sl r129 anyone taken the risk on a 3/4k car

[John042]

Hi, this looks an informative post. I thought all Merc owners were bankers driving AMG,s? I bought a 320 V6 SL a few months ago on 102k Previously owning 944, 924 Turbo and TVR. Impresions? It just keeps going, no dramas, quick and comfortable. I miss the TVR's V8 music but not the roof on/off task. It's well put together and so far easy to service. I agree the hood system is complicated and expensive if it goes wrong. The advice I had when looking for one was to get the highest spec' possible with service history, panoramic roof (Better Resale)One niggle I have is the lack of the folding wing mirrors function. Does anyone know if the mirrors have this function built in so that I reconnect the system please. Cheers J C.

[f1ten]

no only the jap import r129s have the folding mirror function. Perhaps very very late model UK cars from circa 2000 might have them.

[r129sl]

Post 06/1998 models have the utterly pointless folding mirror option. I don't think I have ever had cause to use it

My 227,000+ mile SL500 is just wonderful at the moment. It is fast (fast enough for me), it is cosseting, it is thrilling and running along the beach road this morning, roof down, some gentle Springsteen on the super-duper wireless, hand resting on the header rail, it was great. When you think a good 124 estate costs £3,000-£5,000, these cars are a total bargain. I'd go far as to say they are the best designed and built cars ever.

[jke11y]

My 2000 car has folding mirrors; I use them every time I park, but then only ever park on-street in central London. So if the car is a V6 it should have them, as it was only in later cars? Switch is in the lower bank below radio on centre console.

Mine is in just now getting some scuffs and bits done on the bodywork, finished off with a machine polish. Driving to Cote D'Azur next week so wanted to get it looking nice for the trip. Oil and filter change and we are good to go.

Really looking forward to it, have also hired a 190SL as a surprise. Cannot wait to drive one of my all-time favourite cars, especially down there.

Edited by jke11y on Friday 26th July 11:06

[Bargenosenti]

jke11y said:

My 2000 car has folding mirrors; I use them every time I park, but then only ever park on-street in central London.

Mine is in just now getting some scuffs and bits done on the bodywork, finished off with a machine polish. Driving to Cote D'Azur next week so wanted to get it looking nice for the trip. Oil and filter change and we are good to go.

Really looking forward to it, have also hired a 190SL as a surprise. Cannot wait to drive one of my all-time favourite cars, especially down there.

Where you getting the bodywork TLC? In London? Wouldn't mind a few bits tidying on mine (CLK) if it isn't massively £££.

Trip your planning sounds great, make sure you post back some pics.

[r129sl]

I envy you the trip! A few years ago I drove myself down to North Africa via the Millau viaduct and the Mediterranean coast. It was a great trip:

Millau:




The middle of nowhere in Spain:

[jke11y]

Bargenosenti said:

jke11y said:

My 2000 car has folding mirrors; I use them every time I park, but then only ever park on-street in central London.

Mine is in just now getting some scuffs and bits done on the bodywork, finished off with a machine polish. Driving to Cote D'Azur next week so wanted to get it looking nice for the trip. Oil and filter change and we are good to go.

Really looking forward to it, have also hired a 190SL as a surprise. Cannot wait to drive one of my all-time favourite cars, especially down there.

Where you getting the bodywork TLC? In London? Wouldn't mind a few bits tidying on mine (CLK) if it isn't massively £££.

Trip your planning sounds great, make sure you post back some pics.

This will be the third euro trip the car has done in my ownership; there really is no better car for meandering from Nice along to Menton on a nice summer evening (well, until I get my Bentley Azure and 190SL that is )

Terry at Wayne Gates who does the servicing work on the car has organised the bodywork for me, I asked for "good for the £" as ultimately the car lives outside and someone will reverse into it again at some point.

[John042]

Mines a 1998 model but doesn't have the switch below the radio, as the others, ie ASR, Roll Bar etc. Just that my garage doorway is a bit tight! Wife's had two attempts at the pasenger side mirror So was speculating if the folding function was in the mirrors but not wired up?? Cheers J C

[FUBAR]

I've had an intermittent fault with the electric driver's seat on mine for years. Was always convinced it was the actual control unit under the seat but last year I had the local garage have a look and they couldn't find anything wrong (and of course the problem never manifested whilst with them!). I'm now of an opinion it could be the the door switch. How easy are these to get off/access to (please note I am a complete ham fisted donkey when it comes to such things) and are replacements easy to come by should the problem be more than a clean up?

[jke11y]

John042 said:

Mines a 1998 model but doesn't have the switch below the radio, as the others, ie ASR, Roll Bar etc. Just that my garage doorway is a bit tight! Wife's had two attempts at the pasenger side mirror So was speculating if the folding function was in the mirrors but not wired up?? Cheers J C

Weird, if its an oval-mirrored car with the V6 I would have thought it would have the function.

FUBAR said:

I've had an intermittent fault with the electric driver's seat on mine for years. Was always convinced it was the actual control unit under the seat but last year I had the local garage have a look and they couldn't find anything wrong (and of course the problem never manifested whilst with them!). I'm now of an opinion it could be the the door switch. How easy are these to get off/access to (please note I am a complete ham fisted donkey when it comes to such things) and are replacements easy to come by should the problem be more than a clean up?

It will depend on the model year; the earlier cars have more easily demountable door cards, later cars they are glued on as well as clips and it is trickier.

If a 90-98 car watch this

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SmbeNWvbG9Y

[FUBAR]

jke11y said:

It will depend on the model year; the earlier cars have more easily demountable door cards, later cars they are glued on as well as clips and it is trickier.

If a 90-98 car watch this

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SmbeNWvbG9Y

Excellent, thank you. I think even I can manage that

[Bargenosenti]

jke11y said:

Bargenosenti said:

jke11y said:

My 2000 car has folding mirrors; I use them every time I park, but then only ever park on-street in central London.

Mine is in just now getting some scuffs and bits done on the bodywork, finished off with a machine polish. Driving to Cote D'Azur next week so wanted to get it looking nice for the trip. Oil and filter change and we are good to go.

Really looking forward to it, have also hired a 190SL as a surprise. Cannot wait to drive one of my all-time favourite cars, especially down there.

Where you getting the bodywork TLC? In London? Wouldn't mind a few bits tidying on mine (CLK) if it isn't massively £££.

Trip your planning sounds great, make sure you post back some pics.

This will be the third euro trip the car has done in my ownership; there really is no better car for meandering from Nice along to Menton on a nice summer evening (well, until I get my Bentley Azure and 190SL that is )

Terry at Wayne Gates who does the servicing work on the car has organised the bodywork for me, I asked for "good for the £" as ultimately the car lives outside and someone will reverse into it again at some point.

Excellent. Previous model 2dr Conti GT would do for me

[f1ten]

i cant understand why people would pay 10k plus for a 320ce cab when the 500sl wipes the floor in performance, breaking, handling, build quality and show stopping technology. They are seriously underpriced on the basis they are faster than even 993 911s in a straight line upto about 100mph.

[chris333]

jke11y said:

John042 said:

Mines a 1998 model but doesn't have the switch below the radio, as the others, ie ASR, Roll Bar etc. Just that my garage doorway is a bit tight! Wife's had two attempts at the pasenger side mirror So was speculating if the folding function was in the mirrors but not wired up?? Cheers J C

Weird, if its an oval-mirrored car with the V6 I would have thought it would have the function.

My 1998 car has the oval mirrors but they aren't folding. Although the price lists and catalogues I've seen say they were standard, my impression is that the very earliest final facelift cars (oval mirrors, chrome round the instruments, "melt" rear lights) didn't get the folding mirrors.

[16simon]

Bumping this thread as I've just taken the plunge and paid £3600 for this 1992 500SL:



I haven't actually seen it yet, but according to the dealer (who seems decent on the phone) it has 94k warranted miles, a FSH, is rust free, has no mechanical issues, and all the electrics work. The hood is mohair and fitted recently, and there's also a hardtop. Oh, and he's sending her for a service and an MOT at a local MB indie before I collect.

I'm really looking forward to collecting it, although also feeling some trepidation as the local R129s that I've seen had faults that the dealer somehow neglected to mention in the advert or when talking about the car on the phone. I'm also a bit worried about wiring loom issues - from researching this, the car should be ok if it was made in the early part of 1992 and has K-Jetronic fuel injection.

I've had a couple of W124s (my current 230E is finishing on eBay this week), which are lovely cars, but I'm hoping that this car will be on another level....

[DocArbathnot]

16simon said:

Bumping this thread as I've just taken the plunge and paid £3600 for this 1992 500SL:



I haven't actually seen it yet, but according to the dealer (who seems decent on the phone) it has 94k warranted miles, a FSH, is rust free, has no mechanical issues, and all the electrics work. The hood is mohair and fitted recently, and there's also a hardtop. Oh, and he's sending her for a service and an MOT at a local MB indie before I collect.

I'm really looking forward to collecting it, although also feeling some trepidation as the local R129s that I've seen had faults that the dealer somehow neglected to mention in the advert or when talking about the car on the phone. I'm also a bit worried about wiring loom issues - from researching this, the car should be ok if it was made in the early part of 1992 and has K-Jetronic fuel injection.

I've had a couple of W124s (my current 230E is finishing on eBay this week), which are lovely cars, but I'm hoping that this car will be on another level....

Looks great value well done. When you collect the car allow yourself plenty of time for checking (everything works and paperwork etc). If it's wet ask to see the car undercover and leather it off.

I stupidly missed the split top mounts on mine...........

[truck71]

Good shout by Doc, split top mounts seem to be quite common. Check everywhere for damp/ wet including the boot, one other thing- make sure the chassis number located at the base of the windscreen, near side, matches the log book.

Then enjoy.

[16simon]

Thanks guys! it's being serviced by MB Nottingham before purchase so hopefully this will highlight any issues but I'll give it a good check myself.

What should I look for with the shock top mounts?

[DocArbathnot]

16simon said:

Thanks guys! it's being serviced by MB Nottingham before purchase so hopefully this will highlight any issues but I'll give it a good check myself.

What should I look for with the shock top mounts?

Splits in the rubber (on top of the inner wing) Easy and cheap to replace yourself but a negotiation point. I'm just irritated with myself for missing them.

Don't rely on a dealer to highlight issues. All they will do is oil and filter (if that!!)
Any issues may be highlighted to the suppling dealer verbally, not to you.

Edited by DocArbathnot on Sunday 24th November 19:28

[16simon]

Thanks again Doc. The dealer offered to send the car to Mercedes specialist for the service - I was pleasantly surprised at this - so I'd expect to see the service checklist, and anything that is highlighted on there.

I'll still check it thoroughly, and test drive it before finalising the sale though. I'll post on here and let you know how I get on....