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Curated Auction

1994 Mercedes-Benz SL320 (R129)

At a Glance

~4 Years Owned | Hardtop and Rear Seat | Long MOT | Nautic Blue

  • Mileage~85,536 on clock
  • TransmissionAutomatic
  • Engine3.2L
  • LocationGoring

Curated Auction

We’ve visited this car, taken the images and written the description below - we’ve also verified the seller’s ID and actioned a HPi report - learn more

Curated Auction

We’ve visited this car, taken the images and written the description below - we’ve also verified the seller’s ID and actioned a HPi report - learn more

CURATED AUCTION

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CURRENT BID£1,100
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AUCTION LIVE

ENDS IN: 56 Days 12 Hr 51 Min 51 Sec

CURRENT BID

£1,100

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Video #2

Introduction

Darren Rungasamy
Consigner and Editor

An accomplished premium grand tourer with plenty of common sense.

Maintaining the long-held belief that Mercedes over-engineered their cars, the benefits result in a satisfyingly reassuring and well-built machine. The R129 series took over from the previous generation, maintaining its accomplished mannerisms with further mechanical and safety sophistication. With front and side airbags, traction control, ABS, brake assist and side impact protection bars, it moved the SL into the modern age and rightfully brought back the SL into the forefront of open-top Grand Touring.

Introduced in 1989, it spanned a production run of an impressive ~13 years, the SL320 model was considered the best all-rounder of the R129 models, offering a decent turn of speed with the throaty purr of a straight-six. Despite its showcase in the use of modern technology, the SL320 retained a lot of the purity of the previous analogue models, offering a happy transition for those looking for a sensible and safe choice as a daily driver with a touch of old school, the R129 is a tribute to Mercedes’ ability to build future proof cars.

Coming to market after ~4 years with our vendor, this smartly presented 1994 SL320 comes in Nautic Blue with a Champagne Leather interior. It retains its factory hardtop and is fitted with the rear seat option. There are service invoices going back to 1998 and almost 20 years of MOT certificates. Well maintained and stored in a secure indoor unit, the car comes with an MOT to February 2026, last serviced around 1,000 miles ago and has two keys.

This listing was written from information supplied by Darren after meeting George the owner, and having visited and photographed the vehicle.

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Full Transparency

8 out of 10 people that buy cars via our service don’t feel the need to visit due to the transparency and thoroughness of our listings.

Vehicle Delivery

We're there every step of your buying journey and will even arrange pick-up and delivery of your new vehicle.

Secure Auctions

We verify all our sellers and buyers to keep our community safe whilst also providing the highest levels of website security.

Full Transparency

8 out of 10 people that buy cars via our service don’t feel the need to visit due to the transparency and thoroughness of our listings.

Vehicle Delivery

We're there every step of your buying journey and will even arrange pick-up and delivery of your new vehicle.

Video #2

Meet the owner

A wonderful car that suited my needs perfectly.

George has an eye for desirable classics and has plenty of experience with the previous SL, the R107 - he took on this very clean and well-cared-for R129 back in 2020.

George told us "When I took it on I had it fully overhauled, serviced, and brought up to the standard I expect by Mercedes specialist Silchester Garage with invoices for over £3,000. Four new Bridgestone Turanza tyres complete the package, and it has passed every MOT since, with the minor advisory of a split gaiter on the latest one rectified immediately."

Having addressed a few of the issues, the car has since been lightly used. This is why George has decided to part with the car, as it simply isn’t seeing as much use as it deserves.

George will be happy to answer any questions about the car in the comments section below.

George
Vehicle Owner

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CONTACT OWNER
EXTERIOR VIDEO
Video #2

Exterior

Superbly presented in 'Nautic Blue,' you'd never think it's over 30 years old!

Wheels and Tyres

The 16” alloys are in smart condition and fitted with a full set of Bridgestone tyres.

They are less than 5 years old and have plenty of even tread.

Bodywork

The exterior is presented positively, with no panel damage or uneven fitting panels. The door shut lines are all consistent. All doors open and close easily, although the boot lid struggles to stay open all the time. We noticed minor signs of corrosion were noted on the inner wheel arch lips.

