1993 Mercedes-Benz 320CE

Built in 1993, this 4-speed automatic Mercedes-Benz 320CE cabriolet wasn’t registered with the DVLA until April 2004. It is unknown where it was registered previously, but it appears to be a full UK-spec car so it could have been somewhere like the Channel Islands. Since being in the UK it has had 7 owners, including our vendor, and now shows 130k miles.

Back in 2009, a Mercedes-Benz Club member from Cheadle near Manchester bought the car at around 107k miles and put it through a full restoration - including body, interior and powertrain - which was completed in 2010. It is all documented by photos in the history file as well as winning a number of prizes with the car at club events in the years that followed.

A couple of changes of ownership later in December 2017 and our vendor is the 320CE’s new keeper. He’d always been a fan of the W124 and its rock-solid reliability - there’d been saloons and estates in the family years ago - but he fancied a convertible. At the time he was living in China, so browsed the classifieds and made the purchase online - finding one that had been sorted and had a good history.

It went straight into storage until he moved back to the UK the following year and it was intended that his wife would use it to run the kids around in. However, she never really took to the car - and wanted an estate to put kids’ bikes in. So they’ve only covered a few thousand miles in the car and - once the replacement car was found - practically none in the past year or so.

Finished in Almandine Red (aka Garnet Red), the car’s bodywork looks pretty straight and very presentable. The paintwork is very good but not perfect, there are a couple of blemishes on the bonnet for example as well as a few chips on the front bumper. Both door edges are also lightly scuffed and chipped, possibly from opening inside the garage. Overall though it’s a very good-looking car that really sparkles when the sun shines.

The glass looks ok, although there is a stone chip in the windscreen. As it is on the passenger side by the A-pillar, it is well out of the way of the driver’s vision so not an issue from an MOT inspector’s point of view.

The black fabric soft top looks taut and in good order with a clear, unblemished rear glass window. The powered roof operates as expected, folding and stowing away underneath the rear tonneau panel, which itself looks in good condition, including the underside.

The car sits on original style 15-inch 8-hole light alloy wheels - which were either replaced or refurbished during the 2010 restoration and show in a good condition. All four wheels were fitted with Continental PremiumContact tyres in 2014 but the rears have since been re-shod with Pirelli P6000s.

The mushroom/beige leather interior was stripped out and recoloured during the restoration but is starting to look a little creased - particularly where you’d expect on the front seats. The wood veneer across the dash and door trims looks fair to good, with some light scratching and patina most evident on the centre console.

There are a few pieces of trim that have come loose too, like the glove box lining and the passenger seat control panel in the door. However, all the seat adjustments and other electrics are fully working as you’d expect.

The beige carpets are mostly unmarked and appear to be intact throughout and are fitted with ribbed overmats. The headlining of the folding roof is in a fair condition, just a little soiled and loose toward the rear.

Worth noting is that some of the interior photos show a blue-green cast over the beige upholstery, making it look like it has been stained in some way. After some head scratching, we’ve realised that this is due to sunlight passing through the green tinted strip in the windscreen and there is actually no discoloration of the leather. In fact the interior is very good. Who said a camera never lies? (Bucks Fizz apparently!)

Under the bonnet the engine bay appears tidy with just an honest layer of dust over the engine cover. It has been well looked after and there are no signs of rust. The bonnet lid also has its acoustic lining intact and in a good condition.

Underneath the car, the underbody appears sound with a good coating of underseal and no corrosion. There is surface rust on some of the cross braces and suspension components but nothing of any significance.

Inside the boot, the carpet and linings appear clean and undamaged. Underneath is a large plastic panel covering a full size spare wheel, along with a jack and tool roll. There is also a first aid kit present and a warning triangle mounted to the underside of the boot lid.

The 320CE has a current MOT valid until May 2022, which it passed with an advisory on an oil leak from the steering box. This, along with a full service and a respray of the front wing and bootlid, has now been dealt with as evidenced by the recent invoices.

As previously mentioned, the car was subject to an engine strip and rebuild and bodywork and interior restoration in 2010 at 107k miles. There are numerous invoices from Mercedes-Benz Manchester for genuine parts and components used during the project as well as a big file of photos of the restoration.

The car also comes with plenty of other MOT certificates and invoices from 2004 onwards, an original sales brochure and a pouch containing the owner’s manuals.

Whilst for some buyers a six-figure mileage might feel too high, this is purely a psychological thing - our European neighbours have no issues with larger numbers of kilometers after all. Even more reassuring, the saloon versions of W124 Mercedes regularly went beyond 300,000 miles before private hire drivers even thought about trading them in.

Being the most expensive models in their class when new, the 300 and 320CE drop-tops were outsold by the contemporary Saab and Audi Cabriolets - but today, this is reflected in higher values for the Mercedes-Benz. We think this RHD UK specification example will fetch between £12,500 and £17,500.

This is a solid car with good mechanicals and, even with the restoration now over a decade ago, it will still turn heads out on the road.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with us at The Market HQ near Abingdon; our offices are open Mon-Fri 9.00 am to 5.00 pm.  To arrange an appointment please use the ‘Contact Seller’ button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.