Chewa
New Member
- Joined
- Jan 17, 2015
- Messages
- 12
- Car
- 2007/8 E class Estate 280 CDI Elegance, 2000 SL280 Azurite with pano roof
As money in the bank gains bugger all interest, we decided to enjoy it a bit and buy a fun, hobby, car.
Until about 3 years ago we have always had a second car and it has generally been something enjoyable (XJS, GTi, TR6, Spitfire) and I initially looked for another TR or maybe an MGB, Scimitar or something that I could tinker with.
I don't know how it came about, but I suddenly factored in the R129 to my search requests!
I did a lot of research on this and other forums (hugely helpful) and searched all the usual sale sites.
After lots of horsing about the country to look at R129s which seem to be owned uniformly by estate agents (their definition of "Immaculate, outstanding.... no rust.... no roof issues.... full service history" seems flexible) I finally took the plunge and bought the 7th one I saw, a 280 SL. Azurite, pale cream nappa and spotless pano. I'd wanted a 320, but had expanded my wish list to 280 and 500, as I was getting a bit disillusioned with what I had seen. Anyway, first owner had ticked the "delete model code" option so it can be anything I want
. To be fair, it will be a car for retirement in France and I only like going fast on motorbikes or Italian roadbikes so I'm happy with 200hp.
Body looks ok, needs a service and (according to my Optimate) will need the battery changed (after reading the forums on the issues which can be caused by low voltage I'd planned to buy a new one anyway). Everything works! Even air con is ice cold, and after years of driving convertibles, have to say the solidity with the roof off was surprising. It didn't bang, creak, clink or squeak!
With roof on it's not as quiet as our E, but pretty good, just road noise from tyres. Driving with the pano is a bit unreal, loads of light. Steering is a bit dead compared to the E class, and they both wear the same size tyres.
Plan is to do oil and filters and change the plugs (I know - 12 and fairly expensive, but I did have the V12 Jag!), battery, then over winter do some tlc to anything which can rust and maybe do a transmission fluid change.
The interior is really almost perfect, just a bit of creasing on the leather and it has the original radio/cassette with 10 changer.
No doubt I'll be on checking for advice. At the moment, I'm very excited!
Photos to follow - I had to slam it in the garage when I got home (after moving one VFR, 8 pushbikes and a lawnmower about) as the weather was looking awful.
Until about 3 years ago we have always had a second car and it has generally been something enjoyable (XJS, GTi, TR6, Spitfire) and I initially looked for another TR or maybe an MGB, Scimitar or something that I could tinker with.
I don't know how it came about, but I suddenly factored in the R129 to my search requests!
I did a lot of research on this and other forums (hugely helpful) and searched all the usual sale sites.
After lots of horsing about the country to look at R129s which seem to be owned uniformly by estate agents (their definition of "Immaculate, outstanding.... no rust.... no roof issues.... full service history" seems flexible) I finally took the plunge and bought the 7th one I saw, a 280 SL. Azurite, pale cream nappa and spotless pano. I'd wanted a 320, but had expanded my wish list to 280 and 500, as I was getting a bit disillusioned with what I had seen. Anyway, first owner had ticked the "delete model code" option so it can be anything I want
. To be fair, it will be a car for retirement in France and I only like going fast on motorbikes or Italian roadbikes so I'm happy with 200hp.Body looks ok, needs a service and (according to my Optimate) will need the battery changed (after reading the forums on the issues which can be caused by low voltage I'd planned to buy a new one anyway). Everything works! Even air con is ice cold, and after years of driving convertibles, have to say the solidity with the roof off was surprising. It didn't bang, creak, clink or squeak!
With roof on it's not as quiet as our E, but pretty good, just road noise from tyres. Driving with the pano is a bit unreal, loads of light. Steering is a bit dead compared to the E class, and they both wear the same size tyres.
Plan is to do oil and filters and change the plugs (I know - 12 and fairly expensive, but I did have the V12 Jag!), battery, then over winter do some tlc to anything which can rust and maybe do a transmission fluid change.
The interior is really almost perfect, just a bit of creasing on the leather and it has the original radio/cassette with 10 changer.
No doubt I'll be on checking for advice. At the moment, I'm very excited!
Photos to follow - I had to slam it in the garage when I got home (after moving one VFR, 8 pushbikes and a lawnmower about) as the weather was looking awful.
