SL/R230: Can a 2003 SL500 be made reliable?
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 3
Likes: 1
2003 E500
Can a 2003 SL500 be made reliable?
I know the weaknesses of the ABC and top hydraulics, my question is, are there mods/updated components that can be included to improve these systems during repair so that one does not have to repair again for a reasonable time?
Newbie
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 8
Likes: 1
W208
I think so. You have to look at the weak points of the car and plan to repair accordingly. I’m not sure if you have an r230 or considering getting one. In my opinion, I have a 2003 r230, address the major areas with the thought of keeping the car and driving it, so the easy fixes need to be replaced with lasting repairs.
SPONSOR
Joined: Apr 2021
Posts: 846
Likes: 558
From: San Jose, CA
11 E550, 16 AMG GTS, 13 S550
Just fix what breaks, theres no futureproofing ANY car. You buy it, drive it, fix whatever falls out of it. Some component last 150k, some need to be replaced every 60k. It's about inspecting, not buying stuff and just pre-band aiding it together.
ABC struts can last like 130k miles, or they can blow out at 80k. It's just another part, just like a normal strut.
ABC struts can last like 130k miles, or they can blow out at 80k. It's just another part, just like a normal strut.
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Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2021
Posts: 493
Likes: 101
From: Benton, Louisiana, USA
SL 500 2004, Ford F-150-2014
I drive a SL500 2004 purchased very cheap 3 years ago due to a bad ABC. To make it reliable I replaced the ABC system with coil overs and recently replaced the BCM with a new development provided by an electronic genius!
Now I wonder what will be next!
Now I wonder what will be next!
Newbie
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 1
Likes: 1
From: Oregon
2005 E500 || 2003 SL500
Top works great. ABC functional, but needs some attention and will eventually go coilovers I'm sure.
Other than that and some minor cosmetic issues I'm working on, it's great. But it's not my daily driver either.
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2021
Posts: 493
Likes: 101
From: Benton, Louisiana, USA
SL 500 2004, Ford F-150-2014
Imageben, no BCM at all, the original BCM is a two fold device, one is a DC to DC charger which charges the starter battery when needed, and the other fold is a electronic control system that monitors the charge in both batteries and decides to shut down consumers if charging is needed and warns of battery discharge issues.
The replacement is done as Illustrated in a thread named THE BCM SUBSTITUTION IS A REALITY, in which is described how a stand along DC to DC battery charger is adapted with a programmable micro processor to take care of the BCM messages to the CAN bus.
The replacement is done as Illustrated in a thread named THE BCM SUBSTITUTION IS A REALITY, in which is described how a stand along DC to DC battery charger is adapted with a programmable micro processor to take care of the BCM messages to the CAN bus.
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Newbie
Joined: Jul 2024
Posts: 6
Likes: 3
R230 500SL
Imageben, no BCM at all, the original BCM is a two fold device, one is a DC to DC charger which charges the starter battery when needed, and the other fold is a electronic control system that monitors the charge in both batteries and decides to shut down consumers if charging is needed and warns of battery discharge issues.
The replacement is done as Illustrated in a thread named TlHE BCM SUBSTITUTION IS A REALITY, in which is described how a stand along DC to DC battery charger is adapted with a programmable micro processor to take care of the BCM messages to the CAN bus.
The replacement is done as Illustrated in a thread named TlHE BCM SUBSTITUTION IS A REALITY, in which is described how a stand along DC to DC battery charger is adapted with a programmable micro processor to take care of the BCM messages to the CAN bus.
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Newbie
Joined: Jul 2024
Posts: 6
Likes: 3
R230 500SL
I’ve seen the following:
do not jump start the car
monitor the convenience battery for age and voltage
use an approved trickle charger on both batteries beyond 5days of storage
use a quick disconnect on the rear battery when car is stored
ive seen fuse bypass installed - not sure if this was home made or a kit from ..?
recently seen a complete bypass advertised and now sold on ebay.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/14589425675...is&media=EMAIL
assuming these are correct statements am I miss informed?
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,481
Likes: 310
95 SL600
Well since you are new here, all of these things you have read are realistically just hypothesis. The real fact is that with the BCM failures, some are just the unit itself, and quite a few take out the wiring inside the trunk. The next step is a full on car fire. None of the scenarios is any good whatsoever.
From my viewpoint, most of these incidents seem to happen in the spring time, when the cars come out of hibernation, and the likelihood of weak or dead batteries is common. There are no proven remedies to this issue, although the newest remedy seems promising, but with that remedy, the starter battery is charged equally with the consumer battery. Both are different amp hours, different charging needs and requirements as well as different composition ( lead acid vs AGM) which may raise different problems.
Take it as you will, but I don’t take car fires lightly. Any car that has a record of spontaneous combustion due to electrical issues is a problem. My simple hypothesis is that weak or problematic batteries are a large factor in these fires, but again my opinion isn’t proven, and all of the other remedies are just the same, unproven hypothesis
As for Jump starting, doing this to any Mercedes of this era or newer would be asking for all sorts of trouble, and doing this with a power supply that provides more than 14.5v would be receiving that asked trouble. These cars don’t like any of that, and more than likely if a jump start is needed, there is a battery that is usually in question. The r230 has many parasitic electrical drains, and that adds to the issues.
From my viewpoint, most of these incidents seem to happen in the spring time, when the cars come out of hibernation, and the likelihood of weak or dead batteries is common. There are no proven remedies to this issue, although the newest remedy seems promising, but with that remedy, the starter battery is charged equally with the consumer battery. Both are different amp hours, different charging needs and requirements as well as different composition ( lead acid vs AGM) which may raise different problems.
Take it as you will, but I don’t take car fires lightly. Any car that has a record of spontaneous combustion due to electrical issues is a problem. My simple hypothesis is that weak or problematic batteries are a large factor in these fires, but again my opinion isn’t proven, and all of the other remedies are just the same, unproven hypothesis
As for Jump starting, doing this to any Mercedes of this era or newer would be asking for all sorts of trouble, and doing this with a power supply that provides more than 14.5v would be receiving that asked trouble. These cars don’t like any of that, and more than likely if a jump start is needed, there is a battery that is usually in question. The r230 has many parasitic electrical drains, and that adds to the issues.
Last edited by cdk4219; Jul 24, 2024 at 09:34 PM.
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 406
Likes: 137
From: Houston, TX
2005 SL600
thank you- searching BCM threads seems inconsistent with respect to prevention.
recently seen a complete bypass advertised and now sold on ebay.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/145894256754
assuming these are correct statements am I miss informed?
recently seen a complete bypass advertised and now sold on ebay.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/145894256754
assuming these are correct statements am I miss informed?
