Ron Martin

Guys,
I have wondered if our forum ought to collectively compile a compendium of commonly experienced or verifiably known repair issues with the R230 series.


I have owned my 2003 R230 SL500 since new for 12 years and have kept up with the various topics reported on this forum by other owners. In addition, I have noted the myriad of "pre- buy questions" posed by those considering purchasing a used R230 series.


Accordingly it might be helpful to compile a list of common repairs that were completed - OR can be expected - over the life of the series. If we all contribute to a common cross reference that could direct the questions to a more in-depth subject thread - WHICH WE ALREADY HAVE IN THIS SECTION ...then thosevR230 folks could save a lot of time filtering through the endless threads.


Among these subjects I would highlight and list:
(To name only a few of the more common)


ABC Issues.
EIS failures.
Trunk closure valves/ repair and or replacement.
Roof flap breakages and replacement.
Exhaust repairs .. Cats, mufflers etc.
Interior finishing issues.
Consumables expected life spans - Belts - batteries - wiper blades
General maintenance ..exterior and interior
Unusual failures
Small shocks on lids




Comments and thoughts ?


Ron

carguyshu

You'll want to add the the sensotronic brake unit. They have a 10 year warranty, but there's a lot of these cars that are over 10 years old that are going to need this replaced soon.

rear window leaks into trunk
the trim that goes on each side of the rear window fading and needing replaced

Ron Martin

Thanks for your prompt response. I appreciate any you wish to give . Hopefully the effort could help others in several areas. I read some of your previous posts and found several useful tips ..Thanks

mercy-me

Great idea Ron.

We have an encyclopedia compiled by Skylaw on the Benzworld forum for the W220. It is always the first place to look for information involving any repair. Actually, it works better than using the search function because the information is categorized and filtered and saves a lot of time immediately. See here.

The R230 forum at Benzworld, moderator Marsden has attempted to compile information and create a similar info center as well but it is a little skimpy right now. See here.

The most talked about failures on the R230 are the ABC and to a lesser degree the SBC and Vario roof issues. Aside from those, lower ball joints, strut arms etc are similar to the rest of the MB product lines.

Must be nice to have owned an R230 for 12 years! Any regrets??

Good Luck,

Bob

Ron Martin

Bob,
Thanks for your note. I am an OLD Mercedes nut, my first car was a '55 W198 Gullwing with the sports package and Rudge KO wheels - which I stumbled over when its owner was surrounded with problems while in Naval Air training .. I kept the car for about a year till I HAD to sell it (for $3800 !) to continue college .. (then, I went into Naval Air and made career of it). Since then we have owned about 12 Mercedes and 10 Porsches of various models ..my wife has a CLK 550 coupe and before that she had a '80 W107-926 450 SLC totally restored rally car. with a nice Nardi wheel and AMG air dam..plus the other standard items

As for my R230.. it currently has ONLY 8100 total miles on it. After researching and searching for an early SL63AMG with the 030 performance package without the low mileage and colors I wanted, I gave up and decided to basically build "my own version" of the R230 SL. I am installing the P030 performance brakes with a Quaife LSD - already have the AMG 22 spoke 18" "turbine wheels" and stripped everything off the trunk except the Star. Since I am a maintenance nut, the ABC system has been continuously "overly maintained". HOWEVER if I have ANY real issues with it ..I intend to completely replace the system with the Black Series "coil overs". Somehow I would LOVE to modify and install a Nardi wheel on the car ..but there is too many problems with that idea..

Being an old hot-rodder....once shared and SCCA raced a SIATA 208S coupe with a 2 LTR. Ferrari Mondial engine in it .. (ran like hell) but had trans issues with the torque. At the risk of blasphemy, I would LOVE to install one of those new Mustang VODOO DOCS engines (with the 6 speed Tremec box) in my car. But, at my current age that is REALLY "over the top".. I just want to build a well handling, reliable, and easy to maintain car to drive and enjoy.

As I read damn near anything that deals with performance cars, I noticed too many redundant questions throughout this website and thought we could make it easier for guys to get the info they sought without reading endless pages of threads.

Thoughts welcomed ..

Ron

djbadeaux

Ron -

You're one gentleman I'd like to run with!

I've always searched for answers using keywords before posting anything. I hope you will forgive my fellow newbies that don't get it or are desperately searching for help. This site has been a Godsend to me, and I would hate for others to not be enlightened because of their, dare I say "Ignorance". On their behalf, I apologize for the redundant questions and general "not knowingness".

Daryl

kbob999

I'll add some typical issues to the list as the miles pile up...

Motor & trans mounts only last 50K
Trans electrical connector leaks, and if not repaired will fail the trans control unit
Plastic lever in shifter can break locking car in Park. Fix with aluminum part.
Valve covers leak, simple re-seal.
LCD panels fade in instrument panel. Hard to read in sunlight.
Plastic parts get brittle and fail. There is a lot of plastic in the interior.
Hydraulic cylinders for top (especially front latch) fail by leaking.
Gas pedal electronics will put car in limp mode. Replace if failed.

moretech

This is a great idea! As a newer user and searcher in the forum this would be very informative for a one-stop inquier. I've used the forum plenty already. I hope someone gets the pedal depression number deal figured out soon as that seems to be a hot topic lately for older SBC systems.

anothercar

Add trunk lift supports........it's easy DYI @ less than $80 and about 5 minutes.

Ron Martin

Hey Guys,
Guess we may have created some "semi-condensed" useful information for the R230 crowd..
Once everyone has had a whack at the idea .. Perhaps the info needs to be refined into areas and normally expected failure time frames - based on either time and/or mileage ? Along with successful remedies... or sources.


Thoughts ??