0a's Mercedes r129 500SL
Discussion
I decided that it was about time to start my own thread on the SL rather than abusing various threads around Pistonheads (in particular the barge fantastic barge 1-5 thread).
Here's the back story, or what I remember of it, of my Mercedes r129 500SL.
Way back in 2012, I moved out of London to Edinburgh, and decided that I should get a car again to work through a few years of no claims after not having my own car for a while.
Ford fiesta 1.25 option duly selected, I started research on cars and cost as you do, and being registered on Pistonheads and a sensible sort of chap, I pivoted to a 7 series e38 728 BMW. This led me to the barge 1-5 thread, and the realisation that old mercs are cheaper than fiestas to insure. I therefore purchased a W124 300e from devon, driving it back to Edinburgh late at night. I still have the W124 (in fact I drove home in it tonight).
Fast forward a few years and various other cars had passed in between (a 4.2 Audi A8, and an e23 7 series). I decided that I wanted a V8 merc - in particular a c43 AMG. The rather pleasant process of searching for a car began. They were all leggy, rusty or dodgy. So I mentioned I was considering other V8 mercs, including the SL.
On a long drive south from Edinburgh, I received the following email from PHer CharlesDeGaulle:
The drive home was easy. Initially, it felt slow. This is an old merc thing, with the 4 speed gearbox, starting off in second, and early upchanges making the car seem very relaxed. These are not slow cars, however, especially with this version of Merc's 5 litre v8.
It did 26mpg on the way home, which is about what I get out of my other cars, and I used it for a while.
To be continued....!
Here's the back story, or what I remember of it, of my Mercedes r129 500SL.
Way back in 2012, I moved out of London to Edinburgh, and decided that I should get a car again to work through a few years of no claims after not having my own car for a while.
Ford fiesta 1.25 option duly selected, I started research on cars and cost as you do, and being registered on Pistonheads and a sensible sort of chap, I pivoted to a 7 series e38 728 BMW. This led me to the barge 1-5 thread, and the realisation that old mercs are cheaper than fiestas to insure. I therefore purchased a W124 300e from devon, driving it back to Edinburgh late at night. I still have the W124 (in fact I drove home in it tonight).
Fast forward a few years and various other cars had passed in between (a 4.2 Audi A8, and an e23 7 series). I decided that I wanted a V8 merc - in particular a c43 AMG. The rather pleasant process of searching for a car began. They were all leggy, rusty or dodgy. So I mentioned I was considering other V8 mercs, including the SL.
On a long drive south from Edinburgh, I received the following email from PHer CharlesDeGaulle:
CDG said:
SUBJECT: Your R129 Search
I know that you're tempted by a 500 SL and are looking. I never thought I'd be penning this note, but I really need to sell one of my 3 MBs, and wondered if you may be interested in mine?
...
(really great email followed!)
Now, CDG is a real gent, but I think he knew what he was doing here. I stopped to watch the pictures download at a highly leisurely pace on my phone and was sold. He was a complete pleasure to deal with, and provided tea and a good chat. The car was precisely as described.I know that you're tempted by a 500 SL and are looking. I never thought I'd be penning this note, but I really need to sell one of my 3 MBs, and wondered if you may be interested in mine?
...
(really great email followed!)
The drive home was easy. Initially, it felt slow. This is an old merc thing, with the 4 speed gearbox, starting off in second, and early upchanges making the car seem very relaxed. These are not slow cars, however, especially with this version of Merc's 5 litre v8.
It did 26mpg on the way home, which is about what I get out of my other cars, and I used it for a while.
To be continued....!
...continued!
I used the SL for a while, and it was fine.
I made one error - getting a custom exhaust made:
It was a bit loud. But then again I don't drive the car too much... let's admit it's bad and defer the exhaust decision to later.
CDG had warned me that he had only done a temporary fix on the roof (and this was reflected in the price), so I wasn't surprised when it played up a bit.
So I started using the car less about 6 months ago.
To be continued....
I used the SL for a while, and it was fine.
I made one error - getting a custom exhaust made:
It was a bit loud. But then again I don't drive the car too much... let's admit it's bad and defer the exhaust decision to later.
CDG had warned me that he had only done a temporary fix on the roof (and this was reflected in the price), so I wasn't surprised when it played up a bit.
So I started using the car less about 6 months ago.
To be continued....
At this stage I must admit I was going through a distracted stage in life, so rarely used the car.
These Merc engines don't respond too well to a month or so off at a time.... fast forward a while and I ended up collecting the car from storage, getting it jump started, and the car decided to die in an Edinburgh suburb.
Annoying.. mercs are not supposed to be like this
Anyway after encouragement from the 1-5 thread I decided to tackle the starting issues.
£800 later the SL starts on the turn of a key after 4 weeks
These Merc engines don't respond too well to a month or so off at a time.... fast forward a while and I ended up collecting the car from storage, getting it jump started, and the car decided to die in an Edinburgh suburb.
Annoying.. mercs are not supposed to be like this
Anyway after encouragement from the 1-5 thread I decided to tackle the starting issues.
£800 later the SL starts on the turn of a key after 4 weeks
The final stage of this comes after a keying of the car down one side.
This annoyed me somewhat. However, the car is now reliable and I wanted the tiny amount of rust dealt with. So with the support of my mechanic we embarked on a strip and respray of the car...
#
It looks fantastic in person.
It just passed its MOT and I collect it next week - I still need to sort the roof!
This annoyed me somewhat. However, the car is now reliable and I wanted the tiny amount of rust dealt with. So with the support of my mechanic we embarked on a strip and respray of the car...
#It looks fantastic in person.
It just passed its MOT and I collect it next week - I still need to sort the roof!
blueacid said:
Beautiful looking car, looking forward to more about it.
They do but it's best to manually select 1st if you want it. r129s are lazy if you don't make a request. 0a said:
starting off in second
...so does it drop down to 1st if you plant your foot to the floor from a standstill?GregE240 said:
Nice! What was the starting issue? Was it immobiliser related, by any chance?
No, but i've had the old immobiliser removed. Moisture gets into the distributor. My mechanic replaced it, the leads and the alternator.
Can't wait to get it back.
It needs a suspension refresh and tyres.
alec.e said:
Been hoping you would post a readers car about your SL, will be following with interest.
Respray looks fantastic!
My Jags only start off in 2nd, only select 1st if foot to the floor.
They did a great job on it. I displaced my mechanic's 60s jag that he's been working on for 10 years. Respray looks fantastic!
My Jags only start off in 2nd, only select 1st if foot to the floor.
There was an agreement
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