Can you buy an R129 with MOT for less than 2.5k? Yes!!!
Discussion
Evening all
Been a couple of months since last car purchase so started looking at projects!
8 years ago i had a lovely early 500SL which I should never have sold.....
Lots of these in media at mo - C Harris, High Peak, so started to look for a project.
Had to be a 320 or 500 and cheap!
Found a silver car advertised for 3.6k........few issues but it was MOTd....
Met the guy and decided the car needed too much work. Walked away but.then he offered it to me for £2300!!
Couldnt say no at that price....
So here she is......
So the list of issues:
Hood not operative
Hood needs new plastic windows
Front bumper needs paint
Needs a new or repair to right front wing
Running lumpy
New tyres x 2 needed (spot the rear flat!)
But honestly for 2.3k?? I think.Ill.spend 1 to 1.5k on the car max and then it will be lovely!
Billy bargain!!!
Been a couple of months since last car purchase so started looking at projects!
8 years ago i had a lovely early 500SL which I should never have sold.....
Lots of these in media at mo - C Harris, High Peak, so started to look for a project.
Had to be a 320 or 500 and cheap!
Found a silver car advertised for 3.6k........few issues but it was MOTd....
Met the guy and decided the car needed too much work. Walked away but.then he offered it to me for £2300!!
Couldnt say no at that price....
So here she is......
So the list of issues:
Hood not operative
Hood needs new plastic windows
Front bumper needs paint
Needs a new or repair to right front wing
Running lumpy
New tyres x 2 needed (spot the rear flat!)
But honestly for 2.3k?? I think.Ill.spend 1 to 1.5k on the car max and then it will be lovely!
Billy bargain!!!
Edited by sshenton1975 on Wednesday 5th June 15:51
Edited by sshenton1975 on Wednesday 5th June 15:52
Edited by sshenton1975 on Wednesday 5th June 15:53
It's so strange right now. As you say, loads of these in the media plus a couple of journals have popped up about them in this section of the forum too but there is definitely something in the water as when recently buying a motorcycle from a classics restorer in Germany, I found this on their website whilst checking them out:
Chiemgau Classics website said:
For over 15 years, we have been taking care of classic motorcycles and are now selling off our inventory of motorcycles to focus on classic Mercedes R129 models. We don't aquire new motorbikes in future.
We, like many of our customers, are no longer the youngest, and every era has an end so that a new one can begin. And for us, that new era starts now with classic Mercedes.
The R129 models are fantastic automobiles - still "true" Mercedes and everything you would expect from them. They are rapidly becoming classic cars that are still affordable at the moment and offer a lot of driving pleasure and utility. Moreover, they are very safe and equipped with everything important for driving, such as airbags, ABS, seat heating, and climate control. They have a superb suspension, an elegant interior that offers every comfort, powerful brakes, and reliable engines.
They are one of the last "dinosaurs" with strong naturally aspirated V8 engines, allowing for a unique and very relaxed driving experience.
It has been a wonderful time with motorcycles, and now we are looking forward to the R129 models.
To all our motorcycle customers and friends, thank you very much for your loyalty and support.
I found it a very interesting statement about the cars and I can't lie... did have me casually browsing eBay and Autotrader for them for an hour or so. I stuck with my bike purchase as it seemed a lot more affordable for me to fix up but I am looking forward to seeing how you get on with this, a bargain worth going for!We, like many of our customers, are no longer the youngest, and every era has an end so that a new one can begin. And for us, that new era starts now with classic Mercedes.
The R129 models are fantastic automobiles - still "true" Mercedes and everything you would expect from them. They are rapidly becoming classic cars that are still affordable at the moment and offer a lot of driving pleasure and utility. Moreover, they are very safe and equipped with everything important for driving, such as airbags, ABS, seat heating, and climate control. They have a superb suspension, an elegant interior that offers every comfort, powerful brakes, and reliable engines.
They are one of the last "dinosaurs" with strong naturally aspirated V8 engines, allowing for a unique and very relaxed driving experience.
