NO RESERVE! - 1996 Mercedes E500

No Reserve!

Highlights

﹒Project car imported from Japan earlier this year and UK registered

﹒Very rare car with well preserved body-shell

﹒Requires a small amount of work to restore to full health

﹒Offered with no reserve

The Background

Hard though it may be to believe today, back in the late 80’s, Porsche was struggling a bit. So when Mercedes decided that their design team was too busy working on the next S Class to realise its ambition of shoehorning the 5 litre V8 from the SL into the W124 E Class, Porsche offered its services. Part of their redesign involved widening the wings to incorporate subtly flared wheel arches which in addition to looking great, also provided a visual clue to those in the know to help distinguish this Q car from the rest of the range. One side effect was that the bodyshell would not fit along the Mercedes production line and so Porsche were commissioned to build the car as well. This provided their under-utilised “Reutter-Bau” plant with a valuable lifeline as they ultimately went on to build over ten thousand of examples of the 500E, later known as the E500. Happy co-incidence or a ‘holistic’ approach to design? The answer is lost in the mists of time.

Either way, the Porsche team did a typically thorough job, widening the track by 38mm, using the brakes from the SL and tuning the chassis to cope with the 326bhp put out by the 4973cc M119 V8 with 32 valves through the 4 speed automatic gearbox to the rear wheels. Dubbed “the wolf in sheep’s clothing” at the time, it was only available in left hand drive and sold in limited numbers in the UK. This was not solely because the steering wheel was on the ‘wrong’ side, but also the price; the fact that the E500 was largely hand-assembled meant that it commanded a significant premium over its closest rival, BMW’s M5.

Those who did take the plunge were rewarded with a 0-60 time of 6.1 seconds and a top speed limited to 155 mph, not too shoddy even by today’s standards. All this was wrapped up in the usual tank-like build quality of the W124 and the model quickly gained modern classic status among Mercedes enthusiasts, previewing as it did the direction that the company would take with its ever closer relationship with and eventual acquisition of AMG.

The History

This particular example was acquired by the vendor as part of a collection of cars put together by a private collector in Japan. Little is known about its background in Japan other than that is believed to have been stored in a warehouse for approximately four years prior to export.

It was imported to the UK around nine months ago and has since received sufficient attention to achieve an MOT pass but there are a number of items which remain to be addressed and which the seller does not have the time to attend to. As a result this is being sold as a fully UK registered ‘project car’ which, with a relatively small amount of attention, should be able to be restored to its former glory.

Since arriving in the UK, the car has received a full service and a rebuild of the brake callipers, though it has yet to be fully tested on British roads. We’ll cover the known areas that require some work in the following sections.

The Paperwork

Let’s not beat around the bush: there’s an MOT and a V5 and that’s your lot. However, the condition of the car speaks for itself and the Japanese do have a deserved reputation for looking after their high performance machines.

The Interior

As is evident from the photographs, the interior is generally very well preserved. There is little sign of wear on the four Recaro seats or the carpets and the wood veneer on the rear console has been refinished. Only the veneer on the dashboard shows some cracking around a presumably aftermarket metal stud which has been added and whose function is unknown. The steering wheel has the optional wood finish on it but if that is not to your taste then the car also comes with an non-wood spare.

There are some items that will require attention: the electric driver’s seat adjustment, while still functioning, has lost the covers to some of its switches. The electric rear blind is not operational and only the driver’s electric window works. Some of this may be down to over-enthusiastic application of the valeter’s pressure washer to the engine bay but it will need some diagnostic work.

Once addressed, the interior should be back to looking its best which is to say one of the finest of its time.

The Exterior

As with the interior, the exterior has worn very well with a few blemishes consistent with its age but no signs of rust bubbles or big scratches. A machine polish has restored most of the paintwork’s lustre and the wheels by Carlsson, the noted Mercedes Benz tuner, give the car a distinctive look although could use a refurb to bring them up to the standard of the bodywork. The tyres all have a good tread depth. Underneath, the car is typical of Japanese imports in being very clean aside from some surface corrosion on the suspension components.

