FOR SALE 1994 E500 Limited, 009 Sapphire Black/Gray, 144kkm, BaT auction (Cary, IL)

[iredellt]

Admin update: Now for sale in USA, August 2025. Thread title updated.


1994 E500 Limited, 009 Sapphire Black/Gray, 143kkm, CC Auction (Kuwait) - Sold for $47k USD, see post #10


VIN: WDB1240361C181918

Mercedes VIN Decoder | Decode Your Mercedes-Benz VIN

New E500 Limited listed on Collecting Cars. Doesn't appear to have been referred to on this site previously. Needs a few things but seems to be an honest car, could sort some of these issues out pretty easily.. Some service history which is unusual and helpful from Japan, but unsure how much. Certainly a nice dry climate is helpful for these, especially if kept in air con during summer...

https://collectingcars.com/for-sale/1995-mercedes-benz-w124-e500-limited-3

Someone smarter than me can perhaps upload the photos. (Moderator edit - Uploaded!)

1995 MERCEDES-BENZ (W124) E500 LIMITED​

KEY FACTS

• This Mercedes-Benz (W124) E500 is a modern classic ‘super saloon’, which was initially developed in collaboration with Porsche in the late 1980s.
• Under the bonnet is the muscular 322bhp 5.0-litre naturally aspirated V8, which drives the rear wheels via a four-speed automatic transmission.
• First registered in Japan, the car was subsequently imported to Kuwait, where it is reportedly driven during the winter months, and parked on a battery charger in an air-conditioned underground car park during the summer.
• In total, only 1,855 E500-badged examples were produced, of which 951 were ‘Limited’ versions such as this.
• The odometer shows 143,238 km.

EQUIPMENT AND FEATURES

• This E500 is finished in Sapphire Black, over a black and grey leather interior with ‘birdseye maple’ wood trim inlays.
• It rides on a set of 17-inch six-spoke alloy wheels, wrapped with Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tyres.
• Equipment includes electrically adjustable and heated front seats with memory function, an electric sunroof, automatic air conditioning, a rear sun blind, folding front and rear armrests, an electrically adjustable steering column, and an updated Continental stereo.
• Accompanying the vehicle will be the original owner’s manuals, two original keys, a spare wheel, a toolkit, and a collection of paperwork.

CONDITION

• Please refer to the photo gallery to assess the exterior and interior condition.
• Specific notes from the seller include: the car seems to have been resprayed in Japan; there are minor stone chips; there is a small blemish on the passenger door; the headlining was replaced with an Alcantara item from Japan; there is colour mismatch/discoloration in the passenger-side seat, which may have been replaced; there is a minor crack/hole in the driver’s rubber window trim; there is a crack in the wood centre console trim; there is a small dent in one of the front grille fins; the tyres were manufactured in 2018 and may need to be replaced due to age.

SERVICE HISTORY

• The most recent service was completed in November 2022 at 140,375 km, which included replacement of the engine oil, oil filter, cooling fan resistor, and the parking and brake lamps.
• Prior to this, in October 2020 at 130,648 km, the rear oil seal, gear piston seal, oil level sensor, oil pressure switch, valve cover gasket, camshaft seal magnets, spark plugs, air filter, fuel filter, brake discs, brake pads, brake wear sensors, flasher switch, engine oil and oil filter were replaced.

SUMMARY
This Mercedes-Benz E500 is a rare, high-performance modern classic saloon. Powered by a 322bhp 5.0-litre V8 and boasting a well-equipped cabin. It would make a refined cruiser or weekend driver, and a desirable addition to any collection.

The description of this consignment is, to the best of the seller’s knowledge, accurate and not misleading. Collecting Cars requests a range of detail about the lot from the seller and performs a level of due diligence. However, potential buyers must independently satisfy themselves as to the accuracy of the description. Potential buyers should view or arrange inspections as well as conduct any research they feel is necessary before committing to bid or buy.

Please note that it is not uncommon for classic or collectible vehicles to have received cosmetic repairs in the past, either to rectify damage or refresh appearance, and this work may be undetectable even upon visual inspection. Unless there is an explicit statement by the seller to the contrary, please assume that any vehicle could have had bodywork or paintwork during its life. Furthermore, photographs may not reflect the true colour or full condition of the vehicle. It is a bidder’s responsibility to satisfy themselves of the colour and condition of a vehicle, including its interior and the existence of any remedial bodywork or paintwork, before committing to bid or buy. This includes by raising enquiries with the seller in the comments section.

For vehicles, unless otherwise stated, potential buyers should also assume that any cherished registration may be retained by the seller. Please see our Terms and Conditions for full details.

 

[195910]

Our club members could have a look at it If someone is interested in the car.

We invited all 124.036 owners in Kuwait to participate in the Concours last January, out of nearly 50 cars only 2 showed up!... must have been the 1990s Class Judge

98 C43 won 1st place, 97 S600 won second.

 

[r44raven]

VIN: WDB1240361C181918

Mercedes VIN Decoder | Decode Your Mercedes-Benz VIN

New E500 Limited listed on Collecting Cars. Doesn't appear to have been referred to on this site previously. Needs a few things but seems to be an honest car, could sort some of these issues out pretty easily.. Some service history which is unusual and helpful from Japan, but unsure how much. Certainly a nice dry climate is helpful for these, especially if kept in air con during summer...

https://collectingcars.com/for-sale/1995-mercedes-benz-w124-e500-limited-3

Someone smarter than me can perhaps upload the photos.

I'll be interested to see how this one does compared to the basket case from Sweden (which now has bids in excess of Euros 30k!).

 

[gsxr]

This car looks better than some of the previous 036's which have recently appeared at CC. But, it still has some visible issues... the wrong wood at the front of the rear console box for example (broken/cracked as well). Also looks like paint on the door cladding has swirl marks? Pity they couldn't bother to install new mirror booties, but that's an easy fix. Photos were mediocre, lots of repetitive repetitive views, with zero of the undercarriage. Unless I missed it, there's no picture of the driver seat bolster.

On the plus side, this car was originally delivered to Germany and will have both the engine oil cooler, along with the fancy dual-mode braking system.

 

[AdamCabrio]

I'll be interested to see how this one does compared to the basket case from Sweden (which now has bids in excess of Euros 30k!).

Me too! In theory it should do (much) better, it's a Limited, and at first glance a less modified one. It's a pity though that the matching (288 grey) Limited document folder seems to be missing, as well as the stamped service book (particularly important if earlier service history is in only-japanese?). Should we assume that the km's on the red Kuwaiti 10/11/2022 oil change sticker is just a typo? (it indicates 148.375 as opposed to the 140.375 mentioned in the CC description). I know it's a model year 1995 (code 866), but I still wonder why CC isn't advertizing it as a 1994 car (as it was produced in Sept. 1994). I assume that it would fare much better (in $$) if the seller had fixed the obvious broken and cracked items, and had bothered to replace all fluids more recently than Nov. 2022, this type of unnecessary neglect could scare off potential bidders.

 

[EA67]

Hello all, I am the current owner of this E500 and I’m more than happy to respond for any inquiries from the forum.

A few comments on the above:
1- the car came as is from Japan and I was struggling to source the damaged wood in the rear. In case anyone can help source one I am willing to purchase it and provide it for the new buyer
2- the broken trim piece was back ordered as per the dealership in Kuwait and I couldn’t find a new one available online, please let me know if you have a spare for sale
3- the car underbody is clean with no damage nor rust, unfortunately the CC provided a photographer and said we only take photos from the exterior and interior without the underbody. In case anyone require underbody images I don’t mind lifting the car and providing as many images as desired
4- the oil sticker was a typo. A fresh fluid changes to the car can be done from my end prior of delivering the car to the new owner

 

[iredellt]

Thanks, that is no doubt helpful. Good to see that it has the original limited leather on the wheel and gearstick, my car that spent time in Japan had these changed to woodgrain items, which kicked off a long search to change these back..

Have a look on maybe Yahoo Japan for the rear wood. I sourced a new set this way.

 

[AdamCabrio]

Hello all, I am the current owner of this E500 and I’m more than happy to respond for any inquiries from the forum.

It looks like a nice car. Do you happen to know whether the upper and/or lower wiring harnasses have been replaced? Is the (maintenance) documentation (from the period prior to your ownership) in only japanese? Did you buy the car in Japan (@auction or otherwise)? Since when has the car been in Kuwait? What was the odometer reading when you got the car? Any info about how many prior owners?

 

[EA67]

It looks like a nice car. Do you happen to know whether the upper and/or lower wiring harnasses have been replaced? Is the (maintenance) documentation (from the period prior to your ownership) in only japanese? Did you buy the car in Japan (@auction or otherwise)? Since when has the car been in Kuwait? What was the odometer reading when you got the car? Any info about how many prior owners?

As per the Mercedes specialist everything that needed attention was immediately ordered and replaced, however I have not done any upper/lower wiring harness replacement. It could be replaced when the car was in Japan but the records are all in Japanese documented. The car was purchased from a local collector who he imported from Japan, I requested all paper works that came with the car from Japan which he provided however it seems to be purchased from a dealership as there was no auction sheet in the paper works (i could be mistaken). I don’t recall how many years the car was in Kuwait however I owned it since 2020 with a reading of KM 130,240. In Kuwait I am the second owner however I asked the previous owner how many owners were there and he didn’t had an idea due to documentation being all in Japanese.

One small comment I forgot to respond to from the previous comments was the swirl marks in the door body cladding, I took the car for a detailer i used to work with for my cars and he mentioned that these body cladding usually are hollow between the piece and the door. If i would be using a polish machine chances are these cladding could damaged the cladding and would defect the panel by having a wavey looking piece than it being laser straight now. He mentioned that he could try, but to be honest I didn’t get the confidence to do it so I don’t damage the car and kept it for the future owner to take it for a reputable detail shop that have done such detailing for a W124.

 

[r44raven]

Good to see this Limited went for a realistic figure - US$ 47k?

 

[maw1124]

Back on BaT after a year and some change ... but has the car changed?

maw

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1995-mercedes-benz-e500-6/

1995 Mercedes-Benz E500 Limited​

This 1995 Mercedes-Benz E500 is one of just 120 Limited examples produced worldwide for the model year, and it spent time in Japan and Kuwait before being imported to the US in 2024. Finished in Sapphire Black Metallic over black leather upholstery with patterned gray inserts, the car is powered by a 5.0-liter M119 V8 paired with a four-speed automatic transmission. Equipment includes 17″ Evo 2 wheels, a power sunroof, fog lights, a self-leveling rear suspension, Automatic Slip Control, automatic climate control, a Becker cassette stereo, heated power-adjustable front seats, a Bluetooth-capable Continental head unit, and cruise control. Purchased by the seller in 2024, this W124 E500 Limited shows 144k kilometers (~89k miles) and is offered with the manufacturer’s literature, service records, a clean Carfax report, and an Illinois title in the seller’s name.

Final-year E500 models were hand-assembled alongside the Audi RS2 Avant at Porsche’s Rossle Bau facility in Zuffenhausen, Germany. This example is finished in Sapphire Black Metallic (009) and features matching bumper covers and lower cladding. Additional exterior features include headlights with washers and wipers, integrated fog lights, a retractable antenna, and a power sunroof. There are paint chips around the body and a dent in the grille fins.

The 17″ Evo 2 wheels are mounted with Michelin Pilot Sport tires that have 2018 date codes. The car is equipped with Automatic Slip Control (ASR) as well as a self-leveling rear suspension. The E500 featured a wider track and lower ride height when compared with other W124 models, and it shared its front disc brakes with the contemporary R129 SL.

The cabin features heated power-adjustable front seats upholstered in black leather with patterned gray inserts, and amenities include automatic climate control, a power-adjustable steering column, dual front airbags, cruise control, and a Continental head unit with Bluetooth connectivity. There are cracks in the wood trim and the passenger seat is discolored.

The four-spoke leather-wrapped steering wheel frames a 260-km/h speedometer, a tachometer with a 6k-rpm redline, an analog clock, and gauges for oil pressure, coolant temperature, and fuel level. The six-digit odometer shows 144k kilometers (~89k miles), approximately 300 of which were added under current ownership.

The 5.0-liter M119 DOHC V8 was factory rated at 322 horsepower 315 horsepower and 347 lb-ft of torque. Power is sent to the rear wheels through a four-speed automatic transmission.

The Carfax report is free of accidents or other reported damage from its first entry in May 2024. The Illinois title lists “Mileage Not Required” under the legend(s) section.

 

[gsxr]

More pics.

 

[gsxr]

Final pics.

 

[TerryA]

I noticed that the oxygen sensor/temp sensor? is behind the CATs and the wiring runs sloppily forward along the driver’s side of the car. This does not appear factory to me like it was an afterthought.

I couldn’t spot an oxygen sensor in the normal location albeit it may be there.

Parts of the undercarriage looks like it may have been dry ice cleaned.

Overall the car looks great and presents well. Since it just sold for $47K earlier this year in London the new owner will have to do better on Bat to make up for the import fees and whatever other expenses he may have
acquired along the way. With the low odometer 89K miles it I would expect it do well on BaT

 

[gsxr]

I noticed that the oxygen sensor/temp sensor? is behind the CATs and the wiring runs sloppily forward along the driver’s side of the car. This does not appear factory to me like it was an afterthought.

Terry, that is a temperature sensor for the catalysts. It was only required in Japan. This is what triggers the "EXH TEMP" warning indicator in the cluster, where the CEL would be on USA cars.

 

[maw1124]

Thanks Admin for the pics. Underside looks a bit gnarly. Will be interesting to see if it clears the ROI hurdle.

maw

 

[Bogeyman]

Sold for $65.5K + $69K all in.

 

[maw1124]

Thanks Admin for the pics. Underside looks a bit gnarly. Will be interesting to see if it clears the ROI hurdle.

maw

I looked at this car again today and decided "needs a new exhaust but they all do"...



So $70k seems about right if not light given it's a Ltd.

maw

 

[gsxr]

Bid history below. Pretty strong support for upper 50's to low/mid 60's. And, a bunch of people looking for a bargain in the mid-40's.

If the owner had paid ~$47k last year (see post #10 above) plus ocean freight to USA, along with TTT (Tags/Title/Tax) in USA... there wasn't a ton of profit on this flip.

$65,500 bid placed by ptmelo (Winner)
$64,000 bid placed by marhoun
$59,999 bid placed by Grebencea
$57,500 bid placed by BW1
$45,000 bid placed by jalbanogoldengatedoughnuts
$44,250 bid placed by cksretrogarage
$44,000 bid placed by Pozh
$43,333 bid placed by Kreso

 

[maw1124]

@gsxr, what do you think? Is it just me or is there not a ton of premium for Ltd models?

Sure condition and provenance matter, but all things equal, people don't seem to be paying much more for Ltd to me, similar to the R129 Silver Arrow cars.

Thoughts?

maw

 

[duuder]

I believe if this was a picture perfect time capsule, it would do well in a strong market

 

[doolar]

@gsxr, what do you think? Is it just me or is there not a ton of premium for Ltd models?

Sure condition and provenance matter, but all things equal, people don't seem to be paying much more for Ltd to me, similar to the R129 Silver Arrow cars.

Thoughts?

maw

I don’t see any value except scarcity, and scarcity is mostly a flipper/collector thing. A lot of 036 owners actually use their cars.

And I don’t care for the Limited leather either, it’s just not pretty, but that’s perhaps just me.

 

[steve h]

I don’t see any value except scarcity, and scarcity is mostly a flipper/collector thing. A lot of 036 owners actually use their cars.

And I don’t care for the Limited leather either, it’s just not pretty, but that’s perhaps just me.

Completely disagree, I like the LTD leather & wood finish & of course the wheels. That's why I bought my LTD 18 years ago.

 

[gsxr]

I don’t see any value except scarcity, and scarcity is mostly a flipper/collector thing. A lot of 036 owners actually use their cars.

Yup - that's what I think too. There wasn't a substantial difference, although the 009 paint is IMO nicer than the ubiquitous 199.

And I don’t care for the Limited leather either, it’s just not pretty, but that’s perhaps just me.

I really like the Limited leather, but don't like that it doesn't wear well. If the cost were the same either way I'd prefer Limited, but I wouldn't pay a substantial premium for it either... but that's just me.