R129 SL60 AMG - Anybody have any experience?
Discussion
pollawyn said:
If you want a car for pure enjoyment follow your heart not your head. Any other choice you will be thinking, if only? Bear in mind that this thinking could cost you dear in monetary terms but what enjoyment meanwhile.
Wise words!I've just got a couple of quotes and to behonest I was quite suprised. An agreed value policy, on a limited mileage with the car garaged is just over £350. It's actually cheaper to insure than my old M535i on a similar policy!
Bob,
I'd be interested to know what was the mielage allowed ? and was it for the SL500 or the SL60?
The quotes I got were all about £350 for 3000miles and £450 for 5000. Any more mileage than that and the quotes just ballooned. I deliberated about the mileage to pick, but eventually went for 5000. Seeing as I've done about 600miles in the month or so since I got it, I'm glad I did!
I'd be interested to know what was the mielage allowed ? and was it for the SL500 or the SL60?
The quotes I got were all about £350 for 3000miles and £450 for 5000. Any more mileage than that and the quotes just ballooned. I deliberated about the mileage to pick, but eventually went for 5000. Seeing as I've done about 600miles in the month or so since I got it, I'm glad I did!
Edited by chris333 on Thursday 9th September 15:45
Bob, only just seen this thread...apologies.
What I know about the SL60...it is a V8, as you rightly say. I was always under the impression that it was a variant of the M119 engine?
They are rare as. I've only ever seen 2, one of which was a nail that had an inoperable roof (read: blank cheque needed to resolve).
All cars have an 600SL / SL600 chassis number, as they were all built back in the day before AMG was integrated in to MB, so AMG basically got a 600, stripped it, and sent it out as an SL60.
There are 2 variants - a pre facelift, and a facelifted model. The Autotrader one is a facelift.
Power wise, they rate at about 381bhp, but these are AMGs finest stallions. My 500SL is rated at 326, but its a 1990 so it doesn't have cats.
I'd imagine they are my car, only quicker and probably nicer handling. Both are a good thing.
Good luck!! If I can help at all, please ask!
What I know about the SL60...it is a V8, as you rightly say. I was always under the impression that it was a variant of the M119 engine?
They are rare as. I've only ever seen 2, one of which was a nail that had an inoperable roof (read: blank cheque needed to resolve).
All cars have an 600SL / SL600 chassis number, as they were all built back in the day before AMG was integrated in to MB, so AMG basically got a 600, stripped it, and sent it out as an SL60.
There are 2 variants - a pre facelift, and a facelifted model. The Autotrader one is a facelift.
Power wise, they rate at about 381bhp, but these are AMGs finest stallions. My 500SL is rated at 326, but its a 1990 so it doesn't have cats.
I'd imagine they are my car, only quicker and probably nicer handling. Both are a good thing.
Good luck!! If I can help at all, please ask!
Greg san,
Local Daley's has an absolutely spaffular R129 '500 - looks like some kind of AMG body kit - e.g. subtly extended rear boot spoiler?
Resplendent in a bright red, it's for me like a 928; a car rarely seen these days but if you do catch a glimpse and it's a minter, you quite frankly stop, coo a little and then wish you were a Ewing, what?
Local Daley's has an absolutely spaffular R129 '500 - looks like some kind of AMG body kit - e.g. subtly extended rear boot spoiler?
Resplendent in a bright red, it's for me like a 928; a car rarely seen these days but if you do catch a glimpse and it's a minter, you quite frankly stop, coo a little and then wish you were a Ewing, what?
There is a r129 buyer's guide in this week's autocar. Pretty thin and useless: presumably author Goodwin knocked it out while on the bog having a crap. Car magazines... they're so rubbish. Anyway, they do say the SL60 AMG is the one to look for if you want "extra performance".... It really is the worst buyer's guide I have ever seen.
r129sl said:
There is a r129 buyer's guide in this week's autocar. Pretty thin and useless: presumably author Goodwin knocked it out while on the bog having a crap. Car magazines... they're so rubbish. Anyway, they do say the SL60 AMG is the one to look for if you want "extra performance".... It really is the worst buyer's guide I have ever seen.
Thats so true about so many magazines: cars, cameras, computers: its just money for old rope. Its amazing anyone still pays good money for them given the wealth of properly useful information on sites like this on the internetchris333 said:
r129sl said:
There is a r129 buyer's guide in this week's autocar. Pretty thin and useless: presumably author Goodwin knocked it out while on the bog having a crap. Car magazines... they're so rubbish. Anyway, they do say the SL60 AMG is the one to look for if you want "extra performance".... It really is the worst buyer's guide I have ever seen.
