sl r129 anyone taken the risk on a 3/4k car
Discussion
15 hole wheels for me every time ; they`re pretty rare now . Originality is king .
I got the chance to pour over a mid -term model of the 129 and there are seemingly quite a few changes made across the long production run . Mine is a very early UK spec 1990 car (pre airbag etc) and has door bins which lock with the central locking . The later model didn`t seem to have these (unless they were broken , of course ) . I can`t see the benefit of the big wheels in terms of aesthetics or performance , except for the likes of the SL60 where the car was designed as such .
The grey car looks superb ....
I got the chance to pour over a mid -term model of the 129 and there are seemingly quite a few changes made across the long production run . Mine is a very early UK spec 1990 car (pre airbag etc) and has door bins which lock with the central locking . The later model didn`t seem to have these (unless they were broken , of course ) . I can`t see the benefit of the big wheels in terms of aesthetics or performance , except for the likes of the SL60 where the car was designed as such .
The grey car looks superb ....
r129sl said:
Prefer the 15holes. Bugger to clean, though. Blue-Black metallic does look the business, especially with the contrasting "Sacco" panels and grey leather.
R129sl, you seem to be very knowledgeable about these cars - do you know if the panels are easy to remove? Thinking of repainting them as they are all a bit poor cheers swilkins999The airbags in the R129 were made famous in the film 'The Rookie"
NSFW http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=6sUjJDDYh20
NSFW http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=6sUjJDDYh20
Edited by MarsellusWallace on Monday 12th November 20:38
swilkins999 said:
r129sl said:
Prefer the 15holes. Bugger to clean, though. Blue-Black metallic does look the business, especially with the contrasting "Sacco" panels and grey leather.
R129sl, you seem to be very knowledgeable about these cars - do you know if the panels are easy to remove? Thinking of repainting them as they are all a bit poor cheers swilkins999There were numerous and substantial changes during the 13year production run, some for good, some for bad. I really like the early cars. That said, my late car is amazing. We've just run up from Bristol to Northumberland (318miles) this morning in 3hours 50minutes. 27.5mpg, too. At no time did we exceed 155mph.
r129sl said:
Yes, very easy. The ones on the front and rear come off with a yank at the bottom and a slide at the top. The one on the door is the same save that from memory there is a bolt on the inside of the door. If you like, when I get a chance, I can download the instructions from the Merc workshop system.
There were numerous and substantial changes during the 13year production run, some for good, some for bad. I really like the early cars. That said, my late car is amazing. We've just run up from Bristol to Northumberland (318miles) this morning in 3hours 50minutes. 27.5mpg, too. At no time did we exceed 155mph.
Hi, that would be really helpful, if you didn't mind? I like the comment about the speed he he! That mpg is better than the early cars, I have not seen much better than 23 mpg in mine.There were numerous and substantial changes during the 13year production run, some for good, some for bad. I really like the early cars. That said, my late car is amazing. We've just run up from Bristol to Northumberland (318miles) this morning in 3hours 50minutes. 27.5mpg, too. At no time did we exceed 155mph.
all SLs were available with the airbag from day 1 end of 1989. in fact at the motorshow release date it was one of the key selling points along with the roll bar.
a 1989/90 car all the way up to 1992 was suited to having the classic 15 hole design wheels. Then the 8 holes were standard kit from about 92-95m reg. in 96 the facelift took place and they started offering all sorts of wheels for the cars (all of which in my opinion are naff).
the 3 piece polished amg wheels (super rare) were around upto 1995... then merc changed them to more monoblock wheels - these are the ones that 99% have (many of them replica wheels).
ps. I just bought a 500sl 1993, nautic blue with magnolia. Totally original with the lighter blue grey lower panels, yellow indicators all round, 8 holes etc. it looks exactly as the early cars should except it has the correct 8 wholes for its age. I couldnt hold out any longer. But to be honest i would have killed for a 1989/90 one with the original steering wheel (airbag) which was a more boaring 4 spoke wheel than the 92 cars which got a slightly nicer 4 spoke (airbag) and think this is when they made the 500 have stadard airbag as prior it was an option.
by the way i see many of these so called early cars have digital mileometers which leaves me very suspicious as Merc didnt introduce this until about 1994... my 93 is still analogue Im pleased to say.
there are 2 beautful original 1990 (500sl) cars near my flat - a silver one (on classic alloys) and a jet black (non metallic )- its stunning G reg, the only thing he has done is colour code the lower panels to jet black and Ive got to say it does look amazing even though Im a stickler for keeping a car original, this is an acceptable change (would not accept it for the silver cars or my nautic blue or even for the blue black cars)
2 colours I really would love and are super super rare
someone i knew had an Ivory white 500 back in 1992 which they put the bolted split rims on a (1992 car). If i could ever trace that car i would buy it.
the other one i loved as a kid was Glasgow merc had a Impala brown 500 again this was 1992ish... Impala brown, cream leather, brown soft top... the colour just worked for the car so well...
a 1989/90 car all the way up to 1992 was suited to having the classic 15 hole design wheels. Then the 8 holes were standard kit from about 92-95m reg. in 96 the facelift took place and they started offering all sorts of wheels for the cars (all of which in my opinion are naff).
the 3 piece polished amg wheels (super rare) were around upto 1995... then merc changed them to more monoblock wheels - these are the ones that 99% have (many of them replica wheels).
ps. I just bought a 500sl 1993, nautic blue with magnolia. Totally original with the lighter blue grey lower panels, yellow indicators all round, 8 holes etc. it looks exactly as the early cars should except it has the correct 8 wholes for its age. I couldnt hold out any longer. But to be honest i would have killed for a 1989/90 one with the original steering wheel (airbag) which was a more boaring 4 spoke wheel than the 92 cars which got a slightly nicer 4 spoke (airbag) and think this is when they made the 500 have stadard airbag as prior it was an option.
by the way i see many of these so called early cars have digital mileometers which leaves me very suspicious as Merc didnt introduce this until about 1994... my 93 is still analogue Im pleased to say.
there are 2 beautful original 1990 (500sl) cars near my flat - a silver one (on classic alloys) and a jet black (non metallic )- its stunning G reg, the only thing he has done is colour code the lower panels to jet black and Ive got to say it does look amazing even though Im a stickler for keeping a car original, this is an acceptable change (would not accept it for the silver cars or my nautic blue or even for the blue black cars)
2 colours I really would love and are super super rare
someone i knew had an Ivory white 500 back in 1992 which they put the bolted split rims on a (1992 car). If i could ever trace that car i would buy it.
the other one i loved as a kid was Glasgow merc had a Impala brown 500 again this was 1992ish... Impala brown, cream leather, brown soft top... the colour just worked for the car so well...
MarsellusWallace said:
The airbags in the R129 were made famous in the film 'The Rookie"
NSFW http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=6sUjJDDYh20
NSFW http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=6sUjJDDYh20
Edited by MarsellusWallace on Monday 12th November 20:38
Mayfair Cars in Durham had an early car in Bornite with Brazil Brown leather. That was a nice car. At the time I remember seeing an early 600 SEC in Impala with Mushroom: it looked perfect. I kind of wish my car was an early one albeit I am of course very happy with it. I particularly agree with the comment about the naff wheels on later cars. What do you suggest? Will the 17" 3-piece AMG wheels clear the bigger brakes of my car?
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