Servicing 1994 SL 500

[DCG400]

Just purchased a 1994 SL 500, and I am used to doing routine service on my MB. Wondering if anyone knows of a service manual that is available for this model. Thanks

[Don350SDL]

MB sells a CD with everything on it, call 1 800 FOR MERC and ask for the 129 service CD part number P-2700-129-04

It's not cheap, probably about $100, but well worth it. It includes everything a dealer has, including routine maintenance.

Don

[DCG400]

Thanks Don. Very helpful

[OU1954]

This is already posted in another location, but here is a copy-

I have the STAR Classic Service Manual Library for the Model 129. It's available for about $125 at the dealer, a special order item in most instances.

It's a DVD, not a CD, and it installs a very old version of Adobe Reader on your computer (Version 5, It won't accept a current version which is 7). It also installs some strange index reader from Autodesk, forgot just what it is since I have un-installed the system for now.

It's almost useless and is somewhat limited in what it can find for you. It does, however, have complete wiring diagrams, but they are in a form that requires you to print out sections because they are too compact to read on the screen or to print out at screen size.

I think it does, at times, download a .pdf file from the internet, not sure, so I suppose if one had enought time and patience it would be possible to accumulate a considerable amount of data. The main problem is that you have to select from one of 4 search groups (or all groups) with a search term. There is NO INDEX, you have go just guess and search. If you don't put in a term the system recognizes it reports back with a zero result on your search.

It clearly is not in any way equivalent to what the dealers have available to them.

The folder says the coverage is:

Model line 129 MY 1990 up to MY 2002 and includes:

300SL/SL300
500SL/SL500
600SL/SL600

(I still don't know the difference between an SL500 and a 500SL, there must be some. Also, using all the resources of the DVD, I still don't know where the spark plugs are on this car, at least based on the DVD.)

I did find some beneficial but non-workable things when I had the DVD installed on my system. As just one example, there are detailed instructions on how to use the tools I bought from the dealer to pull out the instrument cluster. Everything is right on point up until you learn from all your pulling effores that the cluster will probably break before it will slide out.

The description says it provides:

>Repair information-Component disassembly and assembly.

>Parts information-This catalog helps you to identify frequently-used maintenance parts

>Diagnostic Manual-Profices test and troubleshoot information

>ETM with STAR Finder-Contains wiring diagrams in a Web-based format with links to component location.

"All information is designed for quick access within a single browser window and is fully printable"

They also claim it includes some other reference information. I found very little "other reference information"

Could be, but the data base is just full of gaps and holes. I'm not sure I will re-install it, it's just too hard to find anything useful.

If anyone is still interested, the part number is P-2700-129-04 Version 1.0 and you will probably have to get it through the "Accessories" department of the dealership, not the "Parts Department". Strange separation of church and state.

I wonder whether there will be a subsequent version that is more user-friendly.

I do have some documentaion for our 98 SL500 and for our 99 ML320 which I got for a very reasonable price on the internet. They are pages from an estimators manual, which includes every part that could possibly be replaced for collision purposes, including the prices and labor hours. The parts list, not a MB product, actually goes down to items like oil filters, screws, spark plugs, timing chains, etc., with drawings of them in exploded form. Very helpful. Also, when my SL500 was last on a lift I took photos of the bottom from front to rear, also very informative.

Let me clarify one thing. I have repaired my own cars for 50+ years, and that includes complete engine rebuilding, re-alignment, etc. I was could always get good factory service manuals for every car, including my last 4 *Corvettes (which never required any repair, other than a few recalls), but for some reason MB seems to go to extreme efforts to make it hard to get worthwhile information on their cars, even though they have the highest 4 year repair rate of any care sold in the U.S.

*Regarding Corvettes, I can assure you that my 98 Vette I had had more advanced technology and features than the 98 SL500 I now have. If I had known of the pain I would have with the MB cars we would still be driving American cars.

DAW :mad: