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

[Zonergem]

My fault, poor choice of words. Car recently had the condenser changed, vendor checked ATF level before setting out and found it too low to drive the car in his opinion. Suspect there's more to this than meets the eye but he left me an apologetic voicemail and has been helpful in other regards. I tipped up a couple of the MB indies near him that I've seen recommended on here and other sites (SS Motors in Addlestone and TM Motors in East Molesey) and AFAIK the car will be off eBay until this is sorted - maybe a couple of weeks.

But if anyone else has a pre-facelift 5.0 R129 to sell then now's your chance!

Edited by Zonergem on Saturday 15th October 17:24

[Zonergem]

VIN decoded. Option 216 (ADS) seems to be listed. **puts hands in pockets, walks away**

[Hereward]

ADS is really not something to be worried about. It's less complicated than the roof hydraulic system.

The internet horror stories are from those who made the error of using MB main dealers or who suffered issues before a solid base of information was built up and shared within the internet community. Like any hydraulic system, basic preventative maintenance is the order of the day.

It's not logical to be fearful of ADS when buying a car who's party piece is a rather complex hydraulic folding roof

[SSL]

Zonergem said:

@f1ten and others - thanks for your help.

I hadn't known about the roof button swapping sides, and so went searching for early examples to compare against.

Which led me quickly to this

http://www.historics.co.uk/buying/auctions/2013-11...

and I thought that I should leave it here for reference. Boils my piss that 3 years ago you could buy this for 10k...

Zonergem,

Thanks for posting this. Interesting that the ad says that the car was a pre-production model. Mine was built in late 1989 and it was interesting to compare my engine and chassis numbers with this press car and which respectively finish with the last four digits of 2170 and 3129.

It too was used as a demonstrator by Jacksons in Jersey before being sold to its first private owner.

Hope your search for a pre-facelift model is a success.

[f1ten]

Jersey car wax also black yes?

[SSL]

f1ten said:

Jersey car wax also black yes?

f1ten,

Not sure I understand your question.

[Zonergem]

I think *wax is a typo for *was. Is your car the same blue-black colour as the 1989 press car?

Meanwhile this 1994 which has been for sale for quite a while and which I'd previously dismissed for being rather a dull combination of colours is now looking more tempting.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&am...

when you imagine putting the Brabus 3 spoke wheels on it - as per the silver car upthread.

[Hereward]

That is a lovely looking car. The pre-facelift cars look so much better, imo.

[ras62]

Zonergem said:

when you imagine putting the Brabus 3 spoke wheels on it - as per the silver car upthread.

OMG I thought you were joking! Absolutely hideous lol but each to their own.

[CharlesdeGaulle]

I confess that I too hoped that the 3-spoke comment was a momentary aberration of taste rather than a genuine appreciation of what are, by any sensible metric, fking gopping wheels.

[Zonergem]

No accounting for taste. I wouldn't get rid of the eight holes - they're the best OEM wheel. But the Brabus - perhaps because it was period-correct tuning - looks good in the photo. Without some element of discord - maybe call it sprezzatura - that car is just too grey and anonymous to my eyes.

Five minutes on Benzworld (Americans, I'm looking at you) or Autotrader will provide hundreds of worse crimes committed against poor defenceless cars.

[Zonergem]

I'll admit, I could be wrong about this.

[SSL]

Zonergem said:

I think *wax is a typo for *was. Is your car the same blue-black colour as the 1989 press car?

Meanwhile this 1994 which has been for sale for quite a while and which I'd previously dismissed for being rather a dull combination of colours is now looking more tempting.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&am...

when you imagine putting the Brabus 3 spoke wheels on it - as per the silver car upthread.

Thanks Zonergem.

That makes sense.

[SSL]

f1ten said:

Jersey car wax also black yes?

Hi f1ten

if as Zonergem has usefully pointed out you meant was my car black too then no.

As you can see it is almadine.

[f1ten]

You bought it at auction 18 months ago ?

SSL said:

f1ten,

Not sure I understand your question.

[f1ten]

Ahh sorry almandine red
Very nice indeed !

[Zonergem]

Lovely car SSL - is it a 500? Mushroom leather I presume. Almandine is just

This high-spec early 300SL in Almandine/Mushroom has been on the market for a while. Another good reference for early cars.

http://edward-hall.co.uk/showroom/1990-mercedes-be...

[mickyveloce]

Zonergem said:

Lovely car SSL - is it a 500? Mushroom leather I presume. Almandine is just

This high-spec early 300SL in Almandine/Mushroom has been on the market for a while. Another good reference for early cars.

http://edward-hall.co.uk/showroom/1990-mercedes-be...

It has been for sale for a while. I think it belonged to Ken Lowe originally. He invented the Kenlowe electric fan. Another fascinating fact!

My 300-24 is a 1990 car, and I think one of earliest.

[SSL]

f1ten said:

Ahh sorry almandine red
Very nice indeed !

f1ten,

I bought it in August 2015 and you were kind enough to exchange some emails with me not long afterwards and clarified some questions I had.

[SSL]

Zonergem said:

Lovely car SSL - is it a 500? Mushroom leather I presume. Almandine is just

This high-spec early 300SL in Almandine/Mushroom has been on the market for a while. Another good reference for early cars.

http://edward-hall.co.uk/showroom/1990-mercedes-be...

Thank you.

Yes it has "pebble" cream leather. It is a 500SL and is comes without the catalytic converter (which gives it 333bhp and 339lbft of torque but not sure that much extra ,if at all, in the way of performance).

I had seen the 300SL on the Edward Hall website. It is comprehensively specced for a 300SL and is a nice looking car.