Hopefully I got 2 defective MB batteries on the trot! I say hopefully ...

Submariner1

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I got an unwelcome call from the Dealer, the car was in there for unrelated work.
I’d dropped it off before the weekend for them to do some work on Tuesday.

When they came to move it on Tuesday it showed an “ABS and ESP Unavilable, see owners handbook”. Warning in yellow.
By the time they had moved it , this disappeared.

I have seen that 3 times in the last month.

They had a quick look at it, and it had thrown a load of conflicting fault codes, wheel sensors , axles speed sensors, steering sensors , rear sam , door sam, all undervoltages , said it couldnt move out of Park when it could.

And it said one wheel sensor reported 201 mph and the other three 0 !
Some crazy donut! :):)

Many of the undervoltages were 11.74 to 11.25V!

Note just before I dropped it off it had a long 36 hour slow charge by my CTEK.

As a courtesy unaware of the above slow charge, they gave it a trickle charge and were surprised to see it came to full charge in under 4 hours! They thought that might take 7 or 8 hours.

And when they checked, the current drain averaged only 20 mAs. Apparrently perfectly OK.

They cleared the codes and she started beautifully with no warnings, and out of interest at no charge they quickly looked at it on STAR ... no fault codes!

They say this is indicative of a defective battery that cant hold a charge.

Some of you may have seen I have been winging that this effing “replacement” battery seems to need a top up charge every 3 days if not driven.

I had also noticed that when it was say at 12.4V it usually took about 10 hours on the CTEK to fully charge, but a couple of times had done it remarkably quickly.
(and due to this nightmare, I had been checking the CTEK was charging properly Volts and Amps).

The fault codes they got were pretty much all the codes I got when the new battery was installed last year. These codes disappeared when they replaced it with this one!

Coincidence .. I am sceptical about coincidences! Strangely their manufacturing dates are withing a few weeks!

The technician said that officially I should book it in for a full battery test, and if it failed then there would be no charge and a free replacement battery!

I do recall the initial “defective” new battery passed its test first time, and only showed up the major fault on the 3rd test!

He said if it was his car, he wouldnt go investigating anything until the battery was replaced!

So I think I will just be pragmatic, and stop charging it, i.e. treat it just like a normal car, until it fails to start. And call Mobilo and get them to replace the battery.
 
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Submariner1

Submariner1

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So just a heads up.
In the past if I got a new Mercedes Battery ... I naively thought you were good to go :(:(
 

flowrider

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I think this car is going after the record for the most issues in the shortest space of time. I think by now i would have sold it!
 

LostKiwi

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'93 500SL-32, '01 W210 Estate E240 (RIP), 02 R230 SL500, 04 Smart Roadster Coupe, 11 R350CDi
Exactly my thoughts. That car would have gone long ago if I owned it.
To be fair to the car I can only think of one actual fault that wasn't induced by external activity and thats the Amplifier.
The battery was fine till it was changed (and I get it was a pre-emptive strike).
The LED light issues weren't part of anything the car had wrong with it.
Same with dash cams
....and so on.
 
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Submariner1

Submariner1

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To be fair to the car I can only think of one actual fault that wasn't induced by external activity and thats the Amplifier.
The battery was fine till it was changed (and I get it was a pre-emptive strike).
The LED light issues weren't part of anything the car had wrong with it.
Same with dash cams
....and so on.
Thanks for putting it in perspective Alistair .

Yes, I have had an amazing run of bad luck!

Known faults when bought and either accomodated in a reduced price or paid for by others.
1. Owner put wrong tyres on the front! - he paid for new ones
2. Leaking front strut - by agreement price was lowered to cover it.
3. Useless tyre company shedded the key to wheel locking nuts with the old owner, they paid for a new set of keys and wheel removal of one locking nuts.
4. Its 40K service was not by a MB approved service centre . I had that redone at MB.

