SL summary - anything to add?

[D1gger5]

So, searching the forums:-

R107 (1980's model)

Rust in bulkhead area that's hidden.
engines - 300 potential oil leaks and head gaskets.
electrics as older cars
Fuel is either carburettor or mechanical fuel injection.
Prices from £2k

R129 (1990 to 2002)

rust in hardtop, possible bulkhead rust
engines as R107
electrics initially old school wiring, later CAN bus.
early cars easy to service at home, later ones more difficult.

R230 (2002 to 2007)

Galvanised from a certain date.
CAN Bus? fibre optic STAR, etc
Servicing can be expensive.

Anything wrong or missing?
When did Mercedes start CAN bus on the range?
When did they change to fibre optic?
How easy is it to get software and CAN bus interface cable/cards for desktop/laptop (and how much)?
How easy is it to get they Haynes comic (sic) or CD ROM for the cars?
Is a proven MB FSH on any cars or a proven owner service history (including receipts) essential?
How easy is it to identify option list items on these cars (especially the R129)?


Sorry for so many questions but this increases my knowledge quickly and earlier than looking at each and every car.

Regards

Diggers

 

[Quick Silver]

So, searching the forums:-

R107 (1980's model)

Rust in bulkhead area that's hidden.
engines - 300 potential oil leaks and head gaskets.
electrics as older cars
Fuel is either carburettor or mechanical fuel injection.
Prices from £2k

R129 (1990 to 2002)

rust in hardtop, possible bulkhead rust
engines as R107
electrics initially old school wiring, later CAN bus.
early cars easy to service at home, later ones more difficult.

R230 (2002 to 2007)

Galvanised from a certain date.
CAN Bus? fibre optic STAR, etc
Servicing can be expensive.

Anything wrong or missing?
When did Mercedes start CAN bus on the range?
When did they change to fibre optic?
How easy is it to get software and CAN bus interface cable/cards for desktop/laptop (and how much)?
How easy is it to get they Haynes comic (sic) or CD ROM for the cars?
Is a proven MB FSH on any cars or a proven owner service history (including receipts) essential?
How easy is it to identify option list items on these cars (especially the R129)?


Sorry for so many questions but this increases my knowledge quickly and earlier than looking at each and every car.

Regards

Diggers

I have just serviced my R129 300 SL this afternoon for just about £100 inc oil ,plugs all filters using MB original parts took me about 4 hours to do with several tea break/smoke breaks .It has no rust on the car anywhere and is all original (no repairs paint jobs etc) .There is a little bit of corrosion on the hard top near the water channel but nothing serious and easy repairable (will do later in the year when the top comes off ) The hard top is aluminium . Overall a very easy car to service and maintain . The 300 24 valve is the one with the cylinder head problems (head gasket)

My point is thoroughly check the vehicle and it's history and note any defects to use as bargaining tool .

 

[Myros]

all 107s, 129s 230s

I think each and every one of them had fuel-injected motors.

107s can have leaky trans, whiny diffs, and the hardtop can get a bit rusty, especially out of sight under the screen.
107 500s can have trouble with engine mounts, and sub-frame mounts , owing to the weight of the lump in front. V8 plug change is a pig of a job. I think I'm good at it and it takes me about 2-3hours. compare that with 20 mins on my C280.
Early electro-mechanical fuel-injection can be really fussy to set-up.
Cruise control on the 107s can be a mystery.

 

[Alex M Grieve]

I think each and every one of them had fuel-injected motors.

107s can have leaky trans, whiny diffs, and the hardtop can get a bit rusty, especially out of sight under the screen.
107 500s can have trouble with engine mounts, and sub-frame mounts , owing to the weight of the lump in front. V8 plug change is a pig of a job. I think I'm good at it and it takes me about 2-3hours. compare that with 20 mins on my C280.
Early electro-mechanical fuel-injection can be really fussy to set-up.
Cruise control on the 107s can be a mystery.

That lot should keep them exclusive, even if the price doesn't!

 

[st4]

They have "man" factor even though Dale Winton once had a 55amg

 

[Myros]

Exclusivity......mmmmmm

alex, we wouldn't want just anyone driving them, would we. Consenting adults only.
Mine's not perfect, but doesn't suffer from anything frightening (touch wood).
Just a nice old car i love to drive and don't worry too much about doing so.
And the kids love that v8 wooofle. "faster daddy" is about all i get out of them when the top is down. well, that's what it sounds like to me, but it could be anything really.

 

[100%Bitch]

They have "man" factor

I don't think I agree with that.

 

[st4]

I don't think I agree with that.

Guess it takes a special type of woman to appreciate the finer things in life....

Good to see you back posting BTW

 

[ajlsl600]

sl600 2003

anyone able to confirm, or point me to the right place is this car body galvanised ?

 

[Mic]

anyone able to confirm, or point me to the right place is this car body galvanised ?

Probably not.....2004 onwards.

Mic

 

[ajlsl600]

Probably not.....2004 onwards.

Mic

missed the boat again then !!!!!

 

[DSB SL AMG]

Another old 2009 thread resurrected...this must be a record

missed the boat again then !!!!!