Help with R129 versions

[Adso]

Hi,
I'll probably be buying a '96 SL500, but I have a doubt: the unit I've been looking has the old climate version:

but I thought all the SL since 1996 had the new one:

When did the SL change the climate??

The same doubt with the steering wheel: this 96 unit has a modern style one but I've seen photos from later SL with old style steering wheels.

Any help with these issues?

 

[BTB 500]

'96 was the facelift year. Apart from the climate control, post-facelift cars have a much smoother 5-speed gearbox rather the earlier 4-speed so they are definitely more desirable.

 

[Adso]

'96 was the facelift year. Apart from the climate control, post-facelift cars have a much smoother 5-speed gearbox rather the earlier 4-speed so they are definitely more desirable.

Thanks Bill. My question is that the '96 model I'm going to buy has the 5 speed gear, the external facelift (white blinkers, one colour body,) BUT has the old climate control. Is this normal??

 

[BTB 500]

No it's not, what about the rest of the interior ... is that post-facelift? If so, maybe the aircon unit was replaced with an earlier one for some reason?

 

[Adso]

Yes, the door panels are the new version, and everything seems the 96 model except for the climate.
Does anyone there know if the first 96 facelift versions had the old climate control?

This is the link for the advertisement. There you can see that it's the 96 version with the old climate:

http://coches.segundamano.es/fichaI.cfm?id=11811194

 

[500E]

Seems like the new unit maybe died and at some point was replaced by the older unit. Both units probably share the same connections.

 

[Adso]

after googling and searching into the forums during some hours it seems that, although the facelift was in 1996, the climate didn't get changed till 1997.

Anyone can confirm this? (or anyone having a '96 model with digital climate?)

 

[l5foye]

My understanding is that the newer climate control started towards end of 96. One thing I am curious about -everyone refers to the 5p box being from 96 onwards. I have a 95 (reg Dec 94) SL and it has a 5sp box.

 

[stats007]

5 speed manual (SL280 only 717.4) and automatic were available as an option on early six cylinder SLs. In the '96 facelift all cars got 5-speed automatics as standard.

I'm not sure about the climate control but it wasn't officially part of the '96 facelift.

 

[jaymanek]

yep my 96 facelift had old climate too..

 

[nickg]

its fairly common for mercs built round the time of a facelift version to have odd combinations of spec mixing old with new.
I believe it is not possible to change the old a/c for the new. The connections are very different.