This Mercedes-Benz 300SL Is the Last Manual Transmission SL
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- Опубліковано 13 чер 2024
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The Mercedes-Benz R129 SL was indeed made with a manual transmission -- and today I'm reviewing it! I'm reviewing the 300SL, and I'm going to show you all the quirks and features of this R129 Mercedes-Benz SL. I'm also going to drive the R129 manual and review the driving experience of this rare Mercedes SL.
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Mercedes didn’t let you chose between safety or sportiness. If the rool bar is in the down position and the sensor felt that the car is about to flip over, the rool bar would be deployed automatically in a fraction of a second.
In the room bar we trust!
I picked up on that too. He said the same thing when he reviewed the Re129 SL500. I thought he might realize that the switch is really there for the wind deflector... Like the one strapped to the roll hoop in the video. 🤦♂️
Man, those guys are the best. You can choose between style and safety or style and safety and peace of mind for the skeptical consumer.
Mercedes fans can't spell roll bar.
30 year old Mercedes electronics:
“Are you sure about that?”
Surprised Doug missed a major quirk of the mono-wiper…it extends and retracts to better reach the corners (this can be seen in the video).
not very interesting that would just be filler, True although.
He has mentioned that in other videos with other mb cars that have it.
It's such a quirky feature IMO. Emblematic of German over-engineering, making an extending/retracting wiper arm rather than just using 2 normal ones like everyone else. Seems like something that would break over time and be heinously expensive to replace. Really cool though.
18:08
Only extends for the driver corner (not the passenger's), curiously.
@@dromeiro it does for both.
Doug the type of guy to lick his iPad before turning the page
😂😂😂😂😂 that's actually funny
I can already see your comment reaching 1K or 2K likes
That's probably one of the best "Doug the type of guy" jokes I've seen.
😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
They lick their finger not the book
My favorite era of Mercedes Benz.
These older manual models are one of the reasons. The other reason is how well they were built. I had an old 300E and it was reliable. We put over 60,000 miles on the car. Did I mention we bought it with 225,000 miles?
Great cars and I'd love to own another one.
As far as I recall from the 1991 auto press coverage of this car, the roll-bar was fully automatic. If it was down, you depended on sensors to elevate it in the event of a rollover.
But it comes up so slow. How would it get up in time once it rolls over???
@@nashanthename1886 It was pyrotechnic-activated. It deployed in like a fraction of a second.
R129 Rollbar deployment.
In some cases it was deployed ballistically, in other cases it depended upon spring tension.
m.ua-cam.com/video/cXMF3jI1vyA/v-deo.html
@@nashanthename1886 It comes up faster in an accident. More info here: ua-cam.com/video/czEO0X6D4-g/v-deo.html&ab_channel=tamango
Doug doesn't do research
I was the owner of this actual car from 2008 until November 2022. The 5 speed is truly unique, which I think complements the engine well. It’s not particularly fast, but it’s strong and smooth. The engine needs to be revved, which is ok because that dohc engine noise is very sweet. It reminds me somewhat of how the gullwing 300sl sounds at high rpm.
It’s great to see Doug’s review. It does have a remote infrared locking system, so the blinking red and green lights inform you that’s it’s been locked or unlocked. There is no annoying horn chirp. I also changed out the center console storage bin from a cigarette lighter and cassette holder, to a newer version with the cup holder. The list of maintenance and parts I replaced was extensive. Pretty much a “you name it, I did it” situation. Of course it only makes financial sense to do this many jobs yourself. Luckily these are relatively I complicated cars, with little electronics compared to modern cars. The soft top cylinders job was probably the most involved job, but there is plenty of information available to guide you. The new owner will be getting a well sorted car.
About that rollbar.. I remember being at the NY Auto Show in the mid 90’s, and both MB & BMW had live-action safety related displays. If I remember correctly, MB was showcasing their airbags and had an E class convertible with the airbags deploying & retracting; while BMW had a 3 series convertible with rear headrests that would shoot up in the event of a rollover and provide protection to the occupants. Really cool engineering.
The 124 E-Class convertible also had the active rear "headrests" that would erect in case of a rollover.
There were several things like that back then, I vividly remember some had like rollbars deploying using explosives behind the rear seats. I remember it because I was young enough to be backseat passenger then, the few times my mom dragged me with her on some form of date...
I have a 2001 SLK with a 6 speed manual. It came with everything: power seats, heated seats, etc. I check its value every year and despite its low miles and almost new looks.....I'd be lucky to get $10,000. Thus I keep it and every spring am glad I kept it. I store it every winter here in MN. Most men my age (76) consider any car with an automatic NOT be a sports car. The coordinated dance: left foot clutch pedal, right hand shift of a gear, back to the clutch as the right foot hits the accelerator. It you can't do this, you don't know what it's like to drive a sports car. Thx for the video.
