Mercedes Benz 1996 Sl Sl320 Immaculate R129 All Options Hardtop Sl500 Sl600 Amg on 2040-cars

I realize this description is HUGE but please read it all, there are some really amazing things to be read here!!

 

This auction is for a true piece of automotive art, a 1996 Mercedes Sl Roadster. This is the stunning R129 Body-Style and boy, is it ever gorgeous. As many of you already know, the 1996 SL was refreshed quite a bit and underwent several upgrades. As such, they maintain the classic R129 look but with a much more contemporary flare. They only made the SL320 for two years after this refresh (1996 and 1997) so they are fairly rare by R129 standards. So, this is sure to be a unique, one-of-a-kind car for its new owner! If you didn’t know this already, an R129 is Mercede’s designation for any SL-Class produced 1990-2002.

I am a car collector (a hobby, not a business) and  have owned a ridiculous amount of cars (around 60) and as of now this one is by far and away one of my favorites! As you can see, I have always been a car guy, as such I know how to take care of them and always give them the proper care and respect that they deserve. In fact, I am only selling this as I have an opportunity to purchase another, unique R129. This has been such a great car, I would only replace it with another R129. Nothing else would do.

 The car in question is Paint Code 040, Black (sadly, that is the factory Mercedes name for this color, kind of a boring name) over a stunning, sophisticated yet sporty Black leather interior. It has nearly every single option / option package you could get on this vehicle (except the multi-contour seats)! When I bought this car, I selected it because of it’s excellent original condition and darn near flaw free appearance. When I purchased this car, it was all 100% original, right down to the original Cassette Player! Every addition you will hear described below, I had professionally done myself! Before I get into the additions on this exquisite vehicle, let me explain my vision to you. I fell in-love with the R129 Roadster right when they came out in 1990. I pined away for a one with all the right options. At that point in time, it was far out of my price range. I never forgot about that beautiful car. Years later, I bought my first Mercedes Roadster (a 2000 SLK Limited Edition). As nice as it was, it just wasn’t my dream car……an SL. So, I sold it and moved on to other vehicles. Years later, I went to visit a long time friend of mine at his job at a Cadillac / Mercedes dealership.  While I was waiting for him to come out, I couldn’t believe when I saw that they had an R129 on the pre-owned lot!! Mercedes centers typically won’t sell a car over five years old, this one was just ridiculously nice. It was so gorgeous that I couldn’t help myself……I bought it right then and there, what an amazing day!!! The car didn’t have all the options that I wanted nor was it the exact year I wanted (I really wanted a 99-02) but I figured that I could take care of all that later. After bringing it home, I sat forth in making it the cleanest, most loaded, modernized SL320 around. I started off by making additions to make it more resemble the 99-02 model years as they had a few cosmetic upgrades from previous years, So I made the following exterior enhancements:

OEM 1999-2002 Style Taillights

OEM 1999-2002 Style Side View Mirrors (nearly $1,000 but I really wanted them)

With the exterior now possessing all of the 99-02 styling cues, it was time to bring some fresh factory upgraded components and some tasteful personal touches to the interior. I kept with the same formula I used on the exterior to handle the interior. Wow, does this interior look amazing!!! With the interior already looking nearly new, it was time to complete the job! That being said, here are the interior additions: 

OEM 1999-2002 Style Leather Steering Wheel & Air Bag

OEM 1999-2002 Style Chrome Gauge Rings

OEM 2002 Silver Arrow Chrome Shift Bezel

OEM 1999-2002 Style Leather Shift Knob

OEM 1999-2002 Passenger Side Interior Cargo Net

Having added all of the 99-02 modernizations, I turned my efforts to adding some very nice options and accessories. Here is everything I added and upgraded:

OEM Xenon Headlights (about $1,500 but the difference is AMAZING)

Crystal Clear Front Turn Signal Lenses (they match the xenon lights better)

De-Badged the trunk lid (removed ‘SL320’ from the trunk for a cleaner look, I still have the badge though should you want it back on)

New Soft-top Headliner (I didn’t care for the OEM grey hardtop liner, so I had it replaced with a black one to better match the interior)

2-Level Heated Seats (nearly $1,000 but well worth it)

OEM Audio10 System (the stock cassette player isn’t of grand quality, so I ordered this OEM system. It was never available in the USA and is quite a unique find. It is an AM/FM In-Dash CD Player)

OEM Floormats (I ordered brand new, factory Mercedes SL Floor Mats)

3-Bar Color Matched Grill with Chrome Trim  (truly adds a more modernized image yet doesn’t detract from the stunning and classic good looks of the R129)

Real Carbon Fiber Mercedes 3-Pointed Star Hood Emblem

I think that is about it for Exterior and Interior Additions. I really wanted to keep it basically original, clean and beautiful. After giving this car some updated looks, both inside and out, it was time to make the most reliable R129 on the road. That means some new Parts and Maintenance! Here is what has been done to this stunning car during my ownership. I apologize for the long list but I am very, very anal and insist everything be flawless. I do have records and receipts for everything mentioned in this list!! I am also anal with record keeping. It is quite a long list but please do read it thoroughly. Anyway, onto the list! I have also included the dates of installation and/or purchase.

