Here we go again... R129 SL500 my second SL
Discussion
So car is all paid for! Off to pick it up Monday, I'm inheriantly quite a tight individual on things outside of cars and holidays. So managed to get some tiles from an old office block to cover the nasty concrete floor in the garage.
Got a week off coming up after getting the car so hoping to spend some time on it. Already booked in for matching tyres to the fronts at Tyrepoint on Tuesday (I cannot abide by mismatched tyres)
Got a week off coming up after getting the car so hoping to spend some time on it. Already booked in for matching tyres to the fronts at Tyrepoint on Tuesday (I cannot abide by mismatched tyres)
Joehow said:
So car is all paid for! Off to pick it up Monday, I'm inheriantly quite a tight individual on things outside of cars and holidays. So managed to get some tiles from an old office block to cover the nasty concrete floor in the garage.
Got a week off coming up after getting the car so hoping to spend some time on it. Already booked in for matching tyres to the fronts at Tyrepoint on Tuesday (I cannot abide by mismatched tyres)
Will it fit?Got a week off coming up after getting the car so hoping to spend some time on it. Already booked in for matching tyres to the fronts at Tyrepoint on Tuesday (I cannot abide by mismatched tyres)
Well.... What a whirlwind of a day collection day has been!
Service was impeccable and drive home was brilliant. That V8 is an absolute gem and it's miles faster than my 320 was.
Now this is where it gets a bit mad... Got home parked the car in the garage.... It fits!
But then that sinking feeling.... What are those little drops?!
Yup that's not right... At first I thought it was gearbox oil but the location made no sense so quickly realised it was power steering fluid...
At this point I was just a bit fed up! So called the SL Shop not in a huff but to explain the situation, they were very apologetic and said let us call you back....
30 mins later and Karl called me to let me know they'd diverted a technician who was doing an inspection on another car to my house.
Really nice chap turned up about 6pm, was grateful for me at least giving the heads up on the fluid. He set about stripping the undertrays and engine covers off. Followed all the hoses and water pump housing... No dice... Then he found a slight weep on a union joint.... And bingo thinks he's found the culprit.
Guys straight on the phone to Karl and confirmed what it is. So he's back up tonight to the SL Shop will get the part and then he should be back tomorrow or Wednesday latest as he's confident it's an easy fix on the drive.
Car hasn't really done any miles since September and it is 30 years old so I think it's just one of those freak things. I am annoyed but so far the process of rectifying the issue seems to be being dealt with well.
....so what is it like to drive compared to the 320?
Well as I said above it is a lot faster, the engine sounds brilliant as you push on and the ride is brilliant.... It stops but feels like it could do with a bit more bite which should be an easy fix.
Service was impeccable and drive home was brilliant. That V8 is an absolute gem and it's miles faster than my 320 was.
Now this is where it gets a bit mad... Got home parked the car in the garage.... It fits!
But then that sinking feeling.... What are those little drops?!
Yup that's not right... At first I thought it was gearbox oil but the location made no sense so quickly realised it was power steering fluid...
At this point I was just a bit fed up! So called the SL Shop not in a huff but to explain the situation, they were very apologetic and said let us call you back....
30 mins later and Karl called me to let me know they'd diverted a technician who was doing an inspection on another car to my house.
Really nice chap turned up about 6pm, was grateful for me at least giving the heads up on the fluid. He set about stripping the undertrays and engine covers off. Followed all the hoses and water pump housing... No dice... Then he found a slight weep on a union joint.... And bingo thinks he's found the culprit.
Guys straight on the phone to Karl and confirmed what it is. So he's back up tonight to the SL Shop will get the part and then he should be back tomorrow or Wednesday latest as he's confident it's an easy fix on the drive.
Car hasn't really done any miles since September and it is 30 years old so I think it's just one of those freak things. I am annoyed but so far the process of rectifying the issue seems to be being dealt with well.
....so what is it like to drive compared to the 320?
Well as I said above it is a lot faster, the engine sounds brilliant as you push on and the ride is brilliant.... It stops but feels like it could do with a bit more bite which should be an easy fix.
swampy442 said:
Thats some great service! Do these have SLS hydraulic, air or just standard shocks/springs?
You can get a hydraulic system but the majority are on standard springs and dampers. And yeah good service, guy is coming back tomorrow to sort the issue. So I've done what you always do with a new car, clean it and find all the things you missed when going to see it 🤣
I'm actually quite pleased how the old girl has come up, it's always quite difficult to get a proper glossy finish on a silver I think but considering this is just a hand polish and then a few layers of dodo juice and then swiss wax I'm really pleased.
Then once the V5 is on I can put my private plate on complete. Massive thanks to Retro Plates for sorting me some period correct ones out.
Technically the car is from Tooting so I'm cheating a bit here but I wanted maximum w
kyness in terms of the dealer stamp because well why not!
Roll on tomorrow when the SL Shop guy comes out to fix it!
Then once the V5 is on I can put my private plate on complete. Massive thanks to Retro Plates for sorting me some period correct ones out.
Technically the car is from Tooting so I'm cheating a bit here but I wanted maximum w
kyness in terms of the dealer stamp because well why not! Roll on tomorrow when the SL Shop guy comes out to fix it!
It's fixed!!! Josh from the SL Shop arrived about 11 and set to work and that job was done and signed off by 12. He did 3 road tests of varying lengths to check he was happy.
He then offered some time if I wanted anything else doing or checking, gave him a couple of jobs which he set about... Amazing service all round.
With that sorted it was into tyre point (the only place I'll use) in Maidstone. These guys are brilliant and source things like the below... Which we can all guess what they're for..
So two new Continentals to match the fronts which only went on in August. Quite amusing that 320bhp and a shed load of torque go through a 225/55/16 rear section. I had everything rebalanced as well.
New tyres have definitely had an improvement. But I've still got a slight and I mean super slight vibration at 68-72 mph. So will need to investigate.
The damper return on the rear also doesn't feel as fresh as it could so I've booked in with my local specialist NJS who are brilliant (they did the work on th SL73 Chris Harris filmed with) to have a new set of rear dampers.
Oh and I also saw a rather 'famous' R129 which lives near me! Very jealous of those wheels!
He then offered some time if I wanted anything else doing or checking, gave him a couple of jobs which he set about... Amazing service all round.
With that sorted it was into tyre point (the only place I'll use) in Maidstone. These guys are brilliant and source things like the below... Which we can all guess what they're for..
So two new Continentals to match the fronts which only went on in August. Quite amusing that 320bhp and a shed load of torque go through a 225/55/16 rear section. I had everything rebalanced as well.
New tyres have definitely had an improvement. But I've still got a slight and I mean super slight vibration at 68-72 mph. So will need to investigate.
The damper return on the rear also doesn't feel as fresh as it could so I've booked in with my local specialist NJS who are brilliant (they did the work on th SL73 Chris Harris filmed with) to have a new set of rear dampers.
Oh and I also saw a rather 'famous' R129 which lives near me! Very jealous of those wheels!
Edited by Joehow on Wednesday 6th March 20:31
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