Funny the manual was less expensive to buy when the car was new, but as a used car it makes it much easier to sell (and perhaps even sell at a premium over the auto cars).
kina virus released to fk up the elections...millions dead, billion+ with heart/organ issues...evil know no bounds, 100% intentionally released...just to get one man out of office, one man they could not buy/control....Godless people will always create hell !!!
MN gang
I'm only 54 but I agree completely. No stick = not a sports car. A sports cars isn't about how fast it goes, or how it handles. First and foremost a sports car is about how much control the driver has and how they use that control to the driver's advantage. I have a Japanese Domestic Market 93 Suzuki Cappuccino. 5 speed, no antilock or power brakes, no traction control, manual steering, only 64 horsepower, right hand drive. Still, I consider it the purest sports car I have ever owned. I have never felt most at one with any vehicle I have ever been in.
Where are we in MN folks? Marshall for me and I drive nothing but 3 pedals.
Doug you've missed a few things. All the storage areas lock/unlock with the doors. Also the center rear view mirror is power controlled. Someone else mentioned it but, the near instantaneous deployment of the rollbar was a tech masterpiece as was the one button controlled top. Most models would have had a key fob, which interestingly was infra-red and not a wireless frequency. Not only did it have memory seats (had to be one of the first cars to have that) The head rests and seatbelts were power height adjustable. In addition the traction/stability continued to push tech that other manufactures took years to integrate into their vehicles. I would love to know if there are any tuner companies that have developed a turbo or other performance upgrades for this motor.
That's absolutely correct. Locking storage compartments make topdown parking more secure.
Yeah this definitely would have came with a keyless entry key fob that's apparently missing from this car. My grandfather had a Cadillac Allante that was 2 or 3 years older than this and it even had a factory key fob. My grandmother had a 1990 Chrysler Imperial that had memory seat buttons too, not sure who was the first to offer that feature.
My 1985 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz has memory driver seat for 2 positions and it was pretty much a carryover from 1984. The only other car that could possibly have all this tech in the 80’s was Lincoln Town Car
I believe the power interior mirror was only on the SL600.
he showed the locking storage and he said this was a base model.
The glove box is under the airbag. That's what the lockable key is in the dash next to the airbag. The door panel compartments were for additional storage and the locked so you could leave valuables in there with the top down and they'd be secure. Also, the lights on the door handles actually corresponded with the keyless entry that WAS offered on the 1990 and 1991 and up SL's as a visual confirmation of what button was pushed on the remote, as they weren't labeled like today. It would appear that owner lost the fobs, as my 1990, 1991 and 2000 all had keyless entry. FYI. LOL. The adjustable roll bar was so you could utilize the wind deflector. The roll bar automatically went up as soon as a rear wheel left the ground. Try taking a hard right and punching the gas... the roll bar shoots up with a deafening sound of a shotgun blast.
You'd think Doug would look into things like this when going to see a car, or look them up on his phone when there. *I* knew the rollbar shot-up automatically from a movie! Come on, Doug!
Thisss. I know about the led lights as it's the same system found in the late W124s.
No the early pre facelift R129 do not have a glovebox under the Airbag!
The Keyhole is just to manually unlock the little sunglass compartment.
I have a 1990 500 SL myself and there’s no glovebox on this version of the SL.
I am in a R129 owners club and I know pretty much every interior Version that’s why I definitely know which interior version has what.
It changed quite a few times over its long lifespan.
I know it's strange but this generation of SL didn't have a glovebox under the airbag. On the other hand the S class sedan had a similar dashboard with glovebox under the airbag. That's Germany over-engineering quirks and features. 😅🤣🤣😅
I wish I had extra thumbs up to give. Please make a video on the quirks of the 300SL.
It’s so funny- that hill Doug is driving up is Jamboree in Newport Beach. My dad had this 1979 300D Mercedes, not the turbo diesel just the regular one, and it was so slow going up that hill. So seeing Doug complain about the power while going up that particular hill hits some pretty specific memories from when I was a kid.
And he just drove by a Mercedes dealer with another Mercedes driving next to him
I had the same car in Australia as my First car, was a hand me down from my Nana, it was so so slow, if lost momentum going up hills, would never build up speed again, used to get abused for being a snob and driving slow, but I had it flat to the floor 😂😂😂
@@celsovera91 Newport in a nutshell. Fletcher Jones sells more Mercedes than any other one nationally I’m pretty sure.
I’ve driven this car in a manual, it feels perfectly German and it’s fantastic. Thanks Doug for sharing this great vehicle.
I was lucky enough to drive a V8 when I worked at a dealer. I loved it. It would break the rear tires loose on the 1-2 shift. Felt like a tank too, very solid car.
Fun fact about headlight wipers: The very first car to have them was the Saab 99, back in 1968. Soon all Saabs and Volvos had them and they were quite common on many European brands in the late 20th century. Saab and Volvo kept them well into the early 2000s.
I drove Volvos for years being a salesman of a Volvo dealership. The only situation it was truly useful was driving on dirt roads. Everywhere else - water jets were good enough. Plus - keeping the wipers alive in winter was a mess, as they froze to the glass frequently. I’m glad they dropped it.
