R129 SL

OP
dbanbery

dbanbery

Senior Member
Joined
Nov 11, 2008
Messages
1,206
Reaction score
76
Location
Huddersfield
Your Mercedes
1995 R129 SL500
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #141
OK, so i couldnt be bothered to get some decent pics sorted, as we got back in the dark and i want to give it a bit of a fettle tomorrow if i get time between helping my dad with his 722.6 box valve block bits etc...

photo-1_zps37aa41f5.jpg


1995, cruise, heated seats, everything seems to work apart from the sidelights [not even checked if its a bulb as of yet]

bit of a coughy tickover that was traced to the MAF sensor in january by a specialist [in the history]

it came with a lot of history, mainly receipts for £500 ++ including some french ones too.

the faults:
may need a MAF or something else to cure slight tickover issue [it hasnt done it since the 130 mile run though from what i can remember]
condensation in headlamp
bulbs in odometer dont work
blower motor noisy on full power
walnut interior parts a little tatty
passenger speaker cover tatty
cush drive needs replacing as there is a little bit of the shunt in the drivetrain when you hit the throttle at motorway speed
no wind diffuser
no handbook
handling slightly vague, i reckon it will be either some anti roll bar bushes or at worst it will be rear shocks. of something else. i have looked at the cost of parts and since i will be doing it myself its unlikely to be expensive.
a loose heatshield somewhere?

despite this, it has obviously been well looked after, paint was spot on, so far i have found one tiny dent on one of the bonnet wings. no scratches, no rust. the engine pulls like a train, the box shifts smoothly and quickly shifts down in sport mode. very fast. NO ADS, engine and underside of the car was dry - no ATF, coolant, or oil anywhere it shouldnt be. the soft top works as it should, the hood is in good condition with a tiny bit of fraying around the bottom in one area. The rear windows are all perfect.

everything electric works, brakes etc everything seems fine.

altogether i'm really happy. there are always things to do when you buy a new car, and i think the list i have some people may think there is a lot to do, there isnt in my opinion. the previous one whcih was the first one i drove was in worse condition, and it had less miles and was for sale for nearly twice the price of this. and it was older.

With regard to the potential wiring loom problems; i am of this opinion:

everything seems to work as it should, there doesnt seem to be any unexplainable faults and the wiring i could get hold of seemed to be in good condition. i may explore further, and if need be will tackle the job in hand if its required.

it has been a good day, and this was a nice christmas present to myself. :D
 

television

Always remembered RIP
Joined
Mar 14, 2005
Messages
164,073
Reaction score
367
Age
89
Location
Daventry
Your Mercedes
2002 SL500, 216 CL500, all fully loaded
Excellent and a good buy as the body etc are the most expensive parts to get right.

Without going through you complete list, the walnut fittings are dead easy to restore, just take them off, flat with 1000 paper and get a clear lacquer top coat spray and give them 2 or 3 coats, leave them in the warm for a few days, flat with 15oo paper and polish with T cut then a plastic polish and you will get a very good finish.

The MAF should not affect idle.

When replacing the cluster bulbs change the 3 main ones at the same time for the others usually fail when taking the cluster out .
 

hairyg

Senior Member
Joined
Nov 29, 2006
Messages
649
Reaction score
1
Age
79
Location
Worcestershire
Website
www.vegetarian-and-low-calorie-recipes.com
Your Mercedes
R129 (1994) SL320
Looks like a nice buy to me.
The vague steering could just be the steering damper, easy to check and cheap to replace. Free off one end and check to see if there is much resistance, if not fit a new one. I had similar sounding doubts about my steering/suspension but a new damper cured them.
 
OP
dbanbery

dbanbery

Senior Member
Joined
Nov 11, 2008
Messages
1,206
Reaction score
76
Location
Huddersfield
Your Mercedes
1995 R129 SL500
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #144
cheers for the comments.

the first thing i'll do is look at the distributor caps [if it has them LOL] i havent checked those yet.

the vagueness maybe on the rear end.. i'm going to have a poke about when the weather improves.

oh, i spent £3100 btw. i think thats a good price and i don't think they are going to get much cheaper than that!

i have a duplicate service book, and its been serviced on time throughout its life.
 
OP
dbanbery

dbanbery

Senior Member
Joined
Nov 11, 2008
Messages
1,206
Reaction score
76
Location
Huddersfield
Your Mercedes
1995 R129 SL500
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #145
Had a look at the sidelights and it seems that someone fitted some led items. I haven't got any spares down here so I can't tell whether its the bulbs or something more sinister. These things look cheap, so ill be putting in some standard bulbs. I couldn't find the correct fuse to check in the engine fuse box either :-/
 

Comand Online Ltd is a specialist supplier of Mercedes Navigation Disks, Phone & Bluetooth, iPod, DAB, CD and other COMAND retrofit parts to enhance your vehicle.www.comandonline.co.uk
Top Bottom