Makes you wonder.... (Pair of low mile W140 for $0.3M USD, Bronx, NY)

[Glasgo_Chris]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/301922478589

Makes you wonder what a delivery mileage e500e would fetch, lol!

LOT 1992 MERCEDES BENZ 600SEL AND 400SE NEW WITH NO MILEAGE COLLECTIBLES W140

A RARE OPPORTUNITY TO ADD 2 UNIQUE AND RARE NOW VINTAGE MERCEDES BENZ MODELS TO A NY COLLECTION. BOTH ARE ICONIC MERCEDES W140 BODY. THE WHITE 400SE HAS 275 MILES AND THE BLACK 600SEL HAS 1499 MILES. BOTH VEHICLES ARE IN NEW CONDITION AND WERE ALWAYS STORED IN A CLIMATE CONTROLLED GARAGE. BOTH HAVE CLEAR TITLES ARE ARE IN PREDESTINE CONDITION, RUN AND DRIVE AS IF ROLLED OUT OF THE ASSEMBLY TODAY. THESE CARS BECOME RARE AND HARD TO ACQUIRE IN GOOD DRIVABLE CONDITION LET ALONE A SET OF 2 IN NEW CONDITION WITH NO MILES! ALL FACTORY LABELS AND STICKERS ARE STILL ON. ALL SERIOUS BUYERS WITH QUESTIONS ARE WELCOMED. BOTH VEHICLES ARE LOCATED IN USA.
​

eBay seller: 7oooo7
http://www.ebay.com/usr/7oooo7?_trksid=p2047675.l2559

 

[Maui]

Re: Makes you wonder....

No way are those cars goong to bring anything close to that price.

 

[s4cruiser]

Re: Makes you wonder....

1499 = no miles?? I mean it's not a lot by any means but is not what I would consider to be 'no miles'.

 

[Glasgo_Chris]

Re: Makes you wonder....

No way are those cars goong to bring anything close to that price.

I agree 1 million percent this asking price will not be obtained. I guess what I mean is, if a flipper managed to get his hands on a delivery mile e500e still on MSO or something crazy, I wonder what he would ask. Half a million?

 

[gsxr]

neat time capsules, but I doubt there will be buyers at this price unless their net worth is in 9 figures USD. Hope they still have the original 1992 German air in the tires.

Is it just me, or are both the trunk badges about 1 inch too low? Seems they were not stored in a dry environment, note the corrosion on the engine if the M119 above the t-stat housing, rust on the exhaust flanges, and possible mildew (?) on the floor mats in the trunk of the 600SEL? I'd think if that was just dirt, they would have vacuumed them first. Who knows, maybe the patina adds another $100k. Also, what's with the standard lead weights on the wheels? Didn't MB use the 2-piece weights back in 1992?

Makes this look like a screaming bargain, eh:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mercedes-Benz-SL-Class-SL600R-/252342682583

 

[Allgonquin]

I am pretty sure that the PREDESTINE condition of these cars makes them worth $300K. It's very rare to find cars in that condition these days.

 

[Glasgo_Chris]

LMAO at the $0.3M thread title. Nice touch, Dave, nice touch...

 

[TerryA]

Dave,

I have a Euro 84-500SL that I parked about 4 years ago. Last time I had the hood up all of the alum on the engine had corrosion on it. It was spotless when I parked it BUT it is outside (SoCal climate) and covered with two covers. I was not happy with the additional work I have created for myself.

I think the lack of being driven must affect aluminum unless you are stored in a humidity controlled inviroment.
No scientific fact here just experience.

 

[Roma_500E]

I would love to get on of these ! Especially 1991-1994 cars first generation . The best quality and technology that was offered by MBZ IMHO. Somehow overpriced but 70-80K per unit could be a fair deal.

 

[fudgitive]

I would love to get on of these ! Especially 1991-1994 cars first generation . The best quality and technology that was offered by MBZ IMHO. Somehow overpriced but 70-80K per unit could be a fair deal.

What's the story with this Kazakh one Roma which supposedly sold for US$130K in Almaty last year - 715km on a late W140 S600 ??

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-qQ5XBcZQY

 

[Roma_500E]

What's the story with this Kazakh one Roma which supposedly sold for US$130K in Almaty last year - 715km on a late W140 S600 ??

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-qQ5XBcZQY

Do not know for sure whats happenned but those guys offered me this car (since folks know me as MBZ guy).

100% it was not sold for 130K it is just BS.

When I was told about this car price was undifined but around 80K OBO. That is all I know about this car.

