R129 SL500 servicing-engine spec
Discussion
I am looking at buying an SL500 but I am not sure which service intervals apply.
Is it at 6000mile intervals?
If the car is low mileage should it be serviced at least once a year regardless of mileage?
I believe the engine was slightly detuned for the 1999 model year. Does this coincide with the general reduction in quality of MB cars which started towards the end of that decade? Were R129 cars affected by this problem?
Is it at 6000mile intervals?
If the car is low mileage should it be serviced at least once a year regardless of mileage?
I believe the engine was slightly detuned for the 1999 model year. Does this coincide with the general reduction in quality of MB cars which started towards the end of that decade? Were R129 cars affected by this problem?
Lubrication service is every 9000 miles or yearly (or whichever soonest)
Maintenance service is every 18000 miles or every two years (or whichever soonest)
The previous M119 DOHC engine was replaced in '99 with the M113 SOHC which produced about 306hp as opposed to 326hp on the earlier version. Personally I would go for a '96 - '99 which seem to have the best build and engine (1st facelifted body and 326hp engine, if you could get the second facelift version, 1999 on, with a M119 engine then I would have one), though all R129s are comparatively excellent build. To be fair both engines are pretty bulletproof if maintained correctly/regularly.
Maintenance service is every 18000 miles or every two years (or whichever soonest)
The previous M119 DOHC engine was replaced in '99 with the M113 SOHC which produced about 306hp as opposed to 326hp on the earlier version. Personally I would go for a '96 - '99 which seem to have the best build and engine (1st facelifted body and 326hp engine, if you could get the second facelift version, 1999 on, with a M119 engine then I would have one), though all R129s are comparatively excellent build. To be fair both engines are pretty bulletproof if maintained correctly/regularly.
As the previuos poster states, pre-06/98 cars with the M119 motor have a 9,000/18,000 interval. That engine has a swept volume of 4,973cc and is of DOHC 32valve construction. It puts out 320bhp (326PS) at 5,600rpm and 347lb/ft at 3,900rpm. It is a beautiful engine.
Post-06/98 cars have the M113 V8 still being built today. The engine has the ASSYST service system which tells you when it needs a service. Expect intervals of 13,000miles. That engine has a displacement of 4,966cc, is SOHC with 24 valves, two inlet and one outlet for each cylinder. It puts out 306bhp at 5,600rpm and 339lb/ft between 2,700 and 4,250rpm. It is a less beautiful engine. However, the M113 is significantly lighter than the M119 and much more fuel efficient; its lower weight and wide torque spread make it faster.
All R129s are built to pretty much the same high standard. Post-06/98 cars have very high equipment specifications. The SL500 comes with pretty much everything as standard. All the V8 engines are all bullet proof. I remember reading that Mercedes has never had to replace a M119 or a M113 under warranty.
Buy on condition only. A good early car will be a hell of a lot better than a bad later car.
Post-06/98 cars have the M113 V8 still being built today. The engine has the ASSYST service system which tells you when it needs a service. Expect intervals of 13,000miles. That engine has a displacement of 4,966cc, is SOHC with 24 valves, two inlet and one outlet for each cylinder. It puts out 306bhp at 5,600rpm and 339lb/ft between 2,700 and 4,250rpm. It is a less beautiful engine. However, the M113 is significantly lighter than the M119 and much more fuel efficient; its lower weight and wide torque spread make it faster.
All R129s are built to pretty much the same high standard. Post-06/98 cars have very high equipment specifications. The SL500 comes with pretty much everything as standard. All the V8 engines are all bullet proof. I remember reading that Mercedes has never had to replace a M119 or a M113 under warranty.
Buy on condition only. A good early car will be a hell of a lot better than a bad later car.
Thanks for the helpful comments.
Can you offer any guidance on what the cars are worth at the moment? There are 2 or 3 cars advertised on this site with low mileage from £17995 downwards. I am not that bothered about low mileage cars which, if used for a lot of short trips, may be more worn than higher mileage cars driven only on long distances.
I will certainly be looking for a low number of owners and all invoices to back up the service book.
Can you offer any guidance on what the cars are worth at the moment? There are 2 or 3 cars advertised on this site with low mileage from £17995 downwards. I am not that bothered about low mileage cars which, if used for a lot of short trips, may be more worn than higher mileage cars driven only on long distances.
I will certainly be looking for a low number of owners and all invoices to back up the service book.
It seems to me that they're under-valued but that the supply of good cars is limited. Like Nuisance Value, I wish you could get a late-model car (with all its specification) with the early motor.
