How can I reduce wind noise in my SL (R129)?
 

Hi All,
I've got a 1997 SL500 with panorama glass roof and the only problem with the car is the wind noise at high speeds, and I'm just wondering if there are any tricks I can use to reduce it? I've been told to apply vaseling along the seals before securing the hard top to the car, but the main wind noise seems to come from the rear vertical edge of the windows which meet with the roof when the doors are closed. How can I reduce this wind noise?

I've read several reviews of the brand new SL500 and the biggest criticism it seems to attract is wind noise - obviously the Merc engineers are struggling with this one! Many thanks for any help in advance (ajr.carver@virgin.net)

John Carver

I've struggled with wind noise on a number of cars through the years...72 Fiat Spyder, 69 Corvette w/t-tops, 92 Jaguar XJS, and our 95 500SL.

Seems all (especially the pre-owned ones) had had some type of gunk applied to the mating areas to reduce wind noise...some more successful than others.

I just live with it unless it's a whistling sound...

Every car has it faults… I either slow down or turn the radio up!

Kind of... the wind noise in the R129 isn't that bad. We have a 1997 R129 and the noise isn't that high until about 200 km/h or so... :D :p

Try using the windscreen (need to get one?) and there is almost no noise at all with the hardtop, but wheres the fun in that (unless its really cold).

EDIT: Is it a shrill whistling noise? or just wind?

- Arju

hahaha, this is fun...owning a convertible and worying about wind noise...
I know what you mean though...the additional windnoise in my 1990 300SL is very noticeable (with the hardtop on) but I don't mind it at all.
I hardly ever drive the car with the hardtop (no fun in driving with the top on) but every now and then I get reminded of the little additional windnoise.

To be honest I rather keep the water outside the car as the windnoise and that is already difficult enough...it is just something that comes with the need to be able to drive topless around town.

greetingz,