1990 Mercedes-Benz 500SEL

The current owner has not had the car long, only since Feb of this year, before hearing work has relocated them abroad. No stranger to a Mercedes however, the current owner found this one just too good to pass up, and if the shipping costs were any cheaper then we’re sure it would be going with them.

The car is thought to have originally been purchased to ferry passengers to and from one of the London airports before being bought by Edward Hall, owner of a Classic Mercedes-Benz Sales and Services dealership. Having been with Mr Hall since 2016 the car has been pampered and treated to anything it needed with a handwritten paper trail from Mr Hall to document all it’s had.

Now presenting in a good condition, there are some areas of the car that could do with tidying up. The paintwork for example looks to be ageing a little, but the current owner assures us that its solid where it counts and pointed our photographer in the direction of the commonly known problem areas for you to view yourself in the gallery.

Bearing in mind this is a 33-year-old car with 162,051 miles on the clock, it is in really nice condition. As mentioned, the paint needs a little work here and there, if not a respray but it’s not terrible or flaking off. The bodywork again has a few scuffs and nicks with the front passenger side door having a dent just above the door trim, but these cars were built like tanks and this one has certainly survived as well as one.

Wheels and tyres are in great condition with the Gullidecker alloys showing little to no signs of damage/wear and tear and the tyres showing plenty of tread left on them. Glass, lights, badges and exterior trim is again all in good shape, the lights and glass don’t have excessive hazing, chips or scratches and the chrome grille is showing only minor chips at worst.

Body panels all look to be straight and solid, with all shut lines looking tight and uniform. The boot lid is thought to be a new item too. The roof is again just as good as the rest of the car and the sunroof opened and closed smoothly and consistently during the photoshoot.

Inside the cabin of the Mercedes is a symphony of luxurious brown leather upholstery and considering the car’s age and mileage, the leather has remained in good condition. Obviously, the driver’s exterior bolster is showing a little wear, but we couldn’t see any rips or tears throughout the cabin. This might mean a relatively simple treatment to the leather could reverse the years in a sort of automotive nip and tuck style.

The main touch points in the car have survived far better than you’d expect too with the steering wheel and gear selector showing little wear. The dash is another highlight with the wood trim and the top pad presenting in fantastic condition, the centre console does have some cracks in the lacquer, but you’d have to really concentrate to see it. The dash also houses a relative rarity in the form of the original Becker Mexico Cassette radio which we heard for ourselves working.

Other special mentions in the interior go to the original first aid kit found in the rear parcel shelf, the rear footrests in matching brown fabric to the carpet and the vacuum operated back adjustment for the driver’s seat. All electrics are reported to be working, including the electrically adjusted headrest switches in the doors.

The short drive we took with the owner from where the car is stored to the photoshoot location revealed the Mercedes to feel tight and powerful and the owner reports that it is a joy to drive. Please do take a watch of the video for the start-up, revving and idling of the car too to hear for yourself.

The Mercedes provides good access to the underneath, and it confirms the owner’s reports of the car being solid from what we can see. The car has had the bulkhead cavity wax protected this year but the underseal underneath the car has done a fine job it seems in keeping the metalwork protected.

There is quite the comprehensive service history with the Mercedes, no doubt another reason why the current owner was tempted by the car. There are a stack of MOTs and miscellaneous bills from the first owner from 1990 to 2016 and from 2016 to 2023 the second owner has handwritten the work completed due to them being the owner of a repair and sale shop.

The Mercedes has had a selection of metalwork completed in 2018 along with protection for those sections and there is a three-page note detailing all that was done.

In addition to this well-kept history documentation, the car comes with its original owner’s books and guarantees, including a fold-out poster map of all the locations of dealers and parts suppliers for the UK.

This car is fantastic, the more time you spend with it, the more you get the sense of just how advance this car was for its time. A Mercedes masterclass in style, technological advancement, and luxury, this car has clearly been treasured by its 4 owners, the first two of which have spent long periods of time with the car.

It needs a bit of TLC here and there but it’s had most of the hard graft put into it already and now all it needs is a willing hand to take it over the finish line where it can shine once more as the range topper it is. We estimate that it will sell for between £5,000-£10,000.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with the vendor in Cambridge. 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’.