SL500 heated seats not working

[NuisanceValue]

Hi there,

Prospective SL500 owner here, narrowed it down from a long list of possible convertibles (Maserati, BMW etc) but finally settled on a 129 SL500 due to the semi-rear seats and hardtop making it truly useable compared to other marques.

Anyway, the car I've narrowed down is a 1996 SL500 with Panoramic hardtop. Only two problems are, ariel is sticking (done a bit of research and doesn't seem such a big problem) but the other thing is the heated seats are not working. Apparently the fuse is ok, but no further investigation is possible.

Question is, is this a big problem to rectify? Expensive? DIY job? A deal breaker or not? Worth knocking a few quid off for?

Any advice would be gratefully received (especially if it's not too much trouble to fix!)

Thanks

 

[television]

Hello and welcome, the antenna rod section is fairly easy to change, allow £50

The heated seats are some thing else, and will probably be the control unit at fault you should allow a few hundred pounds for this. Heated seats in a soft top are a must as they extend your driving time with the roof down

 

[NuisanceValue]

Thanks for that Television. I'm off to see it on Friday, and all being good will be driving it back up the road! I don't mind one or two little bits to have to tinker with, so as long as it lives up to the pictures all will be well

 

[stats007]

The elements in the heated pad have been known to fail - not cheap unfortunately - it comes as one unit.

Check the hardtop for corrosion at the edges as well as the roof working perfectly. The side repeater indicators are easy to pop off and can show you whether the wings have been replaced indicating an accident.

Don't rush into it - there are always plenty about to choose from.

I have a Top Gear road test with the Jag XK8 and BMW 840 in pdf format if you'd like it?

 

[NuisanceValue]

Thanks stats007. I've got the HPI for it and everything looks ok, but as you say a good look over will tell. There are plenty, but I have been looking for some time. I'm hoping this one is straight. That road test would be very welcome, do you want to email me it over? Will PM you an email address.

Looks like a decent, helpful bunch on this site. Thanks guys/lasses

 

[BenzComander]

Would be a great barganing point. Ask a Merc stealer the price to put the heated seats right, and you can knock the seller down several hundred quid!!

 

[stats007]

Thanks stats007. I've got the HPI for it and everything looks ok, but as you say a good look over will tell. There are plenty, but I have been looking for some time. I'm hoping this one is straight. That road test would be very welcome, do you want to email me it over? Will PM you an email address.

Looks like a decent, helpful bunch on this site. Thanks guys/lasses

Sent .

 

[BTB 500]

New aerial mast is about £18 from a main dealer. 2 mins to fit, dealer did my first one FOC ... I fitted the second one myself - there's a great 'how to' thread here:

http://mbclub.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=15560

 

[pammy]

So are you the proud owner of said SL500? I'm guessing yes and you are out playing

Pics in the gallery would be nice

 

[NuisanceValue]

Ha! Yes, you're right. I've been out all weekend playing with my new toy!

Picked it up in London on Friday evening after flying down, made it to N.Yorks in four and a half hours where we stayed overnight at my mothers, then a leisurely cruise back home to Edinburgh on Saturday.

Sunday morning, was up to give it a quick wash early then took the hard top off and luckily the sun was shining for the day!

Will post some pics in the appropriate thread when I get chance.

 

[BTB 500]

Sounds good!

If you haven't got them already you might look for a padded storage bag for the hard top, and a trolley to stand it on. Many SLs are also sold without the (standard) wind deflector ... useful to have for longer trips with the roof down (if there's nobody in the back)

 

[NuisanceValue]

I don't have the bag or the stand for the hardtop. They seem to be very rarely sold with the cars these days. It's currently propped in the spare room resting on an old rolled duvet and covered with a blanket, so a search on ebay or the like might be worthwhile. I do have the wind deflector though. Not fitted it at all, but as you say on a long journey it would be handy.

EDIT: I'm well chuffed with it!