SL/R129: 2002 500 SL
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 326
Likes: 47
From: Yorba Linda CA
94 SL320 98 SL500 99 SL600 07 SL55
Independent is best bet cause dealer probably has no one with experience on your car. The independent I use is a refugee from the dealer with 35 years experience and all the computer systems connected to the Mothership, also these cars are great DIY projects lot easier then you may think to work on with plenty of available You Tube
Super Member
Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 701
Likes: 207
From: Lutz, FL
1997 MB SL600
Sadly Fathertime is correct.
There was a time (not too long ago) that you could take your R129 in for service at the dealership and expect somewhat competent service, but those days are long gone. I miss taking the car in for a $50 oil change with filter (V12, 11 quarts of oil) and use of a loner MB if I didn't want to wait, but now they charge the full price for the service (about $120) and they still break stuff.
Even simple (to me) service like flushing the brake system is fraught with trouble. Not knowing how to open the hood (bent grill vanes and a partially torn off MB grill star) and how to tighten the long wheel bolts after removing the wheels to bleed the brakes. The bolts snap and the remainder has to be drilled out.
Yes, seek out a former MB independent tech that has his own shop.
Luckily, I have a few such places where I live and I use different shops for different maintenances/tasks. I still visit the dealership when I need R129 dealership only parts because they can track them down and they still offer a good discount plus free shipping.
Owning one of these cars is not for the faint of heart.
My 1967 Camaro is easier to maintain (find parts for/service) than the R129.
There was a time (not too long ago) that you could take your R129 in for service at the dealership and expect somewhat competent service, but those days are long gone. I miss taking the car in for a $50 oil change with filter (V12, 11 quarts of oil) and use of a loner MB if I didn't want to wait, but now they charge the full price for the service (about $120) and they still break stuff.
Even simple (to me) service like flushing the brake system is fraught with trouble. Not knowing how to open the hood (bent grill vanes and a partially torn off MB grill star) and how to tighten the long wheel bolts after removing the wheels to bleed the brakes. The bolts snap and the remainder has to be drilled out.
Yes, seek out a former MB independent tech that has his own shop.
Luckily, I have a few such places where I live and I use different shops for different maintenances/tasks. I still visit the dealership when I need R129 dealership only parts because they can track them down and they still offer a good discount plus free shipping.
Owning one of these cars is not for the faint of heart.
My 1967 Camaro is easier to maintain (find parts for/service) than the R129.
