Parts Catalog Accessories Catalog How To Articles Tech Forums
Call Pelican Parts at 888-280-7799
Shopping Cart Cart | Project List | Order Status | Help



Go Back   PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum > Mercedes-Benz Tech Information and Support > Mercedes-Benz SL Discussion Forum

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 05-24-2005, 02:40 PM
BusyBenz
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Why didn't MB use aluminum for hard tops??

As most all SL owners will attest, these hard tops are heavy! I wonder why MB didn't use the much lighter aluminum instead of heavy steel? It's use would have made not only removal and installation much easier, but would have made the car lighter and faster too!
Any comments?

Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 05-24-2005, 02:51 PM
G-Benz's Avatar
Razorback Soccer Dad
 
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Dallas/Fort-Worth
Posts: 5,711
The steel top would survive a rollover far better than an aluminum one.
__________________
2009 ML350 (106K) - Family vehicle
2001 CLK430 Cabriolet (80K) - Wife's car
2005 BMW 645CI (138K) - My daily driver
2016 Mustang (32K) - Daughter's car
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 05-24-2005, 03:02 PM
"99 SL500
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Jacksonville Fla.
Posts: 332
alum

According to my window sticker mine is aluminum
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 05-24-2005, 04:05 PM
BusyBenz
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Quote:
Originally Posted by G-Benz
The steel top would survive a rollover far better than an aluminum one.
Anddddd the soft top, how did that perform?

Seems having an aluminum hard top would be safer than a canvas soft top with flimsy soft top frame when compared!
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 05-24-2005, 04:29 PM
"99 SL500
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Jacksonville Fla.
Posts: 332
alum top

The R129 are equiped with an automatic roll bar system that works regardless of the top of lack off, much earlier models like the 1955 to 1964 190 SL came with an aluminum hard top as an option, the doors, hood and trunk lid were also aluminum ,thats pre lawsuit era convertibles.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 05-24-2005, 05:01 PM
G-Benz's Avatar
Razorback Soccer Dad
 
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Dallas/Fort-Worth
Posts: 5,711
It may not have mattered. The car already weighs in at over 4K lbs...
__________________
2009 ML350 (106K) - Family vehicle
2001 CLK430 Cabriolet (80K) - Wife's car
2005 BMW 645CI (138K) - My daily driver
2016 Mustang (32K) - Daughter's car
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 05-24-2005, 05:59 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 758
The History Channel recently showed a special on the German Autobahn and the camera system they use to monitor traffic. One of the clips was of a night roll-over accident involving an SL, a 107. The driver lost control at high speed. The car, with hardtop, flipped onto its top, slid and rolled over several times into the ditch landing on its top. A few seconds later the driver and passenger opened their doors and crawled out, dusted themselves off and sat down to await the arrival of the cops.

I think that is why MB made the 107 tops the way they did...

FWIW,

230/8
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 05-24-2005, 10:39 PM
TheV12pwr's Avatar
Registered User
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 220
Quote:
Originally Posted by G-Benz
The steel top would survive a rollover far better than an aluminum one.
Don't forget the rollbar ...soft or hard top-it's always there.
__________________
DRIVE IT LIKE YOU STOLE IT!
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 05-24-2005, 11:33 PM
1984 280SL
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Bellevue Washington
Posts: 56
Aluminum use in hard top

I might throw out a guess. It may be due to the thermal expansion of alum was a consideration for a material. It gets too hot and too cold - tough to seal under expanding conditions - this is 1970s design do not forget.
__________________
1980 280SL
2012 C6 Red Corvette
2013 C6 Black Corvette
X5 BMW 4.4
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 05-25-2005, 12:40 AM
BusyBenz
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
I wonder if fiberglass could have been an option too, and with a roll bar integrated. I suppose in the end product, overall weight saved would amount to little gain, so steal was a practical way to go for MB, I assume?
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 05-25-2005, 03:42 AM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Northumberland, UK
Posts: 1,294
Remember the 107 first hit the streets in late-1970 and early-1971. Presumably Aluminium was too difficult/expensive. Weight saving then had not become the issue it is now. On the 129, first issued in mid- to late-1989, but signed off as a design by 1986, aluminium was used specifically to address the problem posed by the weight of the top on its predecessor. Of course, the panoramic top available from 1985 is incredibly heavy! On the new 230 many of the body panels are aluminium.
__________________
JJ Rodger
2013 G350 Bluetec
1999 SL 500
1993 E300 diesel T
1990 190
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 05-26-2005, 03:49 PM
Nate Stanley's Avatar
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: Watsonville, Ca
Posts: 399
---Not to mention the spotwelding dilemma. Aluminum tends to stick to spot welding electrodes, building up an ever-resistant layer of crud on the tips. Regular cleaning of the weld electrodes would be required, and the weld strength would not be predictable. Newer alloys now may have solved this problem, but back then it might have been a consideration.

Around the late 70's GM and one of the big Aluminum companies got together to do a feasibility study of an aluminum-bodied Vette. The project was abandoned mainly due to the above reason.
__________________
Nate Stanley
(Currently Benzless)
1985 F-250 6.9l 170K
2009 SCION XB 36.5K
2003 LS430 78K
2012 Kubota B 2320
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 05-26-2005, 04:38 PM
"99 SL500
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Jacksonville Fla.
Posts: 332
hard top

I was part of a restoration on a 1957 190 SL this vehicle was strip to the bare metal including the hard top wich it was aluminum, this top was a 2 piece and believe it or not, the parts were welded together and impresive feat of engineering for the time, no filler no warp no putty, a 1/4" weld seam across the center from side to side, needless to say this was 20 years ago and ever since then I have always admire Mercedes Engineering.There must be a good reason for the steel hard tops, structural maybe.
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 05-26-2005, 04:58 PM
BusyBenz
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Quote:
Originally Posted by Carlos Serrano
There must be a good reason for the steel hard tops, structural maybe.
Maybe, but one thing is for sure, it makes the car more top heavy, and I do feel a difference without it on. I prefer to have it off!

Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
w126 aluminum vs steel hood marlinspike Featured Cars 0 04-16-2005 09:52 AM
85 300 SD aluminum body? twr Diesel Discussion 32 03-24-2005 04:00 AM
"Chrome" Brightwork - Theories/Results Strife Mercedes-Benz SL Discussion Forum 2 03-18-2005 10:40 AM
300TD wagon bumper WELDING yellowmerc Diesel Discussion 6 01-28-2002 06:30 PM
Long Bolts on Aluminum Wheels JoshMB Mercedes-Benz Wheels & Tires 2 03-02-2001 04:01 PM



All times are GMT -4. The time now is 04:45 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.6.0
Copyright 2024 Pelican Parts, LLC - Posts may be archived for display on the Peach Parts or Pelican Parts Website -    DMCA Registered Agent Contact Page