Cars / Mercedes-Benz / SL-Class SL500Live

✦ Shifty Estimate

$20,100

▲ 27.4% · 12 mo

High confidence$8K to $26K

12 months median: $17K
Sales, 12 months: 136

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1989 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class SL500

1989 to 2001 · Convertible

Price history

Sold Bid, not sold

127 sales · 11 unsoldmedian $17kupdated Sep 2026

Recent sales

Most recent 250 sales

Specifications

Engine: V8, 5.0L
Power: 322 hp
Torque: 354 lb-ft
0 to 60: 6.1s
Top speed: 155 mph
Transmission: Automatic
Drivetrain: RWD

Common questions

How much does a Mercedes-Benz SL-Class SL500 cost?

Over the past 12 months, 136 have sold publicly at a median of $17,250. The Shifty Estimate for a well-kept example is $20,100. Cars have changed hands anywhere from $8,078 to $25,925, depending on mileage, color, and history.

What is a 1989 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class SL500 worth today?

The Shifty Estimate is $20,100, up 27.4% over the past 12 months. That sits above the $17,250 median of actual sales because the median counts every car that sold, including high-mileage examples, while the estimate describes a clean, low-mileage one bought today. Confidence is high: 136 public sales in a year gives a firm read.

What has a Mercedes-Benz SL-Class SL500 sold for at auction?

The 3 most recent public sales we have on file:

$30,500Sep 1, 2026Designo Diamond Black Metallic · 34,000 mi
$15,250Sep 1, 2026Glacier White · 63,000 mi
$9,500Aug 31, 2026Brilliant Silver Metallic (744) · 79,000 mi

The R129 SL500 represents Mercedes-Benz at its most confident, bridging the gap between the classic Pagoda and modern luxury. Launched in 1989, this generation introduced the revolutionary pop-up roll hoops and pioneering ASR traction control, setting new safety standards for convertibles. The 5.0-liter V8 delivered 322 horsepower through a buttery-smooth 4-speed automatic, providing effortless autobahn cruising with genuine sports car capability. Bruno Sacco's timeless design aged gracefully over its 12-year run, with later models receiving the improved 5-speed transmission and refined interior appointments. Production exceeded 200,000 units, making clean examples accessible while exceptional low-mileage cars command premium prices. The SL500 remains the sweet spot of the R129 lineup—more reliable than the V12 SL600, more characterful than the six-cylinder variants. Today's collectors appreciate its blend of '90s Mercedes build quality, analog driving experience, and modern conveniences that make it genuinely usable.

More Mercedes-Benz in the market

2002 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class$27K 1988 Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.5-16$26K 2007 Mercedes-Benz S-Class$19K 1992 Mercedes-Benz S-Class Coupe$19K 2003 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class SL500$15K 1972 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class 450SL$11K