a new R129 owner...

Justin85

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Joined
Jan 20, 2018
Messages
20
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10
Location
Oxford
Your Mercedes
2000 R129 SL500 / 1991 W126 420SEL
Hello everyone,

I'm the pleased owner of a new to me 2000 R129 SL500. I already own a 1991 W126 420SEL and several other non-Mercedes cars (Peugeots and Alfas).

I picked the SL up from Italy last Saturday. It's a RHD UK car which has spent it's time between the UK and Italy from the looks of the history. As the previous owner was moving to Asia to start a new job, the car came up for sale, and I was first in the queue!

I picked it up from Pisa on Saturday afternoon and drove the 1007 miles home on Sunday. Pleasingly it didn't miss a beat, and averaged 33mpg - thanks, no doubt, to the excellent, smooth and traffic free roads throughout France and Italy!

It's Amber Red with Saffron Leather, complete with Pano roof and ADS2. It's covered 100,000 miles, needs a bit of bodywork due to a few bumper scuffs and parking dings, and a good cleanup. There's a reasonable amount of sevrice history, and all the fluids had been recently refreshed. It also had 4 new Michelin PS4's fitted just before I bought it which was a pleasing sign.

I was looking forward to getting stuck in to the fun jobs I had planned to get it where I'd like it to be, but on Monday it threw a power steering leak which necessitated me removing the tandem pump....as I was doing that it seemed daft not to change the serpentine belt, tensioner and idler pulley as they all appeared orginal. On inspection, the harmonic balancer looks a little worse for wear, so I'll change that too whilst I'm at it.

I've already asked an ADS question - sure it will be the first of many!

Thanks,
Justin.
 

V6Matty

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Aug 1, 2012
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Location
Newark, Nottinghamshire
Your Mercedes
S212/2010/E350 (His) W246/2016/B200 (Hers)
Welcome Justin,
Sounds like you hae the making of a nice 129 there, no experience personally but always admired them
 

A.J.

Senior Member
Joined
May 31, 2015
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Location
Norwich. UK
Your Mercedes
UnMerc - 2020 VW Polo 2.0t GTi Plus, DSG. Flash Red, Traditional VW GTi Tartan seat trim.
Hi Justin, welcome to the forum :)
 

LostKiwi

Senior Member
Joined
Aug 25, 2006
Messages
31,328
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Location
Midlands / Charente-Maritime
Your Mercedes
'93 500SL-32, '01 W210 Estate E240 (RIP), 02 R230 SL500, 04 Smart Roadster Coupe, 11 R350CDi
Hi Justin and welcome from another 129 owner - I just wish mine did 33mpg through France (where it is at the moment)!
 

mikestrivens

Senior Member
Joined
Nov 21, 2008
Messages
2,715
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147
Location
Stockport
Your Mercedes
1995 W124 320TE, 1998 R129 SL500, 2016 Triumph Tiger 800 XCx
Welcome from another R129 owner.
 

Srdl

Senior Member
Joined
Oct 8, 2015
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Location
Hampshire
Your Mercedes
GLC43 AMG 2018 (X253)
Hi Justin and welcome to the forum. That’s certainly a lovely drive as the start of your new adventure with a new car.
 

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