Lovely Cars: Interesting, Classic, Retro, Barge 5-10k
Discussion
Another XJ, I wonder what the reserve is. 6 cylinder, but a manual! https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/JAGUAR-XJ6-SERIES-3-3-4...
harrykul said:
Don't believe that you can get digital climate until the mid 90s facelift at the earliest.
The early cars had three choices. Most basic was no a/c at all, just a heater/blower. Two large buttons either side of the dials
Then came a/c. Four buttons but not automatic climate. Looks like this.
Top of the shop was the automatic climate control, rarely found in the UK market but often seen on US or Japanese cars.
After the facelift almost all cars had digital control with a much larger LCD display and more advanced diagnostic functions.
Which r129 500SL?
Bling wheels: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MERCEDES-SL500-R129-AUT...
Quite grey: https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
Ambers: https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
Bling wheels: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MERCEDES-SL500-R129-AUT...
Quite grey: https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
Ambers: https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
Zonergem said:
Apart from the dedicated Mercedes tragic (hello) I think the punter with 9-10k to spend is buying R230s now, for better or worse.
This is a very valid point I think. Between 3 to may be up to 8k (for a really good one), the 129 makes a very compelling - almost unbeatable - prospect, especially to the Merc or classic saddos, and they are very easy fripperies to indulge. At not very much more money than that, the newer cars argue a very strong case, particularly to those that see these classics as just old cars.
Zonergem said:
They've all been for sale for ever and I can see faults in all of them.
Apart from the dedicated Mercedes tragic (hello) I think the punter with 9-10k to spend is buying R230s now, for better or worse.
Care to share what you see wrong with each?Apart from the dedicated Mercedes tragic (hello) I think the punter with 9-10k to spend is buying R230s now, for better or worse.
I'd probably take the silver 500 of the three.
Much of it is nit-picking. I'm going to make the assumption that they're all on standard suspension, not ADS. Silver and light blue definitely are standard, dark blue I can't tell as neither the centre console, cluster or engine bay are shown. Would it kill advertisers to show clearly the engine bay and tyres? We're a long way behind the likes of Bring A Trailer over in the US.
The dark blue car has been resprayed - a J-plate 1991-92 car wouldn't have had matching Sacco panels. The model designation badge is on the wrong side and too high. A respray doesn't have to be bad news and colour-matching the Saccos to make the car look like a later model was a trend, but I'd want to take a hard look at why it was done and to what standard. Larger wheels might look good but do nothing for the ride and handling. It hasn't got a terrible MOT History but has evidently been stood around for the last 5 years. The driver's bolster shows a possible filler repair and the armrest button is broken (easy fix, £25 and fifteen mins). The wheel has been retrimmed, not a terrible job.
The silver car was first registered on 12 Feb 1993. Some examples of the first generation 129.066 cars (Bosch KE-Jetronic fuelling) were still in dealer stock to be registered by this time (including one of my pair) but other 500s would be 129.067 build cars, with LH-Jetronic and the biodegradable wiring loom. The factory started building them from August 1992 onwards. You'd definitely want to know that upper and lower wiring harnesses, throttle body and Mass Air Flow sensor had been re-wired if the silver car was a later example. Someone's installed three-point seatbelts in the back - check that's done properly. Again, broken armrest button. I'd prefer gingercators which are getting harder to buy and the grill has taken a whack to the upper R/H strakes. Again, long gaps between MOTs and little recent use, showing a car that may have been stood and likely behind on maintenance.
The pearl blue car is missing the darked chrome pillar caps that screw into the external A-pillar trim on either side. The driver's sun-visor make-up mirror is broken (a company in Germany sells replacements - the German word for make-up mirror is the delightful "schminkspiegel"). The carpets are from some other model Merc - again, easily rectified by a visit to eBay.de. It doesn't have cruise control. We have a lot of photos but none show the hood - is it starting to get ratty? Being ex-N.I. we can't see much history.
It came to market in autumn 2017 at 12995 but has dropped to 10k and stuck. Maybe things will pick up in Spring.
Unless there are invoices to prove otherwise they're all at or around the 100k mile mark where shocks and top mounts will need changing. I've just had this done to one of mine and it is a much-improved drive.
The "best" early 500 sold recently was down at a garage in Barnstaple. 95k miles, good clean car, loads of old service invoices and original paperwork, two owners from new and 7995 asking. Third or fourth down at
http://www.quaycarsalesbraunton.co.uk/what-we-offe...
That's probably the market-clearing price. I (over)paid more for a garage-kept well-documented 74k mile car and much less for a missing-history barn find 113k mile snotter.
The dark blue car has been resprayed - a J-plate 1991-92 car wouldn't have had matching Sacco panels. The model designation badge is on the wrong side and too high. A respray doesn't have to be bad news and colour-matching the Saccos to make the car look like a later model was a trend, but I'd want to take a hard look at why it was done and to what standard. Larger wheels might look good but do nothing for the ride and handling. It hasn't got a terrible MOT History but has evidently been stood around for the last 5 years. The driver's bolster shows a possible filler repair and the armrest button is broken (easy fix, £25 and fifteen mins). The wheel has been retrimmed, not a terrible job.
