SL/R129: 2001 SL500 door problems....
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2001 SL500 door problems....
hey!! my grandma(yes my grandma, im 15) owns a 2001 SL500, and a lot of noises developed in both of the doors over bumps, and when, for example, turning into a driveway where the car "bends" and "twists". its a very loud crack/pop in the doors, but it doesnt do it with the window rolled down. Also, when you take off from a stop, you can feel and hear something under the car pop and crack(at least thats where it feels and sounds like its coming from)...anybody else have these problems??? thanks!!! PS--- this is due to the lack of structural rigidity in the car,right??after all, the chassis is a 12 year old design
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From: Abbotsford, BC, Canada
1999 SL 500 & 2011 E 550 4Matic
Re: 2001 SL500 door problems....
Originally posted by akbro93704
this is due to the lack of structural rigidity in the car,right??after all, the chassis is a 12 year old design
this is due to the lack of structural rigidity in the car,right??after all, the chassis is a 12 year old design
But that does not mean the car's structural rigidity is inferior.
In the 1.5 years I have been driving, I've never hear any such noises. My 1999 SL500 now has about 35,000 miles on it.
The only time I hear any loud popping or cracking nioses is when the soft top hydaulically unlatches from the A piller when putting the top down.
What does the dealership's mechanics say about your grandmother's car noises?
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the dealership was told about the sounds coming from the doors, but they claimed that it was the "right exhaust manifold" rattling, which would have been a TOTALLY different sound. they replaced the exhaust manifold, and of course, the sounds from the doors were still there.my grandma said shed tell the dealership about it when her next service is due. i dont think the doors should be creaking that bad, after all, it only has 14500 miles on it. thanks for ur reply!
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The windows on the model year have mechanism that lowers the window by less that half inch when exiting the car and then when closing the door the window will flush back to automatic seal with the soft top or hardtop installed; earlier models did not have this feature and sometimes the windows would need to be adjusted to the hardtop due to alignment problems.
Have the dealer check the windows automatic closure mechanism it may not be working correctly. The window may be misaligned and when driving may be putting pressure on the glass causing the noise.
Have the dealer check the windows automatic closure mechanism it may not be working correctly. The window may be misaligned and when driving may be putting pressure on the glass causing the noise.
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From: Abbotsford, BC, Canada
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akbro93704
I think stonechip has a point. Since you have posted on the R230 forum about bad wind noise in the R129. The window allignment needs to be reworked badly!
What are the chances that your grandparents will get a new R230 and give you the 2001 R129 as your first car?
You would be a very happy guy ... because I know you have the wrong impression of R129 rigidity and noise abatement quality.
I think stonechip has a point. Since you have posted on the R230 forum about bad wind noise in the R129. The window allignment needs to be reworked badly!
What are the chances that your grandparents will get a new R230 and give you the 2001 R129 as your first car?
You would be a very happy guy ... because I know you have the wrong impression of R129 rigidity and noise abatement quality.
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Ya, I would be a VERY happy guy if I got my grandmas car...my grandpa actually has mentioned getting my grandma the R230 when I turn 16 and giving my brother and I(im a twin) the 2001.He could get one any time he wants cuz he owns a dealership, but you have to know my grandpa to know the reasons why he wont.Ya, the windows on the car do need working on badly, but I cant convince my grandma to take it in, she says its too much trouble and when her next service comes around she'll get it fixed then. I dont think I have the wrong impression on the rigidity and noise abatement, because the rigidity in fine,just not as rigid as other cars today, and I know other R129's do not have the problems this car does. I hate talking about my grandparents on here, makes me feel too young chatting with people older than me, lol
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From: Miami, Fl
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2001 SL500 Door Problems
You are not obligated to share your frustrations relating as to when you will take possession of the automobile, and if delivery will take place upon your 16th birthday or thereof, and if your grandparents will or will not afford you the ability to obtain the car, and if your are going to be happy; this is not therapy, just a Mercedes Benz discussion group.
Once you receive the car, and feel comfortable speaking with older folks like us, then will be more that happy to read your concerns on the mechanical worthiness of the R129 model.
Once you receive the car, and feel comfortable speaking with older folks like us, then will be more that happy to read your concerns on the mechanical worthiness of the R129 model.
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ok, and I know I wasn't obligated to say any of that stuff about receiving the car etc..., and none of it was theraputic in my part...and those "facetious" comments were totally unnecessary....so lets just drop it
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.... I knew what facetious meant, but I knew you weren't being facetious when you made all of those comments about me...you thought I was serious when I said I wasn't comfortable talking with older people, but then when I said I was kidding you decided that you were being facetious...but I could care less about any of it, I dont even know why I'm wasting my time...
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From: Miami, Fl
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2001 SL500 Door Problems
You are using referential reasoning behind your argument.
You precede from an incorrect assumption, and in the process you proceed to formulate a hypothesis that meets your criterial as to my disposition when I made the comments in question.
I could also utilize your circular reasoning and assume that you made the comment that you were not being serious in the first place, in order to avoid the perception that you were being immature during your tirade on the issue of your grandparents. By the way I am much younger than you could ever imagine.
