Tell me about R129 SL's
Discussion
Apologies to the OP for having taken this somewhat off topic. When I searched for my SL I was originally looking for a later V6 320 as I’d had previous experience of that engine in my wife’s CLK.
However, after having looked at a couple of examples which were showing signs of the appearance of rust, I changed my focus to look for an early example and preferably a V8.
I agree with the comments made by an earlier poster about having a suspension refresh and how much difference it makes to the car.
From my experience, things to look out for are temperamental electric relays and perishing rubber hoses from lack of use.
I still have to address getting a couple of the hydraulic rams for the roof sorted out, along with replacing the rear windows. However, although this view defeats the object of the car, I much prefer the looks of it with the hardtop fitted.
However, after having looked at a couple of examples which were showing signs of the appearance of rust, I changed my focus to look for an early example and preferably a V8.
I agree with the comments made by an earlier poster about having a suspension refresh and how much difference it makes to the car.
From my experience, things to look out for are temperamental electric relays and perishing rubber hoses from lack of use.
I still have to address getting a couple of the hydraulic rams for the roof sorted out, along with replacing the rear windows. However, although this view defeats the object of the car, I much prefer the looks of it with the hardtop fitted.
245 x 40 x 18 front
285 x 35 x 18 rear on AMG copies
Looks great, ride a bit floaty but not harsh ( I come from the world of TVR & Caterham) but that could be the age of the tyres 14 year old on the front 3 year old on rear. One rear has had a puncture repair too. THat's the way I bought it last year.
Getting a good look over in a fortnight by a recognised MB specialist. And new boots shortly after. Looking for recommendations, getting the same make/variety for front and rear is a struggle.
285 x 35 x 18 rear on AMG copies
Looks great, ride a bit floaty but not harsh ( I come from the world of TVR & Caterham) but that could be the age of the tyres 14 year old on the front 3 year old on rear. One rear has had a puncture repair too. THat's the way I bought it last year.
Getting a good look over in a fortnight by a recognised MB specialist. And new boots shortly after. Looking for recommendations, getting the same make/variety for front and rear is a struggle.
Skyedriver said:
245 x 40 x 18 front
285 x 35 x 18 rear on AMG copies
Looks great, ride a bit floaty but not harsh ( I come from the world of TVR & Caterham) but that could be the age of the tyres 14 year old on the front 3 year old on rear. One rear has had a puncture repair too. THat's the way I bought it last year.
Getting a good look over in a fortnight by a recognised MB specialist. And new boots shortly after. Looking for recommendations, getting the same make/variety for front and rear is a struggle.
Hope you don’t mind me saying, but 285 on the rear doesn’t sound right. 275/35 gives you the same diameter as the 245/40 on the front. Someone more knowledgeable will hopefully clarify this though, as I think that some of the AMG rear wheels were wider than the 9” versions on mine. 285 x 35 x 18 rear on AMG copies
Looks great, ride a bit floaty but not harsh ( I come from the world of TVR & Caterham) but that could be the age of the tyres 14 year old on the front 3 year old on rear. One rear has had a puncture repair too. THat's the way I bought it last year.
Getting a good look over in a fortnight by a recognised MB specialist. And new boots shortly after. Looking for recommendations, getting the same make/variety for front and rear is a struggle.
Deefor62 said:
Skyedriver said:
245 x 40 x 18 front
285 x 35 x 18 rear on AMG copies
Looks great, ride a bit floaty but not harsh ( I come from the world of TVR & Caterham) but that could be the age of the tyres 14 year old on the front 3 year old on rear. One rear has had a puncture repair too. THat's the way I bought it last year.
Getting a good look over in a fortnight by a recognised MB specialist. And new boots shortly after. Looking for recommendations, getting the same make/variety for front and rear is a struggle.
Hope you don’t mind me saying, but 285 on the rear doesn’t sound right. 275/35 gives you the same diameter as the 245/40 on the front. Someone more knowledgeable will hopefully clarify this though, as I think that some of the AMG rear wheels were wider than the 9” versions on mine. 285 x 35 x 18 rear on AMG copies
Looks great, ride a bit floaty but not harsh ( I come from the world of TVR & Caterham) but that could be the age of the tyres 14 year old on the front 3 year old on rear. One rear has had a puncture repair too. THat's the way I bought it last year.
