SL/R230: 2003 sl 500 help?
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2003 sl 500
2003 sl 500 help?
Question 2003 sl500 problems
Hello everyone,
I am new to your forum and would like some help please. I have just bought a 2003 sl 500 and my seat lumbars don't work and my automatic trunk close button does not work. If I close my trunk slow it does close on its own. I brought it to Benz dealer ship and they said it was my pump? I do not want to spend 1400.00 to fix for seat lumbar and trunk auto close. Is there a way around this like fuse etc.. When I push the buttons below my seat I do hear clicking sounds but as noted before nothing happen but red light coming on for massage. I don't trust dealership as before when I owned a 2001 s600 they always gave me the run around till I looked at your forum for a fix. I thank you all for always helping me in the past and now that I am a member I can ask questions. If it is a fuse please tell me where it might be located.
Thank you for your time in this matter,
Basilica1
Hello everyone,
I am new to your forum and would like some help please. I have just bought a 2003 sl 500 and my seat lumbars don't work and my automatic trunk close button does not work. If I close my trunk slow it does close on its own. I brought it to Benz dealer ship and they said it was my pump? I do not want to spend 1400.00 to fix for seat lumbar and trunk auto close. Is there a way around this like fuse etc.. When I push the buttons below my seat I do hear clicking sounds but as noted before nothing happen but red light coming on for massage. I don't trust dealership as before when I owned a 2001 s600 they always gave me the run around till I looked at your forum for a fix. I thank you all for always helping me in the past and now that I am a member I can ask questions. If it is a fuse please tell me where it might be located.
Thank you for your time in this matter,
Basilica1
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Joined: May 2015
Posts: 606
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From: North Cali
2005 SL500, 2015 CLS400
To me it does sound like a pump, because they are both air regulated and might be connected. Now it might not be a fuse, because if it would be one when you push the buttons there would be no response, as there would not be any impulse to the operating unit.
Your best shot would be to check with an SDS (or Star System) for errors, since there might be some, if you're saying the message pops up.
Not sure what do you mean by automatic trunk close button (honestly didn't know there is one myself ^_^ ) Do you mean the one to open? Because the trunk closing (sucking) system as much as i know is air regulated too, and it might be by the only air system in the car (connected to the seats as well). That's how you would get those two problems same time.
So check for errors and you'll have more info to work with.
Your best shot would be to check with an SDS (or Star System) for errors, since there might be some, if you're saying the message pops up.
Not sure what do you mean by automatic trunk close button (honestly didn't know there is one myself ^_^ ) Do you mean the one to open? Because the trunk closing (sucking) system as much as i know is air regulated too, and it might be by the only air system in the car (connected to the seats as well). That's how you would get those two problems same time.
So check for errors and you'll have more info to work with.
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2003 sl 500
Ty Ghostly for your time
When I close the trunk down by hand the auto suction takes over and closes the trunk. I see a red button on right side inside trunk that looks like a button you can press to close the entire boot without assist in pushing down like in newer models like s550 2012 that I own. So do you believe still I should have dealer show me star system to show me that pump is bad? If so my seats are pretty comfortable as they are so no need for lumbar or bolster for that exspense. What do you think on my thoughts Ghostly? Also other than K&N for some little extra hp what would be a noticeable option I could do to get a little more hp out of the car, car has 49600 miles on it now for 2003. Should I just leave it alone and enjoy top down driving? I trust your opinions because I have followed you for a long time on this mbworld forum.
Thanks for taking time to read and post on my last post,
Michael or Basical1
Thanks for taking time to read and post on my last post,
Michael or Basical1
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Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 77
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2021 GLE450
Try pulling the fuse located behind the passenger seat under the floor of the storage compartment. Take the fuse out for 30 seconds and then put it back in and test the seats and trunk. If they all work properly for a few minutes then you have some leaks in the air system and the pump is fine. If however this does not temporarily fix the issue then more than likely you have a pump issue.
You might want to check out the post for fixing air leaks in the soft close mechanism. I did this on my car and it fixed the soft close of the trunk and I also found an air hose on my passenger side seat had come off. Once both of these were sorted all seem to be working fine for me.
The air pump has circuitry in it that will shut the pump off after a few minutes in an effort to protect it from running constantly due to leaks. Pulling the fuse resets the pump and you can get normal operations for a few minutes.
You might want to check out the post for fixing air leaks in the soft close mechanism. I did this on my car and it fixed the soft close of the trunk and I also found an air hose on my passenger side seat had come off. Once both of these were sorted all seem to be working fine for me.
The air pump has circuitry in it that will shut the pump off after a few minutes in an effort to protect it from running constantly due to leaks. Pulling the fuse resets the pump and you can get normal operations for a few minutes.
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Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 238
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From: Chandler, AZ
2003 SL500, 2016 ATS, 2016 CTS 2015 Volt
When I close the trunk down by hand the auto suction takes over and closes the trunk. I see a red button on right side inside trunk that looks like a button you can press to close the entire boot without assist in pushing down like in newer models like s550 2012 that I own. So do you believe still I should have dealer show me star system to show me that pump is bad? If so my seats are pretty comfortable as they are so no need for lumbar or bolster for that exspense. What do you think on my thoughts Ghostly? Also other than K&N for some little extra hp what would be a noticeable option I could do to get a little more hp out of the car, car has 49600 miles on it now for 2003. Should I just leave it alone and enjoy top down driving? I trust your opinions because I have followed you for a long time on this mbworld forum.
Thanks for taking time to read and post on my last post,
Michael or Basical1
Thanks for taking time to read and post on my last post,
Michael or Basical1
Last edited by next2pool; Feb 24, 2016 at 11:04 AM.
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2003 sl 500
Dfordham my doors lock and open just fine
Randsny which fuse do I pull and put Back?
Next2pool thanks for info on my red button, if i disconnect the trunk battery and put cables back on will this hurt anything else on my car? do I disconnect while running or shut down?
Ghossty What do you think?
Thank you everyone for all your help I hope this issue gets resolved when I get my auto back from benz as I will do all this myself this weekend, also any mods worth mentioning for a little extra hp or leave it alone and enjoy?
Randsny which fuse do I pull and put Back?
Next2pool thanks for info on my red button, if i disconnect the trunk battery and put cables back on will this hurt anything else on my car? do I disconnect while running or shut down?
Ghossty What do you think?
Thank you everyone for all your help I hope this issue gets resolved when I get my auto back from benz as I will do all this myself this weekend, also any mods worth mentioning for a little extra hp or leave it alone and enjoy?
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From: North Cali
2005 SL500, 2015 CLS400
If you want to do the battery reset - engine OFF for sure.
Of course fuse check is easier any way. When you pull the fuse out look if it's not blown too.
The red button you're talking about is to raise/lower the roof in the trunk for more luggage access. It does not close or open the trunk itself. The trunk lid is closed/open MANUALLY. We do not have the trunk close assist feature
As stated by next2pool it operates when the safety cover is closed. If it was not closed it does not operate. That's why many people think it's broken, when all it is the cover is not closed.
Pulling the fuse for couple seconds should be enough to reset, but you can go as long as 1 or 2 mins to be sure.
Disconnecting the battery will not harm anything in the car, as long as you don't attempt to start the car. Engine off, key out, disconnect the battery. How long can't say, usually takes time to drain the systems, so I'd start with 30 mins disconnected. You do not have to disconnect the front battery, that one is for engine start only.
Now on the tune up - you can't get much more out of it without serious investmens. The most you'll get with $2-4k would be up to 100 hp at the very max. The usual bump would be 10-15% hp. Anything more than that - consider getting SL55AMG. The difference in price will be less than tuning a SL500. There are plenty of topics on the forum about that.
Of course fuse check is easier any way. When you pull the fuse out look if it's not blown too.
The red button you're talking about is to raise/lower the roof in the trunk for more luggage access. It does not close or open the trunk itself. The trunk lid is closed/open MANUALLY. We do not have the trunk close assist feature
As stated by next2pool it operates when the safety cover is closed. If it was not closed it does not operate. That's why many people think it's broken, when all it is the cover is not closed.Pulling the fuse for couple seconds should be enough to reset, but you can go as long as 1 or 2 mins to be sure.
Disconnecting the battery will not harm anything in the car, as long as you don't attempt to start the car. Engine off, key out, disconnect the battery. How long can't say, usually takes time to drain the systems, so I'd start with 30 mins disconnected. You do not have to disconnect the front battery, that one is for engine start only.
Now on the tune up - you can't get much more out of it without serious investmens. The most you'll get with $2-4k would be up to 100 hp at the very max. The usual bump would be 10-15% hp. Anything more than that - consider getting SL55AMG. The difference in price will be less than tuning a SL500. There are plenty of topics on the forum about that.
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2003 sl 500
I am trying to find a rear Carbon spliter for my 2003 sl 500 on line and can not find one at all, all I see is splinters for quad pipes? Any direction friends that you can steal me too? I really like the look of the front lip Carbon fiber which I will order, thought it be nice to have tear carbon splitter. Again thanks for all of your help with my Auto friends�� Great people nice autos and great information��
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Joined: May 2015
Posts: 606
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From: North Cali
2005 SL500, 2015 CLS400
are you talking about something like this? (talking about the splitter on the picture, not the item)
http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/161636396143?ul_noapp=true&chn=ps&lpid=82
Because i don't think there are different for each model. Most likely they're one size fits all.
What's the specific you're looking for? I'd say you might need to either fit whatever is on the market or build one yourself from scratch, because for the front bumper is easier to make it (the form is the same trough the line) when the rear bumper is different for 500 model, 55 and 63 - each get different rear bumper (as much as i know).
http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/161636396143?ul_noapp=true&chn=ps&lpid=82
Because i don't think there are different for each model. Most likely they're one size fits all.
What's the specific you're looking for? I'd say you might need to either fit whatever is on the market or build one yourself from scratch, because for the front bumper is easier to make it (the form is the same trough the line) when the rear bumper is different for 500 model, 55 and 63 - each get different rear bumper (as much as i know).
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2003 sl 500
What I was talking about was the spliter under the rear bumper as shown in the picture not the lip on top of the trunk. All I can find for that product is for sl with quad pipes where my only has two pipes coming out from muffler. Is there such a product for my car that you know of because I can not find one as of yet. I think this would be a nice addition to the looks of the rear of my 2003 sl 500?
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Joined: May 2015
Posts: 606
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From: North Cali
2005 SL500, 2015 CLS400
Yes, i was referring to the same part. As you can see, the bumper doesn't look lie the one we have on 500 models - besides the quad exhaust. And no, i have no idea where to look for something like that. As i stated, the rear bumper is not the same trough the line vs the front one. That's why in stores there's a front lip only.
So the two options are either to get an AMG bumper and have that splitter or just build that splitter yourself - somehow similar to the front one Don't think there's a way around it
Just like me looking for some AMG tail lights they look way better than the regular ones, but kinda not in mood to pay $600+ for a pair 
So the two options are either to get an AMG bumper and have that splitter or just build that splitter yourself - somehow similar to the front one
Don't think there's a way around it Just like me looking for some AMG tail lights
they look way better than the regular ones, but kinda not in mood to pay $600+ for a pair
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From: North Cali
2005 SL500, 2015 CLS400
Super Member
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 606
Likes: 88
From: North Cali
2005 SL500, 2015 CLS400
Hey, looks awesome did he had to cut the bumper too?
You know, I just looked up pics on Internet and apparently the SL600 models come with splitters! I didn't notice that earlier So the other option was to find an SL600 rear bumper Don't know about the price As long as you're happy
Attached you'll find AMG tail lights, regular tail lights, and SL600 rear bumper with splitter
Link - price on eBay for tail lights
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mercedes-Ben...T1b-0g&vxp=mtr
did he had to cut the bumper too? You know, I just looked up pics on Internet and apparently the SL600 models come with splitters! I didn't notice that earlier
So the other option was to find an SL600 rear bumper Don't know about the price As long as you're happy Attached you'll find AMG tail lights, regular tail lights, and SL600 rear bumper with splitter
Link - price on eBay for tail lights
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mercedes-Ben...T1b-0g&vxp=mtr
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2003 sl 500
Ghost ty: Here below is my corespondent,
Hi Michael
Yes, we did make a diffuser for that car years ago as a limited
production. We can probably sill make one more. Price is $800
Thanks
Neal
On Thu, Feb 25, 2016 at 12:00 PM, Jenelyn Altman
wrote:
Did you ever make the 2003 sl 500 rear diffuser? If so how much? Found your company on Mercedes Fourum.
Thank you for your time in this matter,
Michael
Sent from my iPhone
--
EuroTeck Racing LLC.
1-866-950-7779 ext 2
www.euroteckracing.com
He said he would make another like the pic I showed you but will have to wait 4 weeks.
Love the lights but exspensive but might be worth it for that great look! You only live once! Lol
Hi Michael
Yes, we did make a diffuser for that car years ago as a limited
production. We can probably sill make one more. Price is $800
Thanks
Neal
On Thu, Feb 25, 2016 at 12:00 PM, Jenelyn Altman
wrote:
Did you ever make the 2003 sl 500 rear diffuser? If so how much? Found your company on Mercedes Fourum.
Thank you for your time in this matter,
Michael
Sent from my iPhone
--
EuroTeck Racing LLC.
1-866-950-7779 ext 2
www.euroteckracing.com
He said he would make another like the pic I showed you but will have to wait 4 weeks.
Love the lights but exspensive but might be worth it for that great look! You only live once! Lol
Super Member
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 606
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From: North Cali
2005 SL500, 2015 CLS400
My SL is silver, so you made me think about the splitter
