• Full service history

• Original condition

• 2.8 litre straight 6 

• Well presented

Moving convertibles into the 21st century with some of the most advanced electronics of the day, the R129 was certainly a car for the person that wanted something sporty and luxurious.

Launched in 1989 at the Geneva Motor Show, the Mercedes-Benz R129 was based on a shortened floorpan of the W124. The SL featured some innovative designs for the time, including the hidden away roll over bar and the optional Adaptive Damping System, making it one of the safest vehicles made at the time. 

The SL received a few upgrades in the mid 90’s to have colour coded bumpers as opposed to the original 80’s two-tone look, the odometer was swapped from analogue to digital readout, and continuing the high safety standards was the addition of side airbags. 

This lovely 1996 Mercedes SL280 is believed to have had 7 previous keepers, with the last one owning the vehicle since 2017. According to the V5, it is believed that some of these owners could have been listed from cherished plate transfers. The Mercedes comes complete with a fully stamped service book, with the majority carried out by Mercedes-Benz main dealers, and the remaining from other Mercedes specialists.

Over the past 3,000 miles the car has received new brake pipes, calipers, brake hoses, tyres, and a full stainless steel exhaust just 400 miles ago. You can also see from the MOT mileage history that the car has had very little use in the past 12 years, only covering approximately 8,000 miles in that time. 

The V5 is present and shows 7 previous keepers for the German marque. Two keys are present, both with working keyfobs. 

The handbooks and wallet for the SL are present and correct, with the service book showing 10 main dealer stamps and 3 specialist stamps, which are in keeping with the mileage on the vehicle.

There are a number of receipts and invoices for work carried out, including the one for the new stainless steel exhaust from Pipe dynamics, which is stamped with a lifetime guarantee. 

There is a valid MOT until the 11th August 2022. 

Trimmed in the finest Mercedes leather money could buy, the seats are in excellent condition and do look to have less wear than expected for the age and mileage. The usual wear points such as the bolster has escaped any excessive wear, which is generally a good sign of a cared for vehicle. The electric side of the seats are working as they should with every part moving at the touch of a button. The small rear seats are also in excellent order and don’t appear to have seen much use over the years. 

The dashboard is free from any damage. The instrument binnacle is nice and bright and reported to be working as it should, with an odometer reading of 110,641 miles. Towards the centre, the heater vents are clean with no wear to be seen, and the same for the heater controls which are in excellent condition. Just below, the only part that isn't the original is an upgraded Sony head-unit sitting in the wood effect trim, which is also in very nice condition. This is also where the window switches are, and again there is no wear to the lettering on these. 

The carpets have some mats to protect them which are in excellent condition, as are the main carpets. Up above, the convertible roof is in a very nice clean condition with a good seal against the car, which makes for a smooth draught free ride. The inside of the hard top is also in the same condition. 

The boot area, again like the rest of the Mercedes, is nice and clean with a full sized spare hiding in the wheel well, together with the jack and wheel brace. There is also the original tool kit complete with the emergency tool for the roof. The warning triangle is in place and mounted in its correct place on the boot lid. 

Finished in Green Black Metallic, this 1996 SL280 presents really well. Starting at the front, there are the usual few stone chips as to be expected, but there is definitely less than you would expect for the age and mileage. The lights are in good condition with no splits to the lenses, and the bumper looks to align as it should with no scuffs to mention. 

Around to the sides of the SL, and the car has escaped any car park injuries, with the sides nice and straight. There is the odd chip to the edge of the door, but nothing a touch up stick wouldn't cure. The glass both on the hard top, windscreen and door windows, is free from any noticeable scratches, and the seals are also in good condition. The plastic windows in the convertible roof are also very clear and relatively scratch free. The mohair roof does have some signs of creasing, as you often see when they have been stored down for some time. 

Around to the rear, and the boot lid looks to line up nice and straight. The lights are free from any splits or cracks, and just like the front, the bumper is free from any scuffs. Bright twin stainless steel pipes exit the rear from the new exhaust system.

The wheels on the Mercedes are in very good condition, with no noticeable signs of any corrosion to the faces, which also includes the spare wheel. There have been a new set of tyres fitted which have covered approximately 100 miles. 

A 2.8 litre straight six powerhouse was the perfect choice from Mercedes for this SL. With 110,641 fully serviced miles on the clock, the Mercedes fires up with the flick of the key and sounds lovely, with no untoward noises creeping in. 

The car is reported to pull well through the automatic gearbox and is said to change smoothly, with no noises coming from the transmission side of things, thanks to it having had an overhaul of the transmission and torque converter, coming in at a cost of £1,690. 

The suspension has received new front springs which were fitted at 107,786 miles, and more recently new brake pipes, hoses and calipers have been fitted. A new battery and a full service was carried out in January 2022, ensuring everything is ready for the new keeper.

Perfect for cruising or driving around town, the SL280 has something for everyone to enjoy! 

Luxury, decent performance thanks to the 2.8 straight six, capable of achieving 0-60mph in 9.6 seconds, with a top speed of 140 mph.

This one is fully serviced and ready to embark on a new adventure with its new owner, will you be the lucky new keeper?