1992 500SL should I part it out or sell whole?

[badgator]

148k mi R129 SL500
Has FL salvage / rebuildable title
Good Palomino seat bottoms
Hit in front
Top actually works and no apparent leaks
AMG wheels

I bought a 93 with 70k mi the week after I picked up this one.

[tecqboy]

There's a vendor on e-bay that sells after market front bumpers for SL's for less than $300 IIRC. They are plastic, rather than the fiber glass originals. If it's running OK, I'd fix it up on a $750 paint and repair budjet and sell it. Up here in Wisconsin, a rust free car like that would sell.

[badgator]

I located a complete black bumper for 325 including crash foam and inner bumper, but I have 3 other 500SL's to take care of already.

[tecqboy]

I personnaly feel that the 129's are rare beauties; near classic. There were very few produced. So, I don't like to see them parted out. They should be out on the road. You rarely see one up here in the northern states. Most production cars are treated like commodities. But this is no used-up Kia. I know the prices aren't good right now. Sell it on e-bay as a whole. Be honest about the condition. Avoid the Craig's list thing.

[abiby]

As you sound like you're saying you don't have the time to fix it, then you pretty much answer your own question.

You should sell it intact. Lots of time and work in disassembly and selling parts, not to mention the probably extensive time it would still be sitting in your way.

[97 SL320]

The R129 market is flooded with cars being broken for parts. The high value items are front end body parts and that is about it. Odd nubbins will be slow to sell and you will have to sit on the car for a while. ( I did see your car for sale as I follow the market. )

The bumpers on these cars are plastic and not fiberglass but, the plastic is only semi flexible so it tends to crack / tear when hit.

The car looks like a easy fix and value goes up but not to much more than 5 - 6,000 I'd think.

[EuroRash]

Do you still have the instrument cluster?

I'm looking for a deal on one (analog OD type), since I have a short on one of the PCBs traces that is effecting my engine temp indicator.

eBay prices are too high, for a faction of that I could just send it in for repair.

I semi retired military so on a tight budget.

[Mal]

If you decide to part it out please message me. My 94 sl320 needs quite a few body parts.

[Roncallo]

It will part out for 10 to 15 K over a 3 year period if your up to it.

[Mal]

Does yours run? It might make more sense to buy yours and repair it.

My sl320 needs body repair. Engine runs great. Im having the center bearing replaced tomorrow.
I sure wish yours was black on black. I rarely see black on black which I like.

Though having a 500 over a 320 is a draw.