I should really stop looking at ads like this.
Is it just me or is this insane? You get an almost-modern near-supercar for less than the cost of a fully-boring used beige minivan. This is not the only one I've seen in this price range that looked totally decent. Imagine if Vipers were that cheap, or Aston DB7s/Vanquishes.
I mean, what could possibly go wrong with one of these? They're Mercedes-engineered, right? They should be easy maintenance with jobber parts, right ??? 
That's honestly a good deal.
Canadian dollars, too. And Victoria has very mild winters (think Oregon, more or less.) Just saying.
I really like that body style. The SL320s were sold with manual transmissions for the first year or two, too.
They were astonishing cars, but I don't think they aged very well. MB has such a strong design ethos in any era that when certain lower end models start ending up in questionable hands then it brings down the value of the whole range. That's my theory anyway.
Parts prices will hurt but that was a good era for MB. I'd trust one of those before I'd trust a 2006
Almost pulled the trigger on one myself a little over six months ago. That looks like a solid deal you have. It's about the same outside dimensions as a mustang. Don't compare weight though.
Seems to be classed HS in SCCA autocross, and I'm incredibly curious to see how competitive it might be against the incumbent MINI and FiST.
From what I can tell, it's not too terrible to maintain. You mostly just buy more of everything. Just make sure the fancy suspension and top system are in good shape. The engine and transmission are more or less bulletproof.
A 20+ year old V12 car from ze Germans. What could go wrong?! 
Welp, gotta say this is not the way I was expecting this thread to go. I definitely didn't think I'd hear this:
Mike wrote: From what I can tell, it's not too terrible to maintain. [...] The engine and transmission are more or less bulletproof.
"Fortunately" the one in the ad seems to be sold already so I don't have to worry about it anymore. That was a pretty low dollar for one of those around here but I see them in the 8-9k range pretty regularly, in good shape.
And yeah NOTHING rusts on this island, chances are it was as clean as it looks. ;) (Edit: although I just noticed the car in the ad had an Alberta plate.)
H-stock classing is madness.
Mid Nineties ones feature self-composting wiring looms. Not exactly cheap to repair...
I think these fall under the old "can you afford two of them?" rule, might want to push it to 3 for a 90s top of the line MB though.
They're not actually all that fast 0-60. For the time they were quick, comparable to the very fastest of v8 sedans. But by today's standards - no, more like a mid-grade v6 sedan. A Mustang GT would slaughter it 0-60 and 1/4 mile. I've never driven one so I can't speak to the ride or handling but I assume it's more of a GT car than a sports- or super-car.
I love the idea that a Benz with a V12 could possibly be a competitive HS car. There's delicious irony there.
dculberson wrote: They're not actually all that fast 0-60. For the time they were quick, comparable to the very fastest of v8 sedans. But by today's standards - no, more like a mid-grade v6 sedan. A Mustang GT would slaughter it 0-60 and 1/4 mile. I've never driven one so I can't speak to the ride or handling but I assume it's more of a GT car than a sports- or super-car.
IIRC, I compared the R129 to Mustang GT convertible, both 2001. I think the dimensions are largely within an inch or two, HP is very close, but weight is close to 1000 lbs apart.
Jay wrote: Welp, gotta say this is *not* the way I was expecting this thread to go. I definitely didn't think I'd hear this:Mike wrote: From what I can tell, it's not too terrible to maintain. [...] The engine and transmission are more or less bulletproof."Fortunately" the one in the ad seems to be sold already so I don't have to worry about it anymore. That was a pretty low dollar for one of those around here but I see them in the 8-9k range pretty regularly, in good shape. And yeah NOTHING rusts on this island, chances are it was as clean as it looks. ;) (Edit: although I just noticed the car in the ad had an Alberta plate.) H-stock classing is madness.
I want to be clear that I'm a guy on the internet who doesn't own one and who is telling you what I learned from other random people on the internet. If it breaks, you own both parts. Still, I'd consider one for sub-$8k money.
BoxheadTim wrote: Mid Nineties ones feature self-composting wiring looms. Not exactly cheap to repair...
Generally 92-96, though I am not positive on the years for the SL. It is not a cheap job, but it can be DIY.
OH MY YES.
AMG. Eight and a half grand.
BRB I'm gonna make a gofundme.
I recently bought a '97 C36 AMG sedan for $3k. Higher miles/ 197k but garaged and driven by a lady in her 50's for the last decade. Issues with the climate control system need to be addressed, but otherwise the car is a hoot to drive. Smooth torque, loves to rev and no, I don't wish it had a manual trans - the 5 spd auto works great. Not just a body kit, it's a true AMG hand assembled motor with forged internals. Figured I take a gamble on this instead of a beige mini van.
I have been watching these lately.
dculberson wrote: They're not actually all that fast 0-60. For the time they were quick, comparable to the very fastest of v8 sedans. But by today's standards - no, more like a mid-grade v6 sedan. A Mustang GT would slaughter it 0-60 and 1/4 mile. I've never driven one so I can't speak to the ride or handling but I assume it's more of a GT car than a sports- or super-car.
Stomp on it at 70mph and you'll be amazed at how fast those heavy things are. They weren't made with 0-to-whatever sprints in mind.
Here's what goes wrong with R129s.
Pinched wiring rendering the third brake light inoperable ($20 worth of wiring and sheathing).
Gauges sometimes lose illumination and/or operable cable drives. My buddy used MBCluster.com for his, but they're currently closed due to renovations (typically a $400 fix for the cluster).
Power top relays sometimes fail, but rarely the mechanism itself (all relays are around $120).
Power adjustment for the interior rear view mirror can fail (still adjustable manually).
Sometimes the mirror housing rattles (a $10 fix, IIRC).
Headlight wipers rarely work.
Wood trim cracks, my buddy got his trim hydrodipped and it looks rather authentic.
The biggest things to look for are rust bubbles on the underside of the doors (jam area), and leaky power steering (a couple k for a steering box, IIRC).
The M120 V12s are super solid, often racking up huge miles without anything more than general maintenance. When the miles get up above 250k, the SL600s are actually more reliable than the SL500s. If you want it, go have fun. R129s and W140s were the last of the "hewn from granite" Benzes.
G_Body_Man wrote: Sometimes the mirror housing rattles (a $10 fix, IIRC).
Let me get this right, the interior mirror is electrically adjustable ?!?!?!
BTW Harry Metcalfe loves his 'beater' V12 W129 he keeps in the south of cheese and wine.
Could this be real?
2001 Mercedes-Benz CL600 75K V-12 $4000 OBO - $4000
Edit:
The ad must be cached for me.
The houses look like typical lower middle class Cleveland houses and the area code is correct for Cleveland.
Here is the original text:
Mercedes-Benz CL600 V-12. Runs and drives. 75K miles. Very fast and fun. No rust. Automatic. Push button adjustable suspension. Good tires. Fully loaded with power seats, power windows, power locks, leather with built in massage, built in navigation, vacuum sealed doors and trunk, drilled and slotted rotors, sunroof, etc. There are to many options to list. $4000 OBO If you are interested please call 216-754-0099 No Text's
Hopefully it go pulled because too many people suspected it was a scam and that a Benz should sell for more.
Well, it's already deleted, but DAMN.
Be very careful. It could have been real, but the V12 cars from this generation, but before the turbos appeared, have a problem. The oil cooler sits on top of the engine, in the V. It develops leaks and requires replacement. IIRC, it's a $450 part, but requires pulling both heads, and everything else around it, making it a $4000 dealer job. My understanding is that the updated part doesn't have a high failure rate, so once you fix it, you should be done. On the other hand, by the time you fixed it, you have enough in it to have just bought a twin turbo car anyway.
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