Buying an R129

[yme402]

Hello
I am very interested in the car below

https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...

Any advice would be appreciated, and does this look over-priced?

Thanks

[yme402]

Many thanks for the advice guys!

One area I want to check is the top mounts as I understand these can deteriorate. Is there a quick visual way I can do this, and what should I look out for?

Cheers

[yme402]

Send me the details or a link. What part of the world is it?

[yme402]

I am interested. What about the wiring loom? Any evidence of this being replaced?

[yme402]

If or not a car can be deemed a classic is in the eye of the beholder. Regarding the increase in value of such a car, this will happen gradually over a protracted period of time, and the financial gains will naturally be off-set by routine maintainence. Occasionally a car will have a dramatic spike in value, often due to featuring in a popular TV show or movie (Cortina MK3/Life on Mars is a good example), or by the manufacturer of the present day incarnation of the car in question using it as a form of retro marketing (Mini being a good example).

[yme402]

In response to the original post....this is what I ended up buying.
SL 320
2 previous owners
Rust free
New hard top and hood
Full history file and excellent provenance
No expense spared by previous owner (spoke to Merc specialist who looked after it for the last 15 years.)
112,000 Miles
£6000

Edited by yme402 on Monday 17th July 08:36

Edited by yme402 on Monday 17th July 08:40

Edited by yme402 on Monday 17th July 08:41

[yme402]

Interior.

[yme402]

[yme402]

[yme402]

[yme402]

Yes I live at the top of Scotland, but bought the car in Leicester!
I was down on business so had a look at a couple before deciding on this one.
£60 flybe flight Inverness to Birmingham and drove it back.

This one does not have aircon.
Bio degradeable harness wiring was a major concern for me as this was produced right in the middle of the production run. No sign in service history of it being changed, but on inspection I could not see any evidence of crumbling wire insulation either...


Blink code engine diagnostics - what exactly is this, and what do I need to interact with it?

Edited by yme402 on Monday 17th July 09:26

Edited by yme402 on Monday 17th July 09:27

[yme402]

One thing that I do need is a button for the centre arm rest. If anyone can help - much appreciated!

[yme402]

Yes it is a stretch .......

But with the power of t'internet ,good quality photos and a co operative vendor it can be done. In the big scheme of things a short flight and an 8/9 hr drive for the right car at the right price is nothing really.

[yme402]

r129sl said:

They are all "adequate", even the 12valve 300 SL. The 24 valve 280 SLs and 320 SLs are perfectly adequate and likewise the very last V6 18 valve cars. The early 300 SL has the advantage of the buttery smooth m103 engine, even smoother than the BMW straight sixes of the period. The early 300 SL-24 is an absolute screamer.

My 300 diesel takes 14 seconds to accelerate from rest to 60mph and I never find it inadequate. The 500 SL is, of course, proper fast: it could keep a contemporary Ferrari Testarossa honest. But not all of us need that and there are other pleasure of driving and ownership besides.

What all r129s offer (potentially: it rather depends upon their condition these days) is the most extraordinary mechanical quality. All of these cars are fabulously uncompromised machines: anyone who has worked on one will tell you just how astonishingly well-designed and -built they are. I would say this, but in due course I think they will come to be regarded as not only the best SL but the best Mercedes ever.

I could not agree more with all the above. The R129 has for sure started its upward climb in value now, and with a decent R107 now out of reach for most people, good examples of this later SL are now becoming highly sought after. I would always advise anyone considering taking the plunge on a well cared for and genuine example to do so before it is too late.

Edited by yme402 on Sunday 4th November 09:29

[yme402]

Might be able to help you here with a fine example in budget and with excellent provenance and well known within the MB owners club. - is there a way I can get in touch?

Yogioes said:

So ..... following on from my post on the 1st Nov ....

Thank you for the varied and encouraging responses.

Today I viewed the silver SL320 that Kenny Dunn is selling in Edinburgh.
It looked very smart overall with recent discs and centre exhaust section. very clean under the bonnet and in the interior although I was a bit disappointed in the seat leather. It was in excellent condition, just didn't feel as good as I expected.
There has been repairs to the front wings in the usual place which concerned me a bit and the arch edges were not great.
What do you expect for £10k.

So, I am still thinking about an R129. Perhaps I need further creep on my budget or need to look at cars that have not lived in Scotland.

Edward Halls silver SL500 looks very nice and the almost full MB history is reassuring.