This 1998 Mercedes-Benz SL500 was sold new in January 1998 and remained with the original owner until it was acquired by the selling dealer in May 2023. Finished in Glacier White (143) over Beige Leather (265), power is provided by a 5.0-liter M119 V8 mated to a five-speed automatic transmission driving the rear wheels. Equipment includes a fully power-operated soft top with removable paint-matched hardtop, power adjustable seats with memory, power operated heated door mirrors, a Bose sound system, a 6-disc CD changer and xenon headlamps. This SL500 has only 26k miles from new and is offered by the selling dealer with two keys, manufacturer's literature, hardtop stand, the paint-matched hardtop, a Carfax report, and a clean New Jersey title.
The exterior is finished in Glacier White (143) and features a removable paint-matched hardtop with a power operated brown soft top. Exterior features include power adjustable heated door mirrors, remote central locking and xenon headlamps. The paint is reportedly in excellent condition with no rust or damage present. Detailed photos of the exterior, paint, and trim are included in the gallery.
Fitted are the factory 16” Monkar wheels wearing Yokahama YK640 tires measuring 225/55 on all four corners. The tires show ample tread depth remaining and 2017 date codes.
The cabin is trimmed in Beige Leather (265) with a dark Burl Walnut wood trim lining the center console and door panels with matching beige carpeting and floor mats. Interior features include power adjustable and heated seats with memory, a power adjustable steering column, cruise control, and a Bose audio system with 6-disc CD changer. The seller notes the headliner of the hardtop has begun to come loose.
The leather wrapped steering wheel fronts a 160-mph speedometer along with a 7k-rpm tachometer, gauges for fuel level and economy, coolant temperature, oil pressure and an analog clock. The digital odometer reads 26k miles with nearly all being added by the original owner.
This R129 is the last model year powered by the 5.0-liter M119 V8 which is factory rated at 315 horsepower and 345 lb-ft of torque. Power is sent to the rear wheels through a five-speed automatic transmission. Recent maintenance in April 2023 was performed at Mercedes-Benz of Orlando Park , IL and included an oil and filter change along with a safety inspection.
The Carfax report shows one owner until acquisition by the selling dealer earlier this year. A damage report is noted in August 2022 with no additional additional information given. This SL500 is now offered with two keys, manufacturer's literature, the paint-matched hardtop, hardtop stand, and a clean New Jersey title.
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36 Comments
@rideair That 01 was at least a Sport pack car. Usually the sports carry a lot more value but sport with xenon is the one to buy. I've been keeping my eye out for one, wish this one had the sport optionGood luck! These always do better in the SpringNot surprising, when less than a month ago a 2001 was bid to only $18K on BAT with the same miles. https://bringatrailer.com/listing/2001-mercedes-benz-sl500-118/ Time will tell if the market comes back on the cars to where it was a year ago. At this point, got to wait for the good weather to find out.@evermore44 hopefully MB Market reaches out to you and we can get a deal done. Tough time of year but in a few more months these cars are way more...happens every year!$17,000 bid placed by @Evermore44
$16,750 bid placed by @desampson
$16,500 bid placed by @Evermore44
$16,250 bid placed by @desampson
$16,000 bid placed by @Evermore44
$15,750 bid placed by @desampson
$15,500 bid placed by @Evermore44
$15,250 bid placed by @desampson
$15,000 bid placed by @Evermore44
$14,379 bid placed by @Wavewatcher
$14,129 bid placed by @Evermore44
$13,750 bid placed by @desampson
This car would look great with the 18 inch BBS two piece wheels I posted last week.$13,500 bid placed by @Wavewatcher
Good luck everyone. If you know us you know we sell exceptional vehicles. This SL is no exception. Gorgeous throughout. Even the seats are immaculate. One owner superbly maintained car. Without a doubt the one to own. Hopefully off to a new owner tonight!$13,000 bid placed by @DocTedMBZ
$12,750 bid placed by @desampson
$12,500 bid placed by @DocTedMBZ
$12,250 bid placed by @desampson
@Jhoagg Never thought ya were no worries!@VantageAuto. Thanks. And btw, I wasn’t trying to be critical. Car looks like a real beauty, with a great color combo.$12,000 bid placed by @DocTedMBZ
$11,750 bid placed by @Wavewatcher
