Used SAMs

[s5tuart]

A bit of advice please.
Is it worth buying a used SAM from a breaker or should I try to find a new one (if that's even possible)
I need a nearside front (horn, wipers, aircon vents etc) as my existing one has suffered water ingress in the past and is playing up.

 

[Blobcat]

Problem with used is that you've no way of knowing if it's not as bad as or even worse than yours - guarantees and refunds can be problematic and stressful

 

[SL63 Mark]

It would be a lottery, with the odds stacked against you. What does your independent specialist suggest ? They often know good sources of used parts.

 

[M80]

Buy from ebay, if it doesn't work it goes back and at worst ebay refund you.

I've had a few that way.

 

[s5tuart]

Buy from ebay, if it doesn't work it goes back and at worst ebay refund you.

I've had a few that way.

The cheapest one on the bay is £165 plus postage from Germany. That might be a faff if I have send it back.
If I was a bit braver I'd get mine out ( but I'm not sure how) and have a go at repairing it. Shouldn't be too hard but I don't want to FUBAR the thing!

 

[M80]

I've tried drying them,
opening them up, and that takes some doing as the one's I tried on are set in rubber (or similar). All were a fail.

I wouldn't attempt it again.

But record the faults on yours. When replaced if there are different faults then the replacement is goosed. But more than that I keep a SAM with known faults for diagnostics. I can put it back in to see if there are the same known faults and if they are different than the faults I might experience in future it would prove that the suspect SAM is faulty.

 

[s5tuart]

I've tried drying them,
opening them up, and that takes some doing as the one's I tried on are set in rubber (or similar). All were a fail.

I wouldn't attempt it again.

But record the faults on yours. When replaced if there are different faults then the replacement is goosed. But more than that I keep a SAM with known faults for diagnostics. I can put it back in to see if there are the same known faults and if they are different than the faults I might experience in future it would prove that the suspect SAM is faulty.

Good idea, although if I do find one to replace mine I’ll probably have a little look inside for research purposes!
Mine has a horn staying on fault and the centre vents….one is always on cold. Maybe more that I’ve not yet discovered.
If I recall Ian @star said in the region of £250 for a new one But my memory isn’t good these days.

 

[peterws1957]

The cheapest one on the bay is £165 plus postage from Germany. That might be a faff if I have send it back.
If I was a bit braver I'd get mine out ( but I'm not sure how) and have a go at repairing it. Shouldn't be too hard but I don't want to FUBAR the thing!

I'd just be a bit wary of eBay items from German sellers. Often miles overpriced and I've noted some dire state components at prices higher than new from MB. Have you tried Dronsfields? They often have accident damaged SLs in for breaking.

 

[s5tuart]

I'd just be a bit wary of eBay items from German sellers. Often miles overpriced and I've noted some dire state components at prices higher than new from MB. Have you tried Dronsfields? They often have accident damaged SLs in for breaking.

No, not tried them. I will next week when the holiday is over

 

[peterws1957]

No, not tried them. I will next week when the holiday is over

Just looked they have a 2004 SL350 at the moment.

 

[Botus]

check the parts lists.... the one in it was probably superseded by 10 later ones...

you'll need to check - this link might be right https://nemigaparts.com/cat_spares/epc/mercedes/1/fg/230458/65p/54/

must be a strange one only 4 front SAMs

010	CONTROL UNIT SAM SIGNAL ACQUISITION AND ACTUATION MODULE, IN EQUIP COMP., FRONT RIGHT SAM Replaced by: A 230 545 45 32	001	A 23 054 541 32	-	-
010	CONTROL UNIT SAM SIGNAL ACQUISITION AND ACTUATION MODULE, IN EQUIP COMP., FRONT RIGHT Replaced by: A 230 545 53 32	001	A 23 054 545 32	-	-
010	CONTROL UNIT SIGNAL ACQUISITION AND ACTUATION MODULE, IN EQUIP COMP., FRONT RIGHT Replaced by: A 230 900 16 00	001	A 23 054 553 32	-	$372.92
010	CONTROL UNIT SIGNAL ACQUISITION AND ACTUATION MODULE, IN EQUIP COMP., FRONT RIGHT	001	A 23 090 016 00	-	$421.65

and two in the boot (alongside the clip on fuse box - Signal Relay Board)

005	RELAY UNIT FUSE AND RELAY MODULE, REAR SRB	001	A 23 054 504 01	-	$118.07
010	CONTROL UNIT SAM SIGNAL ACQUISITION AND ACTUATION MODULE, REAR SAM	001	A 23 054 540 32	-	-
010	CONTROL UNIT SIGNAL ACQUISITION AND ACTUATION MODULE, REAR	001	A 23 054 554 32	-	$421.65

 

[s5tuart]

check the parts lists.... the one in it was probably superseded by 10 later ones...

you'll need to check - this link might be right https://nemigaparts.com/cat_spares/epc/mercedes/1/fg/230458/65p/54/

must be a strange one only 4 front SAMs

010	CONTROL UNIT SAM SIGNAL ACQUISITION AND ACTUATION MODULE, IN EQUIP COMP., FRONT RIGHT SAM Replaced by: A 230 545 45 32	001	A 23 054 541 32	-	-
010	CONTROL UNIT SAM SIGNAL ACQUISITION AND ACTUATION MODULE, IN EQUIP COMP., FRONT RIGHT Replaced by: A 230 545 53 32	001	A 23 054 545 32	-	-
010	CONTROL UNIT SIGNAL ACQUISITION AND ACTUATION MODULE, IN EQUIP COMP., FRONT RIGHT Replaced by: A 230 900 16 00	001	A 23 054 553 32	-	$372.92
010	CONTROL UNIT SIGNAL ACQUISITION AND ACTUATION MODULE, IN EQUIP COMP., FRONT RIGHT	001	A 23 090 016 00	-	$421.65

and two in the boot (alongside the clip on fuse box - Signal Relay Board)

005	RELAY UNIT FUSE AND RELAY MODULE, REAR SRB	001	A 23 054 504 01	-	$118.07
010	CONTROL UNIT SAM SIGNAL ACQUISITION AND ACTUATION MODULE, REAR SAM	001	A 23 054 540 32	-	-
010	CONTROL UNIT SIGNAL ACQUISITION AND ACTUATION MODULE, REAR	001	A 23 054 554 32	-	$421.65

thank you!

 

[s5tuart]

Just looked they have a 2004 SL350 at the moment.

I’ve just sent them a query. Thank you

 

[s5tuart]

I’ve just sent them a query. Thank you

They want a part number
Understandable I suppose. I'll have to try to get mine out to read it.

 

[Botus]

run dealer diagnostics (or indeed many capable third party tools) it'll give you all the info

xentry quick test - when complete press f8 you get a print out of every module on the car including what version of faulty software its running in each one

 

[s5tuart]

run dealer diagnostics (or indeed many capable third party tools) it'll give you all the info

xentry quick test - when complete press f8 you get a print out of every module on the car including what version of faulty software its running in each one

Awesome info. Thank you

 

[V6Matty]

I bought a used SAM from Poland via eBay years ago when the boot on my S211 was doing weird things, all worked but did need coding the the car to make sure it all worked