photo's...

[tony s]

Guys & Girls

Finally got my new baby's photo hosted on a web site.
'90 500 SL (in mint condition)

I can't wait to go topless...spring is in the air!

tony

Tony:
Nice pic....resembles mine, even same color...also 90, mint condition. I've got almost 90K on it, and also anxious to pop the top. Sounds like yours has been newly aquired? Any problems with water leaking in at the top of the "A" pillars? I can't seem to solve that problem. I've had mine only since late September, so haven't enjoyed life with the soft-top yet......What part of the country are u?

Bill

[tony s]

Bill,

I’m in the Northeast (Long Island), and have yet to have a leak from the “A” pillars. Although I haven’t received the cars shop documentation yet, I’m pretty sure the all of the recalls were kept up with. I bought the car from the second owner last month. (I know both owners…the car was well kept at all times. Both times the car was sold to friends rather than traded-in during a new car purchase; the first time for a SL 600, and the second time for a Boxster S.) The gentlemen I bought the car from did say that under the heaviest rain (Nor-Easter) he would get a drop or two coming through.

I wouldn’t have bought the 500 SL but I was made an offer I couldn’t refuse, and so far I’m glad I did. With slightly over 58,000 miles the car is in mint condition. My biggest problem is finding the time to use it. I commute to NYC via train and have a daily driver (VW Jetta) to get back and forth to the station. My wife has a Ford Taurus that is the family car. Having a 7-month-old further complicates the matter…in a good way.

Growing up on Long Island the SL is a fairly common car, but so are Porches and Ferrari’s. A lot financially stable people have made LI their home. What about yourself, where do drive?

Have you made any mods, or do you plan to? I need to have new Bilstiens put in, and perhaps sport springs as well. Next would 18" tires and K&N air filters. But we'll have to see.

[MBenzNL]

tony,

I own a 1990 300SL-24 and live in the (very wet) Netherlands. The water leaking A-pillars is a common problem with the mercedes convertibles (my 1993 300CE suffers the same problem), but I do not mind the minor leakage that much.

I bought my SL in september 1999 and have planned some modifying as well; I want to change the bumpers, front fender panels and taillights to get the model "97 look.

I use my SL rarely and drive about 7000km per year with it, but am glad that I have bought it (topless driving becomes an addiction very easily!).


The car is a bit dirty on this picture, but I will take better ones as soon as the temperature goes up again.

good luck with your SL & greetingz,

[elau]

Tony,
Mine is the same colour as yours, and mine is '95. I do not have any water leak at my A pillar. I, too can't wait till going topless. I am in Maryland, so I think I will have a couple of weeks lead time as far as temperature goes. Can you explain if installing Bilsteins will help to eliminate body roll? I find mine have more body roll than I would like. Maybe my OEM shocks and springs need replacing?

95 R129
98 W163

[DALE DORIA]

Hi Tony! I have a '97 Smoke Silver SL 320 and have not had any leaks to speak of. I live in N.J., ( the state seal with the BIG SCREW in it), and am anxious for the topless driving. I live at the shore and cruise the ocean road quite often...even in the winter. Your car really looks great-----just wait till you drop the top and off you go..I have owned Porsche's, 924 Turbo, 911 SC and a 911 Carrera Targa-Turbo Look with factory slant nose, and NOTHING compares to my SL. True, the Carrera was really fast and it really looked terrific, and it ends there. It became a money pit and was not nearly as user friendly as the SL. I'm sure you will be very pleased with your purchase, especially this time 4 months from now. Good luck with your car and visit our SL Forum.

I may be crazy, but I actually drive my 90 500 SL every day, to and from work, a total of 135 miles.....It's all open road between Harrisburg, PA and Frederick, MD, so I don't think that will be hard on it. It's just a pleasure, except in snow or ice......I'm hoping it lasts many thousands of miles......so far so good, at 90K and counting.

