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<DIV><FONT face=Verdana size=2>My 2 cents. I've owned my '91 500SL
with very low mileage (56K miles) for about 3 years and, although it has
not been flawless, I have had very few problems with it. Not sure what the
issue is with the transmissions they all talk about, but my car runs smooth and
tight and is always fun to drive. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Verdana size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Verdana size=2>Greg Conte</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Verdana size=2>West Hills, CA</FONT></DIV>
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style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=bandbricketts@ns.sympatico.ca
href="mailto:bandbricketts@ns.sympatico.ca">William Ricketts</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A title=r129list@mbcoupes.com
href="mailto:r129list@mbcoupes.com">SL Mailing List</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Tuesday, January 13, 2009 4:35
PM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: [R129 SL] Planning on buying
an SL500</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#0000ff>This might be the site talked
about that suggests a 97 or 98. I bought a 98 three years ago with 42k
miles on it and use it as a daily driver up here in Canada. Love it, and
no significant problems with it so far. Good luck with your
shopping!</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#0000ff></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><A
href="http://www.kenrockwell.com/sl/index.htm">http://www.kenrockwell.com/sl/index.htm</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#0000ff></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#0000ff>Bill</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#0000ff>Halifax, Nova
Scotia</FONT></DIV>
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<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=pauls@sbcglobal.net href="mailto:pauls@sbcglobal.net">Paul
Samarin</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A title=r129list@mbcoupes.com
href="mailto:r129list@mbcoupes.com">SL Mailing List</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Tuesday, January 13, 2009 6:31
PM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: [R129 SL] Planning on
buying an SL500</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>There is a site, but I can't remember a darn thing about it!
Sorry. It claimed that 97 and 98 are the best years, with 98
being the best. Before finding that site, I bought a 90 about two
years ago with about 90K on her, but looking pristine. Paid $12,700,
but the soft top wouldn't deploy, so I took a little gamble. Turned
out to be no problem other than it hadn't been run for years b/c p/o didn't
use it as a convertible. After buying that car, a very good friend
wanted one so we began shopping. Then I was aware of the above
website, so my friend found and purchased a pristine 98 (also about 2 years
ago) with about 68K on her for $23,000.
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV>There is a noticeable difference between the two cars. My 90 is
very reminiscent of the 80's S-class cars; my previous car was an 86 SEC and
the instrument panel is nearly identical. A big improvement (i.e.,
much more modern looking interior) over the R107, but the 98 is another step
up from that. So, my guess is that these days there wouldn't be *much*
price difference between the early ones and the later ones, but I'd hold-out
for a 97 or 98 if I were shopping today.</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV>One other note: My friend and I use the same indy MB shop in
Whittier, an honest and knowledgeable husband and wife team. He noted
that my friend's 98 will soon need about $3K in some sort of engine work
caused by the *lack* of mileage. IOW, if the car doesn't get used
regularly, stuff sorta clogs up. Others here may know more about that,
but just some food for thought. I'd bet that condition means much more
than mileage.</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV>I've got about 110K now and basically maintenance-free, though the
a/c--heater blower is not working right now. Haven't had time to take
her in.<BR>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV>Paul</DIV>
<DIV><BR>
<DIV>
<DIV>On Jan 13, 2009, at 2:11 PM, Andrew Somers wrote:</DIV><BR
class=Apple-interchange-newline>
<BLOCKQUOTE type="cite">
<P style="MARGIN: 0px"><FONT style="FONT: 18px Arial" face=Arial
size=5>Hello,</FONT></P>
<P style="MIN-HEIGHT: 21px; MARGIN: 0px; FONT: 18px Arial"><BR></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0px"><FONT style="FONT: 18px Arial" face=Arial
size=5><SPAN class=Apple-converted-space> </SPAN>I am a
current R107 owner (Her name is Freya <SPAN
class=Apple-converted-space> </SPAN><A
href="http://www.my450sl.com">http://www.my450sl.com</A><SPAN
class=Apple-converted-space> </SPAN>) which I've had for about 10
years - she runs fine,<SPAN class=Apple-converted-space> </SPAN>but
I am thinking that I want to upgrade now to an R129, and trying to get an
idea of best years, and what kind of problems I should look for etc. For
instance, I hear:</FONT></P>
<P style="MIN-HEIGHT: 21px; MARGIN: 0px; FONT: 18px Arial"><BR></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0px"><FONT style="FONT: 18px Arial" face=Arial size=5>1)
The transmission in the 90 thru 95 aren't great, and the 96-98 are
better.</FONT></P>
<P style="MIN-HEIGHT: 21px; MARGIN: 0px; FONT: 18px Arial"><BR></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0px"><FONT style="FONT: 18px Arial" face=Arial size=5>2)
The engine in the 99-02 is not desirable.</FONT></P>
<P style="MIN-HEIGHT: 21px; MARGIN: 0px; FONT: 18px Arial"><BR></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0px"><FONT style="FONT: 18px Arial" face=Arial size=5>3)
The hydraulics for the roof fail often and are expensive to fix (Is this
true for all years?)</FONT></P>
<P style="MIN-HEIGHT: 21px; MARGIN: 0px; FONT: 18px Arial"><BR></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0px"><FONT style="FONT: 18px Arial" face=Arial
size=5>Any website I should look at that discusses the R129 series and
potential issues?</FONT></P>
<P style="MIN-HEIGHT: 21px; MARGIN: 0px; FONT: 18px Arial"><BR></P>
<P style="MIN-HEIGHT: 21px; MARGIN: 0px; FONT: 18px Arial"><BR></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0px"><FONT style="FONT: 18px Arial" face=Arial
size=5>Thanks!</FONT></P>
<P style="MIN-HEIGHT: 21px; MARGIN: 0px; FONT: 18px Arial"><BR></P>
<P style="MIN-HEIGHT: 21px; MARGIN: 0px; FONT: 18px Arial"><BR></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0px"><FONT style="FONT: 18px Arial" face=Arial
size=5>Andy</FONT></P></BLOCKQUOTE></DIV><BR>
<DIV><SPAN class=Apple-style-span
style="WORD-SPACING: 0px; FONT: 18px Arial; TEXT-TRANSFORM: none; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); TEXT-INDENT: 0px; WHITE-SPACE: normal; LETTER-SPACING: normal; BORDER-COLLAPSE: separate; orphans: 2; widows: 2; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0"><SPAN
class=Apple-style-span
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<DIV>
<DIV
style="WORD-WRAP: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space">
<DIV>Paul W. Samarin</DIV>
<DIV>Attorney at Law</DIV>
<DIV>110 Pine Street, Suite 630</DIV>
<DIV>Long Beach, CA 90802</DIV>
<DIV>(562)491-3538</DIV></DIV></DIV>
<DIV><A href="mailto:pauls@sbcglobal.net">pauls@sbcglobal.net</A></DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV><BR class=Apple-interchange-newline></SPAN><BR
class=Apple-interchange-newline></SPAN></DIV><BR></DIV></DIV>
<P>
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