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56 yo.
'96 SL500 Sport red.
Bought it a couple of months ago and have been spending time going through the car doing maintenance on it. Now I know at 84,000, all the fluids, filters and whatnot are all fresh and I have a jumping off point for future regular maintenance.
I've had the car professionally detailed and it looks fantastic.
I call it a new classic Merecedes. I do not think it's an old mans car.
I love the body style both top down and hard top on. Where I live I have only seen one other in silver so far.
Solid mechanically, smooth power rolls on all the way up to 100.
Previously I've had a '95 BMW M3 and a '08 Infiniti G37S Coupe
61, and still loving my 93 300SL. She has 147,00 great miles on her and I am expecting many more.
Right now I have the hard top apart and am replacing the head liner. Easy job.
I do all the work myself that is in the scope of a home garage mechanic to do.
I have repaired the soft top hydraulics (if you can use a screwdriver you can do this) and the next job is to replace the soft top. It still has the original one. I plan on doing this myself as well.
I love driving this car and I love working on it.
Living on an island in Florida, it sees many top down days, and always turns heads.
I just got my first MB a couple weeks ago. I've owned Toyotas, Hondas, Fords, Mitsubishi, Mazda, and others. I never thought I'd own a Mercedes. SL500, 1996. I'm 46.
And love it! Got it September 2014 and at just over a year I love it even more. I don't give a damn if its old or doesn't have new bells and whistles. I got it to drives not play on the internet
73 - Originally purchased a '96 SL320 that was very nice, so nice my son-in law wanted to buy it. Replaced with 2000 SL500 pictured below if I can figure out how to insert .jpg files
. Need to find replacement rear view mirror surround. Heat here in Phoenix area destroys plastic parts.
Last edited by mbaum7642; 12-21-2015 at 10:58 AM.
Reason: to insert photos
I have owed 4 R129s. I plan on owning one for the next 70 years as my classic.
Just noticed your reply to an old thread I started.
I am curious if you are still driving a R129 after 4.5 years?
We still have our 1999 SL 500 & have been on many wonderful road trips.We were in early retirement for 6 years. Three years ago we drove from Vancouver Canada to Key West Florida & back.
Now 62 years old for the record.
I agree this SL series is a classic ... breaks my heart a bit to see the prices so low.
Anyone who gets a well maintained R129 for current prices is a very lucky person.
I'm 66 and my SL500 is 21 - she is old enough to drink and smoke, luckily she only drinks a little
Every summer we drive, usually out to CA via NM and back via I-10 and she is a delight all the way.
I will be 67 in 6 weeks, I have been driving my SL500 40th Anniversary, NOW with 17029 miles I am the second owner, Everything is factory. No mods I do not think I will ever replace it. I did have for about three years a 1998 SL sport with AMG wheels Nice car but not well loved by its previous owners.
08-06-2015, 10:25 PM
Age of owner thread
