What Have You Done To Your Merc Today?

[RichardSEL]

Must admit, even with the raucus noise (music to some) of the PowerFlow SS exhaust back box, I'm starting to warm to this marque -- coming back tried throwing it around a little (low profile tyres on 18" rims, otherwise standard shocks and springs) and was pleasantly surprised. Do Mercs become seductive?

Just now having the NSF lower ball joint and ARB bushes done.

Will watch for the head gasket. Can't see any tell tale block staining though Alex did mention there might be a slight leech from a rocker cover... When I get round to detailing will no doubt see it.

 

[LostKiwi]

Yes they are seductive. On the right roads they're a delight. I have the 500 and above 70 mph it really starts to come alive. Fast flowing smooth roads are just a joy.
They also make a fantastic long distance cruiser. Mine is in France at the moment and it loves the trip down and the excellent local roads.

 

[Craiglxviii]

On euro roads at around 85-90mph these S class derivatives do come into their own. Nothing quite like them.

 

[sp00lin]

Excited to have received some lovely grooved and drilled front discs that are to go on this weekend and help me eliminate this horrendous brake juddering!

Also ordered a Rain X windscreen crack kit to sort out the small crack on my screen so that should be interesting!

 

[Craiglxviii]

Excited to have received some lovely grooved and drilled front discs that are to go on this weekend and help me eliminate this horrendous brake juddering!

Also ordered a Rain X windscreen crack kit to sort out the small crack on my screen so that should be interesting!

Just wondering why you think grooved and drilled discs will do the job as opposed to normal vented discs?

 

[sp00lin]

Just wondering why you think grooved and drilled discs will do the job as opposed to normal vented discs?

Anything will be better than the absolutely shot brakes currently fitted lol. Also definite aesthetic points and I’ve fitted them on previous cars I’ve owned to great effect

 

[Craiglxviii]

Anything will be better than the absolutely shot brakes currently fitted lol. Also definite aesthetic points and I’ve fitted them on previous cars I’ve owned to great effect

Well discs with drilled holes tend to crack, properly they should be cast in place... so it’s really just aesthetics!

But if your current set are shot- I hope they fix the problem.

 

[RichardSEL]

Grooved and drilled will vent slightly better, but at the cost of increased pad wear and dust. There's also the poissibility of squeal in the first hundred miles or so.

AFAIK drilled and grooved discs are cast like that?

If you get matched discs and pads -- eg Brembo -- or use ceramic such as Red Stuff from EBC (no relation to either ), then that'll noticablly up stopping performance

 

[sl500amgsport]

Car went in for service, ATF change and software update yesterday, told need new pads on front and discs and pads on rear as pads down to 4mm and 3.5mm. No measurements given on rear discs so assume replacement is recommended due to mileage (50k) or their need for additional income.

Mercedes SL500 R231

 

[Blobcat]

Car went in for service, ATF change and software update yesterday, told need new pads on front and discs and pads on rear as pads down to 4mm and 3.5mm. No measurements given on rear discs so assume replacement is recommended due to mileage (50k) or their need for additional income.

Mercedes SL500 R231

You could probably have predicted that before you even took it in...
If it was mine I'd be taking a look at the discs and pads but not changing them yet

 

[Craiglxviii]

Grooved and drilled will vent slightly better, but at the cost of increased pad wear and dust. There's also the poissibility of squeal in the first hundred miles or so.

AFAIK drilled and grooved discs are cast like that?

If you get matched discs and pads -- eg Brembo -- or use ceramic such as Red Stuff from EBC (no relation to either ), then that'll noticablly up stopping performance

I’d avoid EBC like the plague. I work in the automotive design industry and I have personal verification that their batch separation between red, green, yellow etc is nonexistent dependent on order volume taken for each type (as in, if there’s a big order for red, they’ll tip in the batch made up for yellow).

 

[bembo449]

why does this not surprise me Craig ? I have red stuff pads in my VXR and they are total rubbish , I will never buy their products again

 

[sl500amgsport]

You could probably have predicted that before you even took it in...
If it was mine I'd be taking a look at the discs and pads but not changing them yet


MOT due next month so will get it checked by my friendly mechanic at the same time, only charged £60 + parts to change pads on my old Jag XF...

Mercedes SL500 R231

 

[RichardSEL]

I’d avoid EBC like the plague. I work in the automotive design industry and I have personal verification that their batch separation between red, green, yellow etc is nonexistent dependent on order volume taken for each type (as in, if there’s a big order for red, they’ll tip in the batch made up for yellow).

Working from my experience previously of my Passat '06MY 2.0L tFSI Stage 1 to 236bhp (dyno). Red Stuff, first without changing out discs, then with matching holed discs certainly upped my braking performance. I could (almost) out brake a Golf Mk III that'd been all lowered and modded. Whereas before it'd be an, erm "experience" During that time the forum did generally support EBC's offerings.
Welp, that was then -- this is now

Thanks for the heads up -- don't have the reactions nowadays. Except that it's expected by Audi drivers that in this 'ere SL230 (with the sound effects, lo-profiles, and red Brembo rear calipers) I do give chase.

 

[LostKiwi]

I’d avoid EBC like the plague. I work in the automotive design industry and I have personal verification that their batch separation between red, green, yellow etc is nonexistent dependent on order volume taken for each type (as in, if there’s a big order for red, they’ll tip in the batch made up for yellow).

+1. Never will I fit EBC to any of my cars after my previous experience. As soon as the red stuffs on the 230 wear out (it came with them from the previous owner) they'll be replaced with something else.

 

[Craiglxviii]

+1. Never will I fit EBC to any of my cars after my previous experience. As soon as the red stuffs on the 230 wear out (it came with them from the previous owner) they'll be replaced with something else.

Malcolm did like the Red Stuff didn’t he?

 

[sl500amgsport]

So what brand pads are generally recommended now?

Mercedes SL500 R231

 

[sonic]

+1. Never will I fit EBC to any of my cars after my previous experience. As soon as the red stuffs on the 230 wear out (it came with them from the previous owner) they'll be replaced with something else.

10 years ago EBC were very well thought of in the motorcycle world, I fitted quite a few. However recently their life has dropped quite a lot.

 

[John Laidlaw]

Malcolm did like the Red Stuff didn’t he?

As did I to be honest but seems I’m in the minority!

 

[sl500amgsport]

I was about to buy red stuff pads, now not sure, Pagid, Brembo..?

Mercedes SL500 R231