September 12^th 2012: Safety Inspection (paperwork in file)

 

September 12^th 2012: Smog Test / Inspection

 

September 12^th 2012: Oil & Filter Change

 

September 12^th 2012: All fluids inspected and filled

 

September 12^th 2012: Tires inspected, checked and properly inflated

 

September 13^th 2012: Fully Detailed (exterior wash, interior detail, tire dressing)

 

November 28^th 2012: Cycled Convertible top several times before installing hardtop for winter

 

November 29^th 2012: De-Badged the trunk lid (removed ‘SL320’ emblem)

 

November 29^th 2012: Removed Trunk Carpet and steam cleaned (due to minor marks)

 

November 29^th 2012: Had vehicle professionally fully detailed, inside and out.

 

November 30^th 2012: All new batteries in both Keyless Entry Remote Keys

 

November 30^th 2012: Brand New OEM complete Tool Kit ordered

 

December 1^st 2012: Brand New Headliner installed in Hardtop

 

December 1^st 2012: Original 1996 SL Brochure Set ordered

 

December 2nd 2012: OEM Chrome Gauge Rings

 

December 2nd 2012: Brand New OEM Floor Mats purchased

 

December 5th 2012: 2002 style Tail Lights purchased

 

December 6^th 2012: Fully Detailed (washed, leather conditioned, waxed)

 

December 11^th 2012: OEM Mercedes Car Cover purchased

 

December 11^th 2012: OEM Mercedes 1^st Aid Kit ordered

 

December 11^th 2012: Original & complete Owner’s Manual Kit ordered

 

December 23^rd 2012: Had vehicle professionally fully detailed, inside and out.

 

January 5^th 2013: Front Convertible Top Lock Hydraulic Cylinders (2) replaced

 

January 14^th 2013: New Sun Visor Trim Caps purchased & installed

 

January 15^th 2013: Dual Heated Seat Kit purchased & installed

 

January 15^th 2013: New OEM Remote Switchblade Key purchased & coded

 

January 18^th 2013: New High Performance Tires (4) Installed with Warranty

 

January 18^th 2013: Full 4-Wheel Alignment performed 

 

January 19^th 2013: New Trunk Lid strut installed

 

January 23^rd 2013: Front & Rear Bumpers professionally re-painted (due to rock chips)

 

January 28^th 2013: New OEM 1999-2002 Style Leather Shift Knob purchased & installed

 

February 1^st 2013: Had vehicle professionally fully detailed, inside and out.

 

February 3^rd 2013: European Only, OEM in-dash CD Stereo System installed & coded

 

February 20^th 2013: Purchased & Installed 99-02 OEM Style Steering Wheel & Air Bag

 

February 20^th 2013: Installed new OEM Air Cabin / Pollen Filter

 

March 1^st 2013: Hardtop Cover purchased

 

March 5^th 2013: Hardtop removed and properly stored for Spring/Summer months

 

March 6^th  2013: Had vehicle professionally fully detailed, inside and out.

 

March 7^th 2013: Rear Convertible Top Lock Hydraulic Cylinders (2) replaced

 

April 5^th 2013: Purchased and installed newer style 3-Bar Grill (black w/ chrome accents)

 

April 9^th 2013: Had vehicle professionally fully detailed, inside and out.

 

May 10^{th st} 2013: Had vehicle professionally fully detailed, inside and out.

 

May 31^st 2013: Convertible Top Boot Cover Lift Cylinders (2) replaced

 

June 13^th 2013: Had vehicle professionally fully detailed, inside and out.

