Please help - I'm desperate!!!

[nickvpm]

Hi

I'm new to this forum and have turned to it as a last resort to help my father. He has a 1991 Mercedes 500SE 4Door V-8 Automatic Petrol Rear Wheel Drive that is his absolute pride and joy. He is very elderly and has had a terrible year healthwise and this car is one of his real pleasures in life.

The ignition unit in the car has blown and he needs a new one. This is easier said than done. We have been looking for 3 months, and the mechanic even ordered one from Australia which was the wrong part. Apparently it is very hard to find - it used to be made by Bosch but they no longer make them. It has 2 x 8 pin round plugs and 1 x 3 pin round plug.

We've had a lot of people try and help but always get the wrong part, so I am attaching two photos to avoid any confusion - if anyone has any ideas about where we can find one you will make an old man (and his daughter) very happy!

 

[Aussie Nick]

Welcome.At least you have the right name. Hang fire and wait until senior members Malcolm and Myros see the thread. I am sure one of them will be able to assist.
Surprised the part from oz wasn't the right one.

 

[jibcl500]

£1682.41 + vat Currently 3 in stock.

jib

 

[dodgemnz]

Hi Nicola,
I understand your problem with finding a good used ignition module, the reason is because the model of Mercedes engine in his car is called "factory Uprated" this means the engine has a higher output than normal with a significant number of performance differences to the usual models that have more stringent emission controls.
This means the car has a different distributor and the electronic ignition module has the addition of knock control via sensors mounted on the engine block. These modules are prone to failure usually from jump starting or ignition coil failure.
I had a similar problem locating a good unit but i was unlucky in that the original module was removed and destroyed
I did find some places in Europe who will exchange your module for a price that i cant recall other than this the module from a W126 560 (Uprated engine version) will also work and with a simple trim adjustment it will run fine (this plugs on top of your ignition unit).

Part number 006 545 5432 Bosch 0 227 400 701

Im not sure where you are located but you maybe able to locate a good used module but it wont be easy!
Im not sure if a later w140 module will work ive not had this confirmedbut they do look similar in configuration. You can pm me directly if you need more help


Regards
Mike
Christchurch
New Zealand

 

[jibcl500]

W140 EZL not the same part number, not the same part.
jib

 

[television]

What a joke on the price, talking to a Bosch guy the paid £4 to have them made

And that was the manufacturing cost,, I have opened on and there is nothing in them

 

[Richard Moakes]

How about getting it rebuilt, still not cheap though

http://www.bba-reman.com/catalogue/DetailedProduct.aspx?DetailedProduct=831

Good Luck,

 

[television]

How about getting it rebuilt, still not cheap though

http://www.bba-reman.com/catalogue/DetailedProduct.aspx?DetailedProduct=831

Good Luck,

I think that these are called re manufactured, but as you say not cheap, but a better price.

There must be a good market for doing this

 

[MotardMan]

I'm assuming you have tried ALL of the breakers? A call to the dealer will not always result in this part being made available to you at retail cost. You can, and do, get big discounts from some dealers if you strike up a relationship with the parts guy. I used to get up to 40% off parts from 300TE-24 simply because the guy behind the counter had a 300CE-24.

Call a few places and ask. Dorchester Benz are very easy to deal with...

 

[nickvpm]

Wow, you guys are pretty good eh? I thought I'd pop back in after a week or so and there might be one response! Thank you so much. I've tried nearly every dealer, mechanic, and breakers yard (and I live next door to one of the biggest) in the country and have had nothing but blank faces and mumbles, so thank you - my Dad is now beaming from ear to ear at the thought of driving his baby again. I shall try all the suggestions here and if nothing comes of it I shall come back in, but thanks to all of you for the help. I'm speechless. Dad also said Mercedes drivers were true gentlemen so thanks for proving him right.

 

[MotardMan]

Will you let us know when you get it fixed and by which method? This sort of thing is really useful to have as a reference for other members in need, and not everyone bothers to post up the result of the fixes they achieve. Best of luck to your Dad, and to you, in your quest.

 

[Myros]

any good to you

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI....m=190186716527&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=009

Here's hoping.....

 

[jibcl500]

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Mercedes-Benz...hZ007QQcategoryZ10398QQtcZphotoQQcmdZViewItem

jib

 

[nickvpm]

Hello

Well, the ebay ones looked quite exciting there for a minute, but turned out to be very similar to the dud we got from Australia (sorry AussieNick!) so perhaps they would have usually fitted this model if it wasn't for the uprate.

The rebuild is actually looking quite promising so far - fingers crossed - thanks for that Richard. And is actually very reasonably priced if it works - and nothing to lose if it doesn't.

Will let you all know how it turns out.....

 

[dodgemnz]

Im pretty sure you wont find one via Ebay as the RUF version with uprated engine would not meet US emssion regulations!
I had lots of people tell me they could supply but in the end they were just guessing! I even had a Mercedes dealer arguing about the module and people saying this uprated version doesnt exist! Its easy to spot... the main differences is the black cam covers on the engine, the later type 560 aircleaner with twin inlet hoses and the engine number with the compression ratio stamped on the end (xxxxxxx E10.0)
I was Quoted $8000 nzd and from Aus $4700 for a new module! They are very rare! Its more likely you would find this part in Singapore as thats where my car and at least one other i know of came from.
Cheers
Mike

 

[nickvpm]

The module has turned up to be permanently damaged - it cannot be rebuilt. Mike - I'm also getting endless people trying to convince me they have it - and not one of them does. I have no idea what they are thinking. Thanks for the point to Singapore. Otherwise things are starting to look a bit bleak, but I will let you if we do get it fixed.
Cheers

Nicola

 

[kth286]

nickvpm

Thinking about you and father's needs you should look urgently on the items for sale section.

You will find ignition module just as you want, very cheap from man with same car.

 

[jibcl500]

Nicola

Is your fathers name Tom. If so I have spoken to him tonight.

jib

 

[Brian23]

Have you tried the 'on line' breakers? some of them have a national system where you put an enquiry into one site and it gets sent to all the breakers on their network. Also you may get 5 or 6 replies and you can pick the cheapest. Just make sure you give them all the info inc the parts number if poss, which you should find on the unit

 

[ecol]

pm me your email I have an ecu in my garage I will check the serial nos