0a's Mercedes r129 500SL
Discussion
The grey car in my photo upthread was Japanese delivered but somewhere along the line it acquired side repeaters. Still doesn't have rear seat option though. It was built in mid-1992 but sat unsold until late 1993 - like many SLs it was a victim of the deep recession of the early 1990s.
One other weird difference that we spotted was that, on that car anyway, the aerial hole was in a different location on the rear quarter (higher up) and a different shape of grommet and seal was fitted as a result.
One other weird difference that we spotted was that, on that car anyway, the aerial hole was in a different location on the rear quarter (higher up) and a different shape of grommet and seal was fitted as a result.
0a said:
In particular despite seeming like it is latched okay the roof beep is still sounding and the button doesn't do anything. Very annoying. I need to identify a specialist and get it there as the next step (I have had a few leads on the barge thread, suggestions welcome).
Cayman Autos in Dorking, Surrey. I have no experience/affiliation but I have read they are well regarded.Dorking railway station is a 15min walk from them. I live nearby so you can use my driveway if the car needs to be kept local for whatever reason.
0a said:
Yes it did indeed start life in Japan, I didn't know there was a difference! It's very clean underneath as a result.
I collected it today and the paint really does look nice. It's starting cleanly as well.
There's still plenty of work to do.
In particular despite seeming like it is latched okay the roof beep is still sounding and the button doesn't do anything. Very annoying. I need to identify a specialist and get it there as the next step (I have had a few leads on the barge thread, suggestions welcome).
It's significantly quicker than I remember it being though.
The fun continues.
Edit - picture turned the right way up. The engine seems a bit wild with the dodgy chav exhaust - it's very amusing.
The beeping is often slight wear in the front latches, causing one or both of the micro switches in the header to think the roof is still unlatched. Use the manual tool to tweak each side in turn, if it stops then you've found the suspect. I collected it today and the paint really does look nice. It's starting cleanly as well.
There's still plenty of work to do.
In particular despite seeming like it is latched okay the roof beep is still sounding and the button doesn't do anything. Very annoying. I need to identify a specialist and get it there as the next step (I have had a few leads on the barge thread, suggestions welcome).
It's significantly quicker than I remember it being though.
The fun continues.
Edit - picture turned the right way up. The engine seems a bit wild with the dodgy chav exhaust - it's very amusing.
Edited by 0a on Wednesday 30th November 00:12
Link below, I followed this it worked a treat.
http://www.benzworld.org/forums/r129-sl-class/1716...
Read and erase the codes, easy enough with a homemade LED blink-code reader, then recheck to see what comes back.
Thanks for the PM
Edited by PositronicRay on Wednesday 30th November 12:52
What a great response there has been to this thread - it's much appreciated, and it's great to see other r129s.
I have put a few miles on the car this week to ensure it's reliable which it has been so far. It's definitely quicker than before! This has highlighted the crap tyres that are on the car at the moment - on the greasy roads around here it can lights the traction control in 1,2 and 3, and it gave me a brief opposite lock moment earlier on a roundabout when I was in a casual rush to a meeting.
Thanks for the tip PR, I will give it a try this weekend.
sinbaddio that's a lovely colour and a great looking r129. 28
I have put a few miles on the car this week to ensure it's reliable which it has been so far. It's definitely quicker than before! This has highlighted the crap tyres that are on the car at the moment - on the greasy roads around here it can lights the traction control in 1,2 and 3, and it gave me a brief opposite lock moment earlier on a roundabout when I was in a casual rush to a meeting.
Thanks for the tip PR, I will give it a try this weekend.
sinbaddio that's a lovely colour and a great looking r129. 28
Lovely Ray!
Today I got around to pulling the stuff out of the boot, and the spare tyre, so I could take a look at the hydrolic fluid levels for the roof. No fluid visible, which explains why it's not working! Obviously there's an issue as to where it has gone I might try refilling for now so I can verify the roof works otherwise. I assume MB fluid is required? I called in my local dealer but missed their parts department by 10 minutes.
The soft top roof itself does need replacement, but it will be the new year before I get around to that so there's no harm tinkering in the meantime.
The car does look nice though and I came back to find an old chap admiring it today when I took it out on a brief drive.
It seems to be running better after burning off the old petrol as well - I stuck £20 of v-power in it when I picked it up as I don't know when I last filled it up due to the various starting issue. Now another £20 of fresh stuff to run through before I fill it fully.
Today I got around to pulling the stuff out of the boot, and the spare tyre, so I could take a look at the hydrolic fluid levels for the roof. No fluid visible, which explains why it's not working! Obviously there's an issue as to where it has gone I might try refilling for now so I can verify the roof works otherwise. I assume MB fluid is required? I called in my local dealer but missed their parts department by 10 minutes.
The soft top roof itself does need replacement, but it will be the new year before I get around to that so there's no harm tinkering in the meantime.
The car does look nice though and I came back to find an old chap admiring it today when I took it out on a brief drive.
