Mercedes-Benz SL-Class Roadster · 4th generation SL

R129

Sportlich. Leicht. Perfected.

Production
1989–2002
Built
213,089
Body
2-door roadster
Top power
525 PS
Mercedes-Benz SL-Class Roadster (R129)

Unveiled at the 1989 Geneva Motor Show, the R129 replaced the long-running R107 with a clean-sheet roadster shaped under Bruno Sacco. Its wedge profile, flush glazing and integrated hard tonneau made every contemporary rival look a generation older overnight.

Beneath the styling sat engineering theatre: an automatic roll bar that deployed in 0.3 seconds when sensors detected an imminent overturn, electrically adjustable seats with integrated belts, and adaptive damping on the flagship models.

Over thirteen years Mercedes-Benz built 213,089 examples, spanning everything from the six-cylinder 300 SL to the 7.3-liter V12 SL 73 AMG — the largest engine fitted to a production Mercedes-Benz of its era.

R129 interior
Electrically adjustable seats with integrated belts and a driver-focused cockpit.

Every model.

23 distinct series across 1990–2002 — from the six-cylinder 300 SL to the 7.3-liter SL 73 AMG, each identified by its chassis, engine and transmission numbers.

ModelLata modeloweZbudowanoPodwozieSilnikSkrzynia biegówUSAInneRazem
300 SL1990–199303.1989–06.1993129.060103.984717.434 · 722.363312,01712,020
300 SL-241990–199303.1989–06.1993129.061104.981717.451 · 722.352 · 722.5008,76818,21626,984
SL 2801994–199507.1993–08.1995129.058104.943717.444 · 722.437 · 722.506010,31910,319
SL 2801996–199809.1995–06.1998129.058104.943717.444 · 722.604uwzględnione powyżej
SL 2801999–200206.1998–06.2001129.059112.923717.465 · 722.60601,7041,704
SL 3201994–199506.1993–08.1995129.063104.991722.5078,64823,57532,223
SL 3201996–199809.1995–06.1998129.063104.991722.605uwzględnione powyżej
SL 3201999–200206.1998–07.2001129.064112.943722.60707,0707,070
500 SL1990–199203.1989–08.1992129.066119.960722.35338,31041,51779,827
500 SL199309.1992–1993129.067119.972722.364uwzględnione powyżej
SL 5001994–19951994–08.1995129.067119.972722.364uwzględnione powyżej
SL 5001996–199809.1995–06.1998129.067119.982722.620uwzględnione powyżej
SL 5001999–200206.1998–07.2001129.068113.961722.62420,4423,19723,639
SL 60 AMG1994–199509.1993–12.1995129.067119.E60722.3640164164
SL 60 AMG1996–199804.1996–05.1998129.067119.E60722.6200469469
SL 55 AMG1999–20021999–2002129.068113.985722.62406565
600 SL199307.1992–1993129.076120.981722.3625,7365,11810,854
SL 6001994–19951994–08.1995129.076120.981722.362uwzględnione powyżej
SL 6001996–199809.1995–06.1998129.076120.983722.621uwzględnione powyżej
SL 6001999–200206.1998–05.2001129.076120.983722.621uwzględnione powyżej
SL 73 AMG19961996–1996129.076120.E73722.62104343
SL 70 AMG1997–19981997–1998129.076120.E70722.6210150150
SL 73 AMG1999–20021999–2002129.076120.990722.62104242

* Opublikowana liczba produkcji obejmuje każdą serię tego modelu; źródło nie rozbija jej dalej.

717.4x 5-speed manual722.3x 4-speed hydraulic automatic722.4x 4-speed automatic722.5x 5-speed automatic722.6x 5-speed electronic automatic
R129 side profile
Bruno Sacco's wedge profile, unchanged in essence for thirteen years.

Year by year.

Mercedes-Benz refined the R129 continuously. These are the changes that matter when you are buying, restoring — or just winning arguments.

  1. 1989
    • The 300 SL, 300 SL-24 and 500 SL debuted at the Geneva motor show.
    • An electrohydraulic soft top folded beneath a flush metal cover.
    • The sensor-triggered rollover bar deployed automatically when an overturn was imminent.
    • The front seat frames carried the shoulder belts and belt-height adjustment.
  2. 1992
    • The 600 SL joined in October with the 6.0-litre M120 V12.
  3. 1993
    • The range adopted SL-prefix names, turning the 500 SL into the SL 500.
    • The M104-powered SL 280 replaced the two-valve 300 SL.
    • The M104-powered SL 320 replaced the 300 SL-24.
    • The SL 60 AMG joined with a 6.0-litre M119 V8.
  4. 1995
    • The September facelift added body-colour bumpers and side skirts.
    • The facelift grille used six slats instead of seven.
    • Clear front indicators became a visual dating cue.
    • Bichromatic red tail lamps became a visual dating cue.
    • Twelve-hole alloy wheels became standard.
    • A panoramic glass hardtop became optional.
    • The SL 500 and SL 600 adopted the electronically controlled five-speed 722.6 automatic.
    • ESP became optional on the SL 500 and standard on the SL 600.
    • Xenon low-beam headlamps became optional.
  5. 1996
    • The electronic five-speed automatic became standard on the SL 320 and optional on the SL 280 in June.
    • Brake Assist became standard across the range in December.
    • ESP became optional on six-cylinder cars fitted with the electronic automatic.
  6. 1998
    • M112 V6 engines replaced the M104 inline-sixes in the SL 280 and SL 320.
    • The M113 V8 replaced the M119 in the SL 500.
    • Rounded SLK-style exterior mirrors identified the second facelift.
    • Body-colour door handles replaced black handles.
    • Three-rib monochromatic tail lamps replaced the earlier stepped lenses.
    • Five-hole 17-inch alloy wheels became standard.
    • The SL 60 AMG ended production in June.
  7. 1999
    • The SL 55 AMG joined with a 5.4-litre M113 V8.
    • The SL 73 AMG joined with a 7.3-litre M120 V12.
    • ESP became standard on the SL 280 and SL 320 in August.
  8. 2000
    • The 708-car Edition special series was offered as the SL 320 and SL 500.
  9. 2001
    • R129 production ended at Bremen in July after 204,940 roadsters.
R129 rear three-quarter view
The classic square stepped tail lights — replaced by curved-face units for model year 1999.

From straight-six to 7.3-liter V12.

Six engine families powered the R129. The M120-based SL 73 AMG's 7,291 cc V12 remains the largest engine AMG ever put into a road car.

M103

I6
  • 103.984 3.0 L · 2,960 cc

    190 PS

    140 kW · 188 KM przy 5,700 obr./min

    260 N·m

    192 lb·ft przy 4,400 obr./min

M104

I6
  • 104.981 3.0 L · 2,960 cc

    231 PS

    170 kW · 228 KM przy 6,300 obr./min

    272 N·m

    201 lb·ft przy 4,600 obr./min

  • 104.943 2.8 L · 2,799 cc

    193 PS

    142 kW · 190 KM przy 5,500 obr./min

    270 N·m

    199 lb·ft przy 3,750 obr./min

  • 104.991 3.2 L · 3,199 cc

    231 PS

    170 kW · 228 KM przy 5,600 obr./min

    315 N·m

    232 lb·ft przy 3,750 obr./min

M112

V6
  • 112.923 2.8 L · 2,799 cc

    204 PS

    150 kW · 201 KM przy 5,700 obr./min

    270 N·m

    199 lb·ft przy 3,000 obr./min

  • 112.943 3.2 L · 3,199 cc

    224 PS

    165 kW · 221 KM przy 5,600 obr./min

    315 N·m

    232 lb·ft przy 3,000 obr./min

M119

V8
  • 119.960 5.0 L · 4,973 cc

    326 PS

    240 kW · 322 KM przy 5,500 obr./min

    450 N·m

    332 lb·ft przy 4,000 obr./min

  • 119.972 5.0 L · 4,973 cc

    320 PS

    235 kW · 315 KM przy 5,600 obr./min

    470 N·m

    347 lb·ft przy 3,900 obr./min

  • 119.E60 6.0 L · 5,956 cc

    381 PS

    280 kW · 375 KM przy 5,500 obr./min

    580 N·m

    428 lb·ft przy 3,750 obr./min

M113

V8
  • 113.961 5.0 L · 4,966 cc

    306 PS

    225 kW · 302 KM przy 5,600 obr./min

    460 N·m

    339 lb·ft przy 4,250 obr./min

  • 113.985 5.4 L · 5,439 cc

    354 PS

    260 kW · 349 KM przy 5,500 obr./min

    530 N·m

    391 lb·ft przy 3,000 obr./min

M120

V12
  • 120.981 6.0 L · 5,987 cc

    394 PS

    290 kW · 389 KM przy 5,200 obr./min

    570 N·m

    420 lb·ft przy 3,800 obr./min

  • 120.983 6.0 L · 5,987 cc

    394 PS

    290 kW · 389 KM przy 5,200 obr./min

    570 N·m

    420 lb·ft przy 3,800 obr./min

  • 120.990 7.3 L · 7,291 cc

    525 PS

    386 kW · 518 KM przy 5,500 obr./min

    750 N·m

    553 lb·ft przy 4,000 obr./min

Factory wheels.

Every original wheel offered for the R129, from the 16″ Alamak to the 18″ AMG styles — with sizes, tires and genuine part numbers.

Alamak

8-hole wheel

16″

  • 8 J x 16 ET 34 · 225/55 R 16

    B6 647 0016

    Standard silver finish; not for SL 600; vehicles without ESP only

Monkar

12-hole wheel

16″

  • 8 J x 16 ET 34 · 225/55 R 16

    B6 647 0095

    High-sheen rim flange; not for SL 600; vehicles without ESP only

Albali

5-hole wheel

17″

  • 8.25 J x 17 ET 34 · 245/45 R 17

    B6 647 0541

    High-sheen rim flange; for models up to 06/98: FA 235/45; with 245/45 R17 some modification may be required

Ceginus

EVO II wheel

17″

  • 8.25 J x 17 ET 34 · 245/45 R 17

    B6 647 0061

    Sterling silver finish; for models through 06/98: FA 235/45; with 245/45 R17 some modification may be required

  • 8.25 J x 17 ET 34 · 245/45 R 17

    B6 647 0084

    High-sheen finish; not compatible with snow chains

Sador

5-spoke wheel

17″

  • 8.25 J x 17 ET 34 · 245/45 R 17

    B6 647 0542

    High-sheen finish; for models up to 06/98: FA 235/45; with 245/45 R17 some modification may be required

Albireo

6-hole wheel, multi-piece

18″

  • 8.5 J x 18 ET 25 · 245/40 R 18

    B6 647 1761

    Sterling silver finish; with stainless steel scuff guard; modification of bodywork necessary

  • 9.5 J x 18 ET 23 · RA 275/35 R 18

    B6 647 1762

    Sterling silver finish; with stainless steel scuff guard; modification of bodywork necessary; not compatible with snow chains

Style I (multi-piece)

AMG spoke wheel, multi-piece

18″

  • 8.5 J x 18 ET 25 · 245/40 R 18

    B6 603 1003

    High-sheen rim flange; for models through 06/98 only; modification of bodywork necessary

  • 10 J x 18 ET 25 · RA 275/35 R 18

    B6 603 1004

    High-sheen rim flange; modification of bodywork necessary

Style I

AMG spoke wheel

18″

  • 8.5 J x 18 ET 25 · 245/40 R 18

    B6 603 1008

    High-sheen rim flange; modification of bodywork necessary

  • 9.5 J x 18 ET 23 · RA 275/35 R 18

    B6 603 1009

    High-sheen rim flange; modification of bodywork necessary

Style II

AMG disc wheel

18″

  • 8 J x 18 ET 31 · 245/40 R 18

    B6 603 1007

    High-sheen rim flange; for models through 06/98 only

  • 9 J x 18 ET 35 · RA 275/35 R 18

    B6 603 1001

    High-sheen rim flange; for models through 06/98 only