1987 Mereces 500SL rebuild continues
December 10, 2024
John and Jon have been at it again. They have successfully built up and fitted the new rear vents. They have also managed to fit
1987 Mercedes 500SL
500SL Headlights
December 4, 2024
The headlights of our 1987 Mercedes 500SL have been stripped down by our workshop manager John.
500SL Power Steering Cooler
November 18, 2024
Technician Jonn has been continuing his work on Craig’s 19897 Mercedes 500SL. After removing the front valance and fitting the power steering cooler into position,
Mercedes 500SL – cleaning up the wiring
November 12, 2024
John is tidied and cleaned up some of the wiring in the boot area. He has mounted and connected up the aerial.
Mercedes 500SL – rebuild continued…
November 7, 2024
The John’s have been working mainly on the doors recently. They’ve cut counter sunk bolts to length, fitted and secured both door locks. The door
More reassembly work on Mercedes 500SL
November 4, 2024
John and Jon have done a few more hours on the Merc this weekend. Fitted new clips to all fuel pipes in the boot heading
Fitting up the SL Tank
October 31, 2024
John was expecting this to be a tougher job than it turned out to be. The tank fitted into position nicely. It’s great when a
Mercedes 500 SL progress
October 25, 2024
Progress is being made on my 1987 Mercedes 500 SL. I keep hoping and wishing that there is not much longer to go but time
500SL Headights And Heater
October 14, 2024
Our 1987 Mercedes 500SL has been in the hands of Bridge Classic Cars workshop manager, John. He has been stripping down the headlights ready to
Mercedes 500SL fit up continues
October 8, 2024
Continue to build up from photos. Find engine steady shock for engine mounts and strip and clean and prep for painting. Clean stripped door mirrors,
Mercedes 500SL fitting up continues
September 30, 2024
To help with the fitting up of our Mercedes 500SL Jon has used the Mercedes 380SL that we currently have in The Classic Lounge as
500SL Wipers And Brakes
September 19, 2024
John and Jonn have been fitting the wiper linkage under the dash of our 1987 Mercedes 500SL and connecting it up. They then refitted the
500SL Fuel Pump Brackets
September 2, 2024
John has been refurbishing the fuel pump brackets of our 1987 Mercedes 500SL.
500 SL Progress
August 29, 2024
Jonn has been cleaning up the wiper motor and mounting brackets of our 1987 Mercedes 500SL. He then cleaned and checked the operation of the
Brake Lines and Master Cylinder on our 1987 Mercedes 500SL
July 24, 2024
The 1987 Mercedes 500SL is currently getting fitted out by the Bridge Classic Cars team at our Suffolk HQ. Jon, one of our restoration technicians,
Starting Up Our 1987 Mercedes 500SL Project Again
July 19, 2024
The Bridge Classic Cars team have begun working on one of our personal projects in the shape of our 1987 Mercedes 500SL. The team have
Into Storage
March 18, 2024
Our 1987 Mercedes 500SL has gone into our secure storage facility. It was transported from the Bridge Classic Cars workshop to its temporary home.
ABS Mounting Bracket
February 28, 2024
Mauro has been painting the ABS mounting bracket for our 1987 Mercedes 500SL.
Doors
February 8, 2024
Workshop Manager John has been fitting up the doors of our 1987 Mercedes 500SL.
Heater Box
January 23, 2024
Jonn has continued his work on our 1987 Mercedes 500SL. He cleaned and repaired the heater box assembly. He bonded the broken fan mating surface
Fitting Up
January 18, 2024
Recently, Jon and John have been working on our 1987 Mercedes 500SL. Jon stripped the heater box and removed the blend flap and directional air
Mercedes Wiring
January 8, 2024
John has been cleaning the overspray and grease and oil off the wiring loom of our 1987 Mercedes 500 SL. He then started routing wiring
Mercedes Wiring
November 29, 2023
Bridge Classic Cars workshop manager John has been sorting out the routing and assessing the condition of the wiring in our 1987 Mercedes 500SL.
More Progress On Our Mercedes
November 27, 2023
Jonn has been fitting new callipers and pads along with a new fitting kit and braided flexi hose to the nearside front of our 1987
ABS Bracket
November 20, 2023
Our 1987 Mercedes 500SL has been the focus of classic car technician Monty recently. He has had the car in the fabrication bay and has
Alignment
November 15, 2023
Workshop manager John has been working on our 1987 Mercedes 500 SL. He started by trial-fitting the heater box to check the panel alignment. Monty
Building up the doors
November 10, 2023
The doors are being built up right now on our 1987 Mercedes SL500 R107.
My Mercedes getting a bit of love…
November 6, 2023
John has carried out some weekend one here at Bridge Classic Cars, working on my 1987 Mercedes 500 SL restoration project. This has been such
Mercedes SL Front Brakes
November 4, 2023
Jon has fitted up the new bleed nipples to the freshly painted calipers. The bolts have been cleaned and painted We have cleaned up and
Mercedes Front Hubs
October 25, 2023
Jonn has been working on our 1987 Mercedes 500SL. He assembled the wheel bearings and hubs and fit them to the car. New discs were
1987 Mereces 500SL rebuild continues
December 10, 2024
John and Jon have been at it again. They have successfully built up and fitted the new rear vents. They have also managed to fit and align the door mouldings.
