AMG upgrade finished on my SL500 (pics)

[KenSilver]

My SL500 upgrade to a 2002 spec AMG Sport was finally completed last week. So, after many months of thinking about it, and several more getting it all together, my SL is looking good!

Here's what I've done:

- single body color
- 1999+ rear lenses
- hi-lite boot lid
- wood steering wheel
- 2-slot and lower door panels
- 1999+ external mirrors
- xenons
- clear corners
- 6-slot grill
- AMG 5 spoke staggered rims
- AMG Sports body

Ken Silver
--------------
~1993 SL500, glistening triple black, xenons, AMG facelift to 2002 style.
~1999 SLK 230 Kompressor, silver/black leather, CD, immaculate

[el Miguel]

Nice work Ken! A very sexy benz.
Mike

[Pete Geither]

Looks great Ken. It will only enhance your enjoyment of the car.

[KenSilver]

Thanks! My only regret was that I didn't take enough pictures of it before the changes. Here's one after the single color paint about a year ago.

Ken Silver
--------------
~1993 SL500, glistening triple black, xenons, AMG facelift to 2002 style.
~1999 SLK 230 Kompressor, silver/black leather, CD, immaculate

[LeaUK]

A Christmas and new year present all in one eh Ken - beautiful, what a great example.

[KenSilver]

Originally Posted by LeaUK

A Christmas and new year present all in one eh Ken - beautiful, what a great example.

Thanks!
One thing I do notice more with the new AMG setup - and particularly the wider wheels at the back which look far bigger than any picture shows - is the number of people trying to race me now.

Didn't happen under the old look... I guess the SL didn't look as aggressive then, and they just thought I was a benign old duffer.

But I'm up to it. I had a delightful incident a week back with a revving 650cc Kawasaki biker, leather gear and all, who was left a hundred feet behind me as we powered off head to head at the lights on a 2 lane motorway. He got a real surprise, I could tell, and had to lay down to catch up, and even then we were neck and neck at 1*0 km/hr (you fill in the speed--I don't want to incriminate any one ) before I slowed to avoid certain jail.

It was the first time I had this opportunity - and boy, that SL accelerates! It gave me a warm glow all the way home. Shades of my long-forgotten youth!

Ken Silver
--------------
~1993 SL500, glistening triple black, xenons, AMG facelift to 2002 style.
~1999 SLK 230 Kompressor, silver/black leather, CD, immaculate
~1999 Suzuki Grand Vitara. black & silver.
~1991 Jaguar Daimler, shiny grey/grey leather.
~ex 350SL, 230E, 280E, MX5 and a lot of other makes not nearly as nice.

[troyd]

Ken,

I don't know if you are interested or not but, I use to own a 93 300 SL that had a custom box that was made for it with 2-10"Sub in the area immediately behind the seats. Mines had the storage compartments behind the seats and I took the doors out and had the box installed with two amps installed in the trunk (I reused the amps and the Sub's in another vehicle). The color is grey. It really enhanced my system. I have it for sale if you would like to have it. I'll let it got reasonable, since I don't have a use for it anymore. I

Email me or reply back.

P.S. I know you don't need them, but I also have a set of 18" Lorenser wheels and tires that I took off the car before I sold it. I had them rechromed or redipped about 3 yrs ago in CA. They really look great. If you know of someone who might like to have them let me know. By the way, your car is AWESOME!

Troy

[leejxxxxx]

I like the way that looks, good job.

Did you use a later model steering wheel or aftermarket?

[KenSilver]

Originally Posted by troyd

Ken,

I don't know if you are interested or not but, I use to own a 93 300 SL that had a custom box that was made for it with 2-10"Sub in the area immediately behind the seats....By the way, your car is AWESOME!

Troy

Thanks Troy, but I'm not a sound freak. The only noise I want to hear when I drive is the wails of envy from each car as I pass them!

Ken Silver
--------------
~1993 SL500, glistening triple black, xenons, AMG facelift to 2002 style.
~1999 SLK 230 Kompressor, silver/black leather, CD, immaculate
~1999 Suzuki Grand Vitara. black & silver.
~1991 Jaguar Daimler, shiny grey/grey leather.
~ex 350SL, 230E, 280E, MX5 and a lot of other makes not nearly as nice.

[KenSilver]

Originally Posted by leejxxxxx

I like the way that looks, good job.
Did you use a later model steering wheel or aftermarket?

Thanks!
It is a genuine wheel from a 1999+ R129. Here's a pic.

Ken Silver
--------------
~1993 SL500, glistening triple black, xenons, AMG facelift to 2002 style.
~1999 SLK 230 Kompressor, silver/black leather, CD, immaculate

[onesixthree]

slick!

[bwheitman]

Ken,
When you changed out to a 99 Wheel did you have to replace the airbag computer? Reason I ask is someone tried to steal my airbags, tore up my steering wheel. I can't find another wheel for it because the 96-98 wheels are not very common. I found a 99 wheel, but the dealer recommends against it since they are unsure of the SRS connection with the newer bag. Of course a new wheel at the dealer with my MBCA discount is $865 and I can't go for that. Let me know about your experience with your SRS system. Thanks,
Brian

[KenSilver]

Originally Posted by bwheitman

Ken,
When you changed out to a 99 Wheel did you have to replace the airbag computer? Reason I ask is someone tried to steal my airbags, tore up my steering wheel. I can't find another wheel for it because the 96-98 wheels are not very common. I found a 99 wheel, but the dealer recommends against it since they are unsure of the SRS connection with the newer bag. Of course a new wheel at the dealer with my MBCA discount is $865 and I can't go for that. Let me know about your experience with your SRS system. Thanks,
Brian

Brian,
Sorry to hear of your misadventure. My local MB shop replaced my wheel, but made no mention of any complications. They're sticklers for protocol so it will have been done properly.

As far as I gather, it clicked in without much problem, so I guess the SRS side of things is correctly connected for the model years involved.

Hope that helps!

Ken Silver
--------------
~1993 SL500, glistening triple black, xenons, AMG facelift to 2002 style.
~1999 SLK 230 Kompressor, silver/black leather, CD, immaculate

[LINDS HANSON]

It just needs the SL60 type 2 piece wheels now, that bodykit was designed to cover these wider rims. With a colour coded black centre and polished rims they look amazing

[kknudson]

But your shop that's a "stickler for protocol" put the steering wheel on the wrong side :-}

No realy, looks really nice Ken.

I've been wanting to do wheels and tires, really like the look of your's can you give me some more detail.

Exactly which wheels did you get, I notice tire rack has two that look the same.

What size tires, and what type ?