Find or Sell Used Cars, Trucks, and SUVs in USA

1991 Mercedes-benz 500sl - 57k Miles - Excellent Condition - All Original on 2040-cars

US $10,750.00
Year:1991 Mileage:56975 Color:
Location:

Santa Monica, California, United States

Santa Monica, California, United States

Overview


The R129 500SL is one of the last, best Mercedes-Benz automobiles. Its designer, the legendary Bruno Sacco, called it “the most perfect car of my career,” and its lines still look great today. Furthermore, the quality of materials and engineering throughout is unmatched by pretty much anything sold since these cars were new.


Its ground-breaking M119 dual overhead cam, 32-valve, all-aluminum V8 engine, matched with a surprisingly lively 4-speed automatic, delivers tons of smooth power from anywhere in the rev range -- and sounds magnificent doing it. And the well-tuned chassis handles just about everything you can throw at it with grace, comfort and agility.


Ownership History


I am the car’s second owner, having purchased it in January of this year from an elderly couple, who used the car only a few months each year when visiting from their primary residence in Japan. They originally acquired the car new from Jim Slemons Imports, a now-defunct Orange County dealership, in April of 1991. The MSRP of the car at that time was $95,180, according to the original window sticker (which is included with the sale).


Condition

The car has lived its entire life garaged in California, with regular but sparing use, and has always been maintained by Mercedes-Benz dealers or specialists with no expense spared. It is easily one of the best examples available.


Exterior: 8.5 out of 10


The car is completely original and has never been in an accident nor had any paint or bodywork of any kind. The arctic white paint (code 147) shines with a depth that only older Mercedes-Benz vehicles seem able to achieve. Any flaws I’ve found are well-documented in the photos -- mostly minor parking-related scrapes. Also, at some point a vandal attempted to remove the 500SL badge from the rear trunk lid, causing some damage. (I have fully removed the badge, and it is included with the sale.) I’ve chosen to leave everything as-is rather than to disturb the original paint.


The car still wears its original black soft top. While fully functional, the top is showing its age with slightly yellowed plastic windows and one small tear (see photos). If you plan on using the soft top frequently, I would recommend having the entire rear panel replaced, which would run approximately $800 at a high-quality convertible top specialist.


The original white hard top is in outstanding shape and sports a recent new headliner. Included with the car is an aftermarket hard top storage cart and cover.


Interior: 9.5 out of 10


The black leather interior (code 271) is like new. The only notable sign of wear is some scuffing on the left bolster of the driver’s seat (see photos). Additionally, the plastic cover of the vanity mirror on the driver’s sun visor has broken off (I still have it), and the small cover that slides over the lower third of the center console has fallen within the console and needs to be retrieved. Otherwise, all switches, gauges, lights, windows, climate control functions, cruise control, etc. are working perfectly, as does the convertible top mechanism.


Mechanical: 9 out of 10


The car runs and drives like the low-mileage, well-maintained Mercedes-Benz that it is. The 322-horsepower V8 motor idles almost silently yet pulls authoritatively when willed, and the transmission shifts through all gears quickly and smoothly, including the proper (and thrilling) kick-down at full throttle. The car tracks straight, soaks up bumps with no funny suspension noises, and the steering and brakes are both tight. It rides on brand-new Continental ExtremeContact DW tires.


The only reason I am not giving the car a 10 out of 10 mechanically is that it occasionally runs rough for a few seconds when first started, usually after it’s been sitting for at least a day or two. I have not yet attempted to diagnose this issue, partly because it is easily avoided by giving the car just a tiny bit of throttle when firing it up. The engine runs perfectly at all other times and just passed the CA smog test with exemplary numbers, including no measurable CO emissions.


Being a lifelong Southern California car, this 500SL is entirely rust-free. Also, there are no oil or fluid leaks of any kind.


Service History


The car has received all of its scheduled maintenance and repairs at Mercedes-Benz dealerships or specialists, and it comes with service records dating back to its first inspection at 1700 miles at Jim Slemons Imports (noted in the stamped maintenance booklet, which comes with the car).


Recent repairs and maintenance include…

@ 56k miles: new distributors & rotors, new engine air filters & cabin air filter, new transmission fluid & filter, new engine oil & filter, new fuel filter, new differential oil, new steering damper

@ 54k miles: new brake rotors and pads

@ 53k miles: new alternator


I welcome and encourage private party inspections (at the buyer’s expense, of course).


Pricing


Classic car specialist Hagerty Insurance reports an average value of $9,444 for this model and year, ranging from $19,800 for a concours-ready example (#1 on their scale) to $6200 for one in fair condition and many notable flaws (#4 on their scale). My car is between a 2 and a 3 on the Hagerty scale, which equates to a value of $11,250; however, in the interest of a quick sale, I am pricing the car at $500 under that value, or $10,750.


Reason for Sale


I’m selling the car now because it’s currently just a weekend car for me, and I would like to use the funds to offset the costs of some upcoming home improvement work.


