HIGHLIGHTS
- Original condition
- Recent service
- Leather interior
THE APPEAL
The Mercedes-Benz R129 was a groundbreaking car when it was released in 1989. It was the first convertible to feature a hidden roll-over bar, which made it much safer than previous convertibles. It also had an optional Adaptive Damping System, which could adjust the suspension to different driving conditions. This made the R129 a very comfortable car to drive, even on rough roads.
This 1993 300SL was purchased by the vendors farther who carried out some recommissioning work several years ago. It hasn’t been used an enormous amount since then but has been kept in dry storage. The car has recently been given a service which included changing gearbox and differential oils, and spark plugs. The car has a few small faults, but the vendor hopes these aren’t too serious, as it was working fine before it went into storage.
THE HISTORY AND PAPERWORK
- V5C present
- Registered 6th April 1993
- Original owners manuals and folder
- Copy of SL Workshop Manual
- MOT is valid until 15th May 2024
- Invoice for recent service in May 2023 costing £1,550.50
THE INTERIOR
- Original condition
- Beige leather interior (code 275)
- The electric front seats have a small amount of age-related wear but are working correctly, and they would benefit from a deep clean. There is a plastic trim which fits the bottom of the driver's seat, which is missing/broken
- The door cards are in good condition with just a few light marks. The switches in them have a small amount of wear but are working correctly
- Optional extra rear seats are in good condition
- Wind deflector included
- The dashboard is in good condition
- Instruments are reported to be working correctly
- The odometer shows a reading of 93,305 miles
- No warning lights were present when the car was running
- The lower section of trim on the back of the driver's side seat is missing
- The walnut trim surround does have some slight cracks
- Clarion head unit in matching walnut colour with a boot-mounted CD multi-changer
- The switchgear appears to be in good condition
- Beige carpets are in good condition with no excessive wear
- The headlining in the hardtop has started to sag
- The original tool kit, warning triangle and jack are present
- The spare alloy wheel is in good condition
THE EXTERIOR
- Finished in Almandine Red Metallic (code 512)
- The paintwork looks to be all original
- There are some scuffs and scratches around the car, mainly to the bumpers
- The panel gaps align well
- There are no noticeable dings or dents to point out
- We did spot some corrosion to the front driver’s side wing and some small blistering to the bottom corners of the removable hardtop
- Headlights, indicators and fog lights are free from any splits or cracks
- The windows are in good condition apart from some scratches on the driver's door window
- The window seals appear to be in good condition
- The removable hard top is generally in good condition
- A new fabric roof has been fitted
- The plastic windows in the fabric roof are in excellent condition
- Unfortunately, the convertible roof will not raise or lower electrically, but this has not been investigated
- The rear lights are in good condition, with no damage
- The alloy wheels have a few minor age-related marks but nothing excessive
- The tyres have a good amount of tread remaining
THE MECHANICS
- 3.0 litre straight-six
- The car fires up and idles smoothly
- No issues have been reported by the vendor with the running of the engine
- Automatic gearbox, which has a smooth change
- The gearbox does have an intermittent problem where it will go into reverse but won’t move.
- The car sits level, and no knocks or bangs are said to be coming from the suspension
- Looking at the underside, this presents well with minimal signs of corrosion to the floor or suspension components
- Gearbox and differential oils were replaced during the service in May 2023
- The brakes are said to bring the Mercedes to a stop in a straight line with no juddering through the pedal
SUMMARY
Considered one of the best convertibles ever made, the R129 Mercedes is a fantastic car to drive and own. Yes, there are a few age-related marks, together with some issues, but the vendor does report that the car was working correctly before it went into storage.
With the right touch, this will be perfect for anyone wanting to experience what was the most advanced and safest Mercedes-Benz of its time.
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UK-registered cars and motorbikes on Car & Classic are run through an online HPI check. On the HPI report, this vehicle shows no insurance database markers for damage or theft. It is currently not covered by a finance agreement.
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