Mercedes-Benz R 129
Mercedes -Benz 500SL ( 1989-1995 )
The Mercedes -Benz R 129 is a roadster. The two-seater sports car is part of the SL series from Mercedes -Benz.
The Mercedes R 129 was produced as a successor to the R 107 from 1989 to 2001. He was replaced by the R 230 2001. During the long construction period of the series, Mercedes nomenclature was changed so that the early copies were ( with hintenangestelltem SL, for example, 500 SL) sold as the SL model. As of 1993, the class designations were introduced and the R 129 was the SL-Class (preceded by SL, eg SL 500).
Technology
The R 129 uses for an independent and shorter, but for stability reasons, not a lighter body mainly the driving technique of each parallel -built Mercedes -Benz S-Class. In the model, the R 129 was initially the W 140 and when it expires, his successor W 220 Since the construction of the SL models typically (even when R 129 ) is considerably longer ranges than the corresponding S-Class sedans, there was also the R 129 a model transition with partial AC drive technology. There was a marked case of the transition from the classical four-valve in-line six cylinders to the new three-valve V6 engines that produce much cheaper and safer in the frontal impact. Even with the eight-cylinder was changed from four- to three- valve technology.
Innovations
With the R 129, an automatic roll bar was used for the first time, sets sail in the event of a rollover within 0.3 seconds. Another safety feature comes from the A-pillars which are substantially kink-resistant in the event of a rollover. New were the integral seats where the seat belt and headrest are integrated into the seat. They offer much better lateral support than the seats used until then. As of September 1989, a five-speed automatic transmission was available for the 300 SL -24. For the eight-cylinder the narrow gear sets were not yet stable enough at this time.
The delivery of the vehicle has a hardtop that could be canceled one year after the start of production for a short time at a nominal charge and which in winter mode protects the fabric roof. As an accessory, a panoramic hardtop was available from the first facelift, which enabled a certain " convertible feeling " in the winter months.
Facelift
- Redesigned front and rear bumpers
- Colorless glass covers on the front direction indicators
- Subtly modified radiator grille, now with six instead of seven lamellae
- Side wall panels and bumpers no longer in contrast but in body color
- Apparent red, bichromatic tail lights
- New alloy wheels in 12- hole design
- Door panels, steering wheel and seat design slightly modified
- New 5- speed automatic transmission for SL 500 and SL 600
- Modified V12 and 5.0 -liter V8 engine
- Electronic Stability Program (ESP ) ( series only in the SL 600)
- Aluminum hardtop with glass roof and roller blind (option)
- Xenon headlights (option)
- From June 1996 new automatic transmission for SL 280 and SL 320
- New V6 and V8 engines with three -valve technology
- New, oval exhaust tailpipes
- Mirrors in the SLK design
- Newly designed rear lights
- Painted door handles and Exterior trim in body color
- Revised and larger brakes at the front with newly designed five-hole - light-alloy wheels and tires in size 245/45 ZR 17
- From June 1998: SL 60 AMG no longer available
Motors
In R 129 six, eight and twelve cylinders were made throughout. Initially, the models 300 SL, 300 SL -24 and SL 500 were in the price lists. As of 1992, the first twelve-cylinder engine in the SL, the 600 SL (later SL 600) was then available. Gradually the SL got the more modern V6 and V8 engines from the S-Class. These had dual ignition and three valves per cylinder.
Pictures
Rear view
Dashboard of the 500 SL ( 1989-1995 )
Interior of the 500 SL ( 1989-1995 )
Jump seats with horizontal roll bar of the 500 SL ( 1989-1995 )
Mercedes -Benz SL (1995-1998)
Mercedes -Benz SL (1998-2001)
Specifications
* The engine designation is encrypted as follows: M = motor, OM = oil motor, series = 3 digits, E = manifold injection, KE = port injection, DE = direct injection, ML = compressor, L = intercooler, A = exhaust gas turbocharger, red. = Reduced (r ) Power / Displacement, CB = increase
AMG models
Number default, only a small role played by the AMG versions. From 1993, offered the AMG SL 60 AMG with aufgebohrtem to six liters M 119 eight-cylinder. He stood until 1998, officially entered the Mercedes- cost price lists and in its last year of production about 220.000 DM with the then appearing facelift of the series, he dropped out of the program.
Building on the SL 280 AMG developed in 1995, the SL 36 AMG with 3.6 -liter six- cylinder engine (M 104 E 36 ) and 200 kW (272 hp). This car has been Helmut Werner, the former CEO of Mercedes -Benz AG, to the winner of the Stuttgart Mercedes Cup ( Thomas Muster ) passed. This vehicle is a one-off.
Mid-1990s there was for a short time the 600 SL 6.0 AMG, the SL 70 AMG and the SL 73 AMG twelve-cylinder engines. After short break, These cars were from 1998 to 2001 again available, although never officially in the price lists of Mercedes -Benz. They ran at Mercedes SL 600 with AMG as a styling package and AMG wheels from the tape and were then rebuilt at AMG in Affalterbach. In addition to the displacement increase to 7.0 or 7.3 liter or the cylinder head tuning the 6.0 Liter including other fine motor measures the drive shafts were modified and the braking system to meet the higher power. The ADS chassis of the model output was maintained even gearbox and differential translation remained the same. This technique packages cost then 81657.04 DM (SL 70 AMG ) or 99 180 DM in the SL 73 AMG ( from AMG Manufaktur price list 04 /1999), in addition to the basic price of at least 240,000 DM for the SL 600 with AMG styling package and AMG wheels. The AMG mainly made on behalf of Japan Inc. AMG SL600 6.0 (Motor Plate 120981 with 324 kW/600 Nm ) cost 1993 yen 24,300,000, representing approximately 300,000 DM or a surcharge of around 60,000 DM.
Also in 1999 presented the SL 55 AMG was a factory product, which is not officially released in the price lists of Mercedes -Benz. The SL 55 AMG drives at the same capacity- modified 5.4 -liter V8, which also in the E 55 AMG ( 210 series ) was installed. The price of the technology package ( client supplies at SL 500 with AMG styling package and AMG wheels) amounted to 37 120 DM
Special models
Numbers
- SL 280: 12,319
- SL 300: 39 004
- SL 320: 39,293
- SL 500: 94 048
- SL 600: 11,089
- SL 55 AMG: 65
- SL 60 AMG: 633
- SL 70 AMG: 150
- SL 73 AMG: 42
- SL 36 AMG: 1 ( Custom Built by AMG for the winner of the Tennis Tournament Mercedes Cup Stuttgart 1995)
Overall, Mercedes -Benz produced in 13 years 204 940 vehicles of the type R 129