Thats so true about so many magazines: cars, cameras, computers: its just money for old rope. Its amazing anyone still pays good money for them given the wealth of properly useful information on sites like this on the internetchris333 said:
Bob,
I'd be interested to know what was the mielage allowed ? and was it for the SL500 or the SL60?
The quotes I got were all about £350 for 3000miles and £450 for 5000. Any more mileage than that and the quotes just ballooned. I deliberated about the mileage to pick, but eventually went for 5000. Seeing as I've done about 600miles in the month or so since I got it, I'm glad I did!
Hi Chris,I'd be interested to know what was the mielage allowed ? and was it for the SL500 or the SL60?
The quotes I got were all about £350 for 3000miles and £450 for 5000. Any more mileage than that and the quotes just ballooned. I deliberated about the mileage to pick, but eventually went for 5000. Seeing as I've done about 600miles in the month or so since I got it, I'm glad I did!
Edited by chris333 on Thursday 9th September 15:45
The car I was quoted for is the SL60, to be registered at my home but kept in secure storage elsewhere.
The mileage allowance is for 3000 miles a year, however the price is similar to yours for 5000 miles per annum. I will probably go for 5000 miles per year, especially as I plan a euro trip in the spring.
Edited by bob1179 on Friday 10th September 08:31
GregE240 said:
Bob, only just seen this thread...apologies.
What I know about the SL60...it is a V8, as you rightly say. I was always under the impression that it was a variant of the M119 engine?
They are rare as. I've only ever seen 2, one of which was a nail that had an inoperable roof (read: blank cheque needed to resolve).
All cars have an 600SL / SL600 chassis number, as they were all built back in the day before AMG was integrated in to MB, so AMG basically got a 600, stripped it, and sent it out as an SL60.
There are 2 variants - a pre facelift, and a facelifted model. The Autotrader one is a facelift.
Power wise, they rate at about 381bhp, but these are AMGs finest stallions. My 500SL is rated at 326, but its a 1990 so it doesn't have cats.
I'd imagine they are my car, only quicker and probably nicer handling. Both are a good thing.
Good luck!! If I can help at all, please ask!
Hi Greg,What I know about the SL60...it is a V8, as you rightly say. I was always under the impression that it was a variant of the M119 engine?
They are rare as. I've only ever seen 2, one of which was a nail that had an inoperable roof (read: blank cheque needed to resolve).
All cars have an 600SL / SL600 chassis number, as they were all built back in the day before AMG was integrated in to MB, so AMG basically got a 600, stripped it, and sent it out as an SL60.
There are 2 variants - a pre facelift, and a facelifted model. The Autotrader one is a facelift.
Power wise, they rate at about 381bhp, but these are AMGs finest stallions. My 500SL is rated at 326, but its a 1990 so it doesn't have cats.
I'd imagine they are my car, only quicker and probably nicer handling. Both are a good thing.
Good luck!! If I can help at all, please ask!
The engine in the SL60 is a derivative of the M119 engine. As far as I know it has been bored out to 6.0 litres and has different cams, manifolds and other assorted headwork done to it.
I would love to know what sort of work AMG did to the car and how they were recieved at the factory. Were they complete cars that were disassembled then rebuilt or did they arrive at the AMG factory sans engine, gearbox and suspension?
Thanks for the offer of help too, I always welcome any advice and assistance.
BigBen said:
chris333 said:
r129sl said:
There is a r129 buyer's guide in this week's autocar. Pretty thin and useless: presumably author Goodwin knocked it out while on the bog having a crap. Car magazines... they're so rubbish. Anyway, they do say the SL60 AMG is the one to look for if you want "extra performance".... It really is the worst buyer's guide I have ever seen.
Thats so true about so many magazines: cars, cameras, computers: its just money for old rope. Its amazing anyone still pays good money for them given the wealth of properly useful information on sites like this on the internetThanks for letting me know though!
The SL60 does indeed have a m119 engine. That engine in stock form is a fine thing and not without racing pedigree (it was used in the hugely successful Sauber-Mercedes sportscars). The 6.0litre version is bored and stroked, has different cams and exhaust as well as different management software. It was also assembled by AMG: which means it was assembled perfectly.
As for production, the earliest cars were very much tuner specials. The customer would order a car from Mercedes and then it would go to AMG to have whatever modifications the customer required. These cars were usually "badged" 500 SL 6.0. Often the customer would buy, say, a 300 SL which then would be divested of its motor and fitted up with the big V8.
