Need someone to check out a R129 near Sutton, Surrey

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Vintage Racer

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Joined
Dec 3, 2016
Messages
210
Location
Dordogne, France
Car
2001 Mercedes R129, SL320......1959 Triumph TR3a......2010 Discovery 4.
I have found a R129, SL320 in Sutton, Surrey that i'm interested in .

Can anyone recommend a good specialist in that area who I could pay to take a look at it for me?

Cheers

Glynn
 
I may have the 320 you are looking for.

99 T plate , totally immaculate.
 
Olly at PCS in Horndean, which isn't an excessive distance away. Apart from the fact he is a serious and capable specialist, he also has a dealership specialising in R129s Turnbull and Oliver, which has numerous online guides to buying.
 
I live in Sutton and take my car to an Independent Specialist - DDR Surrey based in Ashtead which is about 10 miles away. Happy to take a look at the car on your behalf. My mechanical knowledge is limited but I've bought a few cars in my time and know what to look for. Is it the one for sale in CMW cars?
 
We can go out to the car to inspect it.

The 129 is one of the cars I know best.
 
TM Motors in West Molesey or Steve Redfearn in Wimbledon might be able to help with enough notice.

When I bought my R129 in Wandsworth last year I rang around a few specialists asking about getting the car inspected. TBH most didn't really seem too bothered about that kind of work - I don't think keeping a ramp open for you to drive up when you feel like suits their business - and it was a hassle trying to persuade a private seller into fixing enough time to take their car on what might be a wild goose chase. Trade *may* be more accommodating though.

In the end I went with my nose, my gut, lots of forum reading and the very helpful videos that Olly has made. Once the car was mine it went for an inspection at Wayne Gates which threw up a reasonable worklist, and every day I keep adding to the list of filters, fluids, leads and so on that I'm going to replace. So whatever you do, figure a decent warchest into your budget.
 
Thanks everyone,

Having looked at a lot of cars, I have realised that by the time I got them to the condition I wanted, it was going to cost me as much as buying from a specialist.

So....................I have bought this:Mercedes-Benz SL 320 R129 | 2001 | 68K Miles | Pan Roof

Nice car, nothing to do and a 2 year warranty.

Dented wallet, but peace of mind!

Cheers
Glynn
 
That's possibly too nice, well done.
 
Looks a great car so well done and you are always right spending that bit more to get the right car.
 
Nice car, nothing to do and a 2 year warranty.

Dented wallet, but peace of mind!

Yup, I bought mine as an M-B 'Approved Used' for similar reasons!

Looks like a great car - congratulations :)
 
Hi Glynn
Did you arrange someone to see the car
I think I may know the car, 33k miles on gumtree for around six months as it's very local to me so I noticed it constantly being relisted
Be worth making a very cheeky bid as the dealer would be sick of it by now
Does look nice though !
 
Hi Glynn
Did you arrange someone to see the car
I think I may know the car, 33k miles on gumtree for around six months as it's very local to me so I noticed it constantly being relisted
Be worth making a very cheeky bid as the dealer would be sick of it by now
Does look nice though !

Hi Indigo,

A friend viewed it for me (i,m currently out of the UK) and it is a better spec car than advertised (it has Pano Roof, Roof stand & Hoist etc).

It is a good car, but to bring it to the level that I would want, would take a few months and cost another £2-3k in my opinion.

HPI shows a mileage discrepancy (which may have put a lot of people off), but I checked the history with Mercedes and the mileage of 33,000 is genuine.

The dealer is selling it on 'consignment'.

I get the feeling that if it was advertised with its full spec and some better pictures, it would have had a lot more interest..............how can you forget to mention a Panoramic Roof!!!!!:wallbash:

13k would be a good buy!
 
Sounds nice, I know what you mean about an extra spend to make it right
I brought a similar age one last autumn, and although it looked really clean I'm replacing control arms, shocks, springs, steering linkages and a major service as a lot of these parts suffer with age rather than mileage ( rubbers and seals ) and I wanted the car fully sorted.
Luckily it was reflected in the price I paid
Incidentally previous MOT advisories mentioned that the front shocks were misting after just 30 k miles ( now 60)
Indicating the seals were perishing
Also I think the first owner had a long gravel drive or a private unmade road as the components I'm replacing had lost their paint and looked very ugly - but thankfully the car body's shell is perfect underneath.
All in all then I would recommend anyone buying an original 129, even low mileage to factor in significant additional work if there planning on using the car.

Are you going to buy the Sutton car then ?
 
Last edited:
Sounds nice, I know what you mean about an extra spend to make it right
I brought a similar age one last autumn, and although it looked really clean I'm replacing control arms, shocks, springs, steering linkages and a major service as a lot of these parts suffer with age rather than mileage ( rubbers and seals ) and I wanted the car fully sorted.
Luckily it was reflected in the price I paid
Incidentally previous MOT advisories mentioned that the front shocks were misting after just 30 k miles ( now 60)
Indicating the seals were perishing
Also I think the first owner had a long gravel drive or a private unmade road as the components I'm replacing had lost their paint and looked very ugly - but thankfully the car body's shell is perfect underneath.
All in all then I would recommend anyone buying an original 129, even low mileage to factor in significant additional work if there planning on using the car.

Are you going to buy the Sutton car then ?

You obviously missed my earlier post, as I have bought this: Mercedes-Benz SL 320 R129 | 2001 | 68K Miles | Pan Roof

I decided that it would cost me more money to bring the 'Sutton' car up to spec, than just bite the bullit and buy a 'ready to go' car.

It has covered more miles, but has an impeccable service history.

The SL shop are not the cheapest, but the car is superbly prepared and comes with a 2 year warranty!
 

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