Highlights

Late-production 320bhp 5.0-litre C140 with the revised and more desirable five-speed automatic transmission
91,901 miles – low mileage for a 1998 example
Attractive Green Black Metallic over Mushroom leather with burr-walnut trim
Documented service history with original stamped service book
£3,620.27 servicing and remedial work by Mercedes-Benz specialist in January 2026
Gearbox service, fresh brake fluid and a/c regas during service work
Current MOT to August 2027

The Appeal

The $1 billion development cost of the C140 and its W140 saloon cousin may explain why they were the last of Mercedes’ engineering-led cars. At the equivalent of £215,000 when new, less than 15,000 CL500s like this attractive 1998 example left the Stuttgart works over seven years.

This Green Black metallic car was one of the later examples and therefore benefits from the revised five-speed automatic transmission rather than the earlier four-speed unit, offering an additional ratio, more sophisticated electronic control and more relaxed cruising.

The car has been maintained by main dealers and well-regarded specialists throughout its life. Recent attention includes a service at 88,000 miles by Hilton & Moss and then by marque specialists WDM Cars in January 2026. At that visit over £3,600 was spent, with the full list of work provided below.

It remains a well-documented C140 with significant recent investment and is sold with an MOT valid to August 2027.

The vendor says:

“The C140 comes from an era when Mercedes-Benz was prepared to build its flagship cars on an extraordinary scale.”

“The CL500 is arguably the sweet spot in the range: the magnificent M119 V8, the imposing pillarless coupé body and all the engineering of the W140, without stepping up to the additional complexity of the twelve-cylinder CL600.”

“This late-production example has an especially appealing specification in Green Black Metallic over Mushroom leather, backed by extensive documentation, substantial early Mercedes-Benz service history and significant recent specialist expenditure.”

“With approximately 91,000 miles recorded and more than £3,600 spent during its latest major service and programme of remedial work in January 2026, it presents as an interesting and well-documented example of one of Mercedes-Benz's great 1990s grand tourers.”

Key Information

Mileage: 91,901 miles indicated (supported by service and MOT history)
Country of registration: United Kingdom
MOT valid to 18th August 2027 with advisories
4,973cc M119.980 quad-cam 32-valve V8
722.620 five-speed automatic transmission
Original service book, owners' manuals, radio documentation, factory specification documentation and EC Certificate of Conformity

Specification includes:

189 Green Black Metallic
235A Mushroom leather
Burr-walnut interior trim
Wood and leather steering wheel
Wood gear selector
Electric glass sunroof
Heated front seats
Electrically adjustable front seats with memory
Electrically adjustable steering column
Parktronic
Automatic-dimming interior mirror
Mercedes-Benz radio with RDS
Headlamp wash system
Closing assistance for the doors and boot

Service history:

07/00 – 9,637 miles
07/02 – 15,602 miles
2003 – 24,998 miles
07/04 – 30,874 miles
09/05 – 36,765 miles
05/06 – 40,181 miles – Mercedes-Benz Colindale
09/08 – 51,279 miles
03/16 – 69,122 miles
04/18 – 72,034 miles
12/19 – 74,921 miles
11/20 – 77,130 miles
01/22 - 88,000 miles - Hilton & Moss
01/26 - 91,154 miles - WDM Cars (Mercedes specialist)

January 2026 work by WDM Cars included:

Major B service, engine oil and oil filter, two air filters, pollen filter, fuel filter, eight spark plugs, brake-fluid replacement, automatic transmission oil service, gearbox filter, gearbox seal and associated hardware, rear propshaft coupling, coolant expansion bottle, brake servo, BAS control unit, brake-light switch, central-locking repairs, central-locking pump, boot closing-assistance pump, air-conditioning condenser, air-conditioning regas, front wiper rubbers, steering idler, damper and four-wheel alignment.

The Detail

Attractive factory Green Black metallic paintwork
Some light age-related marks as shown in the photographs
Bodywork presents well in the usual C140 areas including arches and panel edges
Monobloc-style alloy wheels
Advisories for two tyres on the current MOT
No structural advisories on MOT
Retains original factory stereo
High specification including sliding steel sunroof
Early servicing mainly by Mercedes-Benz Colindale, we are told
Front seats have been recoloured; the finish is imperfect and the underlying leather shows age-related wear and creasing.
Driver's seat belt retracts poorly and requires attention.

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