Discussion
Basically I've got a huge hankering for this....
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mercedes-Benz-SL500-R129...
I've got a project car thats now another few years away from being complete due to other things going on in my life.
I'd like something for summer fun, can I get two kids in the back? What exactly do I need to look for? Any other advice at all?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mercedes-Benz-SL500-R129...
I've got a project car thats now another few years away from being complete due to other things going on in my life.
I'd like something for summer fun, can I get two kids in the back? What exactly do I need to look for? Any other advice at all?
Have a look at this thread for a good starting point: http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=101...
The back seats are fine for short journeys for children as long as a) you are happy with them just wearing lap belts b) the people in the front move their seats forward a bit to give them some some leg room and c) they are short enough to fit under the raised roll bar (prob under about 10, although I still squeeze my tall 12 year old in the back occasionally).
The back seats are fine for short journeys for children as long as a) you are happy with them just wearing lap belts b) the people in the front move their seats forward a bit to give them some some leg room and c) they are short enough to fit under the raised roll bar (prob under about 10, although I still squeeze my tall 12 year old in the back occasionally).
Just bought a 1999 R129 with the 3.2 v6 and 75k on the clock. I drove a few before I bought and chose the one with the tightest handling and ride. Many that I drove suffered from vague handling and excessive suspension float.
Points on my list to watch (apart from known rust areas) were:
Roll bar operation
Hood operation
Window dipping mechanism when opening and closing the doors
Aircon operation
Instrument binnacle lighting (all dials)
Oil leak from bottom pulley
Transmission fluid leak
Check that memory seats work and also automatically adjust door mirrors
Central locking on later models should also lock central and door arm rest storage (lock car while sitting in the car and check that storage locks)
Measure ride height all round. (Uneven ride height likely to mean road springs that are past their best.
Finally check track rod for condition and play and suspension top mounts for deterioration (listen for clunks over bumps a and at the extremes of lock to lock when steering the car)
Check which suspension system is on any R129 SL500 you look at. Later models have a complex self levelling system that is expensive if it goes wrong.
I would also thoroughly recommend a stand for the hard top and check to see if the wind diffuser is in the boot.
Good hunting. I have not regretted getting mine.
Points on my list to watch (apart from known rust areas) were:
Roll bar operation
Hood operation
Window dipping mechanism when opening and closing the doors
Aircon operation
Instrument binnacle lighting (all dials)
Oil leak from bottom pulley
Transmission fluid leak
Check that memory seats work and also automatically adjust door mirrors
Central locking on later models should also lock central and door arm rest storage (lock car while sitting in the car and check that storage locks)
Measure ride height all round. (Uneven ride height likely to mean road springs that are past their best.
Finally check track rod for condition and play and suspension top mounts for deterioration (listen for clunks over bumps a and at the extremes of lock to lock when steering the car)
Check which suspension system is on any R129 SL500 you look at. Later models have a complex self levelling system that is expensive if it goes wrong.
I would also thoroughly recommend a stand for the hard top and check to see if the wind diffuser is in the boot.
Good hunting. I have not regretted getting mine.
jason61c said:
Basically I've got a huge hankering for this....
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mercedes-Benz-SL500-R129...
I've got a project car thats now another few years away from being complete due to other things going on in my life.
I'd like something for summer fun, can I get two kids in the back? What exactly do I need to look for? Any other advice at all?
Hmmmm... Have this on my watch list too! The 107s are shooting up in value and I can't really justify one in decent nick. I'm almost decided on a 500 R129. A v8 to make up for the newness and I'm sure good ones are at the bottom of their depreciation and can only go up in the next few years. I currently have a shed to use on my once a week 20 mile commute . The man maths add up to replace it with an r129 http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mercedes-Benz-SL500-R129...
I've got a project car thats now another few years away from being complete due to other things going on in my life.
I'd like something for summer fun, can I get two kids in the back? What exactly do I need to look for? Any other advice at all?
Aviz said:
Hmmmm... Have this on my watch list too! The 107s are shooting up in value and I can't really justify one in decent nick. I'm almost decided on a 500 R129. A v8 to make up for the newness and I'm sure good ones are at the bottom of their depreciation and can only go up in the next few years. I currently have a shed to use on my once a week 20 mile commute . The man maths add up to replace it with an r129
It seems the r129s are picking up in price quickly also.Hey guys!
The car you are looking at is mine! It's in good condition for the money and I've enjoyed the last 3 summers in it! Driveway is becoming overcrowded with toys so it has to go!
Suspension is standard coil spring affair as its a 95/96 car - no complex air suspension on this one
Any questions, let me know
Cheers
Simon
The car you are looking at is mine! It's in good condition for the money and I've enjoyed the last 3 summers in it! Driveway is becoming overcrowded with toys so it has to go!
