My first SL R129 320

[Joehow]

So following on from selling my GT3 last year and getting my Caterham I've been missing something nice to go out with my wife on the weekend when you don't wanna drive ten tenths everywhere.

thread can be found in readers rides somewhere on that car as well.

I've always loved old Mercs having grown up in the back of w123 280TEs and latterly a W210 E55. R107 have gone now in terms of affordability so I thought I'd jump on an R129 whilst I could.

So qué lots of searching for a car I could do a few bits on. I couldn't afford a top dollar SL shop car but not did I want an over polished turd. I searched in the usual places and came across this aquamarine 1998 SL 320. Won it for just over £6k in eBay and was assured everything was tip top.

Got to pick the car up today and everything does seem brilliant wit amazing service history and most importantly services and bills even though it's not seen much use over recent years - it's only done 10k miles in 10 years.

Unfortunately when I came to test the roof today it only went half up. Felt like it just run out of push so knocked a few hundred more off for that on the proviso that everything else seemed really clean.

It's booked into my local Merc specialist NJS Solutions who looked after my E Class estate so I'll get them to go over it.







Initial thoughts are that it is the most comfortable thing I've ever driven, it's super smooth and oil pressure and temps all hold perfectly.

I do however have a list of jobs:
- needs an alignment
- offside front wheel bearing is a little grumbly
- it doesn't stop very well and the pedal feels very long. Brake fluid was changed last year so I think it's been bled poorly
-rollover bar light decided to flash in the way home. It goes up and down without issue so assume something sensor wise is Amis there.
-get roof fixed.

It is however as a car super clean loads of history only 5 owners and it's only done 73k miles.

Looking forward to slowly bringing it back to life.

[Hereward]

Looks fabulous. Love the colour and the alloys. Have fun.

[Joehow]

Thanks sir.... Mad that it's value well purchase price was less than a 1/4 of the Caterham

[300sl-24]

I have just bought one too, although not my first. The brake pedal's all have a lot of travel but should stop well and in a controlled manor.

They are great value for money right now. I bought a 500SL R107 thirteen years ago and still have it. It's worth a lot more today and these R129's should appreciate over the long term.

Just drive it, they like to be used. I've bookmarked this thread so I don't miss anything. Do a search on R129 on here, there is loads of good information. Heard good things about Nigel? at NJS as well.

[Filibuster]

These are amazing cars! I have a 1997 SL320.
I just commented quickly to have this bookmarked.

[Joehow]

300sl-24 said:

I have just bought one too, although not my first. The brake pedal's all have a lot of travel but should stop well and in a controlled manor.

They are great value for money right now. I bought a 500SL R107 thirteen years ago and still have it. It's worth a lot more today and these R129's should appreciate over the long term.

Just drive it, they like to be used. I've bookmarked this thread so I don't miss anything. Do a search on R129 on here, there is loads of good information. Heard good things about Nigel? at NJS as well.

Yeah it does stop I guess I'm just used to a much firmer pedal. Even my E350 S212 has a firmer pedal but may just be because it's more modern.

And whilst I'm not a value hunter I do hope it appreciates a little

And on NJS they have been good with the S212, they book a fair chunk in advance which is always a good sign.

[Unreal]

I think you did well with the price OP. I have the same model and paid a chunk more for it, albeit with no more than a small amount of paintwork to fix. I like the colour. They are solid old beasts but well able to keep up with modern traffic and they are one of those cars that encourage you to drive smoothly and sensibly.

Hopefully you'll get the roof and other bits fixed at a reasonable price and I'll look out for updates. I'll post details of mine if there's anything interesting to report when it comes out of hibernation in a month or two.

[Joehow]

Unreal said:

I think you did well with the price OP. I have the same model and paid a chunk more for it, albeit with no more than a small amount of paintwork to fix. I like the colour. They are solid old beasts but well able to keep up with modern traffic and they are one of those cars that encourage you to drive smoothly and sensibly.

Hopefully you'll get the roof and other bits fixed at a reasonable price and I'll look out for updates. I'll post details of mine if there's anything interesting to report when it comes out of hibernation in a month or two.

