Project SL60 AMG part 1 complete.

[biturbo]

Project sl60 AMG part 1 is complete.
Thanks to dave at MD Motorcare in ellesmere port for all the work that was done.

List of work done to the sl60 AMG was

Braided brake hoses fitted.
Race Brake Fluid
Rear subframe out and all the suspension arms etc, sand blasted and black powder coated back up.
New H&R sport springs lowering the car 30mm.
New polybushes shore hardness 80 all round.
New Oem bushes on subframe etc.
Steering box reconditioned.
Adjustable rear camber arms.
Engine Strut brace fitted.
Full Stereo upgrade, Audison 3 way Orchastra speakers, Mcintosh MX5000 Headunit
Hertz Amp in the boot.
Hertz HP4 Amp .
Full Interior swap from dreary grey to Silver Arrow
Birdseye wood black leather steering wheel
AMG replica Black birdseye and chrome gear knob
Automatic remote operated Convertible hood
Probably missed a few things.
4 Wheel Alignment
Test Drive Results
Its been a long time since I drove it, but I always compared it to the s600.
It now drives like a true sports car/90s supercar. The turn in to corners is so light and fast/responsive it puts the s600 to shame. It handles absolutely amazingly. When you accelerate it glides and feels like all 4 wheels are firmly planted, there is no lift at all from the front and on braking there is no lift at the back, its even more smooth in that respect than the s600. Its made the car feel smaller than it is and the steering much much more responsive.
I was worried the ride would become ruined. It hasn’t. The car is still deadly quiet and smooth. On a fast A road its better than it was before. It say at slow speed in town it’s a bit more jiggery when you get bad roads.
I won’t bother to go in depth about the stereo upgrade, but needless to say it makes the old system look like some cheap £50 setup from Halfords.
The automatic hood is nice as you can use the softop upto 35mph, and its one touch operation now.
Also you can lower and raise with the key fob.

Ill post some photos soon and a video clip.
I have tried to upgrade and update the car but also trying to keep it as close to factory as possible.
I’ve spent a fortune on it to get it to be my dream car, a car ive wanted ever since I was a teenager, the all round convertible IMHO there was in the 90s.

 

[d w124]

Looking forward to those pictures PS,The steering wheel is not birdseye,is black ash

 

[dan1502]

I would love an SL60. I viewed one over the weekend but unfortunately I think it will take too much work for me to take on and there were aspects I don't have the knowledge/experience to properly assess. I drove it and it had the hydro suspension which I like other than being worried about costs if it goes wrong (thought the spheres had all just been replaced).

 

[biturbo]

Thats a very rare option on a sl60. Was that the sl60 that someone was looking to sell on the forum with 60k miles?
i looked at 4 SL60s before picking my one. Ive seen some r129 out and about and they look like a completely different car to mine. Basically on their last legs.
The interior on mine was tatty, grey just looked dull and dirty. So i managed to get hold of a full silver arrow interior which cost a fortune, and then had to get bits and bobs to complete the full swap over, black rollover bars, sunvisors etc.
The interior came off a car with 25k mile on it so is basically brand new. It smells like a new car inside which is strange.
ill be sending the door cars and dashboard probably to DClass to get nappa stiched leather. Along with silver arrow brake calipers, eisenmann exhaust and doing the front of the car underneath this winter.

 

[BTB 500]

I drove it and it had the hydro suspension which I like other than being worried about costs if it goes wrong (thought the spheres had all just been replaced).

Adaptive Damping (ADS) is quite reliable compared to later M-B suspension systems, and cheaper to fix. The accumulators (spheres) should be considered as 'consumables' though, in much the same way that conventional shock absorbers are. Mine lasted 14 years which I didn't think was too bad - had them replaced by a specialist last year for about £900 all-in (using M-B parts).

ADS was an expensive option on all R129s other than the 600 (which had it as standard), and as mentioned it's very rare indeed on an SL60.

 

[dan1502]

Yes, it was the one metioned on here. The interior was special too in that all the dash and entire door trim were covered in hand stitched leather and the entire centre console was wooden. It also has the massage seats and Xenon lights. In fact the only thing is doesn't have is a panoramic roof.

That's interesting regarding the hydro suspension. There is another car I viewed which has that suspension and has also had the accumulators replaced recently. I've been in two minds about a second viewing due the potential risk of the suspension. Perhaps I should reconsider or at least not worry so much if I come accross it again,

 

[BTB 500]

Re. ADS just keep your eyes open if looking at a car that has it. If the spheres have been replaced that's a good thing as on a 15+ year old car they're going to need doing at some point otherwise (the symptom is hard and bouncy suspension when driving). Check that the car raises/lowers smoothly in response to the ride level switch (pump & struts), no warning lights on the dash, and fluid reservoir level OK. The mode switch LED should light up when pressed, and the suspension should get firmer with less dive/roll.

As an aside I was quoted £700 all-in to replace an ADS strut when I asked my local dealer out of curiousity. I've never actually heard of one failing, but they certainly go with some regularity on the ABC suspension used on later M-Bs ... and those are £1k a corner, parts only. They have valve block problems too.

 

[biturbo]

what was the colour combo dan and why didnt you go for it?

 

[dan1502]

It was black with black interior. It's probably not fair on the seller for me to go into full details on here but basically I think it will cost more than I am prepared to pay (and take more effort) to get to the standard I would want and there are certain aspects I don't have the knowledge to properly assess. The seller is very open though. A nice guy to deal with who was happy to point out falts before I noticed them.

 

[biturbo]

Here are some photos,

 

[biturbo]

Still got some minor revisions and things to do on the interior.

 

[WOODYTHEWISE]

I like it, I like it a lot.

 

[dan1502]

Nice, I do like the black wood interior. I came accross one (SL500) the other day which had black wood with a mixture of dark carpets with grey leather seats and grey leather door cards with black for the rest of the doors. Very nice and something I've not seen on any other. Unfortunately a previous accident and other issues meant it wasn't for me but at least I didn't travel to see that one.

 

[Cooky]

Sounds like its been a great project Looks good too! Top man

 

[CKLclive]

Very nice indeed, lovely car and a credit to you sir

 

[REI]

Very nice ...

 

[Sp!ke]

I love the birds eye maple but really dislike the silver arrow seats.

I think you'd benefit from losing those the $10 fake AMG interior badges. You've got a really classy car without them.

 

[biturbo]

I think you'd benefit from losing those the $10 fake AMG interior badges. You've got a really classy car without them.

Yeah i agree with you now, i kinda did it thinking it would add a touch of style and i know its not real so it cheapens it and does the opposite.

Ill post a pic of the engine bay with the engine strut brace.
It was easy to install and the big difference is the turn in becomes very light and sharp.

 

[KillerHERTZ]

+ lose the cheap gear shifter.

 

[dan1502]

Agreed with all the above. I didn't look that closely at first.