There were lots of rumors around this car like president brothers car and so on ..

 

[Klink]

I would love to get on of these ! Especially 1991-1994 cars first generation . The best quality and technology that was offered by MBZ IMHO. Somehow overpriced but 70-80K per unit could be a fair deal.

I want that V12 so bad it's ridiculous, but no, Roman, these prices are wildly beyond insane. They don't even have a reference in this universe, they only exist in some alternate reality somewhere. Even on the most perfect day I could imagine, it is maybe 30K for both cars, not 300, and I love 140s like a fat kid loves a Twinkie. Even then, I would probably go no higher than 25K for the pair, and that assumes perfect functioning of everything, which is absolutely not going to be the case.

Each of these cars still "needs everything" as soon as somebody starts trying to use them. Even worse, unless each of these was perfectly and expertly stored, there is almost no end to the possibilities, and literally pages of stuff is likely to be wrong and go wrong with each of these cars during ownership month one, even assuming expert storage. Take everything you know a 500E would need after storage with this mileage, and that's what you're looking at on each of these cars, plus plus again on the V12 .

I love the 400SE, especially in white and gray, but this one doesn't even have seat heaters or ASR, each of which makes it a non-keeper for me.

I hate sounding so negative, because the 140 is one of my overall favorite cars ever built, but that's NOT because they were so "good" as the first year of even occasional pleasure driving of either of these cars will bear out. I am so with you on perceived quality and technology, but realize it was only perceived. The sheer amount of failures on the first several model years runs of these cars is absolutely staggering. Unless you were a dealership technician or owned one of these from new, there is no way I can convey it to you, so even if these are "brand-new" 140s just as they were the day they left the show room, the new owner is still looking at tsunami of warranty expense, except that he won't have the benefit of the warranty. Now add to that all the likely negative effects that occur in vehicles that are not used, and you have a very rich recipe for
I think all of this is largely known and will be reflected in the offers from whatever potential buyers are out there for these cars. They will be rabid 140 fans and already know all this, or they will be complete no nothings that are simply looking for a Mercedes, and they will lack the interest, the money, or both. And on that subject of rabid 140 fans, there are how many, 10 of us maybe, worldwide?

I'm not saying these two cars are "junk" I really hope somebody that loves them as much as I do gives them an appropriate "good home", but I am saying that if they need anywhere much north of 10% of their asking prices to shift these cars, then they have a death grip on them. I could be wrong, and I actually hope I am, but I'm probably not...

 

[Zuffenhausen]

Did the 124 come with that key box?

 

[sheward]

Actually glad to hear your thoughts on the 140. As you know, There are so many of these here in the Atlanta area for sale at $2500 - $5000 that I just can't keep from considering one. I think, with the weight of your comments, I've purged the thoughts from my mind.

drew

 

[gerryvz]

MB ought to buy them for their collection


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[Klink]

Actually glad to hear your thoughts on the 140. As you know, There are so many of these here in the Atlanta area for sale at $2500 - $5000 that I just can't keep from considering one. I think, with the weight of your comments, I've purged the thoughts from my mind.

drew

Oh no, you are kind of missing my point. That point is that these cars were already troublesome when new, just like a 500E, and they had all of the same problems, plus a number more (a 500E never had soft close doors, or illuminated rear seat vanity mirrors, or a separate rear compartment automatic climate control system with a separate evaporator and left and right heater cores, for example) Now, think of a "brand-new" 1992 500E with less than 1000 miles on it. What do you think happens if somebody actually starts using it? Exactly! All the crap that goes wrong on a car from lack of use is going to be extant here. Now add to that all of those "lurking issues" that a brand-new 1992 500E would have. Now add all the 140 specific issues that ALSO were never tended to earlier in its life. Make the parts more expensive, and with the V12, when it comes to issues with the injection systems, ignition systems, and electronic accelerator systems, make everything times 2, except the fuel injectors and spark plugs, which are only times 1.5. That's right. Twin EZL systems, twin distributor/rotor/wire systems, twin LH systems, twin throttle actuators. And no, other than the distributor caps, plates and rotors which are shared with the M104, none of these items are interchangeable with parts from their lesser cylindered contemporaries.

Now, take a look at the relative "collectibility" and appreciation potential of cars we know. Price the cars accordingly and proportionally to what this guy is asking for these cars. Would you pay, I don't know, $300,000 or more for that brand-new 1992 500E with no miles? I sure as hell wouldn't, even if I had the money. That's my point....