5. It had not had an ABC flush, but not specified by MB, I wanted that done and did it.
6. The brake fluid was not changed . i did it.
7. The gearbox fluid was nearly due, accomdated in purchase price and done
8. Not a MB specification but I change diff oils at 40K , so done.

Faults due to crap workmanship
1. Wheel respray faulty - they redid 2 wheels
2. Wheel company cross theaded hub, they paid £700 to have it checked out and MB replace it
3. Changed Battery for genuine MB one, and its defective. MB replaced it FOC incl. Labour
4. I am pretty sure the replacement was part of a bad batch as the car has negligible battery drain 20 mA, and cant last more than 3 days without the battery going low, but it starts.
5. Huge inconvenience repainting calipers purely due to incorrect and changing advice from Hammerite technical on overcoarting with acrylic. Now resolved and lasted perfectly.

Actual Faults and Breakdowns:-
Faults found at first service.
1. A £36 slightly dim Mirror indicator leds.
2. A £68 failed Heated Mirror pad
3. Found stiff rear level sensors, so replaced them all £50 , more maintenance than a failure
4. Minute tear in one brake caliper boot so changed them all ( ref caliper painting) for £26
5. Replaced rear brake caliper pin rubbers as the wrong grease was used in them .. but the worked fine. £18
6. HK Amp repaired £246 with lifetime warranty


4. Led lights trial didnt work £8 wasted on bulbs
5. Dashcam issues, crap Sheilding on cheap Dashcams . Not the car. Actually think its now 90% cured with ferrite rings.

And now this issue, re low voltage , they are sure is another faulty battery, more an issue of MBs sliding quality control or an unlucky batch than the car.

So would you really get rid of a car, that had £444 unexpected bill repairs (above routine service costs).
Where in fairness, many would have regreased the level sensors and just put in non mineral grease in the caliper pin slider rubbers. Bringing that down to £376 in 1 year and 7 Months.
and £246 of that was an HK Amp .... which is now covered with a lifetime warranty.
Hey any one who has an HK amp knows its a matter if when not if!

Yes I have asked oodles of questions getting to know the foibles of this car, and general mechanics.
But to be honest in the 5 liter and above zone, its probably one of the best ones on this site repair/ cost wise.

Especially when one is talking bringing a car up to tip top standard, that had lapsed in the last 6 months of ownership by the previous owner.

I think if you asked a few people on here with older big cars, they would think its pretty good.

My view is its an old car ... sh*t will happen ... its a Mercedes :):)

Get shot of it? Hell if you cant afford £237 a year in unexpected repairs honestly you should NOT be buying an old 5.5L !

I optimistically think, a new one would cost £118K and when you drive this one ... it drives like its brand new.:):)

I am just very grateful to the helpful folk on here, who have helped me solve these problems very cost effectively.

I know my “devil in the detail” irritates the crap out of some people, but quite frankly if you screw up the detail on these cars .... boy could it cost you.
Example ... those who said just open the main ABC reservoir cap. Not on these later bottom return ones, or in an instant you dump a lifetimes filtered crap straight into the pump! And on through every single ABC component!!
Thankfully my dogged pursuit of sound logic allowed me to avoid that catastrophe.

As I say if it irritates you .. and you are not interested in the safe route. Be my guest just ignore the post!
 
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Submariner1

Submariner1

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I think this car is going after the record for the most issues in the shortest space of time. I think by now i would have sold it!

I would be interested to see a list of what you have done to your car since ownership with rough costs beside each item?
 

Naraic

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2005 CL500.
Mine has cost less than £200 in unexpected costs, and it's older, just as complex.

Detail? Yes...like the time you explained about painting a small piece of metal, or replaced bolts somewhere because they didn't look nice...etc.

Is it a coincidence that banal contains the word anal?
 

flowrider

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I would be interested to see a list of what you have done to your car since ownership with rough costs beside each item?
You got me there .......£700 spent on unexpected maintenance in 18months. :eek:

My SL is 14 years old though.

