All of a sudden we are in the middle of October and soon little Spider-Mans with coats on will be banging on your door wondering where the free candy is at. That means convertible season is all but over for most of America. That is, like my father used to yell at me for, unless you are one of those crazy people who puts the top down and blasts the heat which in turn is like trying to heat the whole neighborhood. The other scenario is of course if you live somewhere that doesn’t get snow then go ahead and enjoy your top down weather until the turkey is in the oven. That brings me to today’s car, a 1998 Mercedes-Benz SL320.

The SL320 and the pre-facelift 300SL have always stood deep in the shadow of big brothers V8 and V12 R129s and rightfully so. They are were just powerful enough that the car wasn’t a total dog, and usually they were low on standard features. Mercedes figured this out after eight long years with the inline-six SL and finally killed it off in the US after the 1998 model year. This leaves this example in Greenwich, Connecticut, a place where a four garage costs nearly $600,000, in rare company. The even better part about this car is that it had a pile of repairs and maintenance just competed. The thing is, is the price worthy of the little brother SL?

CLICK FOR DETAILS: 1998 Mercedes-Benz SL320 on eBay

Year: 1998
Model: SL320
VIN: WDBFA63FXVF153417
Engine: 3.2 liter inline-6
Transmission: 5-speed automatic
Mileage: 136,551 mi
Location: Greenwich, Connecticut
Price: $10,500 Buy It Now

1998 Mercedes-Benz SL320 Convertible with Factory AMG Styling Package

VIN: WDBFA63FXVF153417

Silver Exterior, Grey Leather Interior, and Black Convertible Top

*** Please contact me if you have any questions***

Up for sale is my 1998 Mercedes Benz SL320 Convertible. This Mercedes came from the factory with the AMG Styling Package!

It runs and drives great! No leaks or anything like that. I had a lot of work completed on the car; list of the recent work is below. Steering is tight, transmission shifts smooth and A/C Blows cold! I do still use it from time to time, so the mileage might increase.

The interior is in great shape! I had both of the both seats restored with new grey leather. Everything on the inside works, as it should.

Convertible top is in good condition, no rips or tears and it moves up and down smoothly!

Title in hand!

Work / New Parts Installed:
– Oil Change and filter
– New brake lines and fluid
– New brake pad and rotors
– New Intake Filter
– New Cabin Filter
– New Wiper blade
– New Pulley, tensioner, and belt
– New spark plugs
– New Wires
– x2 New front struts
– Restored the Front Bumper
– Restored leather seats
– Restored the factory AMG wheels.
– New antenna mast

*** Please contact me if you have any questions***

The really nice bonus for this car is that it is optioned with the AMG styling package which gives you the more aggressive bumpers, side skirts, and 18″ Monoblocks. It ends up being a lot of bark without a lot of bite, but I suppose if it looks good, just go with it. Another nice plus for this car is the seller did a laundry list of maintenance and cosmetic things including recovering the seats. Doing that is no cheap process, so if someone is willing to go that for on a car at this price level, they must really love it. These M104 cars are fairly DIY friendly, but that also means sometimes the work is never ending. Just looking at the parts list, there is probably north of $1,000 alone just in things that are consumables.

The asking price for this car is $10,500, which seems on the surface to be slightly high. That kind of money gives you a pick of a lot of SL500s and even some well-used SL600s, but they will probably need that same laundry list of things if you buy them. If someone told me they bought they car for $10,000, I wouldn’t say they got taken, but it certainly is a lot for a SL320 in today’s market. If you plan on keeping it for five years, sure, money well spent. If you bought this car and are only going to keep it 18 months, maybe not the best purchase. At the end of the day, this car will certainly fulfill the role of a convertible cruiser or GT car that won’t break the bank. Isn’t that all you can really ask for?

– Andrew

Here is a real odd ball. This is a European-spec 1978 Mercedes-Benz 240 for with some really interesting modifications. The early W123 looks to be fitted with some kind of aftermarket bumpers and side skirts, European hubcaps from a W126 S-Class, a bunch of painted black trim, and probably the worst placement for a third brake light I’ve ever seen. It supposedly has just 51,000 miles and is even fitted with Michelin XWX, a tire that if fitted to a W123 can often double the value of the entire car. I have a whole lot of questions, and it looks not like many answers.

CLICK FOR DETAILS: 1978 Mercedes-Benz 240D on eBay

Year: 1978
Model: 240D
VIN: 12081597
Engine: 2.4 liter Inline-4
Transmission: 4-speed automatic
Mileage: 51,088 mi
Location: Port Huron, Michigan
Price: $13,999 Buy It Now

You are looking at an incredibly clean 1978 Mercedes Benz 240D.

It has 51088 miles on it and the VIN is 12081597.

This car has the notoriously reliable 2.4 liter straight 4 cylinder diesel engine. It is mechanically perfect and everything works well. All of the vacuum powered controls are operating properly, the air condition blows ice cold, the cruise control work perfectly, and the professionally installed 1500-watt premium sound system is controlled by the original Blaupunkt SQR26 head unit and sounds awesome.

The Michelin XWX tires are in like new condition. The original wheels have been sand blasted and professionally epoxy painted.

The beautiful pearl white exterior paint is very bright and clear with only very minor imperfections; the body panels are straight as an arrow.

These cars were made when Mercedes was dead set on laser precise manufacturing.

This 240D was a euro import, lived most of its life in dry Texas, has always been garaged, is currently mechanic owned, and has been thoroughly serviced and cleaned. The car is ready to be a beautiful daily driver or an event show car.

This Mercedes is located 45 minutes north of Detroit. The buyer is responsible for all transportation arrangements and costs. Delivery may be available depending on location. An immediate non-refundable $500 deposit via PayPal is required from the buyer at the end of the sale. Please feel free to ask any questions.

Just off the bat, that is not any bodywork from AMG. They used the steel bumpers and often made lower air dams for the front and rear. These look like some kind of plastic or fiberglass and as a result, don’t match the shade of white on the actual body. The steel wheels look to have the hubcaps that were used on the base model W126 S-Class in the rest of the world and I don’t believe they were ever offered on the W123, certainly not the early cars. Another odd thing is some of the chrome trim, including the front and rear glass, has been painted black. It might be totally missing something all together, but to actually paint that trim correctly you would need to removed the glass as you can’t fit the seal without putting the trim in first. Inside, you can’t actually see the front seats of dash at all, but I do spy a pretty thoroughly cracked dash and front seats with sun damage. That’s very odd for the stated 55,000 miles.

Lets talk about the third brake light on this car. The third brake light law went into effect in 1986 for passenger cars meaning lots of companies had to hurry and retrofit them onto existing models. The W123 ended production in 1985, so they were spared such requirements. Other cars, not so much. The R107 was forced to put it directly on the trunk lid like a giant wart because of the soft top and they didn’t want to modify the trunk like how the R129 integrated it. When this car was imported, for whatever reason they were made to add a third brake light. Instead of sticking it behind the rear glass like some owner’s do for more safety, they were lazy it an drilled it in the center of the trunk lid. Probably so they could wire it up easily, but you go through all this work on this car and do that.

The asking price for this car is $14,000 and I don’t need to tell you that is crazy. This car is a jumbled mess of odd parts that aren’t all that attractive, general laziness, and an odometer that probably isn’t correct. Not to mention the interior isn’t anywhere near a W123 that is worth $14,000. I think this is just another wildly optimistic seller, or maybe just a very confused one.

– Andrew

I’m sure I’m not the only person who wants both an analog experience in my car along with having the ease of DIY on most everything, but also wants modern tech and these crazy new safety features called airbags. Case in point, my Mercedes-Benz W116 and W123 are both simple enough that I can diagnose and fix almost anything on the entire car in my home garage, but their main safety features are headrests and a padded steering wheel. If you go to the other end with a newer Mercedes-Benz diesel, you see cryptic messages on your infotainment screen saying the car isn’t going to restart unless you fill the tank up with AdBlue fluid, but hey, at least the car will literally steer itself in between the lane lines while you are frantically Googling on your phone what the hell AdBlue fluid is. So is there a happy medium? Well, I think I have one option.

The W210 is a very fine chassis in my eyes. Granted, I’m biased as I own one, but they are seemingly sturdy cars as long as you keep them away from constant moisture and salt. All the gas engines in car are equally as fine, but thankfully the US market was blessed with a gem of a diesel, the OM606. This 3.0 liter inline-six replaced the OM603, which replaced the OM617, so we have good lineage here. It was available in turbo and non-turbo, with today’s car I want to look at, a 1997 E300, being the non-turbo. Much like Mercedes diesels of past, this one has a lot of miles, but probably also has good years left in it as well.

CLICK FOR DETAILS: 1997 Mercedes-Benz E300 on eBay

Year: 1997
Model: E300
VIN: WDBJF20F9VJ031329
Engine: Diesel 3.0 liter Inline-6
Transmission: 5-speed automatic
Mileage: 211,886 mi
Location: Crozier, Virginia
Price: $3,990 Buy It Now

Year
Make
Model
Mileage
Engine
1997
Mercedes-Benz
E-Class Diesel
211,886
3.0L DOHC 24-Valve In-Line Diesel 6-Cyl Engine

The OM606 is certainly a more modern and sophisticated engine than the old iron lung OM617, but a power house it is not in naturally aspirated form. Just 134 horsepower and 155 lb-ft of torque motivate a lot of sedan, but the name of the game here isn’t speed, it’s efficiency and reliability. Seeing over 30 miles per gallon on the highway is very doable in these, and even high 20s around town. The turbo OM606 bumped up power significantly with 174 horsepower and 243 lb-ft of torque if you can’t stand slow. One of the not-so-fun things about these is the glow plugs are hidden under the intake manifold, so replacing them isn’t as easy as the OM617 and they do like to snap off in the head, but it isn’t something you are doing so often anyway. Everything else is pretty straight forward, just stay up on your routine maintenance and you’ll be fine.

This example in Virginia comes in well used with 211,000 miles, but the most important thing is it doesn’t look rusty. If it had any kind of rust scabs on it, it’d run away, but I can’t see any from the photos. The interior isn’t torn up either, which is always nice, and looks like it just needs a heavy cleaning. The asking price is just $4,000, which I think is pretty fair for what you are getting. This can be a work horse commuter car without a doubt and cost you very little money in the process. Not a bad deal at all, and it probably has another 211,000 miles left in it. That is, as long as it doesn’t see salt.

– Andrew

Not to be the guy who says “I told you so”, but I’ve been singing the praises of the W210 Mercedes-Benz E55 AMG for years now. Biased? Of course. I bought two of these cars, one gifted to my father, and one for me, and both remain today. Mine stays tucked under the cover in the garage and maybe sees the light of day once a month while my father, although a retiree, daily drives his and just crossed 205,000 miles on it. Both of them were purchased when they were probably at their lowest point in worth, and as luck would have it, prime examples are starting to pull really strong money. I know that is a little bit of an outlier, but the rising tide lifts all boats unless you are talking about an example that is ready for the junkyard. Are there deals still out there for these cars? Yes, I think so. Higher mileage examples and ones that need a little love can still be had under $10,000, but I think as the years go on, those examples will be put out to pasture and only the strongest will survive. This 1999 up for sale in California sure is a strong example with just 54,000 miles, but are you willing to pay the price now hoping the prices will continue to creep upwards?

CLICK FOR DETAILS: 1999 Mercedes-Benz E55 AMG on eBay

Year: 1999
Model: E55 AMG
VIN: WDBJF74H5XA948733
Engine: 5.4 Liter V8
Transmission: 5-speed automatic
Mileage: 54,500 mi
Location: Orange, California
Price: $15,000 Buy It Now

Excellent condition. Stock.

Service records, all books, tools, 3 keys.

Everything works. Interior is clean.

Eight months ago replaced the rear main seal, front lower seal, crankshaft position sensor, engine mounts, lower ball joints, and spark plugs, as well as performed a transmission service/flush.

Three months ago replaced all fluids including radiator flushed.

AC blows cold, heat is good.

Collector owned as a daily driver.

Clean Carfax/Autocheck

The 1999 model year from the 1999-2002 run of the W210 E55 has always been a little bit of a black sheep since the W210 received a rather large facelift in 2000. The bumpers are different, along the hood, tail lights, and even the mirrors. Inside, 2000 up received a new steering wheel, gauge cluster, shifter pattern, and seats. Is all that worth seeking a 2000-2002 example? In my eyes, very much so. Even so this car looks really nice and has just a few flaws, but honestly nothing that gives me pause. The service history looks good and there are no outstanding issues stated. The chrome wheels are take them or leave them, but at least they are still there.

I’m curious what is going on with this one. It sold on Bring a Trailer back in May but now is up for sale again with a few hundred more miles. You can see it hammered for $14,500 but now is listed for $500 more. Tough to argue that since the market literally determined this price, so I can’t really say it isn’t worth it. If the story checks out, I have no reason to say this isn’t a good buy. Is it the best deal ever? Of course not. But I think if you want to hold on to this one for a few years, you won’t lose a penny.

– Andrew

I hate to go on a run of W140 Mercedes-Benz Coupes, but I couldn’t pass this one up. This is a 1997 CL500 up for sale in Victoria, Australia is finished in the lovely shade of Aquamarine Blue. It surely isn’t the traditional black/white/gray, and in the grand scheme of things, I think that is a good thing. While I love my Brilliant Silver Metallic, sometimes you just need a little color. Aquamarine thankfully isn’t garish and is looks pretty good in my eyes on such a hefty car such as the C140. This car being in Australia also means a few things. One, it is a European-spec, which is a always a good thing. But that also means it is right-hand drive. So your options are limited in countries you’d want to own this car in unless you are a giant fan of blindly merging onto the highway because of this massive C-pillar on this car.

CLICK FOR DETAILS: 1997 Mercedes-Benz CL500 on Benz World

Year: 1997
Model: CL500
VIN: N/A
Engine: 5.0 liter V8
Transmission: 5-speed automatic
Mileage: 211,881 km (131,656 mi)
Location: Victoria, Australia
Price: $16,800 AUD ($11,542 USD)

Opportunity to purchase a young classic in remarkable condition inside, outside and underneath. Inspection is a must to appreciate the condition.

I have owned the car for four years – 13,000kms driven during that time with investment in part refurbs for the next owner. Invoices retained.

– the blower motor has been refurbished recently

– brake discs and pads replaced OEM 5,000kms ago

– air flow sensor replaced with genuine

– 12 month service intervals carried out by specialised workshop

– seat belt extenders repaired

– transmission serviced

– power steering pump and box replaced recently

– personalized euro plates fitted “VCL140”

– the only issue is the right side mirror, it was recently taken out and has shell damage.. cheap glass used as an interim repair

Regretful sale due to the sports car itch…

$16,800 incl. RWC

One of the wonderful things about European-spec W140, and thus disappointing things for North Americans, is they have slimmer bumpers. The front and rears are a couple inches shorter and retain the original design of the car as Mercedes attended, not a comprise just to get them to sell in North America because of our short-sighted regulations. This ends up giving the car a much tighter appearance and while it is tough to spot, you can usually tell just by looking at the side profile to see less of an overhang on the front and rear. Also the Euro cars could be optioned with the 18″ Eltanin wheels that this CL currently wears. You can find these in the US from those who have imported a set, but generally they aren’t cheap.

As for this car itself, it surely looks nice from what I can see in the less than ideal photos. It looks like it has been loved despite the 130,000 miles, but honestly that isn’t a big deal at all on the M119. The asking price of $16,800 AUD ($11,542 USD) would be fair if this was a US car, but I’m not sure how this compares in the Australia market because the used car market is literally its own ecosystem as Australia is an island after all. If this was in the US and wasn’t right-hand drive, $11,500 is a good buy given the color and condition. The grass is always greener, I suppose.

– Andrew

For as many really cool cars that I take a look at that have price tags north of $50,000 and a lot of times even $100,000, there are still some cars out there for almost no money at all and not because they’ve been sitting at a bottom of lake and/or running on two cylinders. Case in point, today’s car, a 1984 Mercedes-Benz 280SE. This is a German-market car that was never sold in the US and is as bottom of the range as you can get in the W126 hierarchy. Cloth interior, manual climate control, manual rear windows, and a not-so-powerful (but trusty) inline-six gas engine. Still, this is bottom of the barrel price for what looks like a really clean car. How can you say no?

CLICK FOR DETAILS: 1984 Mercedes-Benz 280SE on eBay

Year: 1984
Model: 280SE
VIN: WDB1260221A013702
Engine: 2.8 liter inline-6
Transmission: 4-speed automatic
Mileage: 114,135 mi
Location: Auburn, Washington
Price: $3,692 Buy It Now

Here’s another great-running & driving, low-mileage Mercedes we’ve recently acquired. From the moment I first laid eyes on this unusual sedan, it was obvious that respect and care were given over the years. There aren’t many left out there in this condition and brings to mind an old saying from the vintage collector world: “Any car can be restored, given enough time & money, but it can only be factory original once!”

