R129 Mercedes-Benz SL - Why the gap in values?
Discussion
Roof not down error!
Mine is also a 500, they are surprisingly able, look great, butt are complex cars when it comes to the roof. Mine complained so I had the roof locked in place with the hardtop for now - something I am regretting as the winter/spring is the best time to have the top down! I will have it sorted soon though.
Mine is also a 500, they are surprisingly able, look great, butt are complex cars when it comes to the roof. Mine complained so I had the roof locked in place with the hardtop for now - something I am regretting as the winter/spring is the best time to have the top down! I will have it sorted soon though.
They are complex, and some are a quarter of a century old!
Good luck with the roof issue. Over winter my car managed to rectify it's previously defunct passenger electric window, so they can spring up some odd surprises.
My car is currently having two front wings fitted, after I tired of the little blemishes to the fore of the front wheel arches. On inspection, and as expected, the wings were worse on the inside than out. Whilst they were fixable, I ordered two new ones from Mercedes to ensure a further 25 years of looking good.
Happy 129ing!
Good luck with the roof issue. Over winter my car managed to rectify it's previously defunct passenger electric window, so they can spring up some odd surprises.
My car is currently having two front wings fitted, after I tired of the little blemishes to the fore of the front wheel arches. On inspection, and as expected, the wings were worse on the inside than out. Whilst they were fixable, I ordered two new ones from Mercedes to ensure a further 25 years of looking good.
Happy 129ing!
SSL said:
There are definite changes in the 129 market and they have been seen before. Twelve years ago I started looking at the 107. To be honest I would have loved a 113 but even then they were starting to go beyond what I could or wanted to pay. A very good condition 85-89 107 low mileage, low owner, full service history example could be had for the price of what a similarly nice 129 will cost today. However try buying that same 107 today and you can expect to pay nearly three times the 2004 asking price and the 113 has doubled or tripled.
In some respects the 113 has pulled up 107 prices but as many people are beginning to really appreciate how good the 107 is it is getting a momentum of its own so that it is moving beyond the ability of many, like me with the 113 , twelve years ago, to buy it.
This really opens the door for the 129 sitting as it was a couple of years back at the bottom of its depreciation curve. Today like the 107 twelve years ago there are lots and lots to choose from and a wide range of asking prices largely based on condition, mileage, ownership, service history and model year.
As r129sl pointed out specialist dealers are recognising that as the 113 and 107 move beyond the pockets of many enthusiasts the 129 is easily capable of filling that gap and satisfying the demands of a new set of SL owners.
It will be interesting to see if 129 prices go the same way as the 113 and 107 but its clear to me that the process I witnessed with each of those models has already begun for the 129.
I appreciate that the following are very low mileage examples of gorgeous early R129s but they are indicative of the kind of trend discussed above.In some respects the 113 has pulled up 107 prices but as many people are beginning to really appreciate how good the 107 is it is getting a momentum of its own so that it is moving beyond the ability of many, like me with the 113 , twelve years ago, to buy it.
This really opens the door for the 129 sitting as it was a couple of years back at the bottom of its depreciation curve. Today like the 107 twelve years ago there are lots and lots to choose from and a wide range of asking prices largely based on condition, mileage, ownership, service history and model year.
As r129sl pointed out specialist dealers are recognising that as the 113 and 107 move beyond the pockets of many enthusiasts the 129 is easily capable of filling that gap and satisfying the demands of a new set of SL owners.
It will be interesting to see if 129 prices go the same way as the 113 and 107 but its clear to me that the process I witnessed with each of those models has already begun for the 129.
Edited by SSL on Wednesday 30th March 21:11
www.edward-hall.co.uk/showroom/1992-mercedes-benz-...
www.edward-hall.co.uk/showroom/1991-mercedes-benz-...
Even if you don't agree they are lovely to look at.
PositronicRay said:
It's hard to know what to think, their value is in the mileage and originality.
If you buy and don't use what's the point, if you start using either car the value goes rapidly south.
PositronicRay,If you buy and don't use what's the point, if you start using either car the value goes rapidly south.
I take both your points.
If they are as good as portrayed I think both these cars' originality could easily be retained and enjoyed with sympathetic use and, remain a good investment.
www.coupeandcabriolet.co.uk has some nice later model year 129s ,but not 500SLs, for similar asking prices and at the other extreme www.theslshop.com/mercedes-benz-sl-60-just-13k-mil... you have an asking price of almost double the 1991 500SL albeit it for a very rare 129. (you may need to go to showroom and scroll down to the R129 60SL they are selling)
The gist of my original post is that there is a gap in 129 asking prices and the days of finding low mileage, very good condition 129s for the kind of money asked for over the last few years are coming to an end if they haven't already.
Edited by SSL on Monday 23 May 18:16
Hi acme. To answer your question, yes I've recently sold my 1998 114k 320SL (To a German!!) and bought a 2004 500SL. Both are/were relaxing drives. The 320 some would say a little dated but build quality superb. The 500SL; yes very nice, possible a better drive, the V8, an itch I had to scratch.
