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(from Daimler Press
Release) 1989: The Mercedes-Benz SL R 129 model series is
unveiled
-- The fourth
generation of an exceptional sports car tradition
-- World premiere for the automatic roll-over bar
-- The legendary 300 SL model designation lives on
Modern, elegant, dynamic
and yet clearly part of a great tradition: the SL Roadster from
Mercedes-Benz was one of the biggest sensations at the Geneva Motor
Show in March 1989. This sports car (model series R 129) first
appeared in the 300 SL, 300 SL-24 and 500 SL variants, with several
models being added in subsequent years through to the SL 73 AMG in
1999. The R 129 was the fourth generation of the SL-Class since the
legendary gull-wing Mercedes-Benz 300 SL of the 1950s. In 2001, the
129 model series was replaced by the 230 series.
The SL models in the 129
series featured compelling technical innovations and a good balance
between classic elements and new design. However, this generation of
sports car also involved two changes to the SL tradition: firstly,
the SL was built in Bremen rather than Sindelfingen and secondly,
the Mercedes-Benz nomenclature was revised while the R 129 was being
produced. In the summer of 1993, the Stuttgart-based brand adapted
the model designations for its open-top sports cars to the
nomenclature initially introduced for the C-Class and used up to the
present day. From then on, the legendary abbreviation "SL" would
appear in front of the three-digit number that indicates engine
displacement. The 300 SL thus became the SL 300, making the 300 SL
from the 129 model series the last Mercedes-Benz sports car for the
time being to bear this legendary model designation.
The automatic roll-over bar is
debuted
Harmony was the hallmark
of the modern new design elements that were introduced. Although
dispensing with the traditional chrome surround around the SL
radiator grille, with its fluid wedge shape the R 129 clearly
followed in the tradition of its predecessors. Elegant design was
backed by the concept of an automatic roll-over bar which only
deploys in an emergency. Normally, it was not possible to see the
protective structure when the car was being driven with the top
down. If there was a danger of overturning, however, a sensor
released the locking mechanism on the bar by electromagnetic means
and the integral support rose in just 0.3 seconds. The driver could
also deploy the bar hydraulically as required. The automatic
roll-over bar in this form on the R 129 was an international first
in automotive engineering.
In addition to the
roll-over bar, the windscreen A-pillars made of high-strength steel,
the twin-shell front roof frame and bonding the windscreen to the
vehicle body contributed to a very high standard of safety on a par
with that of the Mercedes-Benz saloons and coupés. The engineers
achieved a high level of stability in the open-top sports car's
passenger compartment by making the floor assembly particularly
rigid using high-strength sheets and large cross-members, as well as
creating transitions that were resistant to bending from the
A-pillars and rear side elements to the side longitudinal members.
Thanks to the special design of the beading on the inside, the doors
also acted as an impact-resistant connection between the front wall
and centre pillars. The engineers developed the front-end concept on
saloons further for the SL vehicle body in order to ensure maximum
safety in the event of an offset frontal impact.
High standards of safety and
comfort
The developers placed
just as much emphasis on passenger comfort as on safety. One aspect
encompassing both these areas was the new integral seats featuring
excellent ergonomics for relaxed travel on long journeys. Due to
their load-bearing structure and high transverse rigidity, they also
offered enhanced protection in the event of a side impact. The
load-bearing seat frame consisted of five die-cast magnesium parts
and included the seat belt system with belt tensioner, seat belt
height adjustment coupled to headrest adjustment, plus fully
electric adjustment.
The new electrohydraulic
soft top offered great convenience: it opened or closed within 30
seconds at the touch of a switch. When the top was down, another
innovation came into play: the draught-stop, a screen which lets air
through and can be attached to the roll-over bar in a flash, thereby
minimising wind noise and draughts. As standard, the new SL models
had electric windows and electropneumatic central locking. Electric
steering column adjustment was initially restricted to the 500 SL.