Getting a good look over in a fortnight by a recognised MB specialist. And new boots shortly after. Looking for recommendations, getting the same make/variety for front and rear is a struggle.
https://www.willtheyfit.com/index.php?width=245&am...
FWIW I've gone to 16" reduces NVH, and more suitable for the crappy roads I use day to day.
PositronicRay said:
Deefor62 said:
Skyedriver said:
245 x 40 x 18 front
285 x 35 x 18 rear on AMG copies
Looks great, ride a bit floaty but not harsh ( I come from the world of TVR & Caterham) but that could be the age of the tyres 14 year old on the front 3 year old on rear. One rear has had a puncture repair too. THat's the way I bought it last year.
Getting a good look over in a fortnight by a recognised MB specialist. And new boots shortly after. Looking for recommendations, getting the same make/variety for front and rear is a struggle.
Hope you don’t mind me saying, but 285 on the rear doesn’t sound right. 275/35 gives you the same diameter as the 245/40 on the front. Someone more knowledgeable will hopefully clarify this though, as I think that some of the AMG rear wheels were wider than the 9” versions on mine. 285 x 35 x 18 rear on AMG copies
Looks great, ride a bit floaty but not harsh ( I come from the world of TVR & Caterham) but that could be the age of the tyres 14 year old on the front 3 year old on rear. One rear has had a puncture repair too. THat's the way I bought it last year.
Getting a good look over in a fortnight by a recognised MB specialist. And new boots shortly after. Looking for recommendations, getting the same make/variety for front and rear is a struggle.
https://www.willtheyfit.com/index.php?width=245&am...
FWIW I've gone to 16" reduces NVH, and more suitable for the crappy roads I use day to day.
Deefor62 said:
However, although this view defeats the object of the car, I much prefer the looks of it with the hardtop fitted.
I have the glass pano roof for mine and run that through the winter. Gives the car a nice coupe look and makes it an all year classic.But its a heavy lump to lift off in the springtime !
My two:
I’m firmly of the opinion that the 16” wheels don’t fill the arches enough.
I prefer the earlier styling with the more angular look, gingercators should be mandatory. I’ve spent money on a full suspension refresh, and have tided the black one up cosmetically too, amongst other things (modern stereo gear, seat re-bolstered & adjusted for more room - scooped out some of the backrest padding while lengthening the base, now closer to an ideal position for me, but invisible to look at - I’m looking at getting a 5-speed box from a later model too - it makes a difference when on a run.
The blue one isn’t cosmetically perfect, but now lives in Cyprus, where there’s a more ‘casual’ approach to parking. It’s a 10’ car in that it looks great at that distance, but as you get closer, all the scrapes & scratches start appearing... CY roads can be somewhat chaotic too, so the smaller wheels help in reducing the impact of the occasional mineshaft or rock you come across.
What the larger wheels do aesthetically, they also do for road-holding. There’s a nice, wide, empty roundabout near me that’s a good place to find the limits. The blue one is a slithery mess at 30, the black one un-perturbed at 35. The comfort trade off is worth it for me.
Obviously, when looking, these are all old cars now, so as said above, buy on condition, and test a good few before committing. Many are ‘tired’, and while the build & engineering hide it well, there’s a dramatic difference vs. a ‘tight’ one with a recent suspension refresh. Even as a cruiser, I feel the 280 is a bit frustrating, & though a manual I6-24 can be a good experience, I’d go for a 500 every time (AMG 60’s and SoB 73’s excepted).
More Pics - because SL!
I’m firmly of the opinion that the 16” wheels don’t fill the arches enough.
I prefer the earlier styling with the more angular look, gingercators should be mandatory. I’ve spent money on a full suspension refresh, and have tided the black one up cosmetically too, amongst other things (modern stereo gear, seat re-bolstered & adjusted for more room - scooped out some of the backrest padding while lengthening the base, now closer to an ideal position for me, but invisible to look at - I’m looking at getting a 5-speed box from a later model too - it makes a difference when on a run.
The blue one isn’t cosmetically perfect, but now lives in Cyprus, where there’s a more ‘casual’ approach to parking. It’s a 10’ car in that it looks great at that distance, but as you get closer, all the scrapes & scratches start appearing... CY roads can be somewhat chaotic too, so the smaller wheels help in reducing the impact of the occasional mineshaft or rock you come across.
