Cheap SL320

[Will]

Hi Roger,

It was in late April of this year.

Car was a late 1998 'S' registered SL500. Facelift spec, in Obsidian black.

Had grey leather (extended onto the dashboard, etc), factory AMG split rims (18") and the panoramic roof.

If I'd known how rare that colour/spec was I'd have probably paid more at the time, I was just a little daunted with the amount of work needed to bring it upto scratch.

I'd gladly have paid £10k+ if it was as clean as it should have been for the age/mileage.

I think the guy knew it was tatty and had issues, hence he was of the impression that it was cheap enough already, so he was quite firm with the price.

Following on from earlier, it's amazing how many tatty R129s there are out there. Just because people had £££££s to buy these cars, it's obvious that some of them weren't all that bothered about looking after their cars.

I think I've set myself a hard act to follow. My twenty year old 190E 2.5-16 with nearly 100k miles on it had fantastic bodywork - largely original - and a pristine interior.

So no excuses IMHO for cars that were at least as well built and half the age/mileage.

Will

 

[Roger Jones]

Thanks, Will.

I suspect that there are many more people out there who neglect their cars than those who take care of them, price and financial resources notwithstanding. It's like the bozos selling cars privately who have "done the servicing" themselves -- in most cases that means an oil change once in a blue moon. As long as they can sleep at night knowing that the next owner will get the problems, they carry on regardless.

 

[nickg]

In my recent experience the sweet spot seems to be around £12-14k for a good SL500 '99 - '01 car with 60-80k on the clock, decent MBSH and pretty decent condition.
Less than this and you get what you pay for.
For more money you mostly get little more value (just unrealistic sellers) unless you get close to the lowest R230 values for real "garage queens".

Mine needs new soft top windows (just done), a bonnet respray and some work to the leather (driver bolster is in nasty condition and it generally needs a very good clean) so it'll cost me a few quid but these things are cosmetic and mechanically its in good order and drives very nicely (touch wood).

Prices may drop in autumn winter but I suspect there'll be very few sellers around again until the spring.

At the prices mentioned above I can't think of better value available for a luxury 2 door convertible.

 

[Roger Jones]

I'm still not sure about the price issue. Here are the R129s currently advertised in Mercedes Enthusiast, the MB Club's Gazette and Classic & Sports Car:

Specialist dealers
1990 300 53k £7995 (AutoBarn)
1991 300-24 140k £5195 (Dave Collins)
1991 300-34 90k £7995 (Gasoline Alley)
1992 300-24 ?k £7995 (Prestige)
1993 500 29k £12995 (Gasoline Alley)
1993 600 44k £14950 (Classic-Benz)
1994 500 108k £7295 (Star Classic Mercedes)
1994 280 106k £6750 (Robert Hughes)
1995 500 130k £4295 (Dave Collins)
1996 320 AMG £10995 (Avantgard)
1997 300-24 (?320) 84k £7995 (McCarthy)
1997 320 74k £8995 (Dave Collins)
1999 730 54k £44950 (Charles Ironside: car built for the Sultan of Brunei -- and it has sold)
2002 320 21k £22995 (Baynards)
2002 500 Silver Arrow 20k £24500 (DB Motor Brokers)

Private
1991 500 "low mileage" £7995 (Gazette)
1991 500 AMG 80k 15900 euro (Classic & Sports Car)
1993 500 23k £16950 (Classic & Sports Car)
1995 280 77k £6995 (Gazette)
1995 500 84k 17900 euro (Classic & Sports Car)
1999 280 19k £14500 (Mercedes Ethusiast)
2000 320 47k £11500 (Mercedes Enthusiast)
2002 500 44k £22995 (Gazette)
2002 500 Silver Arrow ?k £18000 (Classic & Sports Car)
2002 320 21k £22995 (Classic & Sports Car)

Given that these are all asking prices, and allowing for the fact that dealer prices will always be at a 10--20% premium (or more), there seem to be plenty under £10k. You'd also expect the dealer cars to be other than "dogs", given their corporate liabilities. You'd also expect some private-sale prices to be fanciful. Even Charles Ironside had a 1995 500 with 81k on sale in June for £9995. Low mileage -- under-use, lady driver, weekend car, potential trouble . . . -- obviously continues to be a significant price element.