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1994 Mercedes-Benz SL 320 (R129)

Sold Price

£7,700

  • Mileage~59,217
  • TransmissionAutomatic
  • Engine3.2L
  • LocationCanterbury

SOLD

1994 Mercedes-Benz SL 320 (R129)

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Introduction

Dom Ginn
Professional Consigner

The R129 captures the spirit of open-top driving with classic design, smooth power, and Mercedes sophistication.

The Mercedes-Benz 320 SL stands as a shining example of what made the SL name so revered in the world of luxury grand tourers. Launched in 1989, the R129 generation was a significant leap forward from its predecessors, offering advanced safety features, improved aerodynamics, and a thoroughly modern driving experience.

The 320 SL, powered by a smooth and reliable 3.2L inline-six engine, delivered a balanced mix of performance and refinement that suited both spirited drives and long-distance cruising.

Inside, the car offers high-end materials, comfortable seating, and thoughtful ergonomics - an interior built for real use, not just style. Outside, its understated yet elegant design remains timeless, with a strong presence whether the soft top is down or the colour-matched hard top is fitted.

This example comes to market from ~1 year ownership, mostly enjoyed on sunny weekends. The Merc has barely seen ~2,000 miles in the last ~5 years and comes with an MOT valid until September 2025. The car is complete with its original Mercedes servicing book, leather folio, toolkit, upgraded Kenwood stereo, upgraded soft top, electric seats and a new set of tyres.

This listing was written from information supplied by Dom after meeting James 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

A car that has done me very proud over my year with it - used sparingly, but loved endlessly.

James has owned the car for the last ~1 year, enjoying the car considerably although not covering many miles in it - mainly using it for special occasions and pleasant drives out in the warmer weather with the roof down - he tells us, "I have really enjoyed very minute of owning the Mercedes and it's been a real pleasure to drive a car like this".

With not as much time on his hands to drive and get full use of the Mercedes now, James has decided it's time for a change - he would ultimately like to sell this example to someone who would get more use from it, especially considering the car has been driven very few miles in recent years.

Should you have any questions about the car, James would be happy to answer these in the comments section below.

James
Vehicle Owner

James saved £1,260* when they
sold their Mercedes with us.

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Exterior

Clean lines and subtle muscle, the 320 SL blends classic ‘90s elegance with timeless Mercedes style.

Wheels and Tyres

The original 16" 'eight-hole' alloy wheels are fitted and present respectably. All appeared to be in fair condition, we didn’t notice any major damage, although there were a few marks here as you'll see in the images.

All round the 320 SL is fitted with Rapid P609 tyres. Both sets show with a spec of 225/55. Following the previous MOT, new tyres have been fitted with date codes from 2024.

Please take a look at the photos and videos for a detailed view of the exterior of the Mercedes and a closer look at the wheels and tyres.

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Bodywork

The bodywork of the Mercedes-Benz showed well overall. Looking over the exterior, the panel lines looking straight and well-aligned. Original build quality still shows through to this day as we looked over the car on our visit; all doors, bonnet and boot open and close without concern.

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

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Paint

Finished in "Azurite Blue", the paint has an even colour across the car. Being an early R129, the bumpers and plastic side panels are finished in a flatter matt finish, almost 2-tone. The front and rear bumpers and we noted some blemishes and there were signs of lacquer peel on the passenger side boot and driver side door edge. Across the panels, there were a few marks observed mainly by the front wing and windscreen edge, and most notably, a scratch by the drivers side rear quarter panel. Given the 320 SL has been on the road for over ~30 years, these observations were in line with our expectations considering the reserve set.

The images are taken from a few different angles to show off the car as you would see it if you were standing there yourself. Please take the time to fully assess these high-resolution images and videos of the car to form your own opinion about the condition of the paint.

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Glass and Trim

The windscreen, side windows and soft top perspex all appear in good condition and we could see no sign of scratching or chips on the main glass. We did note a crack on the front side light. Badges and emblems are all present and correct.

The soft top roof showed well and without any real concerns having been replaced in 2019. The original hard top is included, although does have evidence of paint bubbling and dings on it.

Take a look through the exterior gallery and review the video. We take you across all areas of the car as if you were standing there yourself, so you can see in greater detail how the car is presented.

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Interior

With its supportive leather seats, and intuitive layout, the cabin area offers a refined yet driver-focused experience.

Seats and Carpets

The heated, electric front seats finished in "Mushroom" leather showed their age a little, but were perfectly comfortable and useable. We noted some signs of wear to the drivers seat outer bolster, typical for the age of the car. Looking over the rear seating showed this area to be in good condition with only fair use noted on the back seats.

Carpets in the cabin show in decent condition but would benefit from some cleaning to the front given the lighter colour. The rear of the interior and the boot showed well. One of the door card pockets would benefit from some restorative work, as this had come away from its fixing.

We've captured high-resolution photos and a full interior video tour through the car. This covers off the angles inside the car for you to review and appreciate the condition of what's on offer here in our interior review section.

