Mercedes 129 titivation
Discussion
Hereward said:
I think there are some R129 SL55's if my memory serves? Super rare. Wonderful project.
I think there were 65 made, all LHD. I am pretty sure the number of 55s this is fewer than the number of SL73 AMGs: somewhere in the recesses of my sad car memory the number 85 suggests itself as the total number of 73s built, though I note RM Sotheby's claimed fewer than 50 when hawking this one last year: https://rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/lf19/london/lot...I definitely recall both cars being listed on the Mercedes AMG website way back in about 1999 or 2000.
Edit: from the big hardback book celebrating 45 years of AMG:
Edited by r129sl on Tuesday 30th June 21:01
I also found the AMG website circa 2000 on the Way Back Machine. The SL55 AMG and SL73 AMG are both listed under Automobiles > AMG Specials. The blurb provides no more information than that book up above although there are quite detailed technical specifications including confirmation that the 55 had the 1:2.82 rear axle
https://web.archive.org/web/20001102172041/http://...
https://web.archive.org/web/20001006112132/http://...
https://web.archive.org/web/20001102172041/http://...
https://web.archive.org/web/20001006112132/http://...
I would definitely recommend KHM, the drive there is a bonus,
Had a leather seat kit and carpets from them earlier this year.
They matched the colour I wanted exactly and fit perfectly. Whilst not the cheapest quote the service was superb: Detailed invoice in both German and English
Excellent fit and even delivered one week early.
Had a leather seat kit and carpets from them earlier this year.
They matched the colour I wanted exactly and fit perfectly. Whilst not the cheapest quote the service was superb: Detailed invoice in both German and English
Excellent fit and even delivered one week early.
KHM is at www.cabrio.de
The Fabsil on the hood is still holding up well after almost a year. OK, for much of that period it was tucked up under the hardtop but for the last few months it has been taking the sun, the rain and the salt air.
I have arranged for five wheels to go to Lepsons to be refurbished. These are the best and worst of the lot. It will be interesting to see how they come back. I've asked for diamond cut finish.
No news yet on Baister's quest for a 55 engine. Has anyone any experience of the Bilstein B12 kit for these cars? Will it just ruin the ride and handling?
The Fabsil on the hood is still holding up well after almost a year. OK, for much of that period it was tucked up under the hardtop but for the last few months it has been taking the sun, the rain and the salt air.
I have arranged for five wheels to go to Lepsons to be refurbished. These are the best and worst of the lot. It will be interesting to see how they come back. I've asked for diamond cut finish.
No news yet on Baister's quest for a 55 engine. Has anyone any experience of the Bilstein B12 kit for these cars? Will it just ruin the ride and handling?
Lepsons. I called them on Wednesday, the pick up is Tuesday, they said 10 working days turn around. Too long, in my view, but I am away for a bit and have a million other things going on and anyway they are a spare set of wheels, so it actually suits. I just want the best possible job and Lepsons or the people recommended by Harry look the best.
The "shadow chrome" finish on my M5's wheels is tricky to get right and the community all swear by Lepsons.
Sorry to pollute your thread with BMW scum pics.
I have been toying with replacing my SL's Alamaks but I think a diamond cut restoration will jazz them up nicely.
Look forward to seeing how yours get on.
Sorry to pollute your thread with BMW scum pics.
I have been toying with replacing my SL's Alamaks but I think a diamond cut restoration will jazz them up nicely.
Look forward to seeing how yours get on.
r129sl said:
KHM is at www.cabrio.de
The Fabsil on the hood is still holding up well after almost a year. OK, for much of that period it was tucked up under the hardtop but for the last few months it has been taking the sun, the rain and the salt air.
I have arranged for five wheels to go to Lepsons to be refurbished. These are the best and worst of the lot. It will be interesting to see how they come back. I've asked for diamond cut finish.
No news yet on Baister's quest for a 55 engine. Has anyone any experience of the Bilstein B12 kit for these cars? Will it just ruin the ride and handling?
Sadly no experience of R129s but have used various Bilstein on other Germans. Going from old and worn OEM to a B12 kit, which typically lowers by 30mm+, was notably firmer. Not stiff by modern standards but definitely a drop off in ride for marginal usable handling. IIRC OEM tend to be more akin to B4 or B6 (with the B12 kit having the B8 damper on my 3'ers).The Fabsil on the hood is still holding up well after almost a year. OK, for much of that period it was tucked up under the hardtop but for the last few months it has been taking the sun, the rain and the salt air.
I have arranged for five wheels to go to Lepsons to be refurbished. These are the best and worst of the lot. It will be interesting to see how they come back. I've asked for diamond cut finish.
No news yet on Baister's quest for a 55 engine. Has anyone any experience of the Bilstein B12 kit for these cars? Will it just ruin the ride and handling?
TLDR, you may find the step change to B12 somewhat disagreeable.
Thanks for the helpful advice about the B12 kit. My suspension is all brand new, certainly less than 25k miles old. I am inclined to leave it be for the moment, maybe get a good alignment done.
No news from Baister about availability of a 55 engine, somewhat irritatingly.
In the meantime, I have dispatched 5 Sador wheels to Lepsons for refurbishing, factory spec diamond cut. I look forward to their return. I also replaced a broken roll bar switch. This was quite involved. I had to remove the wood console trim. While I had that out I polished it to try to get rid of little scratches. I also removed the Becker iPod Remote Kit and replaced it with a Bluetooth dongle. This mean re-wiring the microphone which in turn meant purchasing a little release tool to enable me to dismantle the mini-ISO terminal block belonging to the iPod kit into which the mic was wired. What else while I was in there? Changed the bulb in the climate control unit. Just now I notice someone has been in here before and drawn a little sad face on some unit or other. It was all easily enough done and it is beautifully made, though it looks a right old mess:
No news from Baister about availability of a 55 engine, somewhat irritatingly.