We've highlighted in more detail our observations through our high-resolution images and videos, so please take time to look through all the media files for a detailed view of what’s on offer, and for you to assess the condition of the car for yourselves.

Paint

The 'Nautic Blue' paint has a smooth glossy lustre showing minimal signs of age. The colour has an even coverage and is free of surface damage, aside from a minor paint imperfection on the bonnet edge and mild signs of age on the boot. There is a little lacquer on the top of the offside rear wing.

The images are taken from a few different angles to show off the car as you would see it if you were standing there for yourselves. So please take the time to fully assess these high-resolution images and videos of the car, for you to make up your own minds about the condition of the paint.

Glass and Trim

The glass is in good shape including the headlamps and rear lenses, although we noted signs of age inside the headlamps and a small crack on the nearside front indicator lens.

The exterior trim is presented well, although the headlamp wiper arms were missing at our visit, George told us he took them off to clean the headlights, they will be put back on in time for the new owner to pick the car up. The bumpers are flush to the body, and the front item shows signs of paint peel near the offside headlamp but both are free from scuffs. The side trim has minor paint blemishes.

VIEW ALL
INTERIOR VIDEO
Video #2

Interior

The legendary build quality with top grade materials have kept the cabin looking fresh.

Seats and Carpets

The leather seats are in excellent condition, with just mild signs of bolster wear on the driver's side.

The car has been optioned with rear seats.

The carpets and mats have lasted well, only showing mild signs of age.

The boot appears to have seen sympathetic use.

Dashboard

The dashboard is tidy and free of significant marks - the facia, switches and dials present positively and all of the controls appear to work as they should.

The centre console veneer has a handful of minor fractures as you'll see in the images.

The storage cubby hole shows a few marks on its leather lid, it looks like it could be cleaned up.

The headlining and door cards are in good shape, although both set of door card storage bin lids will need attention.

Steering Wheel / Gear Stick

The steering wheel and gear lever presentation are above the expectation of a car of this age.

VIEW ALL
'ON THE ROAD' VIDEO
Video #2

Mechanics

Well maintained over the years, the engine sounds smooth and sweet.

Engine and Gearbox

The engine fires up with no fuss at all and sounds smooth with no unwanted noises.

The car idles smoothly with no excessive exhaust fumes and the dashboard warning lights remained off throughout our visit. The 3.2-litre straight-six engine is cleanly presented with decent hoses and ancillaries, outlining a positive servicing routine.

The automatic gearbox operates smoothly with no slippage or delay and the kickdown was instant.

Suspension and Brakes

There are mild signs of age on the suspension components, but the car rides smoothly with no unwanted noises heard from the wheels.

The braking was smooth during the drive, however, there was surface corrosion built on the disc due to storage but cleared once we got moving - there was no grinding or judders during the drive out.

Please check out the images and videos of the underside and suspension to assess the condition.

The Drive

The SL320 has a genuine air of calmness, the unstressed engine and ride comfort go hand-in-hand with its usable power and complete ease of driving.

The engine pulls well, with no undulations or hesitancy and never sounds too intrusive unless given a generous prod of throttle. It handles the road without any negative feedback, the steering free of unwanted wobbles and remains dead straight upon braking. The ride was as good as you’d expect a well-kept Mercedes to be, perfectly fulfilling its role as a Grand Tourer.

George has been happy with the reliability of the car and has not experienced any issues with the oil pressure or engine temperature. Both remained in check during our visit and the engine was left running for ~20 minutes with no ill effects.

Electrics and Other

George told us all electrics are in working order as far as he is aware. The roof raises and retracts without any issues, and the motors operate smoothly. There are small signs of wear and a few marks on the soft top, but overall displays well.

The car comes with a hardtop, stand and cover - the exterior condition is free of marks, the headlining has a little sag.

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Video #2

History and Paperwork

This example has an long MOT and service carried out just ~1,000 miles ago.

First registered in April 1994, the car comes with a file of invoices dating back to 1998. The most recent work includes invoices totalling £3,200 for a headlamp wiper motors build, a new ignition switch, AC recharge, a wiper relay, renewed fuel hoses, a rocker cover gasket and four tyres.