Mercedes had headlight wipers back in the 1970s. This is nothing new. Doug is spreading himself too thin and making simple mistakes.
These headlight wipers had built-in washers. The washer fluid was also heated for better cleaning.
Regarding the Manuals being rare, that's indeed true. I just checked on the German Marketplace and while there are over 50 with Automatic there are only 12 for Sale in Manual Configuration. Which sounds like a lot in other Countries, but for Germany and this being a German Car, that's not a lot.
That said, great Car and so many of them are still around here on the German Car Marketplace for a good Price and proper Paperwork
Prost & Cheers from Berchtesgaden in the Bavarian Alps
think it's cuz the world's supply of 80s mercs are in los angeles rn haha
kina virus released to fk up the elections...millions dead, billion+ with heart/organ issues...evil know no bounds, 100% intentionally released...just to get one man out of office, one man they could not buy/control....Godless people will always create hell !!!
@@m.o.n.d.e.g.r.e.e.n
Oh really? I was always curious about the different German Car Bestsellers in LA as well as NYC. But thinking of it, in a lot of 80s and 90s Movies and Sitcoms i remember Mercedes Models being especially relevant in LA haha
I went to Germany in 2018 with my brother and we went to see the Eagles nest and I really liked the region, very beautiful if I can go back this summer 2023 I will but this time I will come back with my motorcycle… and it’s a BMW too 😅
And in the USA less than 600 r129 SL where sold with the manual transmission. Very rare car here
I love how Doug went from being UA-cam’s biggest car reviewer to it’s biggest used car salesman 😊
Bars and Kids...er...Cars and Bids ! He started writing for Auto Trader so its been used cars for him all along
I believe the roll bar automatically deploys in a crash if it's down
It's time to start fact checking Doug. 🤣😆🤣😆
European specs sl's were available in manuals for longer.
I think sl 280 up to 97 - 99
Doug, the power roll bar in the 129 was due to a widespread resurgence in the “Unsafe at any Speed” (Ralph Nader, 1965) hysteria which drove the American convertible to (temporary) extinction in the 1970’s. Pending regulation in the USA for convertibles in the late 1980’s and early 1990’s had convertibles under heavy scrutiny for safety, and the roll bar was to mitigate perceived forthcoming regulation. This was the peak of time when BMW and Mercedes were jockeying for American market cap, hence the $1 billion W140 program, so anything Mercedes could do to secure American sales and market cap was incredibly important. They could not afford to take a risk, so the electric roll bar was added.
Ralph Nader started his unsafe at any speed campaign. with the Chevrolet Corvair which did have some safety issues.
I remember these from the late 90's to the late 00's and they were impressive. I think the mechanical sounding top adds a rawness and authenticity. A dog box is always great! I like that the manual came with a I6 because it's easier to work on and the car will handle better.
Obviously, doug does not work on cars. Those of us who do, appreciate room in an engine bay. As well what you mention in terms of handling. As for power, it is obviously our of hand. No one needs more than four hundred horsepower in a street car.
It’s funny that here in Italy, this is by far the most common r129 SL for a law that taxes more bigger engines. Every year i go at the Padua classic car trade festival and every year there are so many of these 300 manuals :)
kina virus released to fk up the elections...millions dead, billion+ with heart/organ issues...evil know no bounds, 100% intentionally released...just to get one man out of office, one man they could not buy/control....Godless people will always create hell !!!
It's cool how a car that is common in your country is so rare and special to somebody else
@@kunstderfugue Italy taxed cars by engine displacement. There's a version of the Ferrari 308 called the 208 with a 2L V8. Japan does something similar.
in this era, 24v Inline-6 were the only models with the 8000 rpm tachometer (and the 2.3/2.5-16 W201).
You can see it in the W124s as well.
About tachometer and speedometer, I wonder if there are many cars whose top speed is higher than the highest marking. BMW 740i had 240 in speedometer, but the top speed was limited to 250 km/h.
I have this car but with a period Mosselman twin turbo kit! Its awesome, sounds amazing with a eisenmann exhaust! A few things, The cupholder was not standard on that car. None of the early r129s have that. It looks like a retrofit of the storage unit from later models. It instead had a cassette holder and an ashtray. The lights for the door locks were there for the original master key which had a IR remote on it which would lock and unlock whe pointing at the middle part of those two red and green lights. Finally the truck doesn't require the key to push the truck unlatch button. It was only needed to unlock or lock the trunk. Which also locked/ unlocked the entire car. Also in europe rear jump seats were available and offered on the early models.
I kinda figured he was wrong about the locks on the doors because my grandfather had a 1988 or 89 Cadillac Allante when I was a kid and it had a factory keyless entry key fob so I knew these had to have one too by 91.
I want to know about this twin turbo kit?? Is it still available, or is there something else similar out there? What kind of power does it make?
