R129 thinking of buying but confused

G_man

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SL320
Hi,

I am moving to Hong Kong and would like to buy a SL for my daily driver. I came across a very nice (looking) 1996 SL320 with AMG kit.

A few things though dont match with my research, it has orange indicators, the three square strips on the wings which would normally mean a 95 or earlier car right? but it has a panoramic hard top and the digital a/c.

Is it possible that a HK car had a slightly mixed spec? also the car is a 6 owner with only history from the current owner but only 90k km's.

Thanks for your advice

Graham
 

LostKiwi

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'93 500SL-32, '01 W210 Estate E240 (RIP), 02 R230 SL500, 04 Smart Roadster Coupe, 11 R350CDi
It may be an earlier car that's sat around before selling. Get the VIN decoded and it should make things clearer.
 

Monday

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SL400 2016, CLS350 2020
Hi,

I am moving to Hong Kong and would like to buy a SL for my daily driver. I came across a very nice (looking) 1996 SL320 with AMG kit.

A few things though dont match with my research, it has orange indicators, the three square strips on the wings which would normally mean a 95 or earlier car right? but it has a panoramic hard top and the digital a/c.

Is it possible that a HK car had a slightly mixed spec? also the car is a 6 owner with only history from the current owner but only 90k km's.

Thanks for your advice

Graham
It could well have a different specn. to a UK car. 6 owners is not surprising, a local first owner of such a car will be very well off and use the car as a toy. And subsequent expat owners come and go....

Mileage is typically low, there is nowhere to go! But I can’t remember odometers being calibrated in km, should be miles, at least at that age. So a private import? I could be wrong though, I have not owned a car in HK since 1997.

You can check with the MB agent, Zung Fu Motors. They should be able to tell you (a) if they imported it officially and (b) if they have any service history for it. But just like here, main dealer servicing is expensive so it may well have graduated to the one man garages round the back of Happy Valley!

Good luck (and Kung Hei Fat Choi for the Year of the Pig!)
 

Monday

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And check the aircon is good. You’ll need it!
 
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G_man

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SL320
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Thanks for the responses. I have the VIN but when i looked it up its says the car should be white, was ordered in the UK and was built in 96 and doesnt mention the AMG/sport option (vin: wdb1290632f143175)

Not sure if the decoder i used is correct, would you recommend one?

Link to the actual car here: https://pheads.com/sl320

Would appreciate your insights.

Thanks

Graham
 

LostKiwi

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'93 500SL-32, '01 W210 Estate E240 (RIP), 02 R230 SL500, 04 Smart Roadster Coupe, 11 R350CDi
Polar white, grey leather, glass roof CD player and not much else.
It's also an M104 engine which as far as I'm aware was never an AMG option.
I'm pretty sure the only AMGs were the SL55, SL60, SL70, SL72 and SL73. At that time AMG was not a marketing trim line like it is now.

That looks to me like a home made 'AMG'.

I wouldn't touch it with a barge pole.
 

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Monday

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SL400 2016, CLS350 2020
I wouldn't touch it with a barge pole.

Agreed. Initially wondered why this car was on pistonheads if it was in HK. Then realised it was "Petrolheads"!!

Horrible wheels (but each to his own) and looks like badge engineering.
 

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