SL/R129: My new SL600 (pics)
05-05-2005, 05:21 PM
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Mercedes SL600, S600, C250 TD
My new SL600 (pics)
Well having sold my last SL, a 1992 500sl with full Carlsson kit/wheels, i purchassed a Brabus W124. Unfortunately someone came into the back of me and the car was sadly written off. I deeply regretted selling the SL so i decided to buy another one. I was initially looking for a SL60 but came across this SL600 instead with the full AMG kit/wheels. With 40k on the clock its a low mileage looked after example.The car drove perfect, alot smoother than the V8 due to its active suspension. I loved the colour and being bored of silver cars this was just perfect. An added bonus was the fact that the gearbox was replaced at Mercedes 2 months ago at a cost of £6500 when the gearbox seal had failed and the owner failed to notice the lack of oil . And it had a £1500 service done so is running silky smooth, a set of new tyres and a new alpine MP3 player! How could i refuse??
05-05-2005, 05:45 PM
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1998 SL 600 ///AMG. 1997 SL 320. 1999 SLK 230K. 2001 BMW R850.
Just a pair of Xenons needed now, and I just happen to have a set if your interested!?!
Last edited by Pigzmickey; 05-05-2005 at 05:50 PM.
05-07-2005, 12:49 PM
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Originally Posted by Pigzmickey
Lucky me, I got 2!
The thought of a perfectly good R129 being broken down for parts made me sad.
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05-11-2005, 08:57 AM
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Mercedes SL600, S600, C250 TD
Originally Posted by blueSL
How much did you pay for the SL600?
05-11-2005, 09:56 PM
#9
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Makes me feel rather better at having got £13500 for mine, '96, 87k miles. Interesting that yours had a new gearbox, as did mine (rebuilt actually). Maybe the gearboxes are a weak spot on this car, especially if you make use of the 394 horses.
05-12-2005, 10:35 AM
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Mercedes SL600, S600, C250 TD
£13.5 px, not too bad to be honest. I reckon you would have got £14-15k if you sold it privately.
At 39k a gearbox failure does seem weird, but then again i'm glad its been done by someone else! MB Colindale did the work, charged £6k for a replacement box and £2k on a major service and new ADS sensors.
I'm currently having the wheels refurbed and the AMG front bumper repainted due to a few nicks.
To me even if the car works out at £17-18k is ok, as i was looking for a SL500 or SL60 AMG. If i bought a 500 i would have fitted the kit and wheels on afterwards do would have worked out false economy. The SL60 in my opinion didn't have the special feel when driving, it drove the same as my old SL500. But the 600 was so much more smoother, better riding and the colour was awesome. And then it had the AMG kit/wheels and a massive history folder. It was just too tempting!
At 39k a gearbox failure does seem weird, but then again i'm glad its been done by someone else! MB Colindale did the work, charged £6k for a replacement box and £2k on a major service and new ADS sensors.
I'm currently having the wheels refurbed and the AMG front bumper repainted due to a few nicks.
To me even if the car works out at £17-18k is ok, as i was looking for a SL500 or SL60 AMG. If i bought a 500 i would have fitted the kit and wheels on afterwards do would have worked out false economy. The SL60 in my opinion didn't have the special feel when driving, it drove the same as my old SL500. But the 600 was so much more smoother, better riding and the colour was awesome. And then it had the AMG kit/wheels and a massive history folder. It was just too tempting!
Last edited by KLP 92; 05-12-2005 at 10:40 AM.
05-12-2005, 11:55 AM
#12
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Your case history illustrates perfectly the dilemma of running an older car with big potential repair bills. The previous owner of yours probably decided to bail out after such a huge bill. I spent about 4.5 - 5k on maintenance on mine in the last year and it was enough given the eventual residual value of the car. As it happened, I too had spent some money on a handsfree phone, stereo upgrade and other items, intending to keep the car for a long time, and then I saw this 911 C4S for sale and the rest as they say is history.
The big difference between yours and mine is the mileage; your car is a little youngerr but fully 4 years less miles, so I can easily see it being worth £18k.
The big difference between yours and mine is the mileage; your car is a little youngerr but fully 4 years less miles, so I can easily see it being worth £18k.
05-12-2005, 12:14 PM
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Mercedes SL600, S600, C250 TD
Just kind of hoping that all the major expense has been spent on it already. The only thing that worries me is the air suspension when it goes wrong!!
