I Bought the Cheapest R129 Mercedes SL500 and it has the AMG Sport Package

In this video I go over how I bought the cheapest R129 1999 Mercedes SL500 Sport Package. Although the R129 SL500 I bought is not perfect, I have already spent some time cleaning up and repairing the car to make a fun to drive roadster. This is a great looking car with the subtle fender flares from Bruno Sacco's design.
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[@jalopy_jeff]

*Correction* - Not all R129s are automatic, the SL280 was available with a manual.

[@jamesreckling6697]

Actually that is not correct. The V6 320 didn’t have the manual. The straight 6 300 did have a manual and I think in Europe you could get the 280 with a stick but I am not sure of that.

[@hakuryyuu]

@@jamesreckling6697 Indeed you could get 280 as manual, all other were automatic only.

[@bsclifton]

The earlier 300SL / 300SL-24 was also available w/ 5 speed manual. The SL280 was never sold in the US - but you will occasionally see the 300SL w/ 5 speed.

[@jaecalderon260]

Yeah 280 and 300 were available with a stick

[@MrFissure13]

This design has aged flawlessly. I drive a ‘98 500 and get compliments on the regular. Make sure you reset the transmission straight away. The car adjusts its shifting ratio based on the driver. After you reset it jump on the throttle for the first 15-20 jump starts and it will drive much sportier.

[@jalopy_jeff]

Wow that’s great advice I did not know that! Thanks!

[@haydenchamberlain168]

How do I reset it?

[@cwach2]

Great cars. What Jeff said is true, "The later models need less attention than the earlier r129. I owned (4) r129

[@stefanpaege2046]

My wife owns one of these, it‘ a 320 6 cylinder from 1994 & she bought it new back then & it has only about 65,000 miles on it. The softtop is or can be one of the more costly features… earlier this year said softtop showed its age & I needed to get the „canvas“ replaced, especially because the plastic rear windows were cracked & aged to a dark grey, basically you could not look through them anymore & some seams gave up as well. That tore a 2500€ hole in my purse & three months later the two hydraulic cylinders that lock the softtop above the front windshield gave up its ghost as well, spraying hydraulic oil on the interior & the garments of the passenger‘s as well, another 1000€ . I compare that to my 1987 Golf (Rabbit) Cabrio 1 & OK the manual softtop takes me a good 3 minutes to open & close whereas the Mercedes softtop takes 15 to 20 seconds but the real, heatable glass rear window is much better… When driving the Mercedes I regularly get compliments by „old white men“ but the Golf Cabrio (white with white interior“) is the real „pussy magnet“ - especially with younger „moms with kids“ THAT get’s the „OMG that is a cute car“ treatment, whereas the Merc, notwithstandig the age is still considered a „rich mans poser car“ over here in Germany & on top of it it‘s black with black leather interior so much more „intimidating“ than the „luv‘ly“ white Golf. All in all, I enjoy the Golf Cabrio much more than the Merc, half the weight, less than half the hp (it is a GLS, so 112 hp), manual 5 speed gearbox, manual windows, no power steering, no AC, no electric seats or mirrors, no airbags etc., etc. but much more „charisma“.

[@jalopy_jeff]

Mercedes parts and maintenance costs definitely add up! There definitely I something to cheap fun cars!

[@c.chavis6314]

Haha you are right, about Old White Men loving this car. One walked by and said let me know if you ever sell it.

[@rpmiracle]

I just bought a 1999 SL500, in love with these cars since I was 12 years old, now 45. I can't believe someone would let that car go for 2800!

[@Austin86646]

Never experienced an interior doorhandle so robust, love it.

[@jaecalderon260]

Just started my journey with a 1990 artic white on sato grey with the original 17” AMG monoblocks . Has a really rough idle and I’m going to start trouble shooting this weekend

[@Random59427]

The hydraulic cylinders can be found for $500-$600 for a swap from Top Hydraulics.

[@jalopy_jeff]

We will see if I end up working through the hydraulics!