I'm aware of the short comings, ABC and boot leaks etc but mine has a dry boot and the ABC is about to have a fluid change at 58k. I think both these model can suffer from the same fault ie lack of preventative maintenance. They are well built and can cover large mileages without complaint, their undoing? So when they do go wrong it can be expensive. Time will tell, the 320 one rusty brake pipe in 4 years hopefully the 500SL will be as reliable. J C.
I'm aware of the short comings, ABC and boot leaks etc but mine has a dry boot and the ABC is about to have a fluid change at 58k. I think both these model can suffer from the same fault ie lack of preventative maintenance. They are well built and can cover large mileages without complaint, their undoing? So when they do go wrong it can be expensive. Time will tell, the 320 one rusty brake pipe in 4 years hopefully the 500SL will be as reliable. J C. SSL said:
I appreciate that the following are very low mileage examples of gorgeous early R129s but they are indicative of the kind of trend discussed above.
www.edward-hall.co.uk/showroom/1992-mercedes-benz-...
www.edward-hall.co.uk/showroom/1991-mercedes-benz-...
Must be region specific, over here you can have this 24,000 miler for £7900www.edward-hall.co.uk/showroom/1992-mercedes-benz-...
www.edward-hall.co.uk/showroom/1991-mercedes-benz-...
http://www.trademe.co.nz/a.aspx?id=1092179429
Just seen this late SL500 at top money- are they really worth this now?
http://www.coupeandcabriolet.co.uk/sl500-silver-62...
It really is a wide spectrum, isn't it? If it is an accurate price, I'm selling mine (blk/blk SL500 like above), as I just don't use it.
http://www.coupeandcabriolet.co.uk/sl500-silver-62...
It really is a wide spectrum, isn't it? If it is an accurate price, I'm selling mine (blk/blk SL500 like above), as I just don't use it.
olliete said:
That is a cracking example but let's see how long it lingers for...not much shifting at toppy asking prices.
Add to which, now is the time to sell for a convertible!
The SL shop listed a late model SL500 pano roof, 48,000 miler for £17995 at the beginning of this week and its gone already.Add to which, now is the time to sell for a convertible!
It has another for the same price, lower mileage but no pano which will probably hang around longer. It also has a 13,000 mile one owner SL60 for £55,995.
Interesting times.
I think r129 prices are definitely on the up.
I've had mine 9 months now and paid £4k for it. Its a 1993 and had 123k on the clock when bought.
Apologies for the hardtop being on - it was Winter when these were taken.
I think I would struggle to get one of these in this condition for anything near this money now.
These cars are a joy to drive and have a great blend of build quality, class, ride, performance and handling. Even at 23 years old its still a pretty quick car!
ETA - The bling 19" Brabus Monoblock S wheels have been removed and replaced with MB 5 Spoke 17s.
I've had mine 9 months now and paid £4k for it. Its a 1993 and had 123k on the clock when bought.
Apologies for the hardtop being on - it was Winter when these were taken.
I think I would struggle to get one of these in this condition for anything near this money now.
These cars are a joy to drive and have a great blend of build quality, class, ride, performance and handling. Even at 23 years old its still a pretty quick car!
ETA - The bling 19" Brabus Monoblock S wheels have been removed and replaced with MB 5 Spoke 17s.
Edited by lostkiwi on Friday 27th May 11:25
Interesting times indeed, since having mine back on the road this year I've had a note put on the windscreen asking if I would consider selling and another chap ask me in person...think the R129 is on people's lists now for all the reasons already stated. Nothing better for wafting around in on a sunny day !! 
Just Mot'd mine Saturday..........66 miles in four years haha
Took it out Sunday, now 28,100 or so miles. Most likely going to advertise again soon, since my new job puts me in a new BMW every so often, I'll end up with this another ten years like the others I've kept just as long for no real reason other than I like them ha.
New cars don't have this feel now, just not made like it anymore. 18 years old this September.
One of the rare occasions a few years ago the roof was off, tax disc expired 03/12, will give it a wheel restore and tyres soon I think.
Took it out Sunday, now 28,100 or so miles. Most likely going to advertise again soon, since my new job puts me in a new BMW every so often, I'll end up with this another ten years like the others I've kept just as long for no real reason other than I like them ha.
New cars don't have this feel now, just not made like it anymore. 18 years old this September.
One of the rare occasions a few years ago the roof was off, tax disc expired 03/12, will give it a wheel restore and tyres soon I think.
The prices of R129's are crazy. I first bought a 95 SL320 for £1.8k, with a view to restoring it. Bit off a lot more than I could chew so sold it on to someone who knew what he was doing. Then a month later I got a two owner, 95k miles '93 500SL with fsh for £3.5k, which now seems like a bit of a bargain. I think the general consensus on here is correct, R107 values are going sky high, therefore pushing demand for the R129. It's irrelevant for me as it's going nowhere, still it's nice to have a car appreciate for once!
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