I would also mention that in Europe they did have a dash that didn't have the airbag on the passenger side. It was originally designed to have a glove box. This can be signified by the false button by the center console storage button and under the keyhole for the valet storage locking key. Instead due to US regulations requiring either an automatic seatbelt or airbags, because of this all US benzes have airbags while in Europe you can find rare benzes that don't have airbags and still retain the original glovebox
@@chynacash3138 yeah, mine has it but it sadly doesn't work. The original master was unique because it doesn't have a loop or anything to allow it to attach to a key ring. It's a very large key and it has a IR transponder on it. They switched to RF in later models
@@stevenatwater7298 sadly it is not available to purchase new anymore. However turbobandit makes kits for m104 engines that you could look into. I'm not sure how much it makes the original brochure says 335hp
I love the R129 and it's an underappreciated gem in today's market. Beautiful Bruno Sacco design that drives like a million bucks.
The Carmudgeon Show had a brief discussion of the R129 on the Bull Market episode. Jason and Derek have both owned various models and agreed that the 94-96 SL500 had the best engine for the chassis.
yeah 4 cam and beautifully built. Funny what I'd do actually is buy one of those with a v6 or smthng and swap in a low power dual motor powertrain from a tesla circa 400 hp.
Jason Carmudgeon owned a manual r129 before his 190-2.3 16.
Clearly you never owned one.
@@thehumanoid6543 Why? I owned one. It was a terrible car.
As a kid I used to love the headlight wipers quirk!
R129 was available in Germany with a manual all the way up to 2000. With the smaller V6 not sure about the 3.2. I think in 98 they went from the inline six to the v6. Also if I’m not mistaken the headlight wipers come on when you try to wash the windshield with the headlights on.
Correct the manual transmission was at the Mopf 2 generation only available for the SL280 (V6 m112). The SL 320 could only be ordered with the 5 speed automatic, unfortunately. My dream combination would be the M112 32 combined with the 6 speed gearbox of the r170.
Correct on both accounts. I would love to import an SL280 with a manual but they still go for $20 - 30K over there vs the $6-7K that SL's command over here.
@@visionmodernclassics3062 It's interesting how little choice they get in the US, while we get like 6-7 engines in the same car they might only get one or two.
The rollbar is also automatic in case of a rollover.
In Europe there where back seats, i could just fit in the back but i was younger then…
SAAB and Jaguars of the eighties had headlight wipers too.
I went to Geneva in 1989 to see and test the car. It was a real super techno car and i still adore it.
Saab invented the headlight wipers
My Saab 99 from 1974 had headlight wipers, quite a big mechanical construction in front of the radiator. One drive for both sides. Very useful in winter with snow!
No one ever mentions those rare SL back seats with lap belts. Saw one in CAR magazine in the 90's. Always wondered if the roll bar would wack back seat passengers if there was a roll over (Probably would be the least of their problems in that situation).
that car should have a cassette storage. They updated it to the later cupholders introduced in 1996.
The cupholders were foldaway. He shows you in the video. Even the previous model had cupholders, but they were on the door and folded away. They were awfully small though, zero cups from any fast food place would fit in those old cup holders, lol.
@@drewj8559 that is not a factory cup holder in there I daily a pre facelift r129
Doug, for the roll bar it's an automatic system. It has sensors tied to the SRS system and reads if the car is going to tip over, and if it feels so - it activates pyrotechnics to extend the roll bar. There's no choice.
The 90-92 SLs are actually more desirable than the newer ones, because they didn't use biodegradable wiring harnesses and didn't use water-based paint, along with other parts of the car that were changed by DaimlerChrysler bean counters.
I had one of the first c classes with the Chrysler engine in it and it was awful. I loved the luxury stuff that they kept in it but you could certainly tell what was cheap about it. It also had some odd wiring gremlins in winter months which was always sketchy
Biodegradable wiring harness was from 1993 to 1995 models only. Don't think any R129's used water based paint.
In an accident the rollbar would pop up automatically. Fast enough to be up before you flipped the car upside down. I remember a pic of an SL that crashed on the autobahn going 200kph+ (120mph) and the occupants getting out unhurt
I commented this in the last r129 video and the same applies to this one. The roll bar even in the down position automatically shoots up in two cases: if the car experiences a collision with forces above 4G, or if the eletric suspension switches sense the car roll beyond 23 degrees to either side. This happens in a fraction of a second using an electromagnetic spring system.
I grew up around 1990s Mercs and the R129 is my all time favourite, so bear with me while I geek out on this...
5:14 Actually you don't really need the key. The red and green lights are part of an infrared remote system. The IR receiver sits right between the red and green lights on each door handle. You would point the IR remote at the door from a few feet away and the car would unlock. Same as in your Barbie G, Doug, only that in your car you point the remote at the center mirror! ;-) Seems the C&B car is missing the remote so you need to turn the key.
