Description
Mercedes-Benz 1999 SL500 (R129). Azurite Blue (366) over Nappa mushroom. 29, 200 miles. 3 Owners, last one since 2010, fastidious retired accountant. This is a collection/ museum quality item in almost factory supply condition. Over 200 HQ photos available in private Flickr gallery upon request. Probably the best original spec SL500 in the country. The last of the facelift (2) cars. - 03/ 10/ 2024 New MOT added. No advisories.
• Hard top included (with optional storage stand)
• Fitted R129 Dustsheet included
• Matching blue canvas hood completely immaculate
• All soft top hydraulics working perfectly
• New X4 Sport Continental Tyres 4, 000 miles ago
• Full waxoyl to underside at 14, 000 miles
• New Varta battery on 09/ 04/ 24
• Twin Spark V8 naturally aspirated engine M113
• 5-Speed automatic gearbox
• Rear (removable) seats
• Optional draft excluder fits to anti-roll bar
• Nappa Leather
• Heated seats
• Memory seats
• Options include Wood trimmed steering wheel, and fire extinguisher (original retained but updated with modern one)
• Professionally detailed June 2024
• No insurance claims
Chronology:
01/ 09/ 1999 - First Registered
12/ 10/ 2001 – Service by Rawsons TMS at 3, 356 Miles
25/ 06/ 2002 – Service by Rawsons TMS at 4, 589 Miles
28/ 06/ 2005 - service by Rawsons TMS at 9, 564 miles £558. 05
28/ 06/ 2006 – MOT at 10, 320 miles
28/ 06/ 2006 - service by Rawsons TMS at 10, 320 miles £269. 37
28/ 06/ 2007 – MOT at 11, 504 miles
28/ 06/ 2007 - service by Rawsons TMS at 11, 499 miles £481. 97
30/ 06/ 2008 – MOT at 12, 066 miles
30/ 06/ 2008 - service by Rawsons TMS at 12, 065 miles £307. 36
30/ 06/ 2009 – MOT at 12, 793 miles
30/ 06/ 2009 – service at Mercedes Tonbridge at 12, 792 miles £400. 61
18/ 10/ 2010 - MOT at 13, 836 miles
22/ 10/ 2010 – Purchased from Autobarn Cars, East Sussex
28/ 10/ 2010 – Robinsons Mercedes Norwich New headlight lense £97. 53
19/ 08/ 2011 – service at Autotechnic Norfolk at 15, 451 miles £248. 10
17/ 10/ 2011 - MOT at 15, 902 miles
21/ 03/ 2012 – Underside waxoyled at Autotechnic Norfolk at 20, 166 miles £628. 92
17/ 05/ 2012 – Robinsons Mercedes Norwich £103. 13
17/ 10/ 2012 - MOT at 19, 415 miles
10/ 01/ 2013 – New Battery £94. 95
28/ 06/ 2013 – service at Autotechnic Norfolk at 20, 652 miles £439. 18
02/ 10/ 2013 - MOT at 20, 778 miles
04/ 10/ 2013 - work at Autotechnic Norfolk at 20, 778 miles £752. 05
12/ 09/ 2014 – air con service & sensors at Autotechnic Norfolk at 21, 396 miles £217. 92
11/ 10/ 2014 - MOT at 22, 754 miles
20/ 07/ 2015 - service at Autotechnic Norfolk at 23, 560 miles £206. 94
16/ 10/ 2015 - MOT at 23, 765 miles
14/ 10/ 2016 - MOT at 24, 463 miles
14/ 10/ 2016 - service at Autotechnic Norfolk at 24, 461 miles £311. 87
16/ 10/ 2017 - MOT at 25, 231 miles
16/ 10/ 2017 – x4 New Continental 245/ 45 R17 £508 at 25, 231 miles £717. 73
12/ 10/ 2018 - MOT at 26, 657 miles
12/ 10/ 2018 - service at Autotechnic Norfolk at 26, 657 miles £242. 31
10/ 06/ 2019 – Xenon headlight motor replaced & new spark plugs x16, new coil etc. at 27, 134 miles £999. 60
09/ 10/ 2019 - MOT at 27, 390 miles £90. 37
16/ 10/ 2020 - MOT at 27, 497 miles
25/ 05/ 2021 – Service at MercPro at 27, 620 miles £194. 88
12/ 10/ 2021 - MOT at 27, 783 miles
14/ 10/ 2022 - MOT at 28, 400 miles
18/ 10/ 2023 - MOT at 28, 994 miles
09/ 04/ 2024 – New Varta 019 G3 battery fitted 29, 200 miles £168
03/ 10/ 2024 - MOT at 29, 355 miles
Equipment included:
• Fire Extinguisher – original but decommissioned
• Fire Extinguisher – replacement working and charged
• Untouched OEM medical kit
• Collapsible hardtop stand OEM
• Metal Wind guard
• Fitted dustsheet
• 2x Original Keys
• Full OEM tool role - unused
The manifolds are barely discoloured from new. It has been garaged almost every night of its life.
This car was £75, 000 new, 25 years ago and the file includes original supply dealer invoice.
Full VIN plate with options listings and build sheet codes in private gallery.
The increase in quality and desirability on this model vs. cars from even a year before is that the final facelift (2) roleout model is a big step forward for just the last couple of years production. Fit and finish is even better. Improvements include rounded wing mirrors, xenon headlights, dashboard upgrades, audio upgrades, better Nappa leather etc., and the transition over to the M113 engine, a totally different engine from the previous generation of Mercedes V8 that characterises the biggest upgrade. Model background:
The well regarded M113 engine is simply a normally aspirated V8 5. 0 Litre engine, with no frills and whistles of turbocharging, intercooling, supercharging etc. It is a twin spark engine, and all 16 of those plugs have been replaced, 2000 miles ago.
With a drag coefficient of just 0. 28 I have regularly recorded averages of 28 mpg cruising on motorways at 70mph with the hard top on.
The shorter exhaust pipes of the R129 wheelbase lift output to a reported 322 BHP, (against 305 BHP on the large saloons,) however Mercedes figures of this era were notoriously conservative as past dyno tests on this and other engine types in period have consistently proven. Third gear will take the car from 30 mph to 110 mph in one gear for example.
Note to purchasers:
The car is carefully garaged on trickle charger, under a fitted sheet and whether it sells this season, or next year is unimportant. My view is that it will find the right caretaker at some point in the future.
Every advert claims it is “the best in the country.” This can credibly claim to actually be one of the finest, and it will stand up to any inspection and wouldn’t be out of place in the Mercedes Brooklands museum. The combination of over-sized steering wheel, canvas hood, mono-wiper, yellow dials, and five speed gearbox has already begun its journey towards being a classic.