You precede from an incorrect assumption, and in the process you proceed to formulate a hypothesis that meets your criterial as to my disposition when I made the comments in question.
I could also utilize your circular reasoning and assume that you made the comment that you were not being serious in the first place, in order to avoid the perception that you were being immature during your tirade on the issue of your grandparents. By the way I am much younger than you could ever imagine.
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how old are you?? anyways, I think it was stupid both of our parts to argue over something that trivial...but the stupidness was pretty much on my part, I guess...
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2001 SL500 Door Problems
There is an old saying:
“Never argue with an idiot, people may not be able to tell the difference”
I old enough to know what I want, and young enough to enjoy it!
“Never argue with an idiot, people may not be able to tell the difference”
I old enough to know what I want, and young enough to enjoy it!
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Because the windows are frameless, the alignment is critical. Get it wrong and you get wind noise at best, at worst, the glass can fould with the hard or soft top and, depending on what's come loose, the glass may be pressing up and something in the door is moving.
The door trim panel needs to come off to check what's happening and the dealer needs to re-align the window. Definitely not some thing to do yourself, the procedure is a nightmare.
I had to have a door replaced after I crunched it, and a major part of the work was transferring the stuff inside the door (window, locks, air bag, speakers, door controls, lamps - there's a lot in there) to the new one.
The door trim panel needs to come off to check what's happening and the dealer needs to re-align the window. Definitely not some thing to do yourself, the procedure is a nightmare.
I had to have a door replaced after I crunched it, and a major part of the work was transferring the stuff inside the door (window, locks, air bag, speakers, door controls, lamps - there's a lot in there) to the new one.
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thanks so much blue SL!! but what do you mean the glass can "fould" with the hard or soft top?? do you mean fold? I kind of find it weird that the creak is in BOTH doors, so both doors have the exact same problem, and the car only has 14500 miles on it. It happens when there's a pothole or bump, even a very small one, and the sound is REALLY loud when you turn into a driveway and the car twists and bends because the driveway ramps up...also, I can feel something under the car crunching and cracking(on the floor where you put your feet) when the car twists too...dont know why it has so many odd problems lol...has your SL600 had any problems like that??thanks!
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[Sorry, my typo, I meant foul. After my door was replaced the glass would strike the vertical edge of the hard top because it was misaligned and I had to get the body shop to realign it]
My SL600 (81000 miles) has been fine, and in fact makes less noises like this that the SL55 AMG, it's a very fine relaxed cruiser even if it does shimmy a bit when pressed.
I missed the fact that it's happening on both doors. The 129 is stiff for a mid 80's design but modern designs have better torsional rigidity - how must the back rotates relative to the front when it is twisted.
But, it does sound like there's something wrong with the car, not just the doors, maybe a suspension problem or more likely some sort of alignment procblem. Very difificult to diagnose remotely, but certainly the car should not be making these noises.
My SL600 (81000 miles) has been fine, and in fact makes less noises like this that the SL55 AMG, it's a very fine relaxed cruiser even if it does shimmy a bit when pressed.
I missed the fact that it's happening on both doors. The 129 is stiff for a mid 80's design but modern designs have better torsional rigidity - how must the back rotates relative to the front when it is twisted.
But, it does sound like there's something wrong with the car, not just the doors, maybe a suspension problem or more likely some sort of alignment procblem. Very difificult to diagnose remotely, but certainly the car should not be making these noises.
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thanks again!ya, since your car has 81000 miles and none if the problems like mine, that tells me there's something really wrong with mine.....
your SL55 makes lots of noises??like what? seems like it wouldnt since it has such a rigid structure...
by the way, hows the quietness(road noise, wind noise) and the ride of the SL55 compared to your other cars??thanks!
your SL55 makes lots of noises??like what? seems like it wouldnt since it has such a rigid structure... by the way, hows the quietness(road noise, wind noise) and the ride of the SL55 compared to your other cars??thanks!
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The SL55 is alot noisier than the SL600, partly by design of course. The SL55 bodyshell is much stiffer, it does bang and crash if you drive diagonally across a ridge in the road. The roof creaks as well.
While a stiff car makes for best handling, it does not make for the quietest ride. If you have something really stiff, all it will do is transmit a force applied to somewhere else; if it is partially compliant, it will absorb some of the stress and transmit less of it elsewhere.
Take an airplane wing. They are stiff but not completely rigid. When you look at a 747 wing, it droops when on the ground, and curves upward when in the air. The stresses are being distributed along the wing which reduces the load on the wing root. If the wing was completely rigid, the entire stresses on the wing would be applied as a bending moment to the root of the wing.
While a stiff car makes for best handling, it does not make for the quietest ride. If you have something really stiff, all it will do is transmit a force applied to somewhere else; if it is partially compliant, it will absorb some of the stress and transmit less of it elsewhere.
Take an airplane wing. They are stiff but not completely rigid. When you look at a 747 wing, it droops when on the ground, and curves upward when in the air. The stresses are being distributed along the wing which reduces the load on the wing root. If the wing was completely rigid, the entire stresses on the wing would be applied as a bending moment to the root of the wing.