£10k should buy a very good early car with less than 70k miles. £15k should get a very good late-model car, again with miles in th 40k to 70k bracket. More than that and really you should be getting a very low miles late-model car (like less than 20k). I see the two you mean. My sense is that they are over-priced. Devonshire specialise in offering very low miles cars at very high prices. The green car could be better presented. The wheels (about a 4k option) in my view don't suit the car. The colour (not malachite but either mineral green or zircon green, I can't tell which) most certainly does. Helios leather is a beast to keep clean and will damage easily if you don't look after it.
I wouldn't be too scared of miles. The cars thrive on it (mine has 205k). But then things do wear out and cost a lot to replace.
£10k should buy a very good early car with less than 70k miles. £15k should get a very good late-model car, again with miles in th 40k to 70k bracket. More than that and really you should be getting a very low miles late-model car (like less than 20k). I see the two you mean. My sense is that they are over-priced. Devonshire specialise in offering very low miles cars at very high prices. The green car could be better presented. The wheels (about a 4k option) in my view don't suit the car. The colour (not malachite but either mineral green or zircon green, I can't tell which) most certainly does. Helios leather is a beast to keep clean and will damage easily if you don't look after it.
I wouldn't be too scared of miles. The cars thrive on it (mine has 205k). But then things do wear out and cost a lot to replace.
When I was looking for an SL500 last summer, I narrowed my search to cars with the later engine having driven eamples of both. I liked the response of the M113 better than the M119 and the exhaust note seemed a bit more V8-ey (although still quiet) and also marginally better fuel consumption (I've been getting ~22mpg on average, nearly 30mpg on a long run).
I viewed several cars in the 10-14k price range. Most of the ones I saw were pretty ropey with non-working hoods, knackered ADS, and other electrical gremlins.
The car I eventually bought (from a private seller) must be one of the earliest M113 engined SL500s (late 98, with not quite full 99 spec). Its good but not perfect, with a few stone chips and the fairly common worn drivers seat side bolster. There's a fully stamped service book but not all bills and it has had 6 owners. It was however the most honest feeling car I drove. The seller was a german guy whose other car was an old 911 and he seemed a pretty genuine guy. Touch wood, so far its been fine.
As usual, R129 seems to be pretty much spot on. I think any more than about 15k would have to be an immaculate example with low miles and if you actually want to drive it (which you will...all the time) then you are going to kill the value. So 10-15k should get you one with low enough miles to have plenty of life left in it, but high enough so that you arent going to suffer massive depreciation by adding to the mileage.
I got mine for just under 10k, which looking at the cars for sale on here at the moment, seems pretty good value.
So good look in your search, and don't forget to show us photos if you do get yourself a car!
I viewed several cars in the 10-14k price range. Most of the ones I saw were pretty ropey with non-working hoods, knackered ADS, and other electrical gremlins.
The car I eventually bought (from a private seller) must be one of the earliest M113 engined SL500s (late 98, with not quite full 99 spec). Its good but not perfect, with a few stone chips and the fairly common worn drivers seat side bolster. There's a fully stamped service book but not all bills and it has had 6 owners. It was however the most honest feeling car I drove. The seller was a german guy whose other car was an old 911 and he seemed a pretty genuine guy. Touch wood, so far its been fine.
As usual, R129 seems to be pretty much spot on. I think any more than about 15k would have to be an immaculate example with low miles and if you actually want to drive it (which you will...all the time) then you are going to kill the value. So 10-15k should get you one with low enough miles to have plenty of life left in it, but high enough so that you arent going to suffer massive depreciation by adding to the mileage.
I got mine for just under 10k, which looking at the cars for sale on here at the moment, seems pretty good value.
So good look in your search, and don't forget to show us photos if you do get yourself a car!
chris333 said:
The car I eventually bought (from a private seller) must be one of the earliest M113 engined SL500s (late 98, with not quite full 99 spec).
Chris, did you buy the obsidian black SL500 with black leather? I saw that car and it looked like the best in the market for a while.r129sl said:
Chris, did you buy the obsidian black SL500 with black leather? I saw that car and it looked like the best in the market for a while.
That sounds nice, but no! Mine is silver with grey interior and chestnut wood..an unusual combination that wouldnt have been my first choice, but I bought on condition not type of wood! 
As luck would have it a 1998 SL60 on the South Coast has turned up and I will be viewing it shortly.
Does anyone have an opinion on likely value with around 45k miles. Also, who would be worth instructing to prepare a condition report-I have made an enquiry with local MB franchiose but as yet no reply.
Does anyone have an opinion on likely value with around 45k miles. Also, who would be worth instructing to prepare a condition report-I have made an enquiry with local MB franchiose but as yet no reply.