Here’s a little background history we’ve uncovered while going over the car:

This 280SE sold new in September, 1983 at L. Gernandt KG in Wetzlar, Germany and was legally imported to the states in the early 1990’s by its second owner. After passing through the Port of New York, it was on to Rhode Island where the Mercedes was sparingly driven only during spring and summer months. Upon his 2003 retirement, the second owner moved here to the Pacific Northwest on picturesque Whidbey Island (an hour north of Seattle) and had the car shipped to his new home. That same year he decided to have a factory new engine installed and spent nearly $8,000 to do so (complete receipts come with the car along with factory books as pictured). Now, due to advancing age, it’s time to find the next caretaker.

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION

So, when was the last time you saw, or have ever come across, a European W126 sedan? I highly doubt you can find another like it here in the U.S. with fewer than 114,500 original miles. I’ve always appreciated the appearance of these boulevard cruisers. To be clear, this car is legally titled, having been brought to U.S. specs upon arrival. Standard repair parts and service are easily available, the same as any U.S. version. I’ve got to tell you, having driven the car quite a number of miles over the past few weeks, what a treat! Where else will you find this kind of luxury, vintage style, safety, mechanical reliability, ease-of-maintenance AND power wrapped up in one gorgeous ride? Please feel free to contact me with questions or to make an offer before the auction ends. My name is Mark and my direct phone number is (206) 914-1173. You’re encouraged to come inspect and test drive the car here at my Auburn warehouse. All photos here on this Ebay listing were taken on 09/13/2019.

Ever driven a Mercedes W126-body with the bullet-proof 2.8-liter DOHC engine? Smooth is the word for sure. Smooth powerful acceleration. Smooth handling in the curves or on the highway, too. Look over the photos and you’ve gotta agree with me what a great find this is. Climb over, under and all around this car – I know you’ll come up smiling!! What you see is the result of a wash and vacuum only.

CONDITION

In total, this is a clean, original, well-cared-for, smoke-free vehicle. I take pride in what we offer here on Ebay and feel that you should know as much about the Benz as possible. Accordingly, here are my impressions: Hop in, turn the key, even when cold starting, and the powerful in-line six fires immediately every time. The car idles, runs and drives like a Mercedes is supposed to – instant, strong oil pressure (consistently high, even at idle) smooth up and down shift, a strong battery and charging system, no overheating, absolutely no brake pull to either side and no perceived alignment or suspension issues. Not many W126 models in the 280SE variant made their way to North America. Occasionally one can be sourced from Benz club members or an overseas contact. Having personally owned more than thirty Mercedes over the years, I’ve developed a great appreciation for their style, mechanical reliability and overall driving experience. THIS CAR RUNS OUT JUST AS IT WAS MEANT TO. I TRULY HAVE NEVER DRIVEN A CLEANER VINTAGE BENZ THAT I’VE LIKED BETTER!! I know you’ll be proud to own and drive it as well.

It’s quite obvious the sedan has been continuously garaged as it appears to still be in the original silver metallic paint. I’d call it 8.5 out of 10. There are certainly no rust issues, having been kept off snowy roads and away from corroding salt. Both front fenders, the four wheel wells and all other major metal surfaces appear solid with NO rust bubbles coming up under the paint as you’ll often find on a Midwest or East Coast vehicle. There are a few expected, very small paint chips and dings here and there, but no large dents. The original factory wheels are straight and true. They’re wrapped with Michelin radials, each having at least 80% – 90% remaining tread, but are older so I’d suggest replacement soon.

Take another good look at the interior pics. Hop in and feel comfortable sitting on these firm bucket seats for hours. Over the years I’ve come to appreciate the velour-type fabric used on the Euro-model seats and door panels as it seems to hold up much better than almost all Mercedes leather. The wood trim is good as pictured with one small section missing There’s no evidence of water leakage on the headliner or original factory carpets. Both the speedo and mileage counters work properly. A/C is a bit of a rarity on European models, but its factory installed on this one! The system is complete, however I’m guessing will need a recharge to function. The heater/defroster are working well, as is the blower fan.

Buyers in Europe back in the 1980’s had more interior configuration choices than American dealers offered. This 280SE has power front windows (the driver’s is a bit sticky) and hand-cranks in the rear. The power sunroof opens and closes. It is quite unusual to find a factory Blaupunkt still working and the owner wisely replaced it with a Sony AM-FM years ago. The jack and alloy mounted spare are in the trunk as shown. The original first aid kit still sits safely tucked away unopened in its package shelf storage bin.

I’m always very happy to work with any shipper you choose, and we have experience shipping vehicles all over the world (being an Autobahn cruiser, I won’t be surprised if this nice Mercedes ends up going home to Germany!). If you live in the western hemisphere, you might consider doing what many previous buyers from as far away as Alaska, Arizona, the Midwest, Canada, Florida, New York and even the Mexican Baja have done – fly in here to Seattle (We’ll pick you up at Sea-Tac International just a few miles away) and then start a road trip home the same day! As a respected Ebay seller with many satisfied online buyers, I want you to bid with confidence knowing that this Benz runs and drives as it should AND that it is being properly represented to you! Please don’t be upset if I miss a minor flaw or some small issue comes up as NO used vehicle is ever perfect. Having said that, I would not hesitate to drive long distance in this Mercedes!

Please check the photos over closely and call me with any questions BEFORE you place a bid! You’re encouraged to stop by, inspect the car at my Auburn, WA warehouse and take it for a test drive. As always, it is being sold “as-is, where-is” with a clean, free & clear Washington State title. Because of the amount of money involved with a vehicle purchase, I reserve the right to cancel your bid if you have any negative feedback and also ask that potential bidders with a feedback rating of five or fewer Ebay feedbacks contact me before placing their bid. Please do so directly through EBay’s message system or, as outlined above, call me at 206/914-1173 anytime.

Just a couple things with this one seem a little off. Chief among those are that the front seats, at least the coverings, aren’t factory. The pattern should match that of the rear seats and the door panels, but these seem to be a generic fabric. They did do a good job matching the color, and it is easy to be fooled on this one if you don’t know what you’re looking at. Outside, there are some bumps and bruises on the bumpers and the US-spec headlights are there as this car was imported before the 25-year period of exemption. Under the hood, the seller says that is a replacement M110 which is interesting and probably a plus given the car’s age. The rest looks surprisingly intact and doesn’t seem to be rusty at all which is probably the most important thing.

I’m really surprised that this car is only $3,700. In a world where dealers try to get every penny from you, this is a good price from a private party, let alone from a business that needs to make money. This could be a solid highway cruiser if you need that in our life or even just a fun car to tinker with and drive around. It isn’t going to bankrupt you at all as there really isn’t anything all that expensive on this car and it even comes with a nice set of Michelin tires. No qualms on this one, I’d go for it.

– Andrew

You might not believe this, but 15 years ago Mercedes-Benz produced a car that hasn’t depreciated to nearly nothing. For a four year stretch from 2005 to 2008, the SL65 AMG was the king of the castle when it came to torque and horsepower in a car like this. The twin-turbocharged M275 6.0 liter V12 made 604 horsepower and 738 lb-ft of torque in a manner that you could really drive everyday. It wasn’t peaky power like you’d get from some of the Italian brands that make this kind of horsepower, but rather all torque as you expected that is enough to burn through tires that you have them on automatic reorder from Amazon. I’m not going to lie, as soft as the R230 is, the little touches to make the SL65 unique really do give it a more aggressive stance. This 2005 up for sale in Wisconsin that I wanted to check out today also has a little secret to make this one even a little more crazy.

CLICK FOR DETAILS: 2005 Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG on eBay

Year: 2005
Model: SL65 AMG
VIN: WDBSK79F05F091874
Engine: 6.0 liter twin-turbocharged V12
Transmission: 5-speed automatic
Mileage: 79,812 mi
Location: Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin
Price: $28,900 Buy It Now

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION

Relisting Due to a Unpaying Bidder
Performance Meets Luxury With this AMG SL65
Tuned (Eurotech Tune) 685HP/855FT-LBS Bi-Turbo V12
5-Speed Automatic Transmission
Black on Black Color Combo
Parktronic Park Assist Package
Keyless Go Package
Xenon Headlamps
Heated and Cooled Seats
Electronic Trunk Closure
Carbon Fiber Interior Trim Package
Panorama Roof with Sunshade
Retractable Power Hardtop
Navigation and Satellite Radio
Only 79,812 Miles
Recently Serviced and Extremely Clean
Runs and Drives Great. These Cars are the Perfect Blend of Performance and Luxury!

How do you make an already too powerful car into something that can probably pull your house off the foundation? Give it a ECU tune to bump the power numbers to 685 horsepower and 855 lb-ft of torque of course. I’m trying to figure out how exactly you would use that kind of power as the moment you hit the throttle the traction control says “Easy there, buddy”. If you are crazy enough to turn traction control off, you have to then go and manually reorder your new set of rear tires from Amazon as they’ll be turned into those rubber pellets that they use on AstroTurf fields. All kidding aside, this does look like a really nice example even with 80,000 miles. This kind of mileage is rare as the consumables are rather expensive on SL65 like the brakes, and even the coil packs and spark plugs.

