Thinking about buying a Merc....

[xtriple]

R129 Sl.

 

But, it's a 280. Local and from a dealer that sort of only sells Mercs and he's had this thing so long it's up for auction! He started it at 5K, then 4K and now it's at a start of 3K. So far, it's had zero bids at any of the three prices.

 

I'm tempted 'cos I know of the seller and he only has nice stock and his mechanic is well versed in older Mercs, it does look very nice...

 

But, 280!

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MERCEDES-SL-280-V6-AUTO-CONVERTIBLE-129-FACELIFT-/141609242475?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item20f8918f6b

 

What's the collective think?

[2MB]

I have a w123 coupe with that engine, and it can be made to hustle along quite nicely. I think the r129 is a similar weight, so it isn't gonna set the world on fire, but that isn't what these cars are about. Body condition is probably a more important consideration than engine size for that money. Go for a test drive?

[2MB]

Ignore me, I thought it was one of the old ones

/idiot

[Six-cylinder]

The 280 has no bite but a great cruiser. 

[Six-cylinder]

As it's local to you you should make the effort to go and see it.

[Magnificent Rustbucket]

My neighbour has an R129 SL and it is a lovely thing. It is the same colour as this, but with the panoramic roof and a 5 litre V8. It still looks like a millionaire's car, to me at least. Just with the 2.8 you'll be travelling slightly slower whilst looking like Torquey's answer to Bobby Ewing. For the money, they're remarkable value at the moment.

 

FWIW, I don't think this will be slow with a 2.8. My brother had a W140 S Class with a 3.2 litre straight six about 15 years ago - it was surprisingly brisk. IIRC, they are just a W124 underneath, which have decent performance as an E280.

 

With a Merc of this age LOOK FOR RUST!!!!!!!

[Junkman]

A friend of mine bought a 300SL R129 as a WBoD five years ago. He still has it.

I have hitherto been so disappointed by Benz V8s, that I came to the conslusion, that the straight sixes are the better buy all things considered.

[dollywobbler]

A friend of mine bought a 300SL R129 as a WBoD five years ago. He still has it.

I have hitherto been so disappointed by Benz V8s, that I came to the conslusion, that the straight sixes are the better buy all things considered.

 

I think I largely agree with this, though the later SL500s have 314bhp IIRC and are lunatic quick. Yet, these aren't really 'performance' cars. They're fine wafting barges really, though the R129s feel a lot sportier than the R107. That's a bit like saying mocassins are more sporty than Winnie-the-Pooh novelty slippers though.

[Pete-M]

i know someone with a beige '81 380 SL Bobby Ewing special. V8 sounds glorious but it feels prehistoric to drive.

[chaseracer]

I'm probably not the person to ask... 

[chaseracer]

Yes, I am.

 

If it's solid and drives well, you can't go wrong for three bags.  Values won't get any lower.  The straight-six is sweet and not too bad on go-juice.  Check the folding roof works and is intact, and make sure the hardtop is with the car - and fits.

 

Much as I enjoy my (structurally-related) 300E, I've always wanted a 500SL.  I am as jealous as all hell.  Get it bought, then let me have a go 

[gordonbennet]

As above, so long as it works these really are lovely..

 

The 2.8 will have the same weaknesses as the 3.2 as fitted to last 124's, so prone to OMGCHG at anything from 90k upwards, usually leak down the outside of the engine for a long time first but inevitably it goes proper like, so look hard at the header tank, also the oil cooler behind the filter can eventually fail, i've had both fail on 320's so when the CHG needs doing i usually get the oil cooler done at the same time, BUT it's a bloody big job, probably DiYable but not for the faint hearted and not cheap at an indy....though every chance its already been done by now.

 

The biggy though is the engine wiring loom on these, which degrades over time leading to the coils shorting which in turn spikes the ECU if you aint really lucky....can be checked for degradation by removing the bolts holding the cover over the coil packs and loom on top of the rocker cover, you need to remove that to access the spark plugs anyway, under that cover is where it goes first.

 

Don't ask me how i know about this, bastard things and i'd like to punch the designer straight up the throat, when mine went it took the ECU with it, not cheap by any means even for repair rather replacement, the wiring loom alone was £500 and its gorn up since then...but good news...there is now (for 124's so i suspect similar for 129) a short section of wiring loom available £100ish to replace the weakest part, so you know where i'm going with maybe a preventative bit of work for your trusted indy if you want this beasty.

