2001 SL500 Problems

[bwheitman]

I purchased a 2001 SL500 2 years ago. I have had some interesting experiences with this Mercedes vs. all others I have owned in the past. I thought I would post them here for others to read if anyone is in the market for one and what to look for. I have never had a Mercedes fail, this one has twice.

Myself combined with two different warranty companies have expended over $23,000.00 on maintenance and repairs of this vehicle.

The first failure was the Crank Shaft position sensor. I complained to the dealer that the engine cranked way too long, something was wrong and the idle was erratic, that combined with the transmission not knowing what gear it should be in, made for an interesting driving experience. The CPS failed and left me stranded. The dealer attempted to remedy the rough idle with new plugs, wires, and an induction cleaning, no improvement.

The two front top loacks had to be replaced.

The fuel pump was loud and had to be replaced at 45,000 miles.

The Tele-aid had numerous failures and I could not use the concierge or Navigation features I subscribed to because they could not hear me.

The car would mute the radio while driving and begin emitting loud beeps, static, and screeching so intense I would have to pull over and get out of the car, or put my fingers in my ears, sounded like a dial up modem of the 80's. There was no way to turn it down or terminate it, even if you turned the car off it would still screech.

The Tele-aid volume is not adjustable.

The power antanae goes up and down at will, even while the car is in the garage just sitting there. I will be working in the garage, the antanae will suddenly pop up for no reason.

I had an interesting Electrical gremlin, all the electronics in the car would power down while driving, you had to make a phone call to bring them back to life, the Analog phone and teleaid systems had to be replaced with digital. This solved the problem with Teleaid and the power failures.

The rear main seal in the engine had to be replaced.

The park Shift lock cable assembley had to be replaced, this failed and caused all the trans fluid to drop from the transmission, this caused the second complete failure.

The brakes have never felt right, as a result all brake components were replaced, the calipers, rotors, pads, fluid was bled 3 times as that was recomended to solve this problem, we are still working on this one, far too much pedal travel for a Mercedes, I am having the Master cylinder replaced next.

Finally the transmission shifting problems were recognized and addressed, (A different Dealership) this involved dropping the pan, the valve body and removing the control unit, the fluid under pressure travels from the control/valve body up the harness into the control unit that resides under the passenger footwell on the interior. So if you smell trans fluid in your car, pull the carpet back and take a look, if you have fluid you have a problem, this is what caused the brain of the trans to fail. Once this was replaced it drove like a new car and the erratic idle is minimal. The car now shifts and drives like an SL, not a chevy.


The engine mounts and trans mounts were replaced

The strut mounts were replaced.

all four wheels had to be rebuilt and fitted with new tires to eliminate vibrations, the 129's are prone to this, my last SL was the same so I expected that, the chassis provides a lot of feedback to the driver, this is a good thing most of the time, but if anything is not exactly right you know it.

both front wheel bearings were replaced.


Overall this is the worst Mercedes I have ever owned. Every time I get my car back from the dealer, I think..this is the last time, but then it surprises me and does something new. I have driven Mercedes since I was 16, usually SL's or and S Class, I am familiar with their maintenance requirements and not shocked because they require so much attention, but this particular model has been a nightmare. I have been loyal to MB, but this car has me thinking more about another brand. So if you are in the market for a 1999 to 2002 SL 500, make sure at the very least that the trans problem has been addressed (This is a known failure) as it will cost about $2500 to repair and the digital upgrade has been done, at about $1800. The car now drives like my old 96 SL, seamless power and superior handling after all these repairs, so maybe I can keep it awhile, if it doesn't fail again.

The reason I drive a Mercedes is loyalty, I am loyal to adhering to it's maintenance needs, and it is loyal not to leave me stranded, yet this one has twice already, the manager at the dealer just glazed over when I asked him why? all this maintenance, all these repairs, and I don't trust my car?

I just don't know what to say...I have been saving for a new 230, but they have the same engine and trans, I love the SL, and there are no other cars that are in this category and have the size and design I admire, that is where I am at, nothing else is appealing. I am going to write a letter to Mercedes next and ask them why?

Brian

[TINO3]

After reading all that I can only hope I maybe own the one 2001 SL500 that doesn't have every one of those problems, but from what I've experienced thus far I don't think that's the case. It sucks to think about having to sell the car now knowing whats to come. My SL is currently around 55,000 miles and which means it's done a good but of sitting in a garage which brings problems of its own. The idling is what sticks out to me the most and we've had the wiring replaced which took care of the clicking sound that I assumed was a miss fire in one of the cylinders. Not looking forward for the rest of the issues. I agree with you, I love the car for it's classic design and at least for how it's supposed to perform. I appreciate the post!

