Discussion
Still looking for a good light coloured R129.
Almost all of these cars seem to suffer from periods of time where they do just a couple of hundred miles a year or less and some with MOT gaps.
I have been looking in the sub 80k miles mark. Prices seem all over the place as well from 7k for a 280 up to 12-15k for a 320 or 500.
Are the higher mileage car with good history a better bet?
Almost all of these cars seem to suffer from periods of time where they do just a couple of hundred miles a year or less and some with MOT gaps.
I have been looking in the sub 80k miles mark. Prices seem all over the place as well from 7k for a 280 up to 12-15k for a 320 or 500.
Are the higher mileage car with good history a better bet?
I owned an R129 SL500 from 2009-12. In Azurite blue.
Beautiful cars- very well engineered. Mine had 94,000 when purchased and about 104,000 when sold.
I test drove an SL320 first but, that felt flat as a pancake compared to the SL500 V8. Economy difference hardly anything particularly on longer journeys.
It was a great car and glad i actually got to own one. Was completely reliable.
This was mine;
I wouldn't be scared of mileage- these cars do not like being left in the garage!
Mine had an ok service history ( not to my standards but i am the exception) but ran great although i did decide to pay out to have a new aircon compressor fitted as i use aircon all the time and didn't want to sell the car with the cop-out " Needs a re-gas!"
30 mpg on a 80-85 mph run was doable as well
Beautiful cars- very well engineered. Mine had 94,000 when purchased and about 104,000 when sold.
I test drove an SL320 first but, that felt flat as a pancake compared to the SL500 V8. Economy difference hardly anything particularly on longer journeys.
It was a great car and glad i actually got to own one. Was completely reliable.
This was mine;
I wouldn't be scared of mileage- these cars do not like being left in the garage!
Mine had an ok service history ( not to my standards but i am the exception) but ran great although i did decide to pay out to have a new aircon compressor fitted as i use aircon all the time and didn't want to sell the car with the cop-out " Needs a re-gas!"
30 mpg on a 80-85 mph run was doable as well
Edited by oceanview on Monday 10th August 19:14
I do agree prices are all over the place. I'm specifically looking at early pre facelift cars, most likely a 500 and they can vary from 7k to 15 or more. Granted there are give aways like originality or not as the case may be but they do seem to vary greatly, and as a huge percentage of the overall purchase price.
I`ve owned a 1997 SL320 for 14 years, fantastic car, I intend to keep it indefinitely. Nothing major has ever happened to it, very reliable. They are a true modern classic. The R129 is not out of place at a classic car show, while having all the equipment and safety features of newer cars.
A poster mentioned that a 320 was flat compared with a V8, I suppose it is?, I tried a 280 and that was flat compared with a 320. My 320 has the straight six 24V engine that is almost bullet proof, ( a V8 is 100% bullet proof) I`ve been told that the early V6 320 engine did have a few problems?
As already said, condition and history is everything. A car that has been maintained by a Mercedes Indy using O/E parts is your best bet. Over the years I`ve learned a few things about R129`s. Getting a tired suspension sorted and a good set of tyres can transform the handling. My local Merc` Indy replaced the front coil springs, lower ball joints, steering idler and damper, and a few small bushes. The most important job was to adjust the steering and suspension geometry, ( the lower wishbones are adjustable). I`ve also learned that R129`s do not like poor batteries. I had some odd irritating things happen until I fitted a top quality high powered Bosch battery.
Take your time, I`m sure you will find a perfect example and I`m more than sure you will not be disappointed.
A poster mentioned that a 320 was flat compared with a V8, I suppose it is?, I tried a 280 and that was flat compared with a 320. My 320 has the straight six 24V engine that is almost bullet proof, ( a V8 is 100% bullet proof) I`ve been told that the early V6 320 engine did have a few problems?
As already said, condition and history is everything. A car that has been maintained by a Mercedes Indy using O/E parts is your best bet. Over the years I`ve learned a few things about R129`s. Getting a tired suspension sorted and a good set of tyres can transform the handling. My local Merc` Indy replaced the front coil springs, lower ball joints, steering idler and damper, and a few small bushes. The most important job was to adjust the steering and suspension geometry, ( the lower wishbones are adjustable). I`ve also learned that R129`s do not like poor batteries. I had some odd irritating things happen until I fitted a top quality high powered Bosch battery.