Carl Wilford at Auto Barn is supposed to be the most pleasant specialist, honest and expert. He will know the 129 well enough even if the 107 is more his line. And, of course, he is in West Sussex. Jacksons of Poole have a very good reputation, too. If you're really keen, MB World at Brooklands is not miles away.
Value is all down to condition, condition and condition but I'd say you're looking in the £14k to £20k range. Given the year and low mileage, probably top end of that range. What's the history like?
Value is all down to condition, condition and condition but I'd say you're looking in the £14k to £20k range. Given the year and low mileage, probably top end of that range. What's the history like?
Edited by r129sl on Tuesday 8th February 10:21
If R129's comment:
"The green car could be better presented. The wheels (about a 4k option) in my view don't suit the car. The colour (not malachite but either mineral green or zircon green, I can't tell which) most certainly does."
is a reference to the SL320 it is Alanite Green, a special order designo colour in 2000/2001 - I happen to know as it is the colour of my own car. Certainly agree that it could be better presented, especially given the price that they are asking - the photos are not nearly enticing as that car could be made to look.
"The green car could be better presented. The wheels (about a 4k option) in my view don't suit the car. The colour (not malachite but either mineral green or zircon green, I can't tell which) most certainly does."
is a reference to the SL320 it is Alanite Green, a special order designo colour in 2000/2001 - I happen to know as it is the colour of my own car. Certainly agree that it could be better presented, especially given the price that they are asking - the photos are not nearly enticing as that car could be made to look.
I can't find the ad anymore. Designo Alanite is a fantastic colour, one of the best on the R129 in my view. The rest of the kit on the "SL designo Alanite" is pretty special, too, the six-hole, BBS split rim wheels, the java napa leather seats on black interior: very nice car.
I did once see a SL at the dealer in designo green (252) with designo green (X08) seats. It was very... green, but lovely. This was in the very early days of the designo programme when you could get some pretty wild finishes.
I did once see a SL at the dealer in designo green (252) with designo green (X08) seats. It was very... green, but lovely. This was in the very early days of the designo programme when you could get some pretty wild finishes.
That is exactly the spec of my car- as you say very green - Blackadder's Percy would certainly like it - but it actually works very well and is both distinctive and elegant. I think MB UK ordered a few in that spec (separate from the special edition) and distributed them to dealers as demos.
Just read this thread. Have you found a car yet ?. Found myself in the same position when looking for as SL recently (over the last month actually !). Was not sure about the quality of the late nineties cars - had previously owned a 99 E55 and the body was really poor, so I looked at a few. My budget was sub 10k, but as you say condition was paramount. I've just put a deposit on an SL500 on an M plate in really nice condition. Straight and honest, 3 owners with 71k on the clock. Slight wear on the drivers bolster, which I'll look to get repaired (no holes just wear - any ideas ?). Spare set of original wheels. I pick it up on Saturday. Travelled to Derby from S.London to find it - tied it in with a holiday with the family
I'll have loads of questions I am sure, but I did notice an amber light on the dash that only went out when I pressed a button of the same motif - a shock absorber. Car had not been driven for a month or two prior to my viewing. Any ideas ?
Cheers.
I'll have loads of questions I am sure, but I did notice an amber light on the dash that only went out when I pressed a button of the same motif - a shock absorber. Car had not been driven for a month or two prior to my viewing. Any ideas ?
Cheers.
You really need to get it looked at by an indie who knows what they are doing and, at this age, I would suspect that they should have beena record of some work having been done on it in the past.
FWIW, I would not touch an ADS car with a bargepole - there is more than enough to go wrong and worry about on an R129 without ADS and which (for me anyways) does not offer enough of a benefit to outweigh the huge repair costs.
FWIW, I would not touch an ADS car with a bargepole - there is more than enough to go wrong and worry about on an R129 without ADS and which (for me anyways) does not offer enough of a benefit to outweigh the huge repair costs.
XB70 said:
You really need to get it looked at by an indie who knows what they are doing and, at this age, I would suspect that they should have beena record of some work having been done on it in the past.
FWIW, I would not touch an ADS car with a bargepole - there is more than enough to go wrong and worry about on an R129 without ADS and which (for me anyways) does not offer enough of a benefit to outweigh the huge repair costs.
agreed! When I was looking at cars I drove one that gave you seasickness within 100m from driving off! It felt like it had no damping at all, which is a recognisable symptom of knackered ADS. I drove another one with working ADS and to be honest didn't notice much difference.FWIW, I would not touch an ADS car with a bargepole - there is more than enough to go wrong and worry about on an R129 without ADS and which (for me anyways) does not offer enough of a benefit to outweigh the huge repair costs.
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