[W126 Coupe] EZL (Ignition Control Module)

[Axel Wulff]

Hi everyone,

 

As most of you know, I have an M119 engine in my 1990 SEC.

 

It was the one Satish originally installed in his black SEC, before he decided to put in the V12 M120 instead.

 

The engine was originally in a '92 500SL and is the M119.960 version with the Bosch KE Jetronic fuel injection system (later models have the LH system).

 

Apparently, this particular engine was only used in the SL so the engine specific parts are not easy to come by.

 

About a month ago I started having some stumbling issues. As it turned out, the EZL would occasionally fail to deliver spark to one of the cylinder banks. List price for a new part (probably NOS) from MB is $2,800 so I started looking around for used or rebuilt unit. Potomac Auto quoted me $1,200 for a used one, Parts.com quotes $1,955 for a new one, but I found a place in Florida, 4Mercedes, who claimed to be able to rebuild failed units for $500.

 

I decided to try to get my EZL rebuilt.

 

First I sent the unit down to Florida with a check for $120 for the diagnostic process. Unfortunately, at the end of the week, the verdict came back that my unit could not be rebuilt. However, they had rebuilt units with 3 months warranty for $1,050 and would give me credit of the $120 diagnostic fee.

 

I pulled the trigger on the rebuilt unit, despite the fact that the transaction was going to be COD. Yeah, I know and it was against my better judgment.

 

Anyway, the unit arrives and gets installed. The car starts and idles very smoothly, however, it doesn't rev at all. Kind of like the timing was severely retarded.

 

OK, the unit is going back, but when disconnecting the wires the plug housings for the left cylinder bank and the feedback loop brake off. Pretty bad. Worse, the leads for the feedback loop go nowhere, they had simply been blocked off.

 

Needless to say, I put a stop payment on the check, I contact 4Mercedes to let them know the part didn't work, the plug housings broke off and they're getting it back.

 

I got Dale over at Devon, PA Mercedes-Benz to reduce the price (MBCA discount +) to $2,300. The part should be here on Tuesday.

 

4Mercedes claims to be able to rebuild EZLs, throttle bodies, instrument clusters, engine harnesses, etc. at substantial savings, but caveat emptor and insist on using a form of payment that gives you recourse.

Regards,
Axel J. Wulff
610-731-5453 Cellular
610-572-4611 Home



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