John has then got to work on rebuilding the front head lights and stripping down the front bumper. The headlight wiper motor linkage was seized so we have stripped down motor to check the operation, which was okay. Then we proceeded to dismantle the linkage and free off the corroded/seized parts of the linkage. It was then greased and rebuilt and the operation checked. When satisfied it was then fitted to the vehicle.
As for the bumpers, they are not in the best state at the rear so we need to weigh up whether it is more costs effective to repair or replace with new.
500SL Headlights
December 4, 2024
The headlights of our 1987 Mercedes 500SL have been stripped down by our workshop manager John.
500SL Power Steering Cooler
November 18, 2024
Technician Jonn has been continuing his work on Craig’s 19897 Mercedes 500SL. After removing the front valance and fitting the power steering cooler into position, he secured it with new bolts before refitting the valance.
He then disconnected the power steering pipe in the engine bay and fed it through the chassis and secured it. Once the hose was cut to length, Jonn fitted it between the pipe from the chassis and the cooler and secured it with new clips.
The engine bay wiring cleaning and prep work has also continued.
Mercedes 500SL – cleaning up the wiring
November 12, 2024
John is tidied and cleaned up some of the wiring in the boot area. He has mounted and connected up the aerial.
Mercedes 500SL – rebuild continued…
November 7, 2024
The John’s have been working mainly on the doors recently. They’ve cut counter sunk bolts to length, fitted and secured both door locks. The door seals have now been fitted into the channels around the door before securing the front piece with clips.
They they’ve moved on to the boot area where they’ve fitted hose clips to the fuel pipes.
It has been a good number of years now since the engine was fully rebuilt on the SL but as it is such a complex engine that requires everything to very just so, we have decided to send the engine back off to Coltec Engineering to be checked over and tested ready for refit.
More reassembly work on Mercedes 500SL
November 4, 2024
John and Jon have done a few more hours on the Merc this weekend.
Fitted new clips to all fuel pipes in the boot heading to the expansion tank. At the same time, they’ve tidied up the boot area.
Route wiring around rear of boot and screw into place using original clips.
They’ve then moved on to the door strikers. Strip, cleaned and polished both before fitting back on to the car. Adjustment made to both doors are only rough approximates at the moment as no seals have been fitted as yet.
Fitting up the SL Tank
October 31, 2024
John was expecting this to be a tougher job than it turned out to be. The tank fitted into position nicely. It’s great when a plan comes together!
Mercedes 500 SL progress
October 25, 2024
Progress is being made on my 1987 Mercedes 500 SL. I keep hoping and wishing that there is not much longer to go but time seems to be forever running away.
Both John’s/Jon’s are working on the car on Saturdays so as to not affect the scheduling in the busy Bridge Classic Cars workshops but that does mean it is taking it’s time. And both being avid Ipswich Town fans means I can only benefit from their expertise on a Saturday morning as they have ‘more important’ things to be doing now on a Saturday afternoon…haha!
However, the wiring is really taking shape now. They have been working on the boot area and hope to have the fuel tank in my close of play today. They’ve rubbed down the boot floor, exposed the areas and painted in matt black.
Remove broken lug from body for fuel expansion tank, cleaned, drilled and spot welded lug back onto tank and paint gloss black.
The heater box is now in, wiring has been laid out in the bonnet area and the wing mirrors are now back on.
Next thing to do is install a large TV with Sky Sports on so that the John’s/Jon’s would sooner work than be anywhere else!!
500SL Headights And Heater
October 14, 2024
Our 1987 Mercedes 500SL has been in the hands of Bridge Classic Cars workshop manager, John.
He has been stripping down the headlights ready to send the reflector away to be refurbished.
John also rebuilt and refitted the refurbished heater box to the car.
Mercedes 500SL fit up continues
October 8, 2024
Continue to build up from photos. Find engine steady shock for engine mounts and strip and clean and prep for painting. Clean stripped door mirrors, Polish chrome and back to black rubber edging. Pop over to Classic lounge to take some reference photos of doors. Find door seal and tape to place. Find fixings and all chrome trims for offside door. Unable to find all parts for nearside door as of yet. Still sorting through stuff.
View wiring diagram for wire colurs and termination points. Route and pull wiring through body to front grill area. Label wiring ready.
We’ve sourced some foam from Lydia in the upholstery department which can be used for the heater flaps. The old foam flaps have been cleaned up and we’ve applied double sided tape.
Cut foam to size and stick to the flaps. Jon has refitted the flaps to the heater box and tested each one as its fitted. The process has been repeat for all flaps inside the heater.
Apply foam to heater matrix and fit to heater box.
Mercedes 500SL fitting up continues
September 30, 2024
To help with the fitting up of our Mercedes 500SL Jon has used the Mercedes 380SL that we currently have in The Classic Lounge as a good reference point.
As with all of our restorations the technicians and marketing teams here at Bridge Classic Cars work very well together to ensure that plenty of images are taken throughout the entire process
This makes the fitting up process much easier if any questions are asked. Here we have images of the bonnet furniture being fitted back up.
