Author Topic: SL Revalations  (Read 16592 times)

Furrari

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Re: SL Revalations
« Reply #15 on: September 24, 2014, 07:57:33 AM »
Wednesdays Revelation.

As you would expect for a luxury car the SL is fitted with heated screen wash nozzles.  But these only stop the nozzles freezing rather than warm the wash water.  Warm water washes better than cold so the SL has a feed from the engine cooling system passing through the wash water bottle.  This bottle supplies water for the headlight wash as well as the screen.  So after you've been driving for a few minutes you have warm water to wash away those flys on the screen and the lights.

This carries over to the West Coast

More revelations at the end of the week.

Join the West Coast crew.

M
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Paul79

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Re: SL Revalations
« Reply #16 on: September 24, 2014, 08:53:15 AM »
These do make me smile Mick. Keep them coming  ;D

Furrari

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Re: SL Revalations
« Reply #17 on: September 24, 2014, 09:17:59 AM »
Thanks Paul.
Nothing to do with builds.  Just features on the SL that might be interesting to anybody thinking about a West Coast ( or even just an SL).  Easier than wadeing through a couple of 1/2" thick manuals, most of which is obvious.
Problem is I'm running out of revelations.
« Last Edit: September 24, 2014, 05:35:47 PM by Furrari »
Not all problems can be solved with gaffer tape.  For those there is WD40.
Not even gaffer tape can fix stupid, but it can mask the sound.

If you can’t buy it or steal it you have to make it.

beemaman

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Re: SL Revalations
« Reply #18 on: September 24, 2014, 10:24:45 AM »
also the sl has the capability of transforming into a west coast in a blink of an eye :)

Furrari

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Re: SL Revalations
« Reply #19 on: September 24, 2014, 05:34:56 PM »
Wayne.
That is not a standard feature of an SL, so it doesn't count.
M
Not all problems can be solved with gaffer tape.  For those there is WD40.
Not even gaffer tape can fix stupid, but it can mask the sound.

If you can’t buy it or steal it you have to make it.

Furrari

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Re: SL Revalations
« Reply #20 on: September 26, 2014, 08:46:52 AM »
Fridays Revelation.

Don't you hate it when people slam your boot lid, and nearly blowing you out of the car if you've got a hatch back.  While the SL is not designed to be gorilla proof but it does have one or two nice feature.
Gently close the boot (trunk in the colonies) and press it down.  A cam action takes over and gently closes the boot with a click.

Because the West Coast uses the original boot lid with an over skin it retains the original boot lid closing mechanism.

The soft close is carried over to the West Coast.

More Revelations next week.

Join the West Coast crew.

Mick
« Last Edit: September 26, 2014, 10:24:34 AM by Furrari »
Not all problems can be solved with gaffer tape.  For those there is WD40.
Not even gaffer tape can fix stupid, but it can mask the sound.

If you can’t buy it or steal it you have to make it.

Phils99

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Re: SL Revalations
« Reply #21 on: September 26, 2014, 10:07:58 AM »
Second Friday revelation

When you go into Mercedes and buy your SL500, they ask you what colour you would like, if you say RED please, they say no problem, this carries over to the West Coast

If you say yellow, then its not available (according to their web site) - this DOESN'T carry over to the West Coast  ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
What colour should a Ferrari be?...ROSSO of course!

Furrari

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Re: SL Revalations
« Reply #22 on: September 26, 2014, 10:27:40 AM »
Phil.
My SLK is yellow.  This colour (I think it's called Jellystone yellow) is not shown in the MB catalogue but is available to very special order.  From what I've seen with our local MB dealership they probably don't know it exists.
Mick
Not all problems can be solved with gaffer tape.  For those there is WD40.
Not even gaffer tape can fix stupid, but it can mask the sound.

If you can’t buy it or steal it you have to make it.

Furrari

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Re: SL Revalations
« Reply #23 on: September 29, 2014, 08:39:52 AM »
Mondays Revelation.

Have you noticed some open topped cars have a roll bar or roll hoops behind the occupants and the SL hasn't.  So do you get a flat head if it falls over.  No folks, don't panic.  Below the roof control is a switch to raise and lower the roll bar.
That's not much use if you inadvertently see if the SL can drive on the roof of a tunnel.
Merc have thought of that.  If the car senses that you are about to loop the loop it will raise the roll bar in .30 of a second.

This carries over to the West Coast.

More Revelations later in the week.

Join the West Coast crew

Mick.

PS. I know I could have photoed this bit but the car's at DNA.
Not all problems can be solved with gaffer tape.  For those there is WD40.
Not even gaffer tape can fix stupid, but it can mask the sound.

If you can’t buy it or steal it you have to make it.

Furrari

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Re: SL Revalations
« Reply #24 on: October 01, 2014, 04:35:21 PM »
Wednesdays Revelation

It's quite common for kit cars to run a different ride high to the donor to suit the look of the new body.
Like most other production cars the static (standard) ride height is set by the manufactures.  DNA make it adjustable by replacing the standard (fixed length) link with an adjustable one.

So if it's a bit DNA do it shouldn't be on this thread.

There's the SL bit.  As JJ has already commented on a different thread, there is a button on the centre consol that with press of a finger will raise the car by about an inch, and if you press it again it lifts another inch.  A third press will reset the car to the standard ride height.  This allows the West Coast to run a lowish ride height and lift up for an area with speed humps.

Why did I say lowish?  'Cos at motorway speeds the front of the SL squats about 20mm at the front to reduce drag.

All of this lot carries across to the West Coast.

