sl r129 anyone taken the risk on a 3/4k car
Discussion
I wouldn't dream of putting a pano on a pre-facelift car. Even ones which have a later six-bar grille instead of the correct seven-bar version make my teeth itch.
Recovered the SL280 from Lincolnshire yesterday and pretty pleased with it. Needs fan blower strap repair, paint and so on, plus the usual 100k mile suspension refresh. Found the toolkit and decoded the radio. The flat battery took an age to go through a deep reconditioning cycle on my Ctek but is eventually charged up and happy.
Then I got SL1 out for the first time since September, when it was professionally detailed. It is mad to keep a car inside at huge expense and never drive it but one look at the gleaming paint and near-perfect condition made me remember why I love it so much.
Recovered the SL280 from Lincolnshire yesterday and pretty pleased with it. Needs fan blower strap repair, paint and so on, plus the usual 100k mile suspension refresh. Found the toolkit and decoded the radio. The flat battery took an age to go through a deep reconditioning cycle on my Ctek but is eventually charged up and happy.
Then I got SL1 out for the first time since September, when it was professionally detailed. It is mad to keep a car inside at huge expense and never drive it but one look at the gleaming paint and near-perfect condition made me remember why I love it so much.
Edited by Zonergem on Wednesday 18th April 22:06
I think that post-96 (?) cars are equipped with a little transponder chip in the key fob, along with the bladed key, that communicates with a receiver in the ignition and disables the immobiliser.
The electronics in this are NLA and MB seems to have little interest in reproducing them. I read somewhere that they had a spat with the manufacturer or something.
Pre-facelift cars use a bladed key and nothing else. I am sure those can still be copied and sourced.
Another example of modern technology and planned obsolescence, making it hard to keep cars on the road.
But others may know different.
The electronics in this are NLA and MB seems to have little interest in reproducing them. I read somewhere that they had a spat with the manufacturer or something.
Pre-facelift cars use a bladed key and nothing else. I am sure those can still be copied and sourced.
Another example of modern technology and planned obsolescence, making it hard to keep cars on the road.
But others may know different.
harrykul said:
You're right but I think I saw that the US customers have managed to force the issue?
Not according to the ongoing thread on Benzworld. This is R129-beard central and they would know.http://www.benzworld.org/forums/showthread.php?t=2...
Been a while since I looked in here but thought it time for an update.
The 129 has proven to be a delight though not without a few issues.
1. The central locking failed through water contamination. The fuel filler neck seal was leaking water from the body direct onto the PSE pump. Resealed it and changed the pump and it works (though bizarrely for some reason both front doors won't lock/unlock when they used to).
2. Misfire got bad so replaced plugs, leads, caps and rotors. Also removed throttle body and found disintegrated wiring so sent it off with the top engine harness to Sileck in Kent who rebuilt both looms. Runs sweet now.
Found both front swaybar mounts had snapped. No noise or anything at all. Stupid flat steel plates holding the antiroll bar are not the best design feature of the car!
Replaced both top strut mounts as it developed a rattle from the front end. Also replaced steering damper and both bottom arms. It was the top mounts causing the rattle/knock but the other parts were good to do anyway as now I know its all done for the next few years.
Removed the 19" Brabus wheels and went down to 17" Athenas but not sure if I like it or not on the Athenas so put it back to 19s with new 255/35 rubber. Definite improvement in how it feels going up 20mm in tyre width over the previous 235/35/19s. Ride is slightly compromised but not too bad especially as it doesn't need to deal with potholes as it lives in France much of the time now. Ideally I'd like some period AMG wheels but they're so expensive!
On that note since my last update its been to France a number of times.
First was to the Auvergerne house hunting. It was a total delight to just burble down the back roads avoiding motorways.
Second was to Beziers via Bordeaux (both directions - we bought a house near there so had to look at it on the way down and do paperwork on return).
Third was to its winter home in our barns. where its stayed the past few months.
As always a consummate cruiser and delight.
Last year we added another SL - this one being an r230 SL500 and next month they'll both be down in France together
Funnily enough I actually prefer the r129 to drive - it just feels so much more special in some way.
Here's a couple of pics (and I get folks will probably hate the wheels!):
The 129 has proven to be a delight though not without a few issues.
1. The central locking failed through water contamination. The fuel filler neck seal was leaking water from the body direct onto the PSE pump. Resealed it and changed the pump and it works (though bizarrely for some reason both front doors won't lock/unlock when they used to).
2. Misfire got bad so replaced plugs, leads, caps and rotors. Also removed throttle body and found disintegrated wiring so sent it off with the top engine harness to Sileck in Kent who rebuilt both looms. Runs sweet now.
Found both front swaybar mounts had snapped. No noise or anything at all. Stupid flat steel plates holding the antiroll bar are not the best design feature of the car!
Replaced both top strut mounts as it developed a rattle from the front end. Also replaced steering damper and both bottom arms. It was the top mounts causing the rattle/knock but the other parts were good to do anyway as now I know its all done for the next few years.
Removed the 19" Brabus wheels and went down to 17" Athenas but not sure if I like it or not on the Athenas so put it back to 19s with new 255/35 rubber. Definite improvement in how it feels going up 20mm in tyre width over the previous 235/35/19s. Ride is slightly compromised but not too bad especially as it doesn't need to deal with potholes as it lives in France much of the time now. Ideally I'd like some period AMG wheels but they're so expensive!
