A few weeks ago, I wrote a “Roll the Dice” article about a European specification 380SE with a host of period AMG bits. However, there was no supporting documentation that the car was actually an AMG car and, notably, several items were incorrect. The verdict was that without that documentation, it was probably overpriced for what it was. Today I’m back with another white “AMG” – this time, a pre-merger R129 500SL. Again, we get little documentation on what is reportedly a Japanese-specification 500SL with AMG bits. Is it worth a roll of the dice this time?
CLICK FOR DETAILS: 1991 Mercedes-Benz 500SL on eBay
Year: 1991
Model: 500SL
Engine: 5.0 liter V8
Transmission: 4-speed automatic
Mileage: 56,000 mi
Price: $12,900 Buy It Now
You are looking at a 1991 Mercedes Benz 500SL AMG! Yes AMG ! White on palomino, 56000 mls or 92K km. Imported from Tokyo in 1995, I have all the Customs , EPA, DOT papers to prove and it comes with the Japanese license plates as well. These were called JDM ( Japanese Domestic Market) cars. The AMG sport packages are stamped and were installed either in Germany or in Japan by approved AMG Dealers. Special AMG designed front and rear bumpers side skirts, AMG door plates, rear wings and 3 piece wheels separated the AMG’s from the rest of the pack. The AMG’s also had different power options you could order from the factory. Starting at 350hp to 385 and 412! I have not Dynoed this car but it feels like a big bore and it does accelerates like one. Both mirrors are convex do to driving on the left , Instrument panel in white with 300km per hour = 186 MPH . Headlights are European Bosch. Grill is aftermarket but the original included in sale. It is a very clean excellent running and driving car but it needs a few things to make it perfect. Seats just have been reupholstered and the hard top headliner is brand new as well. The plastic windows are removed from the soft top ready to install with either tinted or clear new generation windows. You can find those on eBay from $129. The driver side hydraulic lift has a leak and needs to be replaced I do provide the replacement one. Both door compartment lids needs to be fixed with replacement hinges $200. Stereo needs to be hooked back up. Unable to locate map light console do to a move to another house. The clear coat started to peel off at places the painter said its an easy fix by either recoating or buffing it out. Tires are one year old, new Brillstein’s shocks. I will also include four new harder rate H&R springs and brand new harder front and rear control arms. I find the car handling on the (soft side) VS its power. Car is registered in California till 10/17.
Outside of the grill, this car seems to wear the correct period AMG bits; the spoilers and most relevantly the 3-piece modular OZ Racing wheels. They look spectacular on this package, giving the R129 a much more sporty look. However, the seller then seems to claim that the seat-of-the-pants-ometer indicates this car has an upgraded motor as well. Indeed, we’ve seen AMG modified 6.0 500SLs before. However, what appears under the hood here looks to be a standard M119 hooked to the 722.3 4-speed automatic. The VIN check, when run, returns a strange Canadian Special Edition result. There are also a host of unoriginal items; from the ugly grill and shift knob to the white face gauges and tacky “Bilstein” stickers on the front fenders, the taste of the prior ownership is somewhat questionable. There also appears to be a fair amount of stuff wrong with this particular model, both mechanically and superficially.
What you’re left with is a European specification R129 with what may be some original AMG items and a nice set of wheels, but a laundry list of items to correct. The $13,000 asking price wouldn’t be out of line if the car had no faults or if an upgraded motor and original suspension from AMG could be documented, but without that paperwork it’s tough to price the origin of this one. And, if you want a R129 with needs, you can pick one up for a fraction of the asking price here. Unfortunately for the seller, as awesome as those wheels and that spoiler is I think the price will have to come down about 50% before this one is really appealing.
-Carter
I’ll tell you right now, no credible painter would claim to be able to buff out peeling clearcoat.
That puts the seller in questionable light. If he’s simply regurgitating what he was told by the previous owner than that is probably why he believes this to be authentic.
This screams Hooptie from the questionable aesthetic choices to the Canadian VIN reference.
Two words: Fright Pig
There is a very nice, fully original white 1993 500SL on Phoenix CL. It has 90K miles but is dead stock with records and just one owner. So why bother with a thing like this? And why does this site even display this stuff?
Lots of very nice, correct, stock, clean R129s are available. Cars like this are nonsense. A potential buyer, and this site, should make an effort to find a good, stock one.
Two words: talking points.
John, I appreciate the feedback and the sentiment, but there has to be something of interest to generate the post. I like to dive into cars a bit to see if they’re worth further investigation.
Carter,
Keep doing your thing! Love reading them and have learned a lot!
Vince
Hey Carter, I’m with Vince, keep it coming! I have no interest in this machine, but I love the provacative post and the banter it fosters.
At least it has Brillsteins.
This is not a JDM car at all. That would be a Japanese car made for Japan only. I don’t have access to my EPC right now to find out if this has option 498 (version for Japan)
@atnorman – great for a laugh!
@Vince and Early8q, thanks very much, and @John, I really do also appreciate your perspective and contribution. The site is a lot more exciting when we have commentary from our knowledgeable readership!
I agree it may or may not be the best example out there. However the group knowledge is what makes a post like this worthwhile.
@Audifan. EPC says ”491 U.S. VERSION”. Comes back as ”0 0 704 65667 (Destination: USA)” as well. So good catch.
Great catch Andrew and Audifan. Wonder why the VIN comes back with the “Canadian Version” when I run it.
My understanding is that the three digit option codes are ”recycled” and they mean different things at different times. So these decoders and even EPC pulls the MB internal data and spits back the latest they have. Explains why sometimes you see odd options on older cars. I think the only true way to see options is to request a data card from the Classic Center in California.
Nice find – love seeing these things coming out of the woodwork
Still a fun and cool car… for the right price… 6k? SURE, 8k, maybe, 10k nahhh not with paint needs