SL320 or SL500 ?

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R129 SL500 Silver Arrow
 

LostKiwi

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I want a SL between 1978 and 1993 which is the best model and why/
1978 to 1989 are r107.
1989 to 1993 are r129.
They're chalk and cheese with later car (as you'd expect) being a better handling and riding car.
I'm biased but I'd go r129 500SL. More powerful than the r107, one of the best engines MB ever made, less rust prone than r107 and a more enjoyable place to be.
 
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Ray Wiliams

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1978 to 1989 are r107.
1989 to 1993 are r129.
They're chalk and cheese with later car (as you'd expect) being a better handling and riding car.
I'm biased but I'd go r129 500SL. More powerful than the r107, one of the best engines MB ever made, less rust prone than r107 and a more enjoyable place to be.
i have been told the SL500 is mega expensive to repair compaired to the Sl320
 

LostKiwi

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i have been told the SL500 is mega expensive to repair compaired to the Sl320
I can't see why? The m119 engine is pretty much bombproof. Aside from that they're the same.
The only expensive consumables on a 500 are distributor caps and rotors (but even they aren't horrific). Post 93 V8s have an issue with crumbing wiring harnesses but you aren't looking at them. The 24v 320 on the other hand has a propensity to blow head gaskets at 100k.
 

John Laidlaw

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The 500 every time, I think the folks who are telling you it’s mega expensive are getting mixed up with the later SL(230) model 500
 

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I can only speak for 129’s and later ones than you are looking at.
The 320 is nice and, what I would call “lively” whereas the 500 is a lazy engine with plenty of go.

Having driven both I would choose 500, and did.

As above regarding problems, suspect people are assuming you are talking about the SL 500 (model 230)and ABC problems.


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Ray Wiliams

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1978 to 1989 are r107.
1989 to 1993 are r129.
They're chalk and cheese with later car (as you'd expect) being a better handling and riding car.
I'm biased but I'd go r129 500SL. More powerful than the r107, one of the best engines MB ever made, less rust prone than r107 and a more enjoyable place to be.
What engine would you go for?
 
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Ray Wiliams

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I can't see why? The m119 engine is pretty much bombproof. Aside from that they're the same.
The only expensive consumables on a 500 are distributor caps and rotors (but even they aren't horrific). Post 93 V8s have an issue with crumbing wiring harnesses but you aren't looking at them. The 24v 320 on the other hand has a propensity to blow head gaskets at 100k.
Is the M119 engine a V8?
 

Wearsafoxhat

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What engine would you go for?

The M119 engine ( 5 litre V8) with the 5 speed box, around 1997/98 are the holy grail apparently.
The better engine with the newer gearbox.

The later M113 engines, again a 5 litre V8 is a good engine too.
These are the R129 models as not too good on the 107’s.


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I think you should go for a V8 if you can. The sound is just sublime.

I drove around with the top off yesterday and the sound will always put a smile on my face. You will find yourself seeking out tunnels and enjoying them like never before..
 

SL63 Mark

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The 1970s/1980s SL (107 model) is becoming a classic, and prices are going up accordingly. The later shape 129 SL, which was produced though the 1990s, is much more affordable, and a more modern and usable car. Many on here have them. You need to approach it from the point of view of how much you want to spend, and folk will be able to advise you better.
 

LostKiwi

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Is the M119 engine a V8?
Yes it's a V8.
There are 3 variants.
The earliest ones use a mechanical injection system. The injection distributor can be seen at the back of the engine. They also use a twin ignition coil, twin distributor system.
The middle one has electronic injection. This is obvious from the lack of the octopus like injection distributor at the back of the engine. It uses the same ignition system as the earlier engine. These were produced 1993 to 1996.
The last variant uses electronic injection and replaces the distributors and coils with a coil on plug setup. This is arguably the one to go for and was produced 1996 onwards but always check by visual inspection as earlier cars can be registered a year or so after manufacturing. The power decreased with each iteration, starting at 326bhp dropping to 320 in the final variant.
There were also three different gearboxes on the V8.
The earliest was the 722.3/4 which is a 4 speed box. Very strong and reliable and completely hydraulic control.
The second was the 722.5, essentially a 722.4 with an electrically controlled 5th gear bolted to the back of the box.
The last was the 722.6 which is s modern fully electronically controlled 5 speed gearbox and arguably the best of all though less reliable than the earlier ones.

The last of the non-AMG V8s you'll find is the M113. This is a robust and strong engine but somewhat less characterful and less powerful than the M119 having only 302bhp. This is due to having 24v instead of 32, no variable valve timing and a single camshaft per bank instead of 2. These were fitted from around 2001.
 
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ajlsl600

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The 500 every time, I think the folks who are telling you it’s mega expensive are getting mixed up with the later SL(230) model 500


once you had one for a yr, YOU wont be mixing them up !!!..
 

LostKiwi

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once you had one for a yr, YOU wont be mixing them up !!!..
True! We drove the 129 down to Beziers. Lovely relaxing trip. Doubt it would have been quite so relaxing in the 230!
But not because it's not a relaxing cruiser, just the attendant niggle of ABC...
 

Wearsafoxhat

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The M113’s where fitted from 1998 so don’t be fooled into thinking you have a M119 engine. There are obvious visible differences, the M113 has two spark plugs per cylinder for one,

Where can you go to get this wealth of knowledge and selection personal opinions eh.

All you have to do now is decide which you prefer then find one. I would take a few out for test drives but work you way up the engine sizes or stop when you feel happy and go no further.
If you drive a 500 I think you will want one.

Again, once you have chosen a model you can ask on here for more info, what to look for etc.


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LostKiwi

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The M113’s where fitted from 1998 so don’t be fooled into thinking you have a M119 engine. There are obvious visible differences, the M113 has two spark plugs per cylinder for one,

Where can you go to get this wealth of knowledge and selection personal opinions eh.

All you have to do now is decide which you prefer then find one. I would take a few out for test drives but work you way up the engine sizes or stop when you feel happy and go no further.
If you drive a 500 I think you will want one.

Again, once you have chosen a model you can ask on here for more info, what to look for etc.


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You're correct of course it was 1998 they fitted the M113 - don't know why I put 2001 - that was the year they stopped making them!
 

ajlsl600

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True! We drove the 129 down to Beziers. Lovely relaxing trip. Doubt it would have been quite so relaxing in the 230!
But not because it's not a relaxing cruiser, just the attendant niggle of ABC...


frankly Alistair that and the barby brake system ie countdown to no brakes ! . are the main reason i sold mine , whilst neither system gave meany real hassle ,i had the distinct impression that it was just a matter of time.. as i also made the choice to give up work i thought it sensible to to avoid the inevitable, sad tho . i drive the 01 W208 without a care in the world .as i am sure you do with 129 . thinkin on puttin a bar on the back of NG and makin small trailer for muts . if i get bored , fat chance around here!
 

LostKiwi

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frankly Alistair that and the barby brake system ie countdown to no brakes ! . are the main reason i sold mine , whilst neither system gave meany real hassle ,i had the distinct impression that it was just a matter of time.. as i also made the choice to give up work i thought it sensible to to avoid the inevitable, sad tho . i drive the 01 W208 without a care in the world .as i am sure you do with 129 . thinkin on puttin a bar on the back of NG and makin small trailer for muts . if i get bored , fat chance around here!
Thev129 isn't completely without worry (it's 26 years old after all) but there's a feeling that you have at least a half a chance to limp off a motorway to figure out a repair to get you home.
 

ajlsl600

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Thev129 isn't completely without worry (it's 26 years old after all) but there's a feeling that you have at least a half a chance to limp off a motorway to figure out a repair to get you home.

xactly..
 


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