Like I mentioned earlier, these can’t be bought for $9,000 like almost every single other Mercedes-Benz produced in 2005. Outside of some rare exceptions, around $30,000 is the floor for one of these and really exceptional ones can sell for close to $50,000. This one comes in at $28,900, which I think is fair given the mileage. As long as there isn’t any outstanding servicing needs, you probably aren’t going to lose with this example. However, I must caution that you absolutely do need to stay on top of everything with this car. A running appointment with your mechanic probably wouldn’t be a bad idea at all just to keep your fluids fresh regardless of mileage. If you can swing it, have at it. Just don’t crash into me when your foot hovers over the throttle.

– Andrew

Last week I took at one of the better deals I’ve come across of late with a 1984 Mercedes-Benz 280SE that could be had for a mere $3,700. It was far from a perfect example, but all things considered, a nice car for the little amount of money. No surprise – it sold quickly. It was an interesting example because when it comes to the W126, the two models that pop into your head are usually the top of the range 560SEL or tried and true 300SD. Both fine engines, but if given the choice, I am taking the OM617. Of course that leads me to today’s car, a 1984 300SD up for sale in Maryland with just 44,000 miles. Unlike the 280SE from last week, this car is much nicer and to me is quite the looker. However, are you ready to pony up for it?

CLICK FOR DETAILS: 1984 Mercedes-Benz 300SD on eBay

Year: 1984
Model: 300SD
VIN: WDBCB20A8EA067859
Engine: 3.0 liter Turbodiesel Inline-5
Transmission: 4-speed automatic
Mileage: 43,954 mi
Location: Gaithersburg, Maryland
Price: $15,490 Buy It Now

1984 Mercedes Benz 300SD in Orient Red over Palomino Leather.
Complete time capsule survivor with only 43k miles. No rust whatsoever. Runs and drives perfect.
Inquire for more details. Call or text 202-258-2428. Serious inquiries only. Do not submit an offer unless you have funds ready and intend to purchase.
Thanks

Its nice to see some color on these normally drab cars and this one finished in Orient Red is just cherry. Its a wonderful 1980s styling with the grey lower cladding and when you open the doors its a sea of Palomino leather. It looks like whoever owned this one prior to this dealer snagging it did some little upgrades like adding a later model shift knob and wiring some USB power into the lower center console tray. This car surely looks like it has 44,000 miles, but it does seem odd there are no engine photos. The dealer has a bunch of underside shots that seems like everything is great, but I can’t imagine they just forgot to take engine photos. A little strange, no?

The ask on this one is $15,500 which compared to past examples that have sold, seems to be pretty reasonable. Obviously prices are all over the map for W126 300SDs, but the cream of the crop do seem to change hands at these prices every so often and still do have a soft spot in people’s hearts as one of the best cars ever made. For me to pay this price, I’d think I’d need to do a deep dive into the history and the service records as if this car just has been sitting, it is really easy to spend $2,500 on a bunch of little stuff to get it to a good baseline. However, if everything checks out and this is a turn-key car, I don’t see it as being a bad buy. Just make sure to keep it this nice and you’ll be rewarded.

– Andrew

I think the days of picking up a nice W124 Mercedes-Benz coupe for very little money is probably over. I remember only a few years ago where a decent example could be had for $4,200 or so and everyone would leave happy. The last year or so? Not so much. Most have been trading in the $10,000 ballpark with some really nice examples selling for much more. Yes, you can probably find a handful of 300CEs that need some love for much less than 10k, but how much as you spending to get it back up to snuff?

That brings me to today’s example, a 1990 up for sale New Jersey that has just over 100,000 miles on the odometer. It looks to be well looked after and not beat up at all. But I think the problem with this car is interesting color scheme of Signal Red with the slightly darker lower cladding. Is it garish? Probably. Is it old enough where a crazy paint scheme is now considered cool? Maybe so.

CLICK FOR DETAILS: 1990 Mercedes-Benz 300CE on eBay

Year: 1990
Model: 300CE
VIN: WDBEA51DXLB201414
Engine: 3.0 liter inline-6
Transmission: 4-speed automatic
Mileage: 105,850 mi
Location: Naples, Florida
Price: $7,797 Buy It Now

The stereotypical clichs are inevitable. When discussing Mercedes-Benz cars built in the last century, the same old concepts arise: precise Teutonic engineering, impeccable quality, enviable durability, bank-vault solidity. Yet, as with some stereotypes, thereâ€s truth in there, especially when the discussion centers around the 124 chassis 300/E-Class, and its low-production Coupe and Cabriolet. They were the ultimate expressions of the mid-range Benz, with conservative-yet-influential design, premium materials, lively straight-six engines and price tags that ensured exclusivity. Many have said that this generation of E-Class cars represents the last old-guard, engineers-in-charge, cost-no-object Benzes, and we wonâ€t disagree.This is a fine example of an iconic 1990 Mercedes-Benz 300CE coupe. Well maintained with extensive services. A lovely Red exterior over Tan leather interior and only 105K miles. Recently serviced, new valve cover gaskets,new A/C Compressor and new tires. Vehicle is equipped with power seats, power door locks, factory alarm, and more. Books, and 3 keys. Call 239-330-7696 for any questions or further details.

I’m really not sure how Mercedes green-lighted this color scheme back in the 1990s. You’ll see it sometimes on the R129 as well, but when you look at it you can see that maybe at first glance your eyes will trick you into thinking they are the same color, but after really focusing in you can see they are clearly not. I can probably overlook this and rock it, but it certainly it wouldn’t be my first color choice. Inside, some neat beige with wood that isn’t cracked is all that is required, and this delivers.

The asking price? Just $7,800. I would say that is probably where this one should be priced given the condition and the fact that this is a 1990 that has the M104 but still has the pre-facelift body style. I think you won’t lose a dime on this one if you keep the miles in check as well as the condition. I do think you’d maybe have a little smaller market given the color, but they’ll always be a market given the reputation of the C124. As long as this one checks out on a PPI, not a bad buy at all.

– Andrew

The US-spec C107 Mercedes-Benz SLC probably isn’t going to win any beauty contests. Mercedes had their hands tied with bumper and headlight regulations and probably knew people were going to buy their cars regardless, so they put a band aid on it and that is what we live with. In countries who didn’t have to live with antiquated regulations, things were much better. Slim chrome bumpers and flat headlights plus some engine and transmission choices that made everything just a little bit more exciting. Luck would have it, this is what we have today.

This is a 1980 280SLC that was sold new in Germany and imported to California some time ago. It has the M110 2.8 liter inline-6 paired with a 4-speed manual gearbox, a combo that is rare to say the least. This seems like a far cry from the lumpy V8 and sluggish automatic that was offered to the US buyers when new. Is this a Porsche 911 or E30 BMW M3? Of course not. It’s a car that wasn’t very attractive nor fun to drive and is now slight less of that. Right?

CLICK FOR DETAILS: 1980 Mercedes-Benz 280SLC on eBay

Year: 1980
Model: 280SLC
VIN: WDB10702210009082
Engine: 2.8 liter inline-6
Transmission: 4-speed manual
Mileage: 121,504 mi
Location: La Crescenta, California
Price: No Reserve Auction

1980 Mercedes Benz 280SLC 4 Speed European Model
VIN: WDB10702210009082
Very rare factory 4 speed manual transmission
Rare and very desirable color of astral silver (color code 735H)
121,500 original and documented miles
Clean CA title
California Car
Rust free
Single family owned and imported directly from Germany
20 years of immense amount of records adding up to over $17,000
Motor rebuilt 12,000 miles ago totaling $8000
Sunroof works and functions properly
Hand crank windows
CA BAR sticker
Recently passed CA smog
European lights and bumpers in great condition
A/C has been converted to R134a
Side window louvers in excellent condition
Wood grain is in excellent condition
Original spare tire
Original glass through out the car
Located in Los Angeles, CA

Recent work includes the following:
120,600 miles: Alpine head unit ($500)
120,139 miles: Complete exhaust system with catalytic converter ($1000)
118,919 miles: Replaced injectors and fuel distributor ($799)
117,360 miles: Replaced blower motor, vacuum hoses, set timing ($1106)
116,389 miles: Replaced fuel pump, fuel filter, fuel line, fuel hose ($698)
114,00 miles: Replaced clutch master cylinder, gearshift boot, bleed system ($335)
112,839 miles: Replace A/C high pressure hose, recharge A/C system ($886)
109,117 miles: Replace sub frame and motor mounts, R&R engine; install rebuilt long block, replace clutch, pressure plates, and release bearings ($7999)

This is a very unique SLC due to the fact it has the lightweight and very peppy M110 engine (inline 6 cylinder with a dual overhead cam) mated to a factory 4 speed getrag transmission. This combo makes this car light and nimble allowing for great acceleration and even better handling. After driving many 107s (300SL, 280SL 4 and 5 speeds, 500SL, 560SL, 380SL, 350SLC 4 speed, 350SL 4 speed, 380SLC, and a 450SLC) the 280SLC 4 speed is hands down the best 107 for a very enjoyable driving experience. Being a coupe, this chassis has less flex and more rigidity while driving which enhances handling and minimizes noise. The roadster version with the removable hard top is prone to rattling and water/air leaking in. Further more, this example is finished in the rare color combo of astral silver over black leather which is near impossible to come across in a 280SLC 4 speed.