[@reekinhavok420]

Mine too it still works for now the hardtop and softtop in a pinch but I never use the softtop anyway looks ugly hardtop or no top

[@reekinhavok420]

Take the secondary cats off I did mine and throw a tip on it sounds amazing like you paid thousands of Dollars for a tuned Exaust but all you did was spend nothing after you take secondary’s to the scrap yard

[@p__jay]

or you just buy the seals for a few $$$

[@CarharttDADDY]

I own 3 of them. I6, V8 and V12. I enjoy the solid feeling of these heavy over engineered cars. BTW the I6 was available in the US with a manual transmission. I also own a W140 S600 which is an entire another amount of maintenance issues but worth it.

[@jalopy_jeff]

That’s correct! I knew that but totally spaced that you could buy the 6-cylinder cars with a manual. Which of the 3 R129s do you prefer?

[@CarharttDADDY]

@@jalopy_jeff I get that question often...easy pick for me too...the I6 300SL is the better handling car with the lighter engine up front....the inline 6 also has a BMW-esq I6 torque curve to it and when you wind it out towards redline sure sounds and feels great.....as much as I enjoy the V8 & V12 the I6 is the one I drive most often.

[@raybutts9133]

@@CarharttDADDY HAVE YOU HAD TO DO THE COMPLETE TOP HYDRAULICS ON ALL 3 CARS? hOW ABOUT HEADLINERS? I HAVE A 97 SL320 WITH 27,000 MILES THAT i AM THINKING ABOUT SELLING. iT IS IN SUPER CONDITION IN AND OUT . tHE TOP HAS YET TO LEAK AND i AM WONDERING IF i SHOULD REPLACE THE SEALS IN THE FRONT LOCK CYCLINDERS OR WAIT UNTIL THEY LEAK? ANY ADVICE WOULD BE APPRECIATED.

[@ozzstars_cars]

Owning four Mercedes cars requires a second mortgage to maintain them. 😂

[@siegfriedbarfuss9379]

the chip tuning would be interesting to hear more about in regards of performance, economics and reliability .. thanks for great content!

[@ThaRockisInTheBLdG]

Bruh why are you so ruff with that Benz bro lol almost ripped off the door handle 😂 😭 🤣

[@baadwlf3798]

Bought a 99 SL600 for 3k, worth the extra 200 bucks for that V12

[@beerwrenchgarage]

Really cool video - I dont know much about these cars, but interested to learn more. I bet it sounds glorious with headers and no cats though!

[@jalopy_jeff]

Appreciate it! They are definitely cool cars as the last sort of "built to last" Benz cars. Cant go wrong with a solid exhaust when you have a V8!

[@edmonds.7147]

Didnt the Ero lights have the side marker in clear as opposed to orange ? Think you mixed it up Jeff

[@jalopy_jeff]

Would you buy an R129?

[@raybutts9133]

YES IF IS IN VERY GOOD CONDITION. FORGET IT IF IT IS A BASKET CASE. imo I AM THINKING ABOUT SELLING MY 97 SL320. iT IS IN SUPER CONDITION IN AND OUT AND HAS ONLY 27,000 MILES.

[@jalopy_jeff]

@@raybutts9133 They can be rough depending on the year!

[@hakuryyuu]

I have one, here in germany they are way more expensive. Never saw one bewlo 7k€ and those were not able to move. So here you need to pay atleast 20k to get a decent one.

[@Shmee149]

Man, you really need your facts checked. Hoovie had a V12 if you mean the black one I''ve bought mine for $1900, so you can't claim yours is 'cheapest'. There are plenty of cheaper beat-up R129's. Gearbox has been updated in the earlier facelift already (and also it had more powerful engine). And that grille is cringe

[@scotttakacs2694]

Bought a 99 sl500 both AMG packages 101k miles 2 years ago for $2,500 ;)

[@jalopy_jeff]

Nicely done! Cant beat that!

[@MrTerminator37]

The R129 is a classic, to correct your information, it was produced from 1989 till 2002 as the final year, not 2001, the R129 Silver Arrow was a 2002 and was the final addition

[@jalopy_jeff]

That’s correct, the Silver arrows are gorgeous

[@MrTerminator37]

I have one, got a video but can’t upload it, there were 1650 silver arrows produce, 1450 SL500, 100 SL600, and 100 SL500 right hand drive , for those people in the UK who drive on the wrong side of the road

[@jalopy_jeff]

Oh wow. I had assumed they were all SL500s, I’m assuming the few SL600s are even bigger money

[@MrTerminator37]

@@jalopy_jeff at the end of the day, the R129 is the last true SL, today's SL can't be called an SL

[@corneliocontreras416]

​ 7thTY

[@faerveldir]

Great review! Where did you find the deal on this car? I'm searching online because I want to get one but they are all above $10k.

