This 1995 Mercedes-Benz SL500 shows just two owners with registration in Illinois and only 40k miles from new. Finished in Smoke Silver Metallic (702) over Parchment Leather (275), power is provided by a 5.0-liter M119 V8 mated to a four-speed automatic transmission driving the rear wheels. Equipment includes power seats with orthopedic seat backs and three-position memory, a power tilt/telescope steering wheel, a fully power operated soft top, a paint matched removable hardtop, automatic climate control, cruise control, Bose audio and remote central locking. Included is the original window sticker showing an MSRP of $92,405. This 1995 SL500 is now being offered for sale by the selling dealer in Miami, Florida with the original manufacturer’s literature, tool kit, first aid kit, a clean Carfax report and a clean Florida title.
The exterior is finished in Smoke Silver Metallic (702) and features contrasting paint on the lower body cladding. The dark brown fabric soft top is fully power operated along with the paint-matched removable hardtop. Exterior equipment includes remote central locking, a heated windshield washer system, power operated side mirrors, headlamp wiper/washers, front fog lights, an automatic pop-up roll bar and a removable draft deflector. Aftermarket parking sensors have been installed in the rear bumper and are noted as functional. The exterior presents well with no signs of damage or rust present on the body.
The 16” 8-hole alloy wheels come finished in silver and are wrapped in a set of Michelin HX MXM4 all-season tires measuring 225/55 on all four corners with date codes from 2015. The wheels are in good condition and show no signs of curb rash or corrosion. Four-wheel anti-lock disc brakes are standard along with ASR slip control. A full-size spare tire can be found mounted in the trunk along with the factory tool kit and jack.
The cabin is trimmed in Parchment Leather (275) and features matching beige floor mats and Burl Walnut wood trim lining the center console and dashboard. The wood trim is in good condition with no signs of cracking or discoloration. Both front seats are power operated with the optional orthopedic seat backs and feature three-position memory. Additional interior amenities include automatic climate control, cruise control, a power tilt/telescope steering wheel, Bose Acoustimass audio with a trunk-mounted CD changer, and an integrated car phone mounted in the center console.
The leather-wrapped steering wheel frames the 160-mph speedometer which sits alongside a 7k-rpm tachometer, an analog clock and gauges for fuel level, fuel economy, oil pressure and coolant temperature. Included are digital gauges for outside temperature, trip meter and odometer which currently reads just over 40k miles.
This R129 is powered by a 5.0-liter M119 V8 engine which outputs 315 horsepower and 349 lb-ft of torque. Power is sent to the rear wheels through a four-speed automatic transmission. The last reported service on the Carfax was performed in November 2022 with 100 miles added since.
The Carfax report shows just two owners with registration in Illinois from new. Linear mileage updates are shown along with regular service visits and no accidents or damage reports displayed. This 1995 SL500 is now offered for sale by the selling dealer with the original window sticker, manufacturer’s literature, tool kit, a clean Carfax report and a clean Florida title.
A video of the convertible top operation and driving video is viewable below.
After 18 years of R107 production, an updated SL was long overdue, and with that extra time, the engineers at Mercedes-Benz designed what is now regarded to be one of the best engineered cars to ever wear the Mercedes star. A long list of new technology, most specific to roadsters, was introduced with the R129 including an automatic pop-up roll bar, a fully power operated soft top and magnesium-framed seats with an integrated seat belt design. These advancements, along with a new V8 engine, made the SL500 the most advanced roadster on the market and is only now getting the attention it deserves as a great modern classic. This 1995 model year features the earlier interior styling while including key upgrades such as the newer Bosch LH-Jetronic fuel injection, clear corner markers and a digital odometer. With just two owners and 40k miles, this example is exceptionally clean and original. Finished in a classic Smoke Silver Metallic paint, this SL500 is the perfect choice for a Mercedes enthusiast looking to add an R129 to their stable.
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16 Comments
Unfortunately we did not meet the reserve. Still we feel grateful for the attention of those who have participated. This is a wonderful, and very well kept car that should be valued way more than today's highest bid. I guess we will need to wait until someone make a better offer soon, and get to enjoy this R129 at her best. Thanking you all for the participation and wishing you all a blissful week ahead.
