Cheap R129, worth a gamble??
Discussion
Been to view a 1995 SL320 tonight, really straight bodywork but not without faults
1. Almost a full years MOT and just over 100K. Felt really tight but the gearbox wouldn't kick down
2. Grubby interior and the passenger window and electric seats seem to be very intermittent.
3. Rear window is glazed and would need replaced. Has a hardtop but that would require re lacquering
4. Non matching tyres and wheels needing refurbed. The car really hasn't been used in a few years
But, at just under 3 bags before negotiation .... Is it worth a punt or a possible/probably wallet rapist?
I await the flaming!
1. Almost a full years MOT and just over 100K. Felt really tight but the gearbox wouldn't kick down
2. Grubby interior and the passenger window and electric seats seem to be very intermittent.
3. Rear window is glazed and would need replaced. Has a hardtop but that would require re lacquering
4. Non matching tyres and wheels needing refurbed. The car really hasn't been used in a few years
But, at just under 3 bags before negotiation .... Is it worth a punt or a possible/probably wallet rapist?
I await the flaming!
Fattyfat said:
Been to view a 1995 SL320 tonight, really straight bodywork but not without faults
1. Almost a full years MOT and just over 100K. Felt really tight but the gearbox wouldn't kick down
2. Grubby interior and the passenger window and electric seats seem to be very intermittent.
3. Rear window is glazed and would need replaced. Has a hardtop but that would require re lacquering
4. Non matching tyres and wheels needing refurbed. The car really hasn't been used in a few years
But, at just under 3 bags before negotiation .... Is it worth a punt or a possible/probably wallet rapist?
I await the flaming!
No. By the time you've spent the cash to make it right you could have bought a better car. Preferably a v8. These are the things that have revealed themselves thus far, there will undoubtbly be more..1. Almost a full years MOT and just over 100K. Felt really tight but the gearbox wouldn't kick down
2. Grubby interior and the passenger window and electric seats seem to be very intermittent.
3. Rear window is glazed and would need replaced. Has a hardtop but that would require re lacquering
4. Non matching tyres and wheels needing refurbed. The car really hasn't been used in a few years
But, at just under 3 bags before negotiation .... Is it worth a punt or a possible/probably wallet rapist?
I await the flaming!
truck71 said:
No. By the time you've spent the cash to make it right you could have bought a better car. Preferably a v8. These are the things that have revealed themselves thus far, there will undoubtbly be more..
Cheers, that was pretty much my assessment. Typo on the price, I could have bought the car for under 2K. but all the little 'small' jobs put me off.However I have somehow gone from a chance viewing to now actively quite liking the idea of a nice R129, pref V8.
Could be a diamond in the rough...
Being a 95 car would mean that it is an M104 straight 6 engine. These have problems with the wiring loom and head gasket, and would most likely need to be replaced at that sort of age/mileage.
The gearbox could be a 4 speed or 5 speed, the former mechanical and the latter electonically controlled. Could be a simple fix or a replacement box for either, it's hard to say. The 4 speed is anecdotally more reliable.
Does the hood go up and down ok?
Being a 95 car would mean that it is an M104 straight 6 engine. These have problems with the wiring loom and head gasket, and would most likely need to be replaced at that sort of age/mileage.
The gearbox could be a 4 speed or 5 speed, the former mechanical and the latter electonically controlled. Could be a simple fix or a replacement box for either, it's hard to say. The 4 speed is anecdotally more reliable.
Does the hood go up and down ok?
74merc said:
Could be a diamond in the rough...
Being a 95 car would mean that it is an M104 straight 6 engine. These have problems with the wiring loom and head gasket, and would most likely need to be replaced at that sort of age/mileage.
The gearbox could be a 4 speed or 5 speed, the former mechanical and the latter electonically controlled. Could be a simple fix or a replacement box for either, it's hard to say. The 4 speed is anecdotally more reliable.
Does the hood go up and down ok?
M104 5 speed AFAIK.Being a 95 car would mean that it is an M104 straight 6 engine. These have problems with the wiring loom and head gasket, and would most likely need to be replaced at that sort of age/mileage.
The gearbox could be a 4 speed or 5 speed, the former mechanical and the latter electonically controlled. Could be a simple fix or a replacement box for either, it's hard to say. The 4 speed is anecdotally more reliable.
Does the hood go up and down ok?
Hood was fine although the passenger window needed some encouragement before the roof would release.
Some mental totting up of possible costs and a desperate lack of room for another project...I'm oot!
I'd love to try a really well fettled one now though.
Fattyfat said:
M104 5 speed AFAIK.
Hood was fine although the passenger window needed some encouragement before the roof would release.
Some mental totting up of possible costs and a desperate lack of room for another project...I'm oot!
I'd love to try a really well fettled one now though.
They're magic, hold on for the right one and you'll never want to sell it.Hood was fine although the passenger window needed some encouragement before the roof would release.
Some mental totting up of possible costs and a desperate lack of room for another project...I'm oot!
I'd love to try a really well fettled one now though.
The trouble is these are cheap to buy but not to run. A neglected car can eat away @ your wallet. The best cars are in regular use and have an enthusiastic owner
Projects are financially difficult to justify. If you can find a cheap car that only needs you're time + a few consumables investing (unlikely) then you could be on to something.
Projects are financially difficult to justify. If you can find a cheap car that only needs you're time + a few consumables investing (unlikely) then you could be on to something.
PositronicRay said:
The trouble is these are cheap to buy but not to run. A neglected car can eat away @ your wallet. The best cars are in regular use and have an enthusiastic owner
Projects are financially difficult to justify. If you can find a cheap car that only needs you're time + a few consumables investing (unlikely) then you could be on to something.
Sort of, and then again, sort of not....depends on what type of Petrolhead you are!Projects are financially difficult to justify. If you can find a cheap car that only needs you're time + a few consumables investing (unlikely) then you could be on to something.
A while ago, my G/F at the time set her heart on and insisted buying a 1990 R129 300 - a straight six auto. It looked dodgy to me, had paint on different panels, a dodgy history, non-standard wheels etc...but she was adamant.
Of course, it turned out to be exactly what I expected - a poorly cared-for lemon. Many, many faults manifested themselves over the coming months.
However - as she had committed, at a dealer price against my judgement - that was it, we were in for the long haul, as to sell so soon would have meant a hefty loss of £££'s.
So I adopted the thing as my new rolling project, and I thought - it was an early 90's top of the range Marc, right? So it must be fundamentally sound overall, despite the niggles?
And it sort of was. It was basically sound and straight, but just showed the kind of faults that came from a neglectful, uncaring or tight previous owner. Many of which involved some initially terrifying systems and control boxes etc. on the car.
But as I am happy to get the spanners out on ANYTHING, even a previously mega-money Merc, it didn't end up too bad. There are a lot of bits available on ebay, and also a whole raft of Merc specialist breakers around with rakes of 129 bits, and some of them also have a load of specialist knowledge about some of the more complicated aspects - i.e. the vacuum system which controls so much around the car, the complicate roof mechanism, all that jazz.
It's a hideously sophisticated car, but there is a LOT of internet based support, and as I say, many of the breakers / specialist garages have a vast array of knowledge about how to address and fix many of the usual problems and issues. Tapping into all that knowledge, alongside being happy to get your own hands dirty - adopting a calm, methodical attitude to spannering these cars - means that actually, they CAN now be run these days on Ford Fiesta money.
But yes, if you aren't happy to work on it yourself - then the bills would probably be horrendous! Your choice, really
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