1996 Mercedes-Benz E320 Sportline (W124) Cabriolet

Finished in the fetching combination of Azurite Blue with a Mushroom leather interior, ‘N260 BBL’ is a 1999 Mercedes-Benz E320 convertible.

Of course, it is also one of the legendary W124 models, a model renowned for its durability and reliability – and given the fact it’s only covered 12,700 miles, had three owners, and comes with a stonkingly good service history, we’d expect this one to fulfill the prophesy

Only for sale because he’s emigrating – “it’s breaking my heart to sell it because it’s been a lovely car to own” – this is the car you’ll pass down to your grandchildren.

What a beauty, eh? While the quality of the Azurite Blue colour might be the first thing to draw your eye (the owner’s boast “it’s barely seen rain since I bought it in 2010” rings true) the next will surely be the underlying metalwork, which is nothing short of magnificent.

Of course, while it started life that way – the W124 being one of the last to be built by engineers rather than accountants – there’s no denying how well it’s been cared for ever since.

With only 12,700 miles under its belt, you’d expect it to be good but what is really impressive is just HOW good it is because there are no ripples along the flanks, and it still boasts fantastic shutlines.

The chromework is bright and shiny, the badges gleam, the wire frame that holds the cap when you’re refueling is still under the filler flap, all four jacking points still have their covers, and the front numberplate may well be the same one Tony Purslow, the Mercedes dealer that carried out the pre-delivery inspection, fitted.

The headlamps are in great shape too, as are the dinky little wipers that clean them. The rest of the lamp lenses are good too being bright and clear.

The blue folding roof is also in an excellent condition. Free of rips, tears and other damage, it rises and falls at the touch of a button as it should. It also seals well when it is raised, and tucks away very neatly when it isn’t needed.

Oh, and the glass rear screen features a heated element to, assuring you of perfect rear vision no matter what the conditions. The rear window also features a sticker from the original supplying dealer, which is yet more proof of the car’s authenticity. (The sticker in the top left of the windscreen suggests that piece of glass may also be original.)

The 15-inch, eight-hole alloy wheels were refurbished two years ago and they were refitted with the expensive 205/60R15 Michelin Energy Saver tyres that were fitted in 2019 – or fewer than 600 miles ago, if you like.

As you’d expect, the wheels are unsullied by parking scrapes and scuffs, while the tyres are still like new – and we will never get tired of telling you that experience shows that matching high-quality tyres are an infallible sign of a caring and mechanically sympathetic owner who is prepared to spend the appropriate amount in maintaining their car properly.

Being a Sportline it sits a little closer to the ground than the standard cars thanks to lower springs and uprated bushes and anti-roll bar – and you don’t need us to tell you that that stance is everything.

As for work to do, the nearside door mirror casing is scuffed. (The offside mirror is much better with just a small scratch.)

The rear nearside bumper has some light scuffs too, with another scratch lying just above it on the rear wing.

The W124 legendary resilience extends to the cabin, which presents so well it could be a couple of years old rather than 25.

Because the front seats are still firm and springy. Their leather coverings are still virtually unmarked too, and their manual adjustment means you won’t be trying to find a teenager with a laptop to reset an ECU in years to come.

They are also heated, a feature that helps extend the E320’s range deep into winter; few experiences are more memorable than piloting a convertible in the snow, something you should try if you have young children.

The rear seats are in an even better condition and still look almost new. None of the four seats have any damage or colour loss.

Leather is used for insets in the door cards too, as well as the pockets on the back of the front seats, pockets that have retained their elasticity and look terrific.

There’s plenty of wood veneer of course, and all of it is free of chips and lacquer loss. Wonderfully shiny and bright, all it asks of you is to give it a polish every now and then.

The carpets are in great shape with even the heel protector on the driver’s side remaining free of any wear and tear, partly due, we suspect, to the presence of a set of genuine Mercedes-Benz overmats. Lifting the carpets, both in the cabin and in the boot, shows nothing other than solid metal underneath.

