1996 Mercedes SL 600
Discussion
If I was driving the car down through France to spend a fortnight on the Riveria or in the countryside *in the same place* then I'd put the hardtop on and take a folding hardtop stand so that I could enjoy my time there en plein air, provided I had somewhere secure to stash the hardtop.
If I was going on a road trip from point to point though I'd leave the hardtop. It might get wearing hour after hour on the autoroute but that's a failure of route planning. Two to four hours driving per day, mainly on RN or Departmental roads and with the top down as much as possible.
If I was going on a road trip from point to point though I'd leave the hardtop. It might get wearing hour after hour on the autoroute but that's a failure of route planning. Two to four hours driving per day, mainly on RN or Departmental roads and with the top down as much as possible.
Zonergem said:
That pic beautifully encapsulates what the SL is all about. And it also highlights what an enigma the SL600 is. They shoe-horned an engine designed (for their saloon cars) to destroy autobahns in to a car that does not belong on the autobahn.Objectively it's an odd match of engine to vehicle. Subjectively it's a glorious 12 inch (cylinder) willy-waving contest!
Amazing car and fascinating read..!
Re driving a convertible in France...
A few years ago I drove my 1970 Elan S4SE DHC to Switzerland for the Historic Ollon-Villars Hillclimb event.
Drove all the way back from The Alps to Calais in a day with the roof down... to be fair, I was a bit cold when I got to the ferry at Calais, but a really satisfying journey !
I would imagine doing that in your Merc even with the soft top up would be luxurious in comparison !!
Re driving a convertible in France...
A few years ago I drove my 1970 Elan S4SE DHC to Switzerland for the Historic Ollon-Villars Hillclimb event.
Drove all the way back from The Alps to Calais in a day with the roof down... to be fair, I was a bit cold when I got to the ferry at Calais, but a really satisfying journey !
I would imagine doing that in your Merc even with the soft top up would be luxurious in comparison !!
I’ve read this thread with great interest as I’ve recently acquired a 1995 SL600.
They’re such wonderful cars to cruise in. Everything is so soft and smooth from the suspension to the engine or the gearbox, it makes for a wonderful experience.
Hope you enjoy many more miles of top down motoring in yours, OP!
They’re such wonderful cars to cruise in. Everything is so soft and smooth from the suspension to the engine or the gearbox, it makes for a wonderful experience.
Hope you enjoy many more miles of top down motoring in yours, OP!
The twin lidded washer bottle is intended to accommodate washer water heating. On LHD models, a coolant hose loops in and out of the washer bottle through those small circles in the larger lid; the smaller lid obviously is just for refilling.
Oh for a European road trip! Back in my youth, when covering 1000 miles at a stretch running at 125mph, I would often install the hardtop, the little fold up stand in the boot, and remove it when I arrived at my destination.
Oh for a European road trip! Back in my youth, when covering 1000 miles at a stretch running at 125mph, I would often install the hardtop, the little fold up stand in the boot, and remove it when I arrived at my destination.
r129sl said:
The twin lidded washer bottle is intended to accommodate washer water heating. On LHD models, a coolant hose loops in and out of the washer bottle through those small circles in the larger lid; the smaller lid obviously is just for refilling...
Brilliant stuff! I wondered what those two black rubber grommets were for. I thought they were designed to blow in case of fluid expansion/icing.r129sl said:
Oh for a European road trip! Back in my youth, when covering 1000 miles at a stretch running at 125mph, I would often install the hardtop, the little fold up stand in the boot, and remove it when I arrived at my destination.
This is the ideal, assuming one has a place to store the hardtop upon arrival.bolidemichael said:
r129sl said:
Oh for a European road trip! Back in my youth, when covering 1000 miles at a stretch running at 125mph, I would often install the hardtop, the little fold up stand in the boot, and remove it when I arrived at my destination.
This is the ideal, assuming one has a place to store the hardtop upon arrival.Hereward said:
bolidemichael said:
r129sl said:
Oh for a European road trip! Back in my youth, when covering 1000 miles at a stretch running at 125mph, I would often install the hardtop, the little fold up stand in the boot, and remove it when I arrived at my destination.
This is the ideal, assuming one has a place to store the hardtop upon arrival.
Zonergem said:
If I was driving the car down through France to spend a fortnight on the Riveria or in the countryside *in the same place* then I'd put the hardtop on and take a folding hardtop stand so that I could enjoy my time there en plein air, provided I had somewhere secure to stash the hardtop.
