Sl60

[rockits]

I agree the replica's are not ideal but I think they are a nice style and suit the car. I have spent nearly £2k getting my SL500 up to scratch.

What did you manage to spend to spend £5k on? Do you mind if I ask when and how much you paid for your SL60? You PM me if you prefer.

Thanks

 

[IanA2]

My main issue with reps is safety, these are powerful cars and reps may not be up to the job.

I paid about 16k (panny roof) 98MY reg Dec 97.

I had all the fluids changed, coil packs and leads and a couple of small leaks on the engine fixed and a few other thing I don't recall. Nothing major. Never leaked since!

I also put in a Becker Indianapolis Pro.

 

[rockits]

I can see your apprehension towards the reps and why you changed yours. Even reps should be plenty safe enough though for normal road use and up to 70mph without any worries I would have thought. Even expsensive BMW wheels have been cracking these days so I do wonder sometimes.

Sounds like a silly newbie question but does the 'MY' bit on your 98 denote the month of May or some reference to the facelift model history or something?

I guess much of the £5k went on the wheels and stereo!

 

[IanA2]

MY means Model Year. So it is a Dec 97 registered car but a 98 Model.

 

[rockits]

Ah..I see good to know as mine is a Dec 95 MY96!

I am just trying to arrange Prestige to do an inspection on that SL60 for me and the seller seems pretty intent to sell at no less than £9.5k.

 

[IanA2]

The MY will be stated on the VIN print out.

If Ollie gives it the all clear I would bite his hand off at 9.5k I do think that is very cheap.

I bought it Sept 1997.

 

[rockits]

Sorry for possibly stupid question again...where can you get the VIN print out?

I agree if Ollie gives it the OK with only minor work needed it should be a good buy.

 

[talbir]

Something to think about for anyone contemplating an SL60 - many of the HWA (i.e. AMG) parts for the 6.0 M119 are now NLA from MB.....the HWA part numbered LH module and EZL (without which power output will be no more than the stock m119) are NLA. If there is one in stock somewhere, it'll be some 3.5k GBP !

They don't often go wrong but if they do, you'll be shelling out big money and may end up with having to spend big money on the stock 5.0 EZLs ...and end up with nothing special. At which point you need to think about bespoke items to extract the expected power from the 6.0 lump.

So whilst it may all be in good nick as it stands, there are some future considerations given MB/AMG's now do not readily supply some of the parts that make this car special


talbir

 

[IanA2]

Talbir,

I though that by law they had to keep parts for a certain period eg 20yrs. Could well be wrong.

 

[IanA2]

Sorry for possibly stupid question again...where can you get the VIN print out?

I agree if Ollie gives it the OK with only minor work needed it should be a good buy.

Vehicle Identification Number = VIN
It's on the V5 and the windscreen. Ask the seller for it, he may give it to you, and then put it through the Russian site. It will give you the original spec. Search this board for info on the russian site.

 

[rockits]

Talbir....thanks for the info....although I could have done without another thing to think about on this one!

I have the VIN number from the HPI check I did and popped it into the Russian site but it didn't have the information in their database it seems. I have done it with my SL500 before and it came up fine.

 

[stats007]

There are a couple of companies that repair these ECUs so I wouldn't worry too much.

 

[rockits]

Not something I am too worried about. You can worry about too much sometimes and I am occasionally guilty of that. Sometimes you just have to go for it and take a chance.

I spoke to Oliver @ Prestige but he can't do an inspection until Saturday 29th which is a shame. I am sure it will still be around until then but would prefer to get it done as soon as possible. Can't see the point in delaying things for no reason.

I am sure I will be fine looking at it myself with my brother(car trader) but makes sense to spend a couple of hundred quid to get a better specialist eye over it.

 

[talbir]

I'm not sure the 20 yr rule applies anymore. With the SL/E 60 engines, it's numerous engine parts that are NLA (crankshaft, camshafts etc, so having an ECU repairer doesn't resolve any potential concerns).

Even on stock 500e's, parts are becoming NLA, although with some items, you can get them if you buy the whole component, i.e. headlamp lenses for 500e's are NLA, but if you buy the entire headlamp unit (£350!) then you get the glass with it.

Sure, everything can be resolved through other means, but it's important to know that it won't be as easy as ringing MB Parts and getting a replacement in some cases.


talbir

 

[stats007]

I made some enquiries and both the EZL & LH units are available from MB in Germany. The camshafts are also available directly from AMG. The parts can only be ordered via a UK dealer however. LH unit is currently £2344.00 + VAT. That said, how often do these parts need replacing? Even then a crank or camshaft can be machined to specification easily enough. Certainly wouldn't put me off buying one.

 

[talbir]

I made some enquiries and both the EZL & LH units are available from MB in Germany. The camshafts are also available directly from AMG. The parts can only be ordered via a UK dealer however. LH unit is currently £2344.00 + VAT. That said, how often do these parts need replacing? Even then a crank or camshaft can be machined to specification easily enough. Certainly wouldn't put me off buying one.

You need to go a step further with Mercedes parts - and that's actually trying to place an order. Their screens will say back order Germany - but when you actually try and place the order, it will then say NLA. Phoning and going through the first step isn't enough, the screen will always say back order Germany.

It's not the frequency of failure on these parts, it's the fact that when it happens,one will be stuck until they can either source a new one or get the old one repaired. It will not be as easy as getting a replacement for a stock 500 sl.

You'll find the crankshaft is a bespoke piece and not an 'easy' machining job. Exactly who would machine it to custom fit the 6.0 m119 ? I mean for starters, the starting crank is not even a M119 item.

As said before, none of the items are deal-breakers, but it would be a little prudent to consider the possibilities of failure on specialised engines such as the 6.0 M119s, before entering purchase.

regards
talbir

 

[jaymanek]

I can definately relate to the MB parts point... I have recently ordered lots of W113 parts and all came up as being available... although when ordered, rarely have they turned up and I have had to go to alternative suppliers.

Same happens with a lot of 80's parts now.

 

[buccal]

The only car I've ever been obsessed with was a TVR.

Which one stats?

(sorry for going OT)

 

[BTB 500]

V8 Cerbera, IIRC.

 

[stats007]

You need to go a step further with Mercedes parts

I spoke to Classic Parts in Germany and AMG directly.