I presently own a 1982 beautiful 380SL (my fun car or tou as my wife says) and am thinking of moving up to a older R129.
Any suggestions and or cautions?
Are the early 90 cars problematic and are there years I should stay away from?

Thanks

 

If you're going to buy a six-cylinder model, stay away from the '90-'93 300SLs. Instead go for the '94 and newer SL320. If you want a V8, go for '92 and newer 500SL/SL500. The best ones are the '99 and newer SL500s with the new generation engine design. Stay away from the V12 600SL/SL600 altogether, unless you have a lot of money for repairs. On older SLs, check for oil leaks (almost guaranteed to have several). Also, check the front shock absorber top bushings for cracks. If the bushing breaks, the shock absorber will come through the hood, not a pleasant sight. Some SL320s have head gasket leaks at the right rear corner of the cylinder head.

 

Solid advice. I've got an '01 SL500 and couldn't be happier. (Still can't see clear to give up my '85 380, though.)

My mechanic gives block a 'bulletproof' rating if they're cared for properly. Budget a couple of grand a year to keep everything in good working order.

 

The best years for the R129 SL model are from 96-98. In 1999, MB began to slightly cut corners with build quality. The 500 model motor was converted from the 4V per cylinder to 3V per cylinder, resulting in less power. Prior to 1996, the transmission was a 4 spd unit which was upgraded to a 5 spd in 1996+ models. Although the reliablilty of the 600 was a concern when I was searching for one, the other owners on this forum run many hard miles into them without problem. At 38K miles, my motor runs flawlessly (knock on wood). Repairs can be costly, but it appears as though the M120 V12 is rock solid. Regardless of the year, be sure to have a MB Professional overlook the vehicle and also run a background check. Search the R129 SL forum for more information.

Also, a fellow member brought to my attention a link to a very good writeup on the R129 SL. Check it out and good luck.

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

 

If you can work on your car and have plenty of cash think 600 - if not 500 definitely. Good advice here in this thread, pay attention!

check door locks all round,
stay AWAY from self levelling suspension
check soft top + hard top all lock/unlock
+'92 for 500 (LH or above injection)
check air con
check viscous fan coupling (300GBP to replace)

Lea

 

Ken Rockwell's pages are the bible for the R129! I searched and searched for a '97 SL500 before finding the right one. Do NOT rely only on Carfax. Ask your insurance company also to run checks on the VIN Numbers for damages that are not reported on CARFAX. Good Luck!

 

Is Rockwell **** or what. Very impressive. I found his pages on a search a while ago. I can't believe where this guy gets the time to research everything in such detail...and I guess he's a photographer for a living. Maybe he doesn't sleep.

 

for 500 year 92 to 98.......for 320 96 and up........ for 600 as new as possible......

 

Stay away from self levelling suspension? Are you talking about the stability system? If so, why? I have a 1996 SL600, and I L-O-V-E the way it handles, particularly the way it stays level in hard cornering.

tipds

 

I believe Lea was saying that because they are costly to repair, not because they perform poorly. I have it on my 600, and it is a pretty cool feature. But the ride is still somewhat harsh, and nowhere near as smooth as my Dad's S Class 4Matic. But I guess that's all part of the sports car feel. Absolutely incredible on well paved roads...but a ***** on the poorly maintained roads.