[97 SL320]

Originally Posted by bwheitman

I purchased a 2001 SL500 2 years ago.
Myself combined with two different warranty companies have expended over $23,000.00 on maintenance and repairs of this vehicle.

Originally Posted by bwheitman

The first failure was the Crank Shaft position sensor. I complained to the dealer that the engine cranked way too long, something was wrong and the idle was erratic, that combined with the transmission not knowing what gear it should be in, made for an interesting driving experience. The CPS failed and left me stranded. The dealer attempted to remedy the rough idle with new plugs, wires, and an induction cleaning, no improvement.

A crank sensor isn't the typical part one looks at for a rough idle so I list this as an oddity.

Originally Posted by bwheitman

The two front top loacks had to be replaced.

And you will be replacing the other 10 hyd cylinders as they _all_ leak when the seals crumble. There are a couple of people that make aftermarket seals, be sure to get ones that are lathe cut and not just standard o rings.

Originally Posted by bwheitman

The fuel pump was loud and had to be replaced at 45,000 miles.

I wonder if the car actually has 45 K or the pump was swapped at some point.

Originally Posted by bwheitman

The Tele-aid had numerous failures and I could not use the concierge or Navigation features I subscribed to because they could not hear me.

The car would mute the radio while driving and begin emitting loud beeps, static, and screeching so intense I would have to pull over and get out of the car, or put my fingers in my ears, sounded like a dial up modem of the 80's. There was no way to turn it down or terminate it, even if you turned the car off it would still screech.

The Tele-aid volume is not adjustable.

The power antanae goes up and down at will, even while the car is in the garage just sitting there. I will be working in the garage, the antanae will suddenly pop up for no reason.

I had an interesting Electrical gremlin, all the electronics in the car would power down while driving, you had to make a phone call to bring them back to life, the Analog phone and teleaid systems had to be replaced with digital. This solved the problem with Teleaid and the power failures.

This all sounds like a interrelated problem.

Originally Posted by bwheitman

The rear main seal in the engine had to be replaced.

I don't know if this is common for your car.

Originally Posted by bwheitman

The park Shift lock cable assembley had to be replaced, this failed and caused all the trans fluid to drop from the transmission, this caused the second complete failure.

Second problem as it trans oil getting into shift computer? If so, they are not related unless the valve body was removed and case connector ( adapter sleeve ) o rings were not replaced.

Originally Posted by bwheitman

The brakes have never felt right, as a result all brake components were replaced, the calipers, rotors, pads, fluid was bled 3 times as that was recomended to solve this problem, we are still working on this one, far too much pedal travel for a Mercedes, I am having the Master cylinder replaced next.

This is tough to call without seeing the car.

Originally Posted by bwheitman

Finally the transmission shifting problems were recognized and addressed, (A different Dealership) this involved dropping the pan, the valve body and removing the control unit, the fluid under pressure travels from the control/valve body up the harness into the control unit that resides under the passenger footwell on the interior. So if you smell trans fluid in your car, pull the carpet back and take a look, if you have fluid you have a problem, this is what caused the brain of the trans to fail. Once this was replaced it drove like a new car and the erratic idle is minimal. The car now shifts and drives like an SL, not a chevy.

This is a case connector issue ( sub $ 20 for the part ) they leak and trans oil is wicked up the wires. Something similar was common on GM cars in the 80's where the coolant temp sensor would leak and allow antifreeze to male it's way to the engine computer.

Originally Posted by bwheitman

The engine mounts and trans mounts were replaced

I'd cal this a failure due to age / heat.

Originally Posted by bwheitman

The strut mounts were replaced.

Common, the rubber starts to crack due to age.

Originally Posted by bwheitman

all four wheels had to be rebuilt and fitted with new tires to eliminate vibrations, the 129's are prone to this, my last SL was the same so I expected that, the chassis provides a lot of feedback to the driver, this is a good thing most of the time, but if anything is not exactly right you know it.

Wide tires contribute to this as well. With the rest of the car so smooth, tire vibration is more noticable.

Originally Posted by bwheitman

both front wheel bearings were replaced.

Was this part of chasing the vibration?

Originally Posted by bwheitman

Overall this is the worst Mercedes I have ever owned. Every time I get my car back from the dealer, I think..this is the last time, but then it surprises me and does something new. I have driven Mercedes since I was 16, usually SL's or and S Class, I am familiar with their maintenance requirements and not shocked because they require so much attention, but this particular model has been a nightmare.

Maybe that particular car. You are not having repeat failures of the same part, just a bunch of more or less unrelated repairs.

