My 1995 SL500 has 278,000 miles and I've never rebuilt it. It has run flawlessly since new, the engine is a real gem. I performed regular maintenance such as plugs, wires, caps and rotors (expensive) and of course changed the oil every 3,000 miles (8 1/2 quarts) and it doesn't use any between changes and the exterior of the motor is bone dry. I never had an issue with the head gasket or any others.
My 1997 SL500 has 265,000 miles and still runs excellent! Never rebuilt the engine just the regular maintenance for more than 20 years recently I replace the secondary air pump(was causing check engine light) replace the strut upper shock mounts and rebuilt the control module for the convertible soft top ( still researching how to reset the windows and the roll bar to make the top work again . But this is an amazing car !
@@sherloidbai7064 Luckily not to date. I did have a bit of a scare once when one of the coil wires had fallen out of the guide and shorted out where it was rubbing against a pulley. It's a good thing a new set of Bosch wires was 'only' $450 hahaha.
Thank you so much for your excellent guide, you speak very clearly and describe everything extremely well in just the right amount of detail. Congratulations on your very beautiful early R129 as well, one of the best two tone colour combinations there was!
Thank you very much ❤️❤️❤️ I'm thinking about getting a 1997 and higher But recently there is one that is 2002(last year of production) and 130,000miles
My dad has a 93 Sl red with a black soft top. He’s getting rid of it and I think I wanna keep it for myself. I think it needs a new fuel regulator or something like that. He said it’s like $200 which isnt shit since he’ll give me the car. I wanna restore it
Hello, just to let you know that I love your channel and Facebook page. Yes, today I'll be on the market for my very own r129. Soooo excited 😊 I can't sleep
There was no real competitor to the R129. BMW's 8 and Lexus SC were not convertible. Until Jag released XJ8 in 1997, the XJS was way outdated to compete. Some might say Austin's DB7, but that was of a very limited production.
At the time it was the top of the line roadster in the world without compare. The Rolls-Royce Corniche was very much still a 70s car. Furthermore, Mercedes-Benz hadn't diluted the model range with the modern line up of the SL, AMG GT, and SLS AMG. Today the SL doesn't really have a place in the market. We'll have to wait and see what the R232 brings.
Thank you for the hight quality in all your video. I own a 1995 sl320 with the m104. It seems that it is the last Mercedes six in line up to now. Am I right?
thanks for the great video ! you're mentioning that in any case, temperature should not get close to 100C - i tend to see that happening in hot weather traffic jams on my 300SL. Any hint to what i should be looking at?
Tackle the usuals first: fan clutch, thermostat water pump, auxiliary fans, and radiator. Sometimes an overhaul is in order due to head gasket failure.
Do make sure the car comes with the spare IR remote key fob and check it works. They are no longer available from Mercedes and without it you will not be able to get past the immobiliser. In other words you are left with a very big and expensive paperweight!
For some reason folks in the US have difficulty getting the key fobs. For many other countries, the keys have been made available for some time now. The only other resolution if you lose your key is to completely swap the ECU, keys, immobiliser, and tumblers. Or get another car...
@@HLClassics I'm in the UK - not US. Mercedes main dealer are accepting orders for IR fobs, but they do not have them in stock in Mercedes Germany. As such they are just going on 'back order' with no confirmed delivery date. Cost will be £220 UK should it ever arrive in stock. There is a Mercedes key specialist here in UK who can make them and programme to your car - but cost is around £450 UK plus its required to take vehicle to him and leave it for a few days. I investigated cost of stripping out immobiliser system with the SL shop - they reckon about 8 hours work so ~£800
@@shadychrisuk When we ordered, it took about 3-4 months for the key fobs to arrive. That they are taking orders is a good sign; the keys are likely made to order. In the US, the dealers are mostly either not taking orders or insisting the keys are NLA.
@@HLClassics yeah i think they probably wait until they have a batch on order that they can get a supplier to manufacture for them... You'd think a company as big as Merc would just order up a thousand of them though.. They probably only cost pennies to make in the factory..
My 1995 SL500 has 278,000 miles and I've never rebuilt it. It has run flawlessly since new, the engine is a real gem. I performed regular maintenance such as plugs, wires, caps and rotors (expensive) and of course changed the oil every 3,000 miles (8 1/2 quarts) and it doesn't use any between changes and the exterior of the motor is bone dry. I never had an issue with the head gasket or any others.
My 1997 SL500 has 265,000 miles and still runs excellent! Never rebuilt the engine just the regular maintenance for more than 20 years recently I replace the secondary air pump(was causing check engine light) replace the strut upper shock mounts and rebuilt the control module for the convertible soft top ( still researching how to reset the windows and the roll bar to make the top work again . But this is an amazing car !
No biodegradable wiring issues on your 95 eh?
@@sherloidbai7064 Luckily not to date. I did have a bit of a scare once when one of the coil wires had fallen out of the guide and shorted out where it was rubbing against a pulley. It's a good thing a new set of Bosch wires was 'only' $450 hahaha.
Thank you so much for your excellent guide, you speak very clearly and describe everything extremely well in just the right amount of detail. Congratulations on your very beautiful early R129 as well, one of the best two tone colour combinations there was!
Thank you! We love the Perlblau colour in two-tone. Stands out in the sea of black, silver, and white cars out there.
