LynnBilodeau

Working on my 2004 SL55 AMG.

I have a pretty bad vibration starting about 30 and increasing until about 50. Already have new motor mounts and trans mount. Put it up on the lift today and there is quite a bit of "runout" in the driveshaft. Wanted to confirm there were two giubos before ordering parts.

Have two questions:

1. Anyone pulled a driveshaft on an R230? Did you have to drop the entire exhaust system? Can I just loosen it and drop it a few inches to give me access to the heat shield? Obviously the heat shield needs to come off.

2. On BMWs there is a locator bushing in the front of the driveshaft that keeps the driveeshaft aligned even when the giubo is not in good shape. On old bimmers, there is a giubo ONLY at the front and a conventional u-joint at the rear.
Does the MB also have any kind of alignment bushing built into the driveshaft? If so, is there one front and one rear? If so, I would want to order those as well.

Thanks in advance for any help.

:Lynn

ldeem

This is pretty well covered on Youtube and forms. The general arrangement is pretty much the same on the cars I have worked on W220 and R230. Specifically to R230 SL55 the center bearing is an issue. I found the bearing itself is not the same between SL500 and SL55 on 2005 (I assume 2004 is the same). Bearings are pretty standard so you can order the right bearing on line its a 32x55x13 The SL500 is a smaller ID. I ordered a center bearing support from Rock Auto but it had the SL500 bearing size and looked much less robust than the AMG version. I ended up reusing the center bearing and support because the bearing spun fine but the rubber in the support had deformed some.

The pin guides in the drive shaft ends are replaceable but I haven't done it.

You will need to drop the exhaust. It's not hard and you need the room to work.

VERY VERY VERY IMPIORTANT
THE DRIVE SHFT IS BALANCED AT THE FACTORY. THE FONT AND REAR SECTIONS ARE SPLINED TOGETHER IN THE MIDDLE. THE SPLINE HAS NO LOCATING METHOD. YOU MUST MARK THE FRONT TO REAR SHAFT RELATIONSHIP SO IT CAN BE RESSEMBLED CORRECTLY.

LynnBilodeau

Thanks. Had already planned to mark the driveshaft halves, as bimmers are the same. I have a ton of experience with bimmers.

LynnBilodeau

Finally got around to doing this. Covid for the SECOND time (even after Vaccinations and boosters) and two heart surgeries.
ALL of the vibrations that were present are now gone. Replaced front motor mounts and trans mount. Replaced the driveshaft flex discs. Also, this car has had the ABC suspension system removed and replaced with coil overs and sway bars. The front sway bar was touching the oil pan (even after new engine mounts) so I shimmed it down just a little. Car is night and day different to drive. Handles REALLY well (reminds me of the Z3 based MRoadster... my wife has had two of those) with the Bilstein struts and coil overs.