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  #1  
Old 12-30-2007, 11:09 AM
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Location: Baton Rouge La
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early 90's SL troublespots

Any particular and expensive problems with the 8 cylinder SL's?

I just own 124's

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1989 300ce 129k
( facelifted front,updated tail lights, lowered suspension,bilstein sports, lorinser front spoiler, MOMO steering wheel, remus exhaust,stainless steel brake lines). (Gone)

1997 s320 154k (what a ride). Sold with 179k miles. Replaced with Hyundai Equus

1994 e320 Cabriolet 108k



1972 280se 4.5 153k Owned for 12 yrs, sorry I sold it


[/SIGPIC]
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  #2  
Old 12-30-2007, 11:20 AM
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Location: Plymouth, Devon, UK
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leaking power steering box, very expensive to sort out. I found out the hard way

ADS suspension, fantastic when it works, a pain and expensive when it doesn't
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1989 W124 300E
1991 R129 500SL
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  #3  
Old 12-30-2007, 08:11 PM
aam aam is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by moakesr View Post
leaking power steering box, very expensive to sort out. I found out the hard way

ADS suspension, fantastic when it works, a pain and expensive when it doesn't
Make sure you tight the three bolds that hold the steering box,
every 6 months.
So it will not hapen again.
Regards aam.
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  #4  
Old 12-30-2007, 08:25 PM
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I don't know that 90-92 CIS cars are problematic really but it seems to me wise to get a 93-95 LH car. The later EZLs are are less likely to be trouble and the diagnostic system is considerably better. 1993s were called 500SL and 94-95s were SL500s but they are all the same car, and they're not much more expensive than the 90-92s in comparable condition. 1990 to 1993 offered more colors and more interesting color combinations - everything started to get bland in 1994.
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  #5  
Old 12-31-2007, 09:03 PM
aam aam is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by deanyel View Post
I don't know that 90-92 CIS cars are problematic really but it seems to me wise to get a 93-95 LH car. The later EZLs are are less likely to be trouble and the diagnostic system is considerably better. 1993s were called 500SL and 94-95s were SL500s but they are all the same car, and they're not much more expensive than the 90-92s in comparable condition. 1990 to 1993 offered more colors and more interesting color combinations - everything started to get bland in 1994.
Stay away from 93-96 wiring harness problems.
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  #6  
Old 01-01-2008, 05:15 AM
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Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Hella NorCal
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The wireharness is the biggie on the early R129s.



R129 SL/500/SLs had the option of having ADS. If its got ADS, it can be a headache.


Make sure the tops in good condition, and the windows are in good shape...



Check to make sure the roof opens and closes smoothly... It should open and close the roof in approximately 30 seconds...


There are some other big ticket things, but I cannot think of them right now...
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91 560 SEC AMG - other dogs dd
01 Honda S2000 - dogs dd
07 MB ML320 CDI - dd
16 Lexus IS250 - wifes dd

it's automatic.
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  #7  
Old 01-01-2008, 10:02 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by aam View Post
Stay away from 93-96 wiring harness problems.
You shouldn't eliminate a model over a wiring harness - it's just not a big deal in the bigger picture, about a $500 part / $0 labor for most 119 motors, and there's a chance it's already been done, and a lifetime fix. An ignition control box can be 5 times that amount. And by the way a pre-93 CIS car does not ensure a good wiring harness, there are a number of NHTSA complaints of flaking insulation on the pre-93 CIS cars, and the CIS harness is actually more expensive than the LH harness. If you eliminate used MB models on the possibility of a $500 repair you're going to have to eliminate everything.
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  #8  
Old 01-01-2008, 10:39 AM
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well, I have learned from you folks not to get one with ADS.

I am a DIYer... but do have some limitations. I have done things like water pumps, valve stem seals, A/C. Those have been the more difficult jobs.

Working on a 124 is fairly easy, however.
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1989 300ce 129k
( facelifted front,updated tail lights, lowered suspension,bilstein sports, lorinser front spoiler, MOMO steering wheel, remus exhaust,stainless steel brake lines). (Gone)

1997 s320 154k (what a ride). Sold with 179k miles. Replaced with Hyundai Equus

1994 e320 Cabriolet 108k



1972 280se 4.5 153k Owned for 12 yrs, sorry I sold it


[/SIGPIC]
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  #9  
Old 01-01-2008, 01:38 PM
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Location: Phoenix
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In these older cars I think it always a good idea to get a basic car - no fancy suspension and no ASR. Traction control shouldn't be all that beneficial in SC. I don't think you're going to find a big difference in working on a 129 (apart from the soft top) but the 119 motor is going to be more crowded than the sixes in a few places.

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