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59 years old and recently purchased a mint 1994 SL500 with 40,000 miles. Have the entire interior pulled apart installing some great sound. Bought it cause I always like the looks of the car. Will be enjoying this for a while. Not a daily driver.
2004 Mercedes Benz E500, 1997 SL500 40th Anniversary Edition
LOL yea , well I am 56 and bought my "Beautiful" 1997 SL500 (40th Anniversary Editoin) last June ,the car is in mint condition, it's like it just got out of the showroom and I am loving driving it,btw it is my first convertible I have ever owned.
55 have gone thru a couple 129's in the last 8 years. a 97 500 now. very fun car to drive with the right tires... tried a BMW once for a couple years and some woman said I looked like I was driving a toy car ACKKK.. the 129 fits pretty well.
Mine looks just like Mirage's and is my commuter/daily driver
Bought a 1999 SL500 Sport with Panorama roof, AMG badging and wheels with 44,000 miles in April 2010, at 58. My first convertible. Has been my daily driver since. Has 76K miles on it now.
It's a hoot to drive and go blasting down the interstate, jumping from 65 to 110 mph is no problem...had it to about 115 once but I-40/I-75 through Knoxville is a bit too crowded with grannies talking on their cells doing 55 in the inside lane.
I posted on page one of this thread and now I am really effing old. But I still have the same R129!
Being the originator of this post - all I can say is congrats!
We are about the same age (I’m 2 years older) and we have owned the same R129’s for about the same time 17-18 years.
Our 1999 SL500 just crossed 150,000 miles on the odometer recently.
How about yours?
Being the originator of this post - all I can say is congrats!
We are about the same age (I’m 2 years older) and we have owned the same R129’s for about the same time 17-18 years.
Our 1999 SL500 just crossed 150,000 miles on the odometer recently.
How about yours?
Chris -
Thank you! Our 2000 SL500 is black with a Shell interior and the AMG package. It has just crossed 78,000 miles. Being a summer only car here in New England has really kept the miles down. She needs a new top (cracked 1/4 windows), but I hope to get that done this winter. I hope to have it a very long time!
Wow this thread goes back a ways
Just got mine in May and had a great summer with it
Insurance is on until Mid November then it will get a winter rest
I am 55 so I guess over the average
It is always a bit surprising to run into their R129 owners in person.
Recently while joining a CVID line to get into a bank - a 20 something tall black dude in a sports sweat outfit says to me - I saw you drive in and I have exactly the same car in Black. That is likely all we had in common - but we talked for several minutes to pass the time.
Then about a month ago I was sitting by myself in Burger King having lunch - a 50 something, very ordinary white guy sheepishly introduced himself and told me he owned the same car in Red. We talked mileage & broken plastic parts briefly.
Then about 2 weeks ago we went to the park for a walk - the parking lot was full - but just so happened that I managed to park next to another R129.
As I was pointing out the differences to my wife - the owner & his wife walked out from the park & it was the guy from Burger King.
We talked quite a while. His was a 1991 with 280,000 Km (168,000 miles) - owned by him for 1 year. Ours is a 1999 with 255,000 Km (153,000 miles)- owned by us for 18 years).
He drives with roll bar up - because it pops up too easily when driving.
I really haven't run into anybody out and about yet with the same car
However I have only had it since May
Took a few years to convince the wife to buy into the purchase
Pretty sure she is good with it now - maybe not all the parts I am buying though :-)
I really haven't run into anybody out and about yet with the same car
However I have only had it since May
Took a few years to convince the wife to buy into the purchase
Pretty sure she is good with it now - maybe not all the parts I am buying though :-)
You will eventually get random praise from strangers - and I am pretty sure your wife is happy with the ride.
My. wife loves the feel of the R129 - she hates driving my 2011 E550.
I reckon I'm the old fart in the room. We got our '94 SL500 in October of that year when I was 45 now, many years later, the car and I are still going strong.
I reckon I'm the old fart in the room. We got our '94 SL500 in October of that year when I was 45 now, many years later, the car and I are still going strong.
A 2 SL family ... nice.
His & hers or do you do most of the driving?
Do you have other vehicles for daily drivers?
Having driven our 1999 SL500 for 18 years - and loving every second of it - I thought I was a rare owner. You sir have out done me at 26 years! That’s great to hear. How many miles on the odometer?
PS I bought the car in 2002 for my wife’s 50th Birthday ... I had just turned 46 a month earlier (Nov) - so our ownership history is very familiar.
I'm 50 but I feel like I've aged another 10 years trying to pull the instrument cluster out to replace a friggin' light bulb. god help me if I crack the glass. LOL.
A 2 SL family ... nice.
His & hers or do you do most of the driving?
Do you have other vehicles for daily drivers?
Having driven our 1999 SL500 for 18 years - and loving every second of it - I thought I was a rare owner. You sir have out done me at 26 years! That’s great to hear. How many miles on the odometer?
PS I bought the car in 2002 for my wife’s 50th Birthday ... I had just turned 46 a month earlier (Nov) - so our ownership history is very familiar.
Congratulations on your MB's longevity... we love 'em! Our SL has about 90K miles and the coupe has about 80K. Our daily driving has been transitioning from hybrid to electric, via PHEV (Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles
)... not quite ready to cut the ICE completely just yet.
Took me to the age of 56, to get a R129 back in June of this year (COVID-Purchase)
Started out about 12 years ago with a 1990 300SE (drove it to over 300K and is now a parts car), second 300SE in 2015 (currently 167K on the OD). Also restored a 45K mile, 1980 450SL for my daughters 16th birthday that was owned by my aunt. Then just last year purchased a 2006, E320-CDI with 80K on the OD. So, now we are a 4-Benz family.
Our SL ... and the coupe has about 80K. Our daily driving has been transitioning from hybrid to electric, via PHEV ... not quite ready to cut the ICE completely
With a closer look - I see the sun roof on your coupe - my bad for presuming it was a R230.
I would probably like the torque of an electric motor ... but I also like the sound of a V8.
I just turned 75 yesterday and own 3 R129's 94 SL320, 98 SL500 and a 99 SL600, I maintain all three in top condition and drive the ***** off all three
It would be an Interesting comparison - to drive a 98 SL500 (supposed to be the best R129 motor) ... and then a 99 SL600.
How do you decide one day to the next?
And Happy Birthay!
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