Lock your glovebox!

[Douglas]

Check out the price of a pair of top removal handles at this website:

http://oursl.com/parts-230-250-280.htm

YIKES!

Douglas Kim
New York, NY
#018260

[Richard Madison]

Doug posted that to scare us.

I have seen original handles in the original case go for about the same $400 plus range on eBay...


It's good to know that a top handle for "everyday" use (repro, works very well) is about $30; and a modern repro plastic holder for two tools is about $30.

Richard M

[bayleif]

This brings to mind a survey type question. Do you remove your handles each time you raise and lower your soft top or do you tighten the set screws and leave the handles in the top until it's time to put on the hard top?
Personally, I got tired of taking them on and off and so I leave them on.

Chuck Bartlett

Chuck Bartlett
1969 Signal Red 4 Speed

[Richard Madison]

Chuck:
"...tighten the set screws..."

This is news to me. Where are the "set screws"? If tightened do the screws keep the handles in place?
Richard M

[LFrank]

I've got a 230, so my handles are "in place" all the time...why did Mercedes change that set up?

LFrank
Washington DC
65 230 sl
DB334/Hellblau

[Richard Madison]

The reason for the change from fixed handles that is heard most often is for safety reasons and to comply with US regulators who wanted all potential hazards removed from the interior....so the fixed top handles went, the door pockets became soft sided, sun visor mirrors were either removed or covered, wipers lost their high shine, etc...
Richard M

[bayleif]

Frank,
It's difficult to describe, especially when the car is at home and I'm at work. But each of my handles has a small slotted screw which when tightened down keeps the handle from coming off. Doesn't everybody's?
B.T.W. when I looked at my first 280SL that had the soft top up, I thought that the handles had been broken off. No mater, I wouldn't have bought that car even if I had known that the handles were supposed to look like that.


Chuck Bartlett
1969 Signal Red 4 Speed

[Longtooth]

Does anybody know when the handles became removable... i.e. what series, what Chassis number?  I like my fixed handles on my '67 250SL, but if I want to buy a 280SL (say '68) did they change the handles to removable type with the 1st 280SL's? or what?

Longtooth
67 250SL US #113-043-10-002163
95 SL500

[Albert-230SL]

quote:Originally posted by Longtooth

Does anybody know when the handles became removable... i.e. what series, what Chassis number?  I like my fixed handles on my '67 250SL, but if I want to buy a 280SL (say '68) did they change the handles to removable type with the 1st 280SL's? or what?

Longtooth
67 250SL US #113-043-10-002163
95 SL500

According to the MB Spare Parts Catalog for W113, it seems that removable handles were introduced in 250 SL from VIN 005089.

280 SL from 000007 up to 012192 had that same removable handles, and 280 SL from 012193 had a second type (much cheaper!) of removable handles.

So, maybe only 280 SL from 000001 up to 000006 had fixed handles... :?:   It will be a difficult hunt!

Regards,

Albert de la Torre Chavalera
Barcelona (Catalunya/Spain)
Feb.'64 230 SL Euro 113042-10-002432

[Longtooth]

Albert, thanks... I don't have my spare parts catalogue yet... guess I'm going to be SOL then in searching for a 280SL with fixed handles, huh?!  Many honest thanks... you've saved me worrying about it now.

Longtooth
67 250SL US #113-043-10-002163
95 SL500

[rwmastel]

Just put an older soft top frame on the car.  The holes in the windshield header should be the same, right?

Rodd
1966 230SL Euro
1994 E420

[Douglas]

Yes, I can confirm that a 230 SL soft top frame fits perfectly in a 280 SL.

Douglas Kim
New York, NY
#018260