8:11 That center compartment actually is the perfect size for your sunglasses, and that's what it was for according to the owner's manual. You had your roof down and your sunglasses right at hand. The car phone was ultra rare. Also, this is where later models had an LCD screen for the optional trip computer. A hidden display that was very cool!
9:30 Hey, this is a 90s Mercedes! Of course they had a clever way for the roll bar to deploy whenever needed! It could be raised and lowered hydraulically as Doug pointed out. But in the down position, it would be spring loaded with an electromagnetic release and would shoot up in 0.3 seconds if the rear wheels suddenly left the ground. That's why you would put it up first for anyone but your mother-in-law before they would sit in the back seat (in the models that had 2+2 seats).
18:41 Ah, the two tone paint for the bumpers and sideguards. Nicknamed "Sacco boards" after then chief designer Bruno Sacco, the off-coloured sideguards were first introduced in 1979 and were quite controversial. Most 1990s Mercs had them, from the W201 "190" to the W140 S-Class. For the R129, my personal favourite is the two-tone "emerald" green.
Less Doug DeMuro channel > this channel
The headlight wipers were to clean. I don't ever remember them activating just because you had the wipers on in the rain. They activated when you used the windshield washer function. Everyone else has already commented on the roll bar's function.
Yeah that's how I've always seen them work, activated with windshield spray.
Oh my God. I had an Sel 600 from the 90s and you described how these cars are perfectly. They are like tanks that float on the road like no other car I’ve ever owned. And you described this car perfectly. The steering, the suspension, the drivability, everything was perfect
In Europe an r129 sl280 was available with a manual transmission all the way up to 2002
I've been yearning for a R129 300SL-24V for sale near me for the past two weeks. Literally searching all the literature I could find, all the relevant UA-cam videos and podcasts related to the matter, a proper R129-obsessed week...
...and NOW a Doug video??? This is definitely a sign so I'm definitely buying it.
Fantastic cars. Extremely easy to work on as well. It's also a bit fun as the engine revs to 7K, it was originally developed as the I6 version of the 2.3-16.
Make sure it has the ignition system fully replaced and with the correct non resistor spark plugs. The ignition module is a famous failure point on these and a major factor is incorrect plugs. Very expensive to replace. Also make sure the car has had a valve job done. The m103 m104 engine ls will need it around 120k miles. The head gasket will fail around the cylinder 6 oil gallery and start piling your block and exhaust in oil. But besides that they are fantastic engines
Mercedes is now discontinuing the last models with manual transmission in Germany so it has been aroud for a lot longer here, although it has been only offered in the base models as well in the last years
One more strike against the consumer. Manual transmissions last forever with minimal maintenance, and give you better control on winding or mountain roads. Automatic transmissions now have 9 or 10 gear ratios, making the auto even more efficient than manuals on government testing, and automakers are desperately trying to meet the higher standards. But they (or the government) don't give a damn about the cost to consumers of trying to repair or rebuild a 10 year old 10-speed transmission.
My 2001 Volvo V70 had headlight-wipers and them even worked.
Those were very good at winter of southern-Finland salt-spray...
But modern cars have mainly plastic headlights, so wipers can't be used anymore, because them would ruin and scrape the lights.
In here many cars still have pressure washers for headlights.
Yes, I had both a Volvo 850 (a rare manual version) and a Saab 900 SPG that headlight wipers. BMW also had them on some cars, which was a bit weird with their four individual round headlights. My 2003 landy just has the high pressure wash to keep from ruining the plastic lenses.
This generation actually was offered with rear seats, last generation before they came back in the current gen. They were optional, probably just not offered in the US.
kina virus released to fk up the elections...millions dead, billion+ with heart/organ issues...evil know no bounds, 100% intentionally released...just to get one man out of office, one man they could not buy/control....Godless people will always create hell !!!
Not sure which cars specifically but my Sl500 had rear seats as an option in Europe. I believe they had a sensor in them so the roll bar wouldn't shoot up if there was someone in the back. I can't imagine there being a lot of room back there, I think I prefer my stereo amp and subs.
Dr. Cox's R129 in Scrubs had a backseat so it was also available in the US (not sure how many got it though)
I remember visiting LA in the early / mid 90s - the R129 was THE car to have in fancy areas like Beverly Hills. Most of them were in grey or black like this one.
or if you were a top G down in south central
The sound at 13:56 is one of the first sounds I have heard in my life
The fluorescent hum of the parking garage was killing me lol.
Liminal garage
Hah! Fr, ikr?
@@BadaBing.UCF30 THIIIIIS is The Backrooms, and today, I'm going to show you every level's quirks and features.
I often peruse Carsandbids for fun, especially manual convertibles. I never thought I’d come across an SL in that category!
I have the exact model with manual transmission from 91. the key has a remote control by infra-red, that why it has the lights. Instead of blink the light it does that.
And another thing, my car has a dual airbag but it still have the glovebox.
The lid on the dash, my car has a board computer with mileage and another trip information.
In this car, when the rool bar is down, every time the car detect instability brings it up in a fraction of a second. So it's safe even with the roll bar down.
