What upgrades add value to your R129?

[KenSilver]

I'm in the process of putting on new rims, and maybe upgrading the rear lights on my 93 SL500. My front lights were clear-sided with halogens when I bought it.

All very nice to look at.

But how much more can you add to a R129 without throwing money away? A lot of these improvements just add to the saleability, not the value... rather like a new front door for your house.

So I can put on (in NZ dollars):
- $5,000 rims,
- $2,000 two-slot panel
- $7,000 AMG bumpers

to my $50,000 SL500.

I already have a
- new hi-lite boot lid ($1,000) and
- painted out the lower panels and bumper ($1,500)

But I'm unlikely to get $66,500 back for it.

So is there something else I could be doing? - apart from buying a new dashboard with zero miles on as one poster in another forum has done to his Silver Arrow look-alike.

Or is depreciation and general aging going to suck the life-blood out of my "investment" like everything else? (I know nothing lasts forever)

Ken Silver
--------------
~1993 SL500, glistening triple black, xenons: http://www.kensilver.com/SL
~1999 SLK 230 Kompressor, silver/black leather, CD, immaculate (my wife's)

[henryk1]

Adding things to your car, in my opinion, will add NO value to the car at resale..........it may sell the car quicker, but I seriously doubt that you will get more for it. This has been proven many times in the past, with many cars.

One does it only because one really wants it, and doesn't think of reselling the car, at the time.

This is generally true in the USA........I don't know about NZ.

[KenSilver]

Yes, it's a bit odd... when you can add a garage costing $5000 to a house worth $200,000 and raise its value by $20,000.

Cars - with few and classic exceptions - always go down in price.

Ken Silver
--------------
~1993 SL500, glistening triple black, xenons: http://www.kensilver.com/SL
~1999 SLK 230 Kompressor, silver/black leather, CD, immaculate (my wife's)
~1991 Daimler, shiny grey/grey leather, best in country!
~ex 350SL, 230E, 280E, MX5 and a lot of other makes not nearly as nice.

[henryk1]

Not odd at all, really. While a home always appreciates, a car always depreciates!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Now add solid gold faucets in your home, and see if you will get much more for it..........I doubt it.

It all depends on what you do. While a $2000 fireplace will increase the value of the home $2000...........a $20,000 fireplace will still only increase the value by $2000......or maybe $3,000.............but NEVER by the original $20,000.

So one must be careful with even homes. Cars are ALWAYS a loss.

[KenSilver]

Originally posted by henryk1
...Cars are ALWAYS a loss.

Would you say the same for your Ferraris? I note worldwide that good models of those ages are climbing in value again... the old bell curve formula in play.

And of the three MB's I've had, ALL were sold at a profit!

That's not likely to be the case with my current two, but SLK's are renowned for their low depreciation so that's a good buy too.

Ken Silver
--------------
~1993 SL500, glistening triple black, xenons: http://www.kensilver.com/SL
~1999 SLK 230 Kompressor, silver/black leather, CD, immaculate (my wife's)
~1991 Daimler, shiny grey/grey leather, best in country!
~ex 350SL, 230E, 280E, MX5 and a lot of other makes not nearly as nice.

[RickM]

I mostly agree with Henry. The rule is typically that a car will depreciate with few exceptions. Even most Ferraris depreciate.

As for add-ons, the motive should be that you enjoy them. That's getting your moneys worth. But remember the rims you love may turn others off. How does that increase value? My approcah is to remove certain accessories and return stock parts when selling a car. It can be offerd to the potential purchaser for additional cost or sold out right. I find this to be the best strategy for recovering the cost.

[bwheitman]

I have always felt as a collector, the best cars are the cars that are all original. Your car is gourgous the way it is, the rims are my favorite that MB has ever produced, and the HID headlights really brighten it's smile. Keeping a car the way it is would be the best if you are keeping it for an investment. If you add upgrades or change the appearance, make sure it is something that you want and enjoy, because when fellow collectors and I are looking for cars, I will always buy the original over the "upgraded" or cars that have add-ons.

Happy Motoring!
Brian

[KenSilver]

Good points RickM and bwheitman. I suppose I've never thought of the R129 as a collectable, but I agree on being able to return it to original is a good idea.