I knew a girl back in the day whose father avoided needing a hardtop for long trips by simply keeping one 600SL at home in London and another 600SL at home in Spain. This was around 1992 or 1993 so they must have been very early ones; they replaced a pair of ZR1 Corvettes homed similalry.Crikey, the 3 years since my last updates have flown. And what a tumultuous 3 years it has been on this crazy planet 
The SL is not getting enough use under my custodianship, something I must put right. The MOT history reveals ~500 miles per year, which is simply unacceptable. She runs the risk of slowly turning into a barnfind:
Nick Leeson afficionados will understand:
Despite the low annual mileage I do an oil and filter change every 12 months:
Hydraulic fluid for the ADS suspension changed too. Very simple job and it's a no-brainer to keep this fluid fresh and clean:
The bonnet foam pad was starting to crumble so I removed it, cleaned the bonnet underside and fitted a new OEM pad:
I removed the battery tray and spruced it up with a fresh coat of paint. The bodywork under the tray was mint, no nasty surprises there. I sprayed some ACF-50 so that it can creep in to the seams:
In the next few months I will change the coolant and the brake fluid.
The SL is not getting enough use under my custodianship, something I must put right. The MOT history reveals ~500 miles per year, which is simply unacceptable. She runs the risk of slowly turning into a barnfind:
Nick Leeson afficionados will understand:
Despite the low annual mileage I do an oil and filter change every 12 months:
Hydraulic fluid for the ADS suspension changed too. Very simple job and it's a no-brainer to keep this fluid fresh and clean:
The bonnet foam pad was starting to crumble so I removed it, cleaned the bonnet underside and fitted a new OEM pad:
I removed the battery tray and spruced it up with a fresh coat of paint. The bodywork under the tray was mint, no nasty surprises there. I sprayed some ACF-50 so that it can creep in to the seams:
In the next few months I will change the coolant and the brake fluid.
tobinen said:
Good to hear it's still OK. I have to replace my insulation so a timely post. From where did your source yours? The SL Shop has a kit for £100 which is tempting
I purchased the pad from Mercedes and got roasted for £186 for it. Then another £20 or so for the 3M adhesive spray.I don't think you can go wrong with the SL Shop's kit at that price, I should have gone down that route.
These foam pads don't like the engine heat (or maybe it's the adhesive that fails?). My previous one was fitted when I first acquired the car (2016) so didn't last long, especially given my limited use, plus the fact I always store the car with the bonnet open (thus minimising heat degradation) to deter mice.
Edited by Hereward on Friday 2nd June 14:33
Time for a mundane servicing update:
The coolant was partially drained and refilled. The system holds about 20 litres. I drained out about 9 litres from the radiator. There is a useful drain point at the bottom corner of the radiator. Simply push on a length of hose and open the valve with pliers. All very civilised with not a single drop of spillage. The old coolant looked really clean so I didn't worry about flushing or trying to fully drain the engine block.
The required coolant specification is Mercedes 325.0 (concentrate) or 326.0 (ready mix). Comma's G48 (made under licence from BASF) meets the 326.0 spec.
I changed the brake fluid and also tightened up the parking brakes inside the rear discs since their efficiency was close to the limit at the last MOT.
General inspection under the car showed nothing of concern. I gave everything a fresh coat of Bilt Hamber wax. The slight oil leak from the engine casing also provides additional corrosion protection
Routine servicing on this car is remarkably simple. Access to all fluids, filters, bulbs and spark plugs is excellent.
The coolant was partially drained and refilled. The system holds about 20 litres. I drained out about 9 litres from the radiator. There is a useful drain point at the bottom corner of the radiator. Simply push on a length of hose and open the valve with pliers. All very civilised with not a single drop of spillage. The old coolant looked really clean so I didn't worry about flushing or trying to fully drain the engine block.
The required coolant specification is Mercedes 325.0 (concentrate) or 326.0 (ready mix). Comma's G48 (made under licence from BASF) meets the 326.0 spec.
I changed the brake fluid and also tightened up the parking brakes inside the rear discs since their efficiency was close to the limit at the last MOT.
General inspection under the car showed nothing of concern. I gave everything a fresh coat of Bilt Hamber wax. The slight oil leak from the engine casing also provides additional corrosion protection
Routine servicing on this car is remarkably simple. Access to all fluids, filters, bulbs and spark plugs is excellent.
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