It seems to be running better after burning off the old petrol as well - I stuck £20 of v-power in it when I picked it up as I don't know when I last filled it up due to the various starting issue. Now another £20 of fresh stuff to run through before I fill it fully.
Edited by 0a on Saturday 3rd December 17:50
PositronicRay said:
The beeping is often slight wear in the front latches, causing one or both of the micro switches in the header to think the roof is still unlatched. Use the manual tool to tweak each side in turn, if it stops then you've found the suspect.
Link below, I followed this it worked a treat.
http://www.benzworld.org/forums/r129-sl-class/1716...
Read and erase the codes, easy enough with a homemade LED blink-code reader, then recheck to see what comes back.
Thanks for the PM
I'm also going to try this, thanks! Link below, I followed this it worked a treat.
http://www.benzworld.org/forums/r129-sl-class/1716...
Read and erase the codes, easy enough with a homemade LED blink-code reader, then recheck to see what comes back.
Thanks for the PM
Edited by PositronicRay on Wednesday 30th November 12:52
0a said:
Lovely Ray!
Today I got around to pulling the stuff out of the boot, and the spare tyre, so I could take a look at the hydrolic fluid levels for the roof. No fluid visible, which explains why it's not working! Obviously there's an issue as to where it has gone I might try refilling for now so I can verify the roof works otherwise. I assume MB fluid is required? I called in my local dealer but missed their parts department by 10 minutes.
No1 suspect is the cylinders, I'd refill and then see where. Top Hydraulics in the states are well regarded and offer a rebuild service. Today I got around to pulling the stuff out of the boot, and the spare tyre, so I could take a look at the hydrolic fluid levels for the roof. No fluid visible, which explains why it's not working! Obviously there's an issue as to where it has gone I might try refilling for now so I can verify the roof works otherwise. I assume MB fluid is required? I called in my local dealer but missed their parts department by 10 minutes.
PositronicRay said:
0a said:
Lovely Ray!
Today I got around to pulling the stuff out of the boot, and the spare tyre, so I could take a look at the hydrolic fluid levels for the roof. No fluid visible, which explains why it's not working! Obviously there's an issue as to where it has gone I might try refilling for now so I can verify the roof works otherwise. I assume MB fluid is required? I called in my local dealer but missed their parts department by 10 minutes.
No1 suspect is the cylinders, I'd refill and then see where. Top Hydraulics in the states are well regarded and offer a rebuild service. Today I got around to pulling the stuff out of the boot, and the spare tyre, so I could take a look at the hydrolic fluid levels for the roof. No fluid visible, which explains why it's not working! Obviously there's an issue as to where it has gone I might try refilling for now so I can verify the roof works otherwise. I assume MB fluid is required? I called in my local dealer but missed their parts department by 10 minutes.
Hereward said:
When you refill the hood reservoir and try the hood again have some towels ready to catch any leaking fluid in case the latches at the top of the windscreen are leaking. You don't want hydraulic fluid dripping in to the cabin.
I do hope it's not leaking there... but I have an old decorating blanket ready to go just in case as reading the internet stories it can end badly. Pump:
Reservoir:
Home brew "diagnostic kit":
Hereward said:
When you refill the hood reservoir and try the hood again have some towels ready to catch any leaking fluid in case the latches at the top of the windscreen are leaking. You don't want hydraulic fluid dripping in to the cabin.
Good idea, I don't think it'll gush though. For anyone else with starting problems on SLs there is a simple fix which works well in 90% of cars.
Often the problem is down to condensation inside the distributors. Remove the caps, remove the rotor arms and remove the bakelite shield behind (being careful not to drop them as they aren't cheap!)
Coat the back and front of the shield and the exposed metal of the head behind the shield with a thin smear of silicone grease, reassemble and enjoy easy starting and smooth running again. You can get silicone grease for very lttle miney from Maplins. You can optionally smear a little on the inside of the cap and on the rotor as well.
My SL had this issue 12 months ago. Since doing the silicone grease no more issues.
Also applies to 6 cylinder models.
Here's a pic of mine (in its as bought form - wheels since changed for MB Alhena 5 spokes).
Often the problem is down to condensation inside the distributors. Remove the caps, remove the rotor arms and remove the bakelite shield behind (being careful not to drop them as they aren't cheap!)
Coat the back and front of the shield and the exposed metal of the head behind the shield with a thin smear of silicone grease, reassemble and enjoy easy starting and smooth running again. You can get silicone grease for very lttle miney from Maplins. You can optionally smear a little on the inside of the cap and on the rotor as well.
My SL had this issue 12 months ago. Since doing the silicone grease no more issues.
Also applies to 6 cylinder models.
Here's a pic of mine (in its as bought form - wheels since changed for MB Alhena 5 spokes).
Edited by lostkiwi on Wednesday 7th December 10:44
I managed to find time to fill the hydraulic fluid this week and the roof mechanism seems to be working again, it has a good seal on the hardtop but is still beeping at me. I take it either this means the contacts need cleaning, or I need to reset the roof (though would this just stop it going up and down?).
Edited by 0a on Sunday 11th December 17:00
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