Back in 1991, I had a white 300E and it was a great car. It would have been much more fun to have a 1991 Mercedes-Benz 500SL like this one that’s posted on Craigslist. The photos and text can be found here when the listing goes away. It can be found in Leon Springs, Texas with an asking price of $16,000. Thanks to Marc G. for this submittal!
I’ve heard that this car is right in the sweet spot, or maybe the sour spot? The previous 380/450/560SL is now an old enough design to be “cool” and the later SL350/500/600 are new enough to be nice, newer used cars. This particular 500SL, while an impressive car in its day and even today, could now be one that valet parking attendants roll their eyes at. Or, that’s what I’ve heard. I would never do that, of course, and I would still love to own one. This example is not one to roll your eyes at, it looks like a fantastic car with a mere 32,000 miles and every record since it was new. These are really, really nice cars, valet parking snobbery or not.
Out of sixteen photos, that’s a 1 followed by a 6, one more than fifteen and four fewer than twenty. 16 photos and not one interior or engine photo. I hope that Congress puts aside whatever their current lameo agenda is and gets to work on something really important: making sure that online sellers include photos of all sides of a car, the interior, and the engine. We can work on underside photos next session. Seriously, though – come on, sellers! But, they did show a few different angles with three different top configurations from no top with the basket-handle roll bar showing, the soft top, and the hard top. That’s nice but who know what the interior or engine looks like? Maybe they would send any prospective buyers a few photos of those areas. The engine should be around a 320 hp 5.0L V8. Have any of you owned a 500SL? I haven’t yet but it’s on the master bucket list.
Had an 450SL many years ago, sweet, oh so sweet, everything you have heard about them is true.
Only one thing I could never figure out
No power top!
Never could understand why MB could not put a power top on that car
I think that was Done to Save weight & make it Meet German Crash standards which are much More stringent than ours. Still Seems weird for a Luxury car though I know.
If not having a power top means no top cylinder seals to replace then you better pray you never see a power. Huge expense to pay someone or many skint knuckles if you do it yourself. Ran out of cuss words. Had to call Dept of the Navy for new ones
These were $75K+ cars when new. Good-looking, M-B quality, and relatively cheap. I know, I know, nothing is more expensive than a cheap Mercedes, but from all I’ve heard they’re pretty reliable. A quick look at Autotrader reveals several available near me for anywhere from $8K to $12K if you’re willing to accept a bit higher mileage.
I would think the market is saying they’re value priced right now unless of course Barn Finds tells me differently. $16K sounds like all the money, but it could still be a good buy.
I have had about 25 Mercedes since 1984. This is a nice looking example but not worth near $16K even with the low mileage. The ones to own are the 1996-98 models. Best engine traqnsmission combo and by then they worked out the few bugs in the earlier models. Lots of these in the marketplace now and they really have not reached collector status yet.
Exactly 96 and newer.
I just sold my Dad’s, 68k miles, 2nd owner, perfect condition, everything worked, full records, original window sticker $102,000, 1993. This one is $10k over priced. I will say its a lot of car for the money, but one issue and you are out thousands.
There was a guy out here in bc canada trying to sell one for 5k it was nice and i was tempted but a car that expensive new will kill you on maintenance.
Im sure it sold but took a couple months.
Still sweet ride!
Not sure what it’s doing here. It is well over priced though.
Just saw this one in Florida – asking almost 10K less with a few more miles.
h84xf-6552512369@sale.craigslist.org – if you look around there are deals to be made.
Sad state when these R129’s now seem to have the resale value of a Daewoo Lanos. I had a ‘99 SL500 for almost a decade…the powertrain was fantastic, the electrics and hydraulics not so much. One of the interesting things I recall was that during the happy early years of the Damlier Chrysler merger, service parts were shared. When I had to replace the windshield back in ‘02 or thereabouts, the replacement glass had a pentastar on it.
I currently own two of these, a 90 and a 91. These cars are so undervalued right now it is mind boggling. Perhaps it is because they still look modern? Too modern to be a classic? They are just considered used cars at this point. $16000 is far too much for this car.
Things to look for are deteriorating wiring harnesses on 93-95 cars as well as leaking hydraulic cylinders on all years.
My sister is the original owner of a ’98, 25k miles, what a blast to drive, these things get up and go. Low mileage might be a downside, her car does not like sitting, it will through ck engine light if it’s not driven regularly.
Got a 9 600 SL. Hydraulics are a joke and that biodegradable wiring harness is pure crap. Second owner, friends with first owner Paperwork showing 127K with taxes luxury taxes etc. harness rendered it undrivable in 5 years
Yep,the V12 engine in the 600 is a work of art, but maintaining the ADS suspension (nitrogen spheres, anyone?) and Lucas-quality wiring can break the bank unless you can wrench on it yourself.
It looks lik I’m stuck with my 98 46,000 mile AMG Diablo Edition, one of a kind customized to drive the purists crazy. It says the Panoramic Hardtop was $25,000 when new, and $15,000 when a shop installed it, the fiberglass body kit, and the doors in early 2000s .I so need to fix the power seat door switches, who has a parts car?
https://okaloosa.craigslist.org/cto/6525147089.html
There are two Panorama roof cars for sale in Portland for a total of $5000. For both.
Two years ago I bought a really pretty blue 92 500SL not running for $2700. Was abused a little, not running, and I paid too much! But I learned that they are really easy to service, as most problems come back to a black module of some kind, easily diagnosed on line and sourced on ebay. Rebuilt the hydraulic top problems myself, about $30 for complete o-ring kit. 500’s have GREAT power! Sold it for less than $5000 and lost on it! (see picture). Then a few months ago I ran onto a really clean black 94 SL320 with only 92k miles for only $3000. Having learned so much about these, I jumped in again! I am commuting 60 miles daily in it, and it is a joy to drive! Six cylinder gets 20 MPG. Never was abused, and it is solid and tight. No dash trouble lights on, even the air is cold. I’ll drive the socks off it until I retire! Yes, these are undervalued, especially if it has not been abused…
The 320’s were the only 129’s to ever be offered with a manual trans, they are rare and fun to drive.
I had an 87 420 sel that i picked up used for $1600.00 bout 6yrs ago..rode fantastic, but was difficult to work on & a money pit..loved that car though & kept it 5 yrs.
I had a red ‘93 … i miss it lots.