I have an R107 300SL 1989 with 69k miles and an R129 SL500 1996 with 6,500 miles, kept in an underground garage in Osaka for 24 years before it came to the U.K. in 2021 when I bought it with 4,000 miles from new. Just done a quick blast last week from U.K. to Rotterdam and back over 4 days and the R129 definitely the car built for European mile-munching…sublime and effortless in its cruising ability and I accept it’s no sports car but it’s all the better for it.
The Bremen plant responsible for the R129 built 204,940 roadsters from March 1989 - July 2001, this figure includes all engine variations across all models.
Having owned a R 107 R129 R 230 and R232 . I still own the R 129 and have done so for 16 years Mine is a 1996 320sl. Last year it drive us to Tuscany and Back, without incident. I cannot ever imagine selling.
How long did you go for? I am considering a euro trip but never drove on the other side of the road before? I might be tempted to head to Brugee and back
The R129 is a fabulous car. Its biggest drawback is the removal and storage of the hard top, which is a two person job and really requires a dedicated trolly to store upright.
Always appreciated the unique charm of this channel, its own identity. The delivery and production has become superb now. This video, and the Triumph Scrambler 400 / Enfield 350 video, seem so polished. Very convincing review, I shall be having a Shotgun test ride as a result!
A genuinely brilliant car. I owned a low mileage SL320 R129 (T327 TFW, where are you now?) and still regret selling it. Being hyper-critical, the steering was a little numb and slow witted and it could have done with a smidge more poke but was otherwise glorious. They say it’s better to have loved and lost than to never have loved at all 🥹
You are a bit sad. But you are a model for me. I’m working on restoring my R129 SL280 V6 1998 model, which I’ve owned for the last 17 years. The last 8 years it just stood unused in my garage and it passed the MOT easily recently. I’ll try to be as particular and fussy as you are. Because I think the car is worth the effort ( and costs)😊.
Not true the M112 and M113 are superior to anything previous: more torque, longevity, fuel economy ..Especially the M113 V8 could scale up M113K and SLR etc
Inline 6 is in theory better by all means but for the R129 the M112 was a leap forward and 15 years more modern. It took almost 20 years until the M256 replaced the V6 .. and we still can’t buy any SL with an inline 6 which is disappointing considering the heritage of the original 300 SL…
The quality of the R129 deteriorated rapidly in its latter years - more rust prone and electrically fragile. A well kept pre 1993 320 would be my choice.
I've never driven any SL, but my immediate thought about the R129 is that it is not as 'classic' as the R109, but nor is it as modern as the R230, both of which I think are better looking than the R129. It seems to fall between two stools.
I have a gorgeous 1991 r129….300sl. Dark blue in color. Beautiful in every way.
Good choice!
I have an R107 300SL 1989 with 69k miles and an R129 SL500 1996 with 6,500 miles, kept in an underground garage in Osaka for 24 years before it came to the U.K. in 2021 when I bought it with 4,000 miles from new.
Just done a quick blast last week from U.K. to Rotterdam and back over 4 days and the R129 definitely the car built for European mile-munching…sublime and effortless in its cruising ability and I accept it’s no sports car but it’s all the better for it.
The Bremen plant responsible for the R129 built 204,940 roadsters from March 1989 - July 2001, this figure includes all engine variations across all models.
the SL R129 silver arrow edition is forever a timeless gem
Having owned a R 107 R129 R 230 and R232 . I still own the R 129 and have done so for 16 years
Mine is a 1996 320sl. Last year it drive us to Tuscany and Back, without incident. I cannot ever imagine selling.
How long did you go for?
I am considering a euro trip but never drove on the other side of the road before?
I might be tempted to head to Brugee and back
The R129 is a fabulous car. Its biggest drawback is the removal and storage of the hard top, which is a two person job and really requires a dedicated trolly to store upright.
cant you just lean it against a wall?
I own a 1999 R129, and I'm loving it, although my daily driver is an early A-Class😊. I agree with everything you said about the SL. Good video.
Have 1993 500 SL..best car ever. Love it
Always appreciated the unique charm of this channel, its own identity. The delivery and production has become superb now. This video, and the Triumph Scrambler 400 / Enfield 350 video, seem so polished. Very convincing review, I shall be having a Shotgun test ride as a result!
When a Mercedes could be called a Mercedes, not the useless tat of today.
Mercedes, an excellent example of what goes wrong when accountants rule the roost.... They should be seen and not heard.
The 500 is the better choice, especially if it has the M119 engine.
Excellent video 🚘🚙🚗👍👍👍👏👏👏👏👏⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A genuinely brilliant car. I owned a low mileage SL320 R129 (T327 TFW, where are you now?) and still regret selling it. Being hyper-critical, the steering was a little numb and slow witted and it could have done with a smidge more poke but was otherwise glorious. They say it’s better to have loved and lost than to never have loved at all 🥹
You are a bit sad. But you are a model for me. I’m working on restoring my R129 SL280 V6 1998 model, which I’ve owned for the last 17 years. The last 8 years it just stood unused in my garage and it passed the MOT easily recently. I’ll try to be as particular and fussy as you are. Because I think the car is worth the effort ( and costs)😊.
If it's good enough for Mr. T 😁
Brilliant Car. Easier to maintain than the 500 version,
The 89 models drove differently than the late 90’s models.
Peak Merc !
I do see the appeal 👍
I think I can afford to buy it, but I don't think I can afford to run it : )
had my 500 for 10+ years and never needed anything besides gas oil and breaks.
Mercedes-Benz cheapened the quality when the V6 engines came in.
Not true the M112 and M113 are superior to anything previous: more torque, longevity, fuel economy ..Especially the M113 V8 could scale up M113K and SLR etc
@@siegfriedbarfuss9379
I'd take a straight six over a V6 anytime 😊
Inline 6 is in theory better by all means but for the R129 the M112 was a leap forward and 15 years more modern. It took almost 20 years until the M256 replaced the V6 .. and we still can’t buy any SL with an inline 6 which is disappointing considering the heritage of the original 300 SL…
What about rust? Weren’t these SL cars notorious for that, like the 220 body saloon?
No they generally were not, unlike the R107 that preceded it.
Are you saying the 107 was better constructed/protected from rust than the 129?
@@stigmoltu-jacobsen the opposite.
I own a W124 and I'd love an R129. But not one built between 1992-96. Two words: bio-degradable wiring.
The quality of the R129 deteriorated rapidly in its latter years - more rust prone and electrically fragile. A well kept pre 1993 320 would be my choice.
Not mine. That has a 4 speed instead of a 5 speed and the fuel injection system on the early cars had lots of problems.
The EU is where it all went wrong. Meeting EU standards is not conducive to producing a quality car.
All that silly 'tech' is why these are unaffordable to maintain and repair.
Carro
I've never driven any SL, but my immediate thought about the R129 is that it is not as 'classic' as the R109, but nor is it as modern as the R230, both of which I think are better looking than the R129. It seems to fall between two stools.