Previous invoices cover a new wishbone, calliper and work on the electrics. All brake discs and pads were replaced at ~78,000 miles and there are six invoices for servicing since 1998. The most recent service was carried out in May 2021 and has only covered around 1000 miles since then. It comes to market after ~4 years of ownership with two keys and has an MOT to February 2026.

We’ve done all our usual seller checks including photo ID, V5 and also actioned a history check on the vehicle - this is a professional check operated by HPI that will highlight if the car has been previously stolen, recorded as being in an accident, or have any outstanding finance - note, this does not include a mileage history check.

We've summarised our own view on the car based on information gained from the seller in the listing above, however, as you can see, we go to great lengths to photograph and video the car in hi-resolution detail - this has been done for you to make your own assessment from the comfort of your sofa. So please sit back, have a cuppa and take your time to review everything on this listing in order to make your own assessment of the vehicle's condition. Viewings are also welcomed with all our listings, so please get in touch with us to arrange a suitable time - we just need to speak to you first and receive a valid photo ID before confirming.

If there's anything you're unsure about, no matter how small, then please first ask the owner in the comments area below before placing your bids, as bids can't be retracted and form a binding contract if you win the car - just like a traditional auction house.

Service History
Date Type Mileage
07-02-2025 MOT 85,508
14-02-2024 MOT 85,462
13-02-2023 MOT 85,430
15-02-2022 MOT 84,864
11-05-2021 Service
28-10-2020 MOT 84,176
26-07-2019 MOT 84,092
24-07-2018 MOT 83,239
10-08-2017 MOT 83,150
24-07-2017 New Battery 83,150
01-07-2016 MOT 82,454
15-04-2015 MOT 81,582
10-12-2013 MOT 79,770
22-05-2013 MOT 78,176
06-11-2012 MOT 78,144
31-10-2011 MOT 78,048
24-10-2010 Service 78,003
22-10-2010 MOT 77,987
29-10-2009 MOT 77,780
30-10-2008 MOT 77,111
31-10-2007 MOT 76,895
31-10-2006 Service 75,101
01-11-2006 MOT 75,101
31-10-2004 Full Service + Four discs/pads 68,309
03-04-2001 Service
04-02-1999 Service
18-12-1998 Service
VIEW ALL
Key Details
  • Model SL320
  • Transmission Automatic
  • Reg. Date 07-04-1994
  • CC 3199
  • Mileage ~85,536 on clock
  • History Since 1998
  • Colour Nautic Blue
  • Interior Colour Champagne
  • Interior Trim Leather
  • Chassis # WDB1290632F096470
  • Engine # 10499122004471
  • Last Service 11-05-2021
  • MOT Yes Exp. 14-02-2026
  • MOT Exempt No
  • Road Tax Exempt No
  • HPi Clear Yes - all clear
  • Former Keepers 9
  • Tyre Brand Bridgestone
  • Tyre Age 2020
  • # of Keys 2
  • LHD or RHD RHD
  • Visited Yes
  • Sale Type Private
  • Owned ~4 years
  • Key Feature Condition
  • Vehicle Registration L381 ULG
  • Body Type Convertible
  • Auction ID 2547
VIEW ALL
VIEW ALL
Video #2

All Images

Exterior

Interior

Mechanics

History and Paperwork

All Videos



Vehicle Location

Goring, Berkshire

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    Auction Bidding

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    Current Bid £1,100
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    Auction Ends Thu 10th Apr at 6.50pm
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    £1,100 bid by Billy127.03.25 @ 08:58:35
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    Insurance Quote


    Average annual insurance premium for a SL320 like this is £229 via our trusted partner ClassicLine.
    GET AN INSURANCE QUOTEAnd get 10% off when you mention us.

    *Quote is based on a garaged vehicle in CV32 5QY (Leamington Spa), travelling 3,000 miles per year, 1 driver who is 45 years of age and is free on accidents and convictions – valid Spring 2025.

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    Vehicle Location

    Goring, Berkshire

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