I think it just appears that you have constant issue with your car because there are so many new posts.
 

drmw

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M6 Cab - prior to that, SL63 AMG, A-M V8 Vantage, SL55, SL500 and many more
Mine (2008) is approaching 5 years in my ownership in a couple of months. Unexpected maintenance (a month ago) less than £24 for a couple of boot relays (and half that if I could be ar$ed to find out which it was)
 

flowrider

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Mine (2008) is approaching 5 years in my ownership in a couple of months. Unexpected maintenance (a month ago) less than £24 for a couple of boot relays (and half that if I could be ar$ed to find out which it was)
Show off :D
 

JBell

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C350 CDi Estate (GAD Edition)
I would be interested to see a list of what you have done to your car since ownership with rough costs beside each item?

Since I bought in Jan 2015

£750 on oil intercooler seals and 2 rear sub frame bushes in Jan 2017

Consumables:

Front Brake pads - 2015
Front Brake disks and pads - 2017
Rear Brake pads - 2017
3 pairs of rear tyres
2 pairs of front tyres
Yearly servicing at my indy
 

dreadlockdw

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Thanks for putting it in perspective Alistair .

Yes, I have had an amazing run of bad luck!

Known faults when bought and either accomodated in a reduced price or paid for by others.
1. Owner put wrong tyres on the front! - he paid for new ones
2. Leaking front strut - by agreement price was lowered to cover it.
3. Useless tyre company shedded the key to wheel locking nuts with the old owner, they paid for a new set of keys and wheel removal of one locking nuts.
4. Its 40K service was not by a MB approved service centre . I had that redone at MB.

5. It had not had an ABC flush, but not specified by MB, I wanted that done and did it.
6. The brake fluid was not changed . i did it.
7. The gearbox fluid was nearly due, accomdated in purchase price and done
8. Not a MB specification but I change diff oils at 40K , so done.

Faults due to crap workmanship
1. Wheel respray faulty - they redid 2 wheels
2. Wheel company cross theaded hub, they paid £700 to have it checked out and MB replace it
3. Changed Battery for genuine MB one, and its defective. MB replaced it FOC incl. Labour
4. I am pretty sure the replacement was part of a bad batch as the car has negligible battery drain 20 mA, and cant last more than 3 days without the battery going low, but it starts.
5. Huge inconvenience repainting calipers purely due to incorrect and changing advice from Hammerite technical on overcoarting with acrylic. Now resolved and lasted perfectly.

Actual Faults and Breakdowns:-
Faults found at first service.
1. A £36 slightly dim Mirror indicator leds.
2. A £68 failed Heated Mirror pad
3. Found stiff rear level sensors, so replaced them all £50 , more maintenance than a failure
4. Minute tear in one brake caliper boot so changed them all ( ref caliper painting) for £26
5. Replaced rear brake caliper pin rubbers as the wrong grease was used in them .. but the worked fine. £18
6. HK Amp repaired £246 with lifetime warranty


4. Led lights trial didnt work £8 wasted on bulbs
5. Dashcam issues, crap Sheilding on cheap Dashcams . Not the car. Actually think its now 90% cured with ferrite rings.

And now this issue, re low voltage , they are sure is another faulty battery, more an issue of MBs sliding quality control or an unlucky batch than the car.

So would you really get rid of a car, that had £444 unexpected bill repairs (above routine service costs).
Where in fairness, many would have regreased the level sensors and just put in non mineral grease in the caliper pin slider rubbers. Bringing that down to £376 in 1 year and 7 Months.
and £246 of that was an HK Amp .... which is now covered with a lifetime warranty.
Hey any one who has an HK amp knows its a matter if when not if!

Yes I have asked oodles of questions getting to know the foibles of this car, and general mechanics.
But to be honest in the 5 liter and above zone, its probably one of the best ones on this site repair/ cost wise.

