Mercedes Benz R 129 versus R 107 which is the better car 4K 

It’s hard to compare these 2 models. Design is a persons taste. I own a 88‘ 560sl and would not trade it for any R129. People love to see cars with a late 60‘s design. I admit, any modern Roadster is faster, more comfortable and probably more reliable. Also parts are readily available. But non of these new cars brings me back to my childhood, where my dad worked for Mercedes Benz in Stuttgart and could not ever afford an R107. I truly love them thanks for your Reports which are interesting and cost you quite some time.

Pierre is so fun to watch. He starts out as if the video is the last thing in the WORLD he wants to do, but once he gets going, you're reminded that he's THE MAN!

Right on . Love my 1986 560 SL R107 . Always get compliments as you said and very reliable being purely a mechanical car. Thanks

Merci Pierre, for this video. I have a r129 95 sl 320 (m104) and a w116 450se 1975. When a good Mercedes gets old, it needs of course a lot a maintenance. For me, the r129 is the last sl of the Mercedes good era. Still modern today, nice handling and really looks Mercedes as it should ... My r129 has 140,000 miles on the clock. No leak, everything is dry. Yes, the wiring harness has been changed, water and air pump, etc. And I consider it as normal. I am sure that in ten or 15 years, r129 will be more appreciated in value...and pleasure! Of course, I don't like the electric top, electric everything, even the inside mirror adjustement. But the car drives in a much modern way than the r107. Reading everybody down here, I think that the classic Mercedes we have is always the best... Thank you!

mechanical issues aside. The r129 is a 90s icon and it was the CEO car of Choice and Was considered the safest convertible in the world at the time. Now this is just my opinion I have owned a r107 560SL it was beautiful to look at but not fun to drive. Now I own a 2002 SL500 Silver arrow the farewell car to the R129 lineup. This car is a absolute joy to Drive. it is very powerful and comfortable the r129 just makes you want to get in and travel and it will go up in value. it is the last Manual hardtop/ragtop Hand built Mercedes roadster. Now The only reason why R107‘s went up in value Is because W113s are too expensive!

I live in the UK and owned an R107 300SL in Signal Red for fourteen years. The car was an absolute delight. The last of the chrome Mercedes. The fact that the model ran from 1971 to '89 without a single change to any body panel throughout its production is a testament to how right Mercedes got its design. It was both a durable car and a reliable car and here in the UK, like elsewhere, it remains a favourite in classic car circles. I sold it in 2018 for a lot of money, In 2015 I purchased an R129 500SL which came off the Bremen production line in October 1989. I particularly wanted an early "066" chassis and one without a catalytic converter. These were the most powerful versions of the standard 5L V8 cars and were built to a level recognised as the Mercedes norm during previous decades. This would not last, as the winds of change were already blowing through Daimler Benz and the "best or nothing " ethos was killed off after W140 and you started to see that in terms of the R129's various makeovers in '93, '95 and '98. That sense of "Mercedesness" was watered down. Nevertheless the R129 is a durable and reliable car. Like any used car purchase, success lies in buying the best maintained, best condition vehicle and then keeping on top of its maintenance. This is no different for either the R107 or R129. The only real issue I had with the R129 was easy to fix, relating to rotors. But side by side in my garage there was no mistaking that my SLs were automobiles designed and built to a standard that would see them relevant and useable for decades. Personally, I think comparing the R107 with the R129 is the wrong comparison. W113 is the most appropriate comparator for R107. R129 was launched at the onset of the digital age. How does it compare with the R230?

Love my 560SL. Wouldn't trade it for a r129. Just a classy smooth ride. Always get compliments. I keep mine really well maintained and have done preventative maintenance and, knock on wood, don't have any problems at all. Only 68k miles on it... but she is thirsty and there's no real way to improve gas mileage. Lol

I’ve owned both and I still own the R129 . I loved the design of the r107 but the drive and construction of the R129 win hands down . My R129 has never broken down . I have owned it’s for 18 years . I have never had an electrical fault . My r107 was reliable but broke down several times in 9 years of ownership . You say that all the faults re roof, water pump etc come at once . Not my experience

I have a 96 r129 280SL for the last 22 years. It has 83k on the clock. The car has been very reasonable to maintain with no big failures. This car is no V8 performer but good enough to cruise in town and on country roads. The r129 is a modern classic without the r107 rust issues.

Agree! As owner of an 88 R107 It is without a doubt a more beautiful and timeless classic.

