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Mercedes-Benz SL R129 300 SL-24 (231 Hp)
Overall Rating
Mercedes-Benz SL:
The Mercedes-Benz SL-Class is a grand touring sports car manufactured by Mercedes-Benz since 1954. The designation "SL" derives from the German term "Sport-Leicht", which translates to "Sport Light" in English.
Initially, the first 300 SL was a racing sports car built in 1952 with no intention of developing a street version. In 1954, an American importer Max Hoffman suggested the street version of 300 SL for the wealthy performance car enthusiasts in the United States where the market for the personal luxury car was booming after the Second World War....(Read more on Wikipedia)
R129 Overview:
Mercedes-Benz SL (R129). With 272 Nm of torque, it offers ample pulling power. With a weight of 1715 kg, it falls in the mid‑range. Rear‑wheel drive offers dynamic handling and sporty feedback. Acceleration is good (0–100 km/h in 8.4 s). The top speed reaches 240 km/h. A two-seater convertible designed for open-top driving pleasure. Seating for 2 makes it ideal for daily use.
The R129 generation predates Euro NCAP testing. While featuring robust construction and early safety features like ABS and airbags, it lacks modern active safety systems.
300 SL-24 (231 Hp) Verdict:
Performance Verdict
A lively engine offering strong, rev-happy performance, especially engaging if paired with a manual transmission (if available for this trim).
Fuel Economy
Moderate fuel consumption, a fair trade-off for its more spirited performance compared to the base 300 SL.
Pros and Cons:
Pros:
- • Timeless, elegant design
- • Robust build quality and luxurious interior
- • Wide range of powerful and refined engines
- • Comfortable ride, ideal for grand touring
- • Retractable hardtop adds versatility
Cons:
- • High running and maintenance costs, especially for V8/V12 models
- • Complex electronics can be problematic with age
- • Heavy vehicle, impacting agility compared to pure sports cars
- • Fuel economy is poor by modern standards
- • Limited rear storage space
Specifications:
Specifications are compared to those of the previous generation(R107, facelift 1985: July, 1985 - August, 1989).
| General: | |
|---|---|
| Brand: | Mercedes-Benz |
| Model: | SL |
| Generation: | R129 |
| Modification (Engine): | 300 SL-24 (231 Hp) |
| Start of production: | July, 1988 |
| End of production: | June, 1993 |
| Powertrain Architecture: | Internal Combustion engine |
| Body type: | Roadster |
| Seats: | 2 |
| Doors: | 2 |
| Engine: | |
|---|---|
| Power: | 231 Hp @ 6300 rpm. Same horsepower |
| Power per litre: | 78 Hp/l [80mm more] |
| Torque: | 272 Nm @ 4600 rpm. |
| Engine Model/Code: | M 104 E 30/2 / 104.981 More details about the engine M 104 E 30/2 / 104.981 |
| Engine displacement: | 2960 |
| Number of cylinders: | 6 |
| Engine configuration: | Inline |
| Number of valves per cylinder: | 4 |
| Fuel injection system: | Multi-port manifold injection |
| Engine aspiration: | Naturally aspirated engine |
| Valvetrain: | DOHC |
| Engine oil capacity: | 7.5 l |
| Coolant: | 11.5 l |
| Engine layout: | Front, Longitudinal |
| Cylinder Bore: | 88.5 mm mm |
| Piston Stroke: | 80.2 mm mm |
| Compression ratio: | 10:1 |
| Performance: | |
|---|---|
| Fuel Type: | Petrol (Gasoline) |
| Fuel consumption (economy) - urban: | 16.2 l/100 km |
| Fuel consumption (economy) - extra urban: | 8.8 l/100 km |
| Acceleration 0 - 100 km/h: | 8.4 sec |
| Acceleration 0 - 62 mph: | 8.4 sec |
| Maximum speed: | 240 km/h |
| Weight-to-power ratio: | 7.3 kg/Hp, 136.7 Hp/tonne |
| Weight-to-torque ratio: | 6.2 kg/Nm, 160.9 Nm/tonne |
| Acceleration 0 - 60 mph: | 8 sec |
| Space: | |
|---|---|
| Kerb Weight: | 1690-1740 |
| Max. weight: | 2130 |
| Max load: | 390-440 |
| Fuel tank capacity: | 80 l |
| Size: | |
|---|---|
| Length: | 4470 mm mm [80mm more] |
| Width: | 1812 mm mm [22mm more] |
| Height: | 1303 mm mm [4mm less] |
| Wheelbase: | 2515 mm mm [60mm more] |
| Front track: | 1535 mm |
| Rear (Back) track: | 1523 mm |
| Powertrain: | |
|---|---|
| Drivetrain Architecture | The Internal combustion engine (ICE) drives the rear wheels of the vehicle. |
| Drive wheel | Rear wheel drive |
| Number of gears | 5 |
| Transmission type | Manual |
| Front brakes | Ventilated discs [Best for performance and cooling.] |
| Rear brakes | Disc |
| Assisting systems | ABS (Anti-lock braking system) |
| Steering type | Cone worm with recirculation balls |
| Power steering | Hydraulic Steering |
| Tires size | 225/55 R16 |
| Wheel rims size | 8J x 16 |
| Front suspension | Wishbone, Transverse stabilizer |
| Rear suspension | Independent multi-link spring suspension with stabilizer |
If you could change one thing about the Mercedes-Benz SL, what would it be?