Mercedes produced the R129 SL for 12 years between 1989 and 2001, and it was a very popular model, offering a variety of engines and the useful benefit of being both a roadster and coupe all in one, being supplied with the cabriolet roof and a factory hard-top.

The 3.2 litre straight six engine in the SL320 delivers a useful 230 BHP with almost seamless gear changes through the five speed automatic gearbox with Mercedes always ensuring that their flagship sports model was engineered and built to an exemplary standard.

The current owner purchased the car in 2011 and has done around 55,000, mostly motorway, miles during his time with the SL.

The car comes with a comprehensive service history, having been looked after by either Mercedes Dealerships or Specialists throughout its life.

The car has behaved faultlessly throughout his ownership being used as a roadster in the summer and a coupe during the winter, and being garaged when not on the road.

The car comes with its V5c showing 6 owners together with a comprehensive file of service receipts, a stamped up service book, owner’s manual and numerous receipts for various parts over the years, along with a stack of past MOTs.

The car comes with 2 keys, although 1 requires re-synchronising to the car but still functions as a spare being able to open and start the car, and the current MOT expires in October of this year.

When Mercedes build a car they build them to last and the condition of this interior is certainly testament to that fact, as it’s hard to believe that its 25 years old.

Other than the usual wear to the driver’s seat bolster and the occasional minor sign of use and wear the whole interior is in great shape and features air conditioning, cruise control and electrically adjustable seats together with an aftermarket Alpine Bluetooth Stereo unit which comes with a removable iPod nano and a USB connector to sync with your laptop to load up music, its connector is hardwired into the Alpine CD Tuner unit. The Alpine unit will sync to your phone through Bluetooth to give you ‘hands free’ usage.

The factory hardtop with its panoramic glass roof is a great addition and a very expensive optional extra back in the day, and this SL comes with the factory stand for the hard-top and a SL Shop fabricated winch to help you fit or remove the roof single-handedly.

The classic Mercedes Silver paintwork is in generally good condition with only a few minor blemishes and scuffs here and there along with the odd small surface scratch to a wheel arch, door mirrors and bumpers.

The inevitable stone chips have recently been professionally dealt with along with the alloy wheels, which were refurbished and powder-coated.

The front ‘splitter’ has a slightly lopsided appearance in the photos, drooping to the nearside. This is solely due to a one missing trim screw and a very simple fix.

The hard-top has some paint bubbling up on its lower rear section and a small chip to the paint but that’s about it, otherwise it’s in great shape. Both the Panoramic hardtop and the electric soft top work as they should, having not admitted as much as a single drop of water into the vehicles cabin (even the small splits in the vinyl panels of the rear softtop section) in the many years the seller has owned the vehicle.

The cabriolet hood’s rear window has a few creases in it but it still fits well and the open and close mechanism works smoothly and effortlessly, as it should.

The vehicle  was shod with Continental Premium contact rubber in 2020  which have had 4000 miles put on them. The spare was the best of the previous bunch and still has plenty of tread.

Just recently having had a full service at 90,000 with no issues to report from the current owner this SL runs like a dream with plenty of power on tap should the need arise.

It also had a new air mass flow sensor fitted at 86000 miles and as a result the engine  pulls through the gears smoothly and powerfully as it should.

One look under the bonnet certainly gives the impression that this is a well cared for and well-maintained SL.

The SL is one of those classic and iconic cars that looks as good on the road today as it did 25 years ago, and it’s about as practical a classic as you can get being a great car to own and drive.

The R129 SL, with its legendary build quality and reputation for reliability is one of those cars that can still turn heads and, for very good reason, remains high on any classic car enthusiasts wish list.


Notice to bidders