What a beauty 😍 Nothing beats that roof, IMO. I retrofit a pano roof to my old 2001 SL500 and it turned out pretty good (some bodywork required w/ shims, fitment, etc). But the anodized trim from the roof never matched the trim from my car. Your car matches perfectly. The only thing I would do personally if it was my car would be replace the wheel caps with the gray colored ones w/ the chrome star (220-400-01-25). I think it makes the wheels pop a little more than the blue wreath. Thanks for sharing!
This is the best year for sure with the m113. Guaranteed to become a collector classic in the next ten years. Currently these are about $20-$30k for good examples. You can buy a bargain model with failed soft top and take that out to make it a permanent hard top with out the hydraulic roof problems
Have you actually done that - removed the hydraulics for the soft top, then been able to use to hard top only ? I may be wrong but it’s my understanding that the hydraulic mechanism is still required, to secure the hard top. How else can it be secured.
Love these later R129 with the better, quicker shifting 5 speed automatic versus the slower 4- speed on the earlier ones. Very much compliments the very supple, perfectly dampened but very comfortable and also has the right perfect level of firm for flat cornering. I have a 99’ SL500, for 10 years this year. And nothing has ever went wrong on it. Of course I have kept it always garaged in climate controlled environments. And it’s paid dividends that the top never let me down. And is in new condition. I’ll never sell it and will pass away with this car. 45 now. And have a lot of other cars but this is my absolute favorite. 🤩 among Porsche and Ferrari.
@@malachiholtzclaw2994 enjoy it. It’s pretty much the perfect sports car of all time. It does everything excellently. It doesn’t cost a fortune to keep running like most other good sports cars. And you age into it. You don’t age out of it. Happy New Year 🎊 with your upgraded 99’ R129. It’s just as fast and 99 % as luxurious as a SL600. How tight the engine bay is and the arduously difficult suspension of that model just makes a good SL500 the perfectly balanced car. Just remember to keep the rubbers fresh and you’ll throughly enjoy the superb poise and comfort of its ride.👍🏼
@@jasonknight5863I love your “you age INTO it” comment. From your perspective that’s very true. But I’m contemplating buying one, and I’m pushing 80 ! So I will definitely age OUT of it !😢
@ haha thank you 🙏🏻 It’s true for this model. The older you get the better it complements you. For example also a silver C123 Coupe looks very good on silver haired Richard Gere in the movie “Primal Fear”. Or the silver Mercedes SL 280 he drove in “Intersection “ . In addition it’s just so poised and comfortable it suits aging very well. My aunt of 83 years old bought a burgundy Porsche 911 Turbo cabriolet and drove it into her late 80’s . A 997.2 model. Until she went for a new Macan recently. To get in and out of easier. But she doesn’t like how expensive to service Porsche is. That’s why I prefer my R129 because of how cheap it has been . It’s a 99’ SL 500. Far cheaper than my Porsche 928 another superbly comfortable car. With more knee room for 5 ft 11 plus drivers. That’s the only fault I have with the R129 if you are under 5ft 10 “ or so it’s ideal. Over that and you won’t fit. Good luck 👍🏼
@@jasonknight5863 Many thanks for that. Especially the account of your aunt’s motoring choices 😂. You’ve reassured me immensely. My heart has been telling me to go for it, while I still can. But my head has been pulling the other way. Head / legroom no problem at 5’4. Looking at a 2000 SL320. V6. So should be safe. I see it as a touring car for summer use only. No speed antics Nowadays. 👍😇
Great looking example! Nothing beats these R129s in terms of functionality and simplicity. They have a great balance. Bells and whistles like heated seats, etc without all the new tech that inevitably breaks. How is you 600? Would love to hear more about how that one is going as a fellow owner.
@@DCMotorWerks Hehe its more that in Europe they go after production date. Sometimes theu dont even call the Silver Arrow a 2002. My car are in some register a 2002 and in some a 2001....
Love these later R129 with the better, quicker shifting 5 speed automatic versus the slower 4- speed on the earlier ones. Very much compliments the very supple, perfectly dampened but very comfortable and also has the right perfect level of firm for flat cornering. I have a 99’ SL500, for 10 years this year. And nothing has ever went wrong on it. Of course I have kept it always garaged in climate controlled environments. And it’s paid dividends that the top never let me down. And is in new condition. I’ll never sell it and will pass away with this car. 45 now. And have a lot of other cars but this is my absolute favorite. 🤩 among Porsche and Ferrari. Also the level of build quality is something you can find in any car newer. The seat exudes quality when you fold it back. With steel and Lashings of Nappa leather everywhere. Weighs a lot just like the doors. The interior is perfect no crappy cheap looking tv screens that will fail.
They are a marvel of engineering of a time we will not see again. I actually really enjoy the 90-93 cars personally. The 4-speed when set up properly is snappy!
@ absolutely 💯 Interesting take on the earlier cars. I’ll have to get one of those too. Perhaps see if you could do a video on why you perfer a well set up or low milage 90-93 R129. Now I’m very curious 👀 Thanks 🙏🏻
@ absolutely 💯 Interesting take on the earlier cars. I’ll have to get one of those too. Perhaps see if you could do a video on why you prefer a well set up or low milage 90-93 R129. Now I’m very curious 👀 Thanks 🙏🏻
What a beauty 😍 Nothing beats that roof, IMO. I retrofit a pano roof to my old 2001 SL500 and it turned out pretty good (some bodywork required w/ shims, fitment, etc). But the anodized trim from the roof never matched the trim from my car. Your car matches perfectly. The only thing I would do personally if it was my car would be replace the wheel caps with the gray colored ones w/ the chrome star (220-400-01-25). I think it makes the wheels pop a little more than the blue wreath. Thanks for sharing!
This is the best year for sure with the m113. Guaranteed to become a collector classic in the next ten years. Currently these are about $20-$30k for good examples. You can buy a bargain model with failed soft top and take that out to make it a permanent hard top with out the hydraulic roof problems
Have you actually done that - removed the hydraulics for the soft top, then been able to use to hard top only ? I may be wrong but it’s my understanding that the hydraulic mechanism is still required, to secure the hard top. How else can it be secured.
Love these later R129 with the better, quicker shifting 5 speed automatic versus the slower 4- speed on the earlier ones. Very much compliments the very supple, perfectly dampened but very comfortable and also has the right perfect level of firm for flat cornering.
I have a 99’ SL500, for 10 years this year. And nothing has ever went wrong on it. Of course I have kept it always garaged in climate controlled environments. And it’s paid dividends that the top never let me down. And is in new condition.
I’ll never sell it and will pass away with this car. 45 now. And have a lot of other cars but this is my absolute favorite. 🤩 among Porsche and Ferrari.
i also have a 99. absolutely love the car. i’ve had it for about a month now. it’s my first
@@malachiholtzclaw2994 enjoy it. It’s pretty much the perfect sports car of all time. It does everything excellently. It doesn’t cost a fortune to keep running like most other good sports cars. And you age into it. You don’t age out of it.
Happy New Year 🎊 with your upgraded 99’ R129. It’s just as fast and 99 % as luxurious as a SL600. How tight the engine bay is and the arduously difficult suspension of that model just makes a good SL500 the perfectly balanced car. Just remember to keep the rubbers fresh and you’ll throughly enjoy the superb poise and comfort of its ride.👍🏼
@@jasonknight5863I love your “you age INTO it” comment. From your perspective that’s very true. But I’m contemplating buying one, and I’m pushing 80 ! So I will definitely age OUT of it !😢
@ haha thank you 🙏🏻
It’s true for this model. The older you get the better it complements you. For example also a silver C123 Coupe looks very good on silver haired Richard Gere in the movie “Primal Fear”.
Or the silver Mercedes SL 280 he drove in “Intersection “ .
In addition it’s just so poised and comfortable it suits aging very well.
My aunt of 83 years old bought a burgundy Porsche 911 Turbo cabriolet and drove it into her late 80’s . A 997.2 model. Until she went for a new Macan recently. To get in and out of easier. But she doesn’t like how expensive to service Porsche is. That’s why I prefer my R129 because of how cheap it has been . It’s a 99’ SL 500. Far cheaper than my Porsche 928 another superbly comfortable car. With more knee room for 5 ft 11 plus drivers.
That’s the only fault I have with the R129 if you are under 5ft 10 “ or so it’s ideal. Over that and you won’t fit. Good luck 👍🏼
@@jasonknight5863 Many thanks for that. Especially the account of your aunt’s motoring choices 😂. You’ve reassured me immensely. My heart has been telling me to go for it, while I still can. But my head has been pulling the other way. Head / legroom no problem at 5’4. Looking at a 2000 SL320. V6. So should be safe. I see it as a touring car for summer use only. No speed antics Nowadays. 👍😇
I'm shocked how fast that top moves!!! Just wish I had $$$ to purchase.
I love the noises they make
Very nice video and beautiful car!! 👍
these are wicked cool. our R230 sl550 not same quality build but cool cars. wish we still had our R129
R129 is the high water mark!
Great looking example! Nothing beats these R129s in terms of functionality and simplicity. They have a great balance. Bells and whistles like heated seats, etc without all the new tech that inevitably breaks.
How is you 600? Would love to hear more about how that one is going as a fellow owner.
I’ll try and do a 600 update video soon 🙃
Very nice video!! 👍
Love the '96/'97 examples with the "old" engine and the 5 speed gearbox. In Italy I'd sell this '02 model at 42-45 k and would not accept less
The "last" of the great SL's...
couldn't agree more!
Cup holders were an option on 96-98 cars - code 309
Very informative. I’ve never seen the part of the roof cycle where confidence is present.
Where confidence is present. Ha, love it.
Good video, ill share in my blog.
But here in Europe we would call that a 2001.
The only R129 we call 2002 models are the Silver Arrows
You all are always a little ahead of us!
@@DCMotorWerks Hehe its more that in Europe they go after production date.
Sometimes theu dont even call the Silver Arrow a 2002.
My car are in some register a 2002 and in some a 2001....
Very interested in the ‘92 that’s coming….will check website
Love these later R129 with the better, quicker shifting 5 speed automatic versus the slower 4- speed on the earlier ones. Very much compliments the very supple, perfectly dampened but very comfortable and also has the right perfect level of firm for flat cornering.
I have a 99’ SL500, for 10 years this year. And nothing has ever went wrong on it. Of course I have kept it always garaged in climate controlled environments. And it’s paid dividends that the top never let me down. And is in new condition.
I’ll never sell it and will pass away with this car. 45 now. And have a lot of other cars but this is my absolute favorite. 🤩 among Porsche and Ferrari.
Also the level of build quality is something you can find in any car newer. The seat exudes quality when you fold it back. With steel and
Lashings of Nappa leather everywhere. Weighs a lot just like the doors. The interior is perfect no crappy cheap looking tv screens that will fail.
They are a marvel of engineering of a time we will not see again. I actually really enjoy the 90-93 cars personally. The 4-speed when set up properly is snappy!
@ absolutely 💯
Interesting take on the earlier cars. I’ll have to get one of those too. Perhaps see if you could do a video on why you perfer a well set up or low milage 90-93 R129. Now I’m very curious 👀 Thanks 🙏🏻
@ absolutely 💯
Interesting take on the earlier cars. I’ll have to get one of those too. Perhaps see if you could do a video on why you prefer a well set up or low milage 90-93 R129. Now I’m very curious 👀 Thanks 🙏🏻
I always think Liar Liar movie when I see them. The one in the movie is a Champagne color but looks so close to this color. Such nice cars….
Love the R129
I wouldn't wish replacing those roof rams on my worst enemy