R129 Service interval - SL320 1996

[ed_d82]

I spoke to MB Southampton to book my 1996 SL320 in for a service as they're offering a price match and fixed price service fee. The lady on the phone was very friendly and said that my car had a variable service indicator and would tell me when my car needed to be booked in.

I've read the manual and studied the dash but can't see where this would be displayed? Apparently this would be a single spanner for an 'A' service and a double spanner for a 'B' service... and I missing something? or have I been misinformed?

 

[Doodle]

There should be a wrench symbol and a days indicator that flashes briefly on startup in the odometer.

If that doesn't happen, you haven't got the service indicator (which I'm pretty sure a '96 car doesn't?).

 

[ed_d82]

Yeah can't say I've seen that on the odometer... will check for it tomorrow on start up. If it doesn't have one then I guess I'll just go by the mileage as indicated in the service book...

 

[andy27168]

Hi,
Have you got a push button on the clocks to zero the odometer? If so try pressing this twice in quick succession if you do have Assyst then the odometer display should show you how many miles left to the service is due.
Have you considered using a good independant? I can personnally recommend Peter at Pentangle, just off of the M27 jct. 1 at Cadnam, or if you don,t mind driving a little more a field, there is Olly (member BlackC55) at the other end of the M27, do a search on the forum for PCS, comes highly forum recommended.

 

[ed_d82]

Cool I'll check them out - the car has a full main dealer SH at the moment so was looking to maintain that but I've read that the service from indys seems to leave a lot of the main dealers wanting. Don't suppose you know of one which would read a STAR code for free by any chance? There's a blinking light on the roll bar switch and the advice I've had is that I need a fault code cleared, or a replacement ECU (hoping the former!) Quoted £35 by star tech to read it so may have to go there...

 

[BTB 500]

You've been misinformed. A '96 car will definitely not have variable service intervals (ASSYST) ... IIRC that first appeared in 1998. So it will be on 12 month / 10k mile service intervals (whichever comes first), per the service booklet.

 

[ed_d82]

^ Yeah thought that might be the case, will do some research on indys and specialists per Andy's post above. Cheers

 

[crowmetals]

would love to contact another member..need split ryms
DolphiN Tech......nice sl r129!!would love to chat 07970780689 joe...have just bought a 56k mile 1995 sl in a flat blue,want to get a set of the 3 peice split rym amg wheels and am considering the boot spoiler and possibly the body kit..am having no luck with finding the wheels can u guys help

 

[BTB 500]

Nice set of 3-piece AMGs here ... hope you've got deep pockets

Mercedes SL Class R129 alloys | Alloy Wheels Direct Ltd

 

[Doodle]

Indeed Bill, and the bodykit/spoiler is probably even rarer!

Joe, I'll ping you a text later.

 

[biturbo]

ive been after the spolier for 6 months nothing yet.

 

[BlackC55]

The dealers dont know the older cars so well. She should have known that the older SL's dont have a service indicator.

Your car is due a service every 9k or two years.

 

[IanA2]

You've been misinformed. A '96 car will definitely not have variable service intervals (ASSYST) ... IIRC that first appeared in 1998.

Correct. First appeared in MY '98 cars.

 

[BTB 500]

Your car is due a service every 9k or two years.

Every 12 months, surely? That's what my '97 service book says ... or is the 320 different?

 

[AnilS]

Mine counts down from 10K miles, after reset.

 

[ed_d82]

Checked the service book - 9k/1yr for an oil service, 18k/2yrs for a maintenance service.

Looks like I've got to book her in then.

 

[crowmetals]

Nice set of 3-piece AMGs here ... hope you've got deep pockets

Mercedes SL Class R129 alloys | Alloy Wheels Direct Ltd

£3000 !! More than I wanted to spend,just missed a set @£500 for an as original set from a Merc eBay breaker gutted!

 

[crowmetals]

Gem tech romford Essex ,any ratings?

Nice set of 3-piece AMGs here ... hope you've got deep pockets

Mercedes SL Class R129 alloys | Alloy Wheels Direct Ltd

£3000 !! More than I wanted to spend,just missed a set @£500 for an as original set from a Merc eBay breaker gutted!

 

[redbaron]

£3000 !! More than I wanted to spend,just missed a set @£500 for an as original set from a Merc eBay breaker gutted!

here you go... £2k

18" AMG 2 PIECE SPLIT MERCEDES ALLOYS E CLK SL SLK R129 W126 | eBay


one from a breaker will probably be damaged and a decent refurb for 4 split rims will be £200 per wheel ( was last time I had 996 GT3 slip rims done)

 

[ed_d82]

Just got back from the 'stealers'.

I went for a main dealer service with MB Southampton - really bad reviews on Google, not much better press on here so I was a bit anxious to see what the final bill was going to come to.... Main B service, with coolant and spark plug replacement...

£434!

Chuffed doesn't quite cut it.

I walked out of there feeling like I was the 'stealer', highly recommend them, service was good (bit quiet on reception - but it was 8.30 on a Saturday) but the chap serving me was nice, dropped of the keys at 8.30, was given a C220d as a courtesy car, and picked up the freshly washed sl at 12.30. Good mornings work - the service technician said it was one of the nicest examples he'd seen and a main dealer stamp for less than all other indies I received quotes from!