SL-Class [Poll] Which is your all time best Mercedes SL?

[manuelf]

R129. By a margin.
At the time the R129 came on the market, I was a young car enthusiatic guy with a fresh driving license.
Me and my buddies were working (student job) for a valet parking company in Berlin. At the down town locations of the various luxury shops (Chanel, Rena Lange, Chopard, ...) and Hairstylists.

There we had a huge variety of customer premium cars all day long! On a side note: This was also the time, where I became a bimmer and Porsche fan. But the R129 at this time was simply outstanding! No cab at this time had this quality and stiffness! The drivetrain (V8 with auto) was above everything I have driven at that time. The soft top mechanism was top notch.
Imho, there has been never a time again, where Mercedes did distance the competition like with the R129! Never! R129 was a unicorn.

 

[CrunchSlaughtered]

R129. By a margin.
At the time the R129 came on the market, I was a young car enthusiatic guy...

In my country it was considered the ultimate car. No Ferrari, no Lambo. Only Mercedes SL.

 

[Merc1]

The good thing is that there are so may R129 SL's around now that are in great shape. Their value seem to be appreciating some now. I predict as Mercedes goes further off the styling rails with their weird looking electric vehicles, old Mercedes will become more sought after. I know they will by me.

M

 

[Centurion]

This video shows how a machine polish can make a tired and neglected R129 look showroom fresh.

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[Merc1]

I just saw that a few days ago! That is why my updated fantasy garage now includes early, pre-facelift R129 models. I just love the early models and the first facelift models, just as much as the last facelift model (1999-2002 in the U.S.)

M

 

[PanterroR]

Period!

 

[Merc1]

It would be nice if this could be modernized in some way. Impossible I know. 2002 SL500 Silver Arrow Edition.

M

 

[Merc1]

Perfection.

M

 

[J.E]

I was tempted to vote for the FL R129 SL, since it still looks fabulous, but then I remembered what a pain in the ass the hardtop is to fit, so I voted for the R230 SL, the pre-FL R230 SL that is.

 

[mihc]

2002 SL55 AMG also for me the best one.

 

[Merc1]

So I totally forgot that they made like 100 SL600 Silver Arrow Editions for the 2002 model year in the U.S. It's the ultimate R129 SL that was sold in the U.S IMO.

This is the only time in which I can remember the cylinder count was on the back of a Mercedes. I looked it up in the brochures online and yes that was original placement for V12 badge.



Favorite Mercedes of all time.........behind the W124 500E/E500.


M

 

[J.E]

So I totally forgot that they made like 100 SL600 Silver Arrow Editions for the 1992 model year in...

Don't you mean 2002?

 

[Merc1]

Don't you mean 2002?

Yessir I did, thanks. Corrected.

M

 

[hoffmeister_fan]

So I totally forgot that they made like 100 SL600 Silver Arrow Editions for the 2002 model year in...

I dig that machine-turned aluminum trim.

 

[Yaz]

This is the only time in which I can remember the cylinder count was on the back of a Mercedes. I looked it up in the brochures online and yes that was original placement for V12 badge.

Probably because they couldn't place it on the pilar like the W140 S600.

 

[GTA45E]

The R107 is also a fabulous machine as well and worthy of a few votes.
I remember riding in one of these when I was very young. It was very heavy feeling and well built. Mercedes pushed the luxury envelope on the R107, probably more so than any other SL.
The R107 was not a sports car by any stretch of the imagination.

 

[Merc1]

Yes the required car of the rich in the 80's in America. It seemed like every glossy TV show had one in it. A clean, late run 560SL is very desirable.

M

 

[sako97]

A late R129 (SL500/600 Silver Arrow or SL1/SL2 package) is the most collectible of the aforementioned SL’s. Second is a late 560 R107, as @Merc1 mentioned.

I love me a R230 SL55, SL65 or SL63, but the nightmare of a suspension that is ABC and the Vario Roof will continue to prevent them for being classified as a collectible. MB mechanics will tell you straight up that both will fail to some degree and cost you thousands to repair. If you let a R230 with ABC sit like a collectable, the suspension will fail.

That being said, I’m looking to pick up a clean SL55 or 65 whenever the world gets past the pandemic. For not too much money, you can get yourself a quintessential weekend cruiser (with a solid service record history showing ABC and roof were maintained)

A late-model SL550, SL63, or SL65 (BS doesn’t have ABC or vario roof obviously) are fairly well sorted compared to earlier models. . 2009-11 SL550 and SL63 values are holding fine right now. They aren’t as naturally pretty as the 2002-06 or 07-08.

 

[Deleted member 1071]

The R107 is also a fabulous machine as well and worthy of a few votes.
I remember riding in one of...

One big mistake committed by myself as a car nut: NOT having purchased a sound R107 about 25 years ago when they could be had for little money.

 

[GTA45E]

^
lOl my friend, 25 years ago I was a very young puppy. Too young to own one of these in fact.
That example I posted is a 1986 SL560 with 39,330 miles. It sold for $35,560. Brand new this car was in the neighborhood of $60,000. There will never be an SL like the R107.

39K-Mile 1986 Mercedes-Benz 560SL

This R129 SL73 AMG looks absolutely stunning.

Thanks for posting this. Now I know why MB AMG wants to revive the 73 nameplate.
It is in honor of this wonderful machine.