SOLD 1991 500SL RENNtech 6.0L, Black/Black, 75kmi, $14k - Ran when parked (Franklin Park, IL)

[gsxr]

UPDATE 1: Price has gone from mid-teens up to $20k, then slid back down to $14k / OBO.

UPDATE 2: Sold via Copart auction for ~$3k without the RENNtech wheels, see post #6-7 below.


No affiliation. Seller initially listed for $17k (IIRC) but has since increase the ask to $20k after verifying the engine is indeed a 6L. Autocheck indicates the car has likely been parked for 2 decades. Looks more like 275kmi, lol. No, you cannot put this CIS .960 engine into a 500E - search the forum, this has been discussed in the past.




VIN = WDBFA66E8MF015764

Datacard: https://www.lastvin.com/vin/az1nGEyRm7J2xv67l

https://www.ebay.com/itm/197270574328 <-- Listing "sold" May 6, 2025. $20k / OBO.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/197270574328 <-- Listing ended early May 9, 2025. $15k / OBO.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/197270574328 <-- Listing ended May 30, 2025. $14k / OBO.


Seller: https://www.ebay.com/sch/pat-313080/m.html


For Sale: 1991 Mercedes-Benz 500SL AMG, Renntech, OZ Fortuna rims– Classic, Restorable, Project Car
After talking with many interested parties. I have come to the conclusion it os a actual 6.0 l engine
All information is in this listing including the vin number.

Looking for a project car with great potential? This 1991 Mercedes-Benz 500SL, equipped with rare AMG Renntech rims, offers a solid foundation for restoration. It was running and driving just a year ago but has since been parked due to a failing starter. While it’s been inactive for a year, the car boasts several important upgrades and is a worthy investment for any enthusiast or collector.

Key Features:

Engine: 6.0L V8 engine, previously running and driving.​

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Upgrades: New injectors (3 years ago), injector boots, plugs, and wires. Several vacuum tubes replaced for better performance.​

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Rims: Rare AMG Renntech OZ Fortuna rims in good condition, adding a classic touch to the car’s appearance.​

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Condition: The car has sun fading and would benefit from a fresh respray. The interior is in good shape but does show some signs of age.​

What Needs Attention:

Starter: The car was last running with a failing starter, so it will need attention in that area.​

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Cosmetic: As mentioned, it has some sun fading and will need a respray to restore its original luster.​

This is a fantastic opportunity for someone looking to restore a classic or add a unique piece to their collection. Priced to sell, but offers are welcome.

 

[uplevelauto]

Hey, I ended up buying this basket case off CoPart last week. Do you have any details on how the engine was confirmed to be a 6.0? Did someone from the 500e board talk to this seller at some point? Just curious.

 

[gsxr]

Yep, seller took this video:

 

[uplevelauto]

This is such a bizarre car. It's a 91 but wasn't registered until 1995 to its first owner. It was fitted at some point with handicap driving equipment. It supposedly has a Renntech 6.0 but no paperwork, and who knows where the engine came from because the car just has SL60 and renntech badges sloppily applied to the trunk lid by an owner. It lived in Cali? Vegas and Florida before being registered in Franklin Park, IL where the seller tried to get crazy money for it despite it being in rough shape, no paperwork and didn't run. This video is from a MB specialist in Georgia. The datacard shows it left the assembly with with engine serial xxx777 but the picture of the engine in the car is 5 units earlier xxx772. When it showed up here, after checking the oil I tried to start it but it sounded weird when cranking. I looked under the hood and saw driver's side two middle spark plugs are removed and wires just dangling nearby. No idea what's going on. If you didn't know any better, the whole thing looks like a scam with all the Renntech and AMG badges, the white face gauges, garbage aftermarket radio and subs in the storage compartments.

 

[uplevelauto]

Update: spoke to the Mercedes guy in Georgia, he has the video on Youtube but the owner of the car in Franklin Park, IL was the one who actually recorded the video. That clears up that confusion. Georgia guy was initially an interested party but changed his mind. I'll get some new plugs in it later today and crank it again with a fresh battery to see what it sounds like. It rotates fine by hand.

 

[gsxr]

The stroke checks out as correct for a 6L engine, so it is almost certainly a real 6.0L motor. Getting a CIS engine running properly will be a challenge unless you are a CIS expert. I'd start by pulling all the plugs and doing a cold compression test to verify there are no major issues. Once you get it running, repeat the compression test at operating temp.

If this engine has the RENNtech camshafts, you CAN NOT check cam timing with "pins" like the factory cams. RENNtech 6L M119 cams have slotted sprockets that must be adjusted manually for all 4 cams with a dial gauge on a lifter. Very tedious to measure, even more tedious to adjust the intake cams, as the adjuster mechanism must be disassembled / reassembled with EACH adjustment. Not fun. You'll need to check cam timing on all 4 cams. If you aren't sure what the cams are, measure the lobe height vs base circle and subtract the 2 measurements. If lift is 10mm or higher, those are RENNtech cams.

If you got this for under $3k with fees, that was a steal!

 

[uplevelauto]

I'm going to be real surprised if the engine is actually okay and not damaged, but there's so many strange things with this car it could go either way. My heart sank at first when I saw the two driver's side spark plugs removed thinking that someone was investigating an engine issue, but it turns out the guy did that to do the stroke measurement for the video. For some strange reason he didn't reinstall the plugs, and then I have NO idea how it made it to CoPart. Was it left at a shop somewhere and towed to an impound yard? Why would you get confirmation it's a 6.0 and then abandon the whole thing?

And yea with fees it was something like $3048. The CIS distributor looks like it was recently rebuilt, new plug wires, new coils. That's about all I know so far. I thought from the auction photos it had a Renntech/Sebring muffler but of course it shows up and it's just the tips with a straight pipe. Cats are still there but no muffler.

I appreciate the info on how to further investigate the engine! I don't know much about m119s so it's all super helpful!

 

[gsxr]

If you are new to M119's... you'll need the factory service manual (click here). There are 3 different variants, the M119.960 with CIS is a "tall deck" block and is substantially different from the later "short deck" engines with EFI (either LH or ME 1.0). Make sure when reading the FSM docs you look for the .960-specific data and procedures. They are stout engines so there's a decent chance it has no damage, and can be resurrected, but you'll need to investigate further.

 

[R129 UK]

I would buy this car for the price you paid in a heartbeat...

I hope it is what you think it is and you can get it running and back to it's former glory.

Good luck!!

 

[DLL]

Good Luck! Following with interest!
(I have a 91 500SL with CIS that I just Love, and so does my wife!)

 

[TimL]

Love that color combo! Please let me know if you are thinking about selling this car down the road

 

[uplevelauto]

This is likely going to be a part out. It has a solid enough body but it's so rough. It would need everything everywhere. I'm going to see if I can get the engine running and go from there.

 

[WDB748372]

This is likely going to be a part out. It has a solid enough body but it's so rough. It would need everything everywhere. I'm going to see if I can get the engine running and go from there.

I'm sure you could sell it for more than what it has cost you and move on but I think it's worth re-considering if you're into these cars. The CIS 6.0L sounds/feels like a great motor from what I've read online. A bit of DIY work and forum research can go a long way in my opinion to bring this car back to decent shape (being a bit optimistic here assuming nothing major is wrong). Since you were getting new plugs, I would inspect the cylinders with a borescope if you have one and measure the stroke while you're in there. Check the condition/level of the oil and replace with something cheap if needed before starting. Wouldn't be a bad idea to remove valve covers and oil pan at some point. I suppose can't hurt if you're selling it either. Potential buyers might gain some confidence knowing the condition and that you don't have the time to deal with a project like this or whatever the case may be.

I'm in the middle of a similar situation, although paid quite a bit more to get my M119 ME 6.0L and the condition is way worse than your SL. It sat outside for 6+ years or so and needs everything, and I mean everything. It’s taken lots of time, money, and patience (I’m doing the labor) but if you like working on cars and that chassis/engine then it's worth considering. If your goal is to get in a R129 6.0L then it'll be easier to just buy one.

 

[uplevelauto]

There's two issues with the car: first is that it's not an original Renntech car to my knowledge. Or, what I mean is, it seems like someone swapped in a 6.0 at some point. The trunklid has "SL60" on it which is just crudely slapped over the faint outline of the original 500SL logo, and then a Renntech badge that was scraped off. There's Sebring tips welded on to straight pipes, eBay AMG badges all over the place etc. The second issue is, if R129s were really hard to come by, then yeah it might be worth saving. But although I love R129s and agree they are underrated and future collectibles, there's so many nicer units out there. This car does not have enough of a provenance to spend $15k restoring it with new paint, wheels, all the wear items, seats, plastics etc etc.
I can reach out to Renntech to see if they are willing to tell me anything about the engine number or the VIN of this car but it would be better off as a parts car and a good donor 6.0 for someone else's project.

 

[gsxr]

There's two issues with the car: first is that it's not an original Renntech car to my knowledge. Or, what I mean is, it seems like someone swapped in a 6.0 at some point. The trunklid has "SL60" on it which is just crudely slapped over the faint outline of the original 500SL logo, and then a Renntech badge that was scraped off. There's Sebring tips welded on to straight pipes, eBay AMG badges all over the place etc. The second issue is, if R129s were really hard to come by, then yeah it might be worth saving. But although I love R129s and agree they are underrated and future collectibles, there's so many nicer units out there. This car does not have enough of a provenance to spend $15k restoring it with new paint, wheels, all the wear items, seats, plastics etc etc.
I can reach out to Renntech to see if they are willing to tell me anything about the engine number or the VIN of this car but it would be better off as a parts car and a good donor 6.0 for someone else's project.

RENNtech has almost zero records on their builds from the 90's and 00's and, IIRC, needs to know the original owner's name to look up anything. But, it's worth a phone call. This could be a legit, original RENNtech build that was mangled over the years. The car spent 4 years in Floriduh between 1998-2002 which is where RENNtech is located.

I agree though, if the rest of the car is rough, the main value is the engine and matching ECU. Swap that into a nicer 129.066 chassis (recipient must also be a CIS car).

 

[uplevelauto]

RENNtech has almost zero records on their builds from the 90's and 00's and, IIRC, needs to know the original owner's name to look up anything. But, it's worth a phone call. This could be a legit, original RENNtech build that was mangled over the years. The car spent 4 years in Floriduh between 1998-2002 which is where RENNtech is located.

I agree though, if the rest of the car is rough, the main value is the engine and matching ECU. Swap that into a nicer 129.066 chassis (recipient must also be a CIS car).

Would the ECU have any sort of indication that it was modified?

 

[gsxr]

Would the ECU have any sort of indication that it was modified?

Maybe, maybe not. I know some 500E RENNtech builds had NO markings or labels whatsoever on the ECU. Others did have handwriting and/or labels.

Not sure what RENNtech did to the CIS setups, or how to tell if it's modified ECU vs stock. I only know the EFI stuff, not CIS.

 

[GRAEME JOHNSON]

As its CIS I think a US based 126board member should buy the engine and do the mother of all
how to guides showing an out of car re seal and refresh then the definate guide to fitting a M119
in to a C126 !
Graeme Johnson

 

[uplevelauto]

I agree with that!