Especially when one is talking bringing a car up to tip top standard, that had lapsed in the last 6 months of ownership by the previous owner.

I think if you asked a few people on here with older big cars, they would think its pretty good.

My view is its an old car ... sh*t will happen ... its a Mercedes :):)

Get shot of it? Hell if you cant afford £237 a year in unexpected repairs honestly you should NOT be buying an old 5.5L !

I optimistically think, a new one would cost £118K and when you drive this one ... it drives like its brand new.:):)

I am just very grateful to the helpful folk on here, who have helped me solve these problems very cost effectively.

I know my “devil in the detail” irritates the crap out of some people, but quite frankly if you screw up the detail on these cars .... boy could it cost you.
Example ... those who said just open the main ABC reservoir cap. Not on these later bottom return ones, or in an instant you dump a lifetimes filtered crap straight into the pump! And on through every single ABC component!!
Thankfully my dogged pursuit of sound logic allowed me to avoid that catastrophe.

As I say if it irritates you .. and you are not interested in the safe route. Be my guest just ignore the post!

I like hearing all the detail and would point out that a decent brand new hatchback, while hopefully needing nothing doing to it, would be costing what (?) £3k or more a year in depreciation alone. On that thought, how much would a new SL be costing in depreciation each year?
 
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Submariner1

Submariner1

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You got me there .......£700 spent on unexpected maintenance in 18months. :eek:

My SL is 14 years old though.

I think it just appears that you have constant issue with your car because there are so many new posts.

Sorry to hear about your additional costs, but it sounds like you too are getting your car “sorted”
I am sure we both hope, once our cars are truly sorted, it will lead to a period of failure free fun time.

In perspective, having bought new Mercedes since 1989, I hadnt done a thing to a car for 28 years not even changed a light bulb, the last car I worked on was a Triumph TR6, so you can imagine a huge learning curve! It didnt even have ABS!

So an awful lot to learn.
 
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Submariner1

Submariner1

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Mine (2008) is approaching 5 years in my ownership in a couple of months. Unexpected maintenance (a month ago) less than £24 for a couple of boot relays (and half that if I could be ar$ed to find out which it was)

I envy you beyond belief!
I am interested whats the current mileage, and is it garaged?
 
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Submariner1

Submariner1

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Since I bought in Jan 2015

£750 on oil intercooler seals and 2 rear sub frame bushes in Jan 2017

Consumables:

Front Brake pads - 2015
Front Brake disks and pads - 2017
Rear Brake pads - 2017
3 pairs of rear tyres
2 pairs of front tyres
Yearly servicing at my indy

So not too dissimilar to mine, circa £250 a year in repairs. IMO par for the course, as you obviously drive it properly with 3 sets of rears in 3 years :)
As, One cant really count consumables .
 
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Submariner1

Submariner1

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Maybe this is cazy logic. But when I baulked at £1,100 for MB Warranty on my 3 year old SL500 R230 as it only had 17,000 miles.
The warranty manager said the price was based on historic costs plus a very small margin.

So could one say, if your repair cost come in under their annual fee; then you have done well? LOL :)
Or as a good Indy is circa half the cost of a main dealer, an average repair cost will probably be half of the cost of a full MB Warranty?

Of course you do run the risk something big goes :(:(

I still cant get over my first 4 Mercedes a 190E 2.6 lost a sidelight bulb in 45,000 miles. And two E320 Coupes circa 30,000 miles each .. zero failures, and an S Class lost a Xenon bulb in 32,000 miles.

Makes one wonder if all these “essential toys” are worth it.

I cant speak of the E320s but I did meet the second owner of the 190E, who said he did a further 120,000 miles trouble free.
And my sister bought my S Class, and kept it till it was 17 years old, and cranked it to 159,000 before the exhaust baffles gave up, other than that I think she had a new wing mirror motor.
So it wasnt just because they were bought new. They were IMO just built to handle the miles.
 
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