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Dashboard

The black dash and wood veneer panelling across the centre console all appears in lovely condition with no issues to report. Black dials with yellow needles looked excellent and were all functioning as expected. The odometer showed with ~59,217 miles at the time of our visit.

The dials, switches, and controls all showed well, with surfaces free from fogging or scratching. We noted no issues with any warning lights and the gauges were all functioning without concern when starting up the car.

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Steering Wheel / Gear Stick

The steering wheel shows signs of use with a light patina, but is in keeping with the quality of the rest of the interior.

The auto gear selector also looks to be in great condition.

We've captured high-resolution photos for you to review and appreciate the condition of the interior in our gallery section.

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Mechanics

The 3.2L inline-six engine, produces ~221BHP pairing seamlessly with the highly capable automatic gearbox and providing an engaging driving experience.

Engine and Gearbox

Starting up from cold, we noted no concerns and the Mercedes performed without issue when running and out on the road. The car idled smoothly and its engine was easily capable of taking the driver up to speed in no time at all. The 4 speed automatic gearbox showed no concerns with shifting the 320 SL through to the gears.

We took the car out around some local roads with the current owner to get a better feel for what this vehicle is all about. Take a look at the mechanical video to see the car starting up and more detail in the engine bay.

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Suspension and Brakes

We noted no knocks, bangs or issue from the suspension when we were on the road in the car, and it gave us no concerns in its performance or handling. On the underside, we noted no obvious signs of corrosion.

The brakes bring the car to a halt in a straight line with no juddering reported through the pedal, the stopping power and control felt great.

Please take a look over the mechanical videos and photographs to see close-up images from under the car.

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The Drive

The Mercedes-Benz delivers a smooth, composed driving experience that blends refined luxury with confident performance.

The current owner tells us more about his experience driving the car, "It's a really great drive out in the SL, every trip out in the car is as brilliant as it was the first time I drove it".

With its inline-six engine, well-balanced chassis, and advanced suspension, the 320 SL offers effortless cruising and solid handling - making it just as enjoyable on a weekend drive as it is on a long motorway journey.

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Electrics and Other

During our time with the vehicle we noted that all switches, dials, and gauges appear undamaged and are in lovely condition. The Mercedes is complete with a toolkit, the optional soft and hard top and a spare wheel located in the boot.

The car also comes with a Kenwood stereo which is a replacement from the original. James told us everything was in working order including the cruise control function.

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History and Paperwork

Having covered just over ~6,000 miles in the last ~10 years, this low mileage Merc needs a little love, but is well set for many more journeys ahead.

The Mercedes-Benz hasn't carried a great wealth of paperwork or need for additional work to be completed on it over its years, but is supplied with a current MOT valid until September 2025. Most recently, the car has been fitted with a new set of tyres dated from 2024.

The car is complete with its Mercedes leather folio and original service book. The last MOT carried out in September 2024, also covered off fitment of a new fuel valve assembly. A new hood was fitted in 2019. The drivers door window regulator was replaced in 2018 along with a roof control module and a brake light switch.

Electric window fuses were changed in 2017, a new battery was replaced in 2016, and a new alternator, beam deflectors and a steering damper shock were all changed in 2015.

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, and 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 on 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 bid/s, 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
17.09.2024 MOT 58,810
27.09.2023 MOT 58,581
22.09.2022 MOT 58,456
28.09.2021 MOT 58,304
22.09.2020 MOT 56,946
17.09.2019 MOT 56,067
01.10.2018 MOT 54,860
26.05.2017 MOT 54,411
02.06.2016 MOT 53,954
16.05.2015 MOT 53,206
05.02.2014 MOT 52,601
05.03.2013 MOT 52,002
11.10.2011 MOT 50,631
Key Details
  • ModelSL 320 (R129)
  • TransmissionAutomatic
  • Reg. Date01.08.1994
  • CC3,199
  • Mileage~59,217 on clock
  • Colour"Azurite Blue" (366U)
  • Interior Colour"Mushroon" (275A)
  • Interior TrimLeather
  • Chassis #WDB1290632F105750
  • Engine #10499122007869
  • MOTYes. Exp 30.09.2025
  • HPi ClearYes - All Clear
  • Former Keepers7
  • Tyre TreadGood
  • Tyre BrandRapid
  • Tyre AgeFrom 2024
  • LHD or RHDRHD
  • VisitedYes
  • Sale TypePrivate
  • Owned~1 year
  • Key FeatureLow Mileage
  • Vehicle RegistrationM373 GPG
  • Fuel TypePetrol
  • Body TypeConvertible
  • Auction ID2887







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Ask Questions
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7 Comments
superbug
superbug
  JamesWo
11 months ago

Thanks

superbug
superbug
1 year ago

Hi James
Could you confirm if the gearbox is a 4 or 5 speed.

Thanks

superbug
superbug
  JamesWo
11 months ago

thanks

Charlestown
Charlestown
1 year ago

Hi
How many service stamps in the book? Are they all Mercedes ? If not what sort of service history comes with the car?

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Vehicle Location

Canterbury

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