Mercedes Owner magazine - February 2020. Official magazine of the Mercedes-Benz Owners (MBO)

Issue 342 | Feb 2020 | ÂŁ4.95

Mercedes Owner Magazine Issue 342 | Feb 2019 | ÂŁ4.95 www.mercedesclub.org.uk

REWIND E 63 AMG The Mercedes-Benz E 63 AMG became even more powerful and efficient

NEW Mercedes-Benz GLB Powerful proportions with short overhangs and off-road-oriented design

Mercedes-Benz SL 107 In April 1971, a new Mercedes SL rolled out onto the highway

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New Retail Group CEO

PBIS: Drive-It-Day event

Angela Shepherd has been appointed UK CEO for Mercedes-Benz Retail Group and brings almost 30 years’ brand experience to the Last year, Peter Best Insurance Services role. held their first Drive-It-Day event in In her new role, Angela will oversee Mercedes-Benz Retail Group’s Essex and this year it is expected to be operations within its 18 dealerships – all of which are located in even bigger. and around the London area and staffed by more than 1,500 Designed around Car Clubs and motoremployees. ing enthusiasts alike with Free entry to Angela originally joined Mercedes-Benz UK as a graduate trainee Thursday), the team gained valuable experience with the new MercedesThe feedback looks positive in the preparation for the Mercedes-Benz the event. in September 1990 and took up her first management position as Benz EQ Silver Arrow 01 and posted more test kilometres. Lessons EQ Formula E Team’s first season which is not far off the start at the PBIS are expecting over 500 vehicles Head of Franchising a decade later when she was heavily involved learned from the test outings, which were not without some teething ABB FIA Formula E Championship in Saudi Arabia. The team took spectrum of car club and in the planning and restructuring of the Mercedes-Benz passenger problems initially, will across be used ainwide getting ready for the team’s race debut part in official testing for the series at Valencia as shown in the image. manufactures. car network that established the manufacturer-owned Retail in Diriyah.

Over the course of the three days of testing (with a break on There will be affordable Breakfast Group. options as well as Vintage vehicle food Since then, Angela has held a number of senior leadership stalls around the park on the day. A VIP appointments including General Manager, Passenger Car AfterBreakfast and Afternoon Tea dining sales, and Head of Training. Prior to her latest promotion, she has options are available for those who wish spent the past five years as Network Operations Director and, in to make the day a little more special.

2016, topped the sales category in an automotive industry list of These can be booked within the registhe top 100 British women compiled by Autocar magazine in received the “Goldener Klassiker” (golden process. conjunction with the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders Mercedes-Benztration classic) award no less than four times on 29 October 2019: (SMMT).

Readers of the “Auto Bild Klassik” magazine voted the S-Class To register simply go to our website at “Having been involved in sales and aftersales, worked closely with series 126, introduced in 1979, in the saloon category, the series www.classiccarinsurance.co.uk or dealers and held key leadership positions within the R 129 SL, presented in 1989, in the cabriolet and roadster Google Mercedes-Benz brand, I’m fortunate to have gained a very broad, category, and the G-Class, which has been rolling off the helicopter view of how retailers operate,” said Angela. production line pbis-drive-it-day-2020.eventbrite.for the past 40 years, in the cross-country vehicle co.uk “My extensive contact with customer service will also help as we category, as their favourites. The fourth award in the “Discovery strive to make our London retailers the destination of choice for of the year” category went to the spectacular barn find in Florida that uncovered a 1954 300 SL “Gullwing” (W 198). ALL TIME Mercedes-Benz customers.”

Mercedes-Benz EQ Formula E

Auto Bild Klassik Awards

Mercedes-Benz 300 SL “Gullwing” (W 198), genuine barn find from Florida. Winner of the “Goldener Klassiker 2019” (golden classic) award by “Auto Bild Klassik” specialist magazine in the “Discovery of the year” category. Image from Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance 2019 (on the left). To its right a 300 SL “Gullwing”, comprehensively restored

by Mercedes-Benz Classic Center.

STARS, the Mercedes-Benz Classic vehicle trading platform, sold this outstanding classic at Techno Classica 2019 in Essen.

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Smart Smarts The new generation: Ground-breaking. Digital. Urban. smart is presenting its completely visually and digitally revised fortwo and forfour models at the International Motor Show in Frankfurt.

Progressive design meets intelligent connectivity and solely battery-electric powertrains. The new smart fortwo coupé, cabrio and forfour models thereby offer a sustainable and comprehensive mobility concept.

Hose Line Is it Anyway?

Custom brake lines made simple. Choose from a plethora of build options for stainless braided brake lines to suit any possible custom application thanks to the new www.hosetechnik.com website. Now it’s possible to specify custom made brake lines for what off the shelf items usually cost. Head on over to the fresh new website to see the myriad options on offer from top to tail – including coloured PVC coverings and a huge range of different fittings. Start from £74.99 per 4 line set.

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The new Mercedes -Benz eSprinter Low-emission, reliable and flexible: the new Mercedes-Benz eSprinter combines all the attributes by which vehicle fleets measure their vehicles.

As the second commercial model after the eVito, it continues the consistent electrification at Mercedes-Benz Vans and, from 9 to 17 December, was presented to the trade press in six large German cities. In short the founder of its segment is therefore also available to commercial customers who deliver goods locally emission-free, drive to the building site or take care of maintenance work.

Which aspects of the vehicle fleet have to be taken into account in the conversion to electric drive is answered by the new eCharging Planner, which enhances the eDrive@VANs ecosystem with a comprehensive advisory tool.

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Newsline A round-up of the latest Mercedes-Benz news mercedesclub.org.uk

COMPETITION TIME

WIN a Pioneer AVH-Z5200DAB

Powerflex

Powerflex Aims For New Heights with Mercedes Jacking Pad Adapter Range The latest AVH-Z5200DAB from Pioneer allows for a connected in car The last thing any Mercedes owner entertainment experience that brings your social needs into your ride wants is a car that’s unstable or and keeps everything legal. The Double DIN, 6.8-inch resistive multi damaged when being jacked up. Be touch screen allows for seamless, smooth functionality while placing any Autoglym Ultimate Screenwash that in a professional garage or at the Smartphone at the heart of this cutting-edge system. Both Android Auto side of the road in downright an emergency, be annoying at best, dangerous and Apple Carplay are built-in when connected via a USB lead and Dirty you windscreens can damaged sills are never a good thing. at worst, distracting you from the road ahead and even partially can bask in the audiophile grade components to optimise sound quality.

Hence Powerflex’s to release obscuring approaching hazards.

It's also decision that bit easier for your screen to become utterly filthyof asuniversal autumn gives to winter and a range 95Away Durometer Having launched the first ever in car CD Player in 1985, the AVH-Z5200 the roads get dirtier, so all the more reason to invest in ingena bottle Jacking point adapters.

These continues that tradition by accessing content from CD, DVD and USB of one of the unsung heroes of the Autoglym range, Ultimate ious little widgets slot into the factory drives, while Waze navigation is possible via Bluetooth or USB smartScreenwash. Not only is Autoglym Screenwash suitable for use chassis indents, providing a much phone connection. Hands free calls will be as crystal clear as the DAB+ with all vehicle and wash jet types (including headlight washers), more stable and secure lift for a huge radio reception and playlists from Spotify will also be accessible thanks shift all contaminants of common modern-day vehicles.and will not to the almost limitless array of multimedia options this unit offers. it has been proven torange freeze down to -45oC, a temperature so cold that (n the UK at

least) we rather feel that you'll have bigger problems worry Powerflex’s Jack Pad range toare allabout Upgrade your music and listening experience further with high-grade than a clean screen!

Autoglym De-Icer is also supremely versatile priced at £10.95 + VAT each. audio functions: a 13-band graphic EQ, auto EQ and Time Alignment to its highly concentrated nature. It might www.powerflex.co.uk allows you to customise the sonic setting to your own preference. and cost-effective thanks

and De-Icer

appear small, but the 500ml bottle it's supplied in can make up to 8L of screenwash, while its concentrated nature means that the Quite simply, it’s a huge leap forward for in car entertainment and simple precise strength is entirely in the hands of the end user, you. You way to bring all modern-day functionality into an ageing interior. Trust us can adjust the concentration to suit the demands of the season or when we say, you don’t know what you’re missing until you’ve experithe amount of grime currently on your screen.

enced the Pioneer AVH-Z5200DAB.

Esteban Autoglym De-Icer It retails for Gutiérrez around £370, butjoins one lucky Mercedes Owner magazine reader could be in with the chance of owning one simply by answering We're not going to try and pretend that de-icer is the kind of Mercedes-Benz EQ Formula E this question: product to set pulses racing and palms sweating, but there's equally no denying that it can be a real lifesaver, sometimes quite

Q: How many camera inputs does the Pioneer AVH-Z5200DAB have? literally; you don't have to look too hard to find fellow drivers

The Mercedes-Benz EQ Formula E Team have announced another peering through tiny 'portholes' they've hacked out of their new To signing the run-up in the ABB FIA Formula E iced windscreens! Autoglym De-Icer is the complete solution enterinsimply surf to ontheir overdebut to our website www.mercedesclub.org.uk Championship. rez is joining the teamand as Reserve to the problem of ice covered windows, and it's all down to its where youEsteban will findGutiОr the Pioneer competition the answer to the quesand Development Driver with immediate effect. super concentrated solution. Autoglym's development boffins tion. Then simply email info@mercedesclub.org.uk with subject Pioneer Comp in the email theofanswer and full name, address. have worked hard to devise a formulation that's quick to work Esteban hadand his include first outing at the wheel the Mercedes-Benz and easy to use. There's another, all too frequently overlooked EQ Silver Arrow 01 during testing in Majorca in early August. aspect of de-icers, and that's the effect they have on the car outof more what Pioneer can offer, besides model by visiting OverOr thefind course the season, he will assist the team’s twothis Race itself.