It has been a wonderful time with motorcycles, and now we are looking forward to the R129 models.
To all our motorcycle customers and friends, thank you very much for your loyalty and support.
So a bit more history...
I used to have a prefacelift 500 which was amazing. Only issues.i had were the distributors which are prone to failing and causing misfires. It was a great car which an amazing engine. I bought it 10 years ago for 5k and sold it a year later for 5.5. I nice 500 is now 10k plus and i have too many toys to justify....
I went to see a red 320 barnfind. Been off the road in a barn for 10 years. Ran ok and hood worked but needed all brakes, new wings, lacquer peel and no MOT. Guy wouldnt budget from 4500gbp
So found this silver one on FB for 3500..went to see it and walked away. Need front bumper repaint (not too bad) at some point will meed two front wings due to bubbling. Wheels and tyres need a refurb and replace. Did i mention good doesnt work and the windows are cracked.
It runs lumpy once its warm....
So.... i walked away only for seller to say hed take £2300 and deliver it! I think thats a deal.
So ive sourced a newly refrubed set of 8 holes (i love them) with new tyres for 400£. Ive ordered new plugs, leads and coil packs and hope tbat clears the lumpiness (could be old fuel i guess - its done 1000 miles in last 8 years).
Then i will get on diagnosing the hood...... i think one of the 14 rams is leaking so thats an easy fix. Hopefully its not the control unit.
Plan is to get it running and driving.woth hood functioning.
Then it will be bumper repaint and good repair.....m
Wings if i can be bothered!
I reckon 500 quid for wheels and ignition parts, 250 quid for bumper paint and £500 for hood repair!!
All done for £3800?
We will see!!!
Will keep the thread updated if any interest?
I used to have a prefacelift 500 which was amazing. Only issues.i had were the distributors which are prone to failing and causing misfires. It was a great car which an amazing engine. I bought it 10 years ago for 5k and sold it a year later for 5.5. I nice 500 is now 10k plus and i have too many toys to justify....
I went to see a red 320 barnfind. Been off the road in a barn for 10 years. Ran ok and hood worked but needed all brakes, new wings, lacquer peel and no MOT. Guy wouldnt budget from 4500gbp
So found this silver one on FB for 3500..went to see it and walked away. Need front bumper repaint (not too bad) at some point will meed two front wings due to bubbling. Wheels and tyres need a refurb and replace. Did i mention good doesnt work and the windows are cracked.
It runs lumpy once its warm....
So.... i walked away only for seller to say hed take £2300 and deliver it! I think thats a deal.
So ive sourced a newly refrubed set of 8 holes (i love them) with new tyres for 400£. Ive ordered new plugs, leads and coil packs and hope tbat clears the lumpiness (could be old fuel i guess - its done 1000 miles in last 8 years).
Then i will get on diagnosing the hood...... i think one of the 14 rams is leaking so thats an easy fix. Hopefully its not the control unit.
Plan is to get it running and driving.woth hood functioning.
Then it will be bumper repaint and good repair.....m
Wings if i can be bothered!
I reckon 500 quid for wheels and ignition parts, 250 quid for bumper paint and £500 for hood repair!!
All done for £3800?
We will see!!!
Will keep the thread updated if any interest?
sshenton1975 said:
So a bit more history...
I used to have a prefacelift 500 which was amazing. Only issues.i had were the distributors which are prone to failing and causing misfires. It was a great car which an amazing engine. I bought it 10 years ago for 5k and sold it a year later for 5.5. I nice 500 is now 10k plus and i have too many toys to justify....
I went to see a red 320 barnfind. Been off the road in a barn for 10 years. Ran ok and hood worked but needed all brakes, new wings, lacquer peel and no MOT. Guy wouldnt budget from 4500gbp
So found this silver one on FB for 3500..went to see it and walked away. Needs front bumper repaint (not too bad) at some point will need two front wings due to bubbling. Wheels and tyres need a refurb and replace. Did i mention hood doesnt work and the windows are cracked.
