1997 Mercedes-Benz SL 500

This particular example was produced prior to the 1998 face-lift, meaning the engine remained the more desirable 119, rather than the later 113 unit, and many enthusiasts (the vendor included) argue that these late-model, pre-facelift cars are among the best available, with a higher overall build quality and mechanical reliability.

Finished in the desirable (and we’re told, rare) colour combination of Black (040) over a Mushroom leather interior, this 1997-registered SL500 has been utterly cherished throughout its lifetime, as evident from the overall condition of the car.

Whilst in our vendor’s care, the car has enjoyed regular use, with the M119 engine in rude health (living up to its reputation amongst enthusiasts) and garaged throughout its current ownership, ensuring that the condition of the bodywork remains top-notch.

After purchasing this SL, our vendor had a Mercedes specialist inspect the car In great detail, with the instruction to fix anything that required attention - carte blanche - and the resulting invoice totalled to less than £1,000 which we reckon speaks volumes to not only how good Mercedes’ build quality was during this period, but how good this particular example really is.

Benefitting from not only a desirable colour combination and powertrain but also an impressive specification, this SL also enjoys the fitment of the desirable panoramic glass hard-top, along our vendor having purchased four new matching Dunlop tyres and having all four wheels refurbished during their ownership.

Wonderfully and unapologetically 90’s in its styling, the R129 is enjoying somewhat of a resurgence of late, and from a purely aesthetic view, its not hard to see why.

This particular SL500 has been kept in outstanding condition by both the current and former owners, with this hard work having paid dividends as this example looks far younger and less travelled than its registration and odometer suggest.

The bodywork is wonderfully straight throughout, with no sign of any impact damage or mis-aligned panels. The 040-code black paintwork is in similarly excellent condition, showing only a few patches of light wear (such as stone chips on the lower splitter) along with a larger area of touched-in paintwork visible on the nearside front bumper, just outside of the front number plate area.

All of the light lenses are free from damage or moisture ingress as far as we could tell, and both the folding soft-top and the panoramic hard-top are in excellent shape, with the former only showing some heavy creasing due to long periods being stored away.

As we’ve already mentioned, the vendor has had all four wheels refurbished and wrapped in matching Dunlop rubber, with the result being a set of pristine period-correct wheels that look excellent filling out this SL500’s arches, with barely a mark on them and plenty of life left in the tyres.

The Mushroom leather interior has certainly stood the test of time well, thanks in part to the harder-wearing leather used in the pre-98 vehicles.

This particular cabin has been preserved in excellent condition, with only light wear to the outer bolsters of the front seats being visible, and an updated stereo having been fitted at some point in the car’s lifetime.

Both front seats wear only very light signs of usage - such as light creases and wear to the outer bolsters - whilst the centre console and carpets are all in excellent condition. All of the systems and gauges appear to be working as intended, though the LCD display for the HVAC system was somewhat temperamental, occasionally displaying a full picture and then distorting, as shown in the photos below.

The folding soft-top is in excellent condition on the inside with no notable wear, and the mechanism is in full working order. The same is true of the panoramic glass hardtop, which is also in fantastic shape and both seats and releases from the vehicle correctly, with no hesitation or sticking mounting points.

In the boot, the carpet is in generally good condition showing only a few light marks, though it would appear a replacement panel has been crafted at some point to cover the nearside hidden luggage hold, which houses the various tools and OE first-aid kit that comes with the vehicle.

Famed for its reliability and longevity, the M119 V8 engine fired into life with ease, and proved itself to be wonderfully smooth but surprisingly responsive whilst on our short test drive, with the power being applied in a linear fashion and with near-imperceptible shifts from an automatic transmission of this era.

During our photo shoot, the car came up to operating temperature happily, with the radiator fans kicking in as-and-when required, with the car’s temperature remaining stable even during long periods of idling. Out on the road, we noticed no untoward noises or behaviours, and the car generally felt impressively ‘tight’ and responsive - good news all round, really.

In the engine bay, the M119 block and ancillaries present well, and we noticed no sign of any leaks or fluid loss during our time with the car.

Underneath, the chassis looks to be in very good shape, with no signs of any impending issues or problems that set our alarm bells ringing.

The most recent MOT exam - dated 12 August 2021 - resulted in a clean pass with no advisory items, which is the same story for all MOTs dating back to 2009!

Included with the vehicle is an extensive history folder, including the full Mercedes-Benz book pack, stamped service record, V5 showing six former keepers, and numerous invoices for work carried out to the car.

The most recent service took place during October 2020 at 52,495 miles, and the history folder shows that this example has enjoyed regular servicing irrespective of mileage - always a good sign on any modern classic such as this.

In addition to routine servicing, the car has benefitted in recent years from a new alternator, new rocker cover gasket, a new exhaust in 2015 (at a cost of £1,899) and a gearbox service during May 2021.

The full plethora of documentation is available to view below, so pop the kettle on and get comfy as there’s plenty to go through.

Meticulously maintained, fantastically preserved and presented in excellent condition throughout, this is a wonderful and cherished example of arguably the ‘sweet spot’ of the R129 range, offering excellent drivability and respectable economy with a glorious V8 soundtrack and strong factory specification.

Given the condition and low mileage enjoyed by this modern classic, we estimate a final hammer price in the region of £16,000 to £22,000 so be sure to bid well to be in with a chance of obtaining this slice of 90’s luxury motoring - good luck!

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with us at The Market HQ near Abingdon; to arrange an appointment please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.