Additional Photos: https://www.dropbox.com/sc/ua28dbj2wbclh76/AADMlsOym5zAMP_cwW2N7tWma

Auto Services in California

Z & H Autobody And Paint ★★★★★

Automobile Body Repairing & Painting, Truck Body Repair & Painting
Address: 4738 Marine Ave, Lynwood
Phone: (310) 263-1040

Yanez RV ★★★★★

Auto Repair & Service, Used Car Dealers, Recreational Vehicles & Campers
Address: Gilman-Hot-Springs
Phone: (951) 526-9089

Yamaha Golf Cars Of Palm Spring ★★★★★

Auto Repair & Service, Golf Cars & Carts
Address: 55955 Pga Blvd, Bermuda-Dunes
Phone: (760) 564-0400

Wilma`s Collision Repair ★★★★★

Automobile Body Repairing & Painting
Address: 25571 Dollar St, Dublin
Phone: (925) 484-2324

Will`s Automotive ★★★★★

Auto Repair & Service
Address: 770 Post St, San-Pablo
Phone: (415) 776-3543

Will`s Auto Body Shop ★★★★★

Auto Repair & Service, Automobile Body Repairing & Painting, Truck Body Repair & Painting
Address: 2715 Geary Blvd, San-Pablo
Phone: (415) 563-8777

Auto blog

Recharge Wrap-Up: No new Smart Roadster, Africa to UK on one tank, Duke's efficient axial engine [w/videos]

Sat, Jul 19 2014

Smart will not make another generation of the Roadster, but a Smart SUV might be in the cards. According to Smart's CEO, Annette Winkler, "The Roadster isn't a profitable business case. Everybody is keen on the car, but nobody wants to pay the bill." What Car? states that Smart is likely planning a baby SUV to take on the Nissan Juke and its ilk. But for the immediate future, Winkler says Smart "must focus on how we can maximize potential of the Fortwo and Forfour. That is strategy number one." Read more over at What Car?. A Mercedes-Benz E300 Bluetec Hybrid made the 1,223-mile trek from Africa to the UK on just one tank of fuel. Driven by Andrew Frankel of Autocar, the diesel hybrid left Tangier, Morocco with a full tank of gas (using the optional 80-liter fuel tank), and arrived in Goodwood with the car indicating 100 miles of range left. Frankel and his co-driver averaged 61.2 miles per gallon (73.6 mpg UK) on the intercontinental journey through four countries, despite elevation changes and a traffic jam. See the first video below for more information, or check out the article at Carscoops. Duke Engines promises simplicity and efficiency from the axial engine it's developing. Rather than lining up the cylinders, this engine arranges them in a circle, which allows Duke to avoid unnecessary weight. The five-cylinder, four-stroke motor manages the same amount of powerstrokes per revolution as a standard six-cylinder mill, but weighs 30 percent less. It also has much fewer parts, says Duke. Its high compression ratios mean more power with less fuel, which adds up to more efficiency and fewer emissions. The second of the two videos below, which we first found over at Sploid, explains Duke's axial engine. This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. Related Gallery Smart Roadster Patents Related Gallery Mercedes-Benz E400 Hybrid and E300 BlueTec Hybrid: Detroit 2012 Photos View 13 Photos News Source: Carscoops, What Car?, Sploid via World Car Fans Green Mercedes-Benz smart Fuel Efficiency Technology Emerging Technologies Diesel Vehicles Hybrid Videos recharge wrapup diesel hybrid smart roadster

Maybach Coupe Teased by Mercedes-Benz | Autoblog Minute

Sat, Aug 13 2016

It looks like a new two-door Maybach is on it?s way. Mercedes teased the internet this week with a Facebook post featuring a picture of a red two-door coupe. Maybach Mercedes-Benz Autoblog Minute Videos Original Video autos

A weird end to a weird F1 season | 2016 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix recap

Mon, Nov 28 2016

The 2016 Formula 1 season ended with a bang that came from a direction no one expected. Lewis Hamilton put his Mercedes-AMG Petronas on pole position and then got away clean to start the race. Teammate Nico Rosberg did the next best thing, lining up in second and following right behind Hamilton for most of the race. Other than Rosberg's wicked pass on Red Bull's Max Verstappen to retake second place on Lap 20, things stayed all quiet at the front. Come Lap 32 of the 55-lap race, however, observers began to wonder why Hamilton was driving so slow. The Brit, working every trick he could think of to win the Driver's World Championship instead of just the race, dogged it out front trying to push Rosberg back into the chasing mix of Red Bulls and Ferraris. Over the next 15 laps Hamilton's race engineer repeatedly radioed ideal lap times. Hamilton only occasionally hit the times until finally saying, "I suggest you let us race." When the one-stopping Sebastian Vettel blasted his Ferrari from sixth to third, nosing up to Rosberg's gearbox, Mercedes team honcho Paddy Lowe got on the radio to instruct Hamilton to go faster. Hamilton replied that if he wasn't going to win the championship he didn't care about winning the race. Hamilton repeatedly zoomed through the first sector to keep everyone behind, then clogged up the works through Sectors 2 and 3. The problem with his plan was that the Red Bulls in fourth and fifth couldn't get close enough to threaten the trio at the front; even if Vettel had got by Rosberg, Rosberg would still win the Championship with a third-place finish. As it happened, Rosberg finished second behind the disconsolate Hamilton. Vettel took third, followed by Red Bull drivers Verstappen and Daniel Ricciardo, then the second Ferrari piloted by Kimi Raikkonen in sixth. Nico Hulkenberg took seventh, beating Force India teammate Sergio Perez for the last time as an intra-team rivalry. Felipe Massa closed his F1 career with ninth place in a Williams chassis that he got to take home as a gift from the team. Fernando Alonso scored the final point for McLaren, a touch of sweet for the team after the bitterness of Jenson Button retiring on Lap 12 with suspension damage. Rosberg's second place earned him 385 points for the season, enough to take the World Driver's Championship from Hamilton by just five points. Some have put the title down to Rosberg's consistency, others to his car's reliability.