Mercedes 129 titivation
Discussion
That really is a fine looking car. Coincidentally I saw a current model SL up close earlier today, and it really is a dismal thing isn't it? These huge black plastic "grille" on each wing is just a piece of plastic with a criss cross slightly raised pattern all over it! You don't even need to get close to see how cheap and nasty it looks.
That would (rightly) be pointed and laughed at on a ten grand Chinese car, how on earth are they getting away with it on a £100k+ flagship?
That would (rightly) be pointed and laughed at on a ten grand Chinese car, how on earth are they getting away with it on a £100k+ flagship?
CharlesdeGaulle said:
bolidemichael said:
I'm just picturing him scrambling up the bank dressed in a suit, leather-soled shoes slithering on the path and phone in hand just to get the shot. Brilliant. CharlesdeGaulle said:
I'm just picturing him scrambling up the bank dressed in a suit, leather-soled shoes slithering on the path and phone in hand just to get the shot. Brilliant.
That is precisely how it was. Ultra-light weight navy Hackett suit, Tricker's Oxfords. It's like you were there.bolidemichael said:
I was thinking that it would be sod's law that a car would approach just as he's getting a photo from the vantage point!
This is Northumberland. I dropped the kids at school near Stocksfield, cut across to Ponteland, then up the A696 to Belsay. From there it is a fabulous drive for at least 15 miles, maybe more. I don't think I saw another car in either direction.
Taxed the old thing for another 12 months today: £265.
This evening I cleaned it up, including the fabric roof, which is really on its last legs after 20 years. I sprayed with Bilt Hamber Surfex HD and let that soak in, then blasted it with the pressure washer. No doubt there are gentler ways of doing it. Then wiped it down and left to dry. Next I treated it with Fabsil Gold fabric protector. Last year I brushed this on with a paint brush and it took forever and used rather a lot of the stuff. This year I just put it in a spray bottle and sprayed it on, a five minute job even accounting for cleaning the overspray off the windows. The combination of cleaning and protecting really improves the look of the fabric and gives it is depth of colour back.
When funds allow, though, it will be off to KHM for a new roof.
This evening I cleaned it up, including the fabric roof, which is really on its last legs after 20 years. I sprayed with Bilt Hamber Surfex HD and let that soak in, then blasted it with the pressure washer. No doubt there are gentler ways of doing it. Then wiped it down and left to dry. Next I treated it with Fabsil Gold fabric protector. Last year I brushed this on with a paint brush and it took forever and used rather a lot of the stuff. This year I just put it in a spray bottle and sprayed it on, a five minute job even accounting for cleaning the overspray off the windows. The combination of cleaning and protecting really improves the look of the fabric and gives it is depth of colour back.
When funds allow, though, it will be off to KHM for a new roof.
Hi Jonathan,
What a fascinating thread, thank you for sharing. I've been a big fan of the R129 since it came out (was like a spaceship back then!) and still want to own one today. Dabbled with a lovely R107 300SL for a couple of years, very elegant, but thats now gone and am thinking an R129 might be finally on the cards. I've been close to buying one for the past 10 years, maybe now is finally the time!
From reading through your posts I see that you have children that have grown up with the R129. I was curious as to what your experience has been of the useability of the rear seats as they grow. Can they ever safely travel in the back seats, is there an age range within which they can comfortable travel there?
Thanks in advance!
Mine travel in the back seats most days these days.
The back seats were no good until the child was 3, maybe 3 and a bit, because until then they couldn't really hold themselves upright all the time in corners and still fell asleep a lot. My 8 year old, who is tall (6'1" father and 5'11" mother), is still fine in the back and we often go four up, wife in the front, both boys in the back, for journeys of maybe an hour or 90 minutes or so. I'm taking the boys to Edinburgh tomorrow and we will be using the 129, 8 year old in the front, 6 year old in the back.
Only the front passenger seat takes a child seat, however, and then only really a forward facing one.
The back seats were no good until the child was 3, maybe 3 and a bit, because until then they couldn't really hold themselves upright all the time in corners and still fell asleep a lot. My 8 year old, who is tall (6'1" father and 5'11" mother), is still fine in the back and we often go four up, wife in the front, both boys in the back, for journeys of maybe an hour or 90 minutes or so. I'm taking the boys to Edinburgh tomorrow and we will be using the 129, 8 year old in the front, 6 year old in the back.
Only the front passenger seat takes a child seat, however, and then only really a forward facing one.
r129sl said:
Mine travel in the back seats most days these days.
The back seats were no good until the child was 3, maybe 3 and a bit, because until then they couldn't really hold themselves upright all the time in corners and still fell asleep a lot. My 8 year old, who is tall (6'1" father and 5'11" mother), is still fine in the back and we often go four up, wife in the front, both boys in the back, for journeys of maybe an hour or 90 minutes or so. I'm taking the boys to Edinburgh tomorrow and we will be using the 129, 8 year old in the front, 6 year old in the back.
Only the front passenger seat takes a child seat, however, and then only really a forward facing one.
No way I'd get kids in behind my seat. Only way someone fits behind the Mrs and me is if they sit across the car. The back seats were no good until the child was 3, maybe 3 and a bit, because until then they couldn't really hold themselves upright all the time in corners and still fell asleep a lot. My 8 year old, who is tall (6'1" father and 5'11" mother), is still fine in the back and we often go four up, wife in the front, both boys in the back, for journeys of maybe an hour or 90 minutes or so. I'm taking the boys to Edinburgh tomorrow and we will be using the 129, 8 year old in the front, 6 year old in the back.
Only the front passenger seat takes a child seat, however, and then only really a forward facing one.
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