I'm losing the battle to resist temptation

[stats007]

The pin spots on the hard top aren't unheard of, it's something to do with the aluminium reacting, my Range Rover which has ally panels suffers in the same way, and I have seen a couple with rusty front wings.

The panoramic roof suffers from edge corrosion - both of mine were painted under Mobilo.

The 1999MY cars were available from 08/98 - there are some pre-facelift cars on T-plates that cross over.

The aircon unit mentioned earlier is something I've never resolved - a few 1997 cars have them when in 1996 the newer unit was introduced. Old stock being used up?

 

[Sp!ke]

I have just come back from taking THIS 5.0L SL out.

Looks much nicer in the pictures, front arches just starting to bubble up, nasty wheels and less performance than the V6 320 I tried yesterday (which was a cracker of a car). The 500 was fine up to about 3k rpm and then felt like it was missing on a cylinder or two. Major alarm bells on the seller too. Using address of another trader then gave me a new postcode that didnt exist before ending up meeting in a pub car park.

So I am still in the dark about the performance of a 500.

 

[stats007]

For that money I'm not surprised.

 

[Deleted member 11979]

I have a 91 500SL, it is quick, on a trip down the A30 a couple of years ago it was very very slightly pulling away from an R230 SL500 at pretty silly speeds. I test drove 320's as well and for me there was no real contest, the 500 engine seems robust, and it doesn't use much more fuel, plus the noise of course and the extra grunt!

 

[Doodle]

Nasty alloys indeed. Yuk.

Mine occasionally misses on the far side of 4k, but by then you're really hauling. It could probably do with new plug leads but as always just not got around to getting down to Ollie's yet.

 

[stats007]

The early EZL cars have twin coils and distributors which suffer from voltage tracking. Yours should be ME-SFI depending on when in 1995 it was made and have single coil packs - the M113 engined cars have double coil packs for twin plugs.

 

[Sp!ke]

The early EZL cars have twin coils and distributors which suffer from voltage tracking. Yours should be ME-SFI depending on when in 1995 it was made and have single coil packs - the M113 engined cars have double coil packs for twin plugs.

Its definitely English and I understand the meanings of the words themselves *but* I have absolutely no idea what point you are trying to make here

 

[stats007]

You drove an M113 engined car - likely to need a MAF or coil pack replacement as opposed to HT leads.

Whilst that engine lost variable cam timing it has a variable resonance intake - again could be faulty.

 

[stats007]

How about this one?

 

[Sp!ke]

Nice, very nice in fact but spoilt by the grey interior which is a show stopper for me.

 

[Roger Jones]

MB Club Gazette asking prices for R129s over the past nine months:

Average overall £13081
Maximum £32,500 (dropped later to £20,500) -- 2.8, 1994, 2k miles
Minimum £5750 -- 3.0, 1991, 128k

Average 500SL £12053
Maximum £17750 -- 1999, 16k
Minimum £6000 -- 1991, 135k, and 1990, 110k

 

[Sp!ke]

I had a look at what was advertised as an SL500 today (a facelift 1997 model) but on opening the bonnet, the engine looked different than the others I'd seen with the spark plugs hidden behind a metal shield a bit like this one below which is apparently a V12.

Did some of the 500 engines look like this or is this car something its not advertised to be?

 

[nickg]

my SL60s had a very similar looking amg cover over the engine, though its over 2 years since I sold mine now and can't remember very well.
(SL60 is a V8 though).
Good luck with your search. I am starting to pine for one as well........

 

[stats007]

That's a M119 based V8 not a V12. Not all have the plastic covers over the camshaft solenoids at the front.

 

[BTB 500]

Easy to spot a V12 as it's pretty much shoe-horned in!

 

[C43AMG]

Bill was that the V12 at Olly's GTG ?

 

[BTB 500]

Yup, the blue one (Nav's previously, I think).

 

[talbir]

I had a look at what was advertised as an SL500 today (a facelift 1997 model) but on opening the bonnet, the engine looked different than the others I'd seen with the spark plugs hidden behind a metal shield a bit like this one below which is apparently a V12.

Did some of the 500 engines look like this or is this car something its not advertised to be?

Wow, an early CIS SL60 engine !!!

Rare as rocking horse poo !

But it'd be a pre 91 to have that engine....otherwise all SL60's had LH M119s.



t

 

[nickg]

looks pretty good if its best part of 20 years old.
Also the paint colour doesn't look pre-91 ???

 

[stats007]

SL60s weren't introduced until 1993 either?