Great Video! Exactly the info I’m looking for. Also, that wonderful beeping noise in your video had me turning my kitchen upside down until I realized its in your video. Thanks for your videos!

I think you made a credible, fact based case for the R one zero seven as the preferable car. I have never owned either and am delighted with my CLK at present. However, in my opinion they are both classy, excellent vehicles and I would be happy with either one. Excellent Video Pierre.

Great video,I get loads of admiring looks and comments when I take my R107 450sl out for a drive here in England

I love the early R129 1990-1992 cars. Particularly the inline 6 cylinder model, 300SL. I don't need nor want a gas guzzling V8 motor. The inline 6 is both smooth and provides plenty of power for someone like me who just likes to cruise around the top down. Also, the manual top of the R107 is easier to maintain but in real world use, it's going to get real old, real fast putting that top up and down, up and down, up and down each time you pull into store and need to lock your car up.

I owned a 560SL and spent thousands of dollars on it, replaced nearly everything mechanically, relays, EVERY rubber vacuum part and yet it never ever, ever, ever ran right. I now have a '91 300sl, much simpler and runs perfectly. Yes, the R107 got me more compliments while folks passed me broken down alongside the road. I'm happier driving much more now with fewer compliments and the wind in my hair lol! Would I preferred to keep the R107, yes of course, it was beautiful, iconic and desirable but for me it was the most frustrating car I have ever owned. Maybe if I lived closer to Pierre I would be driving it happily today.

I love this concept"analogness".I probably miss the spelling,but it makes sense what this guy says.Thank you,sir.

Agree other than reliability of the R107 it's about style. A buddy of mine has a early R129. We would often take the girls for a road trip together. Wherever we stopped people loved my 89 560 and barley noticed his R129.

R107 just what I wanted to hear. Thanks Pierre!

Great video! I have an '87 R107 560SL, a '98 R129 SL600, and an '07 R230 SL65 AMG, all (allegedly) with under 60k miles. They are like beautiful women: temperamental, and expensive to keep happy. But don't ask me to choose a favorite...they are each wonderful and exquisite in their own ways. And their monetary value/cost has nothing to do with how much I enjoy them.

Hi, Thanks for taking the time and interest to make this video. I have owned both and still have a 129. The 107 cars have good engines once you get the beyond the early single roller timing chains, but they have their share of fuel injection issues. Cold start valve, IAC, EHA valve etc. A good 107 is a low or no rust example or you will just keep finding deeper rust as you disassemble it beyond what you see. The 107 soft top is totally manual vs the extensive automation on the 129's as you know, so the 107 has a clear advantage from a top reliability standpoint. I have replaced many actuators on my 129 and they aren't that bad to do thanks to youtube videos from Klaus. The 107 feels solid but a bit more "spindly" on narrow 14 or even 15 inch 205 tire Bundt wheels IMO. The 129 feels and is well planted. The 129 cars major drawback is the 94-to 98 biodegradable wiring harness, hence the reason I have a 1990 300SL, which once beyond the shrinking corner head gasket issue is addressed, is as reliable as a long life hammer and powerful enough to back road cruise or even highway motor at 80 mph. A real issue with 129's is finding replacement parts that aren't as worn as what your taking out. That in some areas is a deal breaker. If you let a 129 sit for months and don't start it drive it, and cycle the top, you increase your likelihood of early failure of one or more top seal components. In that regard it's a bit of a high maintenance car, I pay to store mine and start it once a month, drive it 20 to 30 minutes and cycle the top. I have the hardtop but have chose to leave it off. I will always have an SL. Always. I love the exclusivity of the cars and enjoy top down motoring. I drive a beater (old Buick) for 5 months out of the year to preserve my SL and I guess apparently to preserve my 50K mile W212 E class which is my summer sedan. Prior that I drove a 126 car- 380SE for almost 10 years as my daily driver. Thanks for posting, have a great day.

I’ve owned an R129 for 3 years. I can count on one hand how many people take an interest in it. I’ve owned a very nice W123 for 3 weeks. Everywhere I go people are coming up to me and asking about it/gawking at it. I enjoy driving the R129 more, especially on the interstate. I love the W123 more for the mechanics, quirkiness.

I wanted to say thank you for producing such high quality and informative content My love affair with MB started with my W124, I loved the car so much I longed for something even better and bought a W123 - 1984 300D I binge watch your content and have to say that it has elevated my enthusiasm for classic MB to almost obsessive. I’ve come to think of classic MB ownership as a privilege and an opportunity to steward something great for future generations I sincerely look forward to learning more and continuing to wrench on my own car, I can only hope a W126 and W108 are in my future as well As a side note my long suffering BMWs barely get driven now that I’ve discovered classic MB

The only bit of R 107 that I ever had was the exhaust muffler! My W116 (450SEL) needed one and none was available in the whole country and a custom muffler from an exhaust shop won't do for these sensitive jetronic engines. We tried the last MB dealer and he had the last R107 (450SL) muffler on the shelf, we had a look and it turned out all we needed was to make extensions to fit the longer 450SEL. Yes, I would go for the R107, it has beautifull curves and lines, especially the US models with the twin round headlights. The R107 reminds me of that doctor in 'Colombo', he drove a burgundy colored one.

I can tell this video was tough for you buddy haha. I love my 107 but still want to own an early 129 at some point

OK... Former dealer here, and to me there is no contest. The 107 is already a classic plus, if the metal termites have been kept at bay, you can usually fix the mechanicals. Sure, a few parts are getting tricky, but there are some out there, if you know where to look (and are willing to pay the price). The 107 has soul, like a 6.3 or 6.9 has soul; post-1990 Benzes have no soul. Yup, they're faster, quicker, better handling...but no soul.

Hello, I have a German 1991 300 SL r129 and it is very basic, no central locking, no airbags, no adjustable steering wheel, no headlight wipers, etc, basic m103 inline six is smooth and ultra reliable.

I do like the 129 and before buying my 560sl I was looking to 500sl and 320sl too …one day maybe :)

I was walking around the house, wondering if my alarm was about to go off when I realized it was part of the video lol

Good video again. Don't let them work you too much. You are doing a great job. I just hate that you are in FL and I'm in TX, lol... Oh well...

I took my 87 560SL thru the Walgreens pharmacy drive thru just a few days ago and the nice pharmacist said “I really like your car.” Later the same day I had a hankering for a P Terrys double chocolate shake, so off I go thru another drive thru; “nice car mister” was the nice comment a young gentleman passed along as he passed me my shake. A nice way to end a hot summer evening in Texas.

What you said about simplicity/complexity is exactly how I feel. I'm leaning towards getting a diesel w115 with manual everything, my only concession concession to luxury would be a manual sunroof... If only such a car were available in 7 months when my investments mature and are liquidated.

Great video man. I remember that the W129 pink was the Barbie's car.

For me the r107 is a winner but only the higher displacement v8s. The euro cars are definitely superior especially with the stripped down bare bones cars and the styling is better. And of course the infamous 500sl! But the r129 has more issues due to more complex systems, the styling is questionable (USA spec) and the top hydraulics are scary. But the r129 has some amazing engines, better interior room, superior suspension and brakes, and lastly, 5 speed transmissions and v12! The best r129 is probably the early 500sl with the cis m119 engine. They have a bit more hp than the later cars and are semi mechanical still. But the 300sl with the m104.980 and a 5 speed manual is also a sweet car! Bit even then, the 280sl with a 3rd pedal exists and it's a lot more pure and simple and a blast to drive still

Although I have to agree with Pierre that the R107s are nicer to own and operate than the R129, I like both cars

I have an acquaintance/friend who owns an SL600 r129 and he maybe drives it once a month. He told me that he bought it as an investment and also to enjoy hence why he hardly ever drives it. I've daily driven my 1980 500SL r107 for six years and personally don't see the point in not enjoying every aspect of ownership of one of Mercedes Benz most iconic designs ever. Great video thanks Pierre your point of view is a winning argument.

I owned two 1972 350SLs. I sold them both. Yes it is true that they get compliments at the gas station more often than R129 but I don’t really care. R129 is a much better car. It is a much safer and a solid driving car. I love the interior on R129 over R107 . Also about the soft top, if it stops working you can fold it manually . And I rebuilt all the cylinders on my 2000 SL500 in one day for $60. I don’t see that as a big problem . I will not go back to the R107s anymore . Just for the clean exhaust of what my SL500 has. Those 350SLs smelt horrible every morning . Also the R129 has better brakes , a quite engine and is a better driving experience.

I’ve always loved the R129…from the moment I first saw it in the late 80s magazine pages. It would be years before I’d see one in person…not too many SLs rolling around in Jackson, MS in the 90s. I don’t think a picture can do the pre-facelift cars justice. The car really is a masterpiece. I’m with you though, on the analog-ness. I’d love to have the manual air (which would require major surgery…well beyond the point of not being worth it) and a manual top (the top is kinda manual if you want it to be… if you have the tool handy…and a few minutes to spare) I get a few comments here and there about my 91 300SL. That doesn’t bother me so much after answering questions about my 240D at every stoplight for 4 years… I think both are great cars, but my nod goes to the R129. That’s the beauty of these cars though. We can find fault with all of them, really, if we tried hard enough… but even the most maddening faults tend to fade into the background when we’re driving along the beach, top down, favorite person by our side…

Love your content. Guys like you are gonna keep the sensible among us on the road when the whole EV fad goes “tits up” thank you from Ireland looking forward to much more 👍

A 129 that everything is operational on is hard to find.

For me both are gorgeous. The 129 was Sacco's swansong was it not? But I have to say I prefer the look of the early 129. I don't like the "sporty" look of the attempts to make the cars what they are not. If you need rapper style go buy some ludicrous supercar and make stupid fart noises around the hood with your free flow exhausts. That is not what Mercedes Benz's were ever about. And I'm so iconoclastic I even prefer the original two tone paint scemes with the differently hued lower cladding. But I do ultimately agree with Pierre, that the 107 will probably have a timelessness that the 129 will not quite achieve.

I really enjoy my '90 300SL ..but yes I would have preferred the manual top and climate control of the R107......but I have sorted those issues. Yes the R107's are maybe a little more 'classic' pretty but not with the American bumpers....the screens shots you used were the early 107 or euro bumper pics. I really like the C107's ....mmmm still catch my eye when I see them listed

I have a 1983 280sl I love it 😀 l have no problem with it.

Love my R107. Never driven an R129 so no idea on the comparison.

I prefer the R107 over the R129 model. Some day I like to own one. A R107 with a LS powertrain conversion is still a great car. . Just my opinion. 😁

Pierre, I'm totally with you. The R107 is "better" car... especially if one is working on it on his/her own..."wrench and a screw driver" is enough in most cases and parts have still a good availability. It also drives (especially 300SL) very nicely and modern way but has a classic look...a perfect combination. And yes, R129 is also a nice and great car but different. My 2 cents!

Comparing cars from different eras is a difficult business .

Pierre, Thank you for the overview. I know a guy who has a 1988 R107 but says that there is a water leak which enters the cabin and ends up on the floor...but he can't trace where the leak is coming from. Have you ever heard of this? If so what is needed before I consider purchasing.

After working extensively on both models over the years, I find both have their own pros and cons. The R129 is definitely more sophisticated, but sophistication isn’t always better. Love the analog simplicity of the R107.

Great job, GO BRANDEN

One thing you didn't mention is that the last years of R129 had the M113 engine which is very reliable and easy to work on. The M119 engine was such a great design hampered by problematic first generation EFI. That's why I jumped on my 1999 SL500.

I've owned a number of R107 Mercs, and to be sure, it is the better-looking car... The R129, on the other hand, is the better-built car in most respects, if not all and it is also not a bad-looking car. Mercedes put a lot of money and effort into making both the R129 and the W140 models better than the ones they replaced, and having owned many examples of both, the difference is readily observable and felt. On the other hand, the R107 has a fairly reliable manual top mechanism, (for example,) and in comparison, the top hydraulic system in the R129 can be an absolute nightmare to sort out! I would venture to say that my old 1964 1/2 Ford Mustang convertible had a better and more reliable top mechanism. Sure, the R129 top hydraulics operate and sound great when working properly, but the first time you have one of these cars "pee" on you, (when the hydraulic pump over the driver starts to leak!) you can be forgiven for losing your enthusiasm! My last R107 was a one-owner 1989 560SL and my current convertible is an R129 1999 SL500. Which one would I rather have? The choice will be a subjective one, rather than an objective one, but I would pick the R107 without hesitation. Yes, even though the R129 is the better and more powerful car. In my opinion, the same holds true when comparing the W126 Mercs to the W140 variants. The late 1990s Merc coupe and sedans (for example,) are better cars than the W126 Mercs they replaced, and you can "see" the difference, as well as "feel" the difference. Yet, I would rather have my old 1991 W126 560SEC over my current W140 S500 coupe. Yes, both the R129 and the W140 Mercs are much more complicated than the models they replaced, and yes, it is typically much easier to make repairs on the older, "analog" cars. Yet, when functioning properly, the latter models are clearly better. Unfortunately, it is especially in the "looks department" that the latter cars fail. (Though I get a surprising amount of compliments on my R129 SL500!)

Best year for an R 109? Thanks

The r129 doesn’t have any rust issues compared to the 107. I guess the metal and the coating was by far superior . Pierre which model you prefer between W113 and R107?

✋🏿Definitely R107 for me.

difference between R107-C107? Thanks

when I can find an r129 m120 with a bad wiring harness and bad hydraulics i will be happy to buy it. I have no problem fixing it when i buy it for the right price. the r 107 inmop sucked to drive. just was not comfortable or sporty. 126 reliable the 140 comfortable but not reliable. m104 m119 m120 m113 all good engines. just looked at a r 129 for sale for 3300.

Haha! “Don’t argue with me”. Im sure the later model is the “better” car in many ways, with many improvements. But its just not the gorgeous classic beauty which the R107 projects. The R129 with its 90s boxy Chrysler K- car-ish look doesn’t turn heads like the R107. Looks aside, the smarter money might favor the later model if choosing between the two.

Something about a R129 Manual 300SL calls to me.

If Joe had a 129 it would just be used to store documents next to his vet.

The reason you get the comments is because it looks like an old classic car and the r129 looks more modern. Nostalgia is the reason for comments. I’ll take r129 all day.

85 500sl and 86 300sl both euro superior models

Make some W124 videos!!!

Love the R107

Totally agree “the golden era ends with 126 and 124” the 107 is my dream car and I own a 116 sel. But I never wanted a 129…is just not for me.

R107 …. Is a global classic ..and more reliable in my opinion with manual roof 👍🏽 R129 has a lot more to go wrong tons of electrical crap including the electric roof 😱

If only I could get the SRS light off in my 560SL...

I grew up seeing some R129 around and that's why I'd pick R129 just because IMO it looks way cooler, especially those rare 2000+ models like SL500 or SL600 but only with exterior Sport Package. That sporty styling and AMG wheels make R129 look so much sportier. I mean I'd buy a 2000+ silver SL R129 with Sport Package over R107 without any doubt. Personally, since I like acceleration I'd buy R230 AMG over R129 and that's what I did after many days of thoughts and hesitations. I really like how R129 looks when it's silver and has Sport Package and right wheels, but besides looks my R230 AMG gives me so much fun when I even slightly push on a gas pedal and also it gives me a convertible hard top. Don't want to distract viewers here with my car so I won't post a link here but if you want then you may find it on my channel.

but will the 107 make you cry more at the shop and leave you stuck with a broken timing chain etc...??

C107 for ever. 😁

I have a 94 SL500 and it can’t be driven anywhere, just dies in the middle of the road and won’t restart for a day or 2. Wiring harness and everything in between has been replaced. It’s literally going to the crusher.

R-129 had 300 sl and 500 sl 91 both

Lol! Perhaps another "how to" video would be more to your mood instead?? haha... I really love the 107, the 129, and the 140, but I must say (having grown up in their heyday) that I am partial to the 129 and 140. As a child, I always dreamed of owning a white 500SL with tan interior.... oh yes! That is to say, however, though that I DO still very much appreciate and respect the R107 in a very similar way. It was clearly built in a way that the R129 was NOT! Much like the R129 was built in a way that the R230 also was not! 🙄

Steve Austin - The Six Million Dollar Man drove a 450SL - Enough Said

I don’t care…I just have both 🙃😂

The R129 design(s) are nice. But they’re not timeless and sexy like that of the R107s.

Like comparing cheese to fish. Totally different. One has classic chrome looks the other doesn't.

Joe had a classic corvette. He’s no dummy

The interior of R129s is quite shittier than the R107s, look at the the interior door triangle trim that covers the mirror bolts, they are always broken, the plastics are quite flimsier and the power seats are a piece of crap

Nothing in common , 2 different cars . Like a nova and a corvette . You cant compare them .

ich hatte einen W 107 SL 420 V8 in schwarz und schwarzem Leder Baujahr 1987 ein Traumauto !! Leider habe ich einen Unfall damit gehabt = Schrott :(( jetzt habe ich einen R 129 SL 320 Samragd schwarz metalic uns schwarzem Leder . Der R 129 fährt super und ist schnell genug !! Aber an die Eleganz des W 107 SL 420 V8 kommt , der R 129 nicht heran . ( Natürlich nur meine Meinung)

5107 >

Another edition of Pierre Hedary’s “I don’t want anything to ever change, 90s Mercedes are too complicated, everyone should be driving a 1972 Mercedes 280se, Trump Trump Trump.” We get it.

Let's go Brandon :)))

R129 top mechanism is garbage 90 percent of them for sale tops dont work ...mercedes trying toreinvent the wheel