Skip to content
  • We Are SLSHOP
  • The world’s leading classic Mercedes destination. Welcome to SLSHOP.
tel +44 (0) 1789 337 070
SLSHOP
  • HOME
  • Buy or Sell a Mercedes
    • Mercedes For Sale
      • Showroom Vehicles
      • Appraised Vehicles
      • Mercedes W113 For Sale
      • Mercedes R107 For Sale
      • Mercedes R129 For Sale
      • Coming Soon
      • Previously Sold
    • Sell Your Mercedes
      • Let us Help You Sell Your Car
      • My Vehicle Listing
    • Buying Guides
      • W190 SL
      • W113 SL
      • R107 SL
      • R129 SL
      • R230 SL
      • The SL Market

      • Buying

      • SLSHOP Warranty

      • We are SLSHOP

  • Workshops
    • W113
      • W113
      • R107
      • R129
      • Heritage
      • Specialist
      • Modern Classic
      • AMG
    • Healthcheck
      • Complete Health Check
      • New Owner Check
      • Engine Check
      • Brake Check
      • Under Body Check
      • Pre Season Check
    • Servicing
      • Routine Servicing
      • Improve the way my Pagoda runs
      • Improve the way my Pagoda changes gear
      • Diagnose an issue
      • Rally & Competition Preparation
      • CARE Servicing plans
      • My account
      • SLSHOP MOT
      • UK Registration service
    • Restoration / Fabrication
      • Factory Correct Restoration
      • Welding repairs
      • Manual Gearbox Conversion
      • W113 Gearbox Rebuilds
      • Engine rebuilds
      • Soft Top replacement
      • Pagoda Interior / Trimming
      • W113 Repaint
    • Additional Services
      • Detailing
      • Pagoda Transportation
      • Hardtop Storage
      • Vehicle Storage
      • Valuation Certificate
      • Rust Protection
    • Help & Advice
      • Show me an SLSHOP restored Pagoda
    • R107
      • W113
      • R107
      • R129
      • Heritage
      • Specialist
      • Modern Classic
      • AMG
    • Healthcheck
      • Complete Health Check
      • New Owner Check
      • Engine Check
      • Brake Check
      • Under Body Check
      • Pre Season Check
    • Servicing
      • Routine Servicing
      • Improve the way my 107 drives
      • Diagnose an issue
      • Rally & Competition Preparation
      • Fast Road Upgrades
      • Improve the way my 107 Handles
      • USA to EURO Conversion
      • CARE Servicing plans
      • My account
      • SLSHOP MOT
      • UK Registration service
    • Restoration / Fabrication
      • Factory Correct Restoration
      • Bulkhead Repair
      • Manual Gearbox conversions
      • Engine Rebuilds
      • SportLine
      • Soft Top Replace
      • Interior trim for 107 SL’s
      • Gearbox Rebuilds
      • R107 Repainting
    • Additional Services
      • Detailing
      • Hardtop Storage
      • Vehicle Storage
      • Transportation Support
      • Valuation Certificate
      • Rust Protection
      • Engine Cleaning
    • Help & Advice
      • I’ve just acquired a R107 SL
    • R129
      • W113
      • R107
      • R129
      • Heritage
      • Specialist
      • Modern Classic
      • AMG
    • Healthcheck
      • Complete Health Check
      • New Owner Check
      • Engine Check
      • Brake Check
      • Under Body Check
      • Pre Season Check
    • Servicing
      • Routine Servicing
      • Improve the way my 129 drives
      • Diagnose an issue
      • R129 Hard/Soft Top Check
      • CARE Servicing plans
      • UK Registration service
      • My account
      • R129 SL MOT
    • Restoration & Upgrades
      • Preventative Rust Programmes
      • Cosmetic Upgrades
      • Parking Sensors
      • Audio & Sat Nav
      • Pimp My R129
      • Fit me a new soft top
      • R129 Repainting
    • Additional Services
      • Detailing
      • Hardtop Storage
      • Vehicle Storage
      • Transportation Support
      • Valuation Certificate
      • Rust Protection
    • Help & Advice
      • I’ve just acquired an R129
    • Heritage
      • W113
      • R107
      • R129
      • Heritage
      • Specialist
      • Modern Classic
      • AMG
    • Healthcheck
      • Complete Health Check
      • New Owner Check
      • Brake Check
      • Engine Check
      • Under Body Check
      • Pre Season Check
    • Servicing
      • Routine Servicing
      • Improve the way my classic Mercedes Drives
      • Diagnose an issue
      • Rally & Competition Preparation
      • CARE Servicing plans
      • My account
      • SLSHOP MOT
    • Restoration / Fabrication
      • Factory Correct Restoration
      • Welding Repairs
      • Manual Gearbox conversions
      • Interior Trimming
    • Additional Services
      • Detailing
      • Hardtop Storage
      • Vehicle Storage
      • Transportation Support
      • Valuation Certificate
      • Rust Protection
    • Help & Advice
      • I’ve just acquired a classic Mercedes
    • Specialist
      • W113
      • R107
      • R129
      • Heritage
      • Specialist
      • Modern Classic
      • AMG
    • Healthcheck
      • Complete Health Check
      • New Owner Check
      • Engine Check
      • Brake Check
      • Under Body Check
      • Pre Season Check
    • Servicing
      • Routine Servicing
      • Improve the way my classic Mercedes Drives
      • Gearbox Service
      • Diagnose an issue
      • Rally & Competition Preparation
      • CARE Servicing plans
      • My account
      • SLSHOP MOT
    • Restoration / Fabrication
      • Factory Correct Restoration
      • Welding Repairs
      • Manual Gearbox conversions
      • Interior Trimming
    • Additional Services
      • Detailing
      • Hardtop Storage
      • Vehicle Storage
      • Transportation Support
      • Valuation Certificate
      • Rust Protection
    • Help & Advice
      • I’ve just acquired a classic Mercedes
    • Modern Classic
      • W113
      • R107
      • R129
      • Heritage
      • Specialist
      • Modern Classic
      • AMG
    • Healthcheck
      • Complete Health Check
      • New Owner Check
      • Engine Check
      • Brake Check
      • Under Body Check
      • Pre Season Check
    • Servicing
      • Routine Servicing
      • Gearbox Service
      • Improve the way my modern classic drives
      • Diagnose an issue
      • Rally & Competition Preparation
      • CARE Servicing plans
      • My account
      • SLSHOP MOT
    • Restoration / Fabrication
      • Factory Correct Restoration
      • Interior Trimming
    • Additional Services
      • Detailing
      • Hardtop Storage
      • Vehicle Storage
      • Transportation Support
      • Valuation Certificate
      • Rust Protection
    • Help & Advice
      • I’ve just acquired a modern classic Mercedes
    • AMG
      • W113
      • R107
      • R129
      • Heritage
      • Specialist
      • Modern Classic
      • AMG
    • Healthcheck
      • Complete Health Check
      • New Owner Check
      • Engine Check
      • Brake Check
      • Under Body Check
      • Pre Season Check
    • Servicing
      • Routine Servicing
      • Improve the way my AMG drives
      • Gearbox Service
      • Diagnose an issue
      • Rally & Competition Preparation
      • CARE Servicing plans
      • SLSHOP MOT
      • My account
    • Restoration / Fabrication
      • Factory Correct Restoration
    • Additional Services
      • Detailing
      • Hardtop Storage
      • Vehicle Storage
      • Transportation Support
      • Valuation Certificate
      • Rust Protection
    • Help & Advice
      • I’ve just acquired an AMG Mercedes
  • Events
    • May ’23 Pagoda Open Day
    • 60th Pagoda Meet & Pilgrimage
    • Autumn Cars & Coffee
  • Parts Store
    • W121 Parts
    • W113 Pagoda Parts
    • R107 Parts
    • R129 Parts
    • R230 Parts
  • JOURNAL
  • We Are SLSHOP
  • SLSHOP Membership

Mercedes 300SL Bulkhead Restoration Project

  • Understanding
  • Enjoying
  • Improving Advice
  • SLSHOP TV
  • The Market
  • Proud Owners
  • In the Press
  • 190 SL
  • W113 SL
  • R107 SL
  • R129 SL
  • R230 SL
  • All Other

Those of you who have followed our journey from a small hobby business (or side hustle as it is now called) to the 60-strong, internationally renowned team we now are, will know that Bulkheads have been central to the growth of our business. What makes SLSHOP’s Bulkhead restoration stand out you might ask, is years of consistent craftsmanship and dedication to restoring Bulkheads to factory specification.

Over the years we have restored more than 170 bulkheads; with most of these vehicles residing in the UK and still wearing the hallmarks of their carefully crafted new Bulkhead. These vehicles possess a certificate of authenticity with a reference number linking to our database. If you see an R107 for sale with claims of a Bulkhead restoration by SLSHOP, always be sure to check with our team to confirm the works carried out.

In 2022 we elected to revise our Bulkhead offering, improving the pricing to make it more accessible to all owners. We understand that these vehicles are precious to their owners, and we wanted to ensure that less cars end up in the scrap yard or on eBay, dissected for parts.


In this article we present one of our latest Bulkhead restorations, featuring a Signal Red 300SL which is undergoing restoration as you read (in November 2022). To fully complete the process, Robert will need 50 hours to remove the old centre section, clear contaminants from this area of the vehicle’s structure and let in the new metal. Within this time scale is the treatment process to protect the Bulkhead from corrosion in the future. By following and slightly improving upon Mercedes-Benz’s processes, we can offer owners a three-year warranty.

300SL Bulkhead Restoration So Far in under 60 Seconds:

The stages of a Bulkhead restoration, from strip to sealing.

All Bulkhead restorations generally commence with a Vehicle Health Check which reveals the condition of a classic Mercedes-Benz. Within the report will be an assessment of the Bulkhead, with visible corrosion photographed and documented. Once a Bulkhead restoration is commissioned, our Specialist craftsmen can begin to strip the dashboard, remove the blower motor, as well as other elements from the bulkhead-side of the engine bay.

Once these elements have been removed, the vehicle will be transferred to our Restoration shop where the vehicle is prepared for cutting and welding. This involves protecting as much of the car as possible in fireproof blankets, wing covers etc. When ready, the centre section of the bulkhead can be cut out, with the drainage points saved for the new Bulkhead. The original centre section is used as a template to convert our pressing into an exact copy of the original.

The new bulkhead centre pressing

With the centre section removed, the 300SL can then be dressed back to clear it of any contaminants. Rob will then offer up the new Bulkhead centre section for alignment prior to fitment. The metal can then be properly le in and merged with the original structure.

The merged Bulkhead with blower motor guide in place.

Over several hours of patient crafting, Robert has merged the new Bulkhead and utilised a bespoke blower motor guide to line up the blower motor bolts. This is where inexperienced repairs really stand out – we find that previous poorly attempted bulkhead restorations see people drilling down into the centre section which causes water ingress.

With this restoration, the new metal fitted has been further protected by acid etch. All measurements have been calculated to ensure correct positioning of the blower motor. This is where the bespoke blower motor template has proved its value.

With this particular, the original bulkhead was a ‘round back’ and Robert has had to transform our flatback pressing into the factory correct, ‘round back.’

Robert now needs to remove the corner bulkhead top to access the drainage area beneath the bonnet bracket and wiper mounting. Each bulkhead is bespoke as often previous repairs have been inconsiderate of factory specifications and requirements, resulting in our team having to undo a considerable amount of poorly executed previous work.

A look at the Bulkhead as it approaches completion.


R107 Restoration
R107 Restoration
Bulkhead Repair Panel & Blower Motor Housing

The SL 107 bulkhead is prone to corrosion so it’s good practice to keep your eye on it.  If you’ve found it needing repair, then we’ve the perfect solution right here. You may also need to replace your blower motor and its housing, both of which we can supply to you.

Explore More

SLSHOP has over ten years experience selling, restoring and maintaining a variety of classic and modern classic Mercedes; with a team of almost 60 specialists dedicated to the owners of these Stuttgart’s finest around the world. It would be our pleasure to support your ownership journey by booking your vehicle in for an appraisal, with an open and honest discussion around your vehicle’s potential. Contact our workshops team today to find out how we can take your vehicle to the next level.

SLSHOP's Specialist Workshop
SPEAK TO THE TEAM

Share With Your Fellow Enthusiasts

Those of you who have followed our journey from a small hobby business (or side hustle as it is now called) to the 60-strong, internationally renowned team we now are, will know that Bulkheads have been central to the growth of our business. What makes SLSHOP’s Bulkhead restoration stand out you might ask, is years of consistent craftsmanship and dedication to restoring Bulkheads to factory specification.

Over the years we have restored more than 170 bulkheads; with most of these vehicles residing in the UK and still wearing the hallmarks of their carefully crafted new Bulkhead. These vehicles possess a certificate of authenticity with a reference number linking to our database. If you see an R107 for sale with claims of a Bulkhead restoration by SLSHOP, always be sure to check with our team to confirm the works carried out.

In 2022 we elected to revise our Bulkhead offering, improving the pricing to make it more accessible to all owners. We understand that these vehicles are precious to their owners, and we wanted to ensure that less cars end up in the scrap yard or on eBay, dissected for parts.


In this article we present one of our latest Bulkhead restorations, featuring a Signal Red 300SL which is undergoing restoration as you read (in November 2022). To fully complete the process, Robert will need 50 hours to remove the old centre section, clear contaminants from this area of the vehicle’s structure and let in the new metal. Within this time scale is the treatment process to protect the Bulkhead from corrosion in the future. By following and slightly improving upon Mercedes-Benz’s processes, we can offer owners a three-year warranty.

