SL60 AMG

[Doodle]

The SL60 is still for sale at Seraph, so clearly not option 2!

 

[Custard21]

The SL60 is still for sale at Seraph, so clearly not option 2!

Hi all, apologies for late response… work travel has started again!

Ok- so the update… thought long and hard about and after much deliberation , I decided to take the plunge for the SL60 and started looking at finance options.

The finance broker (well known and well reputed) came back and said that the underwriter would not finance any cars from seraph. They said that they had not seen an answer like this before.

I started doing some digging and it seems the previous owners of “coutts automobiles” who were on the same site as seraph (and may be the same/ or associated with seraph) were into some pretty dodgy dealings / fraudulent activities.

I’m really stuck now as I want the car but it seems like it’s too dodgy to touch based on the above.

Any ideas/ thoughts from anyone!? This is the spec, model and year that I want …

Thanks,

Custard

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

Hi all, apologies for late response… work travel has started again!

Ok- so the update… thought long and hard about and after much deliberation , I decided to take the plunge for the SL60 and started looking at finance options.

The finance broker (well known and well reputed) came back and said that the underwriter would not finance any cars from seraph. They said that they had not seen an answer like this before.

I started doing some digging and it seems the previous owners of “coutts automobiles” who were on the same site as seraph (and may be the same/ or associated with seraph) were into some pretty dodgy dealings / fraudulent activities.

I’m really stuck now as I want the car but it seems like it’s too dodgy to touch based on the above.

Any ideas/ thoughts from anyone!? This is the spec, model and year that I want …

Thanks,

Custard

If you’re satisfied that the car and dealer are all in order, you could try an alternative finance provider.

 

[Doodle]

This gives some idea of the creative accounting that they were up to: https://www.fca.org.uk/publication/...ry-notice-coutts-automobiles-limited-2019.pdf

Both Coutts and Seraph appear to have separately traceable history that goes back beyond their immediate past, but clearly the address is tainted by association.

 

[Dickster]

NewRegister

register.fca.org.uk

Seraph Cars are separately registered with the FCA.

 

[Custard21]

If you’re satisfied that the car and dealer are all in order, you could try an alternative finance provider.

Would the above not put you off Bobby D?

NewRegister

register.fca.org.uk

Seraph Cars are separately registered with the FCA.

strange how the underwriter wouldn’t touch them - I guess they may know/ think they know something. I am going to phone seraph and ask them why and how other customers buy cars from them.

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

Would the above not put you off Bobby D?

strange how the underwriter wouldn’t touch them - I guess they may know/ think they know something. I am going to phone seraph and ask them why and how other customers buy cars from them.

Personally, yes it would put me off, but if you’re statistics that the car and dealer are all in order then there is nothing stopping you from using a different finance company.

Trouble is, finding another SL 60 for sale will take time.

 

[Custard21]

Personally, yes it would put me off, but if you’re statistics that the car and dealer are all in order then there is nothing stopping you from using a different finance company.

Trouble is, finding another SL 60 for sale will take time.

Hi All,

1st post but have been reading a lot on here for a while.

I have long been an admirer and fan of the R129 SL and been getting closer and closer to pulling the trigger. Ideally, 500, navy blue, cream interior, AMG wheels and pano from 96-98 is my perfect spec.

After a recent birthday, I have really ramped up the research and search and have stumbled across a few options... as it stands, there are 2 cars which I really like.

1 is an 500, in the correct year , navy and cream but is missing wheels and pano and relatively low mileage (65k) - is on auto trader if anyone wants to look at it.

2. is a 60 AMG (1997 (R) MERCEDES-BENZ AMG 6.0 SL60 Amg Convertible With Hardtop - Seraph Cars) .... a lot more money than I originally thought I wanted to spend but looks great (IMO) and as a rarer model (with AMG!) has now got me seriously thinking.

The car would be used only in summer months or sunny days, would be garaged and covered for rest of time and would not intend on selling.

I wanted to reach out on here to see if anyone had comments on either car (perhaps someone on here knows of the sellers and reputation?) or if anyone has an SL60 and uses as above- are they reliable? what should one expect to pay each year to keep it running nicely)? or any other helpful information.

Its at quite a punchy price but from what I can see they don't come up often and there were less than 50 produced - is this a good investment vehicle (i.e won't lose money rather than make 000's) ?

Thanks for your advice or comments - this forum has been really useful to date in getting this far!

Update : seraph have confirmed they can sort finance through alternative companies . I have said that I want the car independently checked out before I push the button. Does anyone have some garage recommendations in west London that could take a look at the car for me? Thank you

 

[amgmaster]

Update : seraph have confirmed they can sort finance through alternative companies . I have said that I want the car independently checked out before I push the button. Does anyone have some garage recommendations in west London that could take a look at the car for me? Thank you

ask them to send it to mercedes benz main dealer for a full check up.

 

[Doodle]

The main dealer is probably the last place I'd send one for assessment; the very last 129's are now 20 years old, at best they'll probably see a couple of them through the workshop in a year. Unless the main dealer has an old-timer who is still there, they'll have zero specific knowledge or training on them, beyond what they read in the manual and any old idiot can do that.

Find a specialist who knows them properly and works on them frequently.

 

[Custard21]

The main dealer is probably the last place I'd send one for assessment; the very last 129's are now 20 years old, at best they'll probably see a couple of them through the workshop in a year. Unless the main dealer has an old-timer who is still there, they'll have zero specific knowledge or training on them, beyond what they read in the manual and any old idiot can do that.

Find a specialist who knows them properly and works on them frequently.

I have found/ been recommended by Chelsea classics a guy called John vines @ classic car inspector … seems pretty reasonable @350 to check it out.

