2004 Mercedes-Benz E500

The car offered up for this auction, as previously mentioned, was a factory Carlsson built car, destined for the Japanese domestic market. With only 2 previous owners, it’s not difficult to assume this car has been well looked after, after all a quick browse through the gallery below will attest to the immaculate condition this car is in. With low mileage and unsalted roads to cruise on in Japan, you can rest assured that dreaded tin worm is nowhere to be seen on this lovely example.

The current owner bought the car with plans to export over to America, hence the left-handed placement of the steering wheel, however due to the US’s strict import laws for cars the Mercedes was ineligible for transport. America’s loss could be your gain however as this car now has to stay and it needs a new guardian. Only having owned the car for a short 4 months, the owner purchased the car from a dealer in Brentford North London, who had acquired the car from a man in Denmark who in turn had imported the car back from Japan. All the history for the car from its time in Japan and Denmark is present including all the service work receipts and MOT tests or ‘Shakens’, the logbook, V5 and a full HPI check.

The car reportedly drives perfectly and is a real pleasure to be in, with all aspects of the car working as they should. The limited mileage and receipts for any issues fixed go a long way to reassure bidders that this car has not wanted for anything during its lifetime. Complete with a whole host of extras, including self-closing boot, full leather interior with wood trimmed dash and steering wheel, 19” Carlsson wheels, infotainment system and what looks like the factory film seal on the rear boot protector panel, this car is nearly in time warp condition.

The ‘Brilliant Silver’ metallic paintwork is in fantastic condition on the car. The only real points to highlight are the slight paint cracking on the rear bumper around the exhaust and parking sensors most likely, we’d imagine due to the heat transfer from the quad exhaust tips. The wheels are also in remarkably good condition with only one very small area of curbing presenting itself on the rear wheels both sides. Other than these and the small number of stone chips, naturally earned from its 44,357 miles, the outer bodywork should surely be a plus point for this car.

We could not find any signs of rust on the car, which is sometimes an issue for German cars of this era. Areas such as the door shuts and scuff panels are considerably cleaner than to be expected, the lights are free from fogging and chips, the polished exhaust tips are gleaming, and the badges still hold up to inspection. It really is difficult to find major fault with the exterior condition of this car.

The ‘leather Anthracite’ interior trim is wonderfully clean and understated, the leather mixed with the wood effect trim around the centre console, steering wheel and dashboard really adds to the executive feel of this family estate. The full suite of Mercedes seating adjustments allows the driver to cruise in complete comfort, with no rips, tears, nicks or scratches to be seen, whilst the in-car entertainment head unit makes the car feel much more modern that its 17 years would suggest.  It is worth noting that the entertainment unit is the original Japanese fit - so it's radio coverage does not overlay well to UK FM for example.

The W211 E-class boasted clever interior design with folding seats, smart and lockable storage space, increased ventilation, plush upholstery and enough room to easily accommodate 5 adults in comfort. The clocks in the dash cluster are also works of art with a wonderfully integrated mix of digital and analogue aspects along with a blue and silver colour scheme which suits the design of the car down to a tee.

The interior of this E-class certainly holds up the reputation garnered by Mercedes over its years, even with it now being not the most current model. Either way this Mercedes is a relaxing and inviting place to be.

Perhaps unsurprisingly due to spending most of its time in Japan, the underside of this Mercedes is seemingly immaculate, looking clean enough to eat your dinner off which, it goes without saying, we wouldn’t recommend. This certainly bodes well for that complicated electronic suspension which, on the surface of it, looks to be in amazing condition.

Under the bonnet, the engine is covered by Carlsson branded plastics, however, considering the condition of the mechanical aspects we can see, the state of the various components visible around the bay area, the owner’s testament to its driving condition and the low mileage, we would hazard a guess that the engine is in equally good health as the rest of the car.

Based on translation of the paperwork, the car underwent Dinitrol anti rust treatment in Denmark last year in 2020, which would make sense considering how presentable the underside is. This should be a massive relief for potential bidders, giving them comfort in the knowledge that the core structure of the car will remain in fantastic condition for years to come, despite what the salted roads in the UK throw at it.

A lot of the history is either in Danish or Japanese which is a barrier to fully decoding the backstory of this car. Despite this the story of this car has been passed on well and is something the owners are clearly proud of. Should you wish to find out more for yourself, there are companies that provide a translation service should that be of interest to you.

Things from the history to note from what we can decipher are the Dinitrol anti rust treatment as mentioned, for 1200 euros in 2020, along with a replacement suspension module replaced on the car in 2019, again providing peace of mind that that very clever electronic suspension is working as it should. The current MOT certificate runs out on the 10/03/2022 giving you plenty of time to enjoy the car before needing to book in again.

This is one of the best presented examples of a 17-year-old Mercedes estate we have seen, and the rarity and intrigue brought about by the fact that it was a German car retrofitted by a tuning house for the Japanese domestic market, then shipped back to Europe to Denmark to then make its way to the UK. Only for it to then be scheduled to head off to America mean this car has done more miles at sea than on the road during its time, make for an interesting story to come with the car.

Putting that aside for a moment and focusing on the fact that this is an executive estate car with enough BHP and performance to put tail to some sports cars, all while carrying a family and their luggage in sublime comfort, with enough tech to make some brand-new cars blush with embarrassment, it really is an enticing prospect. For the petrolhead who wants to be wafted about in luxury and style whilst still being able to pack a full week’s shop after dropping the kids off on the school run, this car then must be a strong contender for best all-rounder for the family conscious professional, in any sense and whatever you use it for, we think it’s an absolute bargain.

Our estimate for this car is £10,000 - £15,000.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this car is located at our headquarters near Abingdon; we are open Mon-Fri 9am-5pm and to arrange an appointment please use the ‘Contact Seller’ button at the top of the listing to make an appointment. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’