280 SL 1997 North Devon New Memeber

[Hans Solo5]

Hello

This is my third Mercedes but my first SL, I picked up a one owner SL280 1997 with FMBSH and only 52,000 miles on the clock in great condition.

Over the next few months I will be looking to change the tyres to a better grade and possibly uprated pads and discs as Im driving her to Switzerland in August.

Handles like a dream for a big heavy car, but the previous owner has run it on mid-budget tyres and I want to get back to original spec or as near to it! The pads have got lots of life in them as have disc's but interested to know if anybody has uprated their brakes due to the weight, Im not a fast driver but want to make sure coming down those steep mountains in Switzerland Im going to stop ok at the end.
Maybe Im being over cautious.

 

[mikestrivens]

I've never had any problem with the brakes on French and Swiss mountain roads. The R129 is a perfect car to explore those parts of the world.

 

[Hans Solo5]

I've never had any problem with the brakes on French and Swiss mountain roads. The R129 is a perfect car to explore those parts of the world.

Thank you Mike, what tyres are you running your SL on please.

David

 

[mikestrivens]

At the moment I have ContiSport Contact 3's on 245/45 17". I've had these on since 2010 and have done around 12000 miles on them. When I replace them I would almost certainly go for the Contact 5s or whatever the latest version is at the time. I tend to buy MO for my cars as I'm a bit OCD about keeping to spec as much as possible.

 

[Hans Solo5]

At the moment I have ContiSport Contact 3's on 245/45 17". I've had these on since 2010 and have done around 12000 miles on them. When I replace them I would almost certainly go for the Contact 5s or whatever the latest version is at the time. I tend to buy MO for my cars as I'm a bit OCD about keeping to spec as much as possible.

Mike

Thanks for the info, much appreciated.

David

 

[mikestrivens]

You're welcome. Great choice of car by the way.

 

[A.J.]

Hi David, welcome to the forum

 

[Hans Solo5]

Hi David, welcome to the forum

Thanks Andy

 

[Hans Solo5]

With the weather changing in North Devon, she's gone back undercover.

 

[Steve@Avantgarde]

Welcome to the forums!!

Nice SL there.

No need to uprate the brakes, they will cope just fine as they are, just make sure the existing ones are in good condition and the brake fluid has been changed to DOT4+ and the system well bled. Thats the best thing to do.

 

[Vintage Racer]

Good looking car (and passenger)..........welcome to the forum.

 

[John Laidlaw]

Lovely! Welcome.
As said your brakes will be just fine- tyres Mike has given you a good view, Michelins suit well too

 

[g heaps]

Hello and welcome. Great looking SL.

 

[Hans Solo5]

Welcome to the forums!!

Nice SL there.

No need to uprate the brakes, they will cope just fine as they are, just make sure the existing ones are in good condition and the brake fluid has been changed to DOT4+ and the system well bled. Thats the best thing to do.

Many thanks Steve

 

[JBell]

Welcome, lovely car

Tyre wise Goodyear Eagle F1 Assymetric 3 will work well on that, they give an excellent ride and are very quiet

 

[gramey]

Do you know when the brake fluid was last changed, I actually found quite a bit of difference with mine when I had the fluid changed. When I bought my car I took it to a trusted local independent who tested the brake fluid and said it needed doing and it certainly improved things. It may be worth considering new pads if the PO wasn't a particularly progressive driver they may have become glazed and lack the bite they should have.

 

[gramey]

Ps. welcome to the forum, good choice of car.

 

[Hans Solo5]

Do you know when the brake fluid was last changed, I actually found quite a bit of difference with mine when I had the fluid changed. When I bought my car I took it to a trusted local independent who tested the brake fluid and said it needed doing and it certainly improved things. It may be worth considering new pads if the PO wasn't a particularly progressive driver they may have become glazed and lack the bite they should have.

Good point about previous owner, he was a chap in his 80's so can't imagine he drove it hard, I will get the Brake fluid changed before i drive down to Switzerland in her. Im going to change the tyres as the budget tyre currently on the car are fairly noisy.

Thanks for the heads up.

David