Discussion
475 miles round trip today to collect new car for wife
Probably the most comfortable, relaxing, accommodating car I've ever had in 49 years.
Few niggles:
Apparently one rear light works intermittently
I temporarily lost volume on the player
CDs in the 6 stacker start off great but by half way through the sound seems like they are playing under water.
Some shimmying on anything but super smooth roads which I'm blaming on old, oversize 18" staggered tyres
While it doesn't have the in yer face appeal and grunt of the TVR that I was going to replace with the SL, I don't think I could have done the trip and got out the car so unstressed.
Sadly, the TVR is still for sale with little interest and we seem to be collecting convertibles at the moment what with the Caterham and wifes' new car....
Need to shift something soon as we are starting to resemble a dealers forecourt!
Update:
Back lights sorted, the bulb holder had become unclipped and was swinging on the hinge.
Wouldn't have noticed if wife hadn't been following. Wish every repair was as straightforward.
Probably the most comfortable, relaxing, accommodating car I've ever had in 49 years.
Few niggles:
Apparently one rear light works intermittently
I temporarily lost volume on the player
CDs in the 6 stacker start off great but by half way through the sound seems like they are playing under water.
Some shimmying on anything but super smooth roads which I'm blaming on old, oversize 18" staggered tyres
While it doesn't have the in yer face appeal and grunt of the TVR that I was going to replace with the SL, I don't think I could have done the trip and got out the car so unstressed.
Sadly, the TVR is still for sale with little interest and we seem to be collecting convertibles at the moment what with the Caterham and wifes' new car....
Need to shift something soon as we are starting to resemble a dealers forecourt!
Update:
Back lights sorted, the bulb holder had become unclipped and was swinging on the hinge.
Wouldn't have noticed if wife hadn't been following. Wish every repair was as straightforward.
Edited by Skyedriver on Friday 18th October 10:43
Edited by Skyedriver on Friday 18th October 20:17
I binned the CD changer, didn't work properly and took up valuable and useful boot space. Horror of horrars I fitted a mechless head unit, my music is now on a USB.
The shimmy thing effects loads of r129s. I did the following, each thing improved the feel a little, it all adds up, now acceptable.
16" wheels with new tyres, new shocks, shock mounts, control arms, arb rubbers, steering damper, full alignment.
For perfection i think I'd also need to replace the steering linkages.
They seem pretty sensitive to tyre pressures. I stick to the lower side, feels better and suits my driving style.
The shimmy thing effects loads of r129s. I did the following, each thing improved the feel a little, it all adds up, now acceptable.
16" wheels with new tyres, new shocks, shock mounts, control arms, arb rubbers, steering damper, full alignment.
For perfection i think I'd also need to replace the steering linkages.
They seem pretty sensitive to tyre pressures. I stick to the lower side, feels better and suits my driving style.
Thanks Ray
I'm guessing that most if not all the bushes are original, so while low mileage they will have lost any compliance
Error on wheel size. staggered but front and back all 18".
Pulled the CD changer apart, the sliders were a little tight and the screw thread had some muck on it, Cleaned that no difference, blew it all threw with an air line, it slid off the bench, half caught it before it eventually hit the ground.
Anyone know how to retrieve 6 CDs from a non functioning stacker......
Have thought about changing the set up as I don't have any cassettes anymore...shame as the original head unit seems OK
I'm guessing that most if not all the bushes are original, so while low mileage they will have lost any compliance
Error on wheel size. staggered but front and back all 18".
Pulled the CD changer apart, the sliders were a little tight and the screw thread had some muck on it, Cleaned that no difference, blew it all threw with an air line, it slid off the bench, half caught it before it eventually hit the ground.
Anyone know how to retrieve 6 CDs from a non functioning stacker......
Have thought about changing the set up as I don't have any cassettes anymore...shame as the original head unit seems OK
Further dismantling, reveals muck and some rust!
Working again but still only playing about two thirds of a CD before breaking up.
Guessing either the disc or the head are out of true and as the disc moves away from the head it slowly stops reading correctly.
They are a really clever bit of kit when you pull them apart.
Working again but still only playing about two thirds of a CD before breaking up.
Guessing either the disc or the head are out of true and as the disc moves away from the head it slowly stops reading correctly.
They are a really clever bit of kit when you pull them apart.
I used to have a SL600 R129 and just replacing all the rubber in the suspension and fitting new quality tyres made a noticeable improvement to the ride quality. Many of the rubber bushes had no springiness left, they were just hard and lacked any squish and some had bits torn and hanging off.
PositronicRay said:
Anything rubbery or ball jointy is suspect, don't rely on the mot, check yourself.
The design is such that the ball joints are difficult to check, I only discovered mine were shot whilst changing the shocks.
Also check the drive shaft flex discs, particularly the front one.
I was never happy with the suspension and handling of my R129,so I took it to our local Mercedes Indy. They replaced both lower ball joints,steering idler,steering damper,etc.Then,the most important job, adjusted ALL the geometry settings. It cost quite a bit,but it was well worth it,it drove like a different car.The design is such that the ball joints are difficult to check, I only discovered mine were shot whilst changing the shocks.
Also check the drive shaft flex discs, particularly the front one.
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