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  #1  
Old 09-21-2006, 06:18 PM
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R129 electrical gremlins, buyer beware!

Looked at a '94 R129 SL500 today 85K miles, thought I was going to make a deal. Until I viewed the car and had it inspected. It was a total mess even though it was driveable. Fuses blowing, ABS, ASR lights, soft top wouldn't go up, throwing multiple codes, it was so bad I told the technician doing the inspection to cut it short. Told the seller to take a hike.

Bottom line, don't buy a R129 with an iffy history, and invest in a MB mechanic inspection report, as well as Carfax. While beautiful, fast, and solid, they are NOT like 107's with minimal electronic dependecies.

But I'm sure evberybody knew that.

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  #2  
Old 09-21-2006, 06:31 PM
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Like they say nothing is more expensive than a cheap mercedes
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Old 09-21-2006, 08:02 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by snowbilt View Post
Like they say nothing is more expensive than a cheap mercedes
No kidding! The car was priced up there with blue book so the seller was kidding themselves. I can find original owner but higher mileage 1990-1991 R129's all day long, but I'm holding out for a later year version.
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Old 09-21-2006, 09:05 PM
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Don't hold up too long...cause we all might be in 230 forum by then
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Old 09-21-2006, 10:09 PM
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I have a different point of view on high mileage. My 98 had 87,000 on it when I purchased it. It was a one owner and had ALL the records from the benz dealership in San Antonio. Believe me from the looks of the records he had everything done at the stealership. What is weird is looking at the car it is very very clean and well taken car of. Believe me this guy had it detailed twice a year the dealership, I have the invoice. Also, it had several of the problems you see on here daily fixed already. So my thoughts are mileage isn't the issue it is the upkeep. If you have records to back it up then I say go for it. I mean really if you found a 94 with say 30,000 miles on it you have to ask yourself. Has this car been drove enough to find issues?

Anybody wants to share their views of mileage please do,
Snow
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  #6  
Old 09-22-2006, 12:57 AM
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So, what was the asking price of that 94 SL500 with 87K miles? I bought a 91 SL300 with 90K on the clock when it was 9 years old. I don't regret it. I've had no serious issues with the car electrically or mechanically. These cars are more complex than most and they do have some "quirks". The soft top controller gets confused easily, but is also easy to reset. ABS and ASR lights might just be an OVP fuse. I wouldn't own this car if I was totally at the mercy of the dealership for maintenance; too costly. But as I am a halfway decent wrench and enjoy auto tinkering, my expenses have been minimal. If you want no hassle transportation, buy a Toyota Camry. If you want style and class, it's hard to beat the 129's.
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Old 09-22-2006, 10:52 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by snowbilt View Post
I have a different point of view on high mileage. My 98 had 87,000 on it when I purchased it. It was a one owner and had ALL the records from the benz dealership in San Antonio. Believe me from the looks of the records he had everything done at the stealership. What is weird is looking at the car it is very very clean and well taken car of. Believe me this guy had it detailed twice a year the dealership, I have the invoice. Also, it had several of the problems you see on here daily fixed already. So my thoughts are mileage isn't the issue it is the upkeep. If you have records to back it up then I say go for it. I mean really if you found a 94 with say 30,000 miles on it you have to ask yourself. Has this car been drove enough to find issues?

Anybody wants to share their views of mileage please do,
Snow
Chris,
I absolutely agree with you! It's the maintenance, not the mileage (insert parenthetical stupid) I got my '87 560SL with 83K on it, and because of the documented care taken by the previous owner + what I've done since I've owned it (10 years) the car is rock solid. Loved your earlier quote about nothing being more expensive than a cheap Mercedes! Some buyers don't seem to 'get it', but the axiom is true....you get what you pay for.

Bob
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  #8  
Old 09-22-2006, 09:20 PM
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Originally Posted by snowbilt View Post
Has this car been drove enough to find issues?
Or is it been in the shop for most of it's time???
Very good point!
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Old 09-22-2006, 11:03 PM
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Originally Posted by tecqboy View Post
So, what was the asking price of that 94 SL500 with 87K miles?

$14,000. He thought the top was the only thing it needed. Wrong-o!
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  #10  
Old 09-23-2006, 10:46 AM
88Black560SL
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by snowbilt View Post
I have a different point of view on high mileage. My 98 had 87,000 on it when I purchased it. It was a one owner and had ALL the records from the benz dealership in San Antonio. Believe me from the looks of the records he had everything done at the stealership. What is weird is looking at the car it is very very clean and well taken car of. Believe me this guy had it detailed twice a year the dealership, I have the invoice. Also, it had several of the problems you see on here daily fixed already. So my thoughts are mileage isn't the issue it is the upkeep. If you have records to back it up then I say go for it. I mean really if you found a 94 with say 30,000 miles on it you have to ask yourself. Has this car been drove enough to find issues?

Anybody wants to share their views of mileage please do,
Snow
I agree 100%. My 1986 has 200K my 88 has 125K and I just got rid of my 92 and 93 Tauruses with 170K and 230K. All are or were mechanically sound. The 560SL's did need alot of work to get them up to par but these are things that generally should have been taken care of throught there lives. The 93 Tauruse I owned since new so it was never allowed to deteriorate. Steady and proffesional maintenance is what a non DIY owner needs to look for. If you can do it all yourself then the only thing you need to look for is rust.


John Roncallo

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