Advice on this R129 SL500

[gttastic]

Hi everyone,

I'm interested in buying a Mercedes SL500 (R129) to use as a daily driver.

I'm not too bothered about higher mileage cars as long as they have been properly maintained and are in good, original condition.
I will be doing up to 10,000 miles a year.

This car caught my attention:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mercedes-Benz-R129-SL50...

I would like some advice with regards to the car in question, i.e. originality, condition, mileage, value and also about the seller, if they are known to anyone.

Thanks in advance.

[Zonergem]

I think the seller has occasionally been seen on here. Freewheeler or similar. His name IRL is Paul.

That car has been advertised for ages, since at least summer 2016. I remember enquiring about it once to be told it had been sold.

Otherwise it could be ok. 1996- 06/1998 R129 SL500s retained the magnificent M119 V8 engine but added a five speed 722.6 transmission and did not suffer the wiring loom issues of the 93-95 cars. The mileage isn't insane but you might need to replace various suspension components (top mounts, damper struts, idler arm bushing, engine & transmission mounts, rear subframe bushes) by this age/mileage. The same can be said for most R129s by this age though - they could all use 5k spending on them one way or another. The low-milers command a premium but rubber seals perish and the cars hate standing.

Price-wise it's hard to know until you see the car and its history but for the miles this is priced medium-high, but not outrageous.

[yme402]

What problems occur if left standing?

[gttastic]

Zonergem said:

I think the seller has occasionally been seen on here. Freewheeler or similar. His name IRL is Paul.

That car has been advertised for ages, since at least summer 2016. I remember enquiring about it once to be told it had been sold.

Otherwise it could be ok. 1996- 06/1998 R129 SL500s retained the magnificent M119 V8 engine but added a five speed 722.6 transmission and did not suffer the wiring loom issues of the 93-95 cars. The mileage isn't insane but you might need to replace various suspension components (top mounts, damper struts, idler arm bushing, engine & transmission mounts, rear subframe bushes) by this age/mileage. The same can be said for most R129s by this age though - they could all use 5k spending on them one way or another. The low-milers command a premium but rubber seals perish and the cars hate standing.

Price-wise it's hard to know until you see the car and its history but for the miles this is priced medium-high, but not outrageous.

Thanks for the info, Zonergem