Autoglym have worked hard to ensure that De-Icer is safe to www.pioneer-car.eu.

Drivers, Stoffel Vandoorne and Nyck de Vries, and Reserve and use on all materials commonly found on cars, including paintwork, Development Driver, Gary Paffett, to develop the new car further. rubber, plastic and (of course) glass. It can be employed to clear “I’m very much looking forward to continuing my journey with windows, mirrors, headlamps and even door locks, leaving you to 08 the Mercedes family by joining Formula E as a Reserve and set off on your journey within minutes.

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The 222,222nd Mercedes among MPVs leaves the Vitoria plant Five years ago, the Mercedes-Benz V-Class set a new standard in the people mover segment with its design, its quality, its comfort and its safety and assistance systems and has since become a true success story. Now the 222,222nd V-Class produced in Vitoria has left the plant.

The V-Class from Vitoria: produced and delivered 222,222 times Production of the V-Class began in March 2014 in Vitoria-Gasteiz.

As of May 2019 the new V-Class is being manufactured in Vitoria with a revised front design, a new generation of engine, 9G-TRONIC automatic transmission as well as state-of-the-art safety and assistance systems. In November the production and delivery of the 222,222nd V-Class marked a further milestone in Vitoria. The vehicle painted rock crystal white headed for Germany after leaving the production line.

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To join the MBO please call 01892 710570 Copy date 1st of each month, classified copy date 10th of each month.

While every effort is made in compiling Mercedes Owner, the publishers cannot be responsible for errors or omissions.

Although every care is taken to vet advertising in Mercedes Owner, no guarantees can be given and no assumption of approval of such adverts should be made. ©2018 Mercedes-Benz Owners Ltd. Mercedes-Benz Owners Ltd Mercedes-Benz Owners Ltd, Mercedes House, 32 Hornbeam Avenue, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN4 9XT Tel: 01892 710570 Email: info@mercedesclub.org.uk Website: www.mercedesclub.org.uk Advertisement sales: Mark Sykes, Mercedes Owner Magazine Tel: 01892 710508 - Mob: 07563 559136 Email: mark.sykes@mercedesclub.org.uk - Website: www.mercedesclub.org.uk Print and distribution: Lakeside Printing Tel: 01732 358815 - Website: www.lakesideprinting.co.uk Design and artwork: Driven by Media Email: jake@drivenbymedia.com Tel: 07720 737 896 Designer: Jake Bailey Editor: info@mercedesclub.org.uk MBO membership: Tel: 01892 710570

Forge Motorsport The Mercedes A45 / CLA45 / GLA45 AMG (2016 on Facelift) is a weapon’s grade hot hatch. Right up there with the likes of the Audi RS3 in outright acceleration terms, it deserves some extra high-power tweaks. That’s where Forge Motorsport can help out with a variety of uprated A45 parts, but the latest life-giving addition is actually all about longevity and reliability to complement performance. The 13-row DSG gearbox oil cooler kit is designed to scoop air from the nearside lower bumper vent aperture that is unused on UK vehicles.

This position allows optimum airflow to reduce oil temperatures and keep the mechatronics and complex mechanics of the DSG ‘box shifting sweetly. It comes with everything needed including bracketry, bolts and the CNC adapter plate required to mate the braided AN-6 oil lines with the existing gearbox. Look for Forge part number FMDSGOC2 www.forgemotorsport.co.uk

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THE BIG PICTURE

The Mercedes-Benz C 63 AMG CoupĂŠ Black Series embodies the AMG brand claim of "Driving Performance". With a maximum output of 380 kW (517 hp) and a maximum torque of 620 Newton metres producing raw Black Series power.

THE BIG PICTURE

THE BIG PIC TUR E

EVENTS / CAR HUDDLE

C AR EV E N T S P le ase send your show pictures of c ars and ow ners w i t h brie f detai ls for public ation to: info@merce d es club. o rg . uk

01 Feb BSC 2020 #1 GU10

16 Feb DubFreeze ST18

21 Mar VOLKSWORLD SHOW KT10 27 Mar BROOKLANDS MINI DAY KT13

01 Feb Motorsport with Attitude PE2

20 Feb The London Classic Car Show W14

02 Feb Haynes Breakfast Club BA22

21 Feb Reis Race Retro CV8

08 Feb The Great Western Classic Car Show BA4

22 Feb Spring Tractor World & Classic Commercial

02 Feb Haynes Breakfast Club BA22

Show WR13

15 Feb Woldinghamring classic Surrey CR6

08 Mar Ultimate Dubs TF3

15 Feb Giant Auto & Bike Jumble Scorton DL10

21 Mar HERO CHALLENGE 1 OX25

28 Mar Goodwood Members Meeting PO18 29 Mar Practical Classics Restoration Show NEC

Hyatt Regency Churchill Hotel review

H y at t Reg en cy Lon d on - T h e C h ur c h i ll M e rce d es O wner ma g a zine go e s b a c k t o st ay a nd d ine at t h i s el e g a n t, Win ston Ch u rc h ill insp ire d , fi ve -s t a r h o te l.

Mercedes Owner magazine goes back to stay and dine at this elegant, Winston Churchill inspired, five-star hotel.

Several years ago, we went for afternoon tea here and were taken aback by the care and attention that was made for a stunning tea. For a stay and dine experience, the expectations were high, but could they deliver again?

With a prime location in central London and easy access to shops along Oxford Street and nearby Hyde Park the Hyatt Regency London – The Churchill offers a luxury break. In a quiet area off the bustling neighbouring roads, less than five minutes’ walk from Hyde Park and Marble Arch

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Station and close to 10-minute walk from Bond Street Station, this retro, sleek and stylish hotel gives you that star treatment you deserve.

Through the revolving doors and into the large grand lobby, you will find the welcoming reception staff and the concierge team. After a quick check in we walked down the corridor, with marble floors and pillars, and into the gold lifts. If we had carried on, we would have headed towards the Art Deco cocktail bar and Montagu Restaurant. These were delights to savour for the evening, so we made our way to the lift and up to our newly refurbished floor and our grand suite.

As expected, the room is full of Churchill memora-

Hyatt Regency Churchill Hotel review

bilia, high – end style, class and appeal. With a sophisticated feel the hotel’s 440 rooms are spacious and full of charm. This suite looked out onto Portman Square with its high windows providing a favourable view unlike most city hotels. It also had very comfy beds, Molton Brown toiletries and high-tech toilet with heated seats. All suites come with a bathtub in addition to a separate shower in the marble bathroom which, if you like a soak in a bath with a bottle of Prosecco to ease those shopping aches, then what better way to relax before your evening.

Although London is full of great restaurants, why travel out of your hotel when you have one of the greats on your doorstep. With fresh seasonal cuisine and great cocktails, the Montagu Kitchen (inspired by the dining room of Churchill’s country home, Chartwell in Kent) offers a seasonal menu of fabulous dishes. It provides the best of British produce inspired by Chartwell House and gardens. With an outdoor terrace offering an award-winning menu the Churchill Bar and Terrace is a perfect place to unwind with a creative cocktail or two.

The array of food is not over whelming and the staff are superb, providing a real insight into the flavours and choices available.

Starting with the Pear & Ginger Cocktail (£14) with William Chase Potato Vodka, Pear, Ginger, Chapel Down Brut which provided a sensory overload. The North Atlantic Salmon with Lentil salad, mint & coriander sauce, radish, watercress and crispy bread make for a fresh opening credit to this taste explosion. The 21 Days, Dry Aged Rose County Beef Tenderloin with seasoned vegetables and potatoes stole the show. With the Montagu Kitchen signature Apple Pie ending a perfect production of food and drink delights. Guests can enjoy an Italian flare at Michelin-starred Locanda Locatelli next door, which can be accessed directly from within the hotel.

The Churchill Bar & Terrace has an Art Deco-inspired décor and a glamour feel as you enter the room. The bar’s extensive menu of original cocktails includes the smoky Churchill Martini, made with a unique “Churchill craft gin” and without vermouth - the unique way Churchill enjoyed his Martinis.

Overall the staff are exceptionally friendly, the accommodating is faultless, and the food is second to none. Yes, it seems to have ticked every box required and with a returning rate extremely high, there is little to wonder why people come back time and time again.

Hyatt Regency London - The Churchill 30 Portman Square, London, England, W1H 7BH. Tel: 0207 4865800 londonchurchill.regency.hyatt.com

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Mercedes-Benz Premium Brand For Innovation

Mercedes-Benz – Premium brand for Innovation.