The silver car was first registered on 12 Feb 1993. Some examples of the first generation 129.066 cars (Bosch KE-Jetronic fuelling) were still in dealer stock to be registered by this time (including one of my pair) but other 500s would be 129.067 build cars, with LH-Jetronic and the biodegradable wiring loom. The factory started building them from August 1992 onwards. You'd definitely want to know that upper and lower wiring harnesses, throttle body and Mass Air Flow sensor had been re-wired if the silver car was a later example. Someone's installed three-point seatbelts in the back - check that's done properly. Again, broken armrest button. I'd prefer gingercators which are getting harder to buy and the grill has taken a whack to the upper R/H strakes. Again, long gaps between MOTs and little recent use, showing a car that may have been stood and likely behind on maintenance.
The pearl blue car is missing the darked chrome pillar caps that screw into the external A-pillar trim on either side. The driver's sun-visor make-up mirror is broken (a company in Germany sells replacements - the German word for make-up mirror is the delightful "schminkspiegel"). The carpets are from some other model Merc - again, easily rectified by a visit to eBay.de. It doesn't have cruise control. We have a lot of photos but none show the hood - is it starting to get ratty? Being ex-N.I. we can't see much history.
It came to market in autumn 2017 at 12995 but has dropped to 10k and stuck. Maybe things will pick up in Spring.
Unless there are invoices to prove otherwise they're all at or around the 100k mile mark where shocks and top mounts will need changing. I've just had this done to one of mine and it is a much-improved drive.
The "best" early 500 sold recently was down at a garage in Barnstaple. 95k miles, good clean car, loads of old service invoices and original paperwork, two owners from new and 7995 asking. Third or fourth down at
http://www.quaycarsalesbraunton.co.uk/what-we-offe...
That's probably the market-clearing price. I (over)paid more for a garage-kept well-documented 74k mile car and much less for a missing-history barn find 113k mile snotter.
Lots of helpful beardage there Mr. Z. Much appreciated 
I’d trawled through those 3 too, and none ‘feels’ right.
Harry - I know you’re the sort of gent who looks after the cars, so you’re certainly making me think, but.... the reality is this would be car #3 (mine, or 4 in the household), and so I’d not be giving it the attention it deserves either (probably).
I do want one, but as I’m abroad all the time on current contract, it seems wrong to have another car sat idle for the majority of the time (the 7 has been hors-du-combat since October, but even so, it’s still only going to be 3k a year at best, and similar for the M6).
I can make it work, it’s not about the money (classic ins. & tax isn’t much in the scheme of things), I’m just struggling to justify a purchase based on knowing how little I’d get to use it. Should the next contract be in the UK, then it’s a no-brainer...
I suppose what I’m saying is “not yet”, but I’d like to request first refusal, should you decide you definitely want to sell?!
Rob.
I’d trawled through those 3 too, and none ‘feels’ right.
Harry - I know you’re the sort of gent who looks after the cars, so you’re certainly making me think, but.... the reality is this would be car #3 (mine, or 4 in the household), and so I’d not be giving it the attention it deserves either (probably).
I do want one, but as I’m abroad all the time on current contract, it seems wrong to have another car sat idle for the majority of the time (the 7 has been hors-du-combat since October, but even so, it’s still only going to be 3k a year at best, and similar for the M6).
I can make it work, it’s not about the money (classic ins. & tax isn’t much in the scheme of things), I’m just struggling to justify a purchase based on knowing how little I’d get to use it. Should the next contract be in the UK, then it’s a no-brainer...
I suppose what I’m saying is “not yet”, but I’d like to request first refusal, should you decide you definitely want to sell?!
Rob.
Z - I haven't checked a VIN de-coder actually. Do you have a recommendation?
Forgive a cross-post from my own car thread, but I posted this before seeing your response.
Forgive a cross-post from my own car thread, but I posted this before seeing your response.
CharlesdeGaulle said:
As previously mentioned, I am looking for a radio delete plate.
I have discovered this:
https://www.ebay.de/itm/253280994934
which would be perfect if the colour matched my interior:
What to do? Wait for the right one to come up, or buy this and re-cover it? And if so, with what?
I can't think how to get the right coloured vinyl unless I buy a sun visor or something and strip it, but will it ever look as good as the proper thing?
I have discovered this:
https://www.ebay.de/itm/253280994934
which would be perfect if the colour matched my interior:
What to do? Wait for the right one to come up, or buy this and re-cover it? And if so, with what?
I can't think how to get the right coloured vinyl unless I buy a sun visor or something and strip it, but will it ever look as good as the proper thing?
http://carinfo.kiev.ua/cars/vin/mercedes/vin_check
Then find a good list of Mercedes option codes. There are a few knocking around online.
