MikeJ65

Hi guys, I'm an R230 guy, but there is a decent looking '94 SL600 fairly close by that I'm having trouble ignoring. What are some of the things I need to worry about with the R129 and the V12? I don't care about the little stuff, just big ticket items that I should look out for. He says it needs a heater core and cosmetic work. Doesn't look terrible to me, asking is $5500. Should I have been there yesterday with cash in hand? 88k miles

mahunt

Hopefully, that car is not a "left in the street car".

Biodegradable wiring.

Heater core is huge to replace along with the AC evaporator. (I've done both).

This car has all the pre-1996 V12 issues: valley breather, timing chain gaskets, plastic intake gasket spacers, etc.

Other stuff would be regular R129 issues like hydraulic top cylinders, dodgy interior bits, trunk air pump, etc.

Check out Victor's (vsandvs) videos for this year's V12 issues. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8v...RD8aJeYINpG1kQ

Having owned and maintained a 1997 SL600 for 15 years, for my part, I can say they are amazing and unique cars.

MikeJ65

Thanks, sounds a lot like some of the R230 issues. I'm not real concerned about the $50 part and 10 hours labor type issues, more the '$2k part if you can find it' problems. I am putting together a website on R230 common issues/solutions and would eventually like to expand it to R129's and the other modern roadsters that are in the DIY domain like the 170/171, so I need to get elbows deep into one.

Thanks for the link, I have seen some of Victor's videos. He has a few on R230's, but his wheelhouse is obviously the older models.

cdk4219

You will be elbows deep with that year. They are super Rube Goldberg contraptions. As I recall 2 mass air meters, 2 throttle bodies 3 ECU s (1 for each side of the engine and 1 to make therm communicate with each other) wiring that falls apart( although I would guess some or all of this would have to be replaced by now) and the hydraulic suspension.

These cars make the r230 cars look bulletproof. And all of the plastic parts turn to dust so don’t breathe on them.