 

The ECU on a much simpler 124 coupe is around £1500 alone new, don't know what the one or two for a 129 would be.

 

Right that's the negatives, that sweet engine enjoys revving and once you get past that odd Merc point of sedate almost hesitant wafting its like some bugger has fired a second engine up, the motor growls seductively and off she goes...plus the 280 is economical and if its a peach takes well to LPG

conversion. for cruising at Diesel hatchback fuel costs.

 

Aerial often an easy fix, replaceable mast that sometimes just needs the plastic toothed section inside the motor cleaning out and relubing for it to work well again.

 

 

I could write a book on where not to go for ECU refurb if the thing ever plays up, happily i also know where to go, they aint cheap but they can do it not just talk about how clever they (or their website) are, as i found out there's some con men and wide boys in the ECU game.

[carlo]

Up to £4750 now...

[Cavcraft]

If you want a top class Merc, then surely your best bet is to speak to Cort16 (?) Glen on here, his 500 is monkeyspankingtastic.

[cort16]

TALK TO ME.

Special offer to ONLY this forum (and one other) £2300

 

 

 

http://retrorides.proboards.com/thread/174409/2000-mercedes-cl500-scotchland-2595?page=2

[Pete-M]

Oooof.

[gordonbennet]

That CL of Corts has to be one of the most handsome cars produced in the last 20 years,  bargain too.

 

We seriously contemplated paying £23k for a CL500 @ 3 years old, twas only the corrosion round the rear wheelarch and coming from inside the rear wing prevented us doing so...mind you the sales geezer was a twat who seemed amazed that someone didn't need his overpriced finance.

[Cavcraft]

Wish I hadn't mentioned it now, every time I see that car a part of me cries inside because I can't afford it.

[nacho man]

I wake up in hot sweats at night thinking about that cl500. I keep saying to her indoors do we really need to save all our monies for a kitchen am happy eating kfc, punjabi nights, kims kitchen and steves chip shop on rotation.

[cort16]

I should probably put it up (using ebay seller logic) to £3500 as folk are convinced it's borked because of the money but it's actually a really nice one.

[Fat_Pirate]

I'm very interested in these, but I reckon the price is already too high with a ripped drivers seat.

[chaseracer]

Wish I hadn't mentioned it now, every time I see that car a part of me cries inside because I can't afford it.

 

You are not alone.

[forddeliveryboy]

cort16's car looks spot on for the money. What's not to like?

 

I'd go looking for 129s with a sharp eye, MB were steadily reducing their quality from the early 90s on and from what I've seen this includes these. Earliest ones were the best built from from the best materials and parts from what I see, as well as the simplest too. Trouble is, too many have been abused due to their lowish values.

[xtriple]

I really like Corts CL, but it ain't a convertible and I need to stick to the stereotype of middle aged old git with the roof off! Also, the suspension on those scares the shite out of me as it does on the later 230 Merc SL' .

 

I like 129s 'cos they have rear seats (sort of - ideal for mutts) and are 'fairly' reliable. I had an SL500 129 and it was a cracker, would like another. I think the reason the price has flown up is 'cos someone's looking for the reserve. It ain't me!

 

Not interested at that price. For any more than  that I'd MUCH rather have the V8!

[cort16]

It seems to be perfectly possible to pick up a usable 129 SL500 for 3500-4000 . I was looking at them before I bought the CL and if you keep away from dealers they're really reasonably priced for what you get.

[xtriple]

I only look on eBay as I'm not all that serious in my desires as yet. It seems to be all dealers selling overpriced chod. There are so many cars I want but my Honda is ALL the car I need. Especially when you consider I have had it 8 months and done 700 miles in it!

 

It would be cheaper to just hire a taxi...

 

If that 280 goes back down to a sensible price, I'll have a serious think/punt.

 

I really need to get some money back in the bank as I'm still suffering from the financial battering my beloved mutt gave me!

[cort16]

After saying I'd just bank the cash from selling the CL I've seen an S2000 for sale, which could have me tempted. I'm skint as well and I've not had the bill for the Cortina yet.

 

I drove to Wigan to swap this CL for an S280 but when I got there the roof was stuck so I bailed having considered how many £££ and hours of pain it would take to fix a roof on a 90 Merc.

 was gutted as it was really nice. It went okay too I thought the 280 would be a bit flat but it was more than fine for what you'll be doing in it. I.e. driving around in the sun showing off.