Sl R129 interior question

[mickl]

hi

I've been looking at a couple of early 500SL's .

I've looked at a pic of a car that is a 1990 model. I believe air con at the time was an option, not sure if full climate control was available at the time.

Looking at the pic, can anyone tell if this car has aircon. Seller says it has but it looks like a non air model. Only looked at a couple of these so can't really tell the difference.

 

[Sonny Burnett]

ask for underhood shot.. and it will be blatantly obvious because the ac compressor is easily to spy out safest way

 

[MD5]

As above, but is there a huge difference in price between that and a 95/6 model, where c/c is standard on the 500s? Also, no cruise control on this car (useful for specs cameras)?

 

[mickl]

As above, but is there a huge difference in price between that and a 95/6 model, where c/c is standard on the 500s? Also, no cruise control on this car (useful for specs cameras)?

really, was it not even an option?

 

[MD5]

Climate or cruise, Mick? 500s and 600s were very well specced compared to the smaller engined models, but I think climate was standard on the 500/600s. Stats007 is the 129 aficianado, but this site may be of interest, albeit for the American market.

I can't see the cruise switch in your pic above, which should be above the indicator switch on the steering column.

 

[mickl]

Climate or cruise, Mick? 500s and 600s were very well specced compared to the smaller engined models, but I think climate was standard on the 500/600s. Stats007 is the 129 aficianado, but this site may be of interest, albeit for the American market.

I can't see the cruise switch in your pic above, which should be above the indicator switch on the steering column.

meant the cruise control, thought that was standard. I know aircon wasn't standard as I've seen a 1994 SL500 that didn't have it. You have to query the the logic of ordering a £75k+ car and not speccing aircon.

 

[BTB 500]

Climate control and cruise control were definitely both standard on all UK R129 models from the 1996 facelift onwards.

The original (pre-facelift) climate control unit looked like this

So I would assume the car in the OP does not have aircon.

 

[BTB 500]

You have to query the the logic of ordering a £75k+ car and not speccing aircon.

My SL500 has adaptive damping (a £3500 option), but not heated seats (£365)

 

[mickl]

Climate control and cruise control were definitely both standard on all UK R129 models from the 1996 facelift onwards.

The original (pre-facelift) climate control unit looked like this

So I would assume the car in the OP does not have aircon.

I've seen the climate control module before but not sure if the there is a bog standard aircon option

 

[MD5]

Climate control and cruise control were definitely both standard on all UK R129 models from the 1996 facelift onwards.

That was what I meant in my first post, but wasn't sure if the facelift was late 95 or 96.

Unlike Bill, mine has heated seats, but not ADS! I must admit, aircon would be the last thing I would order for a convertible car, and if mine breaks down again, it will stay that way. I share the view of one seller I bought from when asked about a/c: "If it gets hot, I put the roof down, if it gets cold, I put it up!"

 

[mickl]

That was what I meant in my first post, but wasn't sure if the facelift was late 95 or 96.

Unlike Bill, mine has heated seats, but not ADS! I must admit, aircon would be the last thing I would order for a convertible car, and if mine breaks down again, it will stay that way. I share the view of one seller I bought from when asked about a/c: "If it gets hot, I put the roof down, if it gets cold, I put it up!"

I'd especially ask for aircon in a convertible as it reduces moisture and condensation build up in the cabin, especially in cold/wet weather, which on the plastic rear window on an R129 would be a boon. Aircon isn't just about keeping cool.

 

[BTB 500]

If you're using the car as a fun/weekend one then aircon probably isn't essential. But we got stuck on the M3 once on a really hot summer day .. hood up and aircon on to keep cool.

The HRW on the R129 hardtop isn't that effective, so as mentioned the aircon is useful for demisting in winter.

 

[Roger Jones]

"You have to query the the logic of ordering a £75k+ car and not speccing aircon"

I know what you mean, but perhaps the purchaser thought long and hard and realized, in the grand scheme of things, how unimportant aircon is. I speak as the owner of two cars with it and two without it, and its absence in the latter bothers me about on about two days a year. Too rational, perhaps.

 

[Doodle]

"You have to query the the logic of ordering a £75k+ car and not speccing aircon"

I know what you mean, but perhaps the purchaser thought long and hard and realized, in the grand scheme of things, how unimportant aircon is.

Following that rationale, you could say the same of the V8 engine...automatic gearbox...powered roof with detachable hard-top...electric seats etc etc and that in the grand scheme of things you could buy a nice little Fiesta instead and save yourself over £65k

 

[Roger Jones]

Yes, but it's all relative. In my experience, aircon = 1% difference in everyday terms; electric seats = worthless without memory (even worse than useless, as I know from comparing one of my cars with a non-memory driver's seat with two with manual seats); autobox = matter of personal taste; powered soft-top = quite important; V8 = personal taste depending on car. And so on. It's the fundamentals that matter most to me, and much of the rest is far less important than the "must have all the toys" syndrome admits; and toys do go wrong, of course.

 

[EDZ649]

"You have to query the the logic of ordering a £75k+ car and not speccing aircon"

I know what you mean, but perhaps the purchaser thought long and hard and realized, in the grand scheme of things, how unimportant aircon is. I speak as the owner of two cars with it and two without it, and its absence in the latter bothers me about on about two days a year. Too rational, perhaps.

Some would argue as to why you would need aircon/climate with a convertible but I wouldn't buy any car without it!

 

[Sonny Burnett]

same here edz ac is a must but i think so is cruse control how do people live with out cc is beyond me

 

[EDZ649]

same here edz ac is a must but i think so is cruse control how do people live with out cc is beyond me

I very rarely use cruise, maybe once a year if i'm feeling really lazy! Each to their own I guess.

 

[Sonny Burnett]

really i use it on nearly everyroad.... lol even 30s helps me not to speed have 10 points....

 

[mickl]

well, after looking around for an SL, one of these turned my head so will be leaving Mercedes ownership for awhile.