Overall this car is very original with some very rare options such as a manual windows, a 4 speed getrag gearbox, A/C, and much more. The 6 cylinder motor mated to the 4 speed gearbox gives the driver a very raw and visceral driving experience. This SLC is ready to be driven daily or enjoyed cruising to cars and coffee on Saturdays. It doesn’t leak or smoke and has a very strong motor. The car starts right up every time and drives very tight. The paint is in good shape for its age with some minor imperfections. The car is being sold ASIS, a PPI is encouraged. International buyers are welcomed. Deposit is non-refundable. Feel free to email me with any questions. Please serious buyers only.

For as good as this car looks, a perfect example it is not. It does have some really strong points like a rebuilt engine and a laundry lists of things replaced, but it is a little tired inside and out. You can see some of the stitching on the leather is starting to break away in some important spots. Wear and patina is cool, trashed isn’t and I think this one is getting close to the latter. Thankfully the expensive wood is all together and doesn’t need to be sorted, but it is on the verge of cracking if exposed to more extreme temperatures. Kudos to the seller for actually putting together a half decent listing and not just taking four photos and saying “good enough”.

This one looks like it is running no reserve, but that doesn’t really mean anything anymore. If it doesn’t sell for what the seller wants, then oh well. I do think this one eclipses $10,000 easily, but I’m not sure where this one will stop. It is tough to gauge imported cars that we don’t normally see, and even more so when it has a bunch of engine transmission combos that rarely come up. Can’t wait to see where this one ends.

– Andrew

As I get older and my head gains an alarming amount of grey hairs, my patience and desire for “projects” is growing thin. I have no problem working on cars, but my time seems to be sucked up by other things that aren’t getting covered in diesel fuel when changing a pre-filter. This is leads me away from saying things like “Oh, this car on Craigslist only needs $2,900 in parts and 10 hours of labor. I can swing that”. Instead, I’m finding myself just clicking the back button and not even considering cars that aren’t nearly turn-key.

Thankfully there are a handful of older cars out there that are still turn-key and need very little. This 1979 Mercedes-Benz 300CD up for sale in Oregon might just be one of those. It certainly looks like a time capsule both inside and out, as well as the most important area, under the hood. I wish this one wasn’t 3,000 miles away.

CLICK FOR DETAILS: 1979 Mercedes-Benz 300CD on eBay

Year: 1979
Model: 300CD
VIN: 12315012004613
Engine: 3.0 liter Turbodiesel Inline-5
Transmission: 4-speed automatic
Mileage: 109,000 mi
Location: Tualatin, Oregon
Price: Reserve Auction

1979 Mercedes 300 CD turbo diesel coupe only 109 K miles in excellent condition. All original, a perfect 10. The 300 CD diesel coupe was made from 1978 to 1985 and only 8007 of these amazing cars were made. Carpets and dash in perfect condition, 2 Keys, The tires are like new and rims in great condition as well. There is no deferred maintenance and this car drives great. Spent $959 for transmission service, new battery and fuel lines, no rust, non smoker, no pets. This car is gorgeous and might be the nicest 1979 with low miles left. All the windows and sunroof and lights work great. The engine is amazing and the hood insulation is perfect.Trunk has carpet and also a rubber winter mat and is like new.The car has been garaged and all the paint is 40 years old original and is showroom, the interior wood is perfect and no odors in the car, I would not hesitate to drive this car to the east coast at a moments notice. The car does not have a rock chip on it, Seats are still firm, Original radio, Original spare, The entire car is all original and is really my pride and joy. It shows no weathering.

This being a 1979 means you have a naturally-aspirated OM617, which in my opinion, isn’t a bad engine at all. While you do give up some power, these engines are far less likely to leak oil from all the additional seals that are required on the turbocharged models. On the downside, you are cursed by the Chrysler automatic climate control, a system I wouldn’t wish on my worse enemies, because they even deserve to at least have functioning heat in their car. The burl wood looks outstanding, and the seats seem to be nice and firm. These photos provided are pretty terrible, so you’ll have to fill in the rest, but I’m not seeing any inconsistencies.

This should be a $10,000 or more car all day given the condition. These must of been a really soft and careful 109,000 miles, because usually these cars took a beating and put up with it. I’d imagine the seller is looking for top dollar and I don’t blame him, but like anything, it might be too much.

– Andrew

Mercedes-Benz turner Brabus is never one to pull any punches. When they go “all in” on a build, they don’t hold back and usually produce something that has so much power that it is almost useless in any kind of normal driving situation. Impressive outputs aren’t the end of the spec sheet, as they’ll usually throw some bumpers, wheels, and most importantly, brakes on the car as well. Most of the time you get a fairly conservative design in terms of tuner companies, but sometimes you get some stuff that really went off the deep end.

Today, as luck would have it, a 2004 S600 popped up for sale in Philadelphia with the Brabus T12 package on it. The W220 S600 was already a pretty powerful car with the M275 twin-turbo V12, but if you give Brabus a check for nearly $60,000, they’ll make it even better. How much better?

CLICK FOR DETAILS: 2004 Mercedes-Benz S600 Brabus T12 on eBay

Year: 2004
Model: S600 Brabus T12
VIN: WDBNG76J54A387363
Engine: 5.5 liter twin-turbocharged V12
Transmission: 5-speed automatic
Mileage: 102,411 mi
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Price: $38,000 Buy It Now

– Chassis # WDBNG76J54A387363
– 580 Horsepower Twin-Turbo Aluminum V-12 Engine
– The Brabus North America Show Car
– Nearly $260,000 In Comprehensive Receipts From New
– Outstanding Condition Both Cosmetically And Mechanically
– Includes Window Sticker, Brabus Build Sheet, Books, Tools, Spare, Brabus Sales Documents,
And Extensive Service File

Among the world of Mercedes-Benz tuners, there are two names that stand head and shoulders above the rest; AMG and Brabus. With the full acquisition of AMG by Daimler AG in 2005, Brabus was left as the go-to independent tuner for all things Mercedes-Benz. The original brains behind Brabus, Bodo Buschmann, was interested in customizing his Mercedes and found that the existing tuners simply couldn’t meet his requirements, so he decided to take it upon himself to provide the Benz world with superior aftermarket support. The Brabus company name was first registered in 1977 and due to a German law requiring companies to be founded with 2 people was derived from the founder’s surnames of Brackmann and Buschmann. Brabus found immediate success and opened its first dedicated showroom in 1983, where customers could buy prebuilt Brabus versions of Mercedes offerings or bring their personal car in for custom touches. Over the years, the company has grown immensely and offers everything from aero and body trim pieces to full-on custom hand-built engines for the Mercedes platform and has remained the pinnacle of independent Mercedes-Benz tuning and customization.

The example on offer here, chassis number WDBNG76J54A387363, is a 2004 Brabus T12 Sedan. This T12 is an astounding one-owner example, residing its entire life in Arizona and has been meticulously cared for in an open checkbook manner. This car started life as a top of the line 2004 Mercedes-Benz S600 which features a 5.5 liter twin-turbo aluminum V-12 engine with a sticker price of just over $133,000. It was sent immediately to Brabus, where it would be transformed into the T12 version. Once at Brabus it was fitted with over $57,000 worth of upgrades which included the following:

– Front and Rear Bumper Kit
– Brabus illuminated side skirts
– Lowering kit for ABC cars
– T12 power kit which increased power from 517 hp to 580 hp and 663 lb/ft of torque
– Brabus quad exhaust kit
– Brabus Brembo front brake kit
– Brabus Monoblock V1 wheels
– Brabus burl walnut electric folding tables in the rear
– Extensive Multimedia kit consisting of 6.5-inch monitors in the headrests, 6-disc DVD changer, TV tuner, wireless headphones, and an Xbox gaming system
– Glass tinting

Once completed, this example would go on to be Brabus’s North American Show Car and would be displayed at the 2004 LA Auto Show. In a testament to the thorough nature of the documentation that is included with this car, passes and Brabus VIP badges from the 2004 LA Auto Show are included with the car among a host of other Brabus related material as well as thorough service records. This car has been under single ownership since being sold by Brabus and has been meticulously maintained by reputable marque specialists with a chain of unbroken service records dating back to late 2003. This T12 has lived its entire life in the dry and car-friendly climate of Scottsdale Arizona. The most recent service documents are from May of 2019 and include replacing control arm bushings as well as fixing a stuck shade screen in the rear of the car. As it sits today, this car has 102,411 miles from new but appears both cosmetically and mechanically as if it could have 25,000. It has been absolutely exquisitely maintained and remains in fantastic condition all around despite the mileage. Given its heritage, original sticker price, as well as incredibly thorough service history, this 2004 Brabus T12 is an absolute bargain of a Mercedes-Benz powerhouse. This Brabus T12 may not be considered a traditional classic car but what it does have going for it is rarity, usability, as well as an immense fun factor. Given these attributes, this car would make for the perfect interesting vehicle to add to a daily driver rotation or would be perfect for fun outings with the family.