More revelations at the end of the week.

Join the West Coast crew

Mick.
Not all problems can be solved with gaffer tape.  For those there is WD40.
Not even gaffer tape can fix stupid, but it can mask the sound.

If you can’t buy it or steal it you have to make it.

Furrari

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Re: SL Revalations
« Reply #25 on: October 04, 2014, 08:07:27 PM »
Saterdays Revelations

I can't believe I missed the keyless go feature.  This was an option on the SL.  There are two types, more or less the same.  One uses just the key fob and the other the key fob or a key card which can fit in a wallet.  Both work the same.  There are three zones, one about two meters away from each door and the third two meters from the boot.  On the SL all you do is walk up to the door.  Grip the door handle. Pause for half a second and then open the door.  This bit stays more or less on the West Coast, but you need to release the door handle and then you can open the door.  
Locking is slightly different.  On the SL there is a button on the handle to press to lock the car.  Because the handle design is so different the lock button on the West Coast is on the black triangular bit at the front of the door.  Press to lock.  Once the door is locked it stays locked until it's unlocked and when it's unlocked it's unlocked until it's locked.
The boot is slightly different.  It unlocks itself when you tru to open it and locks itself again when it (soft. ) closes.
Wether or not you have keyless go you can unlock and unlock the doors with the key fob ( don't know about the boot)
You can also unlock the the boot with the key built into the key.
If you don't have keyless go you start the car with the ignition key.  If you have keyless go you can start the car with the key or with the start/stop button on top of the gear lever.
Not all problems can be solved with gaffer tape.  For those there is WD40.
Not even gaffer tape can fix stupid, but it can mask the sound.

If you can’t buy it or steal it you have to make it.

Furrari

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Re: SL Revalations
« Reply #26 on: October 08, 2014, 09:56:32 AM »
I think it's an age thing.  I missed a bit about the keyless-go.
As part of the boot furniture (the lights under the lip, just above the number plate.) is a button.  Press this and when you shut the boot lid ( if the key fob is not in the car) it locks all the doors, as well as the boot lid.

This is carried over to the West Coast.

Fridays Revelation will be about a little known (not a lot of people know that) aspect of the SL performance.

Mick
Not all problems can be solved with gaffer tape.  For those there is WD40.
Not even gaffer tape can fix stupid, but it can mask the sound.

If you can’t buy it or steal it you have to make it.

Furrari

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Re: SL Revalations
« Reply #27 on: October 09, 2014, 11:29:07 PM »
Fridays Revelation
My Ferrari is quicker than your SL.. Err no.

The standard SL is limited (electronically) to 155 mph.  This limit is a speed agreed between Merc, BMW & Audi to prevent a costly battle to see who car was quickest, a pointless speed because you can't do it on the road.
You can, however have your SL chipped (about 25 to 30 bhp), the speed limiter removed and another 500 rpm added before the red line.
The California can touch 197 mph.  The SL, after the above will be one mph quicker at 198 mph.

The power transfers across to the West Coast.  As for the top speed, if anybody reaches it let us know.

Don't know how much of this apply to the 55 but I think the limited and top speeds are the same as it's revs not power limited.  It just gets there a lot quicker.

Join the West Coast crew.

Mick
« Last Edit: October 09, 2014, 11:32:07 PM by Furrari »
Not all problems can be solved with gaffer tape.  For those there is WD40.
Not even gaffer tape can fix stupid, but it can mask the sound.

If you can’t buy it or steal it you have to make it.

Furrari

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Re: SL Revalations
« Reply #28 on: October 13, 2014, 10:34:56 AM »
Happy Monday folks.

Today's Revelation is not realy just the SL500 but how it works with the West Coast.

The 360 and 430 are based on the MR2.  As the MR2 has a 4 bolt wheel and the 360/430 uses uses a five bolt wheel you can't use the MR2 spare wheel (sorry, no idea on the cougar based range).

The SL500 has a 17" space saver spare.  DNA are fitting 19"/20" wheels to the SL500 based West Coast.  The SL500 space saver will fit the West Coast.  :)  Ride height is not a problem cos the SL is self levelling.

Having once had an MG Metro with alloys and having had a puncture on the Small Brook Ringway  and had the wheel stick on the hub I'm glad to say that the new wheels will have a plastic spigot adaptor so it won't stick.  Still carry a bottle of tyre fizz cos it's quicker and easier but it's nice to have the backup.

So it's not a Revelation today but another fact to consider when deciding to have a West Coast; it's a GT not a sports car.

Here endeth today's lesson.  More Revelations later in the week

Join the West Coast crew.

Mick
Not all problems can be solved with gaffer tape.  For those there is WD40.
Not even gaffer tape can fix stupid, but it can mask the sound.

If you can’t buy it or steal it you have to make it.

Furrari

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Re: SL Revalations
« Reply #29 on: October 17, 2014, 11:21:29 AM »
SL Revelations was intended to be informative with a hit of humour.  This seem inappropriate this week with the loss of one of our own.  Lady Sue Beany.

If you have god(s) please remember Chris and Sue in your prayers and in your thoughts if you don't.

For those of you who didn't know Sue here's a little story.
Chris was going to place his order for his 430 kit, with his birthday coming up Sue placed the order with DNA.  Roland must of had a terrible time not taking an order off Chris without giving the game away.

Remembering you Sue.
Not all problems can be solved with gaffer tape.  For those there is WD40.
Not even gaffer tape can fix stupid, but it can mask the sound.

If you can’t buy it or steal it you have to make it.