Again, there are a few areas to attend to: the front valance is missing a small grille from the offside, the driver’s mirror is missing the cover for the mounting plate, one of the door handles is cracked and the roof strip is coming away at the rear on the nearside.

None of these are urgent issues and could be addressed over time as it’s currently very presentable. But it shouldn’t take a whole load of effort.

The Mechanics

Mechanically the car is believed to be standard save for a fully adjustable coilover suspension setup and a stainless steel exhaust. What definitely isn’t as per the original design is an ever-present battery warning light which, following a couple of replacement batteries is believed to be alternator-related. The car starts with a boost pack every time but intermittently with just the battery for power. The problem lacks a definitive diagnosis at this stage but should be within the grasp of a competent car mechanic.

The Appeal

The W124 comes from what is widely regarded as the peak period for Mercedes quality levels and the merits of any of the many variants have been widely discussed on carandclassic.co.uk. But the E500 is not just any W124, but one with a thumping 5 litre V8 which has been engineered and assembled by Porsche.

Now it seems that we live in a time when anything over a certain age bearing the ‘Porsche’ moniker attracts an ever-increasing valuation and that seems to be rubbing off on the E500 too. Although too small in number in the UK to form a representative sample, over in the US where they are more numerous, values have been steadily climbing over recent years.

So whilst this is not a mint example ready to show off at Mercedes concours events, it’s not that far off and any investment required to bring it back to life is likely to be recouped very quickly. The only question then is whether to preserve it or use it. There are strong arguments for either option but only the next owner will get to decide. Best get bidding if you want to be in the enviable position of making that choice!

**The images in this listing have been provided to us by the seller**

Notice to bidders

Although every care is taken to ensure this listing is as factual and transparent as possible, all details within the listing are subject to the information provided to us by the seller. Car & Classic does not take responsibility for any information missing from the listing. Please ensure you are satisfied with the vehicle description and all information provided before placing a bid.

As is normal for most auctions, this vehicle is sold as seen, and therefore the Sale of Goods Act 1979 does not apply. All bids are legally binding once placed. Any winning bidder who withdraws from a sale, is subject to our bidders fee charge. Please see our FAQs and T&C's for further information. Viewings of vehicles are encouraged, but entirely at the sellers discretion.

See our Terms & Conditions here.

Consulta le nostre FAQ qui e i nostri Termini e condizioni qui

Specifiche del veicolo

Anno 1996
Marca Mercedes
Modello E500
Colore Black
Chilometraggio 126,373 Kilometri
Cilindrata 4973