Included with the sale of this car is the original window sticker, extensive service documents, Brabus build sheet, Brabus sales materials, original books, tools, and spare.

EXTERIOR
Body And Paint
This Brabus T12 is finished in Obsidian Black from the factory and the paint remains in fantastic condition despite the mileage. The color is deep and consistent around the whole car. Given the mileage, there is some very minor stone chipping in the front section of the body, likely from normal use. The front bumper has some very minor webbing cracks near the driver’s side fog lights. There are a few other very minor chips in the paint in high wear areas such as the edge of the driver’s side door, but most of these require a very thorough eye in order to locate. The body is very straight with nice smooth panels and excellent door gas etc. There are no signs of abuse or neglect and the exterior of the car remains in excellent condition.

Glass And Trim
The windows were tinted by Brabus at the time of the build and they remain in excellent condition all around. The tints are dark, providing the privacy one would expect from a car of this caliber, but still allow enough light in to properly illuminate the interior as well as to keep good visibility all around the cabin. There is some minor de-lamination occurring on the driver’s side rear window but nothing serious. The headlights are clean and clear but do show some pitting in the plastic. The fog lights which are located in the custom Brabus bumper do have some cracking in the lenses. The taillights appear in great condition with no issues to note. The anodized trim around the windows is smooth and clean with a top-notch finish and the rubber gaskets backing the trim appear supple and solid.

Wheels
The large 20 inch Brabus monoblock wheels are in good condition however they are a bit more representative of the mileage. The polished finish is clean but does show some swirling and there is some minor curb rash on some of the wheels.

INTERIOR
Seats And Surfaces
The interior of this Brabus T12 has been maintained in fantastic condition. The Charcoal leather seats throughout the car remain smooth, tight, and free of any issues. They all have solid bolsters and appear to perform all of their numerous powered functions as they should. The carpets are good order, showing minimal wear and good color. The Brabus branded floor mats are in good shape as well, however, the front driver’s side has begun to bunch up a little, an easily removable issue. There is some scratching on the Brabus branded driver’s side door sill, but nothing worth making an attempt to fix. There are some minor knicks in the leather of the doors where (likely) someone with rings on would open and close the doors. This is present on both the driver’s side front and rear doors. The finish on the parking brake release has started peel and there is some additional normal wear on some of the more heavily utilized buttons and switches. The headliner is nice and tight with no staining or sagging to speak of. Overall the interior remains in outstanding condition and one would be hard-pressed to find a run of the mill S600, with these miles, in this kind of outstanding condition. Add on the fact that this is no run of the mill S600 and you have a recipe for something truly special.

Please contact us for a complete description and photo set on this exceptional car.

This was actually a show piece for Brabus at the 2004 LA Auto Show so needless to say, they went all out on it. The full works on the exterior, 19″ wheels, upgraded front Brembo brakes, some light interior touches, and an increased horsepower to 580 horsepower and 663 lb-ft of torque. I’m usually not into the cosmetic changes that tuners make because usually they are a little too over the top, but the black does a good job of masking all the aggressive bits on the body and it is just enough to know that this is a different car. It looks like the displacement stayed at 5.5 liter because I think that Brabus was taking this cars up to 6.2 liters on later M275 cars. Believe it or not, this example actually has over 100,000 miles on it, so that probably says a lot about the longevity of what they built in the past.

A cheap W220 this is not. The asking price of $38,000 is steep for any W220, S65 AMG included. Is this a better car than a S65? I don’t think honestly. You can’t really blame Brabus as the S65 was still years away so they probably thought this was the route to go as the S55 was using the M113K, not a V12, and an S65 wasn’t yet announced. I think you’d have to be the ultimate Brabus lover to consider the car at this price tag. If this was $25,000? Sign me up. However, $38,000 for any W220 with over 100,000 miles is a tough ask. A bargain compared to the $190,000 it took to make this car happen, but then again, so is a 2006 S65 that can be had for much less than also retailed for that same $190,000.

– Andrew

Who says you can’t go home again? It seems like now more than ever the demand for nostalgic cars is thriving. Not just the really good stuff, but seemingly average cars that are extremely clean literally have people flowing in waves to check out and ultimately buy. Maybe because the 1980s and 1990s seemed like a simpler time, or because cars from that era literally were simpler. Combine that with the cars we lusted after growing up suddenly become available again and we don’t want to let this time pass us by. That leads me to an example of that, a 1992 Mercedes-Benz 300TE with just 18,000 miles. Either you grew up in one of these or wanted to grow up in one of these, the want for them is now strong even though it is a seemingly nondescript car in every way. Maybe that is a good thing?

CLICK FOR DETAILS: 1992 Mercedes-Benz 300TE on eBay

Year: 1992
Model: 300TE
VIN: WDBEA90E2NF193970
Engine: 3.0 liter inline-6
Transmission: 4-speed automatic
Mileage: 18,320 mi
Location: Wainscott, New York
Price: Reserve Auction

1992 Mercedes-Benz 300TE Wagon. Smoke Silver Metallic with Parchment leather – 18k original miles – original California one family car. The car is like new throughout – looks and drives as new.
Rare leather interior with 3rd row seating. Recently serviced with all new fluids – among the very best W124 Mercedes models available.

Please email with questions and kindly bid only if you intend to purchase.

As you might have expected, this car is nearly flawless. Smoke Silver Metallic, also known as beige, is far from my favorite color ever, but my goodness does it look clean here. Even the trim is still rich black and the wheel wells are spotless as well. This dealer didn’t do did anyone any favors on the interior except try a bunch of artsy shots that show absolutely nothing, so we are going to have to assume everything is fine here. Under the hood, there lies the trusty M103 with exhaust manifolds that aren’t discolored.

How much? Bidding is already north of $20,000 with the reserve not met, so my guess it is probably going to take $30,000 or greater. It is tough to say it isn’t worth it given how this car looks and probably drives like a new car, and can be totally dependable as well. I’m curious to see if this one sells.

Thanks to our reader Joe for the spot!

– Andrew

I think it is going to be a long time before we see a car depreciate like a Maybach 57. Way back in the early-2000s, Mercedes-Benz decided to wanted to play in the same league as Rolls-Royce and Bentley. Not an outrageous idea, so they revived the storied Maybach name and launched two models, the 57 and the 62. They shared a general platform with the then-already replaced W140 S-Class, and kind of looked like a W220 S-Class on the outside. On the inside, you could see this was a W220. The steering wheel was a straight rebadge job along with the gauge cluster, and everything felt like a W220 which is not a good thing at all. Under the hood, you’d think they would have stuck with the twin-turbo M275 from the S600, but they changed it slightly to make an entirely new engine unique to the Maybach called the M285. All these one-off changes that had to be made and extremely low production resulted in the base model 57 carrying a sticker price of $320,000. That is $435,000 in today’s money. You’ll be shocked at what this 2004 57 can be had for today.

CLICK FOR DETAILS: 2004 Maybach 57 on eBay

Year: 2004
Model: Maybach 57
VIN: WDBVF78JX4A000872
Engine: 5.5 liter twin-turbocharged V12
Transmission: 5-speed automatic
Mileage: 74,870 mi
Location: Gilbertsville, Pennsylvania
Price: $35,000 Buy It Now

2004 Maybach 57
5.5L V12 Twin Turbo, Automatic, Only 74K Original Miles
543hp, 664ft-lb torque This car, even for its size and weight, is a real rocket with 0-60mph in 4.9 seconds.
With a list price of $319,700, this car had 3 additional options. Electronic rear door window curtains, Solar module, Active ventilated front seats and Active ventilated rear seats.

The standard equipment list is a mile long so I will list the major items. Leather from head to toe and what is not covered in leather is covered in alcantara. In the front you have heated and cooled seats, Navigation, adjustable suspension, parking sensors, heated leather and wood steering wheel, and dual memory seats with massage feature.