Originally Posted by bwheitman

I have been loyal to MB, but this car has me thinking more about another brand. So if you are in the market for a 1999 to 2002 SL 500, make sure at the very least that the trans problem has been addressed (This is a known failure) as it will cost about $2500 to repair and the digital upgrade has been done, at about $1800. The car now drives like my old 96 SL, seamless power and superior handling after all these repairs, so maybe I can keep it awhile, if it doesn't fail again.

The trans case connector is a failure point that goes back to 96 / 97 when the electronic shift 722.6 trans was introduced. I don't call it a bad design, as once repaired MTBF is long.

Originally Posted by bwheitman

The reason I drive a Mercedes is loyalty, I am loyal to adhering to it's maintenance needs, and it is loyal not to leave me stranded, yet this one has twice already, the manager at the dealer just glazed over when I asked him why? all this maintenance, all these repairs, and I don't trust my car?

I just don't know what to say...I have been saving for a new 230, but they have the same engine and trans, I love the SL, and there are no other cars that are in this category and have the size and design I admire, that is where I am at, nothing else is appealing. I am going to write a letter to Mercedes next and ask them why?

Brian

I wonder if this car really had the 45 K you spoke of in the fuel pump portion. How many miles does it have now? As much as I don't like car fax and others for their extortion like tacticts towards dealers and inaccurate reporting of body damage, it is a source for mileage reports.

Still, I don't know that I'd consider the repairs excessive for complicated a 13 year old car.

[bwheitman]

I was surfing the forum today and ran across my old post about my 129. I still have the car and since I posted this I purchased an SL55 AMG. My 129 now has 135k on it and since all these repairs has not given me any trouble. I have do e the maintenance and kept everything in order. I posted this during my 2nd year of ownership. I bought the car in 2005, it was a one owner purchase new at park place, serviced there and traded in. I purchased from park place. I am now dealing with sorting out the AMG, but doing all the work myself. I have to keep my 129 until the AMG is trustworthy.

[walshsr]

Just read this your post about your 2001 SL500. I hate you had so many problems. I am buying a 2001 SL 500 V-8 on Monday. I am wondering are all these problems common? Is yours a V8 or a V12 engine? Do you know if there are other forums that I could go to that would help with other problems? All the other reviews I have read so far have been excellent reviews on the 2001 SL 500 V8. I would appreciate any help. I am 63 yrs old and do not need these kind of problems.

[97 SL320]

Read through my post 3 above. I consider the repairs he had done to be partly normal maint for a 13 year old car and partly to miss diagnosis. (RE wheel bearings in an attempt to cure vibration. ) Mercedes or not, these cars get old just like the average VW.

I tend to life parts and replace them before failure on my schedule to prevent the car from going down randomly. After buying my nice but in need of attention 97 SL320 ( $ 6,000 ) a few years ago I put $ 2,200 to $ 2,500 in parts alone to get the car up to my reliability standards. ( this is parts cost only and no labor as I do all my own work )

Rad and all hoses, water pump, belt, fuel pump, brake pads, tires, wheel bearings, Evap valve, ball joints, strut caps, spark plug wires. . . you get the idea.

I now have a car that won't randomly break down. Sure, the trans will need a rebuild at some point and I want to replace engine rod and main bearings but these repairs will be a planned not a drive it 'till it don't go no mo.

[lynns]

Originally Posted by walshsr

Just read this your post about your 2001 SL500. I hate you had so many problems. I am buying a 2001 SL 500 V-8 on Monday. I am wondering are all these problems common?

I have owned two 2000 SL500 V8's and have been very happy with both cars. They have both been my daily drivers averaging 6K miles/year.

The only common issues that I have found are the following.

1) Crankshaft Position Sensor, $46.00 parts plus one half labor at approx 75K+ miles.
2) Idler and Tension Pulley's, $110.00 parts plus one hour labor when also adding a serpentine belt at about 75K+ miles
3) Valve Cover Breather Seals, $24.00 Sealant plus 1-2 hours labor at about 75K+ miles.
4) A/T Trans Adapter $18.00 plus one half labor at approx. 25K+ miles.

Please feel free to read the associated web links at Any 113 / 112 owners with greater than 100K miles?

[BJaltima]

lynns.....2000 SL500....shake at idle......pulleys replaced (including Harmonic Balancer today)..... motor mounts and plugs replaced. I don't see it being a coil pack without it throwing a code. Thoughts? Thanks in advance.

[lynns]

Have you checked for a Coil Pack DTC?

Could it be Spark Plug wires?

Have you ever changed out the 100K plugs?
If not. How many miless do you have on the car?

Could it be that your Air Filter Housing is not seated properly on the MAF?