Mercedes SL - galvanised?

[paulco]

I am considering a 1990s SL as my next car. Can anyone tell me whether they are galvanised? If not, is rust a problem?

Many thanks

 

[Arnie]

Hello,

I think that the steel for some panels is galvanised, but on the inside only, as it is said not to give a good paint finish on the exterior.

However, I am not sure when it started (97 onwards??), but MB started using pre-galvanised sheet steel (instead of dipping the body), which is now giving problems on E-classes and some others, since the galvanised coating is obviously not on cut edges.

The 1990 to 1996/7 cars probably have the best paintwork as it is still solvent-based and everything is well coated. Later cars are a bit skimpy on paint, particularly on the insides and my 2000/1 model had rust from very early on. Not so much on the exterior, but on inner surfaces and panel edges, I found some bad patches, particularly in and around the engine compartment.

Most of the earlier cars, however, seem to have no problems.

 

[mjtray]

From memory the previous style of SL the 107 was galvanised from 1988 onwards.

With this in mind, I would assume that the newer model of SL will be galvanised as well.

Reading "Buying Reports" on the SL's that you're looking at, the consensus is that they do not suffer rot problems unless they have been badly repaired or have a duff hood which has leaked and that all in all they are built like a tank!

The main thing they seem to always home in on are making sure that all electrics work and that the M104 engined cars ie 280's+320's with the straight six do not have blown or weeping head gaskets.