Is buying a R129 a good idea

[kvz2000]

Hi All,

As a huge Merc fan and lover of their build quality and reliability , I have a 1992 190d with 176k miles and waiting to collect a 2009 C220 , I have sort of agreed to trade the 190d in for a 1992 300sl with 154k miles and FSH.
The 300sl looks great with almost no rust( probably resprayed at some point ) and it drove very well but there were two issues that the garage said they would fix , drivers electric seat and the soft top were not working, it's been almost two weeks and they said they were waiting on parts , I've since read all the issues on here re the soft top and elsewhere about them having an issue re head gasket ,am I worrying unduly or were they a poorer merc model .
My plan is to use the convertible for a long european trip and I felt this was a decent option with prices slowly starting to increase for this models.
Thoughts please as ive been told I can have my deposit back if unhappy at length of time taken to repair .

 

[Doodle]

The driver's seat shouldn't be too bad, either a switch pack, control unit or fuse that are easily swapped.

The roof is the showstopper - this has the potential for big bills, more than the car's value. Have they said what it is/isn't doing?

 

[kvz2000]

From memory I think he said that when you press the switch you can hear a motor running or something like that but no movement in the roof. I'm in two minds , it's a small secondhand car sales place , my first dealings with them and the owner/salesman was very nice , we sorted out a deal on the basis that he fixed the roof and the seat , he did say the previous owner used to disconnect the battery in the winter to stop the battery going flat and I've read all the problems that can cause,
The car is at a decent auto electrics firm at the moment and the last I heard was they were waiting on parts for the seat , roof not mentioned . I'm thinking that if the roof is sorted properly at garages expense then hopefully I don't have to worry about it , I think I'll ask to see the repair bill as this should detail whats been done , or do you think it's in order to contact the auto electrics myself for an update ,

 

[BTB 500]

The R129 in general is a high quality car which is pretty good if looked after and maintained properly. The roof is complex though and as mentioned some parts (the control module for example) are very pricey. If they fix it and can demonstrate it working properly over several lower/raise cycles then it should be fine. If not, get your deposit back and move on.

I think a 1992 car would pre-date the big wiring loom issue (insulation breaking down), but if not it would hopefully have been replaced by now anyway. The head gasket is a known issue with the M103 straight 6 ... I think the normal symptom is an oil leak at the back of the engine.

 

[kvz2000]

Thanks Bill , further update , guy phoned to say he has had the seat repaired at cost of £250 , but has to take it to a Mercedes specialist to have roof sorted , BUT if I wanted the car now as it is he would take £1000 off the price ?? I've told him to continue in getting roof fixed but I'm pretty sure he perhaps knows that the repair will cost around £1000 and will not fix it , if he doesn't know what's wrong with the roof why offer £1000 reduction when it might only cost a few hundred to fix ??

 

[kvz2000]

Worst case scenario what could it cost to have roof repaired , he says you can hear it try to open but nothing moves. Previous owner did disconnect in the winter months ??

 

[Doodle]

Worst case scenario? More than £1000. Comfortably more, depending on how long it takes to work out what is wrong. You're doing the right thing by insisting it's fixed before taking delivery, you don't want to be funding that yourself.

Was the hood down or up when you saw it?

 

[kvz2000]

Hood was up , and I didn't try the switch. Car has been well looked after with loads of history and owned locally for last 3 years but I don't know by whom.
Might call in over the weekend to see if he has sent it to get repaired or still at his showroom. I'm tempted by the £1000 reduction but will not jump in .

 

[BTB 500]

Hood was up , and I didn't try the switch.

Is the hardtop with the car? You probably won't be able to fit that if the hood won't operate.

 

[kvz2000]

Is the hardtop with the car? You probably won't be able to fit that if the hood won't operate.

Yes nice condition hardtop , I'm told , and have watched a video that soft top can be lowered and raised manually so I don't see any reason why hardtop could not be fitted , I'm planning to go and spend some time tomorrow putting roof up and down manually , and might try an offer with a £1500 reduction

 

[dinoy]

try 2k n accept 1500-1750, how much he charging u on top of your car, it possible to buy one for 3kish.

might be better to sell your 190d and look to buy privately

 

[C280 Sport]

