SL500 R230 Parking sensors

[Brett.Hoare]

Hi,

Just purchased a 2003 SL500 R230 as a second/weekend car. Schoolboy of not checking the full optional extras on this model and assumed that because there are front and rear parking sensors installed on the bumpers, that they were operational (had E350 2013 and they had them on, so just made that assumption), seems when you read the manual these are an extra as have the * prefix on the parctronic.

As the car is being garaged, I could do with getting them working, does anyone know if there is a reasonable way to get these retrospectively operational?

Thanks in advance,
Brett

 

[Spider10]

Mine has them fitted and they work ? Not much help sorry but i was the same as you if fitted they should work but i maybe wrong

 

[Brett.Hoare]

Mine has them fitted and they work ? Not much help sorry but i was the same as you if fitted they should work but i maybe wrong

Thanks, I would have thought they had worked when in gear, but nothing, does yours have the PTS switch on the gearstick centre console?

 

[Spider10]

Yes it does

 

[Brett.Hoare]

Seems as thats an optional extra, mine doesn't. Just seeing if anyone has had experience of getting them activated retrospectively.

Thanks BTW.

 

[amazighman]

Can you plug it in and see if any errors present?

 

[Brett.Hoare]

Can you plug it in and see if any errors present?

May have to get the diagnostic plugged in as have a potential fault on the A/C system.

With not having the P switch in the centre console, I'm assuming they aren't working. Can they be switched on via an ECU system?

Thanks.

 

[amazighman]

May have to get the diagnostic plugged in as have a potential fault on the A/C system.

With not having the P switch in the centre console, I'm assuming they aren't working. Can they be switched on via an ECU system?

Thanks.

Are you sure they are actually factory fitted ,if you decode your vin does it say parktronic fitted?
I went once to see an old w203 with parking sensors ,it turned out the owner changed both front and rear bumpers and fitted ones with parking sensors so they were redundant

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

Just purchased a 2003 SL500 R230 as a second/weekend car. Schoolboy of not checking the full optional extras on this model and assumed that because there are front and rear parking sensors installed on the bumpers, that they were operational (had E350 2013 and they had them on, so just made that assumption), seems when you read the manual these are an extra as have the * prefix on the parctronic.

Comparison with an E350 isn't relevant. By definition an E350 was more basic and price sensitive, so most would have gone out without parktronic.

Whereas the 2003 SL500 was very firmly state of the art in 2003 and would be top spec. People were queued up for that new roof back then.

I can't remember seeing a UK SL500 without park sensors and I can't imagine why MB would have delivered one with sensors that weren't wired up / configured.

Sensors can be a tad fragile so that seems the more likely issue. Check for error codes with a code reader but I'd be talking to an auto electrician or your local Indy

 

[Brett.Hoare]

Are you sure they are actually factory fitted ,if you decode your vin does it say parktronic fitted?
I went once to see an old w203 with parking sensors ,it turned out the owner changed both front and rear bumpers and fitted ones with parking sensors so they were redundant

Hi, done the VIN decode check and there are no parktronic system is not installed, as thought. The sensors are physically on the car, just wanting to see if there is a way to retrospectively get them working, would assume that the cabling is all there and the audible aspect. Thanks for the reply.

 

[Brett.Hoare]

Comparison with an E350 isn't relevant. By definition an E350 was more basic and price sensitive, so most would have gone out without parktronic.

Whereas the 2003 SL500 was very firmly state of the art in 2003 and would be top spec. People were queued up for that new roof back then.

I can't remember seeing a UK SL500 without park sensors and I can't imagine why MB would have delivered one with sensors that weren't wired up / configured.

Sensors can be a tad fragile so that seems the more likely issue. Check for error codes with a code reader but I'd be talking to an auto electrician or your local Indy

Done a VIN check on the vehicle, and they are not installed as the Parktronic system. Surprising I know. There are a load of optional extras on the car.

 

[Brett.Hoare]

Done a VIN check on the vehicle, and they are not installed as the Parktronic system. Surprising I know. There are a load of optional extras on the car.

Thanks for the reply btw.

 

[amazighman]

Thanks for the reply btw.

Best way to find out is to pull the sensor out and see if they are plugged in and wired , then take it from there

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

Basic point, but have you checked Fuse 67 in the fuse box behind the seats?

 

[Brett.Hoare]

No I haven't, but will do this afternoon when I get it out the garage. Thanks

 

[Spider10]

Ill do a vin check on mine later and see what comes up

 

[pioneercollector]

I too have a 2003 SL500, and it does have the 'Parktronic' system installed, i thought that this was standard but i just found this on the web for the 2003 SL500:

Options include a Motorola Timeport telephone, voice activated controls, the Parktronic parking distance warning system ($1035), Distronic radar-based cruise control ($2950) that keeps a preset distance between the SL500 and the car ahead, a tire pressure monitoring system ($630), and several seat options. Also available: Bi-xenon high-intensity discharge high- and low-beam headlamps ($900); Keyless Go ($1015); Panorama Roof ($1800). SL1 Wood Package ($840) includes wood and leather steering wheel and shift knob. SL3 Comfort Package ($1520) includes ventilated seats with multi-contour seatbacks.

This was not a UK website so it may be incorrect for our versions, but from past experience we ( UK ) seem to get the base spec models !!

Nice choice of car by the way

 

[Brett.Hoare]

Thanks for this, and yes seems loads of optional extras for a car that was £74k in 2003! Not overly concerned on the parking sensors, I was driving for 25 years before getting them on a car But would be nice to get them working if there is a quick fix to have it done. Lovely car, have weighed up whether to get R129 or the R230 and so glad we got this one, granted not a classic just yet, but agreat car to drive.

Thanks for the reply.

 

[Spider10]

Yes mine has option 220 partronic system (PTS)

 

[pioneercollector]

I was in the same position as yourself, R129 or R230, I was having problems finding a good R129, and then i saw a R230 in the flesh...... that was it then ! Love it