Highlights

Rare pre-facelift 600 SEL with matching-numbers M120 V12 engine
Cost the equivalent of nearly €500,000 new
Period Lorinser conversion with documented specification
Fitted with factory and Lorinser options totalling DM 30,316.83 (€65,000 now)
Only 83,000 km from new with detailed mileage records
Extensive documented history
Spent its life on salt-free Japanese roads to 2010
Traced provenance from Japan to the Netherlands with supporting paperwork
Dutch registration documents

The Appeal

For those who found a standard LWB Mercedes W140 600SEL just a little too common, and perhaps a Rolls-Royce a little cheap, there was Lorinser. In the 1990s, for those with sufficiently deep pockets, the firm took 600SELs and upgraded them with bespoke fittings, while largely retaining the standard car's understated look and style.

Hence this Brilliant Silver car, which figures indicate cost the equivalent of €500,000 to build between Mercedes and Lorinser. It is one of the last V12 600SELs, before the company switched to calling these cars S600s, and left the Stuttgart line with the equivalent of over DM 11,952.90 of factory options. It then went to Lorinser which added a further DM 18,363.93 of custom features. You can read the full list below.

What distinguishes this car is its well-documented international provenance. It was exported to Japan in mid-1993, enjoying the nation’s salt-free roads until 2010, when it arrived in the Netherlands. The history file documents its life, including Japanese export paperwork, a Bill of Lading, Dutch workshop invoices, and RDW registration documentation, which together form a traceable chain of custody, with odometer readings from 2004 onwards showing a logical and consistent progression.

The black leather interior and burr-walnut trim remain present throughout the cabin, though some wear is visible on the driver's seat. For collectors of 1990s German luxury machinery, this is a distinctively specified and comprehensively documented V12 flagship.

The vendor says:

“The early 600 SEL occupies a special place in Mercedes-Benz history. It was conceived before the company's 1993 change in model nomenclature and belongs to the original expression of the W140 S-Class: a car developed at enormous engineering expense to sit at the top of the Mercedes-Benz range.

“This example adds another layer to that story. It combines the long-wheelbase W140 chassis, M120 V12, early 600 SEL designation, extensive luxury specification, long-term Japanese history, documented 2010 European import and period Lorinser treatment in a single car.

“The result is a very characteristic survivor from the peak era of 1990s German luxury-car tuning: originally one of Mercedes-Benz's most expensive and technically ambitious production cars.”

Key Information

Mileage: 82,988 km, supported by a documented trail of odometer readings from 2004 onwards across Japanese and Dutch paperwork
Country of registration: Netherlands
Technical specs: 5,987 cc M120 V12 petrol, 402 HP, four-speed automatic, rear-wheel drive
Paperwork: Mercedes-Benz datacard, Japanese Export Certificate, Japanese workshop documentation, Bill of Lading, Dutch maintenance invoices, and RDW registration documentation

The vendor says:

“What distinguishes this 600 SEL is not simply that it is a V12 W140 or that it carries Lorinser equipment. It is the extent to which its international history can still be reconstructed from surviving documents.

“The known chronology can be summarised as follows:

“December 1992 – Mercedes-Benz production of WDB1400571A119884 as a 600 SEL V12, Brilliant Silver Metallic over Black leather.

July 1993 – First registration documented in Japan.

June 2004 – 60,400 km recorded in Japanese documentation.

January 2006 – 63,700 km recorded in Japanese documentation.

August 2010 – Japanese export documentation issued.

September 2010 – Shipped from Kobe, Japan to Rotterdam aboard the Grand Pioneer.

December 2010 – Substantial parts and maintenance invoice from SL-Parts in the Netherlands.

July 2011 – Maintenance documented at 66,408 km.

July 2011 – Dutch RDW identification/registration documentation.

March 2012 – Wheel alignment documented at 73,145 km.

“The car is accompanied by Japanese export documentation, Japanese workshop paperwork, its Japan-to-Europe shipping document, Dutch invoices, RDW documentation and Mercedes-Benz vehicle data.

“This Mercedes-Benz 600 SEL represents the flagship of the early W140 generation: a long-wheelbase V12 luxury saloon from an era in which Mercedes-Benz pursued engineering, refinement and build quality with remarkably few compromises.

“The car is chassis WDB1400571A119884, a 600 SEL V12 (W140.057) built in December 1992. It left the factory finished in Brilliant Silver Metallic (744) with a Black Leather (261A) interior. The accompanying Mercedes-Benz data documentation identifies the original M120.980 V12 engine, number 120980 12 018319, together with automatic transmission 722.362, number 03 821382.

