Viewed my first r129 500 today Tempted but nervous

[C43AMG]

Maybe I should get a independent Mercedes specialist to have a look.

If you are very serious then Olly at PCS will put your mind at rest

 

[Tricksum]

I can now go forward to find what I hope will be a good car.At the end of the day you have to hedge your bets and take a punt.
I can take away from this experience knowledge.I now know what I don't want.
I have my searches set on about six different sites and I check them two or three times a day.
I'm fantasising about finding a gem in a random place.ie R129 SL500 1996 -98.40K miles one owner,full MB service history.Pan roof.For £8,000-£10,000.Though my budget could stretch a fair bit more.
We can all dream.
I will let you know what happens.

 

[Eddy77]

Is Rockit’s car not what you want???? Isn’t that a well sorted 500SL?

 

[BTB 500]

I'm fantasising about finding a gem in a random place.ie R129 SL500 1996 -98.40K miles one owner,full MB service history.Pan roof.For £8,000-£10,000.Though my budget could stretch a fair bit more.

If you intend to use the car as a nice weather/weekend car rather than a daily driver I wouldn't get too hung up on the panoramic top as it will quite likely just end up gathering dust in your garage . I haven't had the hardtop on my car for 10+ years as it only gets driven in good weather now. The standard aluminium hardtop requires 2 people plus some time/care to put on & off (unless you buy a dedicated hoist), and the panoramic top is somewhat heavier.

As an aside ... the panoramic top is nice when you're driving, but IMHO the curved shape doesn't suit the angular lines of the car as well. I think the standard top looks better ... like a baby SEC An old pic. of mine, before it had the AMG wheels:

 

[rockits]

Is Rockit’s car not what you want???? Isn’t that a well sorted 500SL?

Might be too late for that ship

 

[rockits]

I can now go forward to find what I hope will be a good car.At the end of the day you have to hedge your bets and take a punt.
I can take away from this experience knowledge.I now know what I don't want.
I have my searches set on about six different sites and I check them two or three times a day.
I'm fantasising about finding a gem in a random place.ie R129 SL500 1996 -98.40K miles one owner,full MB service history.Pan roof.For £8,000-£10,000.Though my budget could stretch a fair bit more.
We can all dream.
I will let you know what happens.

I think for that car you will need a fair bit more than £8-£10k. For that kind of thing to crop up I expect it will be on a forecourt as a dealer/trade will find it first. I expect something like that to be retailed at £20k. If you can bag something like this for £8-£10k that will be the bargain of the century. Don't lose any sleep trying to find that one though

If you can find a nice cared for example with not stellar miles I would say you are looking at £15k as a base price for a perfect example with maybe 60-80k miles and perfect history. Moving up through to £20k to a dealer car with a few less miles.

Mine is/was very good and is a car I would look to buy if I were buying one again (obviously as I did the first time!) but is not 100% perfect but reflected in a fair price I think. I am not going to disclose any more as this is not protocol to the new owner. They may choose to disclose or reveal themselves at some point but I feel discretion is required for me here as I am sure you can appreciate.

Take your time to find the right car. It will pay off long term. I have spent quite a few k in the 4 years I have had it. Some things I expected and some less so but it is key to keep these cars nice to spend what needs spending when it needs spending so be prepared for that. They are not a V12 Merc or a Ferrari so can be cost effective to run/maintain. There will be some bills at some point that will need some investment but these are an expensive car to buy new and won't be mini money to run.

You won't ever regret buying an SL though as a good one drives so well. The archetypal well built Merc that I dreamt of and remember growing up as a kid. They don't make them like this any more.

 

[rockits]

If you intend to use the car as a nice weather/weekend car rather than a daily driver I wouldn't get too hung up on the panoramic top as it will quite likely just end up gathering dust in your garage . I haven't had the hardtop on my car for 10+ years as it only gets driven in good weather now. The standard aluminium hardtop requires 2 people plus some time/care to put on & off (unless you buy a dedicated hoist), and the panoramic top is somewhat heavier.

