[R129 SL] Planning on buying an SL500

[William Ricketts]

This might be the site talked about that suggests a 97 or 98.  I bought a 98 three years ago with 42k miles on it and use it as a daily driver up here in Canada.  Love it, and no significant problems with it so far.  Good luck with your shopping!

http://www.kenrockwell.com/sl/index.htm

Bill
Halifax, Nova Scotia
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Paul Samarin 
  To: SL Mailing List 
  Sent: Tuesday, January 13, 2009 6:31 PM
  Subject: Re: [R129 SL] Planning on buying an SL500


  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









------------------------------------------------------------------------------


  The MB Coupes Website!
  R129 SL Mailing List
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://www.pairlist.net/pipermail/r129list/attachments/20090113/8c973e66/attachment.html>