You can buy some paints online - this one says it's for post-1979 R107s so maybe no help.
http://volico.de/webshop/product/vlc-color-leder-i...
Then find a good list of Mercedes option codes. There are a few knocking around online.
You can buy some paints online - this one says it's for post-1979 R107s so maybe no help.
http://volico.de/webshop/product/vlc-color-leder-i...
Prinny said:
Lots of helpful beardage there Mr. Z. Much appreciated
I’d trawled through those 3 too, and none ‘feels’ right.
Harry - I know you’re the sort of gent who looks after the cars, so you’re certainly making me think, but.... the reality is this would be car #3 (mine, or 4 in the household), and so I’d not be giving it the attention it deserves either (probably).
I do want one, but as I’m abroad all the time on current contract, it seems wrong to have another car sat idle for the majority of the time (the 7 has been hors-du-combat since October, but even so, it’s still only going to be 3k a year at best, and similar for the M6).
I can make it work, it’s not about the money (classic ins. & tax isn’t much in the scheme of things), I’m just struggling to justify a purchase based on knowing how little I’d get to use it. Should the next contract be in the UK, then it’s a no-brainer...
I suppose what I’m saying is “not yet”, but I’d like to request first refusal, should you decide you definitely want to sell?!
Rob.
Hi Rob, no worries: I'll give you a heads-up on the sale if it goes ahead. My plan is to service, tax and test the car shortly and leave it ready for action. If I don't use it this spring, I'm putting it on the market.I’d trawled through those 3 too, and none ‘feels’ right.
Harry - I know you’re the sort of gent who looks after the cars, so you’re certainly making me think, but.... the reality is this would be car #3 (mine, or 4 in the household), and so I’d not be giving it the attention it deserves either (probably).
I do want one, but as I’m abroad all the time on current contract, it seems wrong to have another car sat idle for the majority of the time (the 7 has been hors-du-combat since October, but even so, it’s still only going to be 3k a year at best, and similar for the M6).
I can make it work, it’s not about the money (classic ins. & tax isn’t much in the scheme of things), I’m just struggling to justify a purchase based on knowing how little I’d get to use it. Should the next contract be in the UK, then it’s a no-brainer...
I suppose what I’m saying is “not yet”, but I’d like to request first refusal, should you decide you definitely want to sell?!
Rob.
CharlesdeGaulle said:
Zonergem - do you know how to identify the interior colour scheme on a 107? I have a cream interior and am after the colour code in order to do some e-Bay sleuthing; any ideas on how to be specific?
My notes say my interior colour is 275 (pebble) & it looks a bit like yours.If I put my VIN into the decoder Zonergem provided the link to it does come out with the 275 interior colour. You can turn numbers into names here, it actually says mushroom too:
https://mercedessource.com/problems/body-and-exter...
idiotgap said:
My notes say my interior colour is 275 (pebble) & it looks a bit like yours.
If I put my VIN into the decoder Zonergem provided the link to it does come out with the 275 interior colour. You can turn numbers into names here, it actually says mushroom too:
https://mercedessource.com/problems/body-and-exter...
Thanks - your link is useful because I now know how to find the colour codes in the engine bay. If I put my VIN into the decoder Zonergem provided the link to it does come out with the 275 interior colour. You can turn numbers into names here, it actually says mushroom too:
https://mercedessource.com/problems/body-and-exter...
WRT the VIN - mine is 1 x 14-fig number, without any preceding letters like the example in Z's link, and it doesn't work on that site. How might I find the missing 3 letters?
CharlesdeGaulle said:
idiotgap said:
My notes say my interior colour is 275 (pebble) & it looks a bit like yours.
If I put my VIN into the decoder Zonergem provided the link to it does come out with the 275 interior colour. You can turn numbers into names here, it actually says mushroom too:
https://mercedessource.com/problems/body-and-exter...
Thanks - your link is useful because I now know how to find the colour codes in the engine bay. If I put my VIN into the decoder Zonergem provided the link to it does come out with the 275 interior colour. You can turn numbers into names here, it actually says mushroom too:
https://mercedessource.com/problems/body-and-exter...
WRT the VIN - mine is 1 x 14-fig number, without any preceding letters like the example in Z's link, and it doesn't work on that site. How might I find the missing 3 letters?
W = West Germany
DB = Daimler Benz
129 = Chassis Type
066 = Subtype, usually engine variant
2 = RHD (1 = LHD)
F = Bremen (factory code)
061380 = Chassis number
To take one of my cars (also 275A Champignon leather but a bit darker than the R107 equivalent.)
The Yanks do VINs differently, just to be difficult.
DB = Daimler Benz
129 = Chassis Type
066 = Subtype, usually engine variant
2 = RHD (1 = LHD)
F = Bremen (factory code)
061380 = Chassis number
To take one of my cars (also 275A Champignon leather but a bit darker than the R107 equivalent.)
The Yanks do VINs differently, just to be difficult.
Edited by Zonergem on Monday 8th January 17:58
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