Titivating my Mercedes 124
Discussion
Finally some progress. The car was painted last night and I went down this morning to have a look. I had very little time, so my photographs are few and not very artfully composed. It will be flatted and polished today.
There are quite a few dust nibs in the paint and two runs but I gather these will all come out with the polishing. Also there is a tiny bit of overspray on the roof bars. We didn't remove the remove bars because to do so would have required dropping the headlining and that is a miserable job. You have to draw the line somewhere. Again, I am told this will come off easily. I also noticed that there are still two tiny depressions in the nearside front door. I have to remind myself of the constraints of this project and the use the car is going to get. Overall I am very, very happy. I am looking forward to seeing it after it is flatted and polished.
The jacking points still need to be done. Then it needs to be filled with cavity wax. Then there is a re-assembly job. I have new tail lamps and new front indicators (I have bought US-style indicators which are predominantly white but with an amber side marker section). It has had new headlamp lenses recently.
Anyway, this is where we are at:
There are quite a few dust nibs in the paint and two runs but I gather these will all come out with the polishing. Also there is a tiny bit of overspray on the roof bars. We didn't remove the remove bars because to do so would have required dropping the headlining and that is a miserable job. You have to draw the line somewhere. Again, I am told this will come off easily. I also noticed that there are still two tiny depressions in the nearside front door. I have to remind myself of the constraints of this project and the use the car is going to get. Overall I am very, very happy. I am looking forward to seeing it after it is flatted and polished.
The jacking points still need to be done. Then it needs to be filled with cavity wax. Then there is a re-assembly job. I have new tail lamps and new front indicators (I have bought US-style indicators which are predominantly white but with an amber side marker section). It has had new headlamp lenses recently.
Anyway, this is where we are at:
r129sl said:
When it is done my long-suffering wife is going to take my wallet off me...
Actually, I thought I might make up one of those photobooks using my digital photos.
I am dreading putting it into use. I have a slightly anal or OCD aspect to my personality which is not always healthy...
Give it to 4* Classics. They'll take a damp cloth to the bits you haven't touched and have it on the forecourt for 20 grand. Actually, I thought I might make up one of those photobooks using my digital photos.
I am dreading putting it into use. I have a slightly anal or OCD aspect to my personality which is not always healthy...
Thanks for all the positive comments. For some reason I was feeling a little low about it all. I suspect because I am seeing it part way through the painting process.
I failed to mention that it received six coats of base paint and three coats of clear.
I quite like the idea of a photo shoot but I dislike the idea of paying for it. How much is a photo shoot likely to cost? I could potentially spunk another £500 but no more. I'd rather spend the money on a Jehnert speaker system. Can you recommend anyone in the north east of England who might do it?
I did a bit of googling (beats working, except in the crucial measure of earning potential) but I must say I am not that keen on the common style, i.e., aggressive poses, moody backdrops, lots of post-production. And anyway I could find nothing on price. I should just pick up the phone but I don't want to be embarrassed when they tell me it'll be six grand or something.
I have a R129 brochure from 1996 for which Mercedes commissioned the photography from three leading photographers, Clint Clemens, Dietmar Henneka and Anatol Kotte. (This was the brochure that got me into 129s: back in 1996 I found it lying round on a desk in my dad's office and slipped it in my bag. Other 19year olds were nicking Razzle: yours truly was pinching car porn.) I have scanned a few for your delectation. Anyway, the reason I have done this is because I am a sad b
d. No, no, that's not right: the reason I have done this is because I think this is some of the best car photography I have ever seen and thought I'd share it. If you're into R129s, I highly recommend this brochure: you can pick it up on Ebay for about a tenner, which seems a lot for something they gave away free, but is worth it.
Clint Clemens:
Dietmar Henneka:
Anatol Kotte:
Don't those AMG wheels look great? And I can confirm that driving at night with the top down is as good as it looks.
I failed to mention that it received six coats of base paint and three coats of clear.
I quite like the idea of a photo shoot but I dislike the idea of paying for it. How much is a photo shoot likely to cost? I could potentially spunk another £500 but no more. I'd rather spend the money on a Jehnert speaker system. Can you recommend anyone in the north east of England who might do it?
I did a bit of googling (beats working, except in the crucial measure of earning potential) but I must say I am not that keen on the common style, i.e., aggressive poses, moody backdrops, lots of post-production. And anyway I could find nothing on price. I should just pick up the phone but I don't want to be embarrassed when they tell me it'll be six grand or something.
I have a R129 brochure from 1996 for which Mercedes commissioned the photography from three leading photographers, Clint Clemens, Dietmar Henneka and Anatol Kotte. (This was the brochure that got me into 129s: back in 1996 I found it lying round on a desk in my dad's office and slipped it in my bag. Other 19year olds were nicking Razzle: yours truly was pinching car porn.) I have scanned a few for your delectation. Anyway, the reason I have done this is because I am a sad b
d. No, no, that's not right: the reason I have done this is because I think this is some of the best car photography I have ever seen and thought I'd share it. If you're into R129s, I highly recommend this brochure: you can pick it up on Ebay for about a tenner, which seems a lot for something they gave away free, but is worth it.Clint Clemens:
Dietmar Henneka:
Anatol Kotte:
Don't those AMG wheels look great? And I can confirm that driving at night with the top down is as good as it looks.
Edited by r129sl on Wednesday 26th March 21:02
r129sl said:
Wills2 said:
I loved my R129, you've now made me want to buy another one.
The R129 is a beautiful car. And so well made.Regarding photos find a friend with a good camera who you can bribe in some other way (eg free fuel for a mini roadtrip or some other business service), or surely this would make an excellent story about the W124 for classic Mercedes or the like?
As above recreate some in period 80s/90s shots; it would be a real shame not to document the end result!
As above recreate some in period 80s/90s shots; it would be a real shame not to document the end result!
E65Ross said:
Have you ever driven an R230? Would be interested to hear the main differences. Now I'm sure the R129 feels much more solid but I'm guessing a fair bit less refined. Is the SL more refined than the W124?
My brother is on his second R230 SL500. I've driven a short way in both. I also had a ride just the other day in a SL55 AMG. They're nice, they really are. The cockpit is a nice place to be. The difference isn't massive, that's what struck me. In the R230, you sit even lower and even further back (or so it seems) and the cowl seems quite high. The R230 is definitely more refined: much less NVH although I also felt more insulated, perhaps unsurprisingly. The perceived quality is very high. I think they're underrated by the market. Of course, people are scared by the ABC suspension, the SBC brakes and that roof, but it's not like they're made of chocolate and you certainly don't see rusty ones. I'm not completely sold on the shape but even I would concede it is the best-looking tin top roadster (with the possible exception of the first generation R170 SLK). The SL55 AMG was immense.Gassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff