1999 Mercedes-Benz SL320 (R129)

Highlights

• Low mileage

• Presents well

• Azurite Blue Metallic

• Nappa leather interior

• 3.2-litre V6

Overview

Mercedes-Benz certainly pushed the boundaries in the design department when they produced the R129 generation. It was a refined and beautifully engineered grand tourer that was very advanced compared to its predecessor, the highly-regarded R107. Renowned for its build quality and luxury, the R129 features a removable hard top with an electric folding roof, advanced safety features such as the automatic pop-up roll bar, and a choice of engines to suit your requirements.

Finished in the stunning Azurite Blue Metallic, this low-mileage 1999 example comes with the fantastic 3.2-litre V6 engine, offering decent performance as well as reasonable fuel economy compared to the larger engined variants. Inside, it features the usual luxurious touches you would come to expect from Mercedes: leather upholstery, wood trim, heated and electric seats, climate control, and cruise control, to mention just a few.

With just over 57,000 miles covered in 26 years, the SL320 has had an average of 2,213 miles per year… quite low, we are sure you’ll agree. This makes it perfect for those looking for a weekend-usable modern classic that offers understated performance and luxury, and has the best of both worlds with a removable hard top.

History and Documentation

• V5C is present

• Registered 1st September 1999

• Five former keepers

• Owner’s handbook

• Original service book

• Services carried out at the following intervals: Nov 2000 @ 7,765 miles, May 2002 @ 18,138 miles, Aug 2003 @ 24,641 miles, May 2004 @ 29,634 miles, Feb 2006 @ 42,373 miles, Apr 2008 @ 47,806 miles, Jun 2016 @ 52,225 miles, Mar 2020 @ 54,934 miles, Jun 2022 @ 55,400 miles

• The SL is booked for a service and MOT before the auction ends

• Various invoices covering servicing work and parts purchased

• Current MOT is valid until 9th December 2025, but the vendor will be putting a fresh MOT on before the auction ends

• HPI clear

Interior

• Grey Nappa leather (238A)

• Electric, heated seats

• There are some age-related signs of patina on the leather seats, in keeping with the age of the car

• Both door cards are in good condition, but would benefit from a light clean

• A dark grey dashboard is fitted; there is a small indentation on the passenger side, but this hasn’t split

• Burr walnut veneer trim fitted to the dashboard, door card inlays, and centre console is all in excellent condition

• The steering wheel is in good condition with no signs of excessive use

• The instruments are working correctly, and the odometer shows 57,553 miles

• All of the switchgear is in good order and reported to work correctly

• Cruise control

• Automatic climate control

• An upgraded Alpine head unit has been installed

• The hard-top headlining is clean and tidy with no damage or sagging

• Light grey carpets are in good condition with minimal wear

• The warning triangle is in place

• A full-size spare wheel is present

• There is a Kenwood boot-mounted CD changer, but this may not work correctly with the Alpine head unit

Exterior

• Finished in Azurite Blue Metallic (366O)

• The car has been repainted to freshen it up at some point

• There is a small scuff on the offside front wheel arch

• All of the panels appear to align as they should, with an equal gap

• No dings or dents were spotted when looking around the car

• Body-coloured bumpers and side trims

• The headlight, indicator, and fog light lenses are all in good order and free from damage

• Headlight wipers and washers

• The windows are generally in good condition; however, there are some scratches in the driver's side door window

• The removable hard top is in good condition and unlocks as it should with the press of a button

• A dark blue fabric roof is fitted, which operates correctly, going up and down

• The fabric roof does have a small split in the stitching and a split in the rear window

• Factory 17-inch alloy wheels are in good order, with just the odd age-related mark to the edge of the rims and faces

• The paint on the centre caps has come off in places, but these could easily be replaced

• Continental ContiSportContact tyres on each corner have plenty of tread remaining, although with 2014 and 2015 date stamps, the buyer may wish to budget for some replacements

• The underside of the SL looks in good condition for the age, with just minimal surface corrosion on the suspension components, as you would expect

Mechanical

• 3.2-litre V6

• Produces approximately 224 bhp and 232 lb ft

• 0–62 mph in around 8.4 seconds and has a top speed of 148 mph

• The engine bay presents well, with no leaks spotted

• The engine fires up without hesitation

• No issues have been reported by the vendor regarding the running of the car

• Five-speed automatic gearbox

• Rear-wheel drive

• The car has a slick change and pulls strongly through the gears

• No knocks or bangs are reported to be coming from the suspension

• The SL is said to come to a stop in a straight line, with no juddering through the pedal

Summary

This is a very usable example of Mercedes-Benz's modern classic. The SL320 has just over 57,000 miles. Thanks to a full respray, the Azurite paintwork presents well, and mechanically, the SL runs and drives without any reported issues.

The 3.2-litre V6 provides ample performance while maintaining a reasonable MPG, making it the perfect cruiser. Please also remember that the lucky winner of the auction will benefit from a fresh MOT and service.

To arrange a viewing, click the ‘Book Viewing’ button located under the ‘Place Bid’ button. Viewings can be booked up until the day before the auction ends, after which the option will change to ‘Contact Seller’ for further enquiries. This seller is located in St Asaph, North Wales.