Mercedes-Benz R129 SL600 restoration
A 1997 SL600 returns to use after four years parked, with ADS and charging-system repairs followed by winter restoration and an owner-reported 330-mile trip.
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Bringing a parked SL600 back to the road
Technician117 bought a 1997 SL600 showing about 60,000 miles after it had sat for four years. Its rear suspension would not rise, the battery warning lamp was on and the soft-top cylinders were leaking. He reported replacing the ADS hydraulic control unit and all four nitrogen spheres, flushing the ADS fluid, replacing the corroded alternator, and carrying out oil, air-filter, spark-plug and coolant service. After registration he drove about 350 miles without a new issue. These were several repairs and maintenance jobs on one car, rather than a controlled test of any single component.
Winter restoration and a working soft top
Over winter, he removed and reinstalled the soft-top hydraulics after sending them to Top Hydraulics for rebuilding, then flushed and refilled the hydraulic fluid. He reported that the top worked well afterward. The plastic windows remained a separate unfinished problem: cleaning had done little for severe yellowing, one window cracked, and he deliberately broke out the main window in cold weather to prompt replacement. He wanted a trim shop to replace the windows while retaining the otherwise sound fabric top.
Paint, trim and later maintenance
He described a two-stage paint correction with Meguiar’s 105 and 205 on a Porter Cable XP, followed by Collinite 845 wax, and replaced the deteriorated hood insulation. He also renewed the aftermarket subwoofers and fabricated an exhaust outlet to suit the existing Lorinser rear bumper. In spring he found that the thermostat appeared to stick open; the first replacement he ordered was incorrect, so he obtained the complete housing and replaced the drive belt during the work. The post does not provide part numbers or a verified fitment list.
A 330-mile follow-up drive
In a later update he described a roughly 330-mile day trip over about ten hours around the Finger Lakes, Lake Ontario and Niagara region. He said the car ran flawlessly that day. This is an owner-reported follow-up drive, not a long-term reliability finding or confirmation that the remaining soft-top windows had been replaced.