Fantastic advice - keep up the great content
Thanks, glad you enjoyed our content 😊
Thank you very much ❤️❤️❤️
I'm thinking about getting a 1997 and higher
But recently there is one that is 2002(last year of production) and 130,000miles
Later model years are good to buy
That is 1 sexy ride, that color scheme is beautiful...
Wow....very detailed buying guide....
Thanks a lot 😊
Beautiful and old school class
My dad has a 93 Sl red with a black soft top. He’s getting rid of it and I think I wanna keep it for myself. I think it needs a new fuel regulator or something like that. He said it’s like $200 which isnt shit since he’ll give me the car. I wanna restore it
Go for it!
I have the same color, so beautiful and rare ❤
We love this classic shade. We don't see many on the road in this colour, and the two-tone is unmistakeably the 90s
I also have that colour scheme on my 500
Very helpful, thanks
You're welcome!
Looking to get one, thanks for the video
same, im going to get mine by the end of the month! cant wait !
Good luck in your hunt for a good one!
Bagus! I love the 129.
Great info.
Glad it was helpful!
Hello, just to let you know that I love your channel and Facebook page.
Yes, today I'll be on the market for my very own r129. Soooo excited 😊 I can't sleep
Thanks Darren for the support! Hope you get a good R129 to keep
@@HLClassics yes I've had her for a month and she is truly magical. Thank you for giving me the final inspiration 🙏
Very useful, thank you!
Glad it was helpful!
Good stuff.
Glad you enjoyed it
There was no real competitor to the R129. BMW's 8 and Lexus SC were not convertible. Until Jag released XJ8 in 1997, the XJS was way outdated to compete. Some might say Austin's DB7, but that was of a very limited production.
At the time it was the top of the line roadster in the world without compare. The Rolls-Royce Corniche was very much still a 70s car. Furthermore, Mercedes-Benz hadn't diluted the model range with the modern line up of the SL, AMG GT, and SLS AMG. Today the SL doesn't really have a place in the market. We'll have to wait and see what the R232 brings.
Lovely review
Thank you!
I LIKE IT...
Great advices! nice video.
You're welcome!
@@HLClassics Hope one day will get one, that's my childhood dream.
Beautiful
just wondering, is this a malaysian based channel? if it is then thank you very much in advanced for this detailed video
Yes, we are based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia! 🇲🇾
Thank you for the hight quality in all your video.
I own a 1995 sl320 with the m104. It seems that it is the last Mercedes six in line up to now. Am I right?
Yes, until the M256 came out a few years ago.
I have a 1998 SL320 straight six and just required a new head gasket at 64k miles, which means it will see me out !!
Very interesting
thanks for the great video ! you're mentioning that in any case, temperature should not get close to 100C - i tend to see that happening in hot weather traffic jams on my 300SL. Any hint to what i should be looking at?
Tackle the usuals first: fan clutch, thermostat water pump, auxiliary fans, and radiator. Sometimes an overhaul is in order due to head gasket failure.
Beautiful car❤
whats the best free vin search engine?
I just bought a 1999 sl500 with only 61k on it funnest car I've driven in my life
It w as a corporate e executive car was only driven 3k a year and was stored for 10 years it's black with a black leather interiort's beatiful
I had to spend 1000 to fix the air was all it blows ice cubes now though
what is the usual price for a r129 in Malaysia used?
lovely😍
Your engine light isnt showing?
Where did you find that list at 1:42?
We used LastVIN to decode the VIN and get the list of options.
@@HLClassics Thanks a lot
very usful
TQ
Not many of these left without most of these problems.
What colour is it ?
Perlblau Metallic
It’s leaving me shit scared to buy one
Courage is required to acquire a SL R 129. These are not simple cars and not what we consider "entry-level" classics for beginners with a budget.
Do make sure the car comes with the spare IR remote key fob and check it works. They are no longer available from Mercedes and without it you will not be able to get past the immobiliser. In other words you are left with a very big and expensive paperweight!
For some reason folks in the US have difficulty getting the key fobs. For many other countries, the keys have been made available for some time now. The only other resolution if you lose your key is to completely swap the ECU, keys, immobiliser, and tumblers. Or get another car...
@@HLClassics I'm in the UK - not US. Mercedes main dealer are accepting orders for IR fobs, but they do not have them in stock in Mercedes Germany. As such they are just going on 'back order' with no confirmed delivery date. Cost will be £220 UK should it ever arrive in stock. There is a Mercedes key specialist here in UK who can make them and programme to your car - but cost is around £450 UK plus its required to take vehicle to him and leave it for a few days. I investigated cost of stripping out immobiliser system with the SL shop - they reckon about 8 hours work so ~£800
@@shadychrisuk When we ordered, it took about 3-4 months for the key fobs to arrive. That they are taking orders is a good sign; the keys are likely made to order. In the US, the dealers are mostly either not taking orders or insisting the keys are NLA.
@@HLClassics yeah i think they probably wait until they have a batch on order that they can get a supplier to manufacture for them... You'd think a company as big as Merc would just order up a thousand of them though.. They probably only cost pennies to make in the factory..
M120 or go home
M120 is a great engine, but for this car the M119 provides better balance for the weight.
Never buy a 24 V Model. If you do you will have costs and problems. Nothing new in this Video.
The best inline six cylinder engines for this range in terms of reliability would be the M103 in the 300SL and the later M104 engines in the SL320.