05-12-2005, 01:10 PM
#14
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The SL does not, and never has, use air suspension. The SL600 does have adaptive damping and the control unit, visible from the offside wheel well is exposed to the elements and subject to corrosion. About £800 to replace. I jet washed mine clean (after replacing it 2 years earlier) and then sprayed it with the type of flexible black paint sold for spoilers.
I don't think you'll have trouble with the engine providing you change the oil as required, but you should keep an eye on things hydraulic and electrical.
I don't think you'll have trouble with the engine providing you change the oil as required, but you should keep an eye on things hydraulic and electrical.
05-12-2005, 01:41 PM
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Yes, it's all done hydraulically, as it is in the R230. The magazines often get it wrong thinking it has air surpension as well but it does not. The capacity of the hydraulic system in the R230 is much greater because the Active Body Control places greater demands on being able to change the suspension characteristics as required to minimise body roll. There's a diagnostic mode which can be set for this car which has it bucking around like a bronco.
The R129 SL600 can be raised hydraulically but it takes much longer than the R230 which rises in about 1 - 2 seconds with the engine running.
The control unit I mentioned has solenoid valves to switch hydraulic pressure to each of the dampers; when the car is raised, the dampers extend to raise the car. Normally, the changes in hydraulic pressure serve to stiffen the damper and to control body roll, squat and dive. ADS was made standard on the SL600 because without it, the extra weight of the V12 up front seriously compromises the car's handling and turn in.
If the control unit fails, the car goes into a fail-safe mode which means it rides like a farm cart. Very hard, unyeilding ride.
If you open the bonnet, you'll see the reservior behind the windscreen washer bottle. This contains the hydraulic fluid used by the ADS. Cars without ADS have a larger washer bottle to take advantage of the extra space. So now you know why the windscreen wash needs filling up so often on a R129 SL600....
The R129 SL600 can be raised hydraulically but it takes much longer than the R230 which rises in about 1 - 2 seconds with the engine running.
The control unit I mentioned has solenoid valves to switch hydraulic pressure to each of the dampers; when the car is raised, the dampers extend to raise the car. Normally, the changes in hydraulic pressure serve to stiffen the damper and to control body roll, squat and dive. ADS was made standard on the SL600 because without it, the extra weight of the V12 up front seriously compromises the car's handling and turn in.
If the control unit fails, the car goes into a fail-safe mode which means it rides like a farm cart. Very hard, unyeilding ride.
If you open the bonnet, you'll see the reservior behind the windscreen washer bottle. This contains the hydraulic fluid used by the ADS. Cars without ADS have a larger washer bottle to take advantage of the extra space. So now you know why the windscreen wash needs filling up so often on a R129 SL600....
Last edited by blueSL; 05-12-2005 at 01:44 PM.
05-12-2005, 01:43 PM
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Having said that, I cannot see it behind your washer bottle in your pictures. Maybe your car doesn't have ADS, I thought all R129 SL600s did, you live and learn!!
05-18-2005, 03:30 PM
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Mercedes SL600, S600, C250 TD
V12 Vs V6
FACELIFT REAR LIGHTS:
BRABUS WHEELS ON TEMPORARILY WHILE AMGs ARE REFURBED:
MY CARS:
Last edited by KLP 92; 05-18-2005 at 05:42 PM.
05-18-2005, 06:49 PM
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1998 SL 600 ///AMG. 1997 SL 320. 1999 SLK 230K. 2001 BMW R850.
Nice car, nice pics!
I think those Brabus wheels are actually MB avantgarde though, either way they are ideal temp replacements!
I think those Brabus wheels are actually MB avantgarde though, either way they are ideal temp replacements!
05-19-2005, 03:37 AM
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Mercedes SL600, S600, C250 TD
Originally Posted by Pigzmickey
Nice car, nice pics!
I think those Brabus wheels are actually MB avantgarde though, either way they are ideal temp replacements!
I think those Brabus wheels are actually MB avantgarde though, either way they are ideal temp replacements!
I had them floating around in the garage so i bolted them on while the AMGs are refurbed. Should be back tomorrow.
Last edited by KLP 92; 05-19-2005 at 03:50 AM.
05-20-2005, 02:39 AM
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1998 SL 600 ///AMG. 1997 SL 320. 1999 SLK 230K. 2001 BMW R850.
I gotcha! I was looking at the S class. I bought a new boxed set of the Brabus last year in Germany, nice, and a cheap set of 18's at only £250. Are yours 17"? Only they look different?
