R129 V8 vs V12 | 1998 Mercedes-Benz SL 600 & 2001 SL 500 Full Tour, Review, & Comparison

The Mercedes-Benz SL-Class roadster is the brand's flagship two seater, and we've got two top models to drive. We're behind the wheels of the 2001 Mercedes-Benz SL 500, and the 1998 Mercedes-Benz SL 600.

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Chapter Selection
00:00 Introduction
02:31 AMG R129 Production
05:02 Driving Segment - SL 500 V8
11:49 Driving Segment - SL 600 V12
18:30 Buyer's Guide & Common Problems
21:36 Credits & Copyright

Hot off our epic move from Québec to Ontario, we're behind the wheel of not one, but two incredible classic Mercedes vehicles. This is a special episode for us for a lot of reasons, as it's the first video with Nile since moving to Ontario, but also we're driving an SL-Class roadster after many years, and we're doing a semi Showdown on two engines, the V8 and V12 available on this R129. Join us as we explore these two low-mileage SL roadsters, without any modifications done to either one.

First up we have the newer, but more attainable 2001 Mercedes-Benz SL 500, using the legendary M113 5.0L V8 engine producing 302 horsepower, and 339 lb-ft of torque. This second facelift R129 is finished in silver paint on black nappa leather, along with AMG sport rims. With an MSRP around $85,000 new, this vehicle still commands a high resale price, with available examples in Canada listed between $25 - 40k CAD. This SL 500 has no aftermarket upgrades and comes as pure as it gets.

Our second roadster today is the 1998 Mercedes-Benz SL 600, sporting the M120 6.0L V12 engine we first drove years ago in the 1997 Mercedes-Benz S 600 sedan. This time around our test vehicle is completely stock, giving us a unique opportunity to see how this car was when it was new almost 25 years ago. As we have both vehicles together we're able to compare how the two different facelift models differ, along with some of the tech found on the SL 600 that was optional or unavailable on lower models. We also spend some time talking about the rare AMG R129 offerings.

We then start off our road test segments with the V8-powered SL 500, discussing how the final year of production for this generation feels on the road, along with some of the updates it got as a facelift. We cruise around Mississauga talking about how this car feels as a daily driver and some of the reasons you'd want to be considering this over the other engines available, along with other versions of the SL-Class. We talk about how the facelift compares to the pre-facelift 1998, and how the interior feels overall.

We then hop into the 1998 Mercedes-Benz SL 600 and its V12 to see how it compares back to back, including the overall interior feel and comfort. Seating is slightly different between them, along with the SL 600 being optioned with the panoramic hardtop. We discuss how the V12 performs on the road and a bit about the performance, along with some of the reasons why an engine like this is sought after. The current list prices for a V12-powered SL R129 are about double that of the V8, with plenty of reasons why.

We wrap up this episode by going over the common problems and potential issues that are found on the R129 SL roadster, including reasons to avoid some of the earlier years of productions, and why the V8 and V12 are the engines to go with. We also discuss some of the issues with the automatic opening roof and how to prevent motor failure, along with some things to note when searching for one of these cars.

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