 

June 22^nd 2013: Fixed Trunk Light (was not illuminating automatically when lid opened, had to turn it on manually)

 

June 22^nd 2013: Fixed Rattling Driver’s Interior Door Panel

(buzzing sound coming from door panel, removed panel and found two loose screws & tightened.. This fixed it)

 

June 26^th 2013: Convertible Top Boot Cover Lock Cylinders (2) replaced

 

June 26^th 2013: Convertible Top Main Lift Cylinders (2) replaced

 

June 27^th 2013: Convertible Top Main Lift Cylinder Lower Mounting Bolt replaced

 

July 10^th 2013: Purchased 2 new OEM Headlight trim panels (for cars without headlight wipers)

 

July 17^th 2013: Removed headlight wiper assemblies

 

July 17^th 2013: Front hood repainted due to light scratches

 

July 17^th 2013: New hood pad installed

 

July 17^th 2013: New Headlight trim pieces painted (part of the headlight wiper delete from above)

 

July 17^th 2013: Installed new Black Carbon hood emblem

 

July 26^th - August 2^nd 2013: Detailed car in preparation for Mercedes Madness Car Show in Los Angeles (wash, swirl remover, scratch remover, cleaner wax, wax, leather conditioner, vacuum, interior polish, wheel clean, wheel polish, tire dressing, etc)

 

August 7^th 2013: Purchased OEM Panoramic Glass Hardtop (will be keeping original solid top)

 

August 18^th 2013: Installed new Thermostat

 

August 19^th 2013: Purchased & Installed OEM 1999+ Side Mirrors (professionally painted to match)

 

August 15^th 2013: Had vehicle professionally fully detailed, inside and out.

 

September 4^th 2013: Purchased a set of OEM Xenon Headlights

 

September 11^th 2013: Installed new OEM Hood Pad

 

September 20^th 2013: Had vehicle professionally fully detailed, inside and out.

 

October 10^th 2013: Had vehicle professionally fully detailed, inside and out.

 

October 22^nd 2013: Replaced Passenger Side Fog Light Bulb

 

October 22^nd 2013: Replaced Driver Side Fog Light Bulb

 

November 5^th 2013: New OEM Windshield Wiper Blade installed

 

November 24^th 2013: Had vehicle professionally fully detailed, inside and out.

 

December 18^th 2013: Had vehicle professionally fully detailed, inside and out.

 

December 18^th 2013: Soft-top rear windows buffed & minor scratches removed

 

January 22^nd 2014: Replaced Passenger Side Brake Light Bulb

 

January 22^nd 2014: Replaced Driver Side Brake Light Bulb

 

January 28^th 2014: Oil Service performed

 

January 28^th 2014: Transmission Fluid flushed and filled

 

January 28^th 2014: Full Mechanical Inspection performed

 

You cannot go wrong with this beautiful Mercedes! First off, it is a two owner car that was always treated with love and respect. With all the additions, it is a very unique SL320 to say the least! This Roadster looks very original, modern and clean. The interior is all leather, even items like the door panels insets, roll bar, boot cover and more. It has superior handling, a ridiculous amount of updated parts and accessories and plenty of rare and original OEM options!!

As for this car’s mechanical and operational condition, it just doesn’t get better. Everything on this car operates flawlessly and just as it should! There is loads of power, an excellently solid ride, no abnormal noises, rattles or sounds of any kind! It has always been serviced as per Mercedes specifications. I even had the servicing done ONLY at Authorized Mercedes centers or at the world Renowned BR-Racing Performance Center! This car handles like a dream and shifts ultra smoothly, there are no hidden surprises here, what so ever……just a great driving and perfectly reliable SL!  In the years since this car was brand new, the car has only traveled 152,000 miles!! That averages out to just 8,000 miles a year. The national average is 15,000 per year. So, this car has less then half of the miles that it should!!! It really is absolutely fantastic. As I mentioned earlier, I have receipts for EVERYTHING I have ever done to it. This beauty has a surprisingly potent 3.2 Liter Six Cylinder with again surprising amounts of Torque. It truly is a zippy car. It sounds great and zips down the road very pleasantly. It is an incredible sensation to drive this car, rather at speed or in a relaxed and leisurely manner. This silky smooth, powerful engine is mated to a very smooth 5-Speed Automatic Transmission. Talk about crisp, fluid shifting!!

Ok, lets talk exterior. This car is straight and true with no body damage what-so-ever. It has a few, very normal, very tiny marks from 19 years of driving….that’s it! There are no cracks in the trim, dents, dings or anything like that. The seals are all perfect, you won’t see any leaks on this one! All lights and signals function just as they should. The tires are just like new and as such have many, many miles left on them.  The tires are Khumo Performance tires and carry a transferable LIFETIME WARRANTY!! All in all, an AMAZING looking and performing Mercedes Convertible!