$12,750 bid placed by @TwentyTwentyTwen
$12,500 bid placed by @GreenbrierCC
$12,250 bid placed by @TwentyTwentyTwen
$12,000 bid placed by @Laxidazed
$11,750 bid placed by @Vespisi1
$11,500 bid placed by @Laxidazed
$11,000 bid placed by @kmeidl
$10,500 bid placed by @TrippsUp
$10,250 bid placed by @kmeidl
$10,000 bid placed by @Laxidazed
$9,750 bid placed by @TrippsUp
$9,500 bid placed by @kmeidl
Last stretch, this wonderful R129 example is ready to find a new home Today, wishing you all the best in the last minutes of our auction.
$9,000 bid placed by @TrippsUp
$8,750 bid placed by @kmeidl
$8,500 bid placed by @Vespisi1
$8,250 bid placed by @kmeidl
$8,000 bid placed by @mdnumber32
$7,500 bid placed by @kmeidl
Thanks to all who have biding so far. Last hours of our auction, do not wait until last minute to bid. This is a wonderful opportunity to own a classic in excellent conditions and low millage.
$7,200 bid placed by @Vespisi1
$6,950 bid placed by @kmeidl
$6,500 bid placed by @jspitz
$6,000 bid placed by @kmeidl
A driving video has been added to the listing. Thank you.
$5,500 bid placed by @rolandgarcia
$4,750 bid placed by @Wdkull
@cjaubert thanks for the compliments. We do have 2 sets of keys. Top cylinders and wiring were done under previous ownership. The car is in pristine conditions everything working properly. Wishing you all a wonderful sunset and a better dawn ahead.
Nice car. A few questions: how many keys? Have the top hydraulics been changed? Original wiring harness? Thanks.
@Cornell89 unfortunately we do not have records of that since it was performed by the previous owner. Our mechanics did take a look of them and they assure they were replaced an working perfectly now. Thanks for being part of our auction
Any record of the engine's wiring harness being replaced? If not, prospective bidders should factor in ~$1k for the part (available at FCP Euro & other vendors) plus labor (or DIY time).
$4,500 bid placed by @RDARCY
$4,250 bid placed by @rolandgarcia
Additional photos of the car and the underbody have been added to the listing. Thank you.
Nice looking car,my 98 is the same color combination,I picked it up when the transmission was out of my 600, I wasn't crazy about the color at first but it was an original owner Florida car with 50k on it,and it filled my r129 obsession at the time. After having it 7 years now I actually really like the color combo,I added the 5 spoke 17" wheels (yes I know,but I like them)and did a paint correction with ceramic coat,it looks awesome. Regarding the cluster,I have seen clusters disassembled and reglued,the vapor from certain glues can cause similar reactions to plastics,not saying this took place but just a thought. Either way it looks to be a nice car and if it is properly sorted it should make it's new owner very happy.
$3,750 bid placed by @DrDominick
$3,500 bid placed by @Wdkull
$3,250 bid placed by @Goldfinch53
$3,000 bid placed by @Wdkull
@Jvaldora We believe that the previous owner took care of the hydraulic cylinders that move the soft top, pop the hard top and the safety top bar. All of them are working perfectly no leaks at all. We have videos of that that we can share to whoever is interested. May you all have a wonderful weekend ahead.
@Jvaldora Thanks for your comment, we totally agree with you that this can be removed without a problem. We appreciate your support this is indeed a wonderful opportunity to drive a low millage example of these wonderful R129 roadsters.
I don’t see any indication that the hydraulics that run the top have been serviced. They have a nasty habit of puking fluid from the top of the windshield usually when you’re dressed and out on the town. Any other service records that show this routine maintenance being done?
It’s not the sun that does that to the instrument cluster. It’s the heat and humidity. You can clean them with a little effort. It shouldn’t be a deal breaker considering the low miles on this unit.
@Jhoagg thank you very much for your observation, we have no history on how did that happen, this car spend some time in Illinois as well. No rust what so ever. I looks uglier in the pictures this is a wonderful example of R129 it is in wonderful conditions.
$250 bid placed by @MBAddict
What happened to the gauge cluster surround? Hugely discolored/grainy. Hard to believe the Florida sun alone did that.