Dettagli d'asta

Tipo di venditore Privato
Posizione Cheshire
Paese Regno Unito

Storico delle offerte

134 offerte

Bo•••• £18,250 22/01/21
St•••• £18,000 22/01/21
St•••• £17,750 19/01/21
Ne•••• £17,500 19/01/21
Ne•••• £17,250 19/01/21
Ma•••• £17,000 19/01/21
Ne•••• £16,750 19/01/21
Ma•••• £16,500 19/01/21
Ne•••• £16,250 19/01/21
Ma•••• £16,000 19/01/21
Ma•••• £15,750 15/01/21
Gt•••• £15,500 15/01/21
Gt•••• £15,250 15/01/21
Ma•••• £15,000 15/01/21
Ma•••• £14,750 15/01/21
wi•••• £14,500 15/01/21
Ma•••• £14,250 15/01/21
wi•••• £14,000 15/01/21
Ma•••• £13,750 15/01/21
wi•••• £13,500 15/01/21
Ma•••• £13,250 15/01/21
ge•••• £13,000 15/01/21
Ma•••• £12,750 15/01/21
ge•••• £12,500 15/01/21
Ma•••• £12,250 15/01/21
To•••• £12,000 15/01/21
To•••• £11,750 15/01/21
ge•••• £11,500 15/01/21
To•••• £11,250 15/01/21
ge•••• £11,000 15/01/21
To•••• £10,750 15/01/21
ge•••• £10,500 15/01/21
To•••• £10,250 15/01/21
Ma•••• £10,000 15/01/21
vl•••• £9,999 15/01/21
Ma•••• £9,900 15/01/21
vl•••• £9,800 15/01/21
Ma•••• £9,700 15/01/21
Ma•••• £9,600 15/01/21
vl•••• £9,500 15/01/21
Ma•••• £9,400 15/01/21
vl•••• £9,300 15/01/21
Ma•••• £9,200 15/01/21
vl•••• £9,100 15/01/21
Ma•••• £9,000 15/01/21
vl•••• £8,900 15/01/21
Ma•••• £8,800 15/01/21
vl•••• £8,700 15/01/21
Ma•••• £8,600 15/01/21
vl•••• £8,500 15/01/21
Ma•••• £8,400 15/01/21
vl•••• £8,300 15/01/21
Ma•••• £8,200 15/01/21
vl•••• £8,100 15/01/21
Ma•••• £8,000 15/01/21
vl•••• £7,900 15/01/21
Ma•••• £7,800 15/01/21
vl•••• £7,700 15/01/21
vl•••• £7,600 15/01/21
Ma•••• £7,500 15/01/21
vl•••• £7,400 15/01/21
Ma•••• £7,300 15/01/21
vl•••• £7,200 15/01/21
Ma•••• £7,100 15/01/21
vl•••• £7,000 15/01/21
Ma•••• £6,900 15/01/21
vl•••• £6,800 15/01/21
Ma•••• £6,700 15/01/21
vl•••• £6,600 15/01/21
Ir•••• £6,500 15/01/21
vl•••• £6,400 15/01/21
Ir•••• £6,300 15/01/21
Ir•••• £6,200 15/01/21
vl•••• £6,100 15/01/21
Ir•••• £6,000 15/01/21
To•••• £5,900 15/01/21
Ir•••• £5,800 15/01/21
To•••• £5,700 15/01/21
Ir•••• £5,600 15/01/21
To•••• £5,500 15/01/21
Ir•••• £5,400 15/01/21
To•••• £5,300 15/01/21
Ir•••• £5,200 15/01/21
ol•••• £5,100 15/01/21
Ir•••• £5,000 15/01/21
ol•••• £4,900 15/01/21
Ir•••• £4,800 15/01/21
ol•••• £4,700 15/01/21
Ir•••• £4,600 15/01/21
ol•••• £4,500 15/01/21
Ir•••• £4,400 15/01/21
ol•••• £4,300 15/01/21
Ir•••• £4,200 15/01/21
ol•••• £4,100 15/01/21
Ir•••• £4,000 15/01/21
ol•••• £3,900 15/01/21
Ir•••• £3,800 15/01/21
ol•••• £3,700 15/01/21
Ir•••• £3,600 15/01/21
Ir•••• £3,500 15/01/21
ol•••• £3,400 15/01/21
Ir•••• £3,300 15/01/21
ol•••• £3,200 15/01/21
Ir•••• £3,100 15/01/21
ol•••• £3,000 15/01/21
Ir•••• £2,900 15/01/21
ol•••• £2,800 15/01/21
Ir•••• £2,700 15/01/21
ol•••• £2,600 15/01/21
Ir•••• £2,500 15/01/21
ol•••• £2,400 15/01/21
Ir•••• £2,300 15/01/21
ol•••• £2,200 15/01/21
Ir•••• £2,100 15/01/21
ol•••• £2,000 15/01/21
Ir•••• £1,900 15/01/21
ol•••• £1,800 15/01/21
Ir•••• £1,700 15/01/21
ol•••• £1,600 15/01/21
Ir•••• £1,500 15/01/21
ol•••• £1,400 15/01/21
Ir•••• £1,300 15/01/21
ol•••• £1,200 15/01/21
Ir•••• £1,100 15/01/21
ol•••• £1,000 15/01/21
Ir•••• £900 15/01/21
ol•••• £800 15/01/21
Ir•••• £700 15/01/21
ol•••• £600 15/01/21
Ir•••• £500 15/01/21
ol•••• £400 15/01/21
Ir•••• £300 15/01/21
ol•••• £200 15/01/21
Ir•••• £100 15/01/21

