

We will see now what happens if it ever rains again :

 

[Rod1506SL500]

I've just got a 2002 SL500 with 6300 cradle. When I put the phone in it charges but the command reads "telephone error - telephone not plugged in". Any ideas please? Rod

 

[television]

Hello and welcome.. what phone are you using,,? the 6310i