My Virgin Merc (car)

[OfOrange]

Hello all, ive just had passed to me my late distant aunts R230 SL500. She was the only owner and took delivery of it for her 50th Birthday 07/2003. It has the full Carlsson exhaust system accompanied with trim and 20inch wheels. Please see the attached file for vin info. I'm missing a couple of months from the German delivery date and UK registration. What seems to be the original number plate was also in the boot, HU 735 E. 28/05/03. How would I find out the extent of the Carlsson modifications?

 

[OfOrange]

2003 SL500, 19500 miles, Carlsson spec. Pics will follow

 

[Blobcat]

Hello and welcome,

I've moved your other post here as it fits better here

 

[OfOrange]

Ta muchly for my swift and trouble free relocation.

 

[A.J.]

Hi and welcome to the forum

 

[MBDevotee]

That is some car! I can’t help with the Carlsson spec, but I believe they were quite bespoke. Do you know the dealer it was purchased from new x they may be able to help as well, or even Carlsson themselves?

 

[dry run]

Welcome

 

[Srdl]

Hello and we, looking forward to the pictures

 

[OfOrange]

I know very little about it, the person who gifted it to her passed 10 years ago. It' was sat in a garage in Richmond for 18 months before finding its way to me. Registered on a private plate. A dead auxiliary battery, an uncooperative glove box and the hand brake release struggles at times. My progressing knowledge at present. I'm struggling to find even a brochure from Carlsson for pre face lift models

 

[00slk]

Hello and welcome. I'm guessing the Carlsson up grades would have been done in the UK after the car was sold new?
Have you the service booklet, that should give you the supplier dealer.

 

[SmartAmg]

Welcome.

 

[OfOrange]

 

[OfOrange]

I'll give more love to the photography after a valet and a wheel refurb

 

[SmartAmg]

View attachment 66144

WOW! good old Aunty.

 

[OfOrange]

Main dealers at Brentford and Ascot along with an independent in Kingston and never the same one consecutively for the services

 

[OfOrange]

WOW! good old Aunty.

Hell yeah, it hasn't stopped yet. The garage in which it once stood and house to which it's attached is also following the same line of succession

 

[Mr Greedy]

I think that is one special motor and a classic and desireable colour combination.
It deserves to be brought back to near new condition and seriously enjoyed! Which I don't think will be hard to do on both counts.

If you want some tips on anything, I'm sure the forum membership will be happy to help out.

If it's been dry stored, and is now living outside, I'd check the water drains freely from the scuttle panel under the windscreen, and water flows out near the wheel arch (passenger side) and on to the floor. Classic problem on these is block drains, which fill up and overflow into the passenger footwell.
If it's all clean in there and hasn't had 20 years of leaves falling it and rotting down, it could be fine.

As for wheel refurbs, having spent far too long looking last year and getting 2 sets done, I can offer the following advice (although this is not exhaustive and is down to personal choice).
- Lepsons in Gillingham seem to be one of the best regarded wheel refurbishers in the country, although are more expensive than average (obviously).
- City Wheel Refurbishment is probably the cheapest place in the country, at £20 for a plain powder coat with no tyres, and £30 with tyres.
- If the original wheels are diamond cut anywhere, then you can get the re-diamond cut, but it is more expensive than powder coat and the chances are it will start deteriorating again in as little as 3-12 months. You can only get it done twice due to metal removal. A practical alternative is just a plain silver/sparkle silver/hyper silver powder coat, which will stand up much better to British weather. I went diamond coat in August 2020, and had deterioration in Jan 2021. £400 down the pa, and I'm so wishing I'd just gone a plain colour.
- I would trust City to do a plain powder coat. They have one process and turn through loads on a volume basis, so have the constant practice of getting it right.
- Unless you can see physical damage on the wheel or lacquer lift, you might be lucky and just a careful decontamination might bring them up like new if they only have 19k miles on them? This would be best achieved by removal of each wheel, then snow foam, rinse, fallout remover, rinse (literally) and repeat, glue and tar remover, wash and rinse, fallout remover, possibly G&TR again. I do mine in the bath. The wife loves it


Welcome, good luck, and keep us updated!

 

[OfOrange]

Thanks for the considered reply. I have thought long and hard about what I am to do, getting it back into dry storage and keeping the mileage low I think is a lovely thought. I have been toying with the idea of giving it to my retired parents as their second car, I still have 10 years of family life before I can fully justify two seats only. I will be doing the peaks and lakes this summer for sure.

The wheels are in a terrible condition, bounced up London kerbs for sport. There's also a gash to the o/s/f center front bumper valance, it's needs filling, A good three stage mop does that colour wonders followed by some properly applied protection to make light work of future tree sap, bird droppings and general fallout. The dreaded suncream residue from kids hands has just sprung to mind. I spent many years at an Audi/VW ARC, I think the diamond cut factory finish had always been to brittle and the only thing that seemed to make it adhere was that it was sealed on the bare metal surfaces. There is some more rubbery clear cloats that also adhere to a non keyed surface ( never will I truly understand how )

 

[OfOrange]

 

[A.J.]

I think that is one special motor and a classic and desireable colour combination.
It deserves to be brought back to near new condition and seriously enjoyed! Which I don't think will be hard to do on both counts.

If you want some tips on anything, I'm sure the forum membership will be happy to help out.

If it's been dry stored, and is now living outside, I'd check the water drains freely from the scuttle panel under the windscreen, and water flows out near the wheel arch (passenger side) and on to the floor. Classic problem on these is block drains, which fill up and overflow into the passenger footwell.
If it's all clean in there and hasn't had 20 years of leaves falling it and rotting down, it could be fine.

As for wheel refurbs, having spent far too long looking last year and getting 2 sets done, I can offer the following advice (although this is not exhaustive and is down to personal choice).
- Lepsons in Gillingham seem to be one of the best regarded wheel refurbishers in the country, although are more expensive than average (obviously).
- City Wheel Refurbishment is probably the cheapest place in the country, at £20 for a plain powder coat with no tyres, and £30 with tyres.
- If the original wheels are diamond cut anywhere, then you can get the re-diamond cut, but it is more expensive than powder coat and the chances are it will start deteriorating again in as little as 3-12 months. You can only get it done twice due to metal removal. A practical alternative is just a plain silver/sparkle silver/hyper silver powder coat, which will stand up much better to British weather. I went diamond coat in August 2020, and had deterioration in Jan 2021. £400 down the pa, and I'm so wishing I'd just gone a plain colour.
- I would trust City to do a plain powder coat. They have one process and turn through loads on a volume basis, so have the constant practice of getting it right.
- Unless you can see physical damage on the wheel or lacquer lift, you might be lucky and just a careful decontamination might bring them up like new if they only have 19k miles on them? This would be best achieved by removal of each wheel, then snow foam, rinse, fallout remover, rinse (literally) and repeat, glue and tar remover, wash and rinse, fallout remover, possibly G&TR again. I do mine in the bath. The wife loves it


Welcome, good luck, and keep us updated!

I would be a bit nervous at having a wheel re-furbish at that sort of cost, I would be worried about the quality of the job