FOR SALE 1993 500E, Silver/Gray, 193kmi, $39k (Costa Mesa, CA)

[gerryvz]

ADMIN EDIT 1: BaT sale apparently fell through, car is for sale again Aug-2019, see post #12. Thread title updated.

ADMIN EDIT 2: For sale by new owner July 2025 on C&B, see post #34. Sold for ~$30k with fees.

ADMIN EDIT 3: For sale by flipper/dealer October 2025 after 2 months / 1kmi, see post #39.


1993 500E, Silver/Gray, 171kmi, $23k (Fair Oaks/Sacramento, CA)

VIN = WDBEA36E3PB912125


Car was just listed on BaT.

1993 Mercedes-Benz 500E

Bid for the chance to own a 1993 Mercedes-Benz 500E at auction with Bring a Trailer, the home of the best vintage and classic cars online. Lot #21,535.

bringatrailer.com

Data card link: Mercedes-Benz VIN Decoder

Seller's text in BaT listing:

This 1993 Mercedes-Benz 500E was first sold by Hoehn Mercedes-Benz in Carlsbad, California and is finished in Brilliant Silver Metallic over grey leather. Power comes from a 5.0-liter V8 paired with a four-speed automatic transmission, and additional equipment includes a sunroof, heated seats, automatic climate control, and an aftermarket stereo. This W124 shows 171k miles and is offered on consignment by the selling dealer with owner’s booklets, a Carfax report, and a clean California title.

The 500E was assembled for Mercedes-Benz by Porsche and featured a specific front air dam, flared fenders, and side skirts when compared to other W124 sedans as well as a wider track and lower ride height. This example is finished in Brilliant Silver Metallic with darker cladding.

Factory chrome 16″ wheels are mounted with Toyo Proxes tires showing 2008 date codes. The selling dealer notes scrapes on the front valance as well as dings in the rear bumper. The paintwork and trim are shown in detail in the gallery below.

The interior features heated front bucket seats upholstered in grey leather, a tilting and sliding sunroof, automatic climate control, an aftermarket stereo, and a rear window shade. The selling dealer states that the headliner is in need of replacement. VDO instrumentation includes temperature and oil pressure gauges as well as a tachometer and a clock. The six-digit mechanical odometer shows approximately 171k miles.

The 5.0-liter M119 V8 was rated at 322 horsepower with 354 lb-ft of torque when new. The car is said to have passed a California emissions test in July 2019.

Power is sent to the rear wheels through a four-speed automatic transmission. Additional underbody photos showing the exhaust system, suspension components, and floor pans can be seen in the gallery below.

The July 2019 Carfax report shows no accidents or other damage through October 2016, though a mileage discrepancy is noted at that time. Owner’s booklets are included in the sale.

Carfax image:

 

[gerryvz]

Typical SoCal 1990s "stealership" treatment on the stock rims.

No prior record of this car in my detailed database.

Overall, looks like a nice, well-maintained "driver quality" car. Meaning you can drive and maintain it ad infinitum. Tires are 10+ years old and in dire need of replacement, just if for safety reasons. Headliner will be a solid $500+ to replace -- that's 5% of the $10K deferred maintenance this car likely has.

My prediction is that this car will bring mid-$20K range ($23-27K) + BaTshiT fees.

 

[Dunnik]

Typical SoCal 1990s "stealership" treatment on the stock rims.

Looks nice and clean underneath. Looks nice and clean everywhere else, too. The Nakamichi deck is a potentially a good sign.

Mileage discrepancy is troubling.

Plus $85 "Document Fee"

 

[gerryvz]

A couple of commenters have already flagged the mileage/carfax discrepancy. We'll see if / how the seller responds.

 

[sheward]

+1 on the Nakamichi head unit which is one of the few that look acceptable in a 124.

drew

 

[gsxr]

I don't see any serious discrepancy in the mileage. It appears to be a genuine error in reporting. All the other reported miles make sense and match the current odometer.

Great example of how a fat-fingered mileage entry at emissions or service can cause massive hand-wringing by buyers when the car goes up for sale.

 

[2phast]

So who is hiding behind the BaT user name UnhingedTroll?

 

[janos_z]

I agree that in this case, the "mileage discrepancy" seems like a clerical error and nothing to worry about.

Whoever UnhingedTroll is, he/she seems very knowledgeable about this website and its cutting-edge forum platform software and technology. They also seem to know the 500E like the back of their hand. I do get the sense they're not a person you want to cross or piss off, though. Just a hunch.

 

[The Emperor]

Whoever UnhingedTroll is .... I do get the sense they're not a person you want to cross or piss off, though. Just a hunch.

He knows nothing of the power of the Dark Side. I should direct Clark Vader to force-choke him to teach him a lesson.

 

[gerryvz]

Car went for $17,500 + BaTshit fees.

Nicely bought and well below market IMHO.

Yo @Emp! STFU!

 

[thecarshrink]

Buddy bought the car, he is pretty stoked

 

[janos_z]

It looks like the sale fell through. Gotta wonder about BaT sometimes.

1993 Mercedes-Benz 500-Class 500 E 4dr Sedan

1993 Mercedes-Benz 500-Class 500 E 4dr Sedan Offered by: Direct Auto Outlet, LLC — — $22,995 Gorgeous and hard to find 1993 Mercedes Benz W124 500E. The 500E was assembled for Mercedes-Benz by...

sfbay.craigslist.org

https://www.directautooutlet.com/details/used-1993-mercedes-benz-500-class/57095933

1993 Mercedes-Benz 500-Class 500 E 4dr Sedan​

​

Offered by: Direct Auto Outlet, LLC — (916) 520-8515 — $22,995​

​

Gorgeous and hard to find 1993 Mercedes Benz W124 500E. The 500E was assembled for Mercedes-Benz by Porsche and featured a specific front air dam, flared fenders, and side skirts when compared to other W124 sedans as well as a wider track and lower ride height. This example is finished in Brilliant Silver Metallic with darker cladding. The 5.0-liter M119 V8 was rated at 322 horsepower with 354 lb-ft of torque when new. There were only 245 produced in brilliant silver throughout all 3 production years this vehicle was produced. The car has passed a California emissions test in August 2019. Exterior body and paint in very clean condition except for a scratch on the lower part of the front bumper (seen in picture.) Interior headliner is original and a little loose. Vehicle has recently had a transmission rebuild as well as new oils/fluids at a reputable local Mercedes specialty shop. Invoices and receipts are available upon request. This is your opportunity to own a car which has already gone down in history as being one of Mercedes Benz's most collectable and historic vehicles. The value on these cars have been increasing over the years and will continue to go up. You will get thumbs up and looks everywhere you take it. Demo's and test drives available by appointment ONLY so please don't be shy. Give us a call today! Thank you for looking!​

Direct Auto Outlet, LLC​

​

Year: 1993
Make: Mercedes-Benz
Model: 500-Class
Series: 500 E 4dr Sedan
VIN: WDBEA36E3PB912125
Condition: Used
Mileage: 171,133
Exterior: Silver
Interior: Gray
Body: Sedan
Transmission: Automatic 4-Speed
Engine: 5.0L V8​

​

More vehicle details: direct-auto-outlet-llc.hammerwebsites.net/v/kS5YGbpw
Address: 4145 Sunrise Blvd Fair Oaks, CA 95628
Phone: (916) 520-8515
Website: www.directautooutlet.com​

​

Call or text (916) 520-8515 for quick answers to your questions about this Mercedes-Benz 500-Class
Your message will always be answered by a real human — never an automated system.​

​

Disclaimer: Direct Auto Outlet, LLC will never sell, share, or spam your mobile number. Standard text messaging rates may apply.​

​

1993 Mercedes-Benz 500-Class 500 E 4dr Sedan​

68010244ee1c458fb466369bed3cf80c​

 

[2phast]

It looks like the sale fell through. Gotta wonder about BaT sometimes.

1993 Mercedes-Benz 500-Class 500 E 4dr Sedan

1993 Mercedes-Benz 500-Class 500 E 4dr Sedan Offered by: Direct Auto Outlet, LLC — — $22,995 Gorgeous and hard to find 1993 Mercedes Benz W124 500E. The 500E was assembled for Mercedes-Benz by...

sfbay.craigslist.org

Given the BaT price and the price on CL, my guess is that BaT wouldn't let the dealer set the reserve at what they wanted, so they took a chance that it would get bid up to a reasonable amount, it did not, so the dealer did not follow through with the sale. It would be helpful if the winning bidder could clear up what happened, as he would of been charged the buyers fee immediately.

 

[gerryvz]

Buddy bought the car, he is pretty stoked

@thecarshrink — Please advise as to what happened.

 

[gsxr]

It looks like the sale fell through. Gotta wonder about BaT sometimes.

This wouldn't be BaT's fault. BaT just connects a buyer & seller, and charges the buyer 5% at time of sale so they have skin in the game. If the buyer is willing to forfeit that and walk away, that's the end. It's better than eBay where there is *zero* incentive for the winning bidder to complete a sale.

 

[ace10]

... It's better than eBay where there is *zero* incentive for the winning bidder to complete a sale.
...

And vicey-versey... if a seller doesn't like the "winning" bid, there is zero incentive for them to complete a sale.

 

[gerryvz]

Looks like the same photos, so I'm not going to bother downloading from the seller's web site.

 

[janos_z]

This wouldn't be BaT's fault. BaT just connects a buyer & seller, and charges the buyer 5% at time of sale so they have skin in the game. If the buyer is willing to forfeit that and walk away, that's the end. It's better than eBay where there is *zero* incentive for the winning bidder to complete a sale.

@gsxr, good point. Agreed that this isn't BaT's "fault" -- just that what appears to have been a successfully completed sale (and a reference price point for folks trying to keep track of the ups and downs of the E500E market) appears not to have been that. Makes one wonder how often stuff like this happens, not just on BaT but on other comparable auction sites as well. We'll probably never know...

If anyone ends up calling the dealership about this car, please let us know how it goes!

 

[gerryvz]

Sale fell through on this car. Seller explains why in comments.

Basically as predicted, there was $10K+ of deferred maintenance. Seller addressed some of it (not all) and the winning BaT bidder ghosted him.

Looks like the seller put $3-4 grand into it, but that wasn’t enough to satisfy the bidder so he bailed.

Interestingly, BaT ghosted the seller as well. Evidently they weren’t interested starting about 15 seconds after they got their cut of the deal (or auction fees).

Sad.

Seller is still offering the car, and looks like it still could possibly be a good deal.

I’m interested in @ace10’s commentary as to what happened and all the ghosting going on.

 

[gerryvz]

Buddy bought the car, he is pretty stoked

Please let us know what happened with your “buddy” with regard to this car and his aborted attempt at buying it.

 

[magicbigdaddy]

I spoke today with a local dealer that had a car on BaT and he mentioned that as the car was accepted with no reserve that he had someone bid and pay the fee at the end of the auction as he was going to be upside down on the transaction if he didn't cover the spread. Kind of like a costly insurance policy or advertising expense? Needless to say at times marketing/selling a car is not as glamorous or profitable as many think.

 

[LWB250]

I'm not sure what involvement BaT would have at the point where the sale went south. The buyer and seller connected, the seller found defects and corrected them, giving the buyer the opportunity to get some sort of relief as a result, and the buyer chose to decline and walk away. The seller did the right thing and ended up losing out because the buyer changed their mind. Nothing wrong here, I think both parties acted appropriately and the sale simply fell through. It happens.

BaT makes it very clear in their ToS that they have no involvement in the actual sale of the vehicle. While I think a better approach would have been for them to respond to the inquiries and just point at their ToS, to ignore was not an appropriate behavior. BaT provided the service as specified and collected their fee. Their obligation ended at that point. However, they missed an opportunity to gain some goodwill by at least responding, even if it might not have been considered a positive response by some.

To give some insight into my point of view, my finnie auction outcome seemed pretty flakey as the buyer never responded to my emails after the hammer dropped. 72 hours out from the close and I hadn't heard a word. I was thinking the buyer flaked, but BaT was able to get a response out of them and they reached out to me shortly after. Seems the buyer is on holiday and wasn't checking their email, which seems sort of weird if you're involved in buying a $14,000 car. Initially I wasn't happy with BaT's sort of "hands off" responses, but in fairness to them they did follow up and ultimately resolve the situation. Based on their push back to me over wanting to move to the next bidder I had to assume they got their fee, which was, no doubt, the reason for their reluctance to let me move down the list.

Dan

 

[gsxr]

Buddy bought the car, he is pretty stoked

Any word why your buddy walked?

 

[gsxr]

Seller is not very happy with BaT. This comment did not post to the website, but did come through email:

There is a new comment on the post “1993 Mercedes-Benz 500E”. 1993 Mercedes-Benz 500E​ ​ Author: ari1982 ​ ​ Comment: Dear BaT since it has become virtually impossible to contact you with less than 2 responses back from you in the last 4 months despite me contacting you on a weekly and sometimes daily basis (over 20 emails) I am attempting to get your attention by violating your terms of use by posting my phone number 916-765-7575 and my website address: www.directautooutlet.com. I am doing so because policing your users postings is pretty much the last category of your service that still properly operates as it use to in past years where all other aspects of your service has suffered. Please contact me so we can once and for all resolve the issues encountered with the attempted sale of this car. PLEASE CALL ME OR EMAIL ME BACK!​

 

[ace10]

Seller is expecting BaT to do or say what?

Perhaps they simply want a refund of the $99 listing fee?

BaT could give zero [bleeps] about the buyer or the seller. They got their $887.50 fee from the high bidder. They connected the buyer and the seller. A deal wasn't consummated. End of story.

On a related note, @thecarshrink should chime in with the back story as it is an important function of this forum to document the story of these 036 which come to market.

 

[gsxr]

The seller is expecting BaT to return a phone call or email. Refusal to do so is, IMO, poor business on their part.

As to what the seller is asking of them, that's a different discussion, and we don't have enough info to tell what's going on.

 

[gerryvz]

@thecarshrink last logged onto the forum on October 20th. He needs to provide an update.

 

[thecarshrink]

Hey guys sorry for the slow response. My buddy walked because according to him there was a bunch of items that needed attention in $ 1000's that was not described during the auction. The dealer agreed to fix the issues but he still walked as he just didn't feel the car was right for him. He has a bunch of projects and didn't want to deal with another one. I will do my best to more active here when I comment especially when deals fall apart.
You guys have all been great help on some of my annoying questions.

 

[mottati]

A friend of mine bought this car from this dealer a few (several i guess) months ago. I had the chance to drive it last weekend. Drives very well, suspension and steering is tight. He put correct / refurbished (non-chrome) wheels and new tires on it immediately. It was hot last weekend, and we were driving around looking at warehouses, and i did notice it was getting warm while creeping around buildings at low speeds. (a bit over 100) Will have to mention the fan issue noted in the BaT ad.

 

[janos_z]

Thanks, Mike. So does your friend feel like he got a decent deal? They may want to sign up for an account here and post an owner's thread..

On another note, I've enjoyed your BaT auctions, and have huge respect for the work you do on your cars.

 

[mottati]

Thanks, Mike. So does your friend feel like he got a decent deal? They may want to sign up for an account here and post an owner's thread..

On another note, I've enjoyed your BaT auctions, and have huge respect for the work you do on your cars.

Thanks for the BaT compliment.

Yes, i believe he paid 22k all in, with taxes, dmv fees etc. Freshly rebuilt transmission. He's very happy with the car and has a nice collection. I still want one of these...

 

[zundfolge]

Thanks for the BaT compliment.

Yes, i believe he paid 22k all in, with taxes, dmv fees etc. Freshly rebuilt transmission. He's very happy with the car and has a nice collection. I still want one of these...

I'm the buyer that Mike mentioned and I've been enjoying the car now for around 18 months. Very happy with the car and its condition and no issues so far beyond needing a fan clutch. I've also been enjoying the wisdom here in the forum, and have been spending some time this week in the armrest spring strut replacement thread; great info there. Thanks for that.

 

[mottati]

brought this car home yesterday morning. My friend had owned it for about 3.5 years and got it pretty well sorted out. Still needs a headliner, but otherwise it's a great driver. Will get some updated pics in my owners thread this weekend. Excited to be back in a 500e.

 

[gsxr]

This car is for sale again by the current owner, I believe forum member @zundfolge. The C&B website does not work with my image suckers, so I cannot download all 255 photos.

https://carsandbids.com/auctions/rMka7XBp/1993-mercedes-benz-500e

Highlights​

THIS… is a 1993 Mercedes-Benz 500E, finished in Brilliant Silver Metallic with a gray interior.

• The attached Carfax history report shows some gaps, though it lists no accidents or mileage discrepancies for the given time period. It also shows that this 500E has been registered in Florida and California since new.
• According to the build sheet provided in the gallery, notable factory equipment includes 16-inch wheels, a sunroof, leather upholstery, heated front seats, and automatic climate control. Notable modifications reported by the seller include a Blaupunkt head unit.
• Nicknamed the "Wolf in Sheep's Clothing," the 500E was a high-performance variant of the W124. Mercedes-Benz commissioned Porsche to assist with re-engineering the W124 chassis to fit the 5.0-liter M119 V8. The widened fender flares made the chassis too big for the W124 assembly line, leading Porsche to step in to help with assembly. The back and forth movement of each 500E chassis between the Mercedes-Benz and Porsche factories for different stages of assembly resulted in an 18-day assembly time. Roughly 1,500 were imported into the United States between 1991 and 1994.
• Power comes from a 5.0-liter M119 V8, rated at 322 horsepower and 354 lb-ft of torque. Output is sent to the rear wheels via a 4-speed automatic transmission.

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Equipment​

A build sheet is provided in the photo gallery, and a partial list of notable equipment reported by the seller includes:

• 16-inch wheels
• Headlight wipers
• Sunroof
• Leather upholstery
• Heated and power-adjustable front seats
• Automatic climate control
• Cruise control

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Modifications​

Notable modifications reported by the seller include:

• Blaupunkt Frankfurt head unit

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Known Flaws​

• Some chips and scratches around the exterior
• Failing clear coat on driver's fender
• Creases on front seat bolsters
• Some wear on interior trim and touchpoints
• Sagging headliner
• Cracks in the air duct foam in the Engine Bay

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Recent Service History​

Service documentation in the photo gallery indicates that the following maintenance has been performed:

• May 2025 (191,540 miles): Idler arm bushing, drag link, and steering stabilizer replaced, four-wheel alignment performed
• April 2025 (191,249): Four tires mounted and balanced
• March 2025 (190,814 miles): Front lower control arms, tie rod assemblies, and rear lower control arm ball joints replaced, four-wheel alignment performed
• December 2023 (185,825 miles): Thermostat replaced, coolant flushed
• November 2022 (181,926 miles): Front and rear brake pads, rotors, and sensor replaced
• January 2021 (176,530 miles): Right and left engine mounts, radiator elbow, and transmission filter replaced, rebuilt transmission installed, transmission fluid flushed

The attached Carfax history report shows that the following services have been performed:

• March 2022 (178,655 miles): Engine oil and filter changed
• September 2021: A/C system serviced, fuel line/hose replaced

A service logbook is included in the photo gallery, and the seller reports that the following services have been performed:

• January 2025 (190,200): Valve cover gaskets replaced
• December 2024 (190,016 miles): Engine oil and filter changed
• June 2024 (188,571): Expansion tank coolant sensor replaced
• February 2024 (186,808): Radiator expansion tank replaced
• February 2024 (186,468): Front shocks replaced
• January 2024 (185,987 miles): Washer tank, washer pump, and thermostat grommets replaced
• December 2023 (185,741 miles): O2 sensor, spark plugs, distributor cap, and rotor replaced

Additional service history is detailed in the attached Carfax report.

Other Items Included in Sale​

• 3 keys
• Owner's manual

​

Ownership History​

The seller reports that they purchased this 500E in November 2023 and have added approximately 6,000 miles since.

 

[mottati]

and we're live:

https://carsandbids.com/auctions/rMka7XBp/1993-mercedes-benz-500e

 

[mottati]

sold for 28k plus C&B fees. Will be heading to southern california.

 

[gsxr]

Top 5 bidders below. Marcstein claimed he bid $30k at the very end but his browser had logged him out and the auction ended before he could get back in. Strong support for mid/upper 20's. Not bad for nearly 200kmi!

SimonSays = $28,000
adoptdontshop = $27,500
afontana = $27,000
Newman = $25,000
marcstein = $24,000

 

[mottati]

Top 5 bidders below. Marcstein claimed he bid $30k at the very end but his browser had logged him out and the auction ended before he could get back in. Strong support for mid/upper 20's. Not bad for nearly 200kmi!

SimonSays = $28,000
adoptdontshop = $27,500
afontana = $27,000
Newman = $25,000
marcstein = $24,000

and Marcstein is now the high bidder on the BAT japan spec car, so maybe he was serious. The winning bidder on mine seemed to get it without a fight, one bid at 28k and that ended it.

 

[gsxr]

Car is for sale again. Thanks @dreaming.haze for finding this ad! Apparently SimonSays is trying to flip it for a ~$10k profit after <3 months. It's either a dealer, or a private party selling on a skipped title... no registration records since purchased in July. Ad copy is quite thin.

https://orangecounty.craigslist.org/cto/d/santa-ana-1993-mercedes-benz-500e-built/7890806607.html

1993 Mercedes-Benz 500E - Built by Porsche - $38,999 (Costa Mesa)​

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When Mercedes and Porsche decided to work together, building the 500E. Built by Porsche, the 500E is nothing like a regular W124 Mercedes. Very linear power, comfortable, and faster than the BMW M5 of its time, the 500E is a true sleeper (Q-Car as they say in Europe).​

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This car was consistently used throughout its life, and loads of money spent on it. Tens of thousands in recent years means this car had loads of age related issues sorted already. We've personally put a few thousand miles on it already without any issues.​

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Any downsides? The headliner is sagging. An easy fix by any upholstery shop, or a weekend project if you're so inclined. The car is over 30 years old, but the paint is mostly in great condition, with no rust anywhere.​

Email: 79d1c12084b03463bf2329513995bf6b@sale.craigslist.org​

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