[R129 SL] SL 500 drinks more than owner

[Jan Kuylaars]

Hi list, I downloaded all the mail from the last three jeers, and had 2
months off reading.
So I know Satish, clif (ton) Richard (son) UK , Daneal schilmeister US,
Gordon lamm China, George Simpson out the French Champagne , Becky , Cinthya
Carr and so on.
Now I am filtering all the mail, so that I can make a document with inputs
from our members on different issue’s and problems.
I also have downloaded the original sales and technical introduction booklet
from MB 1989 from MB 129 classic page from Germany.
Together with your comment and the things I discovered (110 small problems)
before I hade an excellent 500 SL, gives a small
Workshop manual, what I, off course, will share with you, when it’s ready.

I am very happy now with my 1989 R129 500 SL, (1750 Kg) but one off the
things a want to know, is de average mileages your cars drives on a gallon
 Gasoline. I use normal gasoline with octane 95. The gasoline costs in
Holland now 5.6 $ a gallon (4.5 litre) or 1.2 Euro/litre and I drive a
average
Of 14 miles on a gallon in the city. (Dutch standards 5 Km on 1 litre, or 20
litres for 100 Km) On the Highway the best I can do is 25 miles on a gallon
(1 litre for 9 Km) I had a 420 S from 94 (2000 Kg) and that did make on the
highway 28-30 miles/gallon (11km/ltr) and an average off 20 miles/gallon (7
Km /litre)
So for a lighter car, and also 8 cylinders but 800 cm3 more, there is a big
difference.
I believe it is the transmission. The 420 SL switches earlier to a higher
transmission then the 500 SL. Every time I must think: ok leave the gas
pedal and then
the transmission shifted up. I have a switch near the transmission with S
and E, what is I think. Sport and economic. The 420 s limousine react with
earlier shifting
on S, but the 500 SL douse not. I believe the only difference is that the
car earlier react on “kick down” and shifted quickly back on S, and reacts
slow on E by not shifting back.

So every week I tank 80 litres of gasoline for 90 Euro (say 95 $) and that
because we have a government that makes us stop and accelerate again for
Small mountains they make in the road for “safety”. It also costs me all
ready two Pirelli P9000 tires from 265-30-18 on the back wheels, because the
Rubber was broken on the side off the tires. That’s because I have 8J wheels
on the front and the back. For 265 you must have 8.5 J.
Now I have 235 in front and the back, and I am happy with it, only I must
keep my feet off the gas pedal when it was rainy. If not, the ASR begins to
work.
More then with 265 tires.


With kind Regards,
Jan Kuylaars
Technical manager Rian BV

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