300SL Bulkhead Restoration So Far in under 60 Seconds:

The stages of a Bulkhead restoration, from strip to sealing.

All Bulkhead restorations generally commence with a Vehicle Health Check which reveals the condition of a classic Mercedes-Benz. Within the report will be an assessment of the Bulkhead, with visible corrosion photographed and documented. Once a Bulkhead restoration is commissioned, our Specialist craftsmen can begin to strip the dashboard, remove the blower motor, as well as other elements from the bulkhead-side of the engine bay.

Once these elements have been removed, the vehicle will be transferred to our Restoration shop where the vehicle is prepared for cutting and welding. This involves protecting as much of the car as possible in fireproof blankets, wing covers etc. When ready, the centre section of the bulkhead can be cut out, with the drainage points saved for the new Bulkhead. The original centre section is used as a template to convert our pressing into an exact copy of the original.

The new bulkhead centre pressing

With the centre section removed, the 300SL can then be dressed back to clear it of any contaminants. Rob will then offer up the new Bulkhead centre section for alignment prior to fitment. The metal can then be properly le in and merged with the original structure.

The merged Bulkhead with blower motor guide in place.

Over several hours of patient crafting, Robert has merged the new Bulkhead and utilised a bespoke blower motor guide to line up the blower motor bolts. This is where inexperienced repairs really stand out – we find that previous poorly attempted bulkhead restorations see people drilling down into the centre section which causes water ingress.

With this restoration, the new metal fitted has been further protected by acid etch. All measurements have been calculated to ensure correct positioning of the blower motor. This is where the bespoke blower motor template has proved its value.

With this particular, the original bulkhead was a ‘round back’ and Robert has had to transform our flatback pressing into the factory correct, ‘round back.’

Robert now needs to remove the corner bulkhead top to access the drainage area beneath the bonnet bracket and wiper mounting. Each bulkhead is bespoke as often previous repairs have been inconsiderate of factory specifications and requirements, resulting in our team having to undo a considerable amount of poorly executed previous work.

A look at the Bulkhead as it approaches completion.


R107 Restoration
R107 Restoration
Bulkhead Repair Panel & Blower Motor Housing

The SL 107 bulkhead is prone to corrosion so it’s good practice to keep your eye on it.  If you’ve found it needing repair, then we’ve the perfect solution right here. You may also need to replace your blower motor and its housing, both of which we can supply to you.

Explore More

SLSHOP has over ten years experience selling, restoring and maintaining a variety of classic and modern classic Mercedes; with a team of almost 60 specialists dedicated to the owners of these Stuttgart’s finest around the world. It would be our pleasure to support your ownership journey by booking your vehicle in for an appraisal, with an open and honest discussion around your vehicle’s potential. Contact our workshops team today to find out how we can take your vehicle to the next level.

SLSHOP's Specialist Workshop
SPEAK TO THE TEAM

Share With Your Fellow Enthusiasts

More from Journal

  • Where to Find A Paint Code on A Mercedes-Benz

    Where to Find A Paint Code on A Mercedes-Benz

    March 20th, 2023
  • Does Painting a Classic Car Decrease Its Value?

    March 20th, 2023
  • Common Mercedes-Benz Gearbox Problems

    Common Mercedes-Benz Gearbox Problems

    March 3rd, 2023
  • Inside the Mecca of Mercedes-Benz with Alex Brundle

    Inside the Mecca of Mercedes-Benz with Alex Brundle

    March 1st, 2023
  • Exceptional Service at SLSHOP

    Exceptional Service at SLSHOP

    March 1st, 2023
  • Common Gearbox Problems For 80s and 90s Mercedes-Benz.

    Common Gearbox Problems For 80s and 90s Mercedes-Benz.

    March 1st, 2023
  • Sluggish Gear Changes – A Troubleshooting Overview

    Sluggish Gear Changes – A Troubleshooting Overview

    February 27th, 2023
  • Mercedes 300SL Convertible SportLine

    Mercedes 300SL Convertible SportLine

    February 26th, 2023
  • History of the 300SL Engine

    History of the 300SL Engine

    February 21st, 2023
  • SLSHOP Mercedes 280SL Pagoda on Display at MB World Brooklands

    SLSHOP Mercedes 280SL Pagoda on Display at MB World Brooklands

    February 20th, 2023
  • #SLSHOP60 Pagoda Pilgrimage – July 14th

    #SLSHOP60 Pagoda Pilgrimage – July 14th

    February 17th, 2023
  • A Strong Start to February – Cars Sold

    A Strong Start to February – Cars Sold

    February 13th, 2023
  • 60 years of the 230SL – the Most Important SL of All?