The only mod seems to have been after-market 5hole wheels, which were repainted just before i too delivery from a very reliable local shop which specializes in BMW and MB (not factory authorized, but also not factory-authorized prices!)

Once I take off the hard top, in a few weeks, i'm planning to replace the canvas......also have a local source who will install "German Canvas" for around $1500, i'm told!

[elau]

Wrotella,
Would like to hear more about your canvas project and how much it actually costs. I do not need to replace my canvas, but the plastic for the rear window has fogged up considerablly. I am looking to replace just that piece if there is anybody who does that kind of work.
135 miles commute is a long way, but remember the commercial MB had a couple of years ago showing a SL, and it read "Wish the commute is longer"? Well, guess you are the poster child for that commercial.

95 R129
98 W163

[DALE DORIA]

Hi! I too am interested in the canvas replacement. My canvas is in excellent condition, but would like the info for future use.

[MBenzNL]

You can renew the complete canvas or the rear part only. MB europe sells the rear part with the PLASTIC (I prefer the glass rear window in my W124 conv.) windows separately so you only need to renew the only part that suffers in time...

greetingz,

[elau]

MBenz,
That's good to know. Now I need to find out if that is available in the US of A. I would love to just change out the plastic pieces, espeically with MB OEM parts. Got to have those three-star stamp on the plastic.

95 R129
98 W163

[MBenzNL]

elau,

The back part replacement is not a replacement of the plastic pieces only. The separate back part is the rear half/third of the soft top (from the rear-top-of-frame down to the trunk and fenders) and comes with the plastic "windows".
My SL has been driven with hardtop only (at least that is what I guess). My plastic windows are completely blind and hardened out (one window even has a crack), so I looked around for the possibilities. I can have the rear part renewed at the dealer without having to renew the complete canvas.

greetingz,

Hi Tony,

I recently purchased a 1991 500SL and have had the hard top off since I brought it home - the joys of living on an Island in FL (I did put it on to drive up to Charlotte to see my girlfriend). Even on chilly days wear a sweater and use those seat heaters - it's great.
I plan a few upgrades...I want to replace the stock 15 hole wheels with somethiong a little less dated. I may put clear turn indicators on the front and have found a brighter bulb for the headlights. I really need to replace the front bumper assembly because the air dam has kissed a few curbs. I really like the AMG 'Sport' style on the newer SLs but they apparently mount differently. I have had mixed responses about whether a newer one can be mounted on the 1991 model. One service tech says it can with some bracket modifications another says it can't. It is an expensive item to purchase for it not to fit.
So far I am lucky, my top has a couple of worn spots where it folds. I had a '74 VW Ghia vert (it had been golfer Bobby Duval's -David's dad) - from experience, it is always worth the extra money to buy the best replacement top you can.
Love my car..I have a picture, but don't know how to post it.
Enjoy...Doug in Amelia Island, FL

[DALE DORIA]

Hey Doug! What kind of bulb are you changing to? I have a '97 SL and inquired about changing to the Xenon lights, and was told that this was not possible. HOWEVER, I was unaware that a brighter/different bulb could be changed? Thanks for the info and visiting the site.glad to see you aboard......Good luck with the new SL.....living in N.J., (YUCK), I am limited to topless driving.......but soon I shall be cruising the ocean road again.....

In response to the headlight question - J.C. Whitney has the 9004 (H/L beam) bulbs in 'Replacement, Diamond Blue, White, or Xenon' w/ three wattage options - 65/45w, 100/55w and 100/80w. I would imagine that w/ the 100/80w you would be a bit bright on the low beam side and you would get flashed a lot. I am ordering the Xenon 100/55w for $14.99 ea. They also have DOT approved HIB Blue Bulbs in 56/45w. Everything except the DOT approved ones seems to be labled 'off road use only', so in states that have inspections, they may not pass. They also have H-1 replacement bulbs (for my stock driving lights)in 55, 100 or 130watt (stock is 55w). These should really light up the road. This seems a good option instead of the mega-buck replacement HID's for my car.
Good Luck - Doug