1993 500SL or "I might have messed up"

So I was out riding bicycles with my 9 year old. When he says "hey dad, there is an old Mercedes behind my friend Ryder's barn."

I spoke to Ryder's dad and he explained the car was his father's and that it has been sitting for 8 or 9 years. I looked it over and saw it has quite a few bumps and bruises, but I'm crazy and when I see abandoned cars I think they are like puppies that need a good home. So Ross contacted his dad and they agreed to sell me the car for $750.

Mice and rats live/lived in the engine bay and ate some of the wiring. But it's doesn't matter because this car still has the "biodegradable" harness. In fact I think that is why it was parked.

Aaron
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

So yesterday we drove down to Ross's place and drug the Mercedes to it's new home. We washed the exterior and found more dents than previously thought. We threw away the gross floor mats and vacuumed the carpet. The interior cleaned up pretty well. My neighbor loaned me a deep cycle battery from his bass boat to test some of the electrical stuff out.

Here is the list of problems and potential solutions so far:

Engine harness eaten/disintegrating: found used updated Dephi harness for $400 on ebay

Top won't retract - probably related to DS window problem. If windows won't move, neither will the top.

Driver's side window will not move - need to check fuses in trunk, check for power at switch, disassemble door and inspect motor.

Driver's side power seat doesn't move -

Both bumpers need to be repainted, but I think the other body dents are pretty easy for a PDR guy.

Snake living in the chassis. I saw him reach down for a second last night, then go back up into the underside of the car. It has a white belly. Probably a ****ing copperhead too. I'm hopinh he finds a new home as I am not sure how to get rid of him.
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

Interior shot. Unfortunately it still smells like mice still.
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

Thanks for the votes of confidence. I turned the motor over with a rachet and a socket on the front crank pulley. It was not seized. Last night I decided to see if the starter was locked up. I turned the key and the car started right up! It runs like it has a bad MAF sensor or an air leak, but that's too be expected when you see the condition of the wiring harness.

I also pulled apart the driver's door to find the power window problem. The gear inside the motor was basically rusted solid. I tried to WD40 it, but it would not come back to life. I ordered a used motor assembly off ebay for $71 shipped.
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

Thanks Steve. And You called that right. I managed to trick the top controller into thinking the DS window was already down (by manually lowering it with the motor removed) and started to initiate the top retraction process. It unlatched both front and rear a few times, and then stopped.

Then fluid came pouring out of the DS sun visor. Confirm leaky top cylinders. I pulled the offending latch cylinder and disassembled it. The seals are completely degraded. For now we will operate the top manually until we verify the condition of the other mechanical stuff.

Aaron

 

Good news. My neighbor mentioned spotting a snake in their yard on Monday. This is only the second snake they have seen in two years, so there is a very good chance that was my snake. Still, that first trip under the car is going to be scary.

Everyone is right about the leaks. There are twelve hydraulic cylinders and I think all 12 are leaking. Several puddles have formed under the car after trying to lower the top. The seals are old, soft and crumbly, so when one lets go it's a real gusher.

A google search found a company in Germany that sells seals, not o-rings, real seals. With the weak euro the total cost was about $125 shipped.I still need to order the approved fluid.

SL R129 | Hydraulikzylinder Dichtsätze (Verdeck) | Produkte für Mercedes | MJ Produkte Shop - Technische PKW Lösungen

I bought some other stuff for it too:
left front turn signal
turn signal bulb socket
PS seat switch
seat controller
DS window motor
and a 3500mg industrial ozone air purifier

Total spent so far $1574

I wish I had joined benzworld sooner. Those guys have figured out the W140 V8 harness works just fine in the SL. That would have saved me about $200 on the harness.

Aaron
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

I'm betting the top malfunction is related to all the dirt dobber nests I have found in this thing. I found one on a switch that should tell the top controller that the top is down.
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

It runs!!

I got the newer engine harness over the weekend and installed it today (took about 1.5 hours). I put in ten gallons of fresh gas to dilute the old gas. But as some of you predicted the old gas and general crude clogged up the fuel system. I got a new filter ($12) but she wouldn't restart after installing the new filter. I went to remove the fuel pumps for testing when an internet search revealed they are identical pumps run in series. Well the second pump is still working fine. I drained off the bottom 3 gallons of gross gas and put it all back together with one working fuel pump. It started right up. I cleaned up most of my mess and went for a drive around the block.

It's fast for a 4000lb car. Like stock 328 fast. It's quiet and rides like a cloud. Pretty pimp ride for $1722 spent so far.

This weeks goals:
fix the DS power window
get rid of the non-stop seat belt chiming

Aaron

 

The bad harness years are 1993-1995. I got one dated 2000 off ebay. It also had a delphi tag on it. It was in like new condition and install was pretty easy.

Aaron

 

It's getting better. The AC actually works. The heater valve solenoid was stuck in the on position. I removed it (one electrical clip and four phillips screws) and basically beat it on the garage floor a few times and it freed up. Now the heater turns off and the AC blows cold.

Aaron