    60 years of the 230SL – the Most Important SL of All?

    February 10th, 2023
  • Make my Mercedes Pagoda SL more Reliable

    Make my Mercedes Pagoda SL more Reliable

    February 6th, 2023
  • I’ve Owned my W113 Pagoda For Years

    I’ve Owned my W113 Pagoda For Years

    February 6th, 2023
  • I’ve Just Acquired my W113 Pagoda SL

    I’ve Just Acquired my W113 Pagoda SL

    February 6th, 2023
  • Mercedes SL500 (R129) Record Sale

    Mercedes SL500 (R129) Record Sale

    February 2nd, 2023
  • Mercedes 560SL Performance Road Car

    Mercedes 560SL Performance Road Car

    January 27th, 2023
  • Maradona’s Mercedes 450SLC & a Royal Alternative

    Maradona’s Mercedes 450SLC & a Royal Alternative

    January 24th, 2023
  • Sales Robust as Mercedes-Benz Marque Value Index Up 22.64% Year to Date

    Sales Robust as Mercedes-Benz Marque Value Index Up 22.64% Year to Date

    January 19th, 2023
  • Interview with Head of Mercedes-Benz Heritage: Marcus Breitschwerdt

    Interview with Head of Mercedes-Benz Heritage: Marcus Breitschwerdt

    January 10th, 2023
  • Breaking Mercedes R107 SL, R129 SL and W113 Pagoda for Parts

    Breaking Mercedes R107 SL, R129 SL and W113 Pagoda for Parts

    January 10th, 2023
  • 60 Facts About the Mercedes Pagoda

    60 Facts About the Mercedes Pagoda

    December 22nd, 2022
  • Mercedes W113 Pagoda Paint Codes

    Mercedes W113 Pagoda Paint Codes

    December 21st, 2022
  • 2022 End of Year Market Review

    2022 End of Year Market Review

    December 21st, 2022
  • The Perfect Petrolhead Pressies

    The Perfect Petrolhead Pressies

    December 12th, 2022
  • The Mercedes R129 SL in the Headlines

    The Mercedes R129 SL in the Headlines

    December 8th, 2022
CARE

THE ULTIMATE CERTIFIED SERVICING INVESTMENT PLAN

Your ownership journey matters to us, which is why we have created a simple certified servicing investment plan, tailored to your individual needs and aspirations.

Start investing today and our dedicated CARE team will work with you to increase the value and enjoyment you receive from your vehicle.

SLSHOP CARE Certified Saving Investment Plan

ENJOY YOUR VEHICLE WITH CONFIDENCE AND PROTECT YOUR INVESTMENT FOR AS LITTLE AS £55.00 PER MONTH

DISCOVER CARE
STAY IN TUNE WITH SLSHOP MOMENTS

As part of SLSHOP’s community of enthusiasts, you’ll be the first to hear about events and tours, key product offers, exciting stories from owners around the world and of course… our latest additions to the showroom. So, be the first to know and you might just sneak a car on your driveway or take your car’s condition to new heights with our exclusive replacement parts.

Or, visit SLSHOP Journal

Contact

What are you waiting for? Drop us a line and let us know which car you would like to hire and when you would like it. We’ll guide you through everything from there on in.

    This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

    More From SLSHOP

    Experience
    Workshops
    Parts Store
    CARE

    Contact SLSHOP Showroom

    Whatever your Mercedes-Benz, Whatever your needs are, Let the SLSHOP help you. It all starts with getting to know you and your needs. We have designed this contact form to be quick and easy and we never share your data.

      This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

      Contact

      Location

      T:01789 337 070

      [email protected]

      SLSHOP

      Unit 1a, 2, 3, & 4b Drayton Manor Drive
      Stratford Upon Avon, Warwickshire
      CV37 9RQ

      Hours:
      Mon-Fri 9:00am – 5:00pm
      Saturday by appointment only
      Closed Sunday

       

      Services

      • Showroom
      • Workshops
      • Events
      • Parts Store
      • Additional Services

      SLSHOP

      • We Are SLSHOP
      • Careers
      • COVID-19 Information
      • Visit or Contact
      • Terms
        • Car Sales Terms
        • CARE TERMS & CONDITIONS
        • UK Event & Experiences TERMS & CONDITIONS
        • Gift Voucher Terms
      • Privacy & Cookie Policy

      Connect

      Facebook Twitter YouTube Instagram