According to a study by the Centre of Automotive Management (CAM), Mercedes-Benz is the leading premium brand for innovations in the period from 2016 to 2019.

CAM analysed the automotive innovations of 31 premium brands: Mercedes-Benz proved to be the most innovative, with around 180 new features in series production. These innovations included assistance systems such as the anti-theft warning system, the intuitive and intelligent multimedia system MBUX and ENERGIZING comfort control.

The "Anti-theft alarm system (ATA)" is available as optional equipment for many Mercedes-Benz model series. The latest generation of ATA in combination with the Mercedes me connect service Theft and parking damage notification can send an automatic message if the vehicle suffers a parking impact caused by a third party or is towed away. The ATA sensors can detect such situations and report them to the vehicle. The vehicle then sends a push notification to the Mercedes me App. Mercedes-Benz first presented the multimedia system MBUX at the 2018 CES show. The name of this infotainment system signals that the user experience (UX) has first priority. A unique feature of this system is its ability to learn thanks to artificial intelligence. MBUX is customisable and adapts to the

user. It thus creates an emotional link between vehicle, driver and passengers. Updates "over the air" are also possible. Its further strengths include the high-resolution Widescreen Cockpit with touchscreen operation, navigation display with augmented reality technology plus intelligent voice control with natural speech recognition, which is activated with the code word "Hey Mercedes".

ENERGIZING comfort control networks various comfort systems in the vehicle and uses musical and lighting moods plus a number of massage modes for a wide range of feel-good programmes. The ENERGIZING COACH is part of the comfort control system.

This function based on an intelligent algorithm recommends one of the programmes depending on the situation and the individual concerned. If a Garmin® wearable is worn, personal details such as stress level or quality of sleep optimise the accuracy of the recommendation. The aim is for passengers to feel well and relaxed even during demanding or monotonous journeys. In addition, the pulse rate supplied by the integrated Garmin wearable is shown on the media display.

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Rewind E63

REWIND E 63 AMG (W212)

The Mercedes-Benz E 63 AMG became even more powerful and efficient as part of the "AMG Performance 2015" model strategy, the high-performance car benefitted from the AMG 5.5-litre V8 biturbo engine. This unit, already familiar from the CLS 63 AMG, delivered an output of 386 kW (525 hp) to 410 kW (557 hp), together with an impressive reduction in fuel consumption: the E 63 AMG consumes 9.8 litres per 100 kilometres (Estate 10.0 litres) according to NEDC combined, in other words 22 percent less than its predecessor with the AMG 6.3-litre V8 naturally aspirated engine. As a result, the E 63 AMG which was available in Saloon and Estate variants, became the most efficient vehicle in its class. An important contribution to this is was the AMG SPEEDSHIFT MCT 7-speed sports transmission and developed electromechanical AMG speed-sensitive sports steering system.

Additional assistance systems raise occupant safety to a whole new level.

The eight-cylinder powerhouse, designated internally as the M 157, boasted a combination of innovative high-tech components: in addition to spray-guided direct petrol injection with piezo injectors, these include a full aluminium crankcase, four-valve technology with camshaft adjustment, air/water intercooling, generator management and

stop/start system. With a displacement of 5461 cc, the eight-cylinder engine develops a peak output of 386 kW (525 hp) and torque of 700 Nm. In conjunction with the optional AMG Performance package, these figures increase to 410 kW (557 hp) and 800 Nm. Both variants of the E 63 AMG achieve exceptional performance: acceleration from zero to 100 km/h takes 4.3 and 4.2 seconds respectively (Estate: 4.4 and 4.3 seconds), and the top speed is 250 km/h (electronically limited).

Fuel consumption reduced by 2.8 litres per 100 km Despite its increased output, higher torque and improved performance, the new E 63 AMG showed an improvement of 2.8 litres in fuel efficiency compared with the previous model with V8 naturally aspirated engine.

Fuel consumption, at 9.8 litres per 100 kilometres according to NEDC combined, corresponds to CO2 emissions of 230 grams per kilometre (Estate: 10.0 l/100 km; 234 g/km). Both variants achieve the same consumption and CO2 figures either with or without the AMG Performance package. As a result, the E 63 AMG takes the lead in a competitive comparison.

The improvement in output and torque that comes with the AMG Performance package is

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due primarily to an increase in the maximum charge pressure from 1.0 to 1.3 bar. Visible differentiation provided by the engine cover in genuine carbon fibre. The AMG Performance package also includes the AMG Performance steering wheel with black Alcantara in the grip area, red-painted brake callipers and, in the case of the Saloon, the genuine carbon fibre AMG spoiler lip on the boot lid and the electric rear window blind.

AMG SPEEDSHIFT MCT 7-speed sports transmission helps save fuel A major contribution to the car's exemplary consumption figures is also made by the AMG SPEEDSHIFT MCT 7-speed sports transmission. In place of a conventional torque converter, this uses a compact wet start-up clutch. The E 63 AMG also features a stop/start function as standard: this is active in the Controlled Efficiency ("C") transmission mode and switches the eight-cylinder engine off when the vehicle comes to a standstill. The stop/start function can be activated or deactivated using the ECO button on the centre console. When in transmission mode "C", the vehicle will

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always start up in second gear. The system will also change gears noticeably early and avoid high engine speeds. Demand-driven delivery of fuel and a generator management system with braking energy recuperation during deceleration add further to the economic use of fuel.

Driving dynamics certainly don't suffer as a result: the transmission modes "S" (Sport), "S+" (Sport plus) and "M" (Manual) enhance the car's agility quite noticeably. Shorter response times, higher engine speeds and more spontaneous gear changes demonstrate the full potential of the new AMG V8 biturbo engine. In all three transmission modes, not only is the stop/start function deactivated but, at full load, the engine management system partially suppresses the cylinders. This carefully managed interruption to ignition and injection results in faster gear changes and an emotive acoustic effect.

The automatic double-declutching function in reverse gear provides the perfect complement.

AMG RIDE CONTROL sports suspension and new steering system

The E 63 AMG featured the AMG RIDE CONTROL sports suspension with a specially designed front axle: the track has been widened by 56 millimetres compared with the E 500, and includes independent wheel carriers, for increased negative camber at the front, giving clear benefits in terms of grip when driving fast through bends.

Further features include steel suspension struts on the front axle and air suspension struts on the rear axle, with an automatic level control system. In addition, and as standard was an electronically controlled damping system, which automatically adjusts the damping characteristics depending on the driving situation and reduces the roll angle of the body. The result: lightning-fast adjustment between optimum driving comfort and the best possible agility. The driver can switch between the suspension modes of "Comfort", "Sport" and "Sport plus" at the touch of a button.

The steering system on the E 63 AMG was also new: the electromechanical AMG speed-sensitive sports steering features a more direct ratio of 14:1 and variable power

assistance that adapts according to the suspension mode. The result: extremely agile handling through bends. The steering also helps to reduce fuel consumption, since the power assistance system only draws power when the vehicle is actually being steered.

As well as the 3-stage ESP® system with SPORT handling mode, the standard equipment package includes an AMG high-performance braking system, with composite technology on the front axle. An even more powerful AMG ceramic high-performance composite braking system, 40 percent lighter in weight, is available as an option.

Optimum grip comes courtesy of the new 18-inch AMG light-alloy wheels in a 10-spoke design, fitted with 255/R 40 R 18 tyres on the front and 285/35 R 18 on the rear. The "flow forming" production process already used with the SLS AMG and the CLS 63 AMG optimises the durability of the light-alloy wheels, while also reducing weight by up to 0.8 kilograms per wheel.

The reduced un-sprung masses help to improve both driving dynamics and ride comfort.

Inside and out Externally, the E 63 AMG with the M157 engine is identifiable by its 0-spoke light-alloy wheels and the "V8 BITURBO" lettering on its distinctive, wider front wings. Further characteristic features to aid recognition include AMG body styling with a specific design for the front and rear, along with AMG side sill panels and an AMG sports exhaust.

A striking feature of the interior was the new AMG Performance steering wheel in a three-spoke design. The rim of this wheel, which was already used in the CLS 63 AMG, is flattened at both top and bottom to facilitate even better control of the vehicle.

Further identifying features of the new steering wheel: aluminium shift paddles, the perforated leather in the grip areas and the three-dimensional design of the airbag cover with its "Silver Shadow" metallic trim element. This is complemented by the E-SELECT shift lever with embossed AMG badge on the centre console.

Over a dozen driver assistance systems in the E 63 AMG help to avoid traffic accidents or mitigate the severity of an accident.

Among the new systems are Active Blind Spot Assist and Active Lane Keeping Assist.

Active Blind Spot Assist warns the driver if the short-range radar sensors detect that there is a risk of collision should the vehicle change lanes. If the driver ignores these warnings and comes dangerously close to the vehicle in the next lane, Active Blind Spot Assist will intervene. By applying braking force to the wheels on the opposite side of the vehicle, controlled through the 3-stage ESP® system, a yaw movement is created which counteracts the collision course.