“The timing of its production is significant. This is an early, pre-facelift W140 carrying the original 600 SEL designation used before Mercedes-Benz reorganised its model nomenclature in 1993, after which the long-wheelbase V12 became known as the S 600. Mercedes-Benz's historical archive identifies the 600 SEL as the long-wheelbase V12 member of the original W140 family.

“The M120 V12 flagship

“At the heart of the car is Mercedes-Benz's M120, the company's landmark production V12. With a displacement of 5,987 cc, four valves per cylinder and sophisticated electronic management for its period, the M120 placed the 600 SEL at the very top of the Mercedes passenger-car range.

“More importantly, the 600 SEL was conceived as far more than simply an S-Class with a larger engine. The V12 was paired with the long-wheelbase W140 body and an exceptionally high level of refinement, isolation and rear-passenger comfort.

“The result was one of the defining German luxury cars of the early 1990s: large, technically ambitious and engineered primarily around effortless high-speed travel and limousine comfort.

“A highly specified limousine from new

“The Mercedes-Benz factory data confirms that this particular 600 SEL was ordered with a specification strongly oriented toward luxury and rear-seat passengers.

“Among the documented equipment are electrically adjustable seating that can also be operated from the rear, a glass electric sliding/tilting sunroof, electrically operated rear-window blind, dedicated rear air conditioning, heat-insulating glass, heated front and rear seats, Becker Mexico 2000 audio and infrared remote locking.

“The photographs reinforce the limousine character of the car. The cabin retains its extensive black leather upholstery and substantial burr-walnut trim, while the rear compartment provides the generous legroom for which the long-wheelbase W140 became famous. Separate rear ventilation controls are visible between the front seats.

“The photographs also show the characteristic W140 luxury details throughout the cabin, including the extensive wood trim, electrically adjustable seating and the substantial, heavily padded rear compartment.

“The exact factory-option specification and original option pricing can be treated separately, but the surviving data card establishes that this was a particularly comprehensively equipped example from the outset.

“Japanese history from 1993

“A particularly interesting aspect of this 600 SEL is its documented Japanese history.

“The surviving Japanese Export Certificate records the same chassis number and gives a first Japanese registration date of July 1993. This places the car in Japan only around seven months after its documented December 1992 production date.

“The Japanese paperwork identifies it as a Mercedes-Benz with the 5.98-litre engine and records the substantial dimensions of the long-wheelbase W140: approximately 5.22 metres long and 1.88 metres wide, with seating for five.

“More importantly for the provenance of the car, the Japanese documentation contains historical odometer readings.

“A reading of 60,400 kilometres was recorded on 9 June 2004, followed by 63,700 kilometres on 26 January 2006.

“Additional Japanese Yellow Hat workshop documentation has also survived with the car. Together with the official export paperwork, these documents provide tangible evidence of its life in Japan rather than merely an undocumented claim that the vehicle was once Japanese-owned.

“Exported from Japan to the Netherlands in 2010

The transition from Japan to Europe is unusually well documented.

“The original Japanese export paperwork was issued in August 2010, and a surviving Bill of Lading records this exact 600 SEL being shipped from Japan to the Netherlands.

“The document identifies:

Vehicle: 1993 Mercedes 600 SEL

Chassis: WDB1400571A119884

Port of loading: Kobe, Japan

Port of discharge: Rotterdam, Netherlands

Vessel: Grand Pioneer

Bill of Lading date: 2 September 2010

“This creates a particularly attractive documented chain of provenance: built in Germany in late 1992, registered in Japan in 1993, retained there for many years, and exported by sea from Kobe to Rotterdam in 2010.

“Early Dutch history

“Maintenance documentation begins again shortly after the car arrived in the Netherlands.

“On 6 December 2010, SL-Parts in the Netherlands issued an invoice covering work and parts including replacement headlamp glass, a wiring harness, engine oil, oil filter and oil-pan gasket, together with workshop labour.

“The invoice total was €1,138.68.

“Further maintenance was documented on 23 July 2011 by Automobielbedrijf Zegert van den Bosch at 66,408 kilometres.

“The work included repairs to suspension ball-joint boots, replacement of suspension/radius-arm rubber components and hydraulic oil for the suspension system.

“An RDW invoice dated 27 July 2011 is also present, documenting the Dutch identification and registration process for chassis WDB1400571A119884.

“By 4 March 2012, a wheel-alignment report records the car at 73,145 kilometres, providing another useful reference point in its documented mileage history.

The surviving records therefore produce a logical progression:

2004 – 60,400 km

2006 – 63,700 km

2011 – 66,408 km

2012 – 73,145 km

“This documentary trail is especially valuable on an early W140, as it spans both the Japanese and European chapters of the car's life.

“

Period Lorinser specification

“The car's is considerably more distinctive than that of a standard 600 SEL.

“It is fitted with an extensive Lorinser conversion, including the characteristic aerodynamic body treatment visible in the photographs. The front bumper incorporates a deeper, more sporting design with additional lower openings, while the front wings incorporate distinctive horizontal vent sections. The side treatment continues into deeper sill extensions, and the rear receives a similarly integrated lower treatment.

“The car is also fitted with large Lorinser alloy wheels, whose centre caps visibly carry the Lorinser script.

“Inside, the photographs show further non-standard details, most notably a wood-and-leather sports steering wheel and Lorinser-branded floor mats.

“Lorinser is historically closely associated with modified Mercedes-Benz models. The company traces its origins to 1930, began refining Mercedes-Benz vehicles in 1974 and established Sportservice Lorinser as a separate company in 1981.

“The conversion therefore fits very naturally into the period in which the W140 was one of the most prestigious platforms for German Mercedes tuners.

Extra option that come with this car (from factory):

247 – Front passenger seat electrically adjustable from the rear – DM 912.00
414 – Electric glass tilt/slide sunroof – DM 2,234.40
540 – Electrically operated rear-window roller blind – DM 718.20
582 – Rear-compartment air conditioning – DM 2,468.10
682 – Factory-mounted fire extinguisher – DM 205.20
756 – Becker Mexico 2000 radio – DM 2,724.60
872 – Heated rear seats – DM 803.70
873 – Heated front seats – DM 803.70
880 – Infrared remote-control locking system – DM 1,083.00
Total Mercedes-Benz factory extra-cost equipment: DM 11,952.90

Lorinser Equipment:

Lorinser D93 alloy wheels – DM 4,561.99
Lorinser front spoiler bumper – DM 5,201.99
Lorinser rear apron – DM 4,783.06
Lorinser vented front-fender panels / SL-style louvers – DM 1,594.25
Lorinser rear wing – DM 2,222.64
Lorinser-branded floor mats – fitted
Period wood/leather sports steering wheel – fitted
Total documented Lorinser equipment value: DM 18,363.93

Mercedes-Benz datacard information:

Interior Leather Black (261a)
Paint 1 Brilliant Silver Metallic (744u)
200a Leather
247 Seat Adjustment Elec. Also Operable From Rear
303 Front Folding Armrest With Tray
414 Electric Tilt/Slide Sunroof In Glass Version
540 Roller Blind, Electric, For Rear Window
582 Air Conditioner In The Rear
592 Heat-Insulating Glass, All-Around, Heated Rear Window Pane, Band Filter
652 8-Hole Light Alloy Rims
662 20 Liters Of Fuel
682 Fire Extinguisher
756 Becker Radio Mexico 2000
857 New Shift-/Selector Lever Generation
872 Seat Heater For Left And Right Rear Seats
873 Seat Heater For Left And Right Front Seats
880 Closing System With Infrared Remote Control

The Detail

Matching-numbers confirmed by Mercedes-Benz datacard
Pre-facelift 600 SEL designation, produced December 1992 and first registered in Japan in July 1993
Exported from Japan to the Netherlands in September 2010, with Bill of Lading recording shipment from Kobe to Rotterdam
Documented odometer readings show consistent progression: 60,400 km (2004), 63,700 km (2006), 66,408 km (2011), 73,145 km (2012)
Lorinser conversion includes D93 alloy wheels, front spoiler bumper, rear apron, vented front-fender panels, rear wing, branded floor mats, and wood/leather sports steering wheel
Factory options include rear air conditioning, heated front and rear seats, electric glass sunroof, electrically operated rear-window blind, Becker Mexico 2000 radio, fire extinguisher, and infrared remote locking
Maintenance documented in the Netherlands from December 2010, including headlamp glass, wiring harness, engine oil and filter, oil-pan gasket, suspension ball-joint boots, suspension rubber components, and hydraulic oil
Wheel alignment carried out in March 2012 at 73,145 km
Finished in Brilliant Silver Metallic (744) over Black Leather (261A), consistent with the factory datacard
Visible wear to portions of the leather upholstery, particularly the driver's seat
Burr-walnut trim present across the dashboard, doors, and centre console
Seller can assist with worldwide transport and shipping

Engine & Drivetrain Details:

5,987 cc M120 V12 gasoline engine
48-valve DOHC construction
Four valves per cylinder
Bosch LH-Jetronic electronic fuel injection
Electronic ignition with anti-knock control
Hydraulic valve-clearance compensation
Electronically controlled idle speed
Three-way catalytic converters
4-speed automatic transmission
Rear-wheel drive
ASR (Acceleration Slip Regulation / traction control)
Speed-sensitive power steering
100-liter fuel tank
Electronically limited 250 km/h top speed
Suspension & Braking
Automatic rear self-levelling suspension
Independent front and rear suspension
Gas-pressure shock absorbers
Front and rear anti-roll bars
ABS anti-lock braking system
Four-wheel disc brakes
Internally ventilated front brake discs
Internally ventilated rear brake discs on 600 SEL
Brake-pad wear monitoring
Power-assisted braking

Safety & Security:

Driver airbag
ABS
ASR traction control
Front seat-belt pretensioners
Three-point front seat belts
Three-point outer rear seat belts
Central locking
Automatic door locking provisions
Safety steering column
Front and rear crumple-zone construction
Side-impact protection
High-mounted third brake light
First-aid-kit provision
Warning-triangle provision
Exterior lamp failure monitoring
Brake-pad wear warning
Low engine-oil warning
Low coolant warning
Washer-fluid warning

Comfort & Interior:

Electrically adjustable front seats
Memory function for driver's seat
Electrically adjustable front head restraints
Electrically adjustable rear seats
Electrically adjustable rear head restraints
Electric steering-column adjustment
Steering-column position incorporated into memory system
Electrically adjustable exterior mirrors
Heated exterior mirrors
Electric windows, front and rear
Automatic climate control
Separate left/right temperature regulation
Rear passenger ventilation outlets
Cruise control
Outside temperature indicator
Leather-covered steering wheel
Front center armrest
Rear center armrest
Front and rear reading lamps
Illuminated vanity mirrors
Courtesy lighting
Velour carpeting
High-grade interior carpeting
Burr walnut wood interior trim
Wood trim on dashboard
Wood trim on center console
Wood trim on doors
Leather gear-selector trim
Electrically adjustable rear-view mirror
Automatic interior-light delay
Multiple front and rear storage compartments
600 SEL-Specific Luxury Equipment
Long-wheelbase SEL body
Approximately 100 mm additional rear-passenger space versus the SE
Double-glazed / insulating side windows
Power-assisted soft-close doors
Power-assisted soft-close trunk lid
Electrically adjustable rear seats
Power rear head restraints
Extended rear-passenger equipment
Additional rear-compartment sound insulation
Burr walnut interior trim
600 SEL-specific V12 trim and identification
Extensive acoustic insulation throughout the body

Exterior Equipment:

Body-colored bumpers
Electrically adjustable heated exterior mirrors
Electrically retractable parking guide rods on rear corners
Headlamp wiper/wash system
Front fog lamps
Heat-insulating/tinted glazing
Heated rear window
Variable intermittent windshield wipers
Rain-related/wiper convenience functions
Full-size spare wheel
Electrically operated radio antenna
Instrumentation
260 km/h speedometer
Tachometer
Fuel gauge
Coolant-temperature gauge
Oil-pressure gauge
Instantaneous fuel-consumption/economy gauge
Outside-temperature display
Trip odometer
Analog clock
ASR status/warning display
ABS warning system
Exterior bulb-failure warning
Brake-pad wear indicator
Low coolant warning
Low engine-oil warning
Low washer-fluid warning

The vendor says:

“Exterior and presentation

“The photographs show the 600 SEL still wearing its original Brilliant Silver Metallic colour combination, consistent with factory paint code 744.

“The combination works particularly well with the period body treatment: unlike many heavily modified W140s, the aerodynamic additions are painted to integrate with the body rather than creating an obviously separate appearance.

“The large Lorinser wheels fill the arches substantially more than the factory 8-hole wheels would have done and give the long-wheelbase body a noticeably lower and wider visual stance.

“Several of the modifications are particularly representative of 1990s high-end Mercedes tuning: the vented front wings, extended lower bodywork, large monoblock-style wheels and subtle rear spoiler all transform the car without obscuring the fundamental W140 shape.

“Interior

“The interior remains predominantly faithful to the exceptionally luxurious specification of the 600 SEL.

“Black leather covers both front seats and the large rear bench, while burr-walnut veneer extends across the dashboard, doors and centre console.

“The photographs show the distinctive electrically operated front seats, rear climate-control arrangement, deep rear seating area and extensive soft-touch trim characteristic of the flagship W140.

“A wood-and-perforated-leather steering wheel adds another period-customised element to the driver's environment.

“There is visible age and wear to portions of the leather, particularly the driver's seat, which should be regarded as part of the current condition rather than concealed in the description. At the same time, the photographs show that the fundamental interior specification remains present and recognisably original in character.”

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