Why The Mercedes SL R129 is Legendary | Ultimate Buyer’s Guide & AMG 

What is your favourite SL Generation?

Prior to Covid, I was about to drop 57k on a new Mustang convertible. Then Covid and then production and supply problems had me looking for used convertibles. A random R129 video on RU-vid directed my focus. I found a 2000 SL500 garage queen with 63,000 miles for under 10k US. Love that car and 7 months later while searching for a car for a friend, I stumbled upon a 98 SL600 with the glass top and AMG package with just under 100k miles for 9k US. Absolutely love the V12 even though 8-10 MPG is where my right foot likes it. I keep the radio off just to hear the engine sing. Two R129's for less than 1/3 the price of a new Mustang and I couldn't 't be happier.

The R129 is one of the best Designs ever.

This car is truly a timeless classic

I bought a 2002 Silver Arrow from a friend who purchased it new. I've owned it for 12 years now and when I had to make a choice of the cars I owned to sell it was my beloved 2005 575 Ferrari I owned for 9 years. I love this car and spend whatever is necessary to keep it in top notch condition.

From a Design and Engineering point of view, the Mercedes R129 is probably the best 2 plus 2 car in the world. The M119 being one of the most Reliable and Sophisticated engines ever produced, with almost no failures, other that routine Servicing and Maintenance.

This was the best video I've seen on RU-vid covering the R129 generation. AMG Meister always brings maximum quality of fact and presentation.

Absolutely love my '98 SL600 with 22k miles, stunning in imperial red... black interior and pano roof. You will have to pry it from my cold dead hands, one of my favorite cars of all time. Great video, thanks for sharing.

I’m so happy I got a R129 I have a 1995 SL500 in tourmaline green. It’s even better then I could of even imagined

R129 sl is the only car that ı dream to buy. Best Mercedes model ever for me. Thanks for video

I saw one of those SL73 in flesh in a famous restaurant about 5 years ago… it was a beast

This is the most authoritative and factual presentation of the R129 I have seen on RU-vid. Thank you. As the owner for 10 years of a 1996 SL500 I might add a couple of things. After so many top down summers, the interior plastic can be in dreadful shape. It gets brittle and can crumble with the slightest touch. Some of the pieces are now unavailable, but there is an aftermarket for some with 3rd party manufactured items. A critical part, the upper shock mounts, for conventional coil on spring front suspension, is now unavailable from Daimler. These hold the gas shock rod in place and is always under pressure. There is one 3rd party making them and they are outsourced. I noticed after a year the rubber mount was starting to get a tear and I was able to find an OEM off eBay. If it hasn't been done, the top hydraulic cylinders you mentioned will probably be leaking. There is a company in Oregon that remanufactures them and uses a better seal material than original and once installed, shouldn't be an issue. As with all cars, a documented maintenance history is paramount. Many of these cars are very inexpensive, being passed from owner to owner with many having neglected maintenance. It is better to pay a few $1000 more on one that has a documented service history than find yourself "behind the maintenance curve" and swearing you will never buy another old R129. 1996 was the first year of the 722.6 5 speed, and I found that over its life, it had 3 major revisions. By 2000, it should have been sorted out but I had to replace mine with a factory reman at 140,000 miles. (car now has 231,000 miles) These transmissions were touted as being "maintenance free" for life, but it was learned by 100,000 miles they had problems if not having had fluid./filter changes every 40,000-60,000 miles. If they have been maintained, and by MY 2000, should be good for 100s of thousands of miles. I have had numerous "thumbs up" on the freeway, particularly with the top down, and think next to the 300SL of the 50s and Pagoda of the 60s, the nicest SL made. Even Bruno Sacco, inducted into the automotive all of fame along with GMs Bill Mitchell and Harley Earl, said it was his best design. Its a pretty cool car! Thanks again.

I have a 2001 SL600 AMG model. Just bought and getting used to it. Has a few things that need work but the drivetrain seems in perfect shape and the exterior looks new. So far I am still learning about it but looking more interesting as I own it.

I have 1997 SL600 V12 (R129) it has all the AMG package but has SL600 on deck lid, the original owner gave me everything with it with a sheet that said 485 hp.. not sure if that is true but I do know until 2020 there was no production vehicle that could stay with me from dead stop or rolling very impressed. The people claiming all you do is burn the tires has never driven one when I hammer down the throttle the back drops down it’s a rocket. Don’t know for sure what I have it’s a keeper it’s expensive but worth it.

This was the last SL generation to have a permanent full-size spare tire. I think this provides immense peace-of-mind for when one feels the need to drive across the country and not have to worry about donut spares or that can of fix-a-flat nonsense that does nothing but ruin TPMS sensors.

The shop I ran specialized in Mercedes and even the dealer sent us cars they couldn’t fix. Good job. You hit all the big points. Sub earned

I've got a 1999 with every option - love it. My first car was a 1993 sl500 and I regretted selling it

Timeless design

Mercedes-Benz used to build some great cars

This guide is so comprehensive. Fantastic work. Many thanks!

Love your detailed info bring me back in time

I love the silver arrow. Just beautiful car. Timeless style.

Sick videos man! Love what you do and you really have great knowledge about MB & Amg! Keep up the great work man!

Great video bro! Keep your standards up! 10seconds in and enjoying it!

Another Excellent Video AMG Meister!!!! Thanks

Awesome video. Very helpful info you have provided with the R129. Thank you

The R129 is my absolute favorite SL. I think most would agree with Bruno that it was his best masterpiece ever created by that big brain of a man haha! I am an avid classic German car collector and have a restoration and service shop in Texas, with the R129 being my top 3 cars alongside the BME E30 and Porsche 993. I am so infatuated with these cars that I designed and printed my own V lip seals for the hydraulic cylinders and double lip port seals and offer a full service of the tops on these cars consisting of removal/install, rebuild, shaft polishing, cylinder body honing, micro switch duration of closure synchronization, lock lubrication, soft top replacement, tension cable adjustment, and frame geometry calibration. Over the years, I noticed a lack of properly educated institutions in the service of these cars and always hated seeing them brought in with damage from another shop that I then have to fix. If anyone needs any R129 work done, please reach out and I would like to use the AMGmeister network to spread the word so these cars can live on for another 30+ years because they dam well deserve it!

Excellent Video!!!! The best I ever watched on R129!

Nice, thorough write-up/ video. Great vid

Got a '98 SL500 with 77k on it back in 2019. Only cost me 7 grand and the thing is CLEAN

Ohh yea my grandma had a blue r129 with red leather interior Oz racing wheels and a big exhaust. Now my uncle owns it, he 9nly has a daughter, and I try to convince him that I will take care of it once he gets old hehe. This thing should stay in the family, such a nice piece of automobile and a nice piece of my childhood nostalgia!

I like mercedes Benz every generation, but not including new generation

Oh I drove in a friend of mines dad and I was so surprised over how smooth and quiet it was, absolutely phenomenal car

this is far and away the best MB channel in existence. another amazingly well done video bro!

I own a 95 SL320 triple black 128k. Traded a 3 month old 95 Town Car. Best decision of my life.

'Picture me rolling in my 500 Benz' 2pac the greatest!

The R129 is so underrated, I can’t believe I picked up my SL for the price I got it for with the miles it had, it isn’t perfect it’s a driver for sure, but a driver is better because you don’t have to worry as much about stuff, that being said I’m very anal with my car. 1995 SL500 the first Gen of the R129, 90-95 is my favorite Gen of the R129 4 speed auto, M119 with the cap and rotor ignition and looks the best in my option.

Everyone wants the V12 but the most practical and affordable choice for me would be 1997 SL500 with M119 engine. 1996 and earlier had bio-wire crap with cellulose wire covers that rot away and cause endless problems. I like the M113 engine a lot but in a TOTL car, the M113 is a cost cutter. This being said, I would be perfectly happy with 1998-2001 SL500.

I have a 94 sl600 and a 98 sl500,I enjoy them both and both have been thoroughly sorted out,a whole lot of sorting on the 600 but it is my overall favorite. I had one other sl600 I parted out and 2 sl500s I parted out so I have a decent parts supply for both cars as well.

Excellent video! 👍💪

The demand was so high in early 90-91 that some south florida Mercedes dealers were charging over MSRP and getting $100K+ for 500SL's - they were the hottest coupe in the world for a time. My realtor had a white 500 that he paid over 90K for in mid 90's

Love my ‘89 500SL R129. One of the earliest 500SLs produced, a fun classic and dead reliable. Maintenance costs over the years have been very low actually - I spend more money on fuel!!!

Amazing video man! Would love to see one about the W202 and all of its different trim levels.

Great video Thank You for Making & Sharing !! Have a 1992 500SL

Love the R129 🙂 You covered all the important stuff (I've written a few buyer's guides and change logs for year differences). I used to not be so keen on the earlier models - but now I'm really loving them. I got a 1994 SL320 with the M104 which is a delight to work on. There's a ton of space in the engine bay - replacing mounts and getting to accessories is easy. And with the earlier models, the 2 tone looks great... looks a lot more like a late model W124 with the "Sacco slabs". My only comment/critique is that you may have oversold the V12. While it's a great engine when it's running, some shops won't even touch that engine. Not as much of an issue if you work on it yourself - but It can be a massive PITA to work on, a lot more than just the oil leaks. Great video 🙂

Excellent knowledgeable video as an S320 1998 owner in the UK

Bruno Sacco is a legend, responsible for some of the most iconic cars ever. The SL is a timeless design, and the engineering was simply beyond anything else of the era. The R230-2 (probably better cars in terms of progress) don't quite match the R129 for simple design elegance and as an overall package. I had a poster of a Koenig SL on my walls as a kid, next to a Cobra, GTR, Diablo and F40

"...Princess Diana wanted to be seen..." Yeah, she really thrived on attention and couldn't get enough. Infact the media pressure on her just for driving this foreign car became so great she had to get rid of it again. However this year Queen Elizabeths coffin was carried in a Mercedes E-class and that was not an issue.

Great detailed video

I live in the UK and have owned a 1999 SL3320 with the M112 V6 engine for 8 years now. I had the ECU go on the roof after 6 months and had it replaced with a reconditioned unit that's guaranteed for life and had the rear screen in the soft top replaced 3 years ago as it went milky and cracked. The car had a small oil leak on the front of the engine but was no more than a vapour leak that has now been healed with some oil additive. It starts first time even after being left outside unused in snow and cold weather, everything works and it is a fine cruiser that gets so many looks. My only gripe is that the small glove box lock is a flimsy plastic affair and has broken twice, but that is nothing at all! The hard top is heavy and you need two strong adults to heave it on and off, but the panoramic roof is a fantastic addition, just make sure you have the muscle to use it and the garage space to store it! Wonderful car and values are going up - even for the SL320's! I initially wanted a 500 but couldn't find a decent one with a good interion so opted for mine that literally had one lady owner who held onto it until she passed! Oh another gripe I have that is not the fault of the car, but the owners is that some sell off the hard top separately and rob the boot (trunk) of the ancillaries such as the rear wind deflector, its carpeted case and the the warning triangle and medical kit - how petty! They are all hard to replace!!

Excellent video on SL 129 especially when you intend to get one! - Owning a SL 65 AMG (R230/2004) that shouldn't be for every day I'm seriously considering a SL 500 R129 around 2000. Low milage cars (below 50k miles) here in Switzerland trade around 40 to 50k well above prices in other countries it seems but this is not unusual because cars are generally in very good condition and serviced. I get the impression that the R 129 is a much better car in terms of built quality than my R 230 and used car prices confirm that impression very well. Thank you AMGmeister for this video and I hope more to come ...

Got myself a R129 SL 1999 in 2020, great car :)

Great video!

Fantastic info. Thanks

Should've bought one before this video came out, have been thinking about it for a while now. Now the prices will skyrocket :P.. another great video though, got some new info about the R129 as well.

Great video I think I might snag one now

Excellent video & subscribed due to your depth of detail. I am a W126 fanatic (own 2 x gen2 Euro coupes & 1 x Euro 560SEL ) but have a soft spot for R129 in AMG spec. I own 1 x M119-960 & trans and 1 x M119-980 with its 5 sp trans as toyed with the idea of an engine swap. Did own a set of AMG 2 piece 18' wheels as on the silver R129 at the end of your video but sold them as i am into the AMG 3 piece wheels. Of interest a friend of mine has his mint arctic silver 1990 AMG 500SL with 3 piece AMG 17's up for sale now (RHD) in Perth WA with full history and he is asking AUD$130k Keep the vids coming & hopefully one on the W126 especially the AMG versions

Love my 2007 SL550. BRIGHT RED. 19,000 miles. Still like a new car! With a performance chip, it's got over 400 horsepower.

Very informative and knowledgeable video! I actually prefer the earlier series of the R129, but I'm a little biased as I'm more into older Mercedes (I own a W124).

I got my 93' 500SL for last year for 7k because I bought it with the dreaded ASR light on (I bought it with limp mode enabled). The reason I bought it was due to the massive book of service history dating back to the early 90s and the wire harness, throttle body actuator, and soft top/cylinders had all been done within the last 10 years. It turns out the ASR was only on because the Egas module went out, and $200 later poof it was gone.

As these cars age, the maintenance costs go up considerably. ADS suspensions (problems since day one, for the past thirty years), front and rear suspension bushings, injectors, electronics, steering rack, hydraulics, fuel pumps, tandem pump, water pump, radiators, aircon, electric roof, underpowered brakes (= warped discs), engine mounts, rebuilt the transmission, electric seats, water entering the front headlights (replaced them twice), defective flicker control (changed twice), wiring harness, etc. Just name it. I feel like I probably purchased the car at least twice. I still own my 1991 500SL, but it's become a nightmare, because there's always something not working.

It was my dream car growing up, now looking at it again, I don't think it aged well, and SL series never recovered from this point on. Pre 1963 on the other hand...

One of my favorite Merecedes models, especially the latest models from the second facelift. It looks modern even today compared to the first models from the early 90's. Just imagine if the R129 was treated as the G-class and you could still buy one brand new today. I hope one day I will be able to afford one. Also I really like that you use almost every time Saki Kaska's Callista, this brings NFS High Stakes vibes like just like in the Car Showroom menu in the game.

Nearly impossible to be the lines of the R129. That shape will never look bad.

Do a w140 guide and or story very nostalgic! Your channel is Stud af btw

Great video 📹 👍

A masterpiece legend 💯👍

its 2024 and i got a 1991 500 sl in bordeaux/beige with 135000 km on the clock and im loving it so far

This was a great video. I really need to purchase a second one of these that hasn't been modified for Cannonball/Bob Burns C2C2C Memorial Trophy Dash that I can take out with my wife and enjoy before the prices get really crazy.

jesus i love this chanel

I love the R129 it's such a classic, but I also really like the R230 but the ABC is a ball ache to own, I own a C215 and I know from experience converting to coilovers loses a lot of the magic, so if I were to buy an SL I'd be looking for an R129 with M119 just because I already have an M113 in my CL 500.

Thanks amazing video !!! Really !!!

Was going to pickup 91 320SL for $800 this fall, but had no room in the garage as our r170 has a special place in my heart with the 2.3L kompressor and a 5 speed manual. Love my SLK, and couldn't let it go for the r129.

My absolute Favorite Mercedes besides the s class coupe.

great car, love it!

My kinda guy AMGmeister. SL600 is what I would also drive away with.

Loved it

Can you make the same info video about C140??? That will be real cool

YOU ARE SOOO RIGHT

Fun fact: the R129 of Princess Diana is on exhibit in the Mercedes Museum in Stuttgart. Hate the two tone bordeaux red though.

The most beautiful car ever ! It will be so in the future ;)

That blue 6.0 AMG is God tier.... and if anyone has info on a 99 AMG C230 Kompressor, PLZ let me know. I own one, but apparently even Mercedes-Benz dealerships and mechanics have never seen one. It's not a rebadged c32, it is the 2.3l 4 cylinder, but has apparently hqs had improvements done to the supercharger, suspension and rear end. (That I know of, maybe more) Also, for some reason, all 4 windows have small black AMG logos etched into them that match the color of the other text on them, which for some reason is the strangest part to me (Most actual AMGs have this as well). It's definitely a not a popular car to try to make seem badass, (like putting a Cobra emblem on a V6 mustang), and not some rare "Hammer" since it's a 99', so I don't see why there's so many actual AMG parts on it.

The Brabus SL73 is in my top 5 fav cars of all time

I think if you want to say peak standard SL then yes I would say peak SL (and the 140 cars would be peak S or CL). However if you call the SLS an SL then we have a different outcome. For me the best car would be a SL500 silver arrow I kick my self for not buying a low mileage one back in 2013 when a local place did not know what they had.

Love them

Your story sounds awesome Iam sold on the r129 500 or 600 but worried about the wiring loom thing what years to avoid maybe 97 onwards !! Any opinions greatly received

"Picture Me Rolling In a 500 Benz"

I work on those tops pretty often, they can be pricey to fix.

In my opinion R129 and R107 are still amongst the most elegant convertible Mercs. No offence to the later models, only being an old school Hart to Hart & Bobby Ewing-Dallas fan, classic R107 & R129 stand the test of time (for me)

My favourite SL gen. Is SL 36 cos of less fuel consumption and lighter weight and its elegance ❤

More of a history lesson than byers guide.

Definitely a tough call trying to choose between R107, R129, or R230. They are all icons with their own distinct strengths and weaknesses. I do think the R129 is hands-down the last of the SLs that could be kept on the roads for decades with (relatively) sane amount of costs and maintenance. Later model years engines (with the exception of V12s) were bulletproof, the later 5-speed auto was eternally robust, and electronics-wise these cars were quite simple and reliable compared to the R230 and later gen SLs. My only critique is the styling of these cars (while iconic) was too heavily rooted in 1980s Sacco theme. The blocky shape and slab-sidedness of these looked very dated by the time the late 90s came around. I remember as a kid thinking how 'old-school' these looked parked next to a same model year SLK roadster or CLK coupe at MB dealerships around that time.

I'm more of a W126 AMG coupe guy but the R129 is respectable. I've heard the music used in 13:20 in Mass Effect 2 at Aria's lounge.

Gem of a benz

A car in which literally everything can go wrong.

Were the manual transmission 6 cylinder cars available in the U.S.? Do you have any information on the possibility of importing pre-2000 variations that were unavailable in the U.S.? Thanks

Please do a “Buyers Guide” for the R230.

They came with a pulley system you install on your garage to lift the hard top off

There are so many wonderful cars on the markets these days, but back in 1990 the 300SL- 24 was THE car to have

The SL320 was NEVER offered with a manual transmission. Only the 280 M104 and M112 (extremely rare). Also on the 300SL 12 and 24v. The 5speed automatic 5gtronic was offered a first in the 300-24, as the first car with 5 speed automatic transmission.