Active Lane Keeping Assist is also linked to the 3-stage ESP®. This system kicks into action if the driver inadvertently drifts over a solid line to the right or left of a lane. In this case, Active Lane Keeping Assist brakes the opposite wheels and thereby prevents the vehicle from crossing the line. A display on the instrument cluster warns the driver at the same time. If broken lane markings are crossed, the system controls an electric pulse generator in the steering wheel which generates vibrations for a short time – a discreet but highly effective cue to countersteer immediately. Before the braking system intervenes, the steering wheel always vibrates to provide a warning.

21

ICON

MERCEDES-BENZ GLB The new Merce des-BenzGLB and the new Merce des-AMG GLB 35 4MATIC

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Mercedes-Benz GLB

Powerful proportions with short overhangs and off-road-oriented design as well as optional 4MATIC all-wheel drive and a special off-road light which helps detect obstacles in front of the vehicle at low speeds – the new Mercedes-Benz GLB is a versatile SUV. And a spacious family car: it is the first Mercedes-Benz in this segment that is optionally available as a seven-seater. The two seats in row three can be used by people up to 1.68 metres in height. With powerful and efficient four-cylinder engines, the latest driving assistance systems with cooperative support for the driver, the intuitively operated infotainment system MBUX plus the comprehensive convenience control ENERGIZING Comfort, the new family member has all the strengths of the current compact-class generation from Mercedes-Benz. Also, in the starting blocks: The new Mercedes-AMG GLB 35 4MATIC has an unrivalled alternative in the segment of compact SUVs. "Every third Mercedes-Benz is now an SUV, every fourth a compact car. So, a compact SUV such as the GLB blends all the success factors of our two highest-volume segments", says Britta Seeger, Member of the Board of Management of Daimler AG, responsible for Mercedes-Benz Cars Sales. "The GLB also boasts some special features which we have not previously offered our customers in this segment, for example seven seats."

"Its iconic design lends the Mercedes-Benz GLB an unmistakable SUV character", says Gordon Wagener, Chief Design Officer at Daimler AG. "The clear forms with reduced lines

and powerful surfaces convey our design philosophy of Sensual Purity." At 2829 millimetres the GLB has ten centimetres more wheelbase than, for example, the new B-Class.

Together with the function-oriented greenhouse this is decisive when it comes to the generous amount of space.

The headroom in the first seat row is 1069 millimetres – an optimum in this segment. At 967 millimetres the effective legroom in the rear of the five-seater is at an especially comfortable level. The load compartment capacity of 570 to 1805 litres (figures for the five-seater) boasts the qualities of an estate car. The backrest angle is adjustable in several stages as standard. Optionally, the second row can be moved fore and aft. This enables the boot to be enlarged by up to 190 litres and put to versatile use. For more on the variability, see the next page.

With the new GLB the compact car family from Mercedes-Benz now consists of eight models: the A-Class, A-Class Saloon and long-wheelbase A-Class Saloon, B-Class, CLA Coupé, CLA Shooting Brake and the GLA are already on the market. In 2018 over 609,000 customers all over the world were able to take delivery of a compact model. Since the first A-Class was launched in 1997, over seven million vehicles of this segment have already been delivered worldwide by Mercedes-Benz.

Ready for boarding: up to seven seats The GLB is the first compact vehicle from Mercedes-Benz to offer a third seat row on request with two additional individual seats. The seats offer people up to a height of 1.68 metres a comfortable amount of space. The extensive safety equip-

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ment includes extendible head restraints, seat belts with belt tensioners and belt force limiters on all outer seats, a side window airbag which also protects the passengers in the third seat row plus ISOFIX and TOP-Tether anchorages for suitable child seats. These can be used to fasten up to four child seats in seat rows two and three. Comfort details in the third row include two drinks holders between the seats as well as two stowage compartments with rubberised insert on the left and right in the load compartment trim, each housing a USB port. The seats can be lowered so that they are flush with the load compartment floor in order to extend the load compartment.

Off-road orientation: the exterior design The powerful proportions of the GLB underscore the off-road focus of the design: the design emphasises surfaces, and reduced lines and uses reduced lines and precise panel gaps. This conveys superior sportiness and modernity. The upright front section with its striking headlamps is clear evidence of off-road genes, as are the short overhangs at the front and rear.

The muscular and sensuously contoured vehicle shoulder dominates the side view at the height of the C-pillar, an effect reinforced by the rising waistline.

The doors reach over the side bar, improving ease of access, and keep the door apertures free of soiling as well as increasing protection in a side impact.

All-round protective claddings divide the overall proportions and emphasise the vehicle's off-road character, as does the stylised skid plate at the front and rear. The elevated roof rails are made of polished aluminium.

With high-quality aluminium details: the interior design The instrument panel consists of a single solid, which has a cut-out in the driver and front passenger area.

The driver faces a Widescreen Cockpit, with control and display via MBUX (Mercedes-Benz User Experience). A new feature is the off-road-like aluminium-look tubular element in the dashboard on the front passenger side. Below the round air vents positioned next to it are the air conditioning controls, whose buttons create the impression of having been milled out of an aluminium cylinder. The robust character of the interior continues in the centre console. Tubular elements in said milled look provide a solid support for the components and controls here as well. Along the doors, the SUV character is underlined by the horizontal grab handle, which from the Progressive design and equipment line on up powerfully blends in with the overall sculpture and resembles a milled aluminium tube.

Spot on for hill and dale: the off-road light function The LED High Performance headlamps and MULTIBEAM LED headlamps are available for the GLB on request. The latter allow extremely quick and precise, electronically controlled adjustment of the headlamps

to suit the current traffic situation. As an option there are also front fog lamps with LED technology. They distribute the light more widely than the main headlamps and thus illuminate peripheral areas better. Their low position in the front bumper helps reduce the risk of dazzling. 4MATIC models with large media display come with the Off-Road Engineering Package. In combination with MULTIBEAM LED headlamps, these models have a special off-road light. This makes it easier to see obstacles in rough terrain in the dark. With the off-road light, the cornering light of the MULTIBEAM LED headlamps is permanently switched on up to a speed of 50 km/h. This results in wide and bright light distribution in front of the vehicle.

The GLB benefits from the technical highlights of the current compact-class generation from Mercedes-Benz. These include in particular: The four-cylinder petrol and diesel engines, which were completely modernised for the new edition of the compact model series: In comparison to the previous generation, they are characterised by significantly increased power and torque and by improved efficiency and reduced emissions.

The driving assistance systems with cooperative

support for the driver and functionality from the S-Class: Thanks to improved camera and radar systems, the GLB is able to see up to 500 metres ahead and drive in semi-automated mode in certain situations. This includes, for example, the convenient speed adjustment ahead of bends, junctions or roundabouts carried out by Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC, for which it also uses map and navigation data. As a new function of the Active Steering Assist, among other things, there is also the intuitive Active Lange Change Assist. If the Active Parking Assist with PARKTRONIC is additionally on board, the GLB also has the function extended automatic restart on motorways.

The comfort suspension: at the front the GLB has McPherson suspension struts, at the rear an acoustically and vibrationally decoupled multi-link axle with compression springs. Adaptive adjustable damping is available on request. With this the driver can change between more comfort or particularly sporty tuning via the DYNAMIC SELECT switch.

The intuitively operated MBUX infotainment system (Mercedes-Benz User Experience): The powerful computer, brilliant screens and graphics, customisable presentation, full-colour head-up display, naviga-

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tion with augmented reality, learning software, and voice control activated with the prompt "Hey Mercedes" are the key advantages of the system.

ENERGIZING comfort control: It networks various comfort systems in the vehicle and uses musical and lighting moods plus several massages for different wellness programs. The ENERGIZING COACH recommends these programs according to the situation. If the Mercedes-Benz vivoactive® 3 smartwatch or another compatible Garmin® wearable is linked, personal values such as stress level or sleep quality improve the recommendation.

Should a tad more traction be called for: the 4MATIC all-wheel drive The GLB is optionally equipped with the permanent all-wheel system 4MATIC, with fully variable torque distribution. This sporty all-wheel drive configuration allows the driver to use the DYNAMIC SELECT switch to influence the characteristics of 4MATIC. Three characteristic maps are available to control the all-wheel drive clutch, though the system responds flexibly to the current driving situation in any mode. In regular driving operation, the drive program "Eco/Comfort" is based on an 80:20 distribution (front axle:rear axle), while in "Sport" it is 70:30. In off-road mode the all-wheel drive clutch acts as an inter-axle differential lock, with the basic distribution a balanced 50:50.

Useful in easy off-road terrain: the Off-Road Engineering Package In addition to the off-road light, the Off-Road Engineering Package includes an additional drive mode. It adapts the power delivery of the engine, the characteristics of 4MATIC and ABS intervention control for off-road driving in easy terrain. It can be activated via the DYNAMIC SELECT switch.

Other elements of the Off-Road Engineering Package: An animation of the driving situation can be called up in the media display. The realistic presentation of gradient, inclination angle and technical settings helps the driver to judge driving manoeuvres better.

The hill-start assistance system Downhill Speed Regulation (DSR) automatically adheres to a preselected, slow speed between approx. 2 and 18 km/h, it can be read out in the instrument cluster and in the optional head-up display. With targeted brake applications the assistant helps retain control during steep downhill driving.