What the larger wheels do aesthetically, they also do for road-holding. There’s a nice, wide, empty roundabout near me that’s a good place to find the limits. The blue one is a slithery mess at 30, the black one un-perturbed at 35. The comfort trade off is worth it for me.
Obviously, when looking, these are all old cars now, so as said above, buy on condition, and test a good few before committing. Many are ‘tired’, and while the build & engineering hide it well, there’s a dramatic difference vs. a ‘tight’ one with a recent suspension refresh. Even as a cruiser, I feel the 280 is a bit frustrating, & though a manual I6-24 can be a good experience, I’d go for a 500 every time (AMG 60’s and SoB 73’s excepted).
More Pics - because SL!
pcn1 said:
Deefor62 said:
However, although this view defeats the object of the car, I much prefer the looks of it with the hardtop fitted.
I have the glass pano roof for mine and run that through the winter. Gives the car a nice coupe look and makes it an all year classic.But its a heavy lump to lift off in the springtime !
PositronicRay said:
The hardtop is great, looks good, refined and turns the whole car into a nice snug coupe. I fitted a new soft top and haven't had the heart to leave it scrunched up all winter so (sadly) left the hard top in the shed.
I think I saw the new hood being fitted to your car at a well known specialists whilst they were bringing getting mine up and running. SLX (AKA SL2) now out in Cyprus?
Was looking at that one when Zonegem was using it, very nearly bought that one, as you say a 10' car but it had had a lot of ££ spent on the underpinnings we just couldn't agree a price v repairs.
Was looking at that one when Zonegem was using it, very nearly bought that one, as you say a 10' car but it had had a lot of ££ spent on the underpinnings we just couldn't agree a price v repairs.
Prinny said:
My two:
I’m firmly of the opinion that the 16” wheels don’t fill the arches enough.
I prefer the earlier styling with the more angular look, gingercators should be mandatory. I’ve spent money on a full suspension refresh, and have tided the black one up cosmetically too, amongst other things (modern stereo gear, seat re-bolstered & adjusted for more room - scooped out some of the backrest padding while lengthening the base, now closer to an ideal position for me, but invisible to look at - I’m looking at getting a 5-speed box from a later model too - it makes a difference when on a run.
The blue one isn’t cosmetically perfect, but now lives in Cyprus, where there’s a more ‘casual’ approach to parking. It’s a 10’ car in that it looks great at that distance, but as you get closer, all the scrapes & scratches start appearing... CY roads can be somewhat chaotic too, so the smaller wheels help in reducing the impact of the occasional mineshaft or rock you come across.
What the larger wheels do aesthetically, they also do for road-holding. There’s a nice, wide, empty roundabout near me that’s a good place to find the limits. The blue one is a slithery mess at 30, the black one un-perturbed at 35. The comfort trade off is worth it for me.
Obviously, when looking, these are all old cars now, so as said above, buy on condition, and test a good few before committing. Many are ‘tired’, and while the build & engineering hide it well, there’s a dramatic difference vs. a ‘tight’ one with a recent suspension refresh. Even as a cruiser, I feel the 280 is a bit frustrating, & though a manual I6-24 can be a good experience, I’d go for a 500 every time (AMG 60’s and SoB 73’s excepted).
More Pics - because SL!
I’m firmly of the opinion that the 16” wheels don’t fill the arches enough.
I prefer the earlier styling with the more angular look, gingercators should be mandatory. I’ve spent money on a full suspension refresh, and have tided the black one up cosmetically too, amongst other things (modern stereo gear, seat re-bolstered & adjusted for more room - scooped out some of the backrest padding while lengthening the base, now closer to an ideal position for me, but invisible to look at - I’m looking at getting a 5-speed box from a later model too - it makes a difference when on a run.
The blue one isn’t cosmetically perfect, but now lives in Cyprus, where there’s a more ‘casual’ approach to parking. It’s a 10’ car in that it looks great at that distance, but as you get closer, all the scrapes & scratches start appearing... CY roads can be somewhat chaotic too, so the smaller wheels help in reducing the impact of the occasional mineshaft or rock you come across.
What the larger wheels do aesthetically, they also do for road-holding. There’s a nice, wide, empty roundabout near me that’s a good place to find the limits. The blue one is a slithery mess at 30, the black one un-perturbed at 35. The comfort trade off is worth it for me.
