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1988 Mercedes-Benz 500 SL

This vehicle has now been sold - click ‘Register Similar’ below to get notified when we consign a similar vehicle.

Sold Price

£23,850

  • Mileage~146,500
  • TransmissionAutomatic
  • Engine5.0L
  • LocationBishop's Stortford

SOLD

1988 Mercedes-Benz 500 SL

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Introduction

Dom Ginn
Professional Consigner

Signal Red, beige leather interior, that 5.0L V8, this R107 SL from 1988 ticks a lot of boxes.

The third iteration of the SL, the R107 as the internal code is known, can firmly be regarded as a classic now. Mercedes continued the sporty lightweight form of the Pagodas with lots of modernisations but in keeping with the original ethos.

This stunning example is the 5.0L V8 version and a later produced facelift example. Finished in Signal Red, it’s a beautiful example having been restored in 2006/7. All in all, a spec that makes it very desirable.

This auction listing was written from information supplied by Dom after meeting Sharron the owner, and having visited and photographed the vehicle.

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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.

Meet the owner

It's a lovely car, and it pains me to see it go, but it deserves to be used and enjoyed.

Coming out of 5 years ownership, Sharron's late husband spent a long time researching and hunting the market to find this example. With it having been restored in the early 2000's, a facelift model, and featuring the popular 5.0L V8, it ticked all the boxes he was looking for.

Since his passing, Sharron has kept the car serviced when in use, and had the car SORN for a period too. With the car not getting the use it was originally intended for, Sharron has decided to find the car a new home and so it is now up for auction.

Sharron
Vehicle Owner

Sharron saved £4,140* when they
sold their Mercedes with us.

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Exterior

A stunning restored car in Signal Red, an elegant design that looks as good parked up as it does on the road.

Wheels and Tyres

The standard 15” modern facelift wheels look in very good condition, no corrosion visible across any of them.

The wheels are wrapped in a mixture of period-correct tyres front and rear, all with good tread remaining.

Bodywork

An iconic car design, a very sleek and streamlined horizontal theme through everything. This example was restored in 2006/7, take a look through the invoices to see various panels that were replaced to ensure a corrosion free finish.

We didn't observe any dents/scratches etc a very clean example. Take a look through the video and photos detailing extensively the condition, no corrosion observed either.

Paint

The Signal Red coating is sublime, even and correct at every angle. Along the front bumper, you will be hard-pressed to find a stone chip, whilst the sills and rear have been treated and have since maintained a solid condition.

Glass and Trim

The trim is in excellent condition across the car, having been cared for a stored correctly by all previous owners and Sharron. We noticed the door seals protective covering has come away on both sides, but they are still retaining their shape and sealing as needed.

The hardtop is in great condition as pictured, and the soft top from the outside too. The hardtop has a stand that will also sell with the car. There is a small nick in the rear windscreen of the soft top as captured in the photos.

Interior

Comfortable leather seats, wood trim, and an unmistakeable Mercedes-Benz dash and instrument cluster.

Seats and Carpets

Leather in what we believe to be beige, matching colour carpets with a contrast red over mats installed.

The seats present in good condition, the leather shows age, the usual cracking you'd expect to see but no rips or tears observed. The carpets look good too, very clean, take a look through the detailed media taken when consigning the car.

Dashboard

All dials and gauges are clearly legible and have been maintained well over the years.

The veneer centre console also presents in great condition, a nice finish to the cabin. The inside of the soft top has seen better days, from the outside it looks fine, but inside it has staining etc as pictured. Take a look at the images for the detailed view.

Steering Wheel / Gear Stick

A Momo steering wheel has been fitted to this car, with wooden trim chosen to match the veneer.

The control for the automatic gearstick looks in great condition, matching the rest of the cabin.

Mechanics

The top of the range, and most desirable, 5.0L V8 delivering 237BHP to the rear wheels.

Engine and Gearbox

Please watch the cold start video to see the 500SL start first time from cold and soon settling into a smooth tick over and detecting no issues, and exhaust output looking clean too. Just what we would expect from an example that has been serviced at regular intervals.

Paired with the usual 4-speed automatic transmission, Sharron assures us there the gears change as expected from a well-cared-for example.

Suspension and Brakes

The suspension set up on the R107 is really all about comfort. Yes they are sporty cars with the powerful drivetrain, but the experience is all about having the roof down and enjoying the ride.

This example is no different, you'll see on the underside surface rust, but the suspension functions as it should do with no advisories on the recent MOT. The brakes also are in great condition, some new calipers fitted in the cars recent history as per the invoices.

The Drive

The 500 SL offers plenty of torque when applying the throttle. Easily driven with the automatic gearbox, R107s are proven to be highly reliable cruising machines.

Electrics and Other

Please see the invoices of all minor electrical parts replaced. Sharron assures us all electrics on the car work as expected to her knowledge.

History and Paperwork

A UK RHD 500 SL, 1988 meaning the popular facelift model, and restored in 2006/7 to a lovely standard.

The car has served all of its previous owners well, with Sharron being no exception. As you can see by all invoices, MOTs, and service book records, the R107 has really been taken care of to a textbook standard. Sharron believes that 2 of the owners were from the same family originally, and similarly has changed the car in to her own name following the passing of her husband, 5 previous owners listed on the V5.

A body refurbishment was commissioned in 2006 and major servicing took place a year later, review the invoices for the detail. The car comes with 12 months MOT, and the hard-top stand used for storage.

We have actioned the following checks:
- Photo ID of seller.
- V5 checked against seller's photo ID.
- HPi Clear.

Service History
Date Type Mileage
16.09.2020 MOT 146,632
20.08.2019 Service & MOT 146,407
06.05.2015 MOT 145,876
29.04.2014 Service 144,427
30.04.2013 MOT 144,256
17.05.2012 Service & MOT 143,942
14.04.2011 Service & MOT 140,732
14.04.2010 Service & MOT 140,209
07.04.2009 Service & MOT 138,906
23.08.2008 MOT 138,775
01.05.2007 Service & MOT 136,934
22.03.2006 MOT 134,635
24.03.2005 MOT 132,600
31.03.2004 MOT 130,768
02.04.2003 MOT 125,099
15.04.2002 Service & MOT 108,036
02.08.2001 Service 103,389
17.04.2001 Service & MOT 98,128
11.10.2000 Service & MOT 91,475
15.03.2000 Service 84,678
14.10.1999 Service 78,313
10.04.1999 Service 72,529
30.07.1998 Service 66,103
22.04.1998 MOT 63,782
20.02.1998 Service 61,388
05.09.1997 Service 56,903
05.03.1997 MOT 53,343
11.09.1996 Service & MOT 51,654
18.07.1995 MOT 48,797
21.07.1994 MOT 45,504
02.03.1993 MOT 40,947
20.05.1992 Service 38,413
19.12.1991 Service 34,607
16.01.1991 Service 28,978
19.07.1990 Service 21,465
22.05.1990 Service 19,365
02.10.1989 Service 12,519
24.01.1989 Service 6,960
14.09.1998 Service 1,130
Key Details
  • ModelR107
  • TransmissionAutomatic
  • Reg. Date16.08.1988
  • Mileage~146,637
  • HistoryFull history
  • ColourSignal Red
  • Interior ColourBeige
  • Interior TrimLeather
  • Chassis #WDB1070462A091435/3
  • Engine #11796422003844
  • Last Service20.08.2019
  • MOT15.09.2021
  • HPi ClearYes
  • Former Keepers5
  • LHD or RHDRHD
  • VisitedYes
  • Sale TypePrivate
  • Owned5 Years
  • Key FeatureCondition