1996 Mercedes-Benz W124 E36

All E36s were made between 1994 and 1996 and in very small numbers. It’s thought that just over 20 were made in right-hand drive with just 14 of those remaining today. Due to its near mythic status among Mercedes-Benz enthusiasts, this one’s frequently mistaken for one of the many copies, but fear not, it’s appears to be the real deal. The correct 957 AMG Technology Package code is present and correct on the car’s build sheet – as is code 772 the AMG Styling Package, along with a whole host of other highly desirable options.

Depending on your own personal preference, we’d say chief among these rare options is probably the heated, multi-contour seats or the remote central locking. Though the first owner also specified some safety kit including a passenger airbag and traction control. All in, the total purchase price in 1996 is thought to have been a whopping £68k (over £114,000 today).

This pillarless beauty displays 153,556 miles though don’t let that worry you, it has clearly led a pampered existence. The previous owner to the vendor is said to have owned it for over 20 years, having bought it as a retirement present for himself and his wife. Though it was the lady of the house who preferred to take the keys. Running on mandatory high-octane fuel, this Benz can crack 60mph in just seven seconds and reach 155mph. Though we doubt its former retired owners ever got close to testing these figures!

Said to have lived inside during the vendor’s care, this E36 still presents very well indeed. The paint is highly reflective and the panels appear arrow straight. Only the very mildest of imperfections could be located on its top side and none of these detract from its stunning overall impression. The front bumper fit on the nearside is mildly wonky, which likely indicates that the plastic bracket on the inner wing has broken, which is a common complaint. We couldn’t find any trace of the usual 124 rusty front wings, mainly because the vendor informs us that they’ve been replaced. This is evidenced by very slightly darker paint visible in some lights, though really, you’d have to be told they weren’t the originals, the match is near enough spot on. Oh, and there’s some mild delamination on the corner of the rear screen.

The chrome on the grille, which is frequently damaged or tarnished even on later 124s, is still looking resplendent. As are those genuine (we assume) 17-inch AMG ‘mono-block’ alloy wheels. A matching set of Michelin tyres was fitted in 2013 and all still appear to have plenty of miles left in them. The body demonstrates exceptional shut lines and panel gaps, though we did see some gravel rash on the front edge of the side skirts (in the wheel arches). Other than some very minor paint chips to the back side of the driver’s door mirror and some further tiny areas of paint peel (from respray masking?) around the rear of the ¾ windows, this E36 could pass for a five-year-old example.

Tons of those factory options can be found in the cabin. Everywhere you look, something’s been upgraded from standard and these were pretty well equipped in base form anyway. It’s actually really nice to see the factory stereo in this E36, which is often swapped for later aftermarket alternatives. The vendor informs us that he’s had this upgraded to take a Bluetooth connection, so it might look old, but it’s actually still eminently useable.

The seats are certainly a rare addition to any 124, as they’re more commonly found in the far more expensive 126 S-Class – their contour adjustment and heated elements both still work as intended. Peek under each of their bases and you’ll find a first aid kit and fire extinguisher too. The desirable options continue with the electric rear blind and remote folding rear headrests among so many others that we don’t have the space to list. Thankfully, the vendor has done it for us with a print out in the history.

As for condition, this cabin is looking as good as the exterior. The headlining is effectively unmarked and the seat fabric displays only the mildest of creasing to the usual driver’s outer bolster. The ruched leather door cards still look classy and the sunroof looks neat and operates as intended. The belt butlers on both sides present the seatbelts as expected and other than a small crack in the trim at the top of the passenger side, appear to be in excellent cosmetic condition.

The carpets still look clean and inviting, even in the boot area, though we did spot a few frays to the fabric surrounding the front of both seat runners. There’s also a tiny mark on the driver’s side sill top, invisible when the door’s closed of course, and an equally diminutive spot of perishing to the door seal on the same side. An inspection of the floors, once the mats were lifted, looked mostly very good – though we did spot a small rust patch on the driver’s side, visible from underneath (see below).

The engine bay presents very well indeed with exceptionally fresh-looking fluids and great under-bonnet soundproofing. There was little to no evidence of any leaks, either past or present. The wiring harness has been recently swapped – this is a product of the biodegradable Mercedes-Benz era after all – so there’s peace of mind to be had here. Everything under here should keep working as intended for many years to come.

Scooting down underneath proper, the majority of the floors and sills appear to be in very good shape, but there looks to be a small rust hole to the front inner section of the driver’s side floor. This isn’t anywhere near anything vital from an MoT point of view, but clearly will need investigating to see how extensive it is (we’d bet not very).

It’s nice to see AMG parts stickers still on the suspension, but the surface rust on the majority of the suspension and steering components is a little less welcome. We need to stress that at nearly 30 years old, any car will need a touch up here and there. Though having said that, the staining and surface corrosion visible around the nearside rear jacking point also requires further investigation, which will necessitate the removal of the side skirts – probably why it’s been overlooked to date.

Listed as an E36 AMG COUPE on the V5C (should any further proof be needed) there have been just five former keepers of this rare M-B gem. The vital invoice to prove that wiring swap is plain to see with a cost of £745.99 from M-B in Dec 2020. The rear subframe bushes were renewed at the same time – also by Mercedes-Benz Maidstone. The same dealership was trusted with the car’s care for much of its recent history and has carried out the last three or more health checks, the latest of which took place in Nov 2020. This only uncovered a slight leak from the NSF shock absorber and some front brake pads in need of replacement – remarkable for a 26-year-old car. An earlier health check from 2018 only found a vacuum connection missing from one seat and slight play in the steering idler.

Looking further back though this car’s massive history file, there are lots of older health checks, which seem to taken place roughly every two years right back to 2006. In this era, care was taken on by a mix of Honda dealers for sundries and M-B Medway & M-B Middlesex (Drake & Fletcher) for servicing. The stamps in the service book correspond with invoices from 2000 to 2006. Service stamps from M-B are found prior to this, though lack the supporting invoices.We also note from the history file that Mercedes Benz of Maidstone replaced the gearbox in 2010 at a cost just shy of £4,500.00.Essentially, if this car has wanted for anything during its life it was sorted immediately by M-B dealership technicians.

One of the rarest AMG creations – post co-operation deal but pre-merger with Mercedes-Benz – this E36 is a wonderful example of a now almost forgotten performance flagship. The 14 left out there mean you’re highly unlikely to see another, and as the vendor points out, part of the joy of owning this one is correcting people when they assume it’s a fake!

The condition of this E36 appears to be very good indeed and belies its mileage, itself not an issue for a near unbreakable Benz. That, together with its classic beauty and still impressive performance, requires the next (very fortunate) owner will to find between £25,000 - £35,000 to take possession.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with us at The Market HQ near Abingdon; 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’.