I had a neighbor who had a one of those as a kid. His was a V8 and he had the Hard Top Hoist that Doug mentioned. It did make putting that top on and off way easier.
Quite interesting to see a slower version of a fast car on Doug’s channel
Until you mod this engine it can push 600hp stock
Awesome video like always DOUG! Thanks for sharing
My grandpa had a 500 SL and one thing I always remember was the roof suspended from the garage ceiling, always seemed so funny.
I also have a 1991 Manual R129. From my research I found out that there were 397 sold in the US during the first 3 years of production. Vids up on my channel as well. Good review Doug.
What a great car! Such classic, understated lines, love it! Truly one of the all time greats, from a time, when mercedes (and my whole country) hadn't lost it's way yet... Thank you, Doug!👍
I love R129s, truly wonderful cars. A 600 with a 6spd swap would be perfection
Congratulations Doug! You’re an inspiration! Thank you for “letting us in and showing us around!”❤ Well-deserved! Can’t wait to see what else you’ve got brewing!
After watching this video, and hearing Doug's description of it, it surprisingly reminds me of a modern version of a much earlier, and probably one of the most relaxing manual transmission vehicles that I have ever driven and this will surprise you.
From Doug's description it sounds very much like a Ford F-series with a 3-on-the-tree from I believe 1986 back.
I will admit, my only experience with 3-speed manuals was with 3-on-the-trees and maybe a 3-speed on the floor was similar however the 3-on-the-trees (I've driven some and have ridden in many more) were very relaxed transmissions. You weren't banging gears on on a 3-on-the-tree but, at the same time, that's what made them so special. The gearing was long, the shifts were gentle and I have to say, driving one is very relaxing. It really sounds like that is how this SL drives.
I will tell you, even if you like banging gears on a performance car, there is something very special about a relaxing manual transmission. It changes the whole dynamic and there is a time when it is nice to have that kind of experience with 3 pedals.
I have to imagine this thing is a needle in a haystack. I absolutely love manuals and while I am not a Mercedes guy, I loves the 300 and 500 SLs of this era and I never knew this existed but am soooooo happy it does.
I wish the seller good luck, this is truly a very, very special car.
Didn't the rollbar pop up on its own if the car's computers detected a rollover? The switch is for the draft blocker which is attached to the bar.
Doug didn't do in depth research
@@lucky889s9 Doug is the type of guy...
Doug needs to hire fact-checkers. 🤣😅🤣😅
It also has to be deployed if you have the optional rear seats and want to use them.
This 300SL manual is a very special 'basic' Mercedes. I love the minimalism in the car with all the special features that make living with the car much easier and satisfying to drive and own. Most car manufacturers have lost the love of people for the plain joy of driving a basic car with the top down, slipping through some mountain curves and enjoying every downshift and upshift as you do it. Very nice Mercedes. I would think this one might make 300,000 miles with just regular maintenance. Very well built back then. Very nice car, thanks for showing this Mercedes to us, Doug.
300K easy. Those 3.0L M104 engines are bulletproof, maybe even more so than the diesels.
That chime reminds me of driving around with my grandmother in her W140
This was one of those cars that I'd read about, but absolutely never saw. Thank you for reviewing it. I'd think that the word you'd be looking for to describe the experience wouldn't be exciting, but satisfying.
The R129 is by far my favorite SL. The manual transmission 300SL was definitely unique, especially in the USA market. Very under appreciated in todays market.
That roll bar looks like it should go up more
Here in Europe it was also possible to buy the S-Class from the same time (W126) with an earlier variant of the same engine (M103 vs. M104) with a manual gearbox (i.e. 300 SE). This was of course the short version of the S-Class. At the time, a manual gearbox in this car was really an obscure choice, but today a short W126 is actually not a very big car. It is, for example, only marginally larger than a BMW E60, but has an appearance that is much more sophisticated and stylish. Something to think about in relation to the perhaps even more sophisticated R129 with manual gearbox. Another point was that the automatic gearboxes of this time were really slow and inefficient. With a more efficient manual gearbox, these cars actually became quite agile and fast for their time. Another interesting point in combination with the headlight wipers was that here in Europe you could also have hot washer fluid. There was an extra loop on the coolant which, via a heat exchanger, heated up the tank for washer fluid. This naturally also worked on the front window.
The later W140 was also offered with manual box and 280/300 M104. Only seen few for sale over the years.
@@ssuneee Thanks, I wasn't aware of this. What I love about this era is that it was possible to buy a completely stock and ribbed car and then spec it up with equipment as desired. It was, for example, possible to buy a 300 SE with a manual gearbox, with fabric seats, with a manual sunroof, with manual windows, but with, for example, fully automatic air conditioning and hot washer fluid. The so-called "equipment packages" were unknown and if you ordered specific extra equipment you only paid for this and nothing more.