 

[Klink]

MB ought to buy them for their collection


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Word on the street is they already laughed hysterically and turned them down.

 

[gerryvz]

I didn't say they should buy them for a cool third of a mil




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[gerryvz]

Oh no, you are kind of missing my point. That point is that these cars were already troublesome when new, just like a 500E, and they had all of the same problems, plus a number more (a 500E never had soft close doors, or illuminated rear seat vanity mirrors, or a separate rear compartment automatic climate control system with a separate evaporator and left and right heater cores, for example) Now, think of a "brand-new" 1992 500E with less than 1000 miles on it. What do you think happens if somebody actually starts using it? Exactly! All the crap that goes wrong on a car from lack of use is going to be extant here. Now add to that all of those "lurking issues" that a brand-new 1992 500E would have. Now add all the 140 specific issues that were never tended to earlier in its life. Make the parts more expensive, and with the V12, when it comes to issues with the injection systems, ignition systems, and electronic accelerator systems, make everything times 2, except the fuel injectors and spark plugs, which are only times 1.5. That's right. Twin EZL systems, twin distributor/rotor/wire systems, twin LH systems, twin throttle actuators. And no, other than the distributor caps, plates and rotors which are shared with the M104, none of these items are interchangeable with parts from their lesser cylindered contemporaries.

Now, take a look at the relative "collectibility" and appreciation potential of cars we know. Price the cars accordingly and proportionally to what this guy is asking for these cars. Would you pay, I don't know, $300,000 or more for that brand-new 1992 500E with no miles? I sure as hell wouldn't, even if I had the money. That's my point....

Then, there's the "parking corner indicators" at the trunk

 

[gerryvz]

Aww... Klink! Sell that 928 and get yourself your real dream car S600L !!




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[Klink]

Then, there's the "parking corner indicators" at the trunk

LOL, one of my all-time favorite features, actually. I love them, and found them genuinely useful. Word on the street at the time was that "Parktronic" was supposed to be ready for production, but wasn't, so those were rushed in at the last minute. Could you imagine parking these things in those underground hotel garages in Europe? Anyway, that's another pisser about this being a 1992. Sometime in 1993-ish, they made them taller, which actually made them much more useful. And yes, go figure, the pneumatic rubber diaphragms in them almost immediately failed, so once the short version were gone, they were substituted to a "must be replaced in pairs" left and right. Once again, double your pleasure...

 

[Klink]

Aww... Klink! Sell that 928 and get yourself your real dream car S600L !!

I'd never say never, Honch, but at least the 928 is going up in value, and I didn't have to pay some master flipper just about what it cost new to get it...

 

[Klink]

I didn't say they should buy them for a cool third of a mil




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Oh, I got that. The additional rumor was that the current owner laughed at the offer that was made on them.
Pure unsubstantiated scuttlebutt rumor on both counts, mind you...

 

[600Eric]

...along the lines of Klink's post from what I have heard 140 specific parts are ridiculously expensive. Similar to AMG parts where we joke about any part number that's starts with "HWA" pretty much means take the price of an equivalent "standard" part and double it.

As far as these cars go it will be interesting to see if they do ever sell what they do go for if we are able to find out. I do think Klink's figure of $25K for the pair is a bit low but then again it is hard to put a number on cars like this as there is really nothing to reference them with. On that note as far as the seller / flipper is concerned I wonder what their logic was for coming up $.3M??? Good luck with that. Regardless again like Klink said anyone that buys one or both of them with the intention to actually drive them will almost certainly be opening Pandora's box. They belong in some sort of MB collection or museum for that matter.



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[Maui]

It really is a shame to allow these cars to turn into fossils. They are kind of cool, but personally I see zero collector value at this time.

 

[gerryvz]

I could see this pair of cars going for $75-100K to a serious 140 geek. $35-50K each, with the 600 being the more valuable one. No question that these "time capsule" cars are a veritable Pandora's Box of problems lurking just beneath the surface.

I remember the mechanics at my old indy shop in Portland, MBI Motors, showing me around a couple of customer S600s that would come into the shop. Exactly what Klink said .. double the pleasure on just about everything under the hood. They once pointed out the fuel injectors for that model. If I remember correctly they were something like double or triple the cost of a 500E injector ... and there are 12 of them to boot !! And yes, the doubled LH systems and all that.