A roadster featuring the torsional
strength of a saloon
The roadster's ride
comfort was improved by installing additional diagonal struts and
other reinforcements which optimised the vibration and torsional
characteristics typical of open-top vehicles. The engineers'
expertise paid off and the torsional strength of the new roadster
was 30 percent more than that of the preceding model and now
equivalent to that of a saloon.
The chassis with damper
strut front suspension and multi-link independent rear suspension
was of the same basic design as that of the W 201 compact-series
models and the executive-size W 124 series models. Numerous
components were adapted specifically for the roadster, as was the
axle configuration. A new auxiliary system became available as an
option, representing state-of-the-art chassis technology. The three
subsystems included level adjustment and control on the front and
rear axles, automatic speed-dependent level control and the ADS
adaptive damping system. The SL models came as standard with 16-inch
alloy wheels and – as you would expect from a sports car –
generously-sized brakes. For the first time, disc brakes with fixed
callipers were fitted in a Mercedes-Benz passenger car with the two
pairs of pistons having different diameters. The ABS anti-lock
braking system was also standard equipment.
1989: Mercedes-Benz 300 SL extends
the model range
The entry model in 1989
was the three-litre variant of the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL featuring
the M 103 six-cylinder in-line engine (140 kW/190 hp at 5700 rpm,
top speed 228 km/h). Four valves per cylinder gave the 300 SL-24 the
same level of displacement but significantly more power courtesy of
its new M 104 engine (170 kW/231 hp at 6300 rpm, maximum speed 240
km/h). The top-of-the-line model was the 500 SL with its M 119 V8
engine (240 kW/326 hp at 5500 rpm). The top speed of this vehicle,
which when debuted was the most powerful Mercedes-Benz passenger car
available, was limited to 250 km/h. A new top-of-the-line model was
unveiled in 1992 in the shape of the 600 SL (subsequently the SL
600; 290 kW/394 hp at 5200 rpm). In 1993, the two three-litre models
were replaced by the new SL 280 (142 kW/193 hp at 5500 rpm) and SL
320 (170 kW/231 hp at 5600 rpm), while AMG unveiled the SL 60 AMG
(280 kW/381 hp at 5500 rpm).
In 1995, Mercedes-Benz
presented the facelifted SL models at the IAA International Motor
Show. The facelift involved new design features, more comprehensive
standard equipment and enhanced technology. One new feature was the
headlamps with xenon gas-discharge lamps, which were introduced on
the E-Class (model series 210) just a few months earlier and were
now also available on the SL-Class. Mercedes-Benz provided a new
cruise control system for speed 30 zones as standard on the
roadster. In September 1995, the SL 500 and SL 600 were given a new
five-speed automatic transmission with torque converter lock-up
clutch. The engine specialists also improved fuel consumption and
emissions further. The Electronic Stability Program ESP® was
available as an option on the facelifted SL 500, but came as
standard on the twelve-cylinder SL 600 model. Brake Assist (BAS), a
world premiere for active safety, was installed as standard on all
129 series models from December 1996.
1998: New engines for the R 129
The 129 model series
received another facelift in spring 1998 which included a new range
of engines and restrained changes to the design. A new generation of
V6 and V8 engines replaced the existing units on the SL 280, SL 320
and SL 500 models. The engines featured three-valve technology and
dual ignition, consuming up to ten percent less fuel than their
predecessors while also generating fewer emissions. Their power
output ranged from 150 kW (204 hp) for the SL 280 and 165 kW (224
hp) for the SL 320 up to 225 kW (306 hp) for the SL 500. The SL 60
AMG was discontinued as part of this facelift and was replaced in
1999 by the new top-of-the-line SL 55 AMG (V8 engine developing 260
kW/354 hp) and SL 73 AMG (V12 engine developing 386 kW/525 hp).
In July 2001, the final
roadster in the R 129 model series rolled off the line at the Bremen
plant. In total, Mercedes-Benz built 204,940 of the
fourth-generation SL. The most successful model was the 500 SL/SL
500 with its four-valve M 119 V8 engine. Between the market launch
and the year 1998, a total of 79,827 cars of this model were built.