Powerful and efficient: the engines The new GLB places its trust in the four-cylinder petrol and diesel engines which were completely updated to relaunch the compact model series. In comparison to the previous generation, they are characterised by significantly increased power and torque and by improved efficiency and reduced emissions.

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Tech Talk

T E C H TA L K The Wave R iders – The Te chnology within B y Sven Sat t le

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Tech Talk

Technological progress has greatly changed the way we drive. The electronics and electrical system on board a Mercedes-Benz makes driving safer and more comfortable than ever before. However, the new technologies have to be incorporated into cars somehow – and that’s why today’s vehicles contain numerous high-tech components. Jürgen Schwarz and his team make sure that all of this technology works flawlessly even in the event of electromagnetic interference. And they ensure that the technology is harmless to those travelling inside the vehicle.

I have vivid memories of some adventurous trips in our family car: My father sat at the wheel of his dearly beloved Mercedes-Benz 190D, while my mother sat in the front passenger seat, where she struggled with the road map. The two debated whether it would be better to turn left or right. I vividly remember a scene in which they unsuccessfully tried to find the venue of a wedding. We were so frustrated that we almost turned around and drove 200 kilometres back home – without having seen the newly married couple. With regard to the 190D, I also vividly remember a two-hour ride in that car during which I spent almost the whole time watching the radio antenna sway in the wind with such force that I childishly feared it might snap off and fly away.

It didn’t fly away. It remained steadfastly on the old.

Its successor had an onboard navigation system, of course. This made it harder to get lost. And if my father managed it somehow, it always started with him claiming to know a shortcut. Ten years later, Live

Traffic Information enables my navigation system to predict fairly precisely where I will encounter stop-and-go traffic on my route and whether it would be worth it to take the supposed shortcut. Telescopic antennas are also long gone. Today’s Mercedes-Benz cars don’t have a visible antenna at all. Nothing should interfere with the design’s clear lines.

“People often don’t know how many antennas they are driving around in their cars” Jürgen Schwarz Head of the Testing Facility for EMC and Antenna Systems Still, you need an effective infrastructure so that the digital systems and services in cars can work. It’s necessary so that my navigation system knows where I am as I drive around. Ideally, it will also be able to predict where traffic jams will be so that it can route me around them. “Today’s customers naturally want mobile communications, Bluetooth, and WiFi inside their cars. To make this possible, we need many different transmission frequencies so that the various radio signals don’t interfere with one another. People often don’t know how many antennas they are driving around in their cars,” says electrical engineer Jürgen Schwarz, 55. He knows the number, of course: “A modern Mercedes can have as many as 20 antennas.

Although you don’t see them, they are there. The rear window, for example, contains antennas for AM and FM Radio, Digital Radio and TV. Various WiFi/Bluetooth antennas are built into the interior. Additional antennas for GPS and mobile communications can be installed in the exterior mirrors and will also be available in a roof module in the future. Antennas are also

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Tech Talk

needed for unlocking the doors and for parking functions. But that’s by no means all.”

Electromagnetic waves provide the basis for today’s cars There is a reason why Jürgen Schwarz knows exactly where each type of antenna is located: He is, in a sense, Daimler’s (electromagnetic) wave guy. He heads the testing centre for electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) and radio-frequency (RF) antenna systems at Mercedes-Benz Research & Development in Sindelfingen. His team tests the specific infrastructure that makes this wonderful new world of driving possible. In this way, it ensures that this wonderful new world is also safe.

It is almost in the nature of things that the number of components that Schwarz and his team have to test has tended to increase in recent years rather than decrease. That’s because all of the major future-oriented topics in the automotive industry are pretty much directly related to data transmission.

Highly and fully automated driving will only be reasonable for large numbers of vehicles if they are connected with one another and with the infrastructure. Digital services can only work if cars and service providers share data. Electromagnetic waves are the physical basis of this data transfer.

“All in all, a new S-Class contains around 260 electrical or electronic components. That’s benchmark for a modern car, of course,” says Schwarz. “Each of these components can be a potential source of interference. Depending on the wiring, the effects of an antenna can cause even a small signal to have a huge impact. That’s why we inspect each and every electrical and electronic component that is installed anywhere in a Mercedes-Benz car. We can’t test all of the theoretically possible equipment and engine variants, of course, because that would be a 24-digit number.”

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Performance and compatibility must go hand in hand In this regard, Schwarz’s team mainly focuses on four aspects.

First, the electrical or electronic (E/E) components in cars generate electromagnetic fields. The colleagues therefore conduct tests to make sure that these fields don’t interfere with other systems inside or outside a car. The second aim is to make sure that the magnetic fields and radio waves have as little effect as possible on passengers inside the vehicle. Third, the tests should guarantee that vehicle functions are so protected that they cannot be affected by external magnetic fields or electromagnetic waves. The fourth aspect involves optimizing the quality of reception as well as the performance of the antennas built into a vehicle.

Schwarz has been working on waves and frequencies throughout his career. “My doctorate was in the field of high-frequency applications, and while working on it I developed antennas that were three meters tall and this much around,” he says as he forms a big ring with his hands. In a sense, Schwarz’s current work in the EMC/HF centre is taking him back to his roots after he devoted decades of his life to functional reliability. Schwarz joined Daimler’s development department in 1995 as a young engineer working on the validation of complex functions, including those in a SL-based research vehicle that was operated by a joystick instead of a steering wheel and pedals. In 2008 he became the Head of the department for Functional Reliability and E/E Processes.

The waves from the test centre don’t get outside Schwarz has directed the EMC/RF test centre since 2017. In the first two years of his work there, he spent less time on antennas, vehicles, and radio waves than on statics and architecture. That was because the decision to add such a

Tech Talk

centre to the Sindelfingen development location was first made in the fall of 2016. So, Schwarz also became a construction manager — and had to regularly wear a hard hat — when he started work at the test centre.

Now, a little more than two years later, he no longer wears a hard hat or a safety vest as he sits in his office in the administrative wing of the new building bearing the house number 20/4. This building is almost impossible to miss when you drive past the plant on Calwer Strasse. However, you can’t see what’s inside, of course. The building contains three halls for EMC tests as well as one especially big hall in which high-frequency antenna measurements are carried out. In any case, nobody outside the building could measure what goes on inside. The halls are completely screened with metal, preventing any signal from getting outside. Conversely, no signals from the outside can interfere with the measurements inside the building.

“During construction, we had to deal with some challenges that had nothing to do with our core business,” recalls Schwarz. “For example, we decided to build the antenna hall for radio-frequency measurements on top of the EMC halls. We therefore needed test rigs on the fifth floor. I should mention here that one normally sets up test rigs on the ground floor so that you can simply dig a pit for all of the parts that have to go underground.” says Schwarz with a laugh. “It therefore turned out to be somewhat more complicated for us.”

And don’t forget: Measurements were still regularly made while the new building was under construction. These measurements were conducted on the two existing test rigs in Sindelfingen as well as in EMC halls that we had rented outside the plant. “The entire team put in a top performance,” says Schwarz.

Unparalleled in size: the electromagnetic reverberation chamber

The halls of the new test centre have been in operation since July 2019. The first time you walk through these halls, you can sense why all of this effort was worth it. You can also see why the team had a good feeling as it invested many hours and much effort in its new home. The colleagues are especially proud of a hall that bears the rather cumbersome designation “electromagnetic reverberation chamber.” Insiders refer to it as the reverb hall.

When you stand in this hall, you feel as though you’re inside an oversized kitchen mixer. From the ceiling hangs a spiral metal disc 10 meters in diameter that rotates on its axis. This disc is called the stirrer.

The disc’s continuous rotation changes the distribution of the electromagnetic waves in the room. “It has raised EMC measurement to a new level. Before we had it, we used to direct antennas at cars from a variety of angles and different distances,” explains Schwarz.

The brain behind the reverb hall is Martin Aidam, who is responsible for new EMC technologies in the test centre team. When Aidam still worked in the research and advanced engineering departments, he built a small reverb test rig as part of his research activities. For the new facility, he drew on his experience and knowledge to think bigger. The team not only came up with the chamber’s design in-house, “We also developed the software that’s used in the reverb hall,” says Aidam.

The wave experts get involved in vehicle development when it’s still in the digital phase The team continues to tinker and test in the EMC/HF test centre.

Moreover, it doesn’t just study a vehicle’s electrical and electronic systems when the automobile is almost ready for series production. On the contrary, the wave riders’ expertise is now more in demand than ever before. The more technology is contained in cars, the more intelligently the individual components have to be arranged to keep the impact of electromagnetic fields in the interior as low as possible.

“That’s not a problem as such,” says Schwarz: “The magnetic field of a straight conductor is the strength of the current divided by two pi times the radius. We can therefore achieve a lot by simply increasing the distance between the component and the vehicle interior. Every additional centimetre greatly reduces the field strength.” If that isn’t feasible, Schwarz also knows of a second possibility: “As an alternative, we can, of course, work with the direction of the current. This means that we channel the currents inside the vehicle in such a way that the resulting magnetic fields cancel each other out,” he says.

No matter which variant is ultimately chosen, it’s clear that the resulting electromagnetic fields have to be taken into consideration early on. This has to be done at a time when the vehicle doesn’t yet consist of metal and rubber, but only of design data.