Last summer there was an 600 C140 coupe in the wrecking yard here in Houston. I was able to score all of the CAN computers for JONO (cha-ching!) for him to have as spares, and I grabbed the glass sunroof cartridge as a future "drop-in" retrofit project for my 560SEC. Still haven't decided to pull the pin on that or not. Lots of time spent in and under that car over about 3 weekends. Klink's undying love for the W140 notwithstanding, I'm very very happy to stick with my C126, thanks very much! I think it's a better looking car (sedan and coupe), as well.



Cheers,
Gerry

 

[Klink]

Wow, you are more generous on your evaluation of that pricing than I would have guessed, Honch. I hope you're right, I hope they sell them for a ton.

 

[gerryvz]

I think $75K+ is achieveable for these cars as a pair. If it were an S320 or something, then not as interesting. But these are higher-end models. The V12 is the Mack Daddy car for the 1990s, so its got some cred there.

There are "delivery miles" geeks out there (we've seen a few pass through this forum with the E500E) who will pay big money for rolling baubles with "no" miles on them.

 

[600Eric]

On a separate but related subject with only 173 miles on it and a starting bid of $59,500.00 I don't think this '01 SL600R is priced too far out of line (assuming the reserve is not much higher)


http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mercedes-Be...c0cbc3d7:g:6JIAAOSwsN9XAvnn&item=252342682583


Too bad it doesn't have a Black interior and a Pano roof. Actually on second thought I'm glad it does not have a Black interior and a Pano Roof.

 

[frm1484]

Is it me or does the white one look like the panel fitment on the hood / fender at the front passenger side is just not right?.....driver side looks to have nice tight fitment but passenger doesn't.....are my eyes just bad?


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[SG-Motorsports]

I agree with Klink 100%. I started at the dealer in 1992 and these cars were embarrassing quality, but they turned it around quickly. I can't imagine owning a 1992 600SEL with that low of miles these days. That would be like grabbing an old lady from the nursing home and making her run a marathon, just not a good idea.....

About 10 years ago we had a local restaurant owner who purchased a 1992 600SEL from the original owner with just under 12,000 miles on it. It was a beautiful car, but never driven much. The new owner just bought it as a daily driver with no previous Mercedes experience or ownership. After the first 6 months, he had over $18k in repair receipts and a list of over $20k in recommended maintenance/repairs. He sold the car and we never saw it again.

Keep in mind that the engine harness and throttle actuators and such all have the same rotten wiring as the 500e500, but last I checked each actuator was over $3800 new, and as Klink mentioned, there are 2 of them!! Not to mention all the other little stuff that breaks and decomposes......eeesh. You couldn't pay me to take these cars. As Klink said, there isn't a dealership tech on the planet that would want one of these cars, we know too many of the dirty little secrets...

But with that said, I bet if they were at an auction, they would be in the $40-50k range for the pair.

 

[fudgitive]

I don't think they will pull that kind of money yet, and certainly the wrong cars to even consider if you actually intended to drive them. The 600 belongs parked in a museum somewhere.

There is something alluring about the big 140 cars though, I have had a few of them in both flavours and not really had any bad experiences. I found parts relatively inexpensive and (mostly) easy to find. I wouldn't shy away from owning another 1997 or up S600, but would not go near an early one unless of course it was a 140.056 !

 

[gerryvz]

I have seen high-end, low-miles young-timers (high-end 126 sedans come to mind) in Germany at the Classic Center and Young Classics "for sale" display at the MB Museum with prices in the $30-50K range. Heck, I've posted photos of said cars from past years' visits to MB in Germany.

I've no doubt that MB would be asking upwards of $35-40K for either of these cars if the US or German Classic Centers were offering them for sale. And based on what we've seen with other cars, getting those prices.

 

[Maui]

On a separate but related subject with only 173 miles on it and a starting bid of $59,500.00 I don't think this '01 SL600R is priced too far out of line (assuming the reserve is not much higher)


http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mercedes-Be...c0cbc3d7:g:6JIAAOSwsN9XAvnn&item=252342682583


Too bad it doesn't have a Black interior and a Pano roof. Actually on second thought I'm glad it does not have a Black interior and a Pano Roof.

Sale ended with no bids. Might have sold off line.

 

[gsxr]

BaT discussion:

http://bringatrailer.com/2016/04/07...w-v12-and-v8-mercedes-benz-w140-s-class-pair/

 

[r44raven]

Talking of low-mileage cars, not sure how many of you guys read the "Classic and Sports Car" magazine? The latest issue reports that a 190e 2.5-16 Evolution II, with only 1,700 miles on the clock, fetched £292k at an auction here in the UK in February!