SL/R129: SL600 Oil Level Sensor
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 56
Likes: 2
From: Sunapee, NH
1999 CLK430, 2002 SL600 Silver Arrow, 2024 GLS450, 1980 Rolls-Royce Corniche FHC
SL600 Oil Level Sensor
The oil level sensor on my '02 SL600 is leaking - I suspect one of the O-rings that seal the sensor in sump is starting to perish.
Question: Does anyone know if there's a trick to removing the sensor? I dropped the oil pan, only to find that there's a bracket/baffle that obstructs removing the sensor. The bracket is held on by three bolts, one of which (nearest the sensor) can be removed via an access hole, the second (in the center, near the oil pump pickup) is easily removed, but the third on the opposite side of the sump looks to be impossible to get to (of course MB didn't make an access hole on that side, but they could have!). To me, it looks like you have to remove the sump casting, not just the oil pan to get to the third screw - and it's not at all obvious that comes off w/ the engine in the car - the bolts on the front and side are easy to get to, but not sure about the one that are under the body/suspension cross member.
Looks like I might (?) be able to remove the two accessible bolts and bend the bracket out of the way - but that just seems wrong.
I really don't want to have to pull the V-12 to replace a $3 O-ring!
Question: Does anyone know if there's a trick to removing the sensor? I dropped the oil pan, only to find that there's a bracket/baffle that obstructs removing the sensor. The bracket is held on by three bolts, one of which (nearest the sensor) can be removed via an access hole, the second (in the center, near the oil pump pickup) is easily removed, but the third on the opposite side of the sump looks to be impossible to get to (of course MB didn't make an access hole on that side, but they could have!). To me, it looks like you have to remove the sump casting, not just the oil pan to get to the third screw - and it's not at all obvious that comes off w/ the engine in the car - the bolts on the front and side are easy to get to, but not sure about the one that are under the body/suspension cross member.
Looks like I might (?) be able to remove the two accessible bolts and bend the bracket out of the way - but that just seems wrong.
I really don't want to have to pull the V-12 to replace a $3 O-ring!
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 56
Likes: 2
From: Sunapee, NH
1999 CLK430, 2002 SL600 Silver Arrow, 2024 GLS450, 1980 Rolls-Royce Corniche FHC
Dealers have Special Tool
I ended up having a dealer service the part - they actually have a special tool to get to the hidden bolt. Wasn't too bad - I think the job was only about $250.