In the meantime, I have dispatched 5 Sador wheels to Lepsons for refurbishing, factory spec diamond cut. I look forward to their return. I also replaced a broken roll bar switch. This was quite involved. I had to remove the wood console trim. While I had that out I polished it to try to get rid of little scratches. I also removed the Becker iPod Remote Kit and replaced it with a Bluetooth dongle. This mean re-wiring the microphone which in turn meant purchasing a little release tool to enable me to dismantle the mini-ISO terminal block belonging to the iPod kit into which the mic was wired. What else while I was in there? Changed the bulb in the climate control unit. Just now I notice someone has been in here before and drawn a little sad face on some unit or other. It was all easily enough done and it is beautifully made, though it looks a right old mess:
Zonergem said:
It would. I'd have to change the sump pan, oil pump pick up, inlet manifold and throttle body though none of that is the end of the world when the engine is out of the car. But the ball ache of buying a whole car then either disposing of it without an engine or parting it out is just too much, low miles or not. Unless Baister would be interested in it for parts. The unscrupulous would put the old engine in it...I had my car out for a nocturnal blast last night, roof down, music up, in the dark. There's nothing wrong with the suspension. Come to think of it, there's not much wrong with the power. At least, nothing that a bit more wouldn't cure!
r129sl said:
Zonergem said:
It would. I'd have to change the sump pan, oil pump pick up, inlet manifold and throttle body though none of that is the end of the world when the engine is out of the car. But the ball ache of buying a whole car then either disposing of it without an engine or parting it out is just too much, low miles or not. Unless Baister would be interested in it for parts. The unscrupulous would put the old engine in it...I had my car out for a nocturnal blast last night, roof down, music up, in the dark. There's nothing wrong with the suspension. Come to think of it, there's not much wrong with the power. At least, nothing that a bit more wouldn't cure!
Having remarked, on the 124 thread, about the useful invisibility of speedy-but-humble vehicles, I'd agree. The SL has value in its depth of maintenance and mileage; I think another car (not the 124!) with an unexpected engine room would be more of an interesting route.
But it's your car, money etc etc, and it'll be interesting either way.
Didn't you mention something about a 300-24?
But it's your car, money etc etc, and it'll be interesting either way.
Didn't you mention something about a 300-24?
I fear the engine is a bit worn out. Twice (ok, ok, twice in three years) it has blown horrendous amounts of smoke after being ran hard which is consistent with worn piston rings. Also, a while back I cocked up changing the oil filter housing seals and it ran low on oil, probably only for a few seconds but maybe long enough to do harm. Finally, sometimes it just seems to lack strength, particularly accelerating through 130mph: there is a stretch of (private, obvs) road on which my E430 (slightly less weight, slightly faster rear end, 30bhp less power) could just about hit 140mph but on which the SL500 struggles to pass 135, The truth is, I just don't know whether it is worn or not. Maybe I should get a compression test done.
r129sl said:
I fear the engine is a bit worn out. Twice (ok, ok, twice in three years) it has blown horrendous amounts of smoke after being ran hard which is consistent with worn piston rings. Also, a while back I cocked up changing the oil filter housing seals and it ran low on oil, probably only for a few seconds but maybe long enough to do harm. Finally, sometimes it just seems to lack strength, particularly accelerating through 130mph: there is a stretch of (private, obvs) road on which my E430 (slightly less weight, slightly faster rear end, 30bhp less power) could just about hit 140mph but on which the SL500 struggles to pass 135, The truth is, I just don't know whether it is worn or not. Maybe I should get a compression test done.
That sounds sensible. Living in a sparsely populated part of England has its benefits! This observation is completely unrelated to the alleged abundance of pace on said private stretch. I would be interested to see what you could get out of your brother's McLaren on your favourite stretches of aforementioned proving ground.The McLaren is just too fast.
It goes from 70 to 150 in the blink of an eye. Anywhere, any time. I've never been much faster than that in it, he has always backed off. But you feel like at 150 it is only just starting to get into its stride, that the acceleration is only just starting to come on full strength. It is completely pointless.
It goes from 70 to 150 in the blink of an eye. Anywhere, any time. I've never been much faster than that in it, he has always backed off. But you feel like at 150 it is only just starting to get into its stride, that the acceleration is only just starting to come on full strength. It is completely pointless.
r129sl said:
The McLaren is just too fast.
It goes from 70 to 150 in the blink of an eye. Anywhere, any time. I've never been much faster than that in it, he has always backed off. But you feel like at 150 it is only just starting to get into its stride, that the acceleration is only just starting to come on full strength. It is completely pointless.
I think that the fastest road car that I have ever driven on the road is an Audi TTRS and it had me adrenalined up to my eyeballs as though I were on my Fireblade and feeling particularly fruity. Utterly pointless, I agree*It goes from 70 to 150 in the blink of an eye. Anywhere, any time. I've never been much faster than that in it, he has always backed off. But you feel like at 150 it is only just starting to get into its stride, that the acceleration is only just starting to come on full strength. It is completely pointless.
- except for when I have been overtaken by another, more powerful, vehicle on the motorway and visions of more power flash through my testosterone influenced being
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