I had a 1996 600SL R129. Was a very good car.Never left me on the side of the road and since I am a DIY guy I was able to keep cost down. However, some facts. The 98 and newer 600s had a new fuel injection system which was MUCH nicer, but they are still prone to the common V12 leaks. The upper front timing covers leak$$$$, especially on low mileage cars, as they heat up and cool down so infrequently that the seals dry up and crack. The ADS suspension system is prone to air cells(dampening canisters) leaking$$$, resulting in a bouncy, or a very very firm ride. The powersteering pumps tend to leak on the ADS cars also$$$, due to the engine heat. They are however VERY smooth, very nice power for a big, N/A V12, have an addicting sound, and ride like a dream. The V8 models also have their issues, as the 98 and older 500s are prone to a ticking noise from the top end of the engine$$, which requires removal of the valve covers, and replacing the oil tubes for the rockers. Not really a very big deal, but something to watch for. The V8 models are nice because they still have at least 302 horsepower, so they move well, won't cost as much to maintain, and are easier to insure(Insurance companies seem to think anything with a V12 is exotic at least here in the USA). All SLs are susceptible to the water leaks and wind noises associated with convertibles, occasionally, top latches can leak or stick, and the removeable hardtop can be cumbersome. Soft and hard tops need to be lubricated in order to stay silent.
But, the fit and finish is what you would expect of a Mercedes(the V12s have a wonderful Nappa leather and more extensive wood interior), and any of the SLs drive great, are attractive to look at(even some being 15+ years old), and can still make you smile when you drive it. This car is really the pinnacle of roadsters and still is today if you ask me.

 

[grober]

The R129 is very heavy car----think its fair to say the 300 is "marginal" on power. OK for a cruiser but don't expect a dynamic performance. Early cars won't have the wiring loom problems and early cars had solvent based paint systems which resist rust better. That said they can have electrical gremlins ---- EZL ignition units, Distributor cap arcing/condensation, convenience control electronic units etc etc. Many of these units can be damaged by damp/water ingress over the years- most open top cars leak or are prone to condensation to certain extent. Really its down to price and condition. a solid straight rust free body is a good basis as an ongoing restoration project- however you must factor in potential repair costs when pricing the car and negotiate accordingly.

from
1996 SL500 electric windows and convertible top - MBWorld.org Forums

 

[kvz2000]

Thanks guys for all the advice , I'm off to see him very soon and will take my time looking over everything. It's a 1992 300sl straight 6 , probably been professionally resprayed as there is only one very small bit of rust staring to show , extensive service history and nice AMG alloys with new tyres. I'm not bothered about lack of power as it will be for touring and hopefully getting the roof down with trips to Eire and france planned.
Car was £5450 and the deal was my old merc plus £4300, now my merc plus £3300 so I'll definately try for more off , I get the feeling that the dealer is not wanting to get the repairs done himself and seems keen to get it away .

 

[Doodle]

I get the feeling that the dealer is not wanting to get the repairs done himself and seems keen to get it away .

That should speak volumes.

If you're going to manually work the roof you'll need the locking tool.

 

[BTB 500]

Yes nice condition hardtop , I'm told , and have watched a video that soft top can be lowered and raised manually so I don't see any reason why hardtop could not be fitted , I'm planning to go and spend some time tomorrow putting roof up and down manually , and might try an offer with a £1500 reduction

Yes there's a procedure for manually operating the hood, which as Doodle mentioned needs a special tool (that should be with the car). I don't know for sure that you can fit/remove the hardtop this way though, and I wouldn't want to get caught in a sudden downpour with the roof down either

The roof/windows/roll bar are all linked so make 100% sure that everything else works OK if there's a fault with the roof. Are there any warning lights on the dash (e.g. roll bar)? Obviously check they all come on before the engine starts ...

nice AMG alloys with new tyres.

Are the wheels genuine? Lots of older/cheaper cars have replicas, which can be a bargaining point if you really want the car.

But as Dinoy said you would be better off selling your current car and looking at private sales. There's a 95/M 320SL on Autotrader for £3650, for example. Plus a couple of 280s for similar money.

 

[Doodle]

You can use the tool to manually lock/release the hardtop, but I wouldn't want to do it too often. It's quite forceful and causes twisting stress as you operate each lock individually when they usually release in pairs.

Rounding off one of the mechanisms doesn't bear thinking about

 

[kvz2000]

user/kvz2000/media/image.jpg2_7.jpg.html]

[/URL]

 

[kvz2000]

Car bought and home , lovely drive of about 30 miles , put roof down manually and fitted hardtop without any problem .lots of wee jobs to do , when I get the time

 

[dinoy]

do tell how u got the deal to cough up 2k or still 1k, i hope 2k for your sake