SL-Class (R230) 2003 -- 2012: Discussion on the SL500, SL550, SL600

SL/R230: Armrest "glovebox" in the door

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Old 12-30-2018, 06:35 PM
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SL350 2004, E220d 2018
Armrest "glovebox" in the door

Hey!
is there anyone who has any tips or advice on how to fix the armrest "glovebox" in the door? Is it even possible?

The compartment and lid do not close completely, it feels a bit loose and soft.
I would like it to close more tightly
I have removed the door side but I cannot see that one can access anything from the back. It looks like everything is a unit?

Some advice?




Old 12-30-2018, 10:17 PM
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Welcome to the forum! Please take a moment to visit the User Control Panel and update your profile to include your car model and year, and your location (at least country). This information will then appear below your name and avatar on the left side panel next to each post you make. This will greatly help others to give you better information. If you are using the mobile version of the site, you will need to switch to the "full" version to get to the User Control Panel.

This seems to be a common problem, but yours is the worst I've seen. On mine, I put a few stick-on rubber bumpers under the lid to make it less noisy, though it does not fit any tighter.
Old 12-31-2018, 06:40 AM
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2003 R230
Originally Posted by Rudeney
.On mine, I put a few stick-on rubber bumpers under the lid to make it less noisy, though it does not fit any tighter.

Great idea. Do you have a close up photo to share?
Old 12-31-2018, 07:01 AM
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SL350 2004, E220d 2018
Originally Posted by Rudeney
Welcome to the forum! Please take a moment to visit the User Control Panel and update your profile to include your car model and year, and your location (at least country). This information will then appear below your name and avatar on the left side panel next to each post you make. This will greatly help others to give you better information. If you are using the mobile version of the site, you will need to switch to the "full" version to get to the User Control Panel.
Excuse me, I was a little quick at posting my first post. I am grateful to be a part of this excellent forum that has helped me a lot before I registered! I have updated my profile with a little more info about me and my cars.

​Thank you for the tip, but I hope to find a solution so that it keeps it closed mechanically. So as it did when it was new .... or ...?​​​​​​
Old 12-31-2018, 09:41 AM
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You might want to check the hinge plastic and see if that is part of the problem.
This repair is what I did on my R230, which helped but did not cure the problem you have:
https://mbworld.org/forums/sl-class-...ml#post6642412
Old 12-31-2018, 10:59 AM
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SL 55 and a GT 3000 vr4 Here's my car: http://home.online.no/~ludvs/index.cfm
I bought a new locking mechanism, because I also has a gap there, but that didn't help at all.
So don't try that.....
Old 12-31-2018, 12:38 PM
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gap in door

I messed with mine quite a bit too but never really got any solution. Feel this is a design flaw and I am stuck with it. At least it closes and does not fall open own its own.

moretech
Old 12-31-2018, 04:24 PM
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Here are photos of what mine looks like when closed, and where I place those rubber bumpers to help quiet it somewhat:



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allfortheunion (02-02-2019)
Old 01-01-2019, 06:02 AM
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SL 55 and a GT 3000 vr4 Here's my car: http://home.online.no/~ludvs/index.cfm
That's a smart solution, I also have the irritating sound when I'm having my arm resting on it.
I shall do the same thing, thanks for the tip.
Old 01-02-2019, 07:52 PM
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I have a similar problem (and who doesn't?). When I had door trim removed to replace the broken handle, I inspected the pocket and realized that the source of the problem is plastic hinge being broken on one end. This is similar to the infamous flap problem. There is no easy access to the hinge without separating pocket from the door trim panel (at least I could not see how to do it). Pocket is attached to the panel by plastic rivets. To be exact I think that these are plastic studs on the pocket, which fed through holes in the panel and then smushed using some hot tool. Just in case I used soldering iron to see if I can reshape these studs to be able to pull the pocket out. No dice. The only workable solution that I saw was to brake them off (or cut them off), remove the pocket, repair the hinge and then drill and tap holes in the pocket and use screws to attach it back to the panel. I decided that it was way too much trouble for what is really just an appearance issue (mine doesn't rattle, or may be it does, but it is drowned by all other noises in my car).
Old 01-02-2019, 10:49 PM
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Have the same problem. I just shut it from the side when pushing in instead of the top. Was told by the dealer only solution is replacement of the whole thing :/
Old 01-03-2019, 12:08 PM
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2005 R 230 SL350 (M112 3.7). Sold the 1966 W113 230SL recently
Mine are still perfect. I always close them using finger and thumb, pushing both the side and the lid. Guess I had a hunch.
Old 01-03-2019, 02:22 PM
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I had the same problem. Alk247 is right, I even had a used door panel to try and transplant the hinge but I was not successful. Gaazmon is right, as much as I hate it, as the dealer says, you have to replace the whole thing.
Old 01-03-2019, 05:46 PM
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I am less irritated now that I know it is a common problem with no easy answer. I am getting used to pushing the side in before pressing down from above...
Old 01-05-2019, 01:16 PM
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I've got the same issue; the black plastic hinge is cracked causing the door pocket to hang a little. I think this occurs when the seat belt is pulled and catches on that corner.
Old 01-05-2019, 01:47 PM
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I think it is just poor design. I had to repair similar issue in two more places - flaps on rear panels and cover on vanity mirror. Same cure - put wire loop around it. I can not say for sure if the problem is using plastic for these in general, or just a wrong material selection. It is too widespread to be related to some improper use.
Old 01-31-2019, 01:26 AM
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