Invia messaggio a team Aste di C&C

La galleria

Il modo più sicuro per acquistare un'auto d'epoca online

Il sistema di pagamento sicuro di Car & Classic protegge acquirenti e venditori. Al termine dell'asta, l'offerente vincente trasferisce il pagamento su un conto vincolato di terzi. Una volta completato il trasferimento del veicolo, entrambe le parti confermano di essere soddisfatte della vendita e il denaro viene rilasciato al venditore. Maggiori informazioni su come acquistare con noi

Come funzionano le offerte massime

Il processo di offerta massima ti permette di fare offerte senza preoccupazioni.

Inserisci la tua offerta massima e il sistema farà offerte automaticamente per assicurarsi che tu sia il miglior offerente - fino all'ammontare da te stabilito come tetto massimo.

Anti-sniping

Car & Classic contrasta il fenomeno dello “sniping”, ovvero il fenomeno dei rilanci all'ultimo secondo per vincere l'asta.

Se viene fatta un'offerta nei 3 minuti prima della chiusura dell'asta, la scadenza di questa viene automaticamente estesa di 2 minuti per permettere agli altri offerenti di reagire e, se lo desiderano, di rilanciare.

Incrementi di offerta automatica

Se la sua offerta massima è uguale o inferiore al prezzo di riserva, la sua offerta massima sarà applicata per intero se lei è il miglior offerente.
Se siete il miglior offerente e fate un'offerta massima superiore a quella di riserva, la riserva verrà automaticamente inserita come prima offerta.
- Una volta raggiunta la riserva, Car & Classic si assicurerà che tu sia il miglior offerente utilizzando solo gli incrementi di offerta indicati di seguito.
- Vi terremo in testa fino alla vostra offerta massima O all'incremento più vicino alla vostra offerta massima, a condizione che la vostra offerta massima sia sufficiente a coprire il valore dell'incremento.

Ammontare dell'offerta	Incremento
Da £0 a £9,999	£100.00
Da £10,000 a £49,999	£250.00
Da £50,000 a £99,999	£500.00
£100,000 +	£1,000.00

Superamento immediato dell'offerta

Quando piazzi un'offerta massima e questa viene immediatamente superata, questo significa che un altro offerente ha impostato una soglia di offerta massima superiore alla tua.

Puoi fare nuovamente un'offerta o impostare una soglia più alta di offerta massima e il nostro sistema rilancerà fino alla nuova soglia, cercando di portarti a essere il miglior offerente.

Offerte massime di pari ammontare

Quando ci sono due offerte massime di pari ammontare, quella impostata per prima è quella che viene considerata “migliore offerta”.

Pre-autorizzazione

Potremmo trattenere un piccolo importo di pre-autorizzazione sulla tua carta fino alla fine dell'asta, quando quest'ultimo verrà poi stornato. Se vinci, verrà prelevata una caparra che verrà detratta dal pagamento del prezzo di vendita per il veicolo e non comporta costi aggiuntivi per te.

Cosa sono le Offerte pre-asta?

Offerte pre-asta significa che avete la possibilità di fare offerte prima dell'inizio ufficiale dell'asta.
Verrà comunicato se si è il miglior offerente o meno all'inizio dell'asta.

Problema con l'offerta

Le offerte sono contrattualmente vincolanti. Per tutelare l'utente, sono previste alcune regole nel caso in cui si ritenga che sia stato digitato in modo errato. Si prega di controllare e modificare quanto inserito.