[R129 SL] Planning on buying an SL500

[Paul Samarin]

There is a site, but I can't remember a darn thing about it!  Sorry.   
It claimed that 97 and 98 are the best years, with 98 being the  
best.  Before finding that site, I bought a 90 about two years ago  
with about 90K on her, but looking pristine.  Paid $12,700, but the  
soft top wouldn't deploy, so I took a little gamble.  Turned out to  
be no problem other than it hadn't been run for years b/c p/o didn't  
use it as a convertible.  After buying that car, a very good friend  
wanted one so we began shopping.  Then I was aware of the above  
website, so my friend found and purchased a pristine 98 (also about 2  
years ago) with about 68K on her for $23,000.

There is a noticeable difference between the two cars.  My 90 is very  
reminiscent of the 80's S-class cars; my previous car was an 86 SEC  
and the instrument panel is nearly identical.  A big improvement  
(i.e., much more modern looking interior) over the R107, but the 98  
is another step up from that.  So, my guess is that these days there  
wouldn't be *much* price difference between the early ones and the  
later ones, but I'd hold-out for a 97 or 98 if I were shopping today.

One other note:  My friend and I use the same indy MB shop in  
Whittier, an honest and knowledgeable husband and wife team.  He  
noted that my friend's 98 will soon need about $3K in some sort of  
engine work caused by the *lack* of mileage.  IOW, if the car doesn't  
get used regularly, stuff sorta clogs up.  Others here may know more  
about that, but just some food for thought.  I'd bet that condition  
means much more than mileage.

I've got about 110K now and basically maintenance-free, though the a/ 
c--heater blower is not working right now.  Haven't had time to take  
her in.

Paul

On Jan 13, 2009, at 2:11 PM, Andrew Somers wrote:


> Hello,

>

>    I am a current R107 owner (Her name is Freya   http:// 

> www.my450sl.com  ) which I've had for about 10 years - she runs  

> fine,  but I am thinking that I want to upgrade now to an R129, and  

> trying to get an idea of best years, and what kind of problems I  

> should look for etc. For instance, I hear:

>

> 1) The transmission in the 90 thru 95 aren't great, and the 96-98  

> are better.

>

> 2) The engine in the 99-02 is not desirable.

>

> 3) The hydraulics for the roof fail often and are expensive to fix  

> (Is this true for all years?)

>

> Any website I should look at that discusses the R129 series and  

> potential issues?

>

>

> Thanks!

>

>

> Andy


Paul W. Samarin
Attorney at Law
110 Pine Street, Suite 630
Long Beach, CA 90802
(562)491-3538
pauls at sbcglobal.net




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