sl r129 anyone taken the risk on a 3/4k car

[CharlesdeGaulle]

Looks like the glass is missing from the windscreen in that pic.

[Zonergem]

r129sl said:

Cough... I suspect you could do worse than this one.

CharlesdeGaulle said:

Looks like the glass is missing from the windscreen in that pic.

?!



?

[Lowtimer]

r129sl said:

Cough... I suspect you could do worse than this one.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1992-Mercedes-Benz-R129...

People: this is a bloody good car at a very attractive price and if I didn't already have an early R129 500SL I would be regarding it as an excellent proposition for my own toybox. It deserves a new, equally assiduous and loving owner, who will take care of the remaining minor cosmetics and keep it in good order.

Edited by Lowtimer on Monday 26th November 08:04

[CharlesdeGaulle]

Zonergem said:

r129sl said:

Cough... I suspect you could do worse than this one.

CharlesdeGaulle said:

Looks like the glass is missing from the windscreen in that pic.

?!

I was being daft. On the phone, where the reflections aren't as obvious, the front looks so see-through that it gives the illusion of no glass. Perhaps some explanation might have helped!
Car looks great, and to think you'd planned to break it!

[Zonergem]

It has been observed previously that retrofitting cruise control is the mark of the truly determined/deranged owner. And if the cap fits...

[mark387mw]

I’ve been lurking on this thread for sometime as I was interested in the ‘risk’ as per the thread title. As has been said, the budget needs increasing from 3/4k and seems buying right has little risk?!

Here in New Zealand is a ‘96 500SL imported from Japan to NZ in 2004. It’s approx £7000.

What are the pros and cons of this model and how correct is it?

https://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-cars/other/a...
http://hoffmanford.co/used_cars/details/MERCEDES-S...

[tobinen]

Looks as it's been 'facelifted' to the 1998 > MY and the wheels are incorrect but it looks tidy.

[Zonergem]

The wheels are the only non-stock item on that NZ car that I can see, apart from the AMG badge which vanishes between hardtop and open-top photos anyway. It is a post-facelift car with the 96-98 rear lights, not the post-1998 final style. There's a school of thought that the post-facelift 500 with the M119 engine/5 speed box is the best iteration of the R129.

Make sure it has at least two remote keys and that they both work, at least in terms of disarming the immobiliser. Vacuum locking pump failure is more forgiveable but dead keys are very hard to replace at the moment. Take it for a long test drive - at least 30 mins mixed driving.


______________


High mileage post-facelift SL320 but sensibly priced at £3250 asking for an apparently straight car. Not far from me if anyone wants it looking over.





https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Edited by Zonergem on Thursday 3rd January 11:11

Edited by Zonergem on Thursday 3rd January 11:13

[PositronicRay]

Zonergem said:

The wheels are the only non-stock item on that NZ car that I can see, apart from the AMG badge which vanishes between hardtop and open-top photos anyway. It is a post-facelift car with the 96-98 rear lights, not the post-1998 final style. There's a school of thought that the post-facelift 500 with the M119 engine/5 speed box is the best iteration of the R129.

Make sure it has at least two remote keys and that they both work, at least in terms of disarming the immobiliser. Vacuum locking pump failure is more forgiveable but dead keys are very hard to replace at the moment. Take it for a long test drive - at least 30 mins mixed driving.


______________


High mileage post-facelift SL320 but sensibly priced at £3250 asking for an apparently straight car. Not far from me if anyone wants it looking over.





https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Edited by Zonergem on Thursday 3rd January 11:11

Edited by Zonergem on Thursday 3rd January 11:13

It reads well and (too? ) cheap

[Zonergem]

165k miles I guess, but it feels 'right', or at least worthy of inspection.

Basically I just really want someone to instruct me to go look at it

[PositronicRay]

Zonergem said:

165k miles I guess, but it feels 'right', or at least worthy of inspection.

Basically I just really want someone to instruct me to go look at it

If I were in the market I would consider it worthy too. (:

Knowing what I know now, the mileage wouldn't put me off. But in my hands I doubt it stay a sub £4k car for very long, I reckon I'd be spending another £3-4k without batting an eye. (nothing wrong with that BTW and if less I'd regard it as a bonus)

[Hereward]

I saw on Facebook today that UK dealers can now supply the obsolete key fob things again. Would be great if anyone can confirm this firsthand. Anyone know what a “DAS2” fob is? My fob has one button but there is also talk of three button fobs...

[r129sl]

DAS2 I am guessing is Drive Authorisation System 2. It's an immobiliser system. The key, various ECUs and the instrument cluster all have to match.

Here is a photo of my (well worn) three button key. Lock, unlock and pop the boot.

[Hereward]

My car is a late 1996 build with the single button fob. Reading again it seems that only the DAS2 fobs are available so I shall have to continue to guard mine carefully.

Edited by Hereward on Thursday 14th February 21:04

[harrykul]

Quick question for r129 owners: I've discovered that I'm missing a piece of carpet that fits on to the cd changer bracket, could an owner kindly see if there's a part number that I could use in my search?

Cheers

[Crook]

Can’t help with the carpet question I’m afraid.

I’ve sort of been ignoring mine recently due to the electrical gremlin. A few weeks ago it was fine, then after parking and returning it ultimately just went dead.

Current issue is hazards constantly flashing quickly. If you put the actual hazards on or use the indicators they work fine but then revert back to the alarm flashing. It did this previously as soon as the key was turned so I removed the fuse which cured it however it’s obviously sussed a work around. Cunning things these SLs.

I can see moisture inside a front indicator lense and there is also moisture inside the boot (it condenses on the boot hinges.)
I planned to see if there was corrosion on the bulb holder but I cannot get the bulb out. Nothing I can see online says anything about this other then twist and remove but my car having the ADS means I can’t get my hand in the space to get to the bulb holder because there is the fluid reservoir next to the screen wash reservoir.

The question is, can these reservoirs be loosened (easily) or is there another solution?

Just though of another solution! Children!! They have small hands.

[Hereward]

Hereward said:

My car is a late 1996 build with the single button fob. Reading again it seems that only the DAS2 fobs are available so I shall have to continue to guard mine carefully.

I have my new £218 key and all is good. Part Number A1407602006.

The dealer didn't need my car; you simply synchronise key with car per the handbook and you're good to go:

[Hereward]

Apparently the 3-button fobs are back in production if anyone wants to stock up.

[pcn1]

I'm late to the party on this topic, only had my car 1998 SL a year now.
I gather the key fobs were in available for some years ? But now I can get a new unit from MB if needed ?
Id better check because my daily fob works only if I'm very close to the car (its had new batteries) and I haven't even tried the spare yet !

[Zonergem]

Bump.

Come on, someone must have cracked and bought a snotter since last April. There was even a good-looking SL320 with 300k miles for £1995 earlier in 2020.

Anyone?