Special request (PICTURES), repair photos reference section
 

Pictures of electrical component locations, mounting block and/or damage would be wonderful documentation for other owners.

Any technical pictures in the area of your car where you have questions will help with a correct diagnosis.

Any technical picture you can add to a thread or DIY is welcome, and will be appreciated by other members.


Thank you, and have a great day.

Photos of Engine Compartment-107 350/450SL
 

What I would find useful for our 350SL (and our other cars), would be photographs of the engine compartment with the various gizmos identified. Even afer all teh years of ownership, I open the hood and wonder what on earth does this or that gizmo do. The MB manuals are not much help is this regard.

If I ever get my digital camera back working (It came apart!) I could post some pictures with question marks, but maybe someone already has some pictures?

This is a great thread except it has been incorrectly used. I have some relevant pictures. May I ask the moderator to consider clearing out the non relevant stuff.

Here are the components that are located behind the glove box on a 1986 560SL. These should be similar for the 560SL from 1986 to 1989.

John Roncallo

Thank you, Done
 

I moved the unrelated posts to another thread. :)

ShopForum > Feedback > Shop Forum Software Help
Please tell me how to post pictures?
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/site-feedback/111992-please-tell-me-how-post-pictures.html

560SL Door Pannel Pics
 

These are door panel pictures from an 88 560SL

John Roncallo

560SL soft top cover latches
 

For more pictures see these posts.

Center Latch
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/1614561-post20.html

Access from trunk
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/1493460-post2.html

whunter Not sure this is how you wanted this sticky to develop.
If so then I have some seat photos to add.

Yes
 

Please add more pictures. :)

86 560SL Seat
 

To remove the seat you pull the seat lever and push the seat rearward to expose the bolts at the front of the rails and remove them. Then pull the seat lever and push the seat forward and remove the 2 rail height stops at the rear. This is all you have to unbolt. Push on the seat to the rear while lifting and the seat will come out. You will need to unplug the wire to the seat belt to get it all of the way out. I have not tried this with the top on but there should be enough room to do it but it would be harder.

If you did it the wrong way as I did the first time and the big spring needs to be reattached I used a scissor jack and 2x4 to line it back up. Be careful this spring is very strong.

After cleaning the height adjuster it still would not lock in what I thought was the lowest position. So I took the seat back out and operated it manually. Although it feels like the adjuster should lock one click lower it will not by design. When you raise the lever to lock it into position the lock catches on the next cog up. The SeatAdjuster picture is in the lowest locked setting. The arm on the top is the lock. Yes it looks like there is one lower setting but I could not get it to lock in that position.

Pictures
 

:):):)

What a great idea. Keep those pictures coming. They are worth a thousend words as the saying goes. Plus it helps us new owners out that have basic mechanical skills but not the MBZ experience.

86 560 SL Cluster
 

Here is what you see behind the cluster.

ClusterRear Shows where the 2 screws that were left over when I reassembed it were suppose to go.:eek: They hold the clear plastic down. I did put them back in.

The other ClusterRear photos show the screw layouts.

The Wire photos are for those that the number are no longer on the wires.
The numbers match the numbers stamped on the cluster.

The clear plastic scratches easily. I cleaned mine up with Plastix.
http://www.meguiars.com/?clear-plastic-care/PlastX-Clear-Plastic-Cleaner-Polish
It works good for the windows in the soft top also.

I tried to clean the black plastic with rubbing alcohol and it slightly discolored it. This came out with mequiars cleaner/wax.

I did not check the back lights before I put the steering wheel back on and I had to take it appart to reseat one of them.:mad:

I did all of this because I had jumping gas and temp needles and I thought I had a the bad ground reported many times on this forum. Well I am happy to report the normal fail mode did not exist and after replacement the needles no longer jump.

Just in case you do have the ground problem here is a link to the problem and fixes

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/mercedes-benz-sl-discussion-forum/186967-560sl-instrument-cluster-wiring.html

Would you guys have service manual for the 1990 300SL?

Here's a pic of what's behind the glove box of a 1985 380SL. Likely similar in many other model years. The infamous Idle Control Unit is pointed out.

Sitting to the right are two of the many (pink) vacuum controlled actuators. Common failure points within the climate control system. Note: the plastic/red tubing is pulled from the actuator nipples in order to get a decent pic.

'81 300SD vac pump for door locks
 

Here are pictures of the insides of a vacuum pump (located in trunk). It worked before I took it apart. It worked after I put it back together but had lost the vacuum. I can hear the pump working and visualize the arm moving the diaphragm up and down but still get no vac. Anyway here are pretty good instructions about how to take it apart.

http://s303.photobucket.com/albums/nn151/adraintaylor/Air%20pump%20300SD/Vacuum%20door%20lock%20pump%20300SD/

80's S class broken seat springs,
 

very often, especially if you are or the previous owner was big and/or fat, found on the drivers side on the side closer to the door. Can be confirmed without taking out the seat by blindly taking shots with a digital camera systematically sweeping left to right from underneath the seat relying on the auto focus (when it beeps you shoot) Here's what you might find::eek:

oops, sorry just noticed that this is the SL forum