SL/R129: R129 SL600 owners...anyone have to replace the throttle bodies and/or wiring harness?
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Super Member
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 816
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From: 40*-55'-44" N / 73*-24'-07" W
'98 C43/55 AMG Speedybenz Susp. & MBenzNL On Board -- '88 560SL -- '09 JCW MINI -- '97 Jeep TJ Sport
R129 SL600 owners...anyone have to replace the throttle bodies and/or wiring harness?
Hello all.
To the previous-gen SL600 owners... I was told about a problem that may exist with hi milage SL600s, in that the wiring harness inside a thick loom crystalized and shorts, taking out the throttle bodies (two, one master and one slave; over $3K replacement) as well as the MAF and other things. My mechanic was on his way to fix one for this this weekend when I asked him about SL600s this past week I was thinking of buying.
So I'd like to ask... How common is this? On the R129 milage thread nothing other then 'minor' issues mentioned; mainly high praise about the reliability and strength of the car. Anyone else afflicted with this?
edit: here's at least one other person with this:
http://www.mercedesshop.com/shopforu...d.php?t=112493
To the previous-gen SL600 owners... I was told about a problem that may exist with hi milage SL600s, in that the wiring harness inside a thick loom crystalized and shorts, taking out the throttle bodies (two, one master and one slave; over $3K replacement) as well as the MAF and other things. My mechanic was on his way to fix one for this this weekend when I asked him about SL600s this past week I was thinking of buying.
So I'd like to ask... How common is this? On the R129 milage thread nothing other then 'minor' issues mentioned; mainly high praise about the reliability and strength of the car. Anyone else afflicted with this?
edit: here's at least one other person with this:
http://www.mercedesshop.com/shopforu...d.php?t=112493
Last edited by c55m8o; Apr 23, 2006 at 12:22 AM.
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Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 44
Likes: 1
From: Annapolis, MD
'97 RENNtech E60RS
The wiring harness shorting problem is very well known for the earliest 129 SL600s (1994 and 1995). By 1996 the problem seems to have diminished, although I have heard of wiring problems into 1997. The higher the mileage, the more likely the problem is to occur. In 2001, I was quoted $12,000 (!) by a MB dealer to rewire my 100,000-mile '94 SL600 that was DIG (Dead In Garage) with shorted harnesses. I eventually got MBUSA to do the wiring fix on their nickel, but not without some hassle. I have seen messages on various MB web sites about independent techs charging a few $K for rewiring, so the cost of the fix obviously varies greatly. It is best to try to avoid the issue entirely by going with 1997 and later SL600s. Given the huge depreciation these cars have, you can get low mileage 2002 SL600s in the mid-$30k range. That is quite a nice price for this very capable and exclusive car. BTW, I wholesaled the '94 SL600 as soon as it was repaired (I had no confidence that something else wasn't going to go wrong by that point) and got a new '02 SL500. Nice car, but it didn't have the grunt off the line of the big 600. I kept the 500 for the 39 months of its lease and then turned it back to MBUSA. Two weeks ago I got a 2004 SL600. WOW, what a difference! The 230-series SL600 is amazing and head and shoulders better than the 129 SL600. Just my $0.02.
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 816
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From: 40*-55'-44" N / 73*-24'-07" W
'98 C43/55 AMG Speedybenz Susp. & MBenzNL On Board -- '88 560SL -- '09 JCW MINI -- '97 Jeep TJ Sport
Thanx -very- much for that informed reply! 
Ya, later after my original post I found a drove of info on mercedesshop.com as you mention. I guess that explains why I primarily see only 94 & 95 SL600s for sales! It's very believable how the non-turbo'ed 230 SL600 must have depreciated after that insane turbo'ed SL hit the streets (quite a shame actually; their loss is your gain though!). I guess I should just stick to a R107 I guess as my wife likes the body better, I should probably avoid the 94 & 95 R129, and the cost of newer is a tad higher then we wanted to go for this particular luxury item. But maybe still... Thanx again. 
Ya, later after my original post I found a drove of info on mercedesshop.com as you mention. I guess that explains why I primarily see only 94 & 95 SL600s for sales! It's very believable how the non-turbo'ed 230 SL600 must have depreciated after that insane turbo'ed SL hit the streets (quite a shame actually; their loss is your gain though!). I guess I should just stick to a R107 I guess as my wife likes the body better, I should probably avoid the 94 & 95 R129, and the cost of newer is a tad higher then we wanted to go for this particular luxury item. But maybe still... Thanx again.
