Chris Harris Drives His Mercedes-Benz R129 SL
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- Опубліковано 13 лип 2022
- Chris takes us around his Mercedes-Benz (R129) SL500 and explains why he prefers to spend £20k on this car as opposed to losing £20k in depreciation on a brand new car.
Talking through his ownership experience, Chris recounts the reasons why he likes the R129 so much and then takes it for a drive in the English countryside.
Let us know in the comments below if you like the R129 SL and whether you would buy one!
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I love these videos when Chris turns full on car nerd. It's not made for a segment, or a story, or to sell issues - It's purely to share something he is passionate about and it shows. Fingers crossed for an Evo reunion!
He didn’t know that they stopped using bio degradable wires in 95 and he called a w129. Big nerd
Get a room
well said, we all sigma are all shady until passion kicks in.
@@Akilois1001gs “Biodegradable” is hyperbole or literal?
@@lebojay literal. they would degrade because nobody figured that the environment (hot cold wet dry) might start eating away at things.
"what the fuck is that fucking noise?!"
The life of a classic car owner
Actually you get used to new, strange noises pretty quickly xD
@@elt8rr Turn the radio up...!
Join in "where is that oil coming from?"
"Why the fuck will this damn bolt not come off!?"
😆👌
"Is this thing supposed to be like that or is it broken?"
He reads the forums on R129 hoods.
THAT ladies and gentlemen is why Chris Harris is a car-guy and not just a Top Gear lead presenter…
The last 30 seconds are perfect microism of owning old/classic cars. I love this thing so much to oh for fuck sake it’s fucking fallen off again. 😂😂
For me it's normally not a noise but a smell... sat in traffic or similar and you're just suddenly aware of that glycol smell of coolant, or something else and you're immediately thinking "sh!t.. I bet that's me.."
My last one was whiff of petrol not that uncommon. Then a cyclist went past in traffic said you know your leaking? Stuck my head out the door river of petrol…….. fuck fuck fuck. Happy wedding anniversary for my wife 😂
@@elliotsimpson1148 Do you also get that thing when you have either just acquired or done major work on your old car, that you have to build up the level of trust by doing shorter journeys before you commit to longer trips in it?
like my golf which died at the lights all the time and people thought i stalled it but it was an automatic
@@elliotsimpson1148 must be some diesel on the road.. oh no my fuel line just split 😬
It's great to see Chris enjoying all the things he's slagged off over the years. Looking forward to his glowing MX-5 review in the next decade.
😆
Yes
I think he actually likes (or at least doesn't hate) the ND MX-5 now. Greatest car in the world status confirmed.
If he’s selling it, of course he’ll give it a glowing review!
He reviewed one.
Having owned a r107 , r129, r230, r231 . I still have the r129, the rest have gone . I’ve just completed a 2700 mile drive through Europe to Tuscany and the the car did not miss a beat .
I had the r230 but the voltage regulator and alternator were past their best, resulting in overheating of the block resulting in Ringland failure resulting in major bills which cancelled my wedding. A tragic end to what had been an enjoyable ownership
Interesting.
I’ve owned Pagoda 280SL, R107 500SL , R129 in 280, 320 and 500 forms and now own a R230 SL350 which I bought about 3 years ago with only 29K miles on the clock and have since put 10K miles on driving it from the UK as far touring northern Spain, southern France and up as far as Sweden via Germany and Denmark. And, I currently driving around Germany in it again.
My experience ?
Pagoda = very pretty to look at….only. Awful driving experience.
R107 = also good looking, cramped with roof on (I’m 6’ 2”), not a very good drive either, thirsty for nothing 5.0L V8 because not very fast.
R129 = handsome, very likeable, solid build quality feel to everything. Marred by scuttle shake if the hardtop isn’t on. It’s not terrible or as bad as the preceding two….but it was definitely there in all three that I owned and I hated that. I actually like the facelift SL320 that I the most.
R230 = actually my favourite looking of all SLs, in my opinion! I know many won’t agree with me ! 😂 The price I paid for mine I could have bought a higher mileage R231 but I prefer the look of the R230. I feel no scuttle shake which is a big thing for me. The performance for me of the 350 has been easily “adequate” on this long touring type trips. I own quicker cars but for these trips I was a bit scared of the running costs of the 500. Particularly the potential cost of suspension repairs. Although, I’m sure the 500 is a much more competent car, I no longer have the means to own and drive a 5.0L V8!
Were you wearing your paper bag on your head driving through Europe
@@hudsonsigley947 I still feel some Brexit shame 😊
@@BEGGARWOOD1 I'm in Germany still in my R230.
I (foolishly) complied with the new regulations about having 'UK ' on your registration plate rather than 'GB'. The UK sticker I put on has a Union Jack on it which just makes it doubly embarrassing! 🤦🏽♂️
Thank you for a nice video. I have owned my r129 SL500 for 20 years and covered 307,000 miles. It has never failed me. It's still a fast car and it's great to drive a long way on real world roads.
Love this SL! The new one has nothing to do with its predecessors
It may be a sublime car in its own right but the real question is how much does THIS car have in common with its predecessors. What does 2000 kg curb weight have to do with Sport Leicht it stands for?
It would be amazing if you got your hands on a v12 one...
@@spavatch I believe sport leicht means “sport-lite” as in “sporty, but not a sports car”. Not literally light weight
@@that90sbenz it was discovered recently that SL originally meant “superleicht” and it was literal because the first SLs were race cars
@@diuco17 I love my V12 R129.......so smooth
I’m sitting here, in my R129, watching Chris Harris talk about his, and I love it. I agree 100%. Best purchase I’ve even made
These Sacco designs are the best. W140 and R129 are the pinnacle of "modern era" Mercedes. Just phenomenal quality.
And w202 w124
@@shawndon7374 ya similar design and great cars but does have that oopmh of those two cars
Well said can't forget about the designer
Sort of car you can't tell if the owner is a millionaire or running it on a shoe string and a prayer 👍
exactly, since a lot of really wealthy people still drive their 129SL' s due to its classy look and iconic status of being THE Mercedes of all time.
Love that
Check the paint and suspension state and you’ll know which they are
I have one, and I’m definitely not the first option
🤣
I currently own a 1999 SL500. I can honestly say the R129 is beautifully engineered and remarkably reliable. I’ve now owned my SL for 3 years and I only have 34k miles on it. It rides like a dream!
I too have a 1999 SL500 I’ve owned it for 4 years and currently have 202,000 miles and it’s an absolute dream to drive I often choose it over my Tesla’s even when gas is over 6 dollars a gallon.
Me too. 1997 SL500. I've owned it for 2 years now and absolutely delighted with it. 302k miles and still runs perfectly...
@@VegasShuffle
So fucking what mate.
I often choose to drive my sl700 rather than any of my superyachts, and yeah my sl700 I mean my sl800 sometimes lets in water but I actually prefer it to my helicopters because I can fly it to the actual moon and yeah I can get to the moon quicker in one of my rockets but the stereo isn’t as good.
I paid a shed load for low mileage sl600 that had been babied and kept in a heated humidity controlled garage for the last 30 years and it runs and drives sweet after I give it the annual main dealer full service. Like wow
@@herrfister1477 I take it you cant afford an SL then?
I remember my next door neighbour buying one of the very first 500SL, in a light gold, for his 75th birthday at a cost of @£75,000.
At the time the premium on these was huge and ads could be seen in Sunday Times for @ £120,000. The quality is exceptional. Great choice Chris.
It is quite remarkable that Chris can put so many miles on all his cars while having a job driving other cars as well.
Imagine the struggle 😎
Love a Harris Review. You sir are a legend...along with Mr Metcalfe.
Hello…I am from Greece and own the last 15 years a 1991 Mercedes R129 500 SL. It is amazing car and all time classic. The colour of it, is light blue with light grey interior. It is in a really good condition with 110000 miles. Whenever I go people looking at it and admire it. I love my SL.
We have a 92 what was called 500SL bought in September 2017 for £6500 and has now done 148K miles and still passes every MOT and drives like a dream with no reliability problems
The last seconds capture exactly what it feels like to drive any 90s German car.
If I recall from Chris's twitter he bought a really cheap 300? Probably wow-ed him enough to get a proper nice one. Impressive condition, this...eye-watering price.
MORE OF THESE PLEASE! Best Harris content by far!
Any 90s car to be honest
I have a 96 SL500 , 60,000 miles no rattles at all. Wife's new CLA has more .
I have an 86 300te. 481000km. Super reliable, easy to work on. Cheapish parts. Goes like stink. Wants to cruise at 80-100kph. Love it.
My 2010 Carrera had an annoying buzzing deep inside the dashboard and my 2009 Cayman had an annoying rattle at the back that even the Porsche centre could not find... 😞
When my pal got his new Almondine red 500 in 91 we drove from London to Brighton & it was one of the best days of my life
You have gone up in my estimation Chris! As a man who owns a one owner (father to son) 1991 500 SL on 99, 990 odd miles , that has never really given me any major issues at all, I have to agree with you that it is one of the best motors Mercedes have ever made. I think It is a much under rated vehicle which for long distance touring purposes is very hard to beat. It has a massive boot and the rear child seats and back rest can easily be removed to create loads more luggage space. I am lucky enough to also own an SL 400 R231 and although its a class apart in how it puts down its power and chassis stiffness, it really has very little over the 25 year older 500 and way less luggage space either in the boot or the cabin. It’s a tough call when we go away as to which one to take. One thing you should have mentioned is that it still has the full hard top for winter, which arguably makes it an even better looking car.
Bruno Sacco's design is timeless just like the 2001 W210 E55 I had and the 1989 W126 500 SEC all great looking and fast appreciating cars.
The R129 really is a special car - my personal favorite Mercedes-Benz. I love how you can have a hard top, a soft top, or no top. Just a great looking car too - interior, exterior. The roof hydraulics can definitely be a PITA as there are 11 or 12 cylinders and there's a roof module controlling the experience. But it's well documented now with folks like Top Hydraulics supporting rebuilds
So happy to start seeing more and more from Chris directly from this channel.
I've owned nearly every Model Benz since 1978: W116 450SE,W124 300E,3 x R230 SL55's, all black,all perfect, and not a problem with anything. AMG at Afallterbach derestricted my second (UK Sourced) car and it did 286kmh in 4th gear near Stuttgart and 340 in top.In OZ I have a C200 1.8L SC Wagon,220,000 and never looks like wearing out, a 2010 C63 I bought new, now 50,000kms and a 5.5 Litre 500SL R230 update,2008 with now over 170,000 kms,and nary a problem.Oh, and Always owned a 911, from 1971 2.2 911T,through to a 3.8Litre MANUAL 997 Carrera S. Love 'em all,but Chris the SL500 is SYBARITIC. We met after our respective drives in the Nurburgring 24 Hour,and enjoyed a drink or twelve at Ursula Schmitz' (Sabine's Mother) Pistenklause Bar....
I hear people joke about cars from the 80s & 90s a lot, but they were and are just better than the disposable crap being made now.
Absolutely.
I recently bought a 320 SL and discovered that it was much sweeter to drive than the more powerful 500 SL (having owned one till the engine detonated itself). The lower weight of the smaller engine makes it far more nimble and it gets better mileage. Still as solidly built as earlier Mercedes cars. Enjoy your car.
Agree totally, bought a new one in 93
Very impressive at the time
Still impressive today..
Agreed. I have the straight six 5 speed auto and it is absolutely fantastic.
Agreed. Having driven a 300sl 24v with the 5 speed manual I can confirm especially with the manual and lesser weight, the car is an absolute joy
Those engines never detonate "by themselves" :) You can also get the SL500 with the m113. I know that the w210 with the m113 V8 had better weight distribution than with the old 3.2 m104.
As a Merc tech all the straight sixes were better than the v engines early 129 with a 103 is the one for me
Oh man how I love this host and now even more because of this car. Chris harris is favorite all around car guy, drives properly and really loves cars🙌 its a pleasure watching this guy drive and talkin cars
I'm 30 now, and owning a nice convertable from the 90's early 00's era is my DREAM car. I loved watching them as a kid on the highway. I hope one day I'll be able to :)
I’ll never be a fan of top gear post Clarkson and co but Chris talking about cars on his own is something I really like.
Interesting enjoyable video, great to see you owning and enjoying some real world cars 👍
Just got my license right around the time of this car. The purple strosek SL was my dream car. Had a picture on my wall. Thing of beauty.
Really enjoyed watching this Chris! Always wanted one myself, ended up with a white 1996 SL500 I paid $3,800 for 3 years ago for highway miles getting to the airport. Have since put 13k miles on it and love it so much, I couldn’t help myself when I found a second green 1994 SL500 pre-facelift early last year for $2,200… incredible amount of car for the money and a great story behind it. And, replacing the rear muffler and resonator with pipe make that M119 sound outright exotic…
Chris is awesome! I love how he talks about the little details which we all notice but think no one else does!
Here's an idea that simply can't fail... Get Chris, maybe a couple of others who are equally geeky and well spoken on cars, give them a TV slot, possibly an hour, and have them review new and old cars alike... Sounds like something I would watch! 😉
I used to love to drive these back when I was a valet. Compared to the other cars out at the time, the SLs felt like they were carved out of granite. So solid, so sure-footed, just amazing.
Congratulations on your nostalgic purchase and new set of problems! Love videos like these! Cheers!
Always been a huge fan of the SL500 they’ve aged extremely well!
My 2001 looks and works like new, and it attracts a crowd. I did chrome the AMG staggered 18" wheels, which looks great with its all black color, and I lowered it slightly
With H&R springs and Billstein shocks. It looks fantastic, and has cost me very little to maintain. I bought it when it was 8 years old for a sixth of its initial price and it would sell for more than i paid, now 15 years later.
And the prices have just gone up
Thank you Chris and thank you Mercedes 😌
That is a beautiful convertible Chris. Good call & great video. Thank you & God bless.
now at 37 i'm starting to appreciate the early mercedes benz philosophy, it's about packaging, ergonomics, comfort, ease of use. i discounted them due to being poor driver's cars, but on the autobahn on a rainy evening when don't care about driving and just want to get home it will get you there in comfort with cruise control set to 200kph whilst listening to kraftwerk, there was nothing else for it until the late 90's bmw golden era, where cars like the e38 e39 and e46 were able to compete in that arena but also be superb driver's cars, but still in 50% of situations i'd rather be in a w220 s320 cdi with air ride and massage seats listening to fleetwood mack with tan leather driving gloves manning the rudder with cruise set to indicated 80mph at 50mpg.
I agree with everything u said, except the W220 part. That is by far the worst S class ever made and doest even deserve the Merc badge.
@@detonater1348 it was a great car. Just a pity about the air suspension
Yes yes YESSSS !!!! Soo happy you've done a video on this Chris & collecting cars ! Love the r129, total dream car for me 😍👍
I’d pat the steering wheel when the roof went up if that was mine. Awesome machine. Back in proper PH circa 2013 territory there Chris!
I have watched this video 5 times so far. Guess I am addicted to R129 😀, great video quality.
Best Chris Harris video in ages! Been waiting for this one
Thought I'd update. I finally got my SL500 and I absolutely LOVE it. I sometimes rewatch this because you state my feelings so well I could not have done better. Cheers!
IMHO, Sacco's finest design and Mercedes' engineers finest hour.
they were given unlimited time and budget
Enjoyed the review. Great to see your enthusiasm.
Have not seen Chris Harris for a while...he has been in a good paddock!!!
Love his reviews and especially the older German cars.
My man maths put me into a mk1 3.0 Z4 this summer.
Lovely, is that the m54 engine?
@@antiochiaadtaurum3786 Yes, 2003 model. It has not rained much this summer in Scotland so roof down and enjoying the sound of the engine and the scenery all the time.
Have mine fore 15 years still love it
I'd agree with everything he says. I'm on my second R129. They are truly special
What happened with the first one?
@@aabidamn my sons outgrew the back seats so I got an A124 for a. Couple of years. Now they have their own cars so I was able to go back to an R129
@@shaywhelan1 Should've sold the kids instead. I heard that they're very expensive to maintain.
The funny thing about all this mercedes quality is that an 80s East German Trabant 601 had a longer expected lifespan than the supposably indestructible 80s E-class mercs. It's not really relevant to this video but it's a fact that just makes me smile!
I refuse to pay for a TV license, but I’d happily pay a monthly cost to watch good content from Harris.
Loved this type of video!
Wasn't a big fan in Chris's early work, but absolutely love watching his content now. His reporting style is far more relaxed and natural nowadays.
Great video Chris!! This used to be my favourite Merc when i was young……yours still looks gorgeous !!
Great vid, and I particularly like the way you articulated the incredible level of thought and design consideration that went into the interior. The design of Mercedes of this era was at a whole different level. My parents got a new W124 230TE in 1989 and my overwhelming impression of that was how brilliant the interior was - comfortable, capacious, durable, good to look at, incredibly easy to use and everything worked perfectly until Mum sold it after seven years and 195,000 miles.
I feel like this shape SL was designed to go hand in hand with the S-Class W140. They came with the same wheel range, same dash board style along with clusters, same looking front seats in terms of leather and pattern. And both over engineered as you said. Great cars and probably a peak in its own class for both cars
I owned an 1995 SL500 in exactly the same color/interior configuration and with the optional ‘reisenrechner’. Fantastic cruiser and took it to the alps and Italy several times where it truly came into its element. Amazing piece of engineering the R120, as long as you keep a pot of money on the side for things that go wrong (and they will) Great video.
Anyone ever remember the film called DEATH BECOMES HER? That’s when I fell in love with the sl500 👌🏼😂
Loved mine, only 1 serious issue (ignition box + coils) in 4 years and got more than I paid when sold. Nothing since has felt as solid and properly thought out. Chuffed that Chris has one of these and loves it.
Owned a 1994 pre facelift one of these about 7 years now and apart from the roof and wiring loom(I've had no issues with mine) really not bad at all to run and repair , most parts are relatively cheap other than body panels , a wheel bearing is £20 for instance and a really good 2nd hand market for parts aswell, undervalued at the moment and highly recommended.
Awesome car. Those were current when I got my license in the 90’s, and my dad worked for Benz in NJ (still does). Fell in love from the start.
Finally got the SL600. Drove it through light snow and heavy cross winds, with 285 cross section rear tires; steady as a rock!
The R129 is a fantastic bit of kit but you cannot deny the R107s presence
The R107 doesn't have the same great proportions as the R129, nor has it aged as well as this or the Pagoda.
@@ahemgee9542 I agree that it's not as good looking but the 107 is just classy & was the last of the properly engineered Mercs
@@Suprahampton disagree, the W124, R129 and W140 are much better engineered than the R107, ( wiring loom issues on 92-95 taken into account) . 107s did not have much new technology even for the time and tend to rust much more as well.
Spot on.
A boss of mine about 10 years ago who was a car nut bought one of these .. but i think it was a 350 rather than a 500 as he couldnt find a good one. He loved it said the nose lifted like a boat when you got on the throttle and it made him smile ear to ear every time.
I had a mk2f polo breadvan at the time that i had restored and he always complimented on its design. Great era for cars, congrats on your purchase!
I bought a '97 R129 SL600 2 years ago with 60k miles and couldn't be happier with it. It is the same color that Chris has in the video (i think) Black Opal. It looks green during the day, has some purple come through at dusk, and black at night. The V12 SINGS after I straight-piped it and is quiet as can be low in the revs. Despite the value on this beast rising all of the sudden, I enjoy it far too much and couldn't imagine parting with it.
This is video is Chris Harris gold!
Thank you.
Thank you for this Chris.
You legend, Ive always wanted one of these because, much like yourself, I find losing money through depreciation something quite stupid. I just haven't convinced myself yet to get one of these..
8:35 The wiper on these is so powerful it makes the car rock. The exceptionally deep gutter on the side of the windshield ensures all the water flicked into it by the mono blade goes onto the roof. And then, incredibly, the canvas roof is sculpted to drive the water over the top of the roof and not onto the side windows. For safety. Astonishing car.
Great video, thanks Chris 👍
Was watching this video just after driving my new 500SL 1989 home. Bought from the first owner and my driveway goals have been achieved. I love the idea of looking like I just won the lottery 30 years ago. So driveway no has a 964 and 500SL and old Range Rover
I love mine too … 1990 300sl. Solid and gorgeous blue color.
Keeping the dream alive.
Great video Chris. I’ve fallen in love with 90s Mercedes and it’s all I’ve driven ever since I learned to drive. The “cliched” bits like the over engineering are what make these cars still appealing to me, 20 something years later.
Great color combo on yours
I bought one in 2007, 11 year old at the time, still drive it and love it
On R129's only 93 > 95 MY was affected by biodegradable harness. Only gen1 cars with the Bosch HFM injection had those harness fitted. You're safe with your 96 facelift.
thanks for that.
Brilliant Chris….full geek and proud 👍 Keep them coming…. (Love the bloopers) 🤣
Absolutely love this Chris. I can relate to every part, especially the end. haha
Lovely car. I bought a 91 500SL just before COVID. Happily completed a 1,800 mile roadtrip in France last week. They're wonderful cars to drive and great value
Oh, that was funny! A calm and collected review of a wonderful piece of German engineering, a bit of a talk about how much of a nerd he is and a demonstration of the auto roof. End it on a beautiful shot of the car driving down the road.
And then him swearing at an unknown rattle. That was bloody hilarious! Well done. Also, please do a video like this on Chris Harris' M5 CS.
These are the most gangster Mercedes ever made. THey always make me think of 90's era rap videos.
Thanks Chris for another fine review, i am fortunate to drive an R129 SL600 V12 Sport amg black on black, you are welcome to drive it if you fancy Southern California driving along State Route 1.
Always enjoyed the styling. Definitely feel old myself been watching Chris Harris when he still had his hair. This is why he's one of the top automotive journalist. Great taste as always Chris, too bad these are a pain to smog in my neck of the woods.
I liked the bonnet-outside-towards-driver action camera angle!!
Thank you for the video. Quality, as always.
I agree with that 'man-maths'. I did the same myself and ended up with a convertible as well.
I've owned a 96 SL 500 like Chris' since 2016 and these 9 minutes were like listening to myself talking in the mirror. Chris has absolutely nailed it why you want one of these. The sequence of listening to all the clunks and bangs of the roof opening and closing... all that's missing is "Greaaaat success" in your best Borat voice every time it completes the sequence.
Owned one of these years ago - brilliant cars although extremely complex...great video
the final 30 second meltdown made a great video fantastic
Im in love with this generation of SL, timeless beauty
Thanks for the video, Chris. I bought one very similar a couple of years ago for the dog (allegedly). It was a massive change from my old Cayman (no room for dog) but I love it just as much for different reasons. We are in France right now and having the nicest time wafting about but always knowing when you want to get a move on there’s that magnificent 5 litre V8 to call on. I feel old, too but old enough not to care!
I've been looking at these Chris...now you just screwed those dreams! Keep up the great content.
Great video, as always. Favourite bit: Dog at 8mins 47secs.
These look lovely when they've got their hard top fitted as well.
More of Chris Harris PLZ 🙏🏼👍🏼
Friend of my dads got the 300SL version in about 1990 (when I was 9 going on 10) in burgundy over burgundy leather and although clearly not as quick as the 500 my god did it turn heads and look like nothing else on the road. He took us for a spin - made an impression on me that's never left and probably a big part of why I love cars. I remember him pulling away at a roundabout and seeing a bloke who gave-way to him just mouthing the word 'WOW' through his window.
Glad to see Chris Harris again, really miss the content they did for Drive TV.
Laughed so hard I had a coughing fit at the final few seconds. Very relatable "what the f is that f'in noise" when driving an old car.
Cheers for the video mate 😎 👌
Having owned several, I can honestly say the R129 really is a fabulous car. The only downside is that it is a two person job to remove the hard top and then you need the facilities to store it so it won't get damaged. That won't suit everyone, and if it is a problem, then the R230's folding hardtop offers the prefect solution.
the R230 is so over hated, I know it's not as well built or pretty as the 129 but it seems (at least on the internet) you can't love both
Have you seen the video on UA-cam of how to do it by yourself :D its incredible!
There are ceiling-mounted pulley systems for one-person roof removal available. I have one in my garage for my SL
@@rodgerk. i made my own hoist frame from oak and electric wince which works a treat
True!