Viewed my first r129 500 today Tempted but nervous

[BTB 500]

Looks like a pre facelift M119 does it not?

Yup - square shape door mirrors and the original style rear light clusters.

 

[BTB 500]

it was immaculate.

Apart from the shut lines on the bonnet? That should ring alarms bells IMHO.

I wonder what this is ... it's not standard AFAIK

 

[BTB 500]

Regarding the blue soft top which was in excellent order,surely one that has not been operated for some years might initially struggle a little.

What actually happened when they tried to operate it? The roof mechanism is highly complex, with hydraulics/switches/sensors/electronic control units/etc. all working together. It's also linked to things like the position of the windows and roll bar, and of course the car's speed. So you need to be completely happy that it's working reliably ... I find it hard to believe that the garage hadn't tried the hood at any point since they'd be well aware of the importance of it working properly (and the cost to them of fixing any issues).

 

[E55BOF]

Is that (in post #22) an LED, or a push button, or a touch point for an aftermarket alarm/immobiliser keyfob? I had an aftermarket immobiliser/alarm on mine, because the OE one was faulty and had been bypassed, and it played up. Replacement keyfobs for it were NLA.

 

[Doodle]

Indeed....weird as most have heated seats. Looks like a pre facelift M119 does it not?

Pre-facelift would be 1995 or earlier - square bumpers and 3 slot wing panels. This is post-facelift (round bumpers, 2 slot wing panels), but before the final '99-on changes (rounded mirrors ala CLK)

 

[rockits]

Pre-facelift would be 1995 or earlier - square bumpers and 3 slot wing panels. This is post-facelift (round bumpers, 2 slot wing panels), but before the final '99-on changes (rounded mirrors ala CLK)

Sorry didn't mean that. I know the differences between pre facelift and facelift. You have then the run out models with M113 onwards. Quite a few differences. My 99 car is a later car and has the M113 rather than earlier M119. Also things like silver rings on dials are give away. Obvious to see engine change under bonnet of either M119 or M113.

 

[Doodle]

V5/MoT details also. 73 vs 66 on engine capacity.

If I'm not mistaken, the 40th Anniversary should have Ceginus wheels as standard, not AMG monoblocks although a lot of the 500s seem to be sporting them.

 

[rockits]

V5/MoT details also. 73 vs 66 on engine capacity.

Thanks....useful nugget of info.

Came acros this site as well I had never come across before. Looks useful and niece easy way to see history.

S991DGC | 1998, Mercedes 500 sl | 25 Faults Reported

 

[rockits]

MOT ran out on 26 April 2019 so I suspect it has been for sale for a little while at least. It says sold with a new MOT. Maybe they mean they will put one on. A little weird I would have thought as I would MOT it and have it ready for any potential buyer to turn up, drive it and buy it. No MOT....no test drive.

 

[219]

Cross wires about the trade sale.Im a private buyer the car in question is for sale through the garage mentioned.No funny business at all.
Regarding the blue soft top which was in excellent order,surely one that has not been operated for some years might initially struggle a little.
I spent a good while looking around the car but didn't drive it as I knew it was over priced.
It was in spanking condition but as I said this was the first car I have looked at.
I don't really want to spend 5k on a 16-17k car putting anything right.
I did make a bid though shows how a bit of bling can make you weak and crack.

Yes , it is correct that a soft top not used in a while can take a few tries to get back into use .

My car stood unused for a little over a year after my mum passed away and I didn’t so much as look at it last summer . Then I had the hard top on over winter as I lost the storage I had in my mum’s garage. Come spring this year , I took my hardtop off and managed , somehow, to get it hung from the roof inside my garden shed . On trying to raise my soft top , it would only come halfway ; like the one you’ve been looking at I closed it over by hand a couple of times , then it started to work again . I now drive the car every day and have the top down whenever it isn’t raining , works every single time .

One important thing is to change the hydraulic fluid ( ZHM , same as used in MB self levelling suspension ) regularly . I changed mine when I first got my car five years ago , and again in 2017 . I’ll continue to do it every couple of years as it’s a very easy job and should be done as often as you change brake fluid , which come to think of it I will do shortly as I just changed my front pads .

The secret to keeping the soft top working is just regular use , otherwise microswitches get sticky , and it just takes one to stop it all working .

The bit of corrosion underneath is pretty normal and not cause for concern , but I’d be very concerned about uneven panel gaps - those ring major alarm bells .

My car is an old dog , one of the worst , which I got in a cashless swap ; it has 13 previous owners and has just turned 190K on the odometer , my front wings are rusty , the lacquer is lifting off my bonnet and one rear wheel arch is bubbling , my seats are tattered and my soft top is badly worn - but all my panel gaps are perfect , my doors , bonnet and bootlid all open and close perfectly - so if an old car like mine can be like that , I’d expect nothing less in a low mileage car at a premium price .

