Need Source for Hydraulic Rebuild Kits - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

DUTCH · #1 06-03-2009, 10:14 AM

My local Indie is looking at the repair of a pre-2003 W129 500SL. The soft top has multiple hydraulic cylinders to raise and lower it. They are almost all leaking.

MB only sells the complete cylinders for big $$$'s. Does anyone know a source in the US who can supply the rebuild kits (o-rings, seals, etc) for these cylinders?

Thanks in advance for your response.

Kestas · #2 06-03-2009, 11:00 AM

You may want to contact KBelov at benzworld.

http://www.benzworld.org/forums/w124-e-ce-d-td-class/1443986-cabriolet-fluid-leak.html

Otherwise, there is a source (Dennis Ficken) who can repair your cylinders for $35 each cylinder plus shipping. He repaired all of my cylinders. The link above contains other links that should get you what you need to know. There's no need to go to the dealer for parts.

I believe the W129 models have 12 cylinders. It is best to have them ALL rebuilt at the same time.

CWW · #3 06-03-2009, 02:22 PM

Dennis Ficken is great. He repaired all the cylinders in our SL500 and did a wonderful job, in a short amount of time. They look brand-new and work perfectly. The complete set of Dennis rebuilds was less than $600 including shipping both ways, when the dealer wanted $4k just for the parts and that didn't even include labor.

Not to mention that the seals Dennis uses are not susceptible to degrading in contact with the MB Hydraulic Fluid, while the OEM cylinders' seals are a known design defect and will just cause the same problem again in 5-7 years if you replace them with new ones. I just couldn't recommend Dennis more highly.

His contact info is:

Dennis Ficken
16285 S. Chester
Olathe, Ks 66062

(913) 390-0506

mercedescylinders@sbcglobal.net

DUTCH · #4 06-03-2009, 02:26 PM

Thanks guys. My indie wants to do the job himself. He called Dennis to see if he could buy the repair kits. No go.