The rear seats gets even more! Rear power seats that also have memory and massage. They are both heated and cooled and they also recline, which is my wife’s favorite thing of the whole car, next to the champagne holder. (Wine not included). The rear also has dual zone climate control, rear beverage cooler and dual TV monitors with DVD and CD changer. Side and rear curtains also add a level of privacy and luxury.

The car is outfitted with 19″ Alloy wheels with matching tires. Large trunk with umbrella holder and full size spare.

I have no doubt that if you are looking at this car that you probably know exactly what you are buying. This car is made for a certain type of person and is just outstanding in every single way.

Over 60 photos can be found on my website www.MyCarCorner.com and you can also find the print out of the clean Carfax. This car can be shown by appointment by calling 215-694-9593

I’m a big believer in “the market never lies,” and it sure is telling the truth here. It is the perfect storm of a defunct brand that was only recently brought back as a sub-brand, a car full of dated technology, god-awful reliability, and prices for replacement parts that make Ferrari owners fearful. What does that all up to?

$35,000. That is what a used Maybach 57 with 75,000 miles can be had for today. Doing the math, a $400,000 discount. I know no one is weeping for someone who can afford to plop down over $300,000 on a car, but I can not imagine the look on people’s faces when they found out how much this car depreciated when it came time to sell it. Which begs, who buy these things? I don’t think you could trust them as a limo car, they don’t have much cachet, and who knows if it will keep depreciating. They are a pure novelty at this point, but also a giant liability in almost every single way. At least they are fun to look at.

– Andrew

Color is everything. Kind of a broad statement, I know, but when it comes to classic Mercedes-Benz, it is pretty important. Light Ivory, Astral Silver, or Pastel Beige? Okay colors, but no one is clamoring over them. Henna Red, Mimosa Yellow, or today’s car, China Blue? Now people are excited. In all seriousness, I do see a fair amount of price different between two comparable cars with one painted something bright, with the other a little more drab. It just so happens that this 1981 300SD up for sale in Atlanta is one of the few to be painted in the aforementioned China Blue. So that begs the question, how much of a premium will this bring?

CLICK FOR DETAILS: 1981 Mercedes-Benz 300SD on eBay

Year: 1981
Model: 300SD
VIN: WDBCB20A8EA067859
Engine: 3.0 liter turbocharged inline-5 diesel
Transmission: 4-speed automatic
Mileage: 95,829 mi
Location: Atlanta, Georgia
Price: $12,500 Buy It Now

2 OWNER – RARE CHINA BLUE! LOW MILEAGE! RUST FREE! BUNT CAKE WHEELS W126 BODY ORIGINAL BOOKS ORIGINAL SPARE ORIGINAL TOOLS AND MUCH MUCH MORE. GARAGE KEPT. GAS MOTORCARS INC IS A FAMILY OWNED AND OPERATED DEALERSHIP LOCATED IN MARIETTA GA. WE ONLY SELL VEHICLES OF THE HIGHEST QUALITY. WE DO NOT PROVIDE FINANCING. WE SHOW VEHICLES BY APPOINTMENT ONLY. Visit Gas Motorcars online at to see more pictures of this vehicle or call us at 770-769-1398 today to schedule your test drive. Visit Gas Motorcars online at to see more pictures of this vehicle or call us at 770-769-1398 today to schedule your test drive.

There’s not much info on this one, but from what I can see, it looks really clean. With just 95,000 miles and supposedly two owners, I’m not seeing much to dislike here. China Blue with the gray lowers does clash a little, but this car is so classic now that its looked at for what it is and what that time was all about. Inside, all gray and no major flaws to write home about. Same goes for under the hood, the iron lung OM617 isn’t completely covered in oil.

Now the discussion on price. This is a “hi-line” dealer so their goal is to squeeze every single last penny out of a deal possible to keep the lights on and their creditors off their backs, so naturally their prices are always above market value. However, $12,500 for this car, with this color, and in this condition isn’t the craziest thing I’ve ever seen. I don’t think it’s a great deal, but if someone told me they paid $12,500 for this car, I wouldn’t say they got burned. I personally would be very happy with this car as I’m a giant fan of the W126 300SD as well as China Blue – just wish I had the space.

– Andrew

Love, hate, or indifferent, red cars draw eyes. Sometimes that is a bad thing, like when you are doing 87 mph in a 70 mph zone on the highway. Other times it is a good thing, like when you are selling a car. I think the term “resale red” does carry a lot of weight because consumer studies have shown that people who drive red cars are looked at differently. Red is fast and aggressive, while the earth tones are a little bit more subdued and conservative. Only makes sense, but when push comes to shove, are you willing to actually pony up the cash for a red car? You can see where I’m going with this with today’s car, a 2003 Mercedes-Benz SL55 AMG up for sale in Florida. Just 30,000 miles and looks like it is dripping wet just sitting there. Anyone brave enough for “arrest me red?”

CLICK FOR DETAILS: 2003 Mercedes-Benz SL55 AMG on eBay

Year: 2003
Model: SL55 AMG
VIN: WDBSK74F13F055230
Engine: 5.4 liter supercharged V8
Transmission: 5-speed automatic
Mileage: 30,550 mi
Location: West Palm Beach, Florida
Price: $25,900 Buy It Now

2003 Mercedes Benz SL55 AMG

Very Rare Magma Red over Charcoal Leather interior

Only 30k Original Pampered Mikes

This SL55 was sold new in KY and made its way to south Florida. This SL55 is equipped with Panoramic Roof which is also rare.

3 Keys, Books, Window Sticker, MB Trickle Charger and a folder full of service records!!!

No Accidents, Clean Carfax and Original Paint

Kudos to this dealer, they know how to take a photo and edit them as well. This rare Magma Red SL55 basically jumps off the screen at you. Even on the inside, it looks extremely clean for a 2003 and has the rare panoramic roof as well. No mention of service or condition which is always disappointing as even as a strong a combination this is, the suspension can fail and give you headaches and a giant bill to sort it all out.

Nearly $26,000 is on the higher end for this car, but it is for sure one of the nicer ones for sale at the moment. I don’t think it is a great deal at all, but if you would buying this as a really long term hold, I’d think you’d do fine. As long as you can keep your speed under control, nothing to dislike about this one.

– Andrew

These are strange times for the Mercedes-Benz C36 AMG. Once the breakthrough car of the official Mercedes-Benz AMG vehicles launch in North America, this is now a car that maybe isn’t quite a full blown collectible for what it is, but has some pedigree to be one. The problem with the C36 is that it didn’t have much fan fare when it launched because of its extremely conservative styling as well as the minor bump in power and performance. This led it to be forgotten about and ultimately into the hands of wrong people. You could find a well used example for well under $10,000 and if it was really beat up and rusty, $5,000 might take one home. Now, people want old performance cars with brand caché, even through their performance leaves much to be desired. The thing is, what happens to the examples that still have a ton of life left in them, but are far from the best example remaining? I’m curious to find that out with this 1995 up for sale in California.

CLICK FOR DETAILS: 1995 Mercedes-Benz C36 AMG on eBay

Year: 1995
Model: C36 AMG
VIN: WDBHM36E9SF185689
Engine: 3.6 liter inline-6
Transmission: 5-speed automatic
Mileage: 85,987 mi
Location: Half Moon Bay, California
Price: $9,999 Buy It Now

1995 Mercedes C36 AMG
Mercedes first car to be sold as an AMG model.The C36 was based on the now demised C-class generation, introduced in 1995, known internally within the company as the W202. Like other AMG cars, the C36 was a limited production model, only 200 examples were imported to North America until production halted in 1998. Exterior tweaks to the typical C-class include a new front apron that carries foglamps in the airdam. When combined with the new side skirts and rear apron, AMG says it reduces lift at highway speeds helping to make the handling even better. Other external clues include carbon-fiber trim on the B-pillar, an AMG decklidbadge, and 17-inch 5-spoke wheels. Those AMG monoblock wheels would become synonymous with high performance Mercedes models for the next decade and help many identify the less dramatically styled variations quickly.

This car looks clean enough with no rust that I can see, but I am also noticing that this is far from a cream puff. Yes, 86,000 miles is rather low for what a W202 usually has, but I can some damage on that AMG lower front lip, a mark on the bumper, a busted headlight wiper, and the dreaded SRS light illuminated on the gauge cluster. Add in the fact that this seller didn’t show a photo of the engine nor give any info at all besides a lazy copy and paste, this one isn’t giving me a warm, fuzzy feeling.