As an aside ... the panoramic top is nice when you're driving, but IMHO the curved shape doesn't suit the angular lines of the car as well. I think the standard top looks better ... like a baby SEC An old pic. of mine, before it had the AMG wheels:

View attachment 86887

I would agree 100% with this. The Pano roof is not a deal breaker for me. A nice to have and maybe more important to some than others. Maybe more useful if you will drive the car in all weathers but mine wasn't driven in the rain or bad weather/winter. I have used my hard top maybe twice in 4 years. Just sits in its nice cover in the garage.

I also agree that the Pano rounded profile looks odd on the car and the standard aluminium hardtop profile fits/looks much better. If you are OCD then as said the Pano is tons heavier adding weight at the tof of the car where you don't want it. Granted it is not a track or out and out sports car but still not where you want weight. The Pano is much heavier to lift on for two. OK for two lads but you will struggle to do this with your wife. The standard aluminium hard top you could do with your wife.

 

[Tricksum]

Thanks for the interest.It has to be a 96/97/98 for me but I could easily live without a PAN roof if the right vehicle appeared.
Sourcing a great car for as little as possible is obviously everybody's goal.If one come along all the better.
I believe a very good example can be had for 15K give or take.
I intend to do all the simple servicing myself as I enjoy it,jobs that need special tools and equipment I will give to the so called experts.
It's not just finding the car it's finding a seller that you get a good vibes from.

 

[Mireil49]

Pano roof is a quite interesting option, above all after summer, when it starts to be cold... To my mind it totally fits with the 3rd phase of r129, less with the 2 first phases. Try to find a good model, maintained by a passionnate guy, with fsh, and you shouldn't be disappointed.

 

[rockits]

Shame mine has just sold as I think it would have been right up your street. I'm always keeping up with what comes on the market so will post up anything I see suitable.

 

[Simon Forsey]

Also looking for a nice honest SL500, keep looking on all the websites but they are all the same cars just different sites. I think we all get like this when we want something, take time and something will come up. My biggest problem is most are the other side of the country.

 

[Mireil49]

Sometimes THE one will be far, if you are confident with the seller, have all the elements and historic of the car, it does worth.

 

[Zonergem]

Haywards Heath isn't far from Brighton - this might be worth going to see.

Saved Adverts

 

[Flyinspanner]

^ seems a little expensive £13k.
No hardtop mentioned.

 

[Mireil49]

Nice example. Standard hard top is not an option, should be with the car. On the 2nd photo, color of the front bumper seems different, look if no shocks (may be just the light that gives this illusion).

 

[Zonergem]

I'm not saying it's the greatest bargain of all time but it's roughly what the OP is looking for and it's pretty local to him.

Go and see as many cars as you can. Check things like the condition of the front strut top mounts and pop off the jacking point covers to see if the tubes are rusty.

Watch the Turnbull & Oliver YouTube videos on Buying an R129 as well.

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Accept third party cookies

 

[Mireil49]

Good video, it presents a good synthesis of the points to watch before buying one. I agree with zonergem, see several examples before choosing and drive them, be carfeull with rust and maintenance already done. You will ´feel ´ better the one you ´ ll buy

 

[Doodle]

That Haywards Heath advert is a load of waffly old toss.

So you're an engineer. Doesn't guarantee you actually know anything about cars, there are significantly more non-automotive engineering disciplines.
All but the very very last examples are in the same pre-March 2001 tax bracket so this statement is utter rubbish. So much for doing your research.
With the exception of the heated seats, the electrical items listed are probably some of the least to worry about reliability.
They say "age is unkind" as if their car is miraculously exempt. If the older cars are a timebomb (wiring excepted) of perished rubber, theirs is only a handful of years from the same fate.

The boot slam panel is missing all its fasteners and some of the trim has seen better days - permanent impressions in the wind deflector cover and the plastic trim around the NS boot hinge is mangled. The centre vents are misaligned or improperly refitted. The windscreen washer hose has been incorrectly rerouted and there's a trim panel missing - why?

 

[Tricksum]

I was initially thankful at seeing a car that was just thirty minutes from home.
I agree with Doodle and really didn't get a good feeling from the description.
"Retired engineer" and ownership for just two years.

 

[BTB 500]

^ seems a little expensive £13k.

For a 103k mile car, yes.