Obviously, when looking, these are all old cars now, so as said above, buy on condition, and test a good few before committing. Many are ‘tired’, and while the build & engineering hide it well, there’s a dramatic difference vs. a ‘tight’ one with a recent suspension refresh. Even as a cruiser, I feel the 280 is a bit frustrating, & though a manual I6-24 can be a good experience, I’d go for a 500 every time (AMG 60’s and SoB 73’s excepted).
More Pics - because SL!
Deefor62 said:
PositronicRay said:
The hardtop is great, looks good, refined and turns the whole car into a nice snug coupe. I fitted a new soft top and haven't had the heart to leave it scrunched up all winter so (sadly) left the hard top in the shed.
I think I saw the new hood being fitted to your car at a well known specialists whilst they were bringing getting mine up and running. I have had my 2000 SL320 for just over a year.
I didn't like it at first as the driving experience wasn't very good. Over the year I replaced a lot of the suspension and finally the tyres and I would now describe it as very competent. There is a thread in Readers Rides with all the details.
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
For a car with no roof, it is a very comfortable and refined way to travel and surprisingly quiet.
I would imagine the 5ltr is just a bit more of a car but the 3.2 is more than capable of keeping up with the traffic.
As other's have said, condition is important. This was the 4th car I looked at and not the dearest.
Minor plastic trim aside, I like the quality of the car.
I have been using the car over winter but only on the reasonably nice days and as my son has moved out and my pals have bad backs I have not fitted the Pano roof. Doubt I will now as the car is kept in a heated garage so no real need.
I like the look of the lowered cars with the bigger wheels and tyres but for a car that I am actually using I am quite happy with the wheels and tyres that Mercedes supplied it with. Especially for use on our roads!
I have been considering a Chimaera as a replacement on the basis that a run would be more of an event but not sure that I would be ok with the simplicity and lower quality. The SL is a very accomplished cruiser.
I was interested to see that Skyedriver had both and if it hadn't been winter I might have gone for a look at his TVR that he sold recently. Relatively speaking, I am local to him at only 2 1/2 hrs away.
Anyway, any excuse for a picture and I look forward to hearing what you decide to go for. Who doesn't love buying another car?
I didn't like it at first as the driving experience wasn't very good. Over the year I replaced a lot of the suspension and finally the tyres and I would now describe it as very competent. There is a thread in Readers Rides with all the details.
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
For a car with no roof, it is a very comfortable and refined way to travel and surprisingly quiet.
I would imagine the 5ltr is just a bit more of a car but the 3.2 is more than capable of keeping up with the traffic.
As other's have said, condition is important. This was the 4th car I looked at and not the dearest.
Minor plastic trim aside, I like the quality of the car.
I have been using the car over winter but only on the reasonably nice days and as my son has moved out and my pals have bad backs I have not fitted the Pano roof. Doubt I will now as the car is kept in a heated garage so no real need.
I like the look of the lowered cars with the bigger wheels and tyres but for a car that I am actually using I am quite happy with the wheels and tyres that Mercedes supplied it with. Especially for use on our roads!
I have been considering a Chimaera as a replacement on the basis that a run would be more of an event but not sure that I would be ok with the simplicity and lower quality. The SL is a very accomplished cruiser.
I was interested to see that Skyedriver had both and if it hadn't been winter I might have gone for a look at his TVR that he sold recently. Relatively speaking, I am local to him at only 2 1/2 hrs away.
Anyway, any excuse for a picture and I look forward to hearing what you decide to go for. Who doesn't love buying another car?
![](https://thumbsnap.com/sc/oXvZ0Bdb.jpg[/img]</a> <a href="https://thumbsnap.com/kvqJ9aaC" Target="_blank" rel="nofollow">[img]https://thumbsnap.com/sc/kvqJ9aaC.jpg)
MickyveloceClassic said:
I deliberately sought a really early car when searching for mine (300-24 5-speed auto), as I prefer the look and better quality build.
On standard 16” Pirelli P7s, it’s very very comfy. (Well, compared to the C36 / C63.
I did buy some 15mm spacers for mine, but never fitted them as I’d stumbled across a set of AMG wheels before I’d got round to fitting them.
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