R230 Rear wind deflector

[sausage]

I am thinking of adding a wind deflector to my 2009 SL, a car that does not have the MB airscarf. I had a deflector on my M3 and it worked well.

Has anyone experience of the R230 with and without the deflector - does it make a significant difference? Bearing in mind, no airscarf.

The prices seem to range from less than £100 to nearly £800. Are the expensive ones £700 better than the cheap ones?

Any advice or comments please?
Thanks

 

[drmw]

A huge difference - can drive at 70 without ruffling your hair !

 

[sausage]

Thanks drmw.
What wild assumptions you make about my glabrous head ) But yes that is the effect I am hoping for, to be honest it is not bad at 70 without a deflector but I suspect I will be more comfy with one. Is yours an aftermarket or MB one ? Any issues?

 

[star]

As above, massive difference. Not sure how good aftermarket ones work but they don’t look as good a quality or athletically pleasing.

 

[sausage]

Thanks Star. I might try one from Amazon, at least I can always send it back if it turns out to be made of margarine tubs and kitchen roll tubes.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B086CBH..._dp_8J5JE25KVP5PW4PPN9PY?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

Edit: Just had a closer look at the photos. Don't really like the look of that at all. The ends look messy and the fitting brackets look horrible.

 

[00slk]

They're worth having unless you don't mind bad hair days

 

[LostKiwi]

Huge difference.
With the deflector you can create a nice warm bubble in cold temps. I've used my SL in sub zero conditions and been warm enough to be comfortable.

There's something special about a cold clear crisp night drive with the roof down and twinkling stars above.

 

[sausage]

There's something special about a cold clear crisp night drive with the roof down and twinkling stars above.

That is exactly how I like it best.

00SLK - I don't have any hair on my head to worry about. Less air resistance, it makes me faster.

 

[sausage]

Having had a look at a few more, there is definitely a significant different in quality and fitment between £90 and £600 options. Some of the cheaper ones look like they would not work well with the roll bar in the upright position.

It makes me wonder about whether I can get something, like an insert for the roll bar, that way it is a deflector that can be up or down at the touch of a button. Or I might consider to make something for that purpose. You know, stretch grannies tights over it or something

 

[drmw]

None of them will work when the roll bar is upright. The deflection is both downwards and vertcal, so what you are saying would work to a point, but not as it should

 

[sausage]

Ok, thanks for that drmw, that is good to know.

For a neater look I was thinking of using some form of malleable thin plastic strip to form a frame to insert inside the roll bar. Then once the shape and fit is right, cover the frame and fit it. I'll think carefully about what to do.

 

[LostKiwi]

Having put the roll bar up when the deflector is not in the deployed position you get an enormous draft coming back under the deflector and between the seats. It's like a wind tunnel.

 

[LostKiwi]

The factory one is like this:

Note the shaping on the rear most part. The cheap ones tend to be two flat planes (like on the 129).

 

[SL63 Mark]

00SLK - I don't have any hair on my head to worry about. Less air resistance, it makes me faster.

Yep, probably worth an extra 5 BHP

Another vote for the genuine MB deflector, it makes the car usable IMHO

 

[mioba]

Edit: Just had a closer look at the photos. Don't really like the look of that at all. The ends look messy and the fitting brackets look horrible.

Thats usually the case aftermarket, poor quality, aesthetics and fitting..

investments like this based on the comments make it one of those things, once you get it, you wonder you ever lived without it.

 

[00slk]

Buy the best, when you sell the car keep the best and sell it on .........Or should I practise what I preach and not hoard my old one Well it might come in handy one day