[@jalopy_jeff]

So I bought this car in Phoenix, AZ through Facebook marketplace. The car was not perfect, I did repair some things on the car myself!

[@faerveldir]

@@jalopy_jeff oh I see! I'm also hoping to learn how to maintain one myself. Thanks for the reply :)

[@GreatCarStories]

@@jalopy_jeff I was wondering the same thing and thought perhaps you’d bought it through a trade auction. I’d imagine the SL55 wheels would be worth close to what you paid for the car. And if you had the space to strip it and sell anything that’s good for parts you’d surely make a killing. It looks super cool. I love the AMG styling of the Sport. Had it had a lot of owners? That seems to increase wear & tear (or lack of care at least) and hurts price a little. The lower door speaker covers are a bad design: fine fabric and right in the swing arc of your feet when getting in or out. Mine were a little grubby when I got the car, and the tech at my local MB specialist added some more oil from their work boots, but they cleaned up beautifully with some Autoglym leather cleaner which I happened to have on a cloth because I was cleaning the leather 😂.

[@Schlipperschlopper]

According to Babvvo and Tebbvo laws, sadly soon all combustion cars and trucks including classics will be banned from public streets in entire EU and Scandinavia :-( In Germany the Green Peoples Party gave order to shorten fuel supply from 2025 on by reducing all conventional fuel stations to only one state operated central gas station per city or county. Car washs will be forbidden too because they are climate killers, now they want to slow down all the gas station pumps from 20 litre per minute to 2 litre per minute...From 2027 on in the EU certain car spare parts will be banned too....as exhaust systems, turbo chargers and even some engine and gearbox oils...California and New York will do the same from 2027 on.... So no investments should be done in oil burning cars any longer....They even created a new kind of crime here, called emissions and smoke crime!!!

[@GreatCarStories]

Is the ‘emissions and smoke crime’ enforced on vehicles on the road or at a testing center - like SMOG? I would be in favor of some on-road enforcement of that where I am because of either a bad running Accord that smells of unburned gasoline or some jacked up diesel pickup intentionally spewing out plumes of thick black smoke 😷.

[@KhurramsGarage]

fantastic price! get that bumper replaced asap!

[@jalopy_jeff]

Easier said than done! I have been looking for a cheaper option than buying the bumper from Mercedes directly.

[@ethanglass2489]

i bought a running and driving clean title 1991 500 sl for 1000 about a month ago

[@p__jay]

that's a normal price for a SL500 in the US? HOW? I recently bought one for a lot more that was in worse condition...even your center console wood is still in good condition...

[@jamesreckling6697]

I would put the original grille back on.

[@virajrockybhutani8367]

Great quick review but you forgot to mention the mileage of the car .

[@jalopy_jeff]

This car has 122,000 miles!

[@mrbenz2392]

That is low mi.very cool!

[@edmonds.7147]

They produced a 2002 Because i have a SA 02' produced 89-02' for US.

[@simonhakso9211]

I got a running and driving 95 sl320 for $1800. I believe I have won

[@kozart4005]

single overhead cam

[@virajrockybhutani8367]

Mileage ?

[@jalopy_jeff]

122,000 miles!

[@oscaranderson1822]

I have amg sl 600 1998 91k I gave about 19 five for mine my car guys said it's value is about 30,000. Current value I guess right

[@jalopy_jeff]

Nice! A lot of people feel these cars are on the up and up!

[@ozzstars_cars]

How many miles on that Eurotrash?

[@lehoo6798]

250.000😊

[@kimi88cz]

These wheels only might be worth more than 2 grand

[@jalopy_jeff]

Potentially! I’ve seen them for sale at all sorts of different prices!

[@kimi88cz]

@@jalopy_jeff the seem to be in great condition. Would love to buy SL500, but they are not as cheap in EU as in US and Im not ready to invest a lot in it

[@benicamenica1557]

Trying to watch the video and look at the car but you flapping you hands and arms around....duh...

[@dirkdiggler69]

This particular example is a bit of a shit box

[@BreakersandBabes]

I paid $600 for mine but i had to replace headlight

[@jalopy_jeff]

Nicely done!