RE: Prospective SL500 owner

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RE: Prospective SL500 owner

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RE: Prospective SL500 owner - 5/17/2005 8:44:09 AM

stats007

Posts: 37
Joined: 5/11/2005
Status: offline

How long have you got? The design faults were individual parts that failed - in particular the coils and distributors, guide rails, oil guides, lifters, belt and tensioner. You know about the wiring loom problems with heat. The revisions replaced camshafts, pistons, valve guide designs, crankshafts, cylinder heads and general improvements to increase economy / emissions with complete changes to fuel injection systems almost on a yearly basis.

If you want a complete list check out the WIS software.

Main revisions:

119.96*
119.97*
119.98*

At the end of it's life it was a great engine, but for my money I'd take (and have done) the M113 - even with it's 'inferior' 3 valve technology.

The thing that 'worries' me is how many owners actually know what engine or transmission they have in their car?

Anyway - this could go on forever - opinions are like arseholes - everyone has one.

_____________________________

'01 SL500 Silver Arrow
'72 350SL

(in reply to bobterry99)

Post #: 11

RE: Prospective SL500 owner - 5/18/2005 12:43:06 AM

j_jackflash

Posts: 2
Joined: 5/17/2005
Status: offline

Yeah, the 113 doesn't enjoy the reputation the 119 has, but just the same it's difficult to fault it. And nobody does. Is it engineered and built on the cheap? Sure. But it performs as well as a 119 and gets the job done with less. With rising labor costs in Germany and competition from Lexus, Mercedes had to cut costs somewhere to hold market share...

J.mac, if you are still with this thread, the basic question to ask is this: do you want a '90-'95 or a '96-'02? The later cars have restyled bumpers to give the car a less square appearance which most people prefer. The older cars have a 4-speed automatic while the newer have a 5-speed. Drive both types and see which you prefer. I find the 5-speed makes the car considerably smoother and more refined but does so at the expense of character. And if you want to do your own diagnostics and repairs to save money, you may want an earlier car. The later OBDII cars require scanners which are very expensive for most diagnostics. The cheaper models can reset a check engine light but won't cut it when your soft top controller sets a code.

(in reply to stats007)

Post #: 12

RE: Prospective SL500 owner - 11/15/2008 12:03:21 PM

atomattic1

Posts: 1
Joined: 11/15/2008
Status: offline

Hi
You guys seem to have very good knowledge of the 119 motor. Would you know if a 1993 S500 119 Long Block will fit into my 96 Sl 500, and if so what would I need to do. The 93 motor has a 2 dist off 1 Cam on each head & the 96 has coil packs. On the 93 the left side intake cam sprocket has 2 pickups for the cam sensor as the 96 has only 1 pickup for cam sensor. I have read some on an oil pump pick up change over but really don''t see a problem with that. Any info would really help me.
Thanks MATT

(in reply to j_jackflash)

Post #: 13