Mercedes 129 titivation

[r129sl]

Interestingly (well, not very), the legally correct numberplate font (referred to in the regulations as the "prescribed font") features the nice 'S', not the back-to-front 'Z' which seems more common. It also seems to me that the '5' is a bit nicer than that usually provided. http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2001/561/schedu...

[anonymous-user]

Car looks fantastic, lovely work and great to see it documented on this thread.

As much as I prefer the shape of my R230 SL I have to say the R129 seems infinitely better built... doubt mine will see the mileage yours has.

Now you can enjoy it all over again. Nice one!

[TonyF55]

r129sl said:

Interestingly (well, not very), the legally correct numberplate font (referred to in the regulations as the "prescribed font") features the nice 'S', not the back-to-front 'Z' which seems more common. It also seems to me that the '5' is a bit nicer than that usually provided. http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2001/561/schedu...

That's good to know, I don't know how this cr@p looking 'S' became so popular, I see it on lots of cars.

I'll await pics of your car displaying your new plate and then i'l order from the same place

Tony

[0a]

I purchased my 129 almost entirely based on Jonathan's positive comments, and I couldn't be happier. I was very lucky that Charlesdegaulle was looking to move his on, so was able to purchase his.

Just to illustrate that these are not particularly expensive to run, I collected mine from my mechanic this morning. I asked him to look into the power steering system and ensure that it would pass an MOT at the end of the month (I had low fluid levels about a month ago - since I topped it up the level hasn't moved though!) - he removed and greased the power steering pump, replaced a shock that he found was leaking, and did the tracking. £129.45 (I did like the £129 bit).

The tracking has definitely made a difference - there was a slight wobble at 60-65 mph before, it is now perfect (up to 150mph anyway!).

The odd R129 specific bit is expensive (but there is a great online community - not least here with Jonathan who knows EVERYTHING about these cars) - for example I want a new front/mid section for the exhaust to sort a slight blow caused by previous repairs. Mercedes want £1,400 for this. However I will be getting what I want made for around £700-800 in two weeks time based on recommendations for fabricators in my area.

My mechanic loves the car - always a good sign - as it's robust and easy to work on.

Edited by 0a on Saturday 11th July 18:27

[TonyF55]

That's really nice Oa, I would really like a base 300SL in Jonathan's 190 beige, with cloth seats. Bit odd I know and wouldn't be everyone's cup of tea I have seen a car like this a long time ago, probably not many about in that spec.

[0a]

I think the 300 engine would struggle in the SL (I have this engine in my 300E - they are heavy cars, much heavier than the W124. The early 500 engine is really quite special (I have not driven the later one) and it does really suit the car. I didn't expect the car to feel quite so eager having been in modern SLs before.

I have never seen a R129 in Jonathan's beige before so I will withhold judgement for now! I really like the solid red colour - polished up it looks fantastic.

Edited by 0a on Saturday 11th July 13:59

[IanA2]

The 129 is too heavy for a 300. I have the 103 in my 300GES and believe me you get to watch the grass grow. In any case 500's are fairly common and don't really cost that much more to run.

I'm fixing my GES problem by fitting a TT !!

Having owned 129's in 500 and 60 iterations I can attest to their build quality although I did find the '91 had a little less evidence of the curse of the bean counters than the '98.

The 500 was great, the 60 was fabulous, and neither cost a fortune to run.

[0a]

r129sl said:

I think I'll be picking it up on Monday

You must be really looking forward to it! I like it when I see a garage with a range of machinery as in the above photo.

I will be visiting "the man" to get my W124 done (probably at the end of the year!). Great to hear that he can source parts. Regarding W124 wings (front) what would you suggest - let the man get MB items, or look elsewhere?

[r129sl]

I've seen an early 129 in light ivory over light brown leather, ages ago it was on Ebay. I think it was a 300. Anyway, they obviously exist. The first one here is a 600. I think it needs the pre-facelift contrasting Saccos in this colour. To be honest, the r129 looks better in any given colour as a pre-facelift car with contrasting Saccos (I know that is an incredibly subjective statement). Tops for me would be a 300 SL-24 in light ivory over brazil brown, medium red or fir green check cloth.