I did that with my 350SL by keeping the original 14" rims when I put on the 16".

Ken Silver
--------------
~1993 SL500, glistening triple black, xenons: http://www.kensilver.com/SL
~1999 SLK 230 Kompressor, silver/black leather, CD, immaculate (my wife's)
~1991 Daimler, shiny grey/grey leather, best in country!
~ex 350SL, 230E, 280E, MX5 and a lot of other makes not nearly as nice.

[jjrodger]

Add ons or upgrades are never likely to increase it's value. I would only make the changes because you want to, because you'll get more out of the car as a result. There is nothing in wrong in making the car your hobby; all hobbies are sad and expensive.

Beware that many changes can reduce both the saleability and the value of your car. Many buyers seek out originality and are suspicious of changes.

I too really like the 8 hole rims on your car. I think they really suit the R129.

[KenSilver]

Originally posted by jjrodger
...I too really like the 8 hole rims on your car. I think they really suit the R129.

They're nice alright, but my 16" don't fill out the wheel arches along the body line. Instead they have a slightly sunken look, giving it a 70's Ford Escort appearance.

Every stunning-looking car I've seen has oversize rims...from 18"-20".

The 18" looks particularly good on the R129 because it balances out the body visually. Standard rims seem a bit small for it.

Ken Silver
--------------
~1993 SL500, glistening triple black, xenons: http://www.kensilver.com/SL
~1999 SLK 230 Kompressor, silver/black leather, CD, immaculate (my wife's)
~1991 Daimler, shiny grey/grey leather, best in country!
~ex 350SL, 230E, 280E, MX5 and a lot of other makes not nearly as nice.

[elau]

Originally posted by KenSilver
They're nice alright, but don't fill out the wheel arches along the body line. Instead they have a slightly sunken look, giving it a 70's Escort appearance.

Every stunning-looking car I've seen has oversize rims...from 18"-20".

The 18" looks particularly good on the R129 because it balances out the body visually. Standard rims seem a bit small for it.

My sentiment exactly. I would love to upgrade mine to 18" AMG when I can afford to. The original wheels are just too small. However, I would make sure whatever upgrade done to my car can be reversed to it's original form just in case I have to sell the car, though I plan on keeping mine for years to come. And keep every original parts that ever come off.

[Bruce Hat]

well guys, I just upgraded my sl to AMG 17" rims and tires. I think it adds to the cars looks. Not even interested if I get any money back. It's my car, I enjoy driving it, etc. Most probaly it will be many many years before the 129 will come into collecter status. By then I hope to have upgraded to a 2003 SL, he he

[spinedoc]

Ken try and keep it factory. ie: if you are going with the 18" keep it factory AMG, and keep the original factory rims in your garage. I upgraded my SL to the 18" AMG factory spec so if I sell it I can say it is still "factory", and I kept the original rims to go along with the car in case of a conservative buyer.

You will not believe what an incredible upgrade going to the 18's will be, the car is a totally different beast then, both in looks and performance.

[KenSilver]

Interesting comments, all.

I agree about keeping it factory - or at least giving it the ability to return to factory without major mods.

For that reason I would upgrade:
- rims
- steering wheel
- AMG body.

I don't know about changing the tail lights now... since these are strictly speaking a post-98 feature. To match the body fully means I'd have to change the side panel to a 2-slot. This would be a 'false' upgrade because the rest of the car is obviously not a post-98 model. But the smooth tail lights do look nice.

So I would not change:
- 3 slot panel to 2 slot
- side mirrors

for the same reason that it would look totally out of spec.

But I did take the headlight wipers off (a later model change), simply because they offended my sensibilities!

Ken Silver
--------------
~1993 SL500, glistening triple black, xenons: http://www.kensilver.com/SL
~1999 SLK 230 Kompressor, silver/black leather, CD, immaculate (my wife's)
~1991 Daimler, shiny grey/grey leather, best in country!
~ex 350SL, 230E, 280E, MX5 and a lot of other makes not nearly as nice.

[KenSilver]

Originally posted by spinedoc
...You will not believe what an incredible upgrade going to the 18's will be, the car is a totally different beast then, both in looks and performance.

With those sorts of comments, I'm looking forward to it!