Mercedes-Benz SL (1989 – 2001) Review

Mercedes-Benz SL (1989 – 2001) At A Glance

4/5

+Still looks good, even thought it's now over 25 years old, best bet is the 224bhp SL320 V6 with five-speed automatic gearbox from June 1998

-Heavy, separate hard-top, uninspiring handling.

The 1989 Mercedes-Benz SL was a revolution for its maker. At a stroke, it banished the 1970s styling of its predecessor, it favour of an up-to-the-minute look overseen by Bruno Sacco. It was such a successful styling job, that the R129 remained in production for more than a decade, and still looked fresh at the end of its life. But the SL's beauty was more than skin deep - it was packed with technology.

Alongside the power-operated roof, it featured and dual-range four-speed automatic gearbox, and some SLs even came with suspension that lowered itself at speed. But passive safety moved to another level, thanks to a pop-up roll-over bar, that reacted within milliseconds of an impending roll-over, and a profusion of airbags and traction/stability systems. Six-cylinder 300 has either 190bhp or 231bhp in 24-valve twin-cam form; the 500 packed a 32-valve 326bhp V8 and later ones could be had with a five-speed auto. Unlike earlier SLs, these have the performance to be considered proper sports cars.

Ask Honest John

What comfortable but reasonably fast car would you suggest on a £35k budget?

"I have owned a sports car as a second car for many years and currently have a BMW M2. Due to advancing years and the poor state of the roads I would like a car with a more pliant suspension but still reasonably fast. I would appreciate any suggestions for a small (the M2 width only just fits my garage) two or four seater car for around £35,000, either new, used or classic."
You could get a really nice Mazda MX-5 well within budget. It won't be as fast as your BMW M2 but it'll be a lot of fun in a different kind of way - and it's relatively soft compared to other sports cars. Alternatively, you could go down the classic route - an R129 generation Mercedes SL (sold between 1989 and 2001) is a modern classic with compliant suspension.
Answered by Andrew Brady

Is a Mercedes-Benz SL a sensible buy as a classic?

"I am in love with classic Mercedes-Benz SLs, especially R107 models built between 1970 and 1989. Finding a Mercedes-Benz R107 at a good price and in good condition, especially late RHD SL500 (242 BHP) models, is increasingly difficult. The LHD SL560 produced from 1985 only for US, Japan and Australia seems tempting. What are the potential pitfalls of importing one? What would you look for where and who could help? What are the insurance and emissions implications? The European 560 SEC the 560 V8 produced 296 or 275 BHP (latter with catalyst). Are all 560 SLs restricted by US-required emissions equipment to 227 BHP? Is it possible to remove the emissions equipment from a 560SL to unleash its full potential? "
I'm afraid you've missed the boat on R107s. Ten years ago, prices were competitive but not any more. It's unlikely that you'll save any money on importing one by the time you've paid fees, shipping and VAT... and that's before your planned modifications. As power seems to be high on your list of requirements, have a look at the R129 series that replaced the R107 as these can still be found for under £10k.
Answered by Keith Moody

I'm looking for a fun convertible for £14,000 - what do you advise?

"I've got £10,000 - £14,000 to buy a car that's a bit of fun. It won't be driven over huge mileages - I've got a diesel Skoda Superb for that. But I've never had a vehicle that's been genuinely exciting. It has to have four seats and my son is keen for it to be a convertible. I was thinking maybe an Audi S4."
I'd be tempted to invest in a classic (or future classic) that's bottomed out in value. Something like a Porsche 996 911 or Mercedes-Benz R129 SL will be a lot of fun, while also being very different to your Skoda Superb. They'll take a bit more maintenance and you'll need to do your research before buying one, but buy well and you won't lose a penny in depreciation. Combine this with cheap classic insurance and you could be onto a winner.
Answered by Andrew Brady

What's the best way to sell my classic car?

"I have a lovely 1999 Mercedes-Benz 320 SL. It has 84,000 miles on the clock and a full service history. A house move is forcing a reluctant sale. Where do you think the best place to advertise this would be? What would be a fair asking price?"
In terms of valuing the car, the best thing to do is have a look at the classifieds adverts in print and online. Find a model similar to yours and price it accordingly - values for R129 SL vary greatly at the moment. You can find them for between £6000 and £14,000. How you sell the car depends on how much time you've got. To maximise the Mercedes' value, you'll need to sell it privately - but that can be time-consuming as you'll need to take pictures, write a decent description, and answer lots of questions and phone calls. At the other end of the spectrum, you could sell it through an auction house but you'll have commission and fees taking a bite out of your selling price.
Answered by Keith Moody
More Questions

What does a Mercedes-Benz SL (1989 – 2001) cost?