[0a]

While the 190 looks great in those colours, I'd never order or even look at a R129 in the colours above!

[anomaly]

This is fantastic, lovely car and great to see one in such long term ownership being used properly. I had never previously contemplated a 129 but this thread has had me looking at the classifieds!

[anomaly]

Also, and I apologise if this has been covered previously, does your car have US spec front indicators?

[r129sl]

Yes, the indicators are US-spec. I like a bit of amber but I think the full amber indicators would be glaringly wrong on this facelift car. I put the US-spec ones on my 124, too. Obviously, in the US, facelift cars had these indicators so they are part-right.

Light ivory would be a brave choice for a 129. I think the colour looks good simply because it is so different, albeit I see it about more and more. There's a strong precedent for it on sports cars:

[EJH]

r129sl said:

Yes, the indicators are US-spec. I like a bit of amber but I think the full amber indicators would be glaringly wrong on this facelift car. I put the US-spec ones on my 124, too. Obviously, in the US, facelift cars had these indicators so they are part-right.

I like the US spec with a shot of amber; the pre-facelift cars (retrofitted) with clear lenses look wrong to me as they have amber rear indicators and, in some cases, amber side repeaters.

[r129sl]

I am collecting the car today. Photos later.

In the meantime, the new plates have arrived. Do these meet with approval? I don't like the '5' but that's tough, I suppose. My office keyboard is minging as well, I know.

[IanA2]

r129sl said:

I am collecting the car today. Photos later.

In the meantime, the new plates have arrived. Do these meet with approval? I don't like the '5' but that's tough, I suppose. My office keyboard is minging as well, I know.

Whoops:



See: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploa...

I suppose you'd have to have a real jobsworth to bother......

[r129sl]

But they have been on the car forever... I hate the postcode and BS number crap and will not have those things on my number plates.

Anyway, when I went over there today I spotted some little inclusions in the paint so he is going to take those out and get it to me tomorrow.

olly22n said:

I would have gone for the font of that era, rather than the smaller one.

I might get such a set and think about it.

Edited by r129sl on Wednesday 15th July 16:28

[anonymous-user]

This thread has prompted me to act on a promise I made myself in 1989- I will have one of those new SLs! I think the Alpina will be making way for one early next year.

You also reminded me of the great CAR article in 1989 and whilst I know I have it somewhere, i have ordered a copy from ebay to have another read. Wouldn't mind an XM but that is not what this is about!


I am one of the ones who will look to buy a 500 with the 32v engine in a dark colour with leather, but deeply appreciates the cloth interiors and less common colours.

All marvellous. M119 with a 5 speed auto would make me very happy. Please keep sharing these magnificent cars here.

Edited by Polynesian on Wednesday 15th July 16:49

Edited by Polynesian on Wednesday 15th July 17:05

[TonyF55]

r129sl said:

I am collecting the car today. Photos later.

In the meantime, the new plates have arrived. Do these meet with approval? I don't like the '5' but that's tough, I suppose. My office keyboard is minging as well, I know.

Now the car will look great

Whilst we have some font specialists on here, can anyone tell me what font this is ? I see this font a lot on 80's VW's and the non straight letters are quite curvy.

[r129sl]

TonyF55 said:

Whilst we have some font specialists on here, can anyone tell me what font this is ? I see this font a lot on 80's VW's and the non straight letters are quite curvy.

I used to be a proper font nerd but it is one of the many obsessions that has been crowded out by adult life.

Anyway, pre-2001, I understand there was no prescribed font, in the sense of a font precisely specified by legislation. There were subtle variations between the fonts used by different plate manufacturers. The plate you show on the Sirocco features a font best represented by Lutz Headline, owned and published by Lineto. See here: http://lineto.com/The+Fonts/Font+Categories/Headli... and here: http://www.leewardpro.com/articles/licplatefonts/f... It seems to be relatively readily available. I have noticed it previously and always rather liked it, although I feel it belongs on 1970s and 1980s vehicles. Although the font Lutz Headline was drawn in 1997, it appears to be based on anonymous fonts in use as early as the first half of the twentieth century. A fascinating business.

Edited by r129sl on Wednesday 15th July 22:14