“Our team is now involved in the vehicle development process from the very start. As early as the digital phase we keep an eye on the new model’s design so that the wires are arranged in such a way that magnetic fields in the interior are kept to a minimum.

This assessment is now one of the quality gates on a vehicle’s path to series production,” says Schwarz.

Electric mobility creates new challenges But that’s not the only reason why Schwarz can be certain that his team will continue to play a key role in product creation. There is, in fact, another important reason called electric mobility. After some reflection, Schwarz says, “The challenges we will face are of course huge, not least because the drivetrain will contain much more powerful electrical components than those in a conventional combustion engine.”

The new EMC/RF test centre is ready to tackle these challenges, as are the experts who work there. They work to ensure safety.

Because after all, driving nowadays is more than just moving the steering wheel and letting the front passenger read the map. And that’s why safety in this wonderful new automotive world has to be so much more than just seat belts and airbags.

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Mercedes-Benz Handling Development

A look behind the scenes at Mercedes-Benz Handling Development A vehicle is driving on a country road on a cold, dull December morning. The road surface leaves a lot to be desired, and potholes and ruts make for uneven road conditions. The driver does not notice any of this. He effortlessly steers the vehicle along the route and through sharp bends. Even an obstacle which suddenly appears is effortlessly avoided by the vehicle, without setting the driver's pulse racing too much. This special feeling of safety, comfort and effortless superiority is unmistakeable. It is inherent to a Mercedes. The developers behind it refer to this feeling as the "Mercedes-Benz driving character".

Development is a matter of character "We aspire to make our vehicles immediately recognisable. Not just through the hallmark Mercedes design, but also the handling," is how Markus Riedel, Head of the "Ride & Handling" Centre, sums up his team's main mission. "In concrete terms a Mercedes is

characterised by three very pronounced traits: optimum ride comfort, high driving safety and tangible self-assurance. In every situation a Mercedes driver must have the impression that their vehicle still has reserves." It is the job of the engineers at the Sindelfingen Mercedes-Benz Technology Centre to constantly optimise these three KPIs and develop them further for every new model platform. At the start of every development cycle the required specification of these three top properties, supplemented by sportiness and precision, is translated into over 90 measurable physical characteristic values, including for vertical, lateral and longitudinal dynamics. Countless calculations, design variants and simulations on supercomputers are necessary before the parameters on paper can be fed into the target description, i.e. into the specification of the component parts and wheel alignment systems. "The real art of the development process is for us to reconcile these statistical values with one another to such an extent

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that they create a complete driving experience geared to humans," says Markus Riedel, explaining the challenges in developing the handling characteristics. Because for all this digitisation and technology: it is the subjective perception whilst driving that is decisive.

"Modern handling is therefore developed through the triad of digital simulation on the computer, measurements on test stands and finishing touches through subjective fine-tuning with real vehicles. Each of these three instruments has its strengths, but also its limitations. The actual art is now to combine them with one another optimally."

Feeling meets physics To enable the checking of calculations to run efficiently, even at the early development phases in which there is as yet no actual prototype, there is the Driving Simulation Centre in Sindelfingen. In what is known as the Ride Simulator – two seats mounted next to one another on a hexapod with electrical regula-

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tors – the Mercedes-Benz chassis experts work, for example on the damping variance. With the aid of digital vehicle prototypes and the surface data of real test routes, the driver and co-driver can carry out virtual test drives and check how they find, for example, the same uneven road surface with a comfortably soft or sportily tauter suspension tuning. "With this digital transformation we save ourselves one to two coordination loops in testing with real prototypes. We have an entire collection full of virtual vehicles and driving situations in the computer which we can incorporate at the press of a button," Markus Riedel says, explaining how the process works.

This is where it is literally possible to experience at first hand a phenomenon familiar from the realm of acoustics: the masking effect. "When you are out on the road in a normal vehicle these days, you hardly notice the exterior noises such as wind noise, because they are overlaid by the engine noise. These noises are missing from an electric vehicle – and even the airstream seems

much louder," Markus Riedel explains.

It is a similar story with the various vibration frequencies: "Naturally we can try to dampen away all the vehicle's lower-frequency body movements. But the high-frequency vibrations remain – and this is that tingling in the stomach that many people find so unpleasant."

In the Handling or Moving-Base Driving Simulator one floor up, the focus is on the topic of safety and self-assurance.

With its ball structure on a twelve-metre rail, the 360-degree screen, sound systems for reproducing the wind noise and a fast electric drive, it is not dissimilar to a flight simulator. Here, too, the data sets created by supercomputers serve to replicate driving situations which appear as real as possible to the test subjects. The difference is that they are sitting in a complete vehicle body here and can accelerate, steer and brake for themselves. "Many people think that in Development we just deal with steering, braking, damping, etc.

But the Handling Simulator also helps us learn which tyres are suitable for which setup, or if the aerodynamics still need to be optimised," says Markus Riedel.

Loop by loop to the right setting The rapid increase in electronic control units, whose tasks include assuming responsibility for the drive electronics and suspension in modern vehicles, calls for a level of testing which is as thorough as that on the suspension itself. One possible way of accelerating the development of vehicle components is a process called Hardware-in-the-Loop (HiL), which has been vehemently used and developed further at Mercedes-Benz ever since the infamous moose accident test. In the HiL laboratory, real control units, such as the ESP®, are connected to a supercomputer which simulates the vehicle's behaviour with the aid of computer models.

An example: the vehicle computer model drives through a slalom course at high speed and sends sensor data describing the vehicle behaviour to the ESP®. It reacts and in turn sends the corresponding control impulses back to the hydraulic brake, thus producing precisely the brake force required at the tyres to enable the vehicle to continue meeting the driver's wishes. This creates a loop.

In this way countless driving manoeuvres and all the suspension control units can be tested in a secure environment over and over again for a diverse range

of vehicle platforms. There are now 22 functions integrated in the ESP® control unit. They have to be successfully tested in around 900 manoeuvres. And even if every single manoeuvre has to be performed in real time, a great deal of development time can be saved by including Hardware-in-the-Loop. "We can carry out nearly 20 million computing operations in one night on a HiL test stand. With this example alone you can see just what is possible thanks to digitisation. And we can also simulate marginal manoeuvres here too, without endangering any people or vehicles," comments Markus Riedel, explaining the value of Hardware-in-the-Loop for the development of handling.

On the test track The test drives in the actual vehicle on real routes should of course only ever approach these limits with extreme care, if at all. In order to put the finishing touches to all the characteristic properties of the Mercedes-Benz driving character – so the ride comfort, driving safety, self-assurance, sportiness and precision – the vehicle itself is also tested and optimised. "It's just like a good wine. You can describe it in chemical terms, but that subtle something comes from people for people. As far as we are concerned the simulations cannot replace tests in real conditions. But they do help to put the actual prototypes onto the real test track faster and with a higher maturity level," is how Markus Riedel justifies the subsequent development phase on the test track.

The engineers do not like to compromise when it comes to handling: "We are dealing with technological development at the absolute limit here, and we want to optimise all the driving properties as much as possible," says Markus Riedel. "But if ever there are any conflicts of interest, then driving safety, ride comfort and self-assurance always have priority before sportiness or precision when we make our decisions."

Depending on the vehicle platform, after years of development and countless test drives, in the end precisely the right suspension tuning is achieved that lends every single model its very special Mercedes-Benz driving character – so that drivers arrive at their destination relaxed, even after a long journey in difficult conditions.

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Mercedes-Benz SL 107

Mercedes-Benz SL R107 18 ye ars production time: the Merce des-Benz SL, R 107 series (1971-1989)

In April 1971, a new SL rolled out onto the highway, the Mercedes-Benz 350 SL. For the first time in the history of the model series an eight-cylinder power plant under the long bonnet. From all sides it made the impression of a strong, self-confident, imposing open-top vehicle. Its parents also gave it an equally well designed, removable coupé roof for the road.

Besides elegance and quality, the body radiated safety, since the crash behaviour of the two-seater was far ahead of its time.

A hard decision The decision to manufacture the R 107 series (for the first time an SL series received the internal designation “R” as in Roadster instead of “W” as in Wagen = car) was taken by the Board of Management after intensive debates on 18 June 1968. At issue was whether there should be a Targa roof version, i.e., one with a removable roof panel, instead of the fabric-topped variant, because owing to higher safety standards alarming news was to be heard from the USA regarding the licensing of open-top cars.

That a decision was finally made in favour of an open-top two-seater with a fabric roof and an additional removable hard top can be attributed to Hans Scherenberg, the head of Development, who fought tooth and nail for it: “The SL gave me great pleasure, but also caused me great trouble. This was no easy decision for us,” he summed up the decisive meeting.

The history of the roadster is intimately linked to that of the coupé. For the coupé question still remained unanswered. It was not decided that day. Discussion centred around whether one

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should additionally, and soon, make a four-seater sports coupé based on the R 107 series, or wait for the coming S-Class (W 116) to build it on that basis. But then a production model would not have arrived until much later, in the mid-1970s.

Karl Wilfert, then Head of Body Design in Sindelfingen, developed – pretty much on his own authority – a coupé based on the R 107 and presented it one day to the Board of Management as a “rough draft”. Rejected at first, Wilfert managed to push through his idea of a sports coupé with the tenacity which was so characteristic of him.

And so just six months after its première the SL was followed in October 1971 by a comfortable four-seater sports coupé, the 350 SLC, whose unconventional lines also found it many friends around the world in the course of the years. Internally the series was designated C 107 (the “C” stands for “coupé”). Up to the windscreen its appearance matched that of the open-top variant; behind the windscreen the overall height and length grew. A flat roof spanned the four-seater passenger compartment in a gentle curve, going over into a large and very steep rear window that arched in two directions. The boot lid was slightly convex in shape, unlike the SL’s.

In the side prospect the length of the coupé is documented, firstly, by the 360-millimetre longer wheelbase (2820 millimetres versus 2460), secondly by the line of the side windows. Without interfering B-pillars they were completely retractable, as is usual in a Mercedes-Benz coupé. The SLC’s drag coefficient was better

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than that of the SL so that the coupé attained the same performance despite an added weight of some 50 kilograms. A particularly noteworthy fact is that it fully lived up to its classification as a “Sports Coupé”, gaining wins for Mercedes-Benz in many rallies and long-distance races.

Safety as agenda Béla Barényi’s safety concept with front and rear crumple zones and a rigid passenger cell found expression in the 107 series in a further developed form. The backbone of the R 107 is not simply a shortened and reinforced Saloon floor assembly, as in the predecessor, but an independent frame-floor unit with a closed transmission tunnel and box-shaped cross and longitudinal members which featured differing sheet metal thicknesses and a resultant carefully defined crumple pattern.

The SL definitely had to be an open-top car, and that being the case the only protection in a possible roll-over would be provided by the A-pillar plus windscreen. They were thoroughly redesigned and had 50 per cent more strength to show than in the previously-built version. In addition, to enhance its strength the windscreen was bonded into the frame. This resulted in a remarkable power of resistance in the roof-drop test with the result that it was possible to license the open-top car for the USA even without a Targa bar. To complete the logic the rear window of the hardtop was also bonded into its frame.

In the interior there were pioneering changes to report, as well. The hard dashboard made way for an ingenious sheet-steel design that yielded on impact both in the top section and the knee area and was foam-padded. The switches and levers were recessed. The four-spoke steering wheel based on the latest findings of accident researchers,

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Mercedes-Benz SL 107

was also new. The proven impact absorber was still in place, but the steering-wheel rim, spokes, padded boss and hub were covered with polyurethane foam. As a further safety feature, the fuel tank was no longer installed in the rear end but above the rear axle, protected against collision. From March 1980, the anti-lock braking system ABS was offered; from January 1982, also airbag and belt tensioner.

A bestseller right off the bat But it was not the safety aspects that motivated customers around the world to quickly reach for the new SL. It was the promise of an open-top automobile that was a successful piece of engineering all round – and it was in fact the only one of its kind offered in the USA over a period of several years. Its distinctive front end with the dominant SL face, the wide-band headlamps and grooved turn indicator covers had a powerful aura; the lines of the low silhouette were harmonious – soft top open or closed, or with hardtop. And the very slight inward curve of the boot lid, along with the concave hardtop, were reminiscent of “Pagoda” days. The wide band taillights with their ribbed surface not only were largely insensitive to soiling, but additionally gave the rear end a touch of vibrance.

Extremely conducive to comfort and ease of operation was the easily and speedily operated soft top, a refined version of the “Pagoda” top. It took just 30 seconds to open or close it. Folded, it disappeared underneath a cover that was meanwhile customary in the SL series.

A number of details underscored the car’s safety aspirations. The seats were available from the start with head restraints, and seat belts also were included. Physical well-being and driver-fitness safety were served by the heating system with its very spontaneous response, supported by new air ducting in the doors. Newly developed wind-deflecting mouldings on the A-pillars, which also served to channel off mud-laden water in the rain, and dirt-repelling covers on the exterior mirrors enabled good visibility. They kept the side windows clean even in inclement weather. The windscreen wipers arranged closely to each other in the centre of the car swept a respectable 70 per cent of the windscreen area, were always optimally positioned in the flow of air and did not lift off even at higher speeds.

During its 18-year “production time” (which was not planned to last that long, but in the end was indeed successful), the R 107 was driven by a whole series of sixand eight-cylinder engines. Its model designations are accordingly quite varied.

The eight-cylinder models were led by the 350 SL (1971 to 1980), whose 3.5-litre engine (M 116) already was known from the W 108, W 109 and W 111 series. The 147 kW (200 bhp) which it delivered at 5800 rpm helped the sports car, which weighed 1600 kilograms after all, to clock nine seconds for 0 to 100 km/h and reach a top speed of 210 km/h. The 350 SLC had identical perfor-

mance figures.

From autumn 1971 onwards, the 450 SL was produced, initially for the US market. At 5000 rpm its M 117 engine delivered 132 kW (180 bhp) in the California version and 140 kW (190 bhp) in the version for the other states, and from 1973 on, and 165 kW (225 bhp) in the European version. Top speed was 215 km/h: it surged from 0 to 100 km/h in 8.8 seconds. In 1972, the 450 SLC, the corresponding coupé version, followed, with identical engine and identical performance. Prior to March 1973, both were destined exclusively for export to North America, after that they were included in the general sales range.

In July 1974, the SL model range was extended: the SL and SLC were now available as models 280 SL and 280 SLC with the 2.8-litre M 110 engine. It developed 136 kW (185 bhp) at 6000 rpm and had proven its reliability in the two years before in the “Stroke Eight” series W 114/115 and in the W 116-series S-Class. Both models had identical performance: the top speed was 205 km/h; they could sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in 10.1 seconds.

41

Mercedes-Be 125 Years of Motorsport

125

Years of Mercedes-Benz Motorsport Mercedes-Benz celebrated the great “125 Years of Motorsport” anniversary in 2019.

This brilliant year ending with amazing moments: the Silver Arrows are at the top of the teams’ standings in their debut year in Formula E and Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS is celebrating the 6th World Championship double in a row at the end of the Formula 1 season. The memory of the time of the SLC Coupé from the C 107 model series with its victories in long-distance rallies four decades ago is particularly strong.

V8 quartet: After 5668 exhausting kilometres, Hannu Mikkola and Arne Hertz won the 11th Rallye Bandama–Côte d’Ivoire

(9 to 14 December 1979) forty years ago. They began a quadruple victory of the Mercedes-Benz 450 SLC 5.0 (C 107) V8 Coupé. The winning quartet on this rally in the Ivory Coast was completed by Björn Waldegård and Hans Thorszelius (2nd place), Andrew Cowan and Klaus Kaiser (3rd place) and Vic Preston Jr. and Mike Doughty (4th place).

Luxury winners: The era of the successful SLC rally vehicles based on the sportily luxurious coupé began in 1978 and lasted until 1980.

Alongside the crowning quadruple victory 40 years ago in Africa, there were also further 43

spectacular successes: in 1978 Andrew Cowan / Colin Malkin and Sobiesław Zasada / Andrzej Zembrzuski celebrated a double victory in the “Vuelta a la América del Sud”, South American rally, for the Mercedes-Benz 450 SLC rally vehicles, ahead of three further cars by the Stuttgart brand in positions 3 to 5, including a further SLC Coupé. In 1980 Björn Waldegård / Hans Thorszelius and Jorge Recalde / Nestor Straimel won the Rallye Bandama–Côte d’Ivoire with 500 SLC rally vehicles. The winning vehicle of 1980 can be experienced in the Mercedes-Benz Museum in the Legend 7: Silver Arrows – Races and Records exhibition area.

Close to series production: In the era of the V8 rally vehicles of the C 107 model series Mercedes-Benz continued the concept of close to series production of competitive vehicles. The powerful starting models were specifically optimised for tough use. The measures in the 450 SLC 5.0 for 1979 even included the engine: the performance grew from 177 kW (240 hp) to 213 kW (290 hp). At the same time the displacement was reduced from 5025 to 4973 cubic centimetres in order

44

Mercedes-Benz SL 107

was never used because Mercedes-Benz ended its rally activities before the start of the 1981 season and concentrated on the development of series passenger vehicles.

to keep to the displacement limit of 5 litres set by the regulations.

Rally regimen: Many changes to the details of the rally vehicles targeted conditions that the elegant, four-seater touring car based on the SL sports car of the R 107 model series were hardly likely to experience: from fording (switchable air supply for the engine) to the service stop in deep slush (securing of the cap for the engine oil and coolant filler opening with chains to prevent it from falling off). Then there was lightweight construction (fuel tank made from plastic) and a parking brake with a handbrake lever fitted to the transmission tunnel (for dynamic corner drifts).

Roadster legacy: After the great successes with the SLC Coupé, for the 1981 season Mercedes-Benz developed a rally vehicle based on the 500 SL of the R 107 model series: strong performance (235 kW/320 hp), consistently lightweight construction (1350 instead of 1586 kilograms) and a limited slip differential with 80 per cent barrier effect (for a spectacular drifting angle). One of the men behind the wheel of this rocket was to be the rally driver Walter Röhrl. However, the vehicle

Star guest: Today the 500 SL rally vehicle, with its fascinating history, is a sought-after guest at automotive classic events. Regardless of whether it is driven by Björn Waldegård at the 2013 ADAC Eifel Rallye Festival, or if it is to be experienced with Mercedes-Benz Classic brand ambassadors such as Roland Asch, Dieter Glemser, Klaus Ludwig and Karl Wendlinger at the Classic Days Schloss Dyck: this contemporary witness of the Mercedes-Benz V8 rally era inspires.

Golden final: Lewis Hamilton’s victory at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix brought to an end the current Formula 1 season on 1 December 2019. The Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Formula 1 team is celebrating an outstanding return for the season: 6th World Championship title for Lewis Hamilton, 6th Constructors’ title, 6th World Championship double in a row. Valtteri Bottas ended the year in 2nd place in the drivers’ standings. Britta Seeger, Member of the Board of Management of Daimler AG, responsible for Mercedes-Benz Cars Sales, received the trophy for the victorious constructor on behalf of the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Motorsport team.

Lightning start: At the Diriyah E-Prix on 22 and 23 November 2019 the Mercedes-Benz EQ Silver Arrow 01 began a new era of motorsport with the Mercedes star. Stoffel Vandoorne finished both races in 3rd place and was therefore immediately in 2nd place in the drivers’ standings after his debut race. With both podium finishes, the Mercedes-Benz EQ Formula E team also leads the teams’ standings. The fully electric FIA Formula E racing series marks the start of a new era for the brand after 125 years of motorsport.

45

Mercedes-Benz Approved Retailers mercedesclub.org.uk

Mercedes-Benz Approved Retailers Showing discounts offered to MBO members VU WYVK\J[PVU VM H ]HSPK TLTILYZOPW JHYK ^OLU JHY PZ IYV\NO[ PU [V KLHSLYZOPW BUCKINGHAMSHIRE Mercedes-Benz of Aylesbury )PJLZ[LY 9VHK (`SLZI\Y` )\JRPUNOHTZOPYL /7 )3 Tel: 01296 319600 Services available: Car Sales, M-B Official After Sales, Parts, Servicing.

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48

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Mercedes-Benz Approved Retailers mercedesclub.org.uk mercedesclub.org.uk

Mercedes-Benz Approved Retailers

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AMG

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Mercedes-Benz Bromley (After Sales) <UP[Z ¶ )LSS .YLLU 9L[HPS 7HYR

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SURREY

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WILTSHIRE Mercedes-Benz of Salisbury :V\[OHTW[VU 9VHK :HSPZI\Y` >PS[ZOPYL :7 1: Tel: 01722 662865 Services available: Car Sales, M-B Official After Sales, Parts, Servicing, Smart Centres / Smart Parts.

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YORKSHIRE Europa - Mercedes-Benz Authorised Retailer .YHU]PSSL :X\HYL :\MMVSR 9VHK :OLMMPLSK :V\[O @VYRZOPYL : (3 Tel: 01142 859955 Services available: M-B Official After Sales, Parts, Servicing.

Discount: 10% stock ordered parts, 10% servicing for MBO members - Show Card at Service Desk.

Mercedes-Benz of Doncaster >OLH[SL` /HSS 9VHK +VUJHZ[LY :V\[O @VYRZOPYL +5 5- Tel: 01302 554600 Services available: Car Sales, M-B Official After Sales, Parts, Servicing.

Discount: MBO discounts available. Show card at Service Desk.

Mercedes-Benz of Sheffield :OLMMPLSK :V\[O @VYRZOPYL 9VHK 4LHKV^OHSS :OLMMPLSK :V\[O @VYRZOPYL : -A Tel: 01142 626100 Services available: Car Sales, M-B Official After Sales, Parts, Servicing.

Discount: MBO Discounts available.

Show card at Service Desk.

49

specialist directory

specialist directory

specialist directory

Peter Jarvis Specialising in Mercedes-Benz + Classic Cars

Mercedes 280SL Sports Pagoda 1968 finished in brilliant Arctic White with superb contrasting interior, hard and soft tops, automatic, power steering, CD stereo system. This car is one of the finest we have ever seen having had thousands spent through its life keeping it to the highest standard as it is today, only used on summer days, only 58,000 miles from new, supplied with original handbook, various invoices, and most old Mot’s, original tool kit, it would be very difficult to find another one that comes close to the condition of this one, it’s simply amazing. £135,750.

Mercedes sports 280SL Pagoda 1968/9. Finished in unmarked gleaming silver with as new soft black hide interior, hard and soft tops, automatic, power steering, stereo system, special mercedes overmats, only 73,000 miles £1000s spent over the years to keep this garaged kept sports car in the magnificent condition it is in today. A folder full of invoices and old MOTs supplied with original handbook, complete with all tools. A breathtaking example. More pictures available on our website. Only one lady owner. £129,500.

Mercedes Sports 350SL 1980 finished in glacier white with tan hide interior, headrests, hard and soft tops, tinted glass, power windows, power steering, automatic, over mats, original stereo, factory alloys, this car has only covered 45,000 original miles from new, with full Mercedes history, and all old MOTs, and invoices complete with all original tools. Recent full service, garaged from new, this car must be one of the finest to be on offer. £35,750.

Mercedes 1988 560SL Sports left hand drive, finished in the most delightful unmarked colour Impala Metallic, coded bumpers, with contrasting interior headrests, over mats, hard & soft tops, auto, power, first aid kit, cruise control, abs, power windows, light up vanity mirrors, air conditioning, air bags, tinted glass, centre armrest, outside temperature gauge, stereo & CD system, SRS, alloys, complete with all tools, 43,000 miles, two owners, garaged from new, service history, fast appreciating asset, probably the finest SL ever made, superb to drive, absolutely stunning. £38,500.

Mercedes 300 SL Sports 1988 Finished in Gleaming signal red, with as new beige interior, hard and soft tops, automatic, power steering, ABS brakes, alloys, stereo system, power windows, sundym glass, complete with original fire extinguisher and tools, every old MOT from new, original handbook and wallet, 66,000 miles, magnificent full service history, garaged from new, this car is superb condition throughout having been pampered from new. £48,750

Mercedes Sports 1987 420SL Finished in nautic blue with dove grey hide interior, head rests, rear seats, hard and soft tops, tinted glass, power windows, central locking, power steering, heated seats, ABS brakes, alloys, cruise control, stereo system, long last ownership, garaged from new, with impeccable service records, thousands spent to keep this car in the fantastic condition it is in today, drives like new £38,750.

Mercedes Sports 300SL 1987 finished in gleaming signal red, with soft black hide interior, hard & soft tops, headrests, stereo system, ABS brakes, auto, power steering, tinted glass, alloys, power windows, soft top never used, garaged and stored for many years, making this a very low miles of only 23,500 miles, with service book and old MOTs & invoices, plus every journey loged, this Mercedes could easily be mistaken for new. £55,750.

Mercedes 560SL Sports 1987 left drive, finished in gleaming signal red with beige hide interior, headrests, centre arm rest, hard and soft tops, this flag ship of the Mercedes SL’s, has power windows, tinted glass, stereo system, light up vanity mirrors, cruise control, air conditioning, power mirror, ABS, airbags. alloys, overmats, only 27,000 miles from new, with service history, only one owner, garaged and pampered from new. £46,750.

Mercedes 420SL Sports 1989 one of the last of this model, finished in gleaming signal red with superb black hide interior, piped red seats, hard and soft top, tinted glass, power windows, auto, cd player, alloys, over mats, full service history. This car is just stunning, probably one of the finest £39,750.

Mercedes 380SL Sports 1984, Finished in Astral Silver with Navy Blue hide interior , and Blue dashboard, Walnut veneers, headrests, over mats, Blaupunkt stereo system, hard top, soft top as new and hardly used, alloys, tinted glass, power mirror, rear seats, headrests, automatic, power steering, power windows, first aid kit still in factory wrapping, tool kit, only 61,000 pampered miles from new, with complete service history, accompanied with a set of old mot certificates, with original paperwork and invoices, as well as hand book from new in original wallet, This car has been garaged from new and drives like new and very smooth, Totally stunning and one of the best, unbelievable condition. £37,500

Mercedes 230SL Sports 1966 finished in Porcelain White with as new Black hide interior, Auto, power steering, CD stereo system, hard and soft tops, known to us for many years, original service books and original handbook, entered in many events here in the UK and Europe, many old Mot’s, fitted stainless steel exhaust system, recent overhaul, extraordinary folder full of service history, drives superb, complete with all tools, over £10,000 spent in the last few years making this car probably one of the finest to be found. £89,750.

Mercedes 1988 560 SL Sports, Left hand drive, finished in Smoke Silver with Brazil hide interior, headrests, hard and soft tops, centre armrest, overmats, first aid kit, light up vanity mirrors, CD stereo system,air bag, air cond, power mirror, cruise control, ABS, power windows, SRS, outside temperature gauge, tinted glass, auto, power, expensive Mercedes wheels, only 38,000 miles, service history, drives like new, just magnificent £39,750.

By appointment only Gildenhill Place, Gildenhill Rd, Swanley, Kent BR8 7PD Tel: 01322 669081 Mobile: 07836 250222 Email: PJarvis646@aol.com www.peterjarvis.net

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