@Jhoagg it's pretty crazy, now you call and tell them anything happened and it's reported. I am on the board of dealers in NJ and this is something we are really lobbying to have changed. Carfax needs to be more descriptive. Cant just say "damage reported". It's ridiculous, and misleading. The accident descriptions have gotten much better with the minor, moderate, and severe ratings in addition to saying what was damaged. Usually when it just says "accident reported" its something minor like a bumper tap and the police dont take the time to get descriptive. Just a few things I have picked up on over the years!@VantageAuto. Exactly what I was just thinking. You’d report that just to be sure insurance would cover itFor everyone's knowledge, if you replace a windshield via insurance now it will show up as a damage report on carfax. Kinda wild!$11,500 bid placed by @Sratner
@Jhoagg happens all of the time. Rub up against your garage and scuff a mirror, report it to insurance, shows as a damage report. An accident report is when something happens and a police report is finalized.@VantageAuto. It’s weird someone would report non-accident damage. I’ve never seen that before@VantageSuto. There as some non-accident damage at some point unless that’s a total error.@Jhoagg that there is none. Doesnt say accident reported, could have been anything. The car is exceptional.@VantageAuto. Very late for this question, but what do you know about that damage$11,000 bid placed by @DocTedMBZ
I've always been a 124 man myself but these have really aged perfectly. Might have to playWelcome all to the final day! This is without a doubt one of the very best examples you will find anywhere. Any last day questions please tag @VantageAuto and I will get right back to you$10,000 bid placed by @Wavewatcher
@JCunningham second that- one of the few convertibles I'd want to leave the top up on.Brown soft top! Properly rare color for any era, love it$9,000 bid placed by @DocTedMBZ
@thershner I would not hesitate driving it anywhere. Photo 254 shows the date code. They are from 2017.@thershner only one key. There is a company in Staten Island New York that creates second keys. You need to fedex him the key and they apparently make another. I just recently learned about thisAlso, one of the pictures only shows 1 key with fob. Is there not a second key with fob? These have proven difficult to source and surely the one only owner still had both sets of keys for the seller.What are the date codes on the tires? Is this car capable of making a 1200 journey to the buyer's home?@thershner they work perfectly. vehicle has been dealer maintained since new. I imagine anything it needed over the years was done by the dealershipWhat, if any, work has been made to the soft top hydraulic pistons? I just spent over $4,000 last year on my 1997 SL500...@rideair the black mark came right off. One week, one site. Always great trying to new platforms. This is a great one for MB's. Our CLK63 ended here a couple of weeks ago significantly higher than elsewhere just for it being in front of the right people at the right time.With the adjustments in the market, it will be interesting to see if it makes it to the last highest bid while on BAT in Aug-2023 when the reserve was not met and if some of the issues at that time (headliner, seat black mark, etc..) have been resolved. As an owner of a 1998-R129 in the same colors, this will be a fun one to watch. Good Luck https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1998-mercedes-benz-sl500-138/$8,000 bid placed by @Wavewatcher
$6,750 bid placed by @toniplanner
@guntherbil sure. Hit contact seller to set up an appointmentCan I view this car ?@guntherbil sorry, what about them? No noted leaks and everything works properly.Hydraulics ?$6,500 bid placed by @merlinautogroup
$2,550 bid placed by @Ranger902
I welcome everyone to this auction. This R129 is without a doubt one of the nicest examples you will find anywhere. It's nothing short of stunning. One owner, superbly maintained. It's one of those super crisp cars that have become incredibly hard to find...especially in this color combination and with such low miles! Everything is functioning properly. The next owner will be very happy with it. Please tag @vantageauto with any questions and I will get back to you asap best, Andrew@Motts71 Someone else had asked me that once. I do not believe it's a tear. I am out of town until Saturday. In the very rare case it is, I will repair itWalkaround video can be found here: https://youtu.be/PVwFGlgMo0Q$2,300 bid placed by @toniplanner
It looks like a tear on the passenger seat bottom. Please confirm this.$2,050 bid placed by @Johger45
$1,800 bid placed by @Sratner
$250 bid placed by @toniplanner