Advice on 1991 model 500 SL purchase

[PeterJim]

Hi, I am looking to change my Vauxhall boring for a weekend use SL. I have seen a good price 500 SL with 80,000 miles in red, good body/mechanicals, slightly worn soft-top, some drivers seat wear, good hard top, no rust. Looks generally good all round but I have read it is better not to have the 4 speed auto.
Budget and preference restricts me to a 1990 type model. Several people tell me it is an expensive risk in terms of (parts & reliability) running costs
Can anyone advise me on my first SL?
Thanks

 

[BTB 500]

The R129 SL is a reasonably complex car, and at 22 years old there's obviously the potential for big bills. But the good news is that they are very well built, and if properly maintained pretty reliable. Check that everything works - if something doesn't then it may be an expensive part/job that's been left.

The 5-speed gearbox is arguably a better drive, but it's more complex than the 4-speed (which is purely mechanical ... not electronic). The 5-speed became standard from 1996 onwards (in the first major facelift), but it was available as an option before that - so you may occasionally see earlier cars with it.

 

[redbaron]

As Bill says - many prefer the 5 speed but with a 500 the torque should be sufficient to not really cause any issues.. As with any used car condition is critical.. If the car is mechanically sound and not suffering corrosion then that is a good start.. Does the hood operate properly...? replacing the cloth / windows is cheap compared with the hydraulics.

 

[PeterJim]

Thanks, it does need a roof ecu (new one tried and it all worked) but apart from that it seems to be OK. Priced at 4000 it seemed reasonable(?) assuming I have from 300 to 1200 to pay for the ecu, depending what's available.
I am expecting I will get about 18mpg on average, is that likely with the 4 speed?

 

[jeff500sl]

Yes they can be expensive if a major part goes and there is no crystal ball to help with that knowledge when you buy. The best you can do is to find one with the least number of owners and a full maintainance record. It would be a good idea to have someone who knows these cars check it out for you. There are plenty of indies recomended on this site and I am sure for a fee will do this for you.

To answer your question I get 18mpg on average with up to 24mpg on a decent journey. Between servicing and repairs I spend an average of around €2000 a year for my 5000 miles each year but for me it is good value driving a car that I always enjoy. Mine has been very reliable over the last 8 years of ownership so I would not be worried about buying one again, just be patient and research the market to get the best one that you can afford.

 

[grober]

It does need a roof ecu (new one tried and it all worked) ---- sez who?? the seller ?? have you seen the roof working with the replacement ECU? don't understand exactly what the seller is saying here.

 

[PeterJim]

Thanks, I will get someone to verify and inspect. Good advice.

 

[BTB 500]

As above I would want to personally see the roof working. There are a few previous threads on here about roof ECUs that would be worth a look:

http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/electronics/120704-r129-correct-roof-ecu.html

http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/parts-maintenance/122356-roll-bar-ecu-part-number-sl320-r129.html

 

[IanA2]

There are plenty of these cars around. Buy on condition, two thousand more now could save five thousand later. If in doubt, walk. From the story you are getting, I'd be looking at the next one, there really are plenty around. Oh, and by the way, did I say there are plenty around?

 

[219]

Presumably you are looking at an early R129 500SL , and not a late registered R107 500SL . R107 production ended in 1989 , but there will be a few late registrations about ( and some a lot later than 1991 ) .

The two models are very different , and each has its following . A late R107 will probably cost more than an early 129 now .

 

[wobbly]

A late R107 will probably cost more than an early 129 now .

Change that to

A late R107 will cost substantially more than an early 129 now.

 

[BTB 500]

Were there really R107s that sat around for 2+ years before being registered?!

 

[PeterJim]

Thanks, it was an R129. I am leaving this one based on what I have learned.

 

[219]

Were there really R107s that sat around for 2+ years before being registered?!

And more .

There was one touted around a year or so back , still unregistered and with delivery miles , owner asking silly money . There were also reports of another , within the last two or three years , which was bought and registered for the first time after being fully recommissioned by one of the specialist dealers who had come across it .

As with any popular car , there are always people who buy up the last ones and put them away as investments .

I knew someone who had one of the very last German built air cooled Beetles imported to the uK ( it had the plaque on the dash certifying it to be no 98 out of the final 100 limited edition ) and he put it away in his garage , never to be registered . I saw it at about 10 years old , sitting on axle stands , and he had no plans to sell then .

 

[Stratman]

If you can't afford a good one you certainly can't afford a bad one

 

[219]

Change that to

A late R107 will cost substantially more than an early 129 now.

For the best ones , certainly .

Although rough examples of both models can be picked up very cheaply .