Take your time, I`m sure you will find a perfect example and I`m more than sure you will not be disappointed.
Edited by Old Merc on Saturday 15th August 16:53
dandpl said:
Many thanks for your comments. Seeing 2 v8s on Saturday.
When I bought my early 500sl, I also looked at a couple of later 320’s. Even though they were better equipped and felt more modern, I fell for the charm of that wonderful V8.
Good luck in your search for the right car.
Had my 1998 SL320 about 2.5 years now. £11K from a dealer. Great condition even at 83K miles, better thean 2 cars I looked at with only 50K on their clock. Massive history file.
Never felt it was short of power for everyday driving. Buy a 500 if you "must" have the V8, which Im sure is nice, but it does come with a price premium over the 6.
My only gripe, I wish it had a little more leg room, but I am 6'3".
Just make sure you buy the best you can afford. It'll cost you less in the long run
Good luck
Never felt it was short of power for everyday driving. Buy a 500 if you "must" have the V8, which Im sure is nice, but it does come with a price premium over the 6.
My only gripe, I wish it had a little more leg room, but I am 6'3".
Just make sure you buy the best you can afford. It'll cost you less in the long run
Good luck
pcn1 said:
Had my 1998 SL320 about 2.5 years now. £11K from a dealer. Great condition even at 83K miles, better thean 2 cars I looked at with only 50K on their clock. Massive history file.
Never felt it was short of power for everyday driving. Buy a 500 if you "must" have the V8, which Im sure is nice, but it does come with a price premium over the 6.
My only gripe, I wish it had a little more leg room, but I am 6'3".
Just make sure you buy the best you can afford. It'll cost you less in the long run
Good luck
As a DIYer I opted for a 320 too. Never felt it was short of power for everyday driving. Buy a 500 if you "must" have the V8, which Im sure is nice, but it does come with a price premium over the 6.
My only gripe, I wish it had a little more leg room, but I am 6'3".
Just make sure you buy the best you can afford. It'll cost you less in the long run
Good luck
I bought my SL500, 1996 vintage, last year at 114k. I am the 3rd owner and it has FSH, previous owner for 20 years.
Last year I did 6k in her, trip down to Antibes was most of that.
As some has already said they do like to be used. I bought mine for summer use and keep her in storage on a battery conditioner.
Service every year and give her whatever she needs.
They're so over engineered its ridiculous.
Last year I did 6k in her, trip down to Antibes was most of that.
As some has already said they do like to be used. I bought mine for summer use and keep her in storage on a battery conditioner.
Service every year and give her whatever she needs.
They're so over engineered its ridiculous.
Just back from 3 days touring in Wales in my 96 500. Scorching hot, covered 600 miles all with the top down which doesn't happen very often. Car was awesome and managed a very respectable 26 mpg. The way these cars can dispatch slower moving traffic is still seriously impressive.
Edited by ras62 on Monday 17th August 12:50
I paid a lot for mine, SL500 (1997) with only 33k miles. I’d imagine that’s top market price but it’s the best I saw and I’ve had two offers to buy it already. I think you get what you pay for, and low mileage does seem to be valued on these cars as much as any other, despite the intergalactic mileages they are capable of.
I’ve never understood the thing about cars “not liking not being driven” as mechanically that makes no real sense and my car had done only 2k miles in the last 15 years and it’s faultless. I’ve just driven it on a 800 mile round trip and it was wonderful.
I like to think I’ll get my money back at some stage.
The only thing I’d focus on is getting one with the panoramic hardtop as it makes a huge difference to both the looks and the driving experience.
I’ve never understood the thing about cars “not liking not being driven” as mechanically that makes no real sense and my car had done only 2k miles in the last 15 years and it’s faultless. I’ve just driven it on a 800 mile round trip and it was wonderful.
I like to think I’ll get my money back at some stage.
The only thing I’d focus on is getting one with the panoramic hardtop as it makes a huge difference to both the looks and the driving experience.
Edited by Jefferson Steelflex on Wednesday 26th August 16:41
I have now purchased a 94 SL500 with 81000 miles and I have to say in the best condition I could imagine you would find with a very well documented service history and an impeccable MOT history. I no doubt need will your knowledge as we go forward. It will join my daily 124 300d estate. More later when I get it home and thanks everyone.
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