A Blaupunkt Atlanta CD player/radio combination sits in the centre console, and a wiring harness for a trickle charger peeks out from underneath the glovebox. (A battery cut-off switch is also fitted under the bonnet.)

The boot is very clean and shows the same lack of wear as the rest of the cabin. There’s a genuine Mercedes-Benz wind deflector in there for ruffle-free motoring at motorway speeds, plus a full-size spare alloy wheel and Michelin tyre, the factory tool kit and warning triangle, a first aid kit, and a set of rubber mats.

As for work to do, the inner headlining is a bit grubby in places but that’s a job that could certainly wait awhile.

The E320’s service and maintenance record is recorded as follows:

• 31.05.1996 – pre-delivery inspection
• 04.06.1997 and 1,024 miles – service by Tony Purslow Limited
• 07.07.1998 and 1,898 miles – service by Tony Purslow Limited
• 15.06.1999 and 2,703 miles – service by Tony Purslow Limited
• 23.06.2001 and 3,374 miles – service by Tony Purslow Limited
• 02.06.2004 and 4,492 miles – service by JS Auto Services
• 08.06.2005 and 5,051 miles – service and a new battery by JS Auto Services
• 03.04.2008 and 5,579 miles – service by Tony Purslow Limited
• 31.05.2011 and 7,317 miles – service by Mercedes-Benz Colindale
• 18.09.2012 and 8,689 miles – service by Mercedes-Benz Temple Fortune
• 05.09.2013 and 9,751 miles – service by Mercedes-Benz Temple Fortune
• 27.03.2015 and 10,511 miles – oil service by Mercedes-Benz Temple Fortune
• 23.03.2016 and 10,670 miles – service by Mercedes-Benz Temple Fortune
• 04.05.2017 and 11,022 miles – service by Mercedes-Benz Temple Fortune
• 23.04.2018 and 11,719 miles – service by The German Autoclinic including fresh rear axle oil and a change of brake fluid
• 15.05.2019 and 12,212 miles – service by The German Autoclinic including four new Michelin tyres
• 19.08.2021 and 12,548 miles – service by The German Autoclinic 17.08.2022 and 12,706 miles – service by The German Autoclinic including alloy wheel refurbishment and a new fuel pump at a cost of £2,249
• 15.10.2024 and 12,781 miles –including a four-wheel alignment service by The German Autoclinic at a cost of £1,179

As you can probably guess, the 3.2-litre petrol engine starts on the button, idles perfectly, and, when revved, makes all the right noises and none of the wrong.

As for the cosmetics, the engine is in an excellent condition. Heck, even the coolant tank is bright and clear rather than opaque and yellow. It also still bears the paper stickers the factory applied. It really is in an extraordinarily good condition.

The underside is every bit as impressive being clean and solid; we hesitate to call any car “rust free”, but this one must come as close as any, something the advisory-free run of MoTs attests to.

Because the E320’s MoT certificate, which is valid until October 2025, was issued with no advisories just like every single one since 2006.

That’s remarkable, even if it is in line with the W124’s reputation for longevity and reliability.

The recent Vehicle History Check is clear, and it comes with two keys, a huge array of expired MoT certificates and tax discs, the Mercedes-Benz book pack and wallet, the original specification sheet, invoices to confirm the quality of its servicing regimen recorded in the stamped service history booklet, and the manual for the Blaupunkt Atlanta stereo.

The W124-series is renowned for being almost indestructible, and this delightful E320 Cabriolet is a classic example of this; despite being a quarter of a century old, it could pass for a car a tenth of that age.

But then the mileage it’s covered is also that of a car a tenth of that age – and when you factor in a servicing regimen that has been based on the time that’s elapsed since the last inspection rather than the miles it has covered, the condition starts to make sense.

As for price, we think this will sell for between £20,000 and £25,000, a price that proves the adage that there are cheap cars and there are cars that represent good value.

Because the demand for W124s shows no sign of slowing, so if you’re in the market you really should come and look at this absolute gem; while they’ve all been steadily gaining in value over the past few years, the Cabriolet seems to be doing especially well, so you might just be able to have your cake AND eat it.

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