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

[CharlesdeGaulle]

QuantumTokoloshi said:

I can recommend Cayman's in Dorking for hard top repairs etc.

0a - when I first had a problem with the roof I took it to Caymans in Dorking for an assessment. They effected the temporary repair that is now clearly failing, and I'd planned to get them to do the work. Great bunch, and they really know what they're doing. I can't remember exactly, but I think the proper repair was in the order of between 1200-2000, depending on whether new or refurbished pump parts were used.

[0a]

Thanks CDG, when I purchased the car I was aware that I would need to invest in the roof at some point so have been planning for such a bill. I think I will get the whole roof replaced at the same time - I really fancy a brand new roof in dark blue, like the lovely silver car in previous posts.

The rear right locking latch is not going down despite refitting the hard top about 10 times. I think there's something wrong with it.

Thankyou all for the recommendations.

It will have to wait until I am slightly less busy but will research and pick somewhere in the coming months.

Edited by 0a on Sunday 14th February 22:13

[QuantumTokoloshi]

0a said:

Thanks CDG, when I purchased the car I was aware that I would need to invest in the roof at some point so have been planning for such a bill. I think I will get the whole roof replaced at the same time - I really fancy a brand new roof in dark blue, like the lovely silver car in previous posts.

The rear right locking latch is not going down despite refitting the hard top about 10 times. I think there's something wrong with it.

Thankyou all for the recommendations.

It will have to wait until I am slightly less busy but will research and pick somewhere in the coming months.

Edited by 0a on Sunday 14th February 22:13

I just had a thought, check that the catch on the hard top is not slightly bent. The first time I fitted my hardtop, it would not latch, and after struggling for a good while, noticed the catch had been bent slightly forward. This was from the hardtop being rested upright, with the weight of the hardtop resting on the catch on the floor, before I got the hardtop carrier.

I bent the catch forward slightly, and it hooked up at the first attempt. The catch should be perpendicular to the hardtop, else it goes into the slot at a slight angle and the hydraulics do not activate.

It had me scratching my head for a good while.

Edited by QuantumTokoloshi on Sunday 14th February 22:22

[Parisien]

Just thought I'd add a couple of pics of a forum familiar 320SL to the re-activate this thread


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[harrykul]

Congratulations! Used to belong to Mccrackenj from the barge thread in Belfast, and prior to that a guy local to me.

[Parisien]

Yes, I'd bought this off young McCracken, enjoyed my miles in it so far, done a few fixes and improved bits but not solved all of them yet!

Any other recent SL owners want to add to the thread?


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[mickyveloce]

Not a new owner, but five and a half years into my 300-24 ownership.

I still can't believe how complete and satisfying they are to use, drive and own. As they become a rare sight, mine seems to be attracting more positive attention than ever before. Lovely motor cars indeed.

[PositronicRay]

He's mine 3yrs and 18k miles. Cost £5k but spent the same again getting it right.

[Parisien]

Not quite spend £5k on it yet....but I could sure spend another few hundred, what exactly swallowed £5k, all at once or in manageable chunks?

Looks fabulous BTW

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[PositronicRay]

Bit's of bodywork some my fault + rust coming through on the wings......£850
Flex discs..............................................................£400
Fan clutch..............................................................£100
Lambda sensor + rewiring................................................£200
New plastic windows.....................................................£400
Engine wiring looms upper, lower & TB...................................£500
Shocks, control arms, top mounts + alignment ...........................£700
Duo valve...............................................................£100
Indicator stalk.........................................................£100
Steering slip ring..................................................,....£50
New discs, pads and shoes.............................................. £300
New wheels and tyres, all fluids, recharge A/C, new stereo, 3 x services, 3 x MOTs and a myriad of little things. (I've stopped counting now)

It would have been more but most of the stuff I've managed to do myself. Seems to have the ability to chew up vast amounts of money, does drive brilliantly now though.

Edited by PositronicRay on Thursday 22 September 15:23

[Parisien]

Gee, mine had the new wings done not that long ago, I've put a new radiator in it, tidied up several aspects to doors, handles, full service, waxoyled


Central locking still not working off remote, nor is air-con, but don't ever need it over here excpet for 1 day a year!!!


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[Skyedriver]

Been a long term TVR owner but as I get older(63) I've been thinking about an SL500 for a while. More relaxed, comfortable, possibly more usable on a daily basis.
Don't want black, silver, grey, or any dark colour so restricted to bright red (my favourite option) or pale blue or one of the unusual colours I see now and then. My problem is getting to try one, they nearly all seem to be 200 miles away.
There's a jap import over Tees-side I'm planning to go view but it's beyond the top of my budget and I don't really want to ditch the TVR yet in case I don't get on with the SL...........

[PositronicRay]

Skyedriver said:

Been a long term TVR owner but as I get older(63) I've been thinking about an SL500 for a while. More relaxed, comfortable, possibly more usable on a daily basis.
Don't want black, silver, grey, or any dark colour so restricted to bright red (my favourite option) or pale blue or one of the unusual colours I see now and then. My problem is getting to try one, they nearly all seem to be 200 miles away.
There's a jap import over Tees-side I'm planning to go view but it's beyond the top of my budget and I don't really want to ditch the TVR yet in case I don't get on with the SL...........

It's a heavy old hector not a performance car more of a GT. Try a few, many poor old neglected examples out there, that just drive like a bag of spanners.

[r129sl]

Not 3/4k but £10k: http://www.mtsv.co.uk/info/SL320OB.htm

Underpriced, in my view.

[jke11y]

r129sl said:

Not 3/4k but £10k: http://www.mtsv.co.uk/info/SL320OB.htm

Underpriced, in my view.

Shame it has no pano roof. Identical to mine (that I noticed last night I've had for 5 years now) and I paid £7k for it. Incredible value.

[Zonergem]

Think it is getting very hard to find straight cars (especially the 500) for anything less than collector money now. Those examples which have been cosseted and kept for weekends in the garage (i.e. mileage >50k) and which meet the "ideal" specification - M119 32V engine, 722.6 transmission, standard (non ADS) suspension and as few interior and exterior mods as possible are around 20k-25k.

Below that there is now a shortage of cars which aren't either imports, modded to hell or potential ADS money pits. A well-maintained SL can run and run, but you obviously need plenty of evidence that maintenance has been kept up to date.

Is the 500 really worth twice the price of the 320?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1998-Mercedes-Benz-SL500...

vs

http://www.usedmercedesbenz-sales.co.uk/used-merce...

Both from well-established Merc specialists down South - Silchester being more associated with W113s but Prestige Car Services/Turnbull&Oliver being the R129 garage of choice amongst Southern enthusiasts.

[Parisien]

Not so much are they twice the car but everyone whose asked, always wants/is recommended the 5 litre version, hence the supply and demand outcome, 5/6/7 buyers for every good 500SL vs 1/2 for the 320SL


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[ras62]

I counted a handful of V8 cars sub 100k miles out of over 120 advertised but Im not convinced the market is double the price of a nice SL320 or anywhere close tbh.

[mickyveloce]

Mileage is of little relevance with a car of this quality. Lack of use really doesn't do any machine much good, and left to stand, Mercedes of this era aren't happy.

That having been said, inherent quality can mask a lack of maintenance, so it's all about the evidence of careful regular use and a preventative schedule of maintainance, love and care.

These things really need sympathetic treatment.

[Zonergem]

Micky - can't see how to DM you - did I see somewhere that you know a good indy Mercedes specialist in North Yorkshire? Boroughbridge maybe? Any good for R107s or R129s?