On to the Interior. What can I say? The interior is ridiculously close to flawless! You will NOT find a single scratch, smell, or any other type of imperfection! If you have been shopping for an R129, I’m sure you have seen a ton of ripped seats, saggy roof headliners, missing trim pieces, cracked trim and dirty carpets! Well you are not going to find any of that in my car!! This interior is immaculate! I have conditioned all of the leather every single month! The car also gets washed every other week and gets fully detailed once a month. It has never been parked outdoors. I have never driven the car as a daily driver. It typically gets driven about once every month or so. If I’m not driving it, I still pull it out of the garage to detail it and then pull it right back in. I am that crazy about this car!! I know it’s a small detail but it also shows how nit-picky I am with the car, I even have the original, never used cigarette lighter. In addition, I have the original, never used factory Mercedes First Aid Kit!! I have literally every-single item that originally came with this car!

Lets go ahead and cover this SL’s standard OEM features and specs:

 Automatic Climate Control

Ice Cold Air Conditioning

Excellent Heating

Keyless Entry with Security System

Power Steering

Power Brakes

4-Wheel Disc Brakes

Power Windows w/ Dual Auto Down

Power Locks with Keyless Entry

Power Central Locking

Power Stereo Antenna

Front Fog Lights

Rear Fog Light

Fully Automatic Power Convertible Top

Power Release/Lock Removable Hardtop

Convertible Windblocker (can be removed, installed, flipped-up or flipped-down)

Convertible Windblocker Storage Case (trunk mounted)

Integrated Retractable Roll Bar (deploys in event of a wreck or can be raised or lowered with a console mounted switch)

4-Wheel Double Wishbone Suspension

Alloy Wheels

Power Tilt Steering Wheel

Power Telescoping Steering Wheel

AM/FM Cassette Stereo System

Bose Sound System (best stereo system I’ve ever heard in a car)

Leather Interior (seats, door panels, shift knob, roll bar, boot cover, steering wheel, etc)

12-Way Adjustable Power Seats

Cruise Control

Driver Side 3-Position Memory Settings (adjusts the steering wheel mirrors and seat to your ideal position all at the touch of a single button. It can store memory for up to three different people)

Passenger Side 3-Position Memory Settings (like the above but for the passenger’s seat. It can store memory for up to three different people)

And oh’ so much more!

Not too shabby huh?

 

Lets talk about all of the Options it has. Here we go:

 

Automatically Leveling HID Xenon Headlights

Heated Seats (both driver & passenger seats, each with two levels of heating)

Bose Sound System (all new OEM speakers recently installed)

OEM Audio10 In-Dash CD System

Chrome Alloy Wheels

Not too bad huh? Just in case you are not super familiar with the updates of the 1996 SL Class (which I’m guessing you are), I wanted to fill you in on all of the special touches, upgrades and modernizations that Mercedes added as of the 1996 model year:

Newly styled Front Bumper (more rounded then previous generations)

Newly styled Rear Bumper (more rounded then previous generations)

Re-Shaped Fog Lights (more well integrated then previous design)

New technology Keyless Entry System

Side Airbags (the 1996 SL was the first car in the world to have side airbags!!)

Redesigned Interior Door Panels (more contemporary then the old flat style)

Redesigned Interior Door Panels (more shapely & modern then the old square style)

New Styled Steering Wheel

Updated Shift Knob Design

Much more options available then on previous model years, ie: 90-95

And Much More…………………….

 

OK, lets talk about a very important subject……the convertible tops!! Are you tired of seeing ads that say ‘top does not work’ or ‘top needs help to operate’? How about ‘top can only be operated manually’? Tired of looking at cars that have broken tops, tops that stop working mid operation, stuck on hardtops or even worse things? Stop worrying about it, this one is FLAWLESS ! ! ! ! These cars have four very common problems with their roofs, and they are: Hydraulic Cylinders that have blown and leak (about $2,000 - $5,000 from Mercedes to fix), damaged or misadjusted micro switches, damaged convertible top computers/modules, & hydraulic pumps that are clogged or damaged. I have replaced all of the Hydraulic Cylinders (12 total) for the entire convertible top system within the last year!! In addition, I flushed the original hydraulic fluid and bought all new fluid from the Mercedes Dealership ($30 a quart). So, the system has all new cylinders and fresh OEM fluid!! That’s a huge bonus! The cylinders all have a ten-year warranty on them, so this top will be functioning flawlessly for a looooooong time!!! I have always lubricated all pivot points and hinges associated with the roof assembly. With the top functioning flawlessly, I had a new soft-top installed. It is the original German Canvas material with three crystal clear rear windows! Lastly, I purchased a new Headliner for the Hardtop (the original was grey and I thought that it looked out of place with the black interior)! Every-single component of this car’s convertible system and assembly are either brand new or in absolutely perfect, regularly maintained condition! I guarantee the top will work perfectly for you for a very, very long time. I dare you to find another R129 where the owner has already done all of this!! Of course it goes without saying that the Hardtop is in flawless condition and removes and installs perfectly.

Basically, all known R129 issues have been dealt with before they became issues! I believe in preventing problems before they develop.

I have all of the original Owner’s Manuals, Books, Booklets, Records and Receipts for this car. There will be NO surprises with this one. You will get all of the paper work to show you how well it has been loved and maintained! In addition to the above, I have both of the original switchblade master keys with built-in keyless entry!! I even bought a third one just to have as a back-up (about $300 at the dealership). I also have the complete trunk mounted tool kit, which is rare to see in these automobiles! If you think this is impressive, I even have the original Window Sticker and original full color sales brochure book from 1996!!!! I probably have many more other items that I can’t recall at the moment!!

I’ll even include a custom made, 1/18^th scale (quite large) diecast model of this exact car. It was built and painted to look identical to my car. Every touch that is on the real car, the model has. It even has a functioning roll bar and removable hardtop!

Aside from an utterly amazing, guaranteed reliable SL Roadster you will also get another nicety. As I wasn’t planning on selling the car, I just had a full service performed (oil change, transmission fluid change, inspection) just last week!!! There is only one thing that this car could benefit from. The Mass Air Flow Sensor should be cleaned. It is a very simple process and is as easy as pulling it, cleaning it (I recommend electrical contact cleaner). This is a simple and straightforward job. It will cost no money and anyone (even with no mechanical skills) can do it. I simply do not have the time (work, travels, etc). That is the only thing that it could use!! Rest assured that this does not affect its ability to drive in anyway. I would hop in it and drive across the country in a heart beat and not be concerned about it in the least!

I think that just about sums it all up, and then some! Please read the details I have posted above and look at the many pictures below. This really is a stunning and very unique Mercedes and I will miss it greatly. It literally hurts my stomach when I think about letting it go. You are probably wondering why I am selling such a magnificent piece of machinery. I am only selling it because (as I mentioned above), I have an opportunity to purchase my dream SL (another R129 body-style). I would only let this car go to buy another R129, they are just that amazing! Please give this exquisite car a beautiful, loving new home. Lord knows it deserves it!! This is an As-Is, No Warranty Sale. I very much welcome ANY and ALL questions you may have!!

PLEASE NOTE: I have a small loan on the car through Monterey County Credit Union. Once I receive the cleared, full payment from the buyer, I will pay off the car and get you the title immediately. Monterey Financial will typically have the title to you within one week of receiving the payment. I am happy to furnish the buyer with all of the information on the loan through and give you their information should you yourself have any questions for them directly. After I receive the payment from the buyer, I will also furbish you with official Department of Motor Vehicles Documentation proving that I am releasing my interest in the vehicle to you and that you are the new registered owner. I will work with the buyer 100% to ensure your piece of mind, comfort ability and complete happiness. Look at how many eBay transactions I have and at my 100% Feedback rating. I think they speak for themselves; I am definitely someone you can trust implicitly.

TERMS: While I certainly prefer someone to pick this vehicle up, I am willing to meet shippers to see it off to its new home, wherever that may be. The shipping costs and obtaining quotes will be the buyer's responsibility. I will not ship the vehicle until it has been paid for in full and the payment has 100% cleared my bank and proven to be good. I will also not ship the vehicle unless the shipping has been paid in full. I will not take personal checks of any kind, no money orders......cash or a Cashier’s Check drawn from a major bank (Wells Fargo, Bank of America, Washington Mutual,  Chase Bank, Union Bank, etc) ONLY! I have had several issues with people trying to use money orders, personal checks, cashier’s checks drawn from small, unknown banks and things of that nature. I will ONLY accept the two types of payments listed above!!! Sorry, but that's just how it's gotta be. If you have any questions about this rule, please ask BEFORE bidding and don’t just assume I will take any ol’ type of payment after the auction closes!! Upon receiving the payment, I will furnish the buyer with an actual and official receipt from the California Department of Motor Vehicles. 

I have many, many more photos of this car (eBay only lets you show a maximum of 24) if you'd like to see them, just eMail me and I will get them right out to you. Also, if you would like me to take photos of anything specifically, I am more then happy to do so, this car is gorgeous and there is nothing to hide!!

Again, I welcome any and all questions you may have. This truly is a fantastic automobile! I guarantee the new owner will love it for many, many years to come. It is sure to provide years of exquisite fun and exceptionally reliable service.

 

Good Luck To Everyone!!!