500SL Wipers And Brakes
September 19, 2024
John and Jonn have been fitting the wiper linkage under the dash of our 1987 Mercedes 500SL and connecting it up.
They then refitted the brakes and routed the brake lines before putting the fuel pump together ready to be fitted soon.
500SL Fuel Pump Brackets
September 2, 2024
John has been refurbishing the fuel pump brackets of our 1987 Mercedes 500SL.
500 SL Progress
August 29, 2024
Jonn has been cleaning up the wiper motor and mounting brackets of our 1987 Mercedes 500SL.
He then cleaned and checked the operation of the fuel pumps and brackets.
Brake Lines and Master Cylinder on our 1987 Mercedes 500SL
July 24, 2024
The 1987 Mercedes 500SL is currently getting fitted out by the Bridge Classic Cars team at our Suffolk HQ. Jon, one of our restoration technicians, has been working on beginning the braking system on the 1980s V8 roadster. To begin with, he’s been laying out the brake lines to make sure everything fits correctly around any existing components and up to the master cylinder which has also been installed on the firewall. Whilst doing that, he’s methodically cleaned up any parts which also needed installing onto the car.
Starting Up Our 1987 Mercedes 500SL Project Again
July 19, 2024
The Bridge Classic Cars team have begun working on one of our personal projects in the shape of our 1987 Mercedes 500SL.
The team have worked on getting a lot of the refurbished parts down off of the shelves for this specific car to lay out and cross reference before beginning the process of getting the car back together.
Into Storage
March 18, 2024
Our 1987 Mercedes 500SL has gone into our secure storage facility. It was transported from the Bridge Classic Cars workshop to its temporary home.
ABS Mounting Bracket
February 28, 2024
Mauro has been painting the ABS mounting bracket for our 1987 Mercedes 500SL.
Doors
February 8, 2024
Workshop Manager John has been fitting up the doors of our 1987 Mercedes 500SL.
Heater Box
January 23, 2024
Jonn has continued his work on our 1987 Mercedes 500SL. He cleaned and repaired the heater box assembly.
He bonded the broken fan mating surface and sanded it back flat. He then stuck foam to the directional and air blend flaps inside the box and refitted.
Fitting Up
January 18, 2024
Recently, Jon and John have been working on our 1987 Mercedes 500SL.
Jon stripped the heater box and removed the blend flap and directional air flap from one side. He left the other side as it was so he could use this as a guide for reassembly.
John trial-fitted the power steering pipes and servo before moving on to fit the indicators and side trim. The throttle linkage was also cleaned.
Mercedes Wiring
January 8, 2024
John has been cleaning the overspray and grease and oil off the wiring loom of our 1987 Mercedes 500 SL. He then started routing wiring into the correct positions.
The other Jonn then continued to sort/route the wiring before mounting the heater valve to the bulkhead. The ABS pump was mounted and Jonn repaired and rebuilt the heater fan and mount in place.
Jonn then drilled the hole in the nearside bulkhead and routed the bonnet release cable through.
Mercedes Wiring
November 29, 2023
Bridge Classic Cars workshop manager John has been sorting out the routing and assessing the condition of the wiring in our 1987 Mercedes 500SL.
More Progress On Our Mercedes
November 27, 2023
Jonn has been fitting new callipers and pads along with a new fitting kit and braided flexi hose to the nearside front of our 1987 Mercedes 500SL.
He then fitted a new shock absorber and secured it.
ABS Bracket
November 20, 2023
Our 1987 Mercedes 500SL has been the focus of classic car technician Monty recently. He has had the car in the fabrication bay and has been making the ABS bracket.
Alignment
November 15, 2023
Workshop manager John has been working on our 1987 Mercedes 500 SL. He started by trial-fitting the heater box to check the panel alignment.
Monty has also been working on aligning the bulkhead.
Building up the doors
November 10, 2023
The doors are being built up right now on our 1987 Mercedes SL500 R107.
My Mercedes getting a bit of love…
November 6, 2023
John has carried out some weekend one here at Bridge Classic Cars, working on my 1987 Mercedes 500 SL restoration project. This has been such a long process due to it being one of our own vehicles and never finding the time in the diary to get on with it.
Weekends have now become a thing now to get the car back on the road…hopefully for next summer!!
As you can see, John has been cleaning down the locks and door mechanism to fit up doors.
Mercedes SL Front Brakes
November 4, 2023
Jon has fitted up the new bleed nipples to the freshly painted calipers.
The bolts have been cleaned and painted
We have cleaned up and reused the pad sensor wires and fitted the calipers to the car.
The old pads have been reused as they are nearly new and we used a new fitting kit to secure the pads.
New front shock absorbers have been fitted.
Mercedes Front Hubs
October 25, 2023
Jonn has been working on our 1987 Mercedes 500SL. He assembled the wheel bearings and hubs and fit them to the car.
New discs were also fitted before the wheels were refitted. Jonn checked and adjusted the bearings. The bearing nut needed to be tightened, which Jonn did as well as fitting a dust cap.
