1990 Mercedes-Benz 500 SEL

With just four former keepers, ‘H875 SVH’ belongs to the directors of a car dealership; bought in 2015, they’ve enjoyed driving it so much they’ve hung onto it for the past eleven years – and we don’t need to tell you how rare that is, given the thousands of cars that have passed through their hands in that time.

But then it is a rather nice example: Finished in Metallic Blue Black (colour code 199) it enjoyed a good start in life with no fewer than six main-dealer services in its first four years before moving into the independent world where it received another seven services in eight years, six of them from the same garage.

With 90,000 miles on the odometer it’s little more than nicely run-in and while the paintwork needs attention the corollary of that is this very solid example is probably going to sell for way less than you think.

Shall we cut to the chase: The paintwork is in a poor condition with cracked paint on the bonnet, blistering to the offside front wing, chips on the trailing edge of the driver’s door, a scuffed offside mirror case, two dents and a scratch to the offside rear door, stains, dinks, and a split on the boot lid, a scratch on the nearside rear wing, damage to the nearside rear door, chips to the front passenger door, a scuff on the nearside front wing, and blemishes on the roof. We also see overspray and sanding marks on many of the panels.

Which all sounds pretty damning, doesn’t it?

But what we don’t see is much rust: There are certainly rust spots on the chromed front bumper and a few bits on the wheelarch lips, but there doesn’t seem to be any of the serious structural corrosion that can kill an S-Class faster than anything else – and no MoT tester has ever had cause to mention structural corrosion either.

The four corners are free of scuffs and scrapes too, as are the chrome wheelarch trims, and the front valence. The flanks are also free of car-park ripples, which reinforces our conclusion that its owners have taken care of it over the years.

The panels still align well, with tight and consistent shutlines throughout; taken in conjunction with its clear HPI report, this suggests it has not led an interesