1992 Mercedes 500 SL Review - The Villain In A 90s Movie

[@redline1916]

This car isn't actually that bad, it's just that nobody buying them knows what to look out for and likely won't research them. A good one for 10k will do you fine. The years that have the biodegradable wiring are the actual problems, 1994 to believe 1996. And those, I don't often see for sale.

[@Simple_Jack82]

One of my favorite cars. I used to have a 1992 320sl. Rent one or barrow one, enjoy it and return it before it breaks. The hydrologics in the convertible will break your wallet as will the 30 year old relays. I owned the car for 2.5 years and spent $3.5k in maintenance. Fun to drive, great looking but a maintenance nightmare.

[@drnubb762]

my first car was a 95 sl320. $1000 craigslist special... upon bringing it home the hydraulic top cylinders leaked fluid all over the driveway and the stain is still there years later. I loved the way it drove (when it worked properly), but it was not a smart purchase for a 16 year old. needless to say I have a lexus and toyota now.

[@dannoi]

Good review, but you are missing info on these cars to be honest. Reliability is far from bad, other than the rooftop, which again would be normal for any convertible which is 30+ yo, the car is quite solid, the electrical gremlins you speak of would be in later years due to the bio-wiring, then stop in 97-98 when the car also go the super-reliable M113 engine, another note is the suspension, if its 500, it likely doesnt have the hydro (the 600 had it default and ya hydro 30yo suspension aint great), which is great because the suspension on these cars is superb and very serviceable oh and if you really wanna make it fun, look up the 300sl with the 5 speed dogleg ;) that car had the very reliable m104 engine, the getrag 717.450 tranny and good ol solid as a rock suspension which MB used on nearly all their cars in the 80s and early 90s

[@jamesreckling6697]

You should have reviewed a 96 or newer model. They have a 5 speed that is much better than the hydraulic 4 speed you drove. The biggest reliability issue with the car are the hydraulic cylinders that control the top. Hey can be rebuilt for $60 a piece. There are 11 or 12 of them (not 16). If you want to pay someone to take them out and reinstall them you are looking at about $2K. They will then be better than new because the materials used are much better than the original. The engine is bulletproof. Besides the top issue the biggest potential bill is the AC. If the dash has to come out it is very expensive but hey it is a convertible just put the top down.

[@ozelot250]

I need to rebuild my soft top hydraulic cylinders. What is the name of the kit to rebuild them?

[@jamesreckling6697]

@@ozelot250 I had Tp Hydraulics in Oregon reseal mine. They mailed them back very quick.

[@kwasia4882]

The last good dwindling years of Mercedes build quality. Wish it was driven in the video.

[@trevorchilders479]

Sad that you know so very little about these amazing cars - may have been worth some research. That would have at least given you a clue that you were driving something with differed maintenance. But hey, you did throughly test out if you could fit your Yeti bottle in the cup-holder..smh.

[@diamand5916]

Picture me rolling in my 500 Benz - Tupac

[@cvet12]

You can adjust the shifts on that on the cable and turn up the fuel as well. Give it to me for 30 min it will be a different car

[@TheJaboa]

Its supposed to delay shifting until the engine is hot.

[@kennethlopez7760]

The exterior, the interior, gorgeous.

[@overthetoppranks]

I drive one! Such a great car

[@LawrenceMarkFearon]

When choosing vintage Mercedes, please choose a perfectly maintained Mercedes.

[@smxlad]

Hugely collectible. Rocketing in prices. Get one while you can

[@garrettraakman6465]

Yes! Love me an 80’s/90s/2000s Merc

[@bwofficial1776]

I'd love to own one as long as I didn't have to maintain it. This and the S-Class of the time were the last Mercedes designs with money-no-object quality. A G-Wagen is probably the closest thing in terms of solidity to these old battleships.

[@kennysmith5021]

I have one for sale 92 500sl. Black on black

[@Tigerfire75]

I think the transmission is suppose to be serviced every 40,000 to 50,000 miles.

[@dave11686]

So cool!

[@SouthsideKidd550]

Jamie Lee Curtis drove one in the 1994 film Mother's Boys as the estranged ex wife.

[@electron3234]

Wow!

[@JoseGarcia-kv6ef]

R129 gang 🤙

[@triston5540]

Isn’t it illegal to put it in the windshield?😂

[@jacobmcguire5309]

This just saved me money!

[@TheJaboa]

You mostly just seem to bash something you don't know anything about.

[@c3surfop]

The mask wearing while on the telephone......... Society lost their minds. People show how far they'll bend when things get interesting. Sad part is, they could have done some research before blindly walking down the path of ignorance.

[@watchingitallhere]

Family member had one exactly like this. Huge money pit. Never ran well. That era of mechanical fuel injection can be problematic.

[@jamesreckling6697]

The later models don’t have the mechanical fuel injection and are much better to live with.

[@nolahahnshouse3389]

One of my brother in laws 30 (no lie) car's and I didn't like this one.

[@garrettraakman6465]

What didn’t you like about the review? I liked it