This 1998 Mercedes-Benz SL500 was sold new in 1998 and registered in Pennsylvania. Subsequent registrations include New Jersey and Texas with four owners noted. Finished in Brilliant Emerald Metallic (269) 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 black 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 more. Under the current owners care, this SL received a complete paint correction and ceramic coating including the wheels. This SL500 shows 59k original miles and includes recent service records showing complete top hydraulic replacement, new shifter bushings, an oil level sensor, a new oil pan gasket, an O2 sensor, and four new tires. It’s offered by the seller in Plano, Texas with factory literature, two flip keys, two valet keys, a paint-matched hardtop, a clean Carfax report, and a clean Texas title.
The exterior is finished in Brilliant Emerald Metallic (269) and features a removable paint-matched hardtop with a power operated black soft top. Exterior features include power adjustable heated door mirrors, remote central locking and halogen headlamps. The paint is reportedly in excellent condition with no rust or damage present. Detailed photos of the exterior and trim are included in the gallery. Under the current owners care, this SL received a complete paint correction and ceramic coating including the wheels.
Fitted are the factory 16” Monkar wheels wearing Goodyear Eagle tires measuring 225/55 on all four corners. The tires were installed in 2023 and display 2020 date codes. A matching full size spare wheel and tire are included in the trunk with factory tools.
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 seats with memory, a power adjustable steering column, cruise control, and a Bose audio system with 6-disc CD changer. The seller notes all the top hydraulics have been replaced and the soft top operates as intended.
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 59k 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. Records included show recent services showing complete top hydraulic replacement, new shifter bushings, an oil level sensor, a new oil pan gasket, an O2 sensor, and four new tires.
The Carfax report shows four owners since new and linear mileage updates. It’s offered by the seller in Plano, Texas with factory literature, two flip keys, two valet keys, a paint-matched hardtop, a clean Carfax report, and a clean Texas title.
The seller has included the following videos:
Open Transit:
Enclosed Transit:
The winning bidder will receive an email with the quote and option to proceed with shipping.
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23 Comments
Bargain! You got a deal, @txmbnut$14,750 bid placed by @txmbnut
$14,500 bid placed by @RodgersLogiXX
$14,250 bid placed by @txmbnut
$14,000 bid placed by @RodgersLogiXX
$13,750 bid placed by @txmbnut
$13,500 bid placed by @RodgersLogiXX
$13,000 bid placed by @txmbnut
This is going to be a long auction if y'all keep bidding at $250 increments!$12,750 bid placed by @RodgersLogiXX
$12,500 bid placed by @RemmyBoy
$12,250 bid placed by @txmbnut
$12,000 bid placed by @RodgersLogiXX
$11,250 bid placed by @txmbnut
$11,000 bid placed by @Bauza
$10,250 bid placed by @txmbnut
Hate to say it, but the owner paid way too much at more than $6100 to replace the hydraulic actuators for the soft top. At first glance, I assumed this was an MB dealer, as they are notoriously expensive for this project. But it appears to have been an independent shop. The charge for replacement cylinders (parts) was $2,400. You can get the full exchange set, as the mechanic likely did, from Top Hydraulics in Oregon for $700 plus shipping. The 26 hours of labor charged was excessive, too. I paid under $1,500 to have my shop replace all the cylinders, vs. $3,640 here. Kudos to the owner for bringing this car up to a good standard mechanically, but I doubt he'll get back all that he invested. Pity. If it clears the reserve, someone will get a fine R129.Additional photos have been added to the gallery showing the soft top and gauge cluster.I added a new photo. You can see two red LEDs on either side of the speedo. The tiny switch looks like may have controlled the built in radar detector. I have not seen any antennas in the bumpers so I guess it must have been removed. So right now the switch next to the steering does not do anything. https://img.gg/mrjKON7$10,000 bid placed by @Bauza
$7,500 bid placed by @Gordowelsh
@jopin let me know if you do :)@larcs Hi I forgot to check. will check it tomorrow.what is the tiny switch to the left of the steering wheel? thanks :)@larcs I don't see any issues driving it to LAcould it handle a ride to Los Angeles?$7,000 bid placed by @Kloureiro
The photos in cloudy sunlight don't really do this color justice. I have essentially the same car, but a '97 with the Sport package, and the color is what most people comment on. This one is very clean; even the usual skuff points on the interior show only light wear, which is rare. The lack of monobloc wheels and the Sport trim may depress the price a bit, but otherwise it looks like a 26-year-old creampuff.$6,750 bid placed by @Kentarver
$6,500 bid placed by @shaker
Hi, here are the photos and video of soft top: https://img.gg/mrjKON7 i do not have the caddy.Do you have some photo's of the soft top up? Dou you have the hard top caddy?$6,000 bid placed by @AJgood
Would also like to see the soft top and no top$850 bid placed by @Igor964
Hi Jopin, beautiful car. I like to see foto's or video of soft top on Thank you.@Motts71 I will double check on Monday. From memory it's a dimmer.What is the button/light? on the left side of the dash and to the right of the light switch?@CICBarkeep :) thank you, it's taken two years to get it to this state.@AKEsquire the soft top is black and in good condition the. The radio has bluetooth streaming and handsfree.Good morning. Beautiful car. Two questions - (1) what color is the soft top? (2) does the after market radio have bluetooth capability? Thank you kindly!$600 bid placed by @OldMB
$250 bid placed by @Benz01us
If anyone has one in Desert Silver Metallic (693) over Java (234) I am in the market! Java is priority one.If the winner wants a pano top, I have one in this exact color comboIt's not every day you see one this well prepped and presented. Hopefully the seller is rewarded for their efforts. Well done and good luck!