Thanks sir, yep the morning after I've got no buyer's remorse so looking forward to getting it into the specialist to see what we're working with.

Defo need to get a hardtop stand though. I think it weighs as much as my Caterham full stop!

Thanks everyone for the positive replies!

[Joehow]

Little poke around the engine this morning seems remarkably dry and all fluids seem super clear.

Then after all the rain we've had and on the way back yesterday was pleasing to see no condensation this morning.



Dry day tomorrow so hoping to start cleaning it up. Cream carpets are a bit of a mess and the paint is dull.

[EdmondDantes]

Excellent choice, looks really clean.

[300sl-24]

Joehow said:

Thanks sir, yep the morning after I've got no buyer's remorse so looking forward to getting it into the specialist to see what we're working with.

Defo need to get a hardtop stand though. I think it weighs as much as my Caterham full stop!

Thanks everyone for the positive replies!

Joe I have a R129 hardtop stand that I was going to advertise for sale, message me if you are interested

[Skyedriver]

Nice colour and look good with the hard top, sof top for summer? You'll need somewhere safe to store the heavy roof and a frame too.
Front bushes, ball joints, and strut tops tend to wear. IIRC I had an SL500 for a while, nice cruiser but just not me so I sold it again. Didn't get on with the auto.
There used to be a very knowledgeable SL guy on here "Zonegem" but I haven't seen him in a while.

[Joehow]

300sl-24 said:

Joe I have a R129 hardtop stand that I was going to advertise for sale, message me if you are interested

Oh yes I would be interested I'll drop you a PM

[Joehow]

Skyedriver said:

Nice colour and look good with the hard top, sof top for summer? You'll need somewhere safe to store the heavy roof and a frame too.
Front bushes, ball joints, and strut tops tend to wear. IIRC I had an SL500 for a while, nice cruiser but just not me so I sold it again. Didn't get on with the auto.
There used to be a very knowledgeable SL guy on here "Zonegem" but I haven't seen him in a while.

Yep defo soft top summer. Luckily my garage is fairly big and the caterham doesn't take up too much space so it can go in there easily.

A refresh of the suspension as a whole as well as any key mounts defo on the list. As is replacing the 2013 date stamped tyres.

It being a cruiser is exactly what I wanted mainly as I'm fortunate to Owen the little 310R which does the hair on fire non cruise thing quite well

[PositronicRay]

Something worth doing is acquiring some switch /contact cleaner, servisol do a good one. Every time you come across a connector, switch or fuse, give it a little blast. I sorted all sorts of electrical gremlins this way.

[Joehow]

PositronicRay said:

Something worth doing is acquiring some switch /contact cleaner, servisol do a good one. Every time you come across a connector, switch or fuse, give it a little blast. I sorted all sorts of electrical gremlins this way.

This may explain the spare fuses in the glovebox!

[MTW]

Great addition mate! Looks wicked

[Hereward]

PositronicRay said:

Something worth doing is acquiring some switch /contact cleaner, servisol do a good one. Every time you come across a connector, switch or fuse, give it a little blast. I sorted all sorts of electrical gremlins this way.

Ha, good advice, literally did that a few weeks ago to free up the heated air vent button that wouldn't disengage:

[Joehow]

So full day on the car today with a proper clean and then went and did a fair few miles to assess properly what I think will need doing.

One thing that was particularly rank.... The interior was properly grubby lots of old dead skin and sweat I think.















So list currently sits at:
- roof not fully opening (as noted on purchase)
- roll bar light illumination - friend with SLs thinks this might be where the hardtop hasn't been refitted properly but we will see
- car feels very soft, dampers might be a bit tired as they are 20 odd years old
- wheel wobble above 50mph, this doesnt feel like a wheel bearing as there's no grumble. I'm thinking probably tyres rather than wheel weights as they are 2013 date stamped.
- alignment defo out as car gently pulls to the left.


Overall though for what I have paid I'm happy and hopefully some nice easy work over time to fix it up for summer.

[PositronicRay]

Mine took

Shocks
Wheels tyres (old ones bent)
Control arms
Top mounts

Then it drove right.