There is definitely precedence that the C36 AMG will bring good money if it is extremely clean and has low miles. However, this is just as much precedence that average examples still aren’t selling for all that much either. Where does this one fall? I think more towards the $5,000 example. With zero information about the car, it is almost a non-starter for me given what the current market is. $10,000 just isn’t reasonable knowing there are a bunch of issues I can see just from looking at the photos, let alone have uncovered during an inspection. I think this car is more towards the $7,500 at best, even more so in the soft used luxury car market that is California. I think this one has potential, but not at $10,000.

– Andrew

Hard to believe it has been over a year since the last time I looked at a Mercedes-Benz E55 AMG Estate. Time flies when you’re having fun I suppose, but I came across this 2005 up for sale in California that caught my eye immediately. Its really not any different than every other E55 Wagon I look at, but I thought it would be interesting to see where the market is at on these cars now that we head into 2020 and Mercedes-Benz is thankfully still gracing us with AMG wagons that are fast enough to put most exotics to shame. So are these still commanding strong money? Or are they starting to soften just a little? I think I have one of the answers to that question.

CLICK FOR DETAILS: 2005 Mercedes Benz E55 AMG Estate on Rennlist

Year: 2005
Model: E55 AMG Estate
VIN: WDBUH76J45A774724
Engine: 5.4 liter supercharged V8
Transmission: 5-speed automatic
Mileage: 97,347 mi
Location: Fresno, California
Price: $22,500

This is one of 193 Mercedes-Benz E55 AMG Wagons sold in the United States between 2005 and 2006 Model Years and I believe one of 49 in the black on black color combination. I purchased the car around 6 months ago with the intent on making it my daily driver, since then we have purchased a larger SUV for my wife and I am now going to be driving her old car daily and this I must clear out the wagon to make space in the garage. This car has been in Southern CA since new and has spent its last 12 years with the past (second) owner in Palm Springs. I have all service history from 2008 on and all services were preformed at Mercedes Benz of Palm Springs – last service was performed around one year ago when the car had 95,284 miles on the clock. Carfax shows a clean title, 26 service records reported, and an accident reported in 6/08 when the car was still with the first owner (with no airbags deployed). I have attached the most recent services for the car.

This seems to be a really tidy example in California with nearly 100,000 miles and a good amount of service history. While it looks perfectly normal, the seller does mention it was in an accident a dozen years ago under previous ownership. Not a huge knock, but I know people value that, especially with niche cars like this. Peeking at the service records, it seems like all four struts were replaced, so you can check that off the list of things to worry about in the near future. While this drivetrain is really stout for what it offers, the little things on these will still bite you from time to time.

Looking at the sales over the past year or so, the mileage seems to pay a huge factor in value of these cars. One sold back in November for over $40,000 that just had 24,000 miles, and it wasn’t in a great color at all. Meanwhile, a month before that, an example with over 100,000 miles brings nearly $24,000. This trend seems to follow across the board, which is a little surprising considering we are talking about a station wagon after all, not a roadster that will be someone’s garage queen. I think this one is priced quite fair at $22,500 considering the unknown accident and the California market being a little softer for used luxury cars. A good buy in my eyes, both now and into the future. Keep it up to snuff, and I don’t think you’ll lose much on this one at all.

– Andrew

Oh, Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG, what have you done this time? When this 2016 first caught my eye, I thought it was a gaudy vinyl wrap installed by some shop that took up residence in some old garage six months ago. However, this isn’t a vinyl wrap, this is paint straight from Mercedes-Benz. The color is called designo Desert Sand, and I give them credit, this looks like desert sand. To go even further, it has a matching desert sand interior, and they didn’t go lightly on that either. As wild as it is, the previous generation is now old news with the new G terrorizing curbs at the local mall in the nice end of town. So what happens to the values of this crazy AMG G-Wagens? Well for this specific example, it might be a little different.

CLICK FOR DETAILS: 2016 Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG on eBay

Year: 2016
Model: G63 AMG
VIN: WDCYC7DF3GX255559
Engine: 5.5 liter twin-turbocharged V8
Transmission: 7-speed automatic
Mileage: 21,642 mi
Location: Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Price: $102,500 Buy It Now

2016 Mercedes Benz AMG G63 4MATIC
5.5L V8 Biturbo with Direct Injection, 563 Horsepower, 56- lb-ft. Torque, 4Matic Permanent AWD, 4 Wheel Electronic Tranction System, 2 Speed Transfer Case, 3 Independent Differential Locks, 20 in. AMG Wheels, 7speed Automatic w/OD

Designo Desert Sand with ZK6 designo Sand/Black Nappa Leather & Burl Walnut Interior Trim ($5,500 option) Sun/Moonroof, Smart Device Integration, Satellite Radio, Premium Sound System, Dual Zone AC, Navigation System, Privacy Glass, Running Boards, Heated Power Folding Mirrors, Back-up Camera, Adaptive Cruise Control, Rear Parking Aid, Heated Steering Wheel, Blind Spot Monitor, Cooled Front Seated, Heated Front/Rear Seats, Brake Assist

Optional Equipment:
PA7 Designo Manufaktur Paint
VK1 Burl Walnut Wood/Leather Steering Wheel
PA6 Designo Exclusive Leather Package: AMG Sport Front Seats, Seat Inserts, Center Door Panels and Rear Door Inserts in Designo Leather and Diamond Stitched Design, Upper and Lower Dashboard in Designo Black Nappa Leather

Manufactures Buyback
ONE OWNER, ORIGINAL PAINT, LOW MILES, ORIGINAL MSRP STICKER

Like mentioned, I would have bet this was some kind of gold leaf wrap and was ready to dump all over it. Then I remembered that designo did a crazy run of colors towards the end of the run to move units before the highly anticipated new G arrived. Maybe it is just the lighting and the setting, but this is less “desert sand” and way more “fake gold”. However, this G63 has much bigger problem than just an odd color. This truck, for whatever reason, has a Lemon & Manufacturer Buyback title. I’d love to know exactly what triggered this, but it seems this dealer is confident they can sell again.

Looking at the mileage and then looking at the asking price of $102,500, there doesn’t seem to be any discount for the bad title at all. That is really strange to me because conventional wisdom says bad title usually mean significantly lower prices to those cars, and probably even more so on six-figure cars where buyers can literally afford to be picky. I think this one might sit for awhile, or take a nice boat ride to the Middle East or Eastern Europe where the term “Lemon & Manufacturer Buyback title” doesn’t seem to have a translation into the local language for whatever reason.

– Andrew

As we are now into a new decade, I figured now is a good a time as any to remind you to never buy the car I’m looking at today. What is it? The 2001 Mercedes-Benz S600. Not just the 2001, but any vehicle that comes with one of the worst engines ever made, the M137. This engine was so bad, that it only lasted three model years the US spanning from 2000-2002 in the S600 and CL600. Mercedes quickly admitted their errors and switched to the M275 in 2003, and that was so durable that iterations of it are still in production today. Why exactly was this thing so bad? Lets refresh our memory.

CLICK FOR DETAILS: 2001 Mercedes-Benz S600 on eBay

Year: 2001
Model: S600
VIN: WDBNG78J51A205735
Engine: 5.8 liter V12
Transmission: 5-speed automatic
Mileage: 72,480 mi
Location: Covington, Pennsylvania
Price: $6,00 Buy It Now

This is a gorgeous 2001 S Series S600. Very well maintained and loaded. Brand new Pennsylvania inspection through 1/21. Clean title. Immaculate inside and out. Only 72K miles!
We are listing this under our Auto Salvage Ebay account but this car belongs to our separate Auto Dealership business.

There is a slight bubbling over rear wheel wells. See last two pics.

Must be seen to really appreciate.

The problems with the M137 boils down mostly to complexity and poor quality. These engine love to have out of round cylinder walls and oil fouling that kills all the downstream oxygen sensors. Not one or two like you are used to, no. There are eight on these cars. Dump a bunch of oil into one of the six catalytic converters? Good luck passing emissions test ever again. Manage to skirt that issue and you still have to deal with the dreaded oil cooler issue. They located this right on the top of the rear of the motor so when it leaks from the failed o-rings, it dumps hot oil all over the transmission control unit. To fix those o-rings, you have to pull the heads. Are we having fun yet? Not to mention all the suspension issues on these early W220s, the shifters that like to break, EIS issues that fail at random, and you basically have a basket case of an automobile. Don’t forget the rust either!

This example up for sale in Pennsylvania is well on its way to becoming a rust bucket. No mention at all from this dealer about any issues, but the fact that they are a dealer of salvage auto parts means my confidence is pretty low when it comes to everything on this car. It is only $6,000, but you have to figure that is going to be $6,000 down the drain once something catastrophic happens. Compare this to a 2003+ S600, and it is basically half price all things being equal. I’d maybe think about driving one of these if they were literally free, but other than that, there are far better cars to waste your money on.

– Andrew