It runs lumpy once its warm....
So.... i walked away only for seller to say hed take £2300 and deliver it! I think thats a deal.
So ive sourced a newly refurbed set of 8 holes (i love them) with new tyres for 400£. Ive ordered new plugs, leads and coil packs and hope that clears the lumpiness (could be old fuel i guess - its done 1000 miles in last 8 years).
Then i will get on diagnosing the hood...... i think one of the 14 rams is leaking so thats an easy fix. Hopefully its not the control unit.
Plan is to get it running and driving.with hood functioning.
Then it will be bumper repaint and hood repair.....
Wings if i can be bothered!
I reckon 500 quid for wheels and ignition parts, 250 quid for bumper paint and £500 for hood repair!!
All done for £3800?
We will see!!!
Will keep the thread updated if any interest?
I used to have a prefacelift 500 which was amazing. Only issues.i had were the distributors which are prone to failing and causing misfires. It was a great car which an amazing engine. I bought it 10 years ago for 5k and sold it a year later for 5.5. I nice 500 is now 10k plus and i have too many toys to justify....
I went to see a red 320 barnfind. Been off the road in a barn for 10 years. Ran ok and hood worked but needed all brakes, new wings, lacquer peel and no MOT. Guy wouldnt budget from 4500gbp
So found this silver one on FB for 3500..went to see it and walked away. Needs front bumper repaint (not too bad) at some point will need two front wings due to bubbling. Wheels and tyres need a refurb and replace. Did i mention hood doesnt work and the windows are cracked.
It runs lumpy once its warm....
So.... i walked away only for seller to say hed take £2300 and deliver it! I think thats a deal.
So ive sourced a newly refurbed set of 8 holes (i love them) with new tyres for 400£. Ive ordered new plugs, leads and coil packs and hope that clears the lumpiness (could be old fuel i guess - its done 1000 miles in last 8 years).
Then i will get on diagnosing the hood...... i think one of the 14 rams is leaking so thats an easy fix. Hopefully its not the control unit.
Plan is to get it running and driving.with hood functioning.
Then it will be bumper repaint and hood repair.....
Wings if i can be bothered!
I reckon 500 quid for wheels and ignition parts, 250 quid for bumper paint and £500 for hood repair!!
All done for £3800?
We will see!!!
Will keep the thread updated if any interest?
On the hood , start with the micro switches.
I have a friend who’s a Mercedes technician, and he says these are not complicated if you follow the logic …… and the logic is ,
the input from the driver activating the switch inside the car , starts a process, verification of each little stage is by means of micro switches,
so if at any stage of the process , a micro switch isn’t pushed enough or at all , the whole process stops .
My 500 SL needed an additional rubber glued on to a micro switch which verified that the tonneau cover was home . The chrome frame was just missing it ever so slightly. Permanent cure .
I have a friend who’s a Mercedes technician, and he says these are not complicated if you follow the logic …… and the logic is ,
the input from the driver activating the switch inside the car , starts a process, verification of each little stage is by means of micro switches,
so if at any stage of the process , a micro switch isn’t pushed enough or at all , the whole process stops .
My 500 SL needed an additional rubber glued on to a micro switch which verified that the tonneau cover was home . The chrome frame was just missing it ever so slightly. Permanent cure .
t. An awful lot of car for the money. Congratulations!! You are a brave man. Very curious to see how this pans out - I too have a 500SL with a hood that needs plastic replacing and microswitches looking at. Seems to be for me the car can't tell how closed/open the windows are and this blocks the hood from releasing.
Sorry for the hijack but if anyone has a good specialist near the south east that is reasonable (i.e not SL shop..they've started adding lots of zeroes to their quotes since R129s have become popular) I'd be all ears.
Good luck!
Sorry for the hijack but if anyone has a good specialist near the south east that is reasonable (i.e not SL shop..they've started adding lots of zeroes to their quotes since R129s have become popular) I'd be all ears.
Good luck!
Gassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff