Description
Introduction
Designed in 1984, the R129 was based on the shortened floorpan of the W124 Saloon and featured many innovative details for the time which included an optional, electronically controlled damping (Adaptive Damping System, ADS) and a hidden, automatically extending roll-over bar.
The new SL-class was presented at the Geneva Motor Show in March 1989, with left-hand drive sales beginning that summer and right-hand drive sales in the autumn. It came runner-up behind the Citroen XM for the European Car of the Year Award that year.
The previous version, the R107 had somewhat dated rear suspension with semi-trailing arms, in the R129 this gave way to a modern multi-link axle. The number of standard features was high, with electric action for the windows, mirrors, seats with an automated (electro-hydraulic), fabric convertible roof, colour-matched automated tonneau cover and a manually detatchable hardtop that could be fitted over the stored fabric convertible roof and tonneau.
The R129 also has the distinction of being the first passenger vehicle to have its seat belts integrated into the seats as opposed to anchoring them to the floor, B-pillar, and transmission tunnel.
Although it is becoming noticed by collectors more recently the R129 still represents great value, remaining eminently usable and generally reliable, they are a handsome all season coupe or convertible with the ability to travel long distances in comfort and quiet.
Description
A delightfully presented R129 500 SL and a very early one at that, as it was manufactured without a Catalytic Converter from the factory as confirmed by it’s data sheet.
It looks to have passed from company to private ownership on two separate occasions during its life with the same driver being both the 2nd and 3rd recorded keeper as well as the next owner being the 4th and 5th recorded keeper.
Largely unused since the 4th recorded keeper acquired it in 1999, it has covered around 6, 000 miles in the last 23 years. It looks to have been laid up unused between 2012 and 2019.
Recommissioned in early 2022 to include front and rear suspension spheres and accumulators, attention to the underside, interior wood trim and refurbished wheels along with new distributor caps and rotor arms, it is presented in frankly beautiful overall condition.
Externally the body is free from any dents or corrosion and has just the odd very minor mark here and there as is to be expected, but they in no way detract at all from the overall look of the car, internally there is little evidence that its now 32 years old !
It starts effortlessly, every item of equipment operates as it should and without fault.
The eagle eyed amongst you will notice it is fitted with the later instrument cluster which includes a digital odometer and trip recorder.
This item didn’t become standard until the 1994 model year, but on investigation it seems it was common for Mercedes to replace the troublesome mechanical instrument cluster with the later digital version free of charge, even after the original warranty period had expired.
The illumination of the outside temperature display on the original cluster could not be repaired if it failed and the trip recorder reset could break if it was depressed while the car was moving, hence them being replaced with this later version, indeed customers were actively contacted to have them ‘upgraded’ I’m told.
As it was likely done under warranty there is no record in the history file of its replacement, the dealers would code the cluster to the car and the mileage shown on the new cluster when fitted would be exactly the mileage that was recorded on the old cluster when it was removed.
The service and MOT history appear to suggest the mileage is correct as outlined below, as does the condition of the car, but without a record of the instrument cluster being replaced it isn’t possible to guarantee it.
Specification
Astral Silver
Grey Leather
Adaptive Damping System
Electric Driver & Passenger Seats with Memory
Air Conditioning
Cruise Control
Black Soft Top
Service History
Supplied new by Caffyns Dorchester, 1 October 1990
900 Mile Service by Clover Leaf Andover, 7 January 1991 @ 859 Miles
6, 000 Service by Caffyns Salisbury, 1 July 1991 @ 6, 637 Miles
12, 000 Service by Bradshaw Webb, 2 November 1991 @ 11, 544 Miles
18, 000 Service by Caffyns Salisbury, 13 October 1992 @ 22, 311 Miles
24, 000 Service by Bradshaw Webb, 19 May 1993 @ 28, 470 Miles
30, 000 Service by Bradshaw Webb, 15 September 1993 @ 31, 249 Miles
36, 000 Service by Bradshaw Webb, 10 January 1994 @ 35, 269 Miles
42, 000 Service by Drayton Stoke, 11 August 1995 @ 41, 150 Miles
48, 000 Service by Drayton Stoke, 11 September 1997 @ 47, 540 Miles
54, 000 Service by Hills Shrewsbury, 16 August 1999 @ 49, 103 Miles
MOT, 19 April 2006 @ 52, 680 Miles
MOT, 20 April 2007 @ 53, 306 Miles
60, 000 Service by Drayton Stafford, 17 April 2008 @ 53, 473 Miles
MOT, 22 April 2008 @ 53, 526 Miles
MOT, 21 April 2009 @ 53, 709 Miles
MOT, 22 April 2010 @ 54, 033 Miles
MOT, 12 May 2011 @ 54, 306 Miles
MOT, 8 May 2012 @ 54, 403 Miles
A Service by Mercedes Benz of Stafford, 11 April 2019 @ 54, 604 Miles
MOT, 11 April 2019 @ 54, 626 Miles
MOT, 30 November 2021 @ 54, 660 Miles
A Service, New Distributor Caps & Rotor Arms & New Battery by SS Motors, 1 December 2021 @ 54, 660 Miles
Front Suspension Spheres replaced by SS Motors, 21 January 2022 @ 54, 660 Miles
Rear Accumulators & Feed Pipes replaced by SS Motors, 28 April 2022 @ 55, 370 Miles
MOT, 30 September 2022 @ 56, 446 Miles
6 Owners
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