Highlights
- Sought-after final facelift model with M113 305bhp 5L V8
- Only two registered keepers from new
- Very well maintained with recent positive SL Shop inspection
- Low mileage for year of 88,565 miles
- Presents very well with desirable colour combination showing little age
- No advisories on current MOT
- Thick history file showing regular and continuous maintenance
- Comes with Factory hard top & soft top. The vendor has a ceiling hoist and cradle for the hard top that will be included in the sale if the buyer wants them.
The Appeal
We pity the team behind Mercedes’ R129 SL. Improving on the long-running and highly regarded R107 must have kept them up at night. And yet, consider what they achieved: an exquisitely engineered convertible that is everything the R107 is and more. More comfortable, more practical, more luxurious and much safer.
No wonder that good R129s remain popular daily drivers and high mileage classics used for long-distance touring. This low mileage ‘98 car would be perfect for that, partly because it has been used so sparingly and maintained so well throughout its life by its duo of keepers.
Finished in attractive Zircon Green with Java beige leather cabin, it is one of the desirable final facelift models and under the bonnet is the sort of engine that makes any journey both effortless and pleasurable - the M113 305bhp V8. The condition is genuinely impressive - miss the numberplate and you would mistake it for a much younger car. It’s an impression supported by a recent positive inspection by The SL Shop.
In full working condition and supplied with a desirable ‘panoramic’ glass sunroof in matching colour, this car comes to market with advisory-free MOT and ready to roll.
The History and Paperwork
- First registered 8th October 1998
- Factory built in June 1998
- VIN records incorrectly record the car as Zircon Red but with correct code for green of 257
- Two registered keepers
- Current keeper since April 2006
- SL Shop inspection in early 2024 with positive results
- Factory handbooks and wallet
- Service book showing regular servicing and maintenance
- Thick history file of specialist maintenance as shown in photos
- MOT to 29th March 2025 with no advisories
- 88,495 miles on last MOT test and now showing 88,565 miles
The Condition
- Stylish Zircon Green (257) metallic paintwork in very good order indeed
- Facelift model with lightly updated aesthetics including body colour bumpers
- Paintwork shows few signs of age but buyers should be realistic due to age and originality
- Matching hard top with desirable panoramic glass panel in good condition inside and out
- Bodywork presents very well across panels, arches and sills with no issues to report
- Underside similarly well kept with no structural advisories on current MOT
- Recent SL Shop condition was positive
- Factory correct dark green electric folding roof in very good condition with clear screens
- Five spoke sports alloy wheels in good order throughout
- Fitted with parking sensors to rear bumper
- Front and rear bumpers in good order with no obvious grazes or marks
- Lights, trim and glasswork all in good order with clear headlight lenses
- Safety features include auto-deploy roll over hoop
- Java beige leather interior in very good order with even high traffic areas showing only light wear
- We are told that the front seats are of an orthopaedic factory-fitted design
- Driver’s seat has slight bolster wear and some creasing but not unsightly
- Rear seats appear unused and usefully fold to provide extra storage
- Beige carpets match seats and are very well kept through cabin and boot areas
- No obvious staining to carpets despite their light colour
- Brown dashboard and matching wheel typical fo the bespoke features for later R129s
- Dashboard, dials, trim and door cards all very well kept with no obvious marks
- Burr Walnut Root veneers to doors and centre console show no deterioration
- Retains its Becker factory-fitted stereo with boot-mounted CD multichanger
- Front seats have electric operation with memory and heating functions
- Fitted with period car phone holder
- Spare tyre, tools and first aid kit appear virtually unused
- No reported issues with electrics, switchgear or dials
- No warning lights on dashboard advised
The Mechanics
- 4,973cc M113 305bhp V8 engine
- 5spd 5G-TRONIC automatic gearbox
- Well maintained car with extensive service history
- Recent SL Shop condition report available
- No reported running or driving issues
- No advisories on current MOT
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