SOTW: Mercedes S500
It's red alert for Shed this week, with a scarlet S-Class
So although your average captain of industry would probably be more likely to peruse the Financial Times Deutschland from the rear seat of a black, silver or grey S-Class, there are more than a few red W140s out there. Heck, there's even an Imperial Red (now more pink-ish) W140 that lives a few streets away from PH's Teddington HQ. And given the choice we'd definitely plump for Almandine over that...
But colour is somewhat inconsequential here, because beneath the nail varnish red paint lies a 4973cc V8 with 335hp. And while it's not the 6.0-litre V12 flagship of the range, that makes it a pretty darn beefy limo and a heck of a lot of both engine and car for Shed money.
This car might have done a sturdy 176,000 miles, but it does have a full history and an equipment list as long as the car itself. As well as the fantastically twee 'parking masts' (what Merc used to guide drivers into parking spaces before parking sensors) this big S has soft-close doors, double-glazed windows, cream leather, headlamp wipers, electric heated seats, MB security (including 5 original keys), electric windows, electric folding mirrors, CD player (possibly aftermarket) automatic climate control, an electric sunroof, an electric steering column and cruise control (albeit broken).
What more could you want for £995? Well, cruise control that worked would be nice, but other than that this has got to be one of the most specced-up SOTWs we've ever featured. Combine that with the V8 lump, and big barge shed-cred and you've got a pretty tempting package
The vendor does have an interesting take on haggling for a secondhand car, however, suggesting on offers 'over £995' and saying the 'best bid buys'. Which, as far as we're aware, is more or less the opposite of how these things normally work...
Advert is reproduced below
MERCEDES-BENZ S CLASS 500 SE 4DR AUTO (£995)
Red.
RED Saloon.4973 cc Petrol, Automatic. Metallic Almandine Red, MOT-08-2012, 5 Owners. LOOKING FOR OFFERS OVER 995 CALL 01895 814 814 TO MAKE AN OFFER BEST BID BUYS PLS READ THIS BEFORE CALLING. Insurance Group:19, An Imposing 1993 S500 fully loaded with cream electric leather interior, warranted 176k full service history and all original 5 keys in its original MB case. Taxed and tested until September 2012. Equipment includes soft closure doors, double glazed windows, reverse parking masts, headlamp wipers, electric heated seats, MB security, electric windows, electric folding mirrors, automatic climate control, cruise control (not working), electric sunroof, electric steering column, face off CD player, spare wheel and rear reading light. hpi checked lovely example viewing essential, FULL DEALER FACILITIES* PART EXCHANGE WELCOME* CARS BOUGHT 4 CASH TOP PRICES PAID*POST CODE UB10 0DF
There's a car shouting out for larger rims - when you see one on staggered AMG Monoblocs you can only assume it was designed with those on mind.
And black/silver/gunmetal paint.
Still, for £1k you can't complain.
CHASSIS WDB1400502A137760
ENGINENO 11997022035216
POWER 320
BRAND 095=Mercedes-Benz
TRANSMISSIONTYPE A=automatic transmission
MODEL S 500/500 SE
BODY 4=Saloon
ENGINETYPE 2=Petrol
NUMBEROFDOORS 4
CYLINDERCAPACITY 4973
CLASS S
BRANCH 0
FINALDATE 06/05/1993
STOCKNUMBER 0353764723
GROSSPRICE 63019.51
NETPRICE 53633.63
TAX 17.5%
DATEOFSELL 25/05/1993
UPHOLSTERY 268=Leather grey
PAINT 512=Almandine red metallic
221=Electrically adjustable front seat, left
222=Electrically adjustable front seat, right
303=Armrest folding front with compartment
341=Additional indicators
362=RHD vehicle according to EEC regulation
412=Elect. tilting/sliding sunroof, steel version
441=Steering column adjustable
461=Instrument with mileage reading
524=Paint protection - preservation freight packaging
538=Attention Assist
551=Anti-theft warning system
581=Automatic air conditioning
592=Green-tinted thermal insulation glass all round
600=Headlight cleaning system
613=Headlamps for RHD vehicles
652=Summer complete tyres fitted
668=Prod. prot. f. freight pkging with tie-down hooks
731=Wood finish, burr walnut trim
861=TV screen in rear
873=Heated front seats
883=Closing aid for doors and luggage compartment lid
ALL OPTIONS 221/222/303/341/362/412/441/461/524/538/551/581/592/600/613/652/
This is almost certainly not an S500 however, but rather a 500SE with an S500 badge, if the K plate is what it was originally issued on. There are a very few 1994 pre-facelift cars with the new badging (IE 500SE became S500 and so on), but these are pretty much all on an L plate. Also, this car has the white indicator conversion which was never available on the pre-facelift cars. The rear end is the biggest giveaway as the lights are quite seriously different.
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