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many thanks for reading this, mark.
The problem has to do with the manumatic -speed shifting .
This car has 5 speed and 3 settings , comfort , sport , and ,manual . the manual can be done by pressing buttons on the back of the steering wheel or by tipping the shifter to the left or right.
This trans, in manual is crazy , say you want to take a 2nd gear turn, you come on 5 hit the downshift button 3 times (spaced) and the software which has a mind of its own chooses 1st gear instead.
It is certainly not a sequential shifter .
I am wondering if any of you has experienced the same with any Mercedes with manumatic.
Help me out so I can start nailing down what to look for.
Had no problems with the transmission .
I hope this helps.
Keep in mind the 5 speed electronic transmission didn't start until 1996. From 1990-95 they were 4 speed hydraulic, which worked fine but a little slow on the downshift.
The V8 engine used until 1999 was a 4 valve, DOHC V8 that was replaced in 1999 with a 3 valve per cylinder, SOHC. The earlier engines pack 322hp with 353 +/- ft lb. torque vs. 302 hp / 339 lbs. torque. Not much difference, but still. (Please excuse me if I am off a little on hp/torque #'s). Suffice it to say these cars move.
You can view the production run of the R129 in three phrases: 1990-95; 1996-98; 1999-2002. IMHO, while not taking anything away from any year of the SL R129 run, I have focused on the years of 1996-1998 in my search.
Anything specific to these models to be on the lookout for???...I have admired Benzes for years, dreamed about owning one, now dreaming further...
Since the cars are 8-10 years old, should I expect to find about 100K miles on the odo, and is that the point of just breaking in the engine, or am I preparing for major problems in the near future...
Do the convertible soft tops seal well against the frame for rain/wind leakage???...are these the cars Mercedes made when their reputation was bulletproof, or was this the beginning of the "quality downslide?"...
What routine maintenance items should I anticipate after 100K miles, such as alternator, water pump, starter, fuel pump, etc., or are these items good for 150K or more???
Are my quoted prices correct, or am I way off in what I should expect???
Were Xenon headlamps a stand alone option, or part of a sport package, and would you recommend the sport package for better handling or is it simply too rough???
Your thoughts and feedback are welcome...maybe my dream can come true in the near to medium future...
I am trying to determine the colors that the 1996-1998 SL500 came in...if I had my druthers, I would like exterior of Navy blue or silver, and interior leather of charcoal gray or navy blue (light color interiors, to me, show dirt and grime easily, colors like white or tan, whereas navy blue/gray/black does not look bad after 50-100K miles of wear...
Your thoughts and recos are appreciated...
Thanks!
I'm thinking of buying the above, but have read in the past that there are problems with this model. Specifically, I've heard that there are problems with odors coming from the glue Mercedes used for the side panels. Any truth to this? what are your thoughts about the 2003 sl500? i love the car, and i love the trim, but i'm not about to drop $70K on a car that smells bad! Also, any thoughts on reliability? thanks!
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appreciate this car. My only small complaint is a slight
fluttering or flapping noise from the dash on the passenger
side. Can anyone tell me what this is?
36 months 10K 64% or 12K 63%
Money factors for lease through MBF are:
24 months 0.00415
36 months 0.00390
I have just returned my CLK and got a SL550. One new thing I have learned is the GAS GUZZLER TAX ($1700), and is not part of the MSRP where can be rolled in to the lease but is not counted as the MSRP of the vehicle. So calculate your payments accordingly.
I got my deal at $795 A.Fee, No Doc Fee, and $1100 over invoice. Make sure you verify all the numbers yourself (there is an Excel spreadsheet in these forums) as dealers seems to make a lot of mistakes to their favors. After going through a lot of Mass and then NH dealers, I have found one dealer in NH that I felt comfortable working with. If you are in MA, I would not go to Chambers.
Regards,
Gent
2) No seal leaks from top but noisy inside the car....never fixed 3) rear drive train replaced recently due to noise 4) rough noisy ride with all four sets of tires (Michelin, Dunlap & Goodyear) 5) lousy trade-in value ($24M) recently offered by dealer for mint garaged car which means you will probably find or have found an acceptable car at a fraction of original MSRP.
Can't find anything on the net. I'll see the car this weekend to be sure it fits the description. I'm going to sell it for someone.
Thanks
They are thinking of selling the car as they drive it only once a month if that much, but have no idea of the real value of the car. If any of you have a hint of the dollar value, please let me know. I would buy it myself, but have no room at the inn or knowledge of the value of a gray market car.
Thanks.
The car has both the SL1 and SL2 packages and is triple black. R129 doors have a tendency to make noise so I had my INDY R&R the door strap/stays for $278.00. I love this car and it is fast, responsive, and has a great sound system by Bose.
I have owned two other SL's for the last eleven years. Both were the R107 chassis. I purchased my 1988 and 1989 560SL with 30K miles and recently sold the 1989 with 80K miles after seven years.
Here is a list of the R129 optional package features.
SL1 Sport Package ($4,995)
AMG designed sculpted lower body aerodynamic enhancements, to include:
Front apron with mesh air intake, two seperate tow hook covers
Contoured rear apron
Sculpted side skirts with Sport emblems
Halogen projector-beam front foglamps
245/40ZR18 front and 275/35ZR18 rear, low profile high-performance tires
8.5Jx18" front and 9.5Jx18" rear, staggered-width AMG 5 spoke monoblock alloy wheels
Note: Suspension and steering calibrations are unchanged by the Sport Package.
SL2 Value Added Package ($1,820)
Xenon headlights w/ automatic level control w/o headlight washer/wiper
Integrated trunk-mounted 6-disc CD changer
Electrically heated seats
I stumbled onto a 1996 600SL today; 1 owner, 32K miles, California car. Will sell for $22,000.00. The gentleman has 500K worth of cars (Viper, Jag XKE convertible, new Vette, classic Ranchero, boat, motorhome) in his garage! The car is flawless. Anything about the 1996 600SL that I should worry about? Good price? Anybody know how many 600SL were sold in the US that year? Thanks for any information.
Need I state the obvious? You are considering buying a 31 year old German car. You think 4,000 miles a year seems "awfully low", suggesting you may intend to drive it frequently.
IT WILL REQUIRE A LOT OF MAINTENANCE. :surprise:
Not that I know anything about the 450SL, but one of my neighbors has had his 30+ year old Mercedes 280SE out of commission for over 4 months waiting for some parts. If you buy this car, do so with the anticipation that if things start going wrong, you may need to just hand the keys to your local charity.
care to move ahead /
2. The radio is in intrigel part of the car. Uses multiplexed fiberoptics which I am told do other car functions. Any good installer should have the small tools that slide along side the radio for removal.
Trying to replace the radio with another brand can be big trouble.
It seems it happens after the car has been driven for a while. The repair shop claims the car was driven and tested while cold and after being driven
Does anyone have a clue as to what is going on?