By 1994, there was a measure of formality about the arrangements between Mercedes-Benz and AMG. The SL60 AMG was more like a series production model, albeit a special order car, than a bespoke item. It is likely that by then the AMG-modified engine and AMG-specified suspension were fitted on the standard production line at the Mercedes-Benz factory in Bremen. Only the SL70 and SL73 cars would have been manufactured at Affalterbach. None of this matters because (1) that AMG engine is the heart of this car, (2) the standard SL was beautifully built with a lot of hand input at Bremen (not so much a production line as a production circle) and (3) these are really, really super cars.
As for production, the earliest cars were very much tuner specials. The customer would order a car from Mercedes and then it would go to AMG to have whatever modifications the customer required. These cars were usually "badged" 500 SL 6.0. Often the customer would buy, say, a 300 SL which then would be divested of its motor and fitted up with the big V8.
By 1994, there was a measure of formality about the arrangements between Mercedes-Benz and AMG. The SL60 AMG was more like a series production model, albeit a special order car, than a bespoke item. It is likely that by then the AMG-modified engine and AMG-specified suspension were fitted on the standard production line at the Mercedes-Benz factory in Bremen. Only the SL70 and SL73 cars would have been manufactured at Affalterbach. None of this matters because (1) that AMG engine is the heart of this car, (2) the standard SL was beautifully built with a lot of hand input at Bremen (not so much a production line as a production circle) and (3) these are really, really super cars.
Well, after much deliberation and discussion with the OH and dealer. I've thrown caution to the wind and bought the blue SL60.
I know I'm mad, but we only live once so sod it!
The car is being given a once over and being fully detailed, then it is going into a carcoon, hooked up to an optimate and being looked after until I get back home again.
I have to admit that I haven't actually been this excited about buying a car in a long time.
Thankyou all for the information and advice you have given me, I really appreciate it.
I know I'm mad, but we only live once so sod it!
The car is being given a once over and being fully detailed, then it is going into a carcoon, hooked up to an optimate and being looked after until I get back home again.
I have to admit that I haven't actually been this excited about buying a car in a long time.
Thankyou all for the information and advice you have given me, I really appreciate it.
Congratulations, I'm sure you will have a fantastic time in it. Get as many miles on the insurance as you can, you won't want to stop driving it!
Hope we will see some photos on here once youve got it sorted.
Hope we will see some photos on here once youve got it sorted.
bob1179 said:
Well, after much deliberation and discussion with the OH and dealer. I've thrown caution to the wind and bought the blue SL60.
I know I'm mad, but we only live once so sod it!
The car is being given a once over and being fully detailed, then it is going into a carcoon, hooked up to an optimate and being looked after until I get back home again.
I have to admit that I haven't actually been this excited about buying a car in a long time.
Thankyou all for the information and advice you have given me, I really appreciate it.
I know I'm mad, but we only live once so sod it!
The car is being given a once over and being fully detailed, then it is going into a carcoon, hooked up to an optimate and being looked after until I get back home again.
I have to admit that I haven't actually been this excited about buying a car in a long time.
Thankyou all for the information and advice you have given me, I really appreciate it.
chris333 said:
Congratulations, I'm sure you will have a fantastic time in it. Get as many miles on the insurance as you can, you won't want to stop driving it!
Hope we will see some photos on here once youve got it sorted.
Cheers Chris.Hope we will see some photos on here once youve got it sorted.
The dealer has sent me a load of pictures which I will post up shortly. I really can't wait to get out in it and go for top town blast (it's my first convertible!).
I will definitely go for the 5000 mile option!
GregE240 said:
Oooohhh.....love it.
What a gorgeous, gorgeous car. You lucky boy!!! When do you pick her up?
Thanks Greg!What a gorgeous, gorgeous car. You lucky boy!!! When do you pick her up?
Picking her up. This is the worst part...
I'm actually working in Russia at the moment and won't be back in the UK until December, hence the reason the car is going into storage until I can come back and play with it!
One of the drawbacks of my job unfortunately. The wait is going to be pretty unbearable, especially as my run about here is a funky little 1.2 litre Skoda Fabia!
However, as soon as we have a dry sunny day, the roof will be off and I will have the top down!
I really can't express quite how excited I am. It is the first really nice car I have ever bought, and I am looking forward to just touching and smelling it (does that sound odd?). It won't get used a huge amount but she will be pampered!
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