1993 Mercedes-Benz 500 SL 32v

We are delighted to offer for sale a 1993 500SL. Whilst we cannot claim any royal provenance, we can tell you that this car has been loved and cherished, especially by its last long-term owner.

Sadly, the gentleman has now had to stop driving and it was with some reluctance that he was persuaded that the time was right to let someone else enjoy the car. And with summer now firmly upon us, what could be nicer that a convertible Mercedes-Benz SL in which to enjoy it.

The car has been little used in the last five years, the owner’s wife starting and driving it on occasions in order to keep it running properly.

A testament to the car’s build quality is that is once again sailed through its MoT test last month, with just a couple of very minor advisories.

As mentioned, this is a 500SL, other more diminutive power plants are available. The R129 is a heavy car and really needs the 5.0-litre engine to give the car the kind of performance that one would expect from this type of prestige car. The added bonus of course is that delightful V8 soundtrack.

Let’s start at the top! The SL comes with its original hardtop. Some do get separated over the years. There are a few minor marks on it probably from when it was being stored. It is a quality item and provides excellent protection in the winter and some say the car looks better with it in place.

The soft top is a little dusty but should clean up with a bit of elbow grease. It looks somewhat creased, as it has been folded away in its storage compartment for a number of years. We would recommend reproofing it too. It moves up and down under electric power.

The slate grey paintwork still looks smart even after nearly 30 years. We note that there are some marks on the front bumper, no doubt from parking.

The bonnet has an assortment of stone chips that the fastidious owner might want to address. We like what we suspect is original paint, so would probably leave well alone.

The front nearside wing has a small area where the paint is starting to bubble. This will want addressing.

We also note a little scuffing/scratches where the hard top locates around the tonneau cover. There is also a scratch on the driver’s side door mirror.

The alloy wheels are the originals and they do show signs of corrosion creeping in. There are many fine specialists who will refurbish them for a modest fee.

Contrasting nicely with the grey paintwork, is the lovely cream interior. The leather seats are vast and hugely accommodating and with electric adjustment, getting comfortable behind the wheel is a doddle.

The driver’s seat shows some wear on the offside bolster area and at the front. Once again there are leather repair experts who can restore it to new condition.

The passenger seat is just a little creased in places, so probably just needs a gentle clean and some hide food applying.

There are a pair of rear seats, but unless you are carrying young children, they are best thought of as extra luggage space. They look as though they have never been sat in.

Door cards, mats and carpets are all in decent order, wanting nothing more than a gentle clean.

The boot is quite capacious and looks to be in fine condition. There’s a full-size spare wheel and tool kit too.

The headlining in the hard top is beginning to come unstuck in a couple of places, so time to get the glue gun out.

Switch gear is all very Mercedes, ie sold, robust and easy to operate.

Lift the bonnet and that powerful V8 engine sits proud, ready to impress. It’s an impressively clean engine bay too, always a good sign as this generally shows careful ownership.

We do note the smallest amount of surface rust in the spare wheel well, but this should be easy enough to address.

With regards to corrosion elsewhere, we think this lovely 500SL has stood the test of time rather well. The last MoT tester seemed to think so anyway!

We always like selling a car that has been in the same caring hands for many a year. And that is exactly the case here.

With the car is the original service book which contains plenty of stamps and to accompany there is a large sheaf of bills and old MoT certificates.

Some of the more recent work done to the car includes a new alternator, a replacement ECU for the electric soft top and a full new exhaust system in 2015, an expensive item.

With the car being little used these last few years, the regular service regime has been allowed to slip, so no doubt the new owner will want to book the car in for the once over.

This lovely Mercedes-Benz SL 500 comes from a time when the German manufacturer’s build quality was top notch. As such, it comes as no surprise to us to find this car to be in such good order, clearly helped by careful ownership over the years.

The powerful engine mated to a smooth automatic gearbox make this an ideal car for long distance touring and there’s plenty of space for luggage too.

With good R107s starting to become unaffordable, we do expect prices of R129s to rise over the coming years, so now is likely to be a good time to buy.

So, get bidding without delay. Oh, and if you want to know what we think the SL will fetch, we estimate £9,000 to £14,000. Better than money in the bank!

Viewing is always encouraged, within government guidelines of course. The car is located at our Abingdon headquarters; we are open Mon-Fri 9am-5pm and to arrange an appointment please use the ‘Contact Seller’ button at the top of the listing to make an appointment. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’