Mercedes 129 titivation
Discussion
The back axle is in and it's looking good. Terry has put a lot of effort into cleaning up the underside. I love all the new fixings, clips, covers, brackets, all of that stuff. I suspect the job will cost more than the car is worth, however...
New shields throughout; and the underside has been cleaned back and re-sealed.
Nice shiny new fuel pump package, various other new bits and bobs:
The near side corner is almost fully built up. New discs and pads and brake accessories including the flexis, obviously (the callipers were new a couple of years back). All new arms and bushes throughout. New wheel bearings. New brake disc splash plates. New shocks (the springs are relatively new, too). All clips and guides and covers and brackets renewed, too. The underside of the subframe will be cleaned off and treated in due course. New anti-roll bar and associated components. Plus the level sensor and its bits and bobs for the xenon lights.
Offside is a work in progress:
Some not very good pictures of the whole. The fuel and brake lines are new.
There is still a fair bit to go. The front axle (only the arms and bushes) and brakes (discs and pads). And then the oil leak from the timing case. Then Phil is going to get it aligned properly. I think I will ask him to road test it for 100 miles or so, too. I am beginning to dread the bill but the car should drive like new.
New shields throughout; and the underside has been cleaned back and re-sealed.
Nice shiny new fuel pump package, various other new bits and bobs:
The near side corner is almost fully built up. New discs and pads and brake accessories including the flexis, obviously (the callipers were new a couple of years back). All new arms and bushes throughout. New wheel bearings. New brake disc splash plates. New shocks (the springs are relatively new, too). All clips and guides and covers and brackets renewed, too. The underside of the subframe will be cleaned off and treated in due course. New anti-roll bar and associated components. Plus the level sensor and its bits and bobs for the xenon lights.
Offside is a work in progress:
Some not very good pictures of the whole. The fuel and brake lines are new.
There is still a fair bit to go. The front axle (only the arms and bushes) and brakes (discs and pads). And then the oil leak from the timing case. Then Phil is going to get it aligned properly. I think I will ask him to road test it for 100 miles or so, too. I am beginning to dread the bill but the car should drive like new.
Marvellous stuff. Should see you well on the way to passing 500k in the car.
Here's the highest mileage UK R129 I've ever seen - a claimed 380k.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mercedes-SL-320-beautif...
Here's the highest mileage UK R129 I've ever seen - a claimed 380k.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mercedes-SL-320-beautif...
I can't remember what it is on at the moment. 267,000 I think.
Some more pictures. We are waiting on new tie rods: you can see on each side there is one rusty old arm still in situ.
Driver's side (the fastenings are not tight because they have to be undone to re-install the spring in due course):
Passenger side:
I have also decided to go with TRW control arms at the front. These are £127 delivered against the £356 Merc wanted. TRW is part of ZF Group and we think the parts will be one and the same.
Some more pictures. We are waiting on new tie rods: you can see on each side there is one rusty old arm still in situ.
Driver's side (the fastenings are not tight because they have to be undone to re-install the spring in due course):
Passenger side:
I have also decided to go with TRW control arms at the front. These are £127 delivered against the £356 Merc wanted. TRW is part of ZF Group and we think the parts will be one and the same.
I will post a full update shortly but suffice to say I have the car back from Baister's and it is transformed. The entire suspension (apart from the front shocks and the springs) is new, front and back. The whole underside has been renewed with new heat shields, all rust removed and treated and new underseal. It drives beautifully. Worth the expenditure. Although I have not had the bill yet.
The diff still moans. In fact it is howling badly. I have a new-to-me item on the way from Germany and am hoping this will go in next week.
And I found my car on Google Street View. I noticed the Google camera car and periodically check to see if the images were used and at last here they are:
The diff still moans. In fact it is howling badly. I have a new-to-me item on the way from Germany and am hoping this will go in next week.
And I found my car on Google Street View. I noticed the Google camera car and periodically check to see if the images were used and at last here they are:
t. Fun though summer motoring is, there's a lot of wiping off birds
If the diff that you bought actually turns out to be good - and doesn't have some exciting new noise, or is "good" when stone cold, or "good" when filled 50/50 with oil and banana skins, then I'd be very interested to know your source, especially if they have other 90s vintage Merc Diffs...
It's a bloody good job I love this car and am not unfond of Baister. I did ask him where the red carpet, complimentary coffee and fetching dolly birds were but he didn't seem to know what I was on about. I'm off home to enjoy the thing now. Needless to say, the tank is empty...
Edited by r129sl on Friday 4th May 17:06
This isn't aimed at Strela (how is Binky?) but that bill, majestic as it is, only buys you a good R107 bulkhead repair. You'd need a gosh darn sight more to go over the suspension and underbody as well.
And what could you buy as an alternative that would offer a fraction of the pleasure?
And what could you buy as an alternative that would offer a fraction of the pleasure?
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