Suspension is standard coil spring affair as its a 95/96 car - no complex air suspension on this one
Any questions, let me know
Cheers
Simon
Just encouraged my Dad into one of these as an "appreciating classic". They're a car from a different era with no doubt. Everything written about them is true and touch wood we/he managed to get a good rough diamond that after some tlc will be a nice summer toy.
Anyone have advise on a suitable lubricant for the cabrio hood mechanism, would be much appreciated??
Sorry for the minor hijack.
Anyone have advise on a suitable lubricant for the cabrio hood mechanism, would be much appreciated??
Sorry for the minor hijack.
Bought mine 3 years ago. Bought the best I could find. SL 500 with lots of options including ADS suspension. I had that overhauled at reasonable cost as the ride was 'hard'.It was a cheap enough job. I budget spending 1k every couple of years keeping it up to standard. Very smooth. Good ones are appreciating in value. Only problem I have had with mine (twice) is a misfire due to moisture in the dizzy caps. Evidently there is a backing plate with a rubber seal that wears. I didn't change that myself the first time, so its going off to a local specialist to have it done again !.I do about two thousand miles a year which is the minimum I would recommend to keep the car running correctly.
These are great cars. Watch out for rust. Buy the best you can. Good ones will never be cheaper.
These are great cars. Watch out for rust. Buy the best you can. Good ones will never be cheaper.
This looks good:
http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C509074
(Nothing to do with me, could be a complete pile and all that. But it looks great.)
http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C509074
(Nothing to do with me, could be a complete pile and all that. But it looks great.)
MRPULLHARD said:
the early r129 models with the orange indicator lens look so much nicer than the later models . like the look of the R107 but they are overpriced , a bit too Hollywood wives/ dallas and not as good to drive as r129.
I agree although own a 97 car, get an early one in that bornite with 9 hole wheels- best of the lot in my opinion. I bought my SL320 V6 nearly three years ago. I'd been planning to use it as an occasional car, but loved it too much. I've done 50,000 miles in it since I bought it and it's been brilliant. I'm taking it to the LMC 2014 next weekend.
One tip would be to get it into a proper MB / MB Indy to have the 4 wheel alignment (tracking, cast, camber)done. Mine's got one back wheel that is now only "2 minutes" out, that's a fraction of a degree.
Its the best £80 I have ever spent on it.
One tip would be to get it into a proper MB / MB Indy to have the 4 wheel alignment (tracking, cast, camber)done. Mine's got one back wheel that is now only "2 minutes" out, that's a fraction of a degree.
Its the best £80 I have ever spent on it.
marcosal said:
Just bought a 1999 R129 with the 3.2 v6 and 75k on the clock. I drove a few before I bought and chose the one with the tightest handling and ride. Many that I drove suffered from vague handling and excessive suspension float.
Points on my list to watch (apart from known rust areas) were:
Roll bar operation
Hood operation
Window dipping mechanism when opening and closing the doors
Aircon operation
Instrument binnacle lighting (all dials)
Oil leak from bottom pulley
Transmission fluid leak
Check that memory seats work and also automatically adjust door mirrors
Central locking on later models should also lock central and door arm rest storage (lock car while sitting in the car and check that storage locks)
Measure ride height all round. (Uneven ride height likely to mean road springs that are past their best.
Finally check track rod for condition and play and suspension top mounts for deterioration (listen for clunks over bumps a and at the extremes of lock to lock when steering the car)
Check which suspension system is on any R129 SL500 you look at. Later models have a complex self levelling system that is expensive if it goes wrong.
I would also thoroughly recommend a stand for the hard top and check to see if the wind diffuser is in the boot.
Good hunting. I have not regretted getting mine.
Can anyone pinpoint typical rust prone areas on the r129 series plus when did they introduce the air suspension on this model?Points on my list to watch (apart from known rust areas) were:
Roll bar operation
Hood operation
Window dipping mechanism when opening and closing the doors
Aircon operation
Instrument binnacle lighting (all dials)
Oil leak from bottom pulley
Transmission fluid leak
Check that memory seats work and also automatically adjust door mirrors
Central locking on later models should also lock central and door arm rest storage (lock car while sitting in the car and check that storage locks)
Measure ride height all round. (Uneven ride height likely to mean road springs that are past their best.
Finally check track rod for condition and play and suspension top mounts for deterioration (listen for clunks over bumps a and at the extremes of lock to lock when steering the car)
Check which suspension system is on any R129 SL500 you look at. Later models have a complex self levelling system that is expensive if it goes wrong.
I would also thoroughly recommend a stand for the hard top and check to see if the wind diffuser is in the boot.
Good hunting. I have not regretted getting mine.
Thanks
As ever, a bit of looking found this, many thanks to r129sl, hoping to put it to good use!
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=101...
P
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=101...
P
Gassing Station | Mercedes | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff