• Dry stored for 10 years

• Early KE-Jetronic model

• Recent brake overhaul

• M119 5.0L V8

Replacing the R107 in 1989, and debuting at the Geneva Motor Show, the R129 SL is a roadster produced from 1989 up until 2001. Offered at the time as a two door with a retractable electro-hydraulic fabric roof, automated tonneau cover, and a sleek manually detachable hardtop that could be installed over the top of the stored fabric roof and tonneau. The sales were extremely successful and came runner-up behind the Citroen XM for the European Car of The Year award - a great feat for any car manufacturer!

These luxury vehicles featured a lot of technology for the time period, a way for Mercedes to flex their technological muscles with things like adaptive suspension damping (which was optional) and an automatically extending roll bar. 

This particular SL500 has had an extended period of time sitting in dry storage - 10 years, to be exact! So it’s easy to believe that this car is as pretty and well kept as it sounds. A recent full brake overhaul was undertaken to include the installation of new discs and pads all round as well as a complete service done by a highly regarded Mercedes Specialist.

Thanks to this car being an early model SL, the M119 engine is mechanically fuel injected using a KE-Jetronic system, later these engines were updated to include Motronic injection which had the potential for a lot of electrical issues - so peace of mind that this is an earlier model means no headaches or worries about wiring looms, as cars from 1993-1995 were known to have loom issues due to heat with the new systems. 

A lovely papertrail accompanies this car, the original books and wallet are present with the current owner as well as the original service booklet which proves the cars full service history thanks to the plethora of stamps!

Many Mercedes enthusiasts will tell you that maintenance and servicing is absolutely key with these cars, and they are correct - so a full service history is a wonderful addition to have alongside this SL500 to ensure you have the best vehicle you can get.

Black leather interior and a wooden centre console makes the interior of this car a very welcoming and comfortable place to be. It simply oozes class, and we love it. The seats look to be in great condition for the cars age and mileage with the driver's seat showing some minor wear and creases on the bolsters as to be expected with any soft leather seat, no rips or tears are present however. The passenger seat is also in lovely shape, with less present wear than the driver seat and the centre portion of the seat leather still looking tight. The same can be said for the rear seats showing very little signs of use!

The carpets are all in presentable condition with no unwelcome rips or tears, and no apparent loose edges anywhere where the carpets meet the interior panels. The dashboard gauges still all function as they should and the screen in front of them seems to be free of any damage. The steering wheel does show some minor signs of wear as to be completely expected, this car has been enjoyed as well as cared for, after all. The light dial to the right of the steering wheel is showing some signs of damage on the switch itself, however the surround looks to be undamaged. and the screenprinting on the plastic is still bright and visible.

The centre console looks to be in lovely condition, the wooden panel shows no signs of damage or cracks and the buttons and switches are in good condition and still function as normal. The only thing to note is that the arm rest between the driver and passenger seat seems to be missing a button, which can be seen in the interior images. 

As well as the retractable fabric roof being in great shape, with recently replaced plastic windows at the side and the rear, the hard top included with the vehicle is in tip-top shape with no leaks or tears throughout.

Classically stylish and sleek, oozing with 90’s vibes. The SL is a gorgeous car throughout, the brilliant silver paintwork still shines and glistens in the sun with high levels of gloss front to back! The owner tells us that there are some signs of repairs to the front wings on the vehicle at some point in it’s life, and while they are still in presentable condition he does recommend some intervention to future proof any issues they may cause. 

Modern 19” AMG R230 wheels have been fitted to the vehicle which we think suit the car nicely, giving it a more aggressive look. These wheels are completely free of scuffs and marks, however the clear coat on the diamond cut portions of the alloys is showing some signs of separation from the metal - which is extremely common for diamond cut alloys and is somewhat unavoidable. It is caused from water finding its way in behind the clear coat and breaking it down - this does not affect the integrity of the wheel itself in any way though!

All body panels look to be very straight with no apparent signs of damage, and the light lenses look to be free of cracks, as does the windshield. There is a small bubble appearing on the driver side front arch just behind the headlight - which we think is what the owner is referring to when he states that they need some intervention.

That big lump of a V8 powering the SL500 still purrs beautifully and as smoothly as ever. The early model SL500’s with the M119 are renowned for their growl high up in the rev range, apparently sounding much nicer and healthier than the later models - some refer to these engines as a masterpiece of engineering. As previously mentioned, the owner had a complete brake overhaul completed by a Mercedes specialist including new discs and pads, so the car stops as it should, and the gearbox is still wonderfully smooth as you would expect from such a luxury sports car.

The owner does note that the air conditioning will need to be re-gassed, this is simply a result of the vehicle sitting in dry storage for so long and not being used. The pump for the central locking actuation is also quite slow but still functions, the owner tells us a new pump motor may be required and these can be easily sourced and replaced - this is just another result of the cars life in storage.

Finding a well taken care of SL500 is a tough battle in itself, this beautiful classic sports car has been loved throughout its years, serviced and maintained whenever required. 

A car totally ready for someone to jump in, drop the roof down, and drive off in style with the rumbling V8 symphony playing to the movements of your right foot. Doesn’t that sound like complete bliss? It certainly does to us.