On that note since my last update its been to France a number of times.
First was to the Auvergerne house hunting. It was a total delight to just burble down the back roads avoiding motorways.
Second was to Beziers via Bordeaux (both directions - we bought a house near there so had to look at it on the way down and do paperwork on return).
Third was to its winter home in our barns. where its stayed the past few months.
As always a consummate cruiser and delight.
Last year we added another SL - this one being an r230 SL500 and next month they'll both be down in France together
Funnily enough I actually prefer the r129 to drive - it just feels so much more special in some way.
Here's a couple of pics (and I get folks will probably hate the wheels!):
In ZGs absence,
Is that the red thing that looks like the little black thing on the same LH ring?
It's the imobiliser-switcher-offer thing...
There'd be a little socket on the car, probably under the dash, near the key, that you push the end into for a couple of seconds.
My Excel had one and so does the TVR. On the TVR it switches on the fuel pump and ignition.
Is that the red thing that looks like the little black thing on the same LH ring?
It's the imobiliser-switcher-offer thing...
There'd be a little socket on the car, probably under the dash, near the key, that you push the end into for a couple of seconds.
My Excel had one and so does the TVR. On the TVR it switches on the fuel pump and ignition.
jke11y said:
Immobiliser key I think, seen similar on 90s Mercs previously.
Yep, agree. Had one in a 300CE. When the car was locked a little red light would flash above the red-thing key-hole placed just to the right of the steering wheel. When getting back into the car you had to insert the red key ,which is more like a circuit connector/breaker than a key, which disabled the immobiliser and extinguished the flashing light.This was separate from the car's alarm.
I quite enjoyed watching people try to start the car who weren't aware of the launch process.
Just a quick note to introduce my new steed. 1994 (M) 320SL with 57,000 miles. Its had one UK owner for the last 16 years and is in great condition. (It was originally sold in Hong Kong hence the low mileage and Imported to the UK in 2002 by the elderly gent I purchased it from.
Do we think the clear indicators are original, I wonder if it should have the gingercators, which I would actually prefer! Is their a parts supplier you could recommend or should I stick with the clears?
The original 8 holes have been replaced with 18 inch Brabus Monoblocks (believed to be original, but I haven't taken the off just yet to check the rears)
Im getting the wheels fully stripped and refurbished shortly and will be ordering some new tyres. Its currently on 265/35/18 Bridgestone Potenzas on the rear and matching 235/40/18 Potenzas on the front. They could do with replacing shortly and Im thinking about getting Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 3's. Is that a good choice for the R129?
Do we think the clear indicators are original, I wonder if it should have the gingercators, which I would actually prefer! Is their a parts supplier you could recommend or should I stick with the clears?
The original 8 holes have been replaced with 18 inch Brabus Monoblocks (believed to be original, but I haven't taken the off just yet to check the rears)
Im getting the wheels fully stripped and refurbished shortly and will be ordering some new tyres. Its currently on 265/35/18 Bridgestone Potenzas on the rear and matching 235/40/18 Potenzas on the front. They could do with replacing shortly and Im thinking about getting Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 3's. Is that a good choice for the R129?
Thanks Harry, I appreciate the wheels are not for everyone but should look great once refurbed. I will be using Premier Wheel Repairs in Surrey who do a cracking job.
Should I go all out and get the wheel centres painted graphite to match the lower body sections and leave a silver rim or get them all done in silver? Decisions decisions!
Should I go all out and get the wheel centres painted graphite to match the lower body sections and leave a silver rim or get them all done in silver? Decisions decisions!
Tom W said:
Just a quick note to introduce my new steed. 1994 (M) 320SL with 57,000 miles. Its had one UK owner for the last 16 years and is in great condition. (It was originally sold in Hong Kong hence the low mileage and Imported to the UK in 2002 by the elderly gent I purchased it from.
Do we think the clear indicators are original, I wonder if it should have the gingercators, which I would actually prefer! Is their a parts supplier you could recommend or should I stick with the clears?
The original 8 holes have been replaced with 18 inch Brabus Monoblocks (believed to be original, but I haven't taken the off just yet to check the rears)
Im getting the wheels fully stripped and refurbished shortly and will be ordering some new tyres. Its currently on 265/35/18 Bridgestone Potenzas on the rear and matching 235/40/18 Potenzas on the front. They could do with replacing shortly and Im thinking about getting Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 3's. Is that a good choice for the R129?
Mines a 94M (95 M/Y) kind of 1/2 and 1/2 gingercators which I believe are original, + colour coded which may or may not. Worth checking engine harnesses, mine looked good initially but new coil wires were spliced into a dodgy harness (MB did this back in the day when changing plugs apparently) Do we think the clear indicators are original, I wonder if it should have the gingercators, which I would actually prefer! Is their a parts supplier you could recommend or should I stick with the clears?
The original 8 holes have been replaced with 18 inch Brabus Monoblocks (believed to be original, but I haven't taken the off just yet to check the rears)
Im getting the wheels fully stripped and refurbished shortly and will be ordering some new tyres. Its currently on 265/35/18 Bridgestone Potenzas on the rear and matching 235/40/18 Potenzas on the front. They could do with replacing shortly and Im thinking about getting Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 3's. Is that a good choice for the R129?
Edited by PositronicRay on Thursday 26th April 18:15
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