2001 Mercedes SL 280

This car didn’t meet its reserve price at auction. Get in touch to negotiate a deal.

 
The R129 is a great car that has evolved during its 12 or so years of production. This is one of the last instalments of the model range and looks to be one of the best daily SL 280’s on the market today. This will be a great purchase as a daily driver or an affordable weekend runaround.

We can help arrange transportation for our sales, delivering anywhere in the UK or mainland Europe – please see happy customers in our reviews that we’ve helped.

To learn more about this car then please view all images and videos in this listing, or please call 01926 426 635 to speak to us directly about the car.
 

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Recent Buyer Review – Simon Welsh on 1st May “Found my ideal 90’s sports car on Trade Classics. Living in Bournemouth and the car being in the Midlands I relied heavily on the advert, photos and videos.

Thanks very much Trade Classics and I’m now looking out for my next classic to add to the collection.”.

Click here to see this and all reviews on Google.

Derek has owned the car for 9 years and loved every minute of its smooth ride and seemless handling. He has looked after the car actioning anything whenever needed, and has used an independent Mercedes specialist for all MOT’s and servicing.

Derek has had the power steering and transmission pipework all changed using Mercedes parts at a cost of over £1000 (Receipts included in the paperwork). He has also renewed the tyres and a corroded fuel pipe. Derek now believes the time is right to find the car a new owner.

The overall exterior of the car is presented in very good order and has been cared for by Derek. Set in the Mercedes Pearl Metallic silver, the new owner will feel proud about owning the vehicle. Please see all the photos Derek has taken showing all angles of the exterior.

Wheels & Tyres
As mentioned Derek has replaced the tyres around 5 years ago which still hold a good tread on the roads. The wheels appear in a condition that is fair of the car’s mileage. Derek replaced two of the tyres around 3 years ago also.

Bodywork
As you would expect from a car cared for by an owner of 9 years, the Mercedes shows no signs of damage and wear.

Paint
The silver paint appears to be in fine condition across the car as you can see in the photos.

Glass and Trim
Both are in excellent condition with only minor wear and tear on the interior and the soft top plastic windows corresponding with the car’s mileage.

The interior of the car looks especially clean and is a testament to the ownership of Derek. With notable comforting features you usually get in the Mercedes such as the wooden trim and luxury seats, all you have to do is turn on the ignition and enjoy this automatic experience straight away.

Seats and Carpets
The Napa leather seats appear in fantastic condition for an almost 20-year-old car and have been kept well with no signs of rips or tears. The same can be said for the carpets too.

Dashboard
The dials in the dashboard appear very clean whilst the centre console is also in good condition.

Steering Wheel / Gear Stick
Both are in excellent condition with no issues.

Derek has comfortably used the car as a daily driver for some time and has been happy with the reliability of the mechanical parts. Mercedes always srtive on reliability and this 280SL is no different. The car came with loads of new features being the last of the R129 model, most notably, the “Tip-Start” feature. Once the key is turned, the engine cranks on its own until it catches and starts.

Engine and Gearbox
The engine is a solid M112 V6 engine that is very reliable. To deal with the vibration problems of a 90 degree V6, a balancer shaft was installed in the engine block between the cylinder banks. This essentially eliminated first and second order vibration problems providing a much smoother ride for the owner.

Suspension and Brakes
Derek assures us that the integrity of the smoothness and safety of the vehicle has been maintained throughout its life.

Electrics and Other
As of 1995, all Mercedes SL-class models came with Bose stereo and speakers as standard. The dials look to function well and Derek assures us that everything is in working order. The automatic soft-top roof is in perfect working order as can be seen in the exterior video.

Before buying the car in 2010, this car has had 6 previous owners prior to Derek. From what we know, the car has had a service every two years on average.

Please note, Derek is willing to let the personalised number plate go with the car as part of the sale.

MOT & Service History

01.03.2003 – 1,854
05.05.2005 – 7,404
12.06.2006 – 9,285
17.12.2009 – 57,913
25.11.2011 – 68,494
14.08.2013 – 78,865
10.07.2014 – 91,849
13.01.2016 – 104.500
25.01.2018 – 114,863

HPi Check Results
– HPi clear – available on request.

The R129 SL-class maintained a hugely popular standing in the car industry from 1989-2001, changing certain features and reacting to the market positively to receive a great reception everytime from their customers.

Derek has loved every minute of this car but believes the time is right to find a new owner that will love it as much as he has.

TOM BRETT
This auction listing was written by Tom from information gained from Derek (owner and seller of the vehicle) and having visited and photographed the vehicle.

If you have any specific questions about the vehicle then please use the comments section below. Derek will receive a notification and will reply as soon as he can.