I think I’d leave that one and keep looking , there are plenty out there .

 

[219]

Maybe.I know I repeating myself but it was immaculate.
Do the rear suspension components cause a lot of problems?

It’s not unusual on any car that’s seen a bit of use ; I’d say expected unless it was a garage Queen only used a few times on dry days .

 

[Tricksum]

Just to be clear about the bonnet shut lines.Both edges of the bonnet were parallel to there corresponding wings but the gap widths were very obviously way different.
Thanks again to all.

 

[Deletedmember130310]

Cross wires about the trade sale.Im a private buyer the car in question is for sale through the garage mentioned.No funny business at all.
Regarding the blue soft top which was in excellent order,surely one that has not been operated for some years might initially struggle a little.
I spent a good while looking around the car but didn't drive it as I knew it was over priced.
It was in spanking condition but as I said this was the first car I have looked at.
I don't really want to spend 5k on a 16-17k car putting anything right.
I did make a bid though shows how a bit of bling can make you weak and crack.

When you say spanking condition, do you mean the paintwork was shiny, as you have described many faults and crusty bit?

Do you know which limited edition it is? Or is it a Halfords special?

 

[MD5]

Just to be clear about the bonnet shut lines.Both edges of the bonnet were parallel to there corresponding wings but the gap widths were very obviously way different.
Thanks again to all.

I used to have this exact model, and noticed this car in their showroom about a year ago (possibly longer), if memory serves. I doubt it was a different car, and Keystone have been around for quite a while, by the way.

I wasn't looking with a buyer's eye, more a nostalgic, non critical one as I was walking through Ringwood, but the car had obviously been painted. Designo vario blue, as with other vario colours, is difficult to get right, and this car showed that. In its original application it looks stunning to my eye, with a beautifully subtle pearlescent, kingfisher hue in certain lights, difficult to photograph. There were 150 of this particular Special Edition model, 75 500s and 75 320s. The 500s had a pano roof, the 320s had tin tops. Mine (pic below) came with the AMG monoblocks and didn't have heated seats either. It was also starting to rust in places where my 96 model wasn't (notably front wings) and the 96 came from a better era of quality.

It may be tempting at the price, but it won't be cheap to get the paintwork just right.

 

[Tricksum]

Generally in excellent condition,everything as clean and fresh as a new pin but the car has some issues.
I am no expert but not a knob.I take shinny paint for what it is,shinny paint and that's all.
The crusty bits to some suspension parts I have been told are to be expected.
The possible deal breakers are.
Very warm/hot engine on arrival.(not a perfect sinario,salesman said battery was a little flat so ran it for a bit)
Initial stubborn soft top operation. (finally worked smoothly)
Unequal shut lines on bonnet.????????
Possible aftermarket immobiliser.
Very little use for ten years
Over priced.

Maybe I should get a independent Mercedes specialist to have a look.
Parallel but unequal bonnet shut lines how sinister or is there a fair explanation?
Anyway will ponder but probably take the advise and leave it.

 

[Eddy77]

I have a rule when viewing cars. It is a simple one. Always go with your gut feel. If you have any concerns, walk away. There are plenty more out there.

Based on what you have described, I’d search out another.

 

[Eddy77]

If you are based in Hampshire, surely going to view these is a must

Used Mercedes SL's For Sale | Turnbull & Oliver

It’s the sister company to PCS in Horndean. I’d trust their stock very much to be honest and fairly priced. They have two for sale around £15k which appears to be your budget.

 

[Tricksum]

Wow.Very interesting.The salesman said."there were some faint bird poop marks on the bonnet that he had polished out by a friend who worked for Auto Glym)
I noticed that the fixing bolts on the drivers front wing had a lot of there paint missing when the bolts on the other side were 100% painted!
It's a learning curve for me.I'll swerve this one and move on.
I'm sure you'll be hearing from me again.
All the best to all.

 

[BTB 500]

Sounds like typical salesman BS - good luck with your search

 

[rockits]

If you are based in Hampshire, surely going to view these is a must

Used Mercedes SL's For Sale | Turnbull & Oliver

It’s the sister company to PCS in Horndean. I’d trust their stock very much to be honest and fairly priced. They have two for sale around £15k which appears to be your budget.

Indeed +1 for PCS. I use them for servicing and maintenance on my SL500.

I think they OP wants and SL500 by the sound of it and the PCS ones are SL320's.

I always said if I got an R129 SL it would have to be the V8. I've stuck to my word on 3 occasions now [emoji6]

Has to be the V8 for me as so well matched and right on an SL.