On top of this I plan on checking the VIN and engine number with amg… does anyone else have other checks I need to make?

Thank you

 

[Engadine]

I would urge you to ensure the air suspension is in perfect order and ideally has been rebuilt in the 25 years since the car was new. I had a 1995 SL500 with optional air suspension and it was a constant pain, with many dealers not knowing how to deal with the various bits that went wrong. It's a complex system, and mine was already going wrong when I bought the car when it was five years old. I believe it was standard on the SL60 (and upwards) and SL600, and optional on the 500. Your inspector should know how to examine and interrogate this in detail. It could cost a four-figure sum to fix particularly if different bits go wrong, as did with mine, at different times.

If it has steel springs, be very happy!

It should be a lovely car, with the punch from that V8.

 

[BTB 500]

I would urge you to ensure the air suspension is in perfect order and ideally has been rebuilt in the 25 years since the car was new. I had a 1995 SL500 with optional air suspension and it was a constant pain, with many dealers not knowing how to deal with the various bits that went wrong. It's a complex system, and mine was already going wrong when I bought the car when it was five years old. I believe it was standard on the SL60 (and upwards) and SL600, and optional on the 500. Your inspector should know how to examine and interrogate this in detail. It could cost a four-figure sum to fix particularly if different bits go wrong, as did with mine, at different times.

If it has steel springs, be very happy!

It should be a lovely car, with the punch from that V8.

ADS was only standard on the V12 SL600 (and it's hydraulic, not air!). It was an (expensive) option on all other R129s, including the SL60 - I've only ever seen one fitted with it. My 24 year old SL500 has ADS and in the 17 years I've owned the car I've had a single bill of around £900 - this was to replace the four accumulators ('spheres'), which are essentially consumables with a limited lifespan. It's a much more reliable system than the notorious ABC suspension that the later R230 SL had, although I agree there's probably limited expertise in the dealer chain now. I used a specialist near Weybridge (SS Motors) who know it inside out, although replacement of the accumulators is a relatively simple job.

 

[jasmine]

ADS was only standard on the V12 SL600 (and it's hydraulic, not air!). It was an (expensive) option on all other R129s, including the SL60 - I've only ever seen one fitted with it. My 24 year old SL500 has ADS and in the 17 years I've owned the car I've had a single bill of around £900 - this was to replace the four accumulators ('spheres'), which are essentially consumables with a limited lifespan. It's a much more reliable system than the notorious ABC suspension that the later R230 SL had, although I agree there's probably limited expertise in the dealer chain now. I used a specialist near Weybridge (SS Motors) who know it inside out, although replacement of the accumulators is a relatively simple job.

i have a mid 1998 500 with ads 2 never been a problem with it in all the years ive had it , great ride in sport mode . only issue was me , jacked it up while it was running !!!

 

[Engadine]

ADS was only standard on the V12 SL600 (and it's hydraulic, not air!). It was an (expensive) option on all other R129s, including the SL60 - I've only ever seen one fitted with it. My 24 year old SL500 has ADS and in the 17 years I've owned the car I've had a single bill of around £900 - this was to replace the four accumulators ('spheres'), which are essentially consumables with a limited lifespan. It's a much more reliable system than the notorious ABC suspension that the later R230 SL had, although I agree there's probably limited expertise in the dealer chain now. I used a specialist near Weybridge (SS Motors) who know it inside out, although replacement of the accumulators is a relatively simple job.

Yes, that would explain it. The problem began when the car was around 5 years old - this is more than 20 years ago now so my memory is vague. I took it to a main dealer who quoted an unreasonable price, more than £10,000, probably to replace the whole system, plus some sucker margin. So I took it to a specialist, who didn't understand the system, referred me to someone else..the car was off the road for weeks, and it was my daily driver. It kept having to go back for related issues, and the mention of spheres still gives me nightmares.

Now with the internet and forums like this, it sounds like the fix would be much easier. It sounds like this car is unlikely to have ADS anyway. It looks gorgeous, I always wished I'd found one back then.

 

[BTB 500]

i have a mid 1998 500 with ads 2 never been a problem with it in all the years ive had it , great ride in sport mode . only issue was me , jacked it up while it was running !!!

Yes mine has ADS II - handling is great for a 2 tonne car! You do need to flip the switch by the level control before jacking (with the engine off!) or the wheels all hang down

 

[BTB 500]

Yes, that would explain it. The problem began when the car was around 5 years old - this is more than 20 years ago now so my memory is vague.

Wow that's very unusual ... the spheres on mine were replaced in 2010 at 13 years old. The car is drivable when they fail (with no warning lights), but the suspension is unusually hard.

 

[Custard21]

I would urge you to ensure the air suspension is in perfect order and ideally has been rebuilt in the 25 years since the car was new. I had a 1995 SL500 with optional air suspension and it was a constant pain, with many dealers not knowing how to deal with the various bits that went wrong. It's a complex system, and mine was already going wrong when I bought the car when it was five years old. I believe it was standard on the SL60 (and upwards) and SL600, and optional on the 500. Your inspector should know how to examine and interrogate this in detail. It could cost a four-figure sum to fix particularly if different bits go wrong, as did with mine, at different times.

If it has steel springs, be very happy!

It should be a lovely car, with the punch from that V8.

Thank you for this.

 

[BTB 500]

The pictures of that SL60 at Seraph confirm it definitely doesn't have adaptive damping (ADS).

 

[jasmine]

Yes mine has ADS II - handling is great for a 2 tonne car! You do need to flip the switch by the level control before jacking (with the engine off!) or the wheels all hang down

yes i learnt the hard way by jacking one wheel off the ground . it pumped a fair bit of fluid out before i noticed . hadnt had the car long so thats my excuse !