I have a 1990 300SL-24 with the 5 speed manual, I agree with Doug on how this drives and the kind of experience you get from it. Lots of very well refined fun at a slower pace. Very well built and smooth. Very easy to work on.
Wow, thought that there was only the old ones! I know lots about cars all because of you Doug!
Doug, you need to hire an audio engineer to process your audio, because a good one can greatly reduce the echo.
If he keeps filming in garages then he will need lighting engineers too.
I actually kind of love the 2 tone late 80s early 90s look these earlier ones have. Gives it the boxy retro air of a Foxbody or AE86, whereas the later ones suffered ever so slightly from the strange blobbiness of many cars in the 00s.
I remember seeing a new one of these in the showroom when I was...like...8. It was red and gorgeous and my little mind was blown by the tiny headlight wipers.
Cool you got to go to the showroom back in the day. The first time I saw one of these brand new was in 1993 at a Wal-Mart. It was white with black top. I knew it was an expensive car...so I was thinking "why is this car at Wal-Mart?"
@@abba929 Gotta afford it somehow! 🤣
I was eating Chef Boyardee out of the can a while back and one of the wife's buddies was like, "wtf?" lol...she was like, "how do you think he affords his GT-R?" Hahaha
@@rmp5s Haha!!! Good point. 😆😆😆 By the way.... new SL designs are crap. So YAY to GT-R !!! 👍🎉🎉🎉
@@abba929 I don't mind the new cars. They're definitely a LOT different than before, though. That's for sure. They've gotten kinda huge. That goes for basically all cars, though.
Yea man. Made the dream come true. A decade of work, including 5 years in the Corps, started a business, the whole 9...it's "the car I've always wanted and now I have it. I rule." lol
(That was weird...right as I typed that, a story came on the news about Kevin Stacey! LOL!)
@@rmp5s Haha 😆 Sounds like you're on a good wavelength. That happens to me too sometimes. I believe we're all on a wavelength even if we don't know it. Without it trends wouldn't exist; because no one would think about the same things or like the same things in the same period of time.
That's the 300 SL 24. They dropped the 24 from the name in US market, but in Europe you could get the 300 SL straight six M103 engine. Mine, 1991, is auto and with the kickdown it is pretty good. They did do single color cars early on, special order I think.
I had to drive a SL like this at my former workplace around four years ago (2019)
Because of its labeling I was sure that SL was at least a 1991 model.
The owner said it was a 1989 model 😳
(In Germany, cars which are at least 30 years can be labeled as a "vintage car" and that Mercedes look quite modern to be a vintage car... 😯)
When "vintage cars" look quite modern, it means I am getting old
It's a brilliant design, looking very well even 30 years after. Newer models look fine, but boring because not so unike designs as they had until the 90's
Cars in the US can be on Antique plates at 25 years old. A 1997 model year can be considered a classic here.
@@KartKing4ever same as in Austria, Poland, and Spain
That engine bay is just begging for a massive turbski
Remember when Doug used to drive a really expensive car and the owner would ride with him cause they didn’t trust him now he can afford basically any of the cars he drives I love that growth so inspiring!
@Doug Demuro: Well done. Always liked these.
The engine in this car, the M104.980 is referred to as the German 2JZ. It revs very high and has very strong pickup, amazing sound!
@12:15 my 6-speed 2005 C Coupe had the foot mounted parking brake also. I loved that it cleaned up the console/armrest area without a big ugly brake lever. My current 2014 SLK250 (also manual) has an electronic parking brake.
One heck of a history lesson from DD! Great stuff ...
The headlight wipers aren't limited to the 90s, the feature began appearing in the 70s. By the time the R129 came around it was a well established feature.
Was at work scrolling through Cars and Bids as per usual, and I saw this unicorn and it said reviewed by Doug. Immediately proceeded to go on my break to watch this beauty! 😊
I had a Charcoal 1998 W124 E220 Manual. The clutch was sturdy but much smoother than almost anything else I've driven. Exceptionally fun car to drive. I was curious if the Key would lower/raise the windows when held in the locked/open position like later models did.
1995 was Last year for w124 unless u in Asia or India.
@@justinhenderson5710 Yeah. As the service department told me every time, and yet that was what the paperwork said. It was in fact a TELCO W124 that was exported to South Africa when the Indian market couldn’t absorb it and as a consequence the Model year due to local practices ended up being 1998 even though production ceased in 1997. As an added bonus it had suspension upgrades over its contemporary siblings.
@@Dyson_Cyberdynesystems wow That's Very interesting. I'm originally from SA. I love my 95 E320 wagon. 230k miles as of Today 💥 💪
Is yours manual?
@@Dyson_Cyberdynesystems oh yes it Was manual. I'm sure u wished u still had it. Those Are very affordable there now? Always love the cloth seats & manual options with hubcaps. My Dad had 230E 1988 4speed stick.
@@justinhenderson5710 yeah, I had to sell it when I left. Interestingly, mine had grey leather seats and the dealer installed the 8 spoke mags. My first car was my grandfather's 1975 280SE. Beast of a car. But alas an auto. Still could spin the wheels through the first shift and of course having a 2.8L was more than most people had there. Nowadays I have a Charger R/T but of course sadly manuals just aren't a thing in the States. I do like all the W211 touches from the DaimlerChrysler days.
I love it when Doug reviews old Mercedes
This is high on my list of important or interesting Mercedes for my collection. Thank you for reviewing
Was the roll bar a standard feature? That's a really cool feature that surprised me and got me a lil excited.
Yep standard and it pops up automatically if it detects that you might roll over or crash.
How can this be a 6-speed (Doug score at the end of the video) while the shift knob only goes to 5? Did you count the reverse gear?
He probably counted reverse...dogleg Doug, LOL!
I had this identical looking car in the 500SL version. The biggest issue was the plastic MB emblem under the hood would shrink with the heat and never sit properly again. Loved this car.
In Europe (and maybe other market too) you can have manual even on w213 E-Class and w205 C-Class, but not sure are manual still available.
Could be that it s automatic only also in Europe today.
The top operation seemed pretty quiet to me, also cars have had power tops all the way back to line the 50’s.
It's actually much louder in person than in the video. Doug had the car running at the time it was moving and that cut a lot of sound out of the mic. In person you hear a lot of very substantial bank vault type clicks and clunks. Plus you can clearly hear every stress & strain of the RPM changes with the hydraulic pump. It's not a bad sound but it's notably very mechanically auditable compared to modern cars that are almost silent.
This was the first SL with a power top, and they are pretty quiet. Hydraulics can become problematic with age though, and usually need to be rebuilt/replaced.
unarguably one of the most beautiful cars in the history of modern cars
no
I like the non roasdster version more
Arguably.
not even close
@@fortheloveofnoise9298 I decided that it is
I always wondered about the usefulness of headlight wipers which were, as other have pointed out, fairly common in certain brands in Europe in the 70s and 80s. That was until I was driving in a heavy snow storm in northern Germany and my headlights began to fade as they became caked in snow. That's when I realised why the likes of Volvo and Mercedes fitted them.
More of these Doug!
The reason for the headlight washer/wipers is because they were mandatory for the Netherlands.
They were mandatory in Finland as well until Finland joined EU. My Daimler Double Six was imported from Japan in 1990s and the previous owner had to install headlight wipers to get it accepted and registered.
Sweden also
Mandatory for you all. But an overpriced option for us Americans. 😢😢😢
Finally u did the review of what i was waiting for so long💯 my favourite manual mercedes..#dilchahtahai😎
The ‘72 Impala that I learned to drive in had the bright setting for the headlights on the floor to the left of brake pedal. It was a button that you tapped with your left foot. Once to turn the brights on and a second tap to turn them off. The placement was extremely intuitive and the button itself had great action.
I have a car like that. It's annoying in a manual because invariably I need to switch the high beams off at the same time I need to shift or else I'll blind the oncoming car. Flashing the lights is annoying. In the day I leave the switch on high and pull the headlights on and off but at night I have to chunk-chunk-chunk-chunk cycle it while coasting.
I picked up a factory Miata hard top for my NB Miata this past year, and the seller gave me a kayak lift to go with it. I installed it on my garage ceiling and use it to lift up and store the hard top. Works great. Due to my garage door, I had to mount the lift towards the other end of the garage. So I back in, remove the hard top and lift it up, then pull back out and turn around to park it nose-in with the roof hanging above the hood. It looks a little precarious but it works great, and it’s really the only place I have to store the hard top.
Actually the craziest thing is that this R129 300 SL has LESS power (190) than the W198 300 SL (215-240).
And I'll bet the W198 was a whole lot lighter as well.
The M104 engine in this car had 228hp. 190hp was the M103.
@@precisionrifles Yes, the M104 had 4 valves per cylinder, hence 300 SL-24. The 300 SL had 2 valves per cylinder, resulting in less power (190 vs 231). The 2 valve version was never released in the US.
I love this body style. I would love it better if the 500sl or 600sl came with a manual. I will Find one someday and buy one. Great video as always doug.
Perhaps the ugliest SL design ever and I say that having owed a 1984, 1990, and 2003 SL55.
@@philsalley3278 your entitled to your opinion. As am I and I like these sl style maybe not as my favorite sl but I still like the look.
Noti gang 💯💯 love these videos
There was also a glass hardtop available for the R129. It was quite a rare option, here in Australia at least, and it was very expensive.
I remember this car from the game "Need For Speed III: Hot Pursuit". But it was a later model because it was an SL 600.
That handle is to operate the screen along the rollbar. If you flip the car, sensor will automatically pop the rollbar. Research doug
My father own a 92 - 300SL silver manual! Amazing car! Amazing video!
Had one in the northeast, snow country (back then). Never once drove it in winter and never once swapped roofs, but I suppose the huge and heavy item in new condition probably added value on the day of resale.
Review the Koenigsegg One:1 plz