Mercedes 129 titivation

[r129sl]

I've repaired the grille.

Bought Magnetti Marelli indicator lamps, about £57 each at Euro Car Parts. They're made by Automotive Lighting so are the same as Merc ones.

Mounted winter wheels. Towed a car with its trailer loaded with grit out of the lane after a tattooed Nissan Navara driver refused (Nissan: "It's brand new, I'm not fookin' towing that with it". R129: "That's ever so kind. You ." The Nissan driver's wife was hideously ugly.

Changed bulb in climate control unit. Extract with Becker radio keys. Look at those lovely electrical plugs. Tiny little bulb in bulb holder.

Edited by r129sl on Sunday 3rd February 17:11

[anonymous-user]

r129sl said:

I've repaired the grille.

Mounted winter wheels. Towed a car with its trailer loaded with grit out of the lane after a tattooed Nissan Navara driver refused (Nissan: "It's brand new, I'm not fookin' towing that with it". R129: "That's ever so kind. You ." The Nissan driver's wife was hideously ugly.

I think they check for tattoos, a hideous wife, and a pig ignorant attitude before they let you sign the finance at the dealer on those?

[SVX]

dme123 said:

r129sl said:

I've repaired the grille.

Mounted winter wheels. Towed a car with its trailer loaded with grit out of the lane after a tattooed Nissan Navara driver refused (Nissan: "It's brand new, I'm not fookin' towing that with it". R129: "That's ever so kind. You ." The Nissan driver's wife was hideously ugly.

I think they check for tattoos, a hideous wife, and a pig ignorant attitude before they let you sign the finance at the dealer on those?

Sadly thats sounds like the birthing facility of any given hospital these days, where a pronounceable name is considered an "optional extra".

[Yogioes]

OK, so this may seem like an odd place to post this but if r129sl doesn't have any suggestions, I suspect there are some other knowledgeable people looking at this thread.

I attempted to replace the front lower control arms on my SL320 with the Lemforder ones. I now know that I need arms with less metal around the ball joint as it fouls the brake disc.
The Lemforder pair were £230.
Mercedes are looking for £770 for the pair after discount which is a LOT!

Any suggestions?
(sorry for the thread hijack)

[r129sl]

^^^i used TRW control arms. TRW is part of the ZF Group and the quality was fine. I’d suggest they’re what Mercedes biz up and sell at a huge margin. The part numbers and prices are listed here, around spring 2018.

[Yogioes]

It was your suspension refurb that encouraged me to do similar.
I will look into the TRW options and see if they do the arms with less metal on the casting.
Thank you.

[alabbasi]

I would stick to Lemforder. TRW are OE providers from 20 years ago but the quality of the newer stuff is not what it used to be. Inspect first before deciding.

[r129sl]

Lemforder don’t do the control arms anymore. If you can get old stock, then do so, but be sure they are not the “other” type with the press for ball joint. The ZF Group seem to have moved them to TRW. As I said, the quality of the TRW items was indistinguishable from genuine Merc and my guess is they are one and the same. I’ve just received some TRW shocks for my 210 and it’s the same story: Sachs (another ZF brand) are NLA and the TRW items appear fine.

I’m sorry if this wasn’t clear from my earlier post.

[alabbasi]

r129sl said:

Lemforder don’t do the control arms anymore. If you can get old stock, then do so, but be sure they are not the “other” type with the press for ball joint.

Those don't work with the later model R129's that have the larger brakes.

[r129sl]

Exactly.

[tobinen]

I keep meaning to see if I can replace the bulb in the centre vent for parking sensors on mine. I've no idea if it's replaceable but I can see it working in certain light.

[r129sl]

^^^ I don't think the bulb is readily replaceable.

In other news, I have just spunked £110 on a genuine ski holder for the 129. How could I not. It will come in so handy. Now I need to buy some skis. It also fits the 124 cabriolet if anyone wants to borrow it.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mercedes-SL-Cabrio-R129...

[Zonergem]

Is it not missing the bit that clamps the actual skis?



https://www.ebay.de/itm/original-Mercedes-Skitraeg...


Available here?

https://www.ebay.de/itm/Mercedes-SL-129-Original-S...

To quote your own words "it never ends..."

[r129sl]

I've got those already (for use on the 124's roof rack, although "use" is an over-optimistic word in this context). According to the description, there are some included even if they are not in the pics. Who knows.

[r129sl]

I put 300+ miles on this car today with a run to Scarborough and then York. A19, A170 up Sutton Bank, A64 then A1. I think I may have been pinched by a camera van on the A64. Depends how long range they were working. I saw it and slowed from about 82 straight away but they may have got me. Tedious. Could have been worse as we had been making better progress earlier in the day. The car is fast, comfortable, compact and, these days, pretty low key. I have had it most of my adult life (bought in March 2003). I shall be keeping it a while yet, I hope.

[Zonergem]

That's my neck of the woods. SL1 came out yesterday for an hour's aimless but enjoyable pottering up on the Wolds. Have you ever driven the B1248 from Beverley to Malton or vice-versa? Very satisfying, lovely flowing roads and generally well sighted. Another time maybe.

[r129sl]

I didn't think to get in touch ZG, I apologise. I had my new pupil with me. We were in court in Scarborough at noon then cut down to the "Designer Outlet" on the south side of York for new socks. Even those main roads were delightful. I have run up from Beverley to Helmsley to Middlesborough, long time ago now (2009) in the 129 with a friend in his 140 behind me. Great country round there.

[mccrackenj]

r129sl said:

I had my new pupil with me.

Did he run away screaming after the drive, or just sit motionless in the car, mumbling to himself and wimpering?

[r129sl]

mccrackenj said:

r129sl said:

I had my new pupil with me.

Did he run away screaming after the drive, or just sit motionless in the car, mumbling to himself and wimpering?

She.

I thought you lot knew me by now.

[mccrackenj]

r129sl said:

mccrackenj said:

r129sl said:

I had my new pupil with me.

Did he run away screaming after the drive, or just sit motionless in the car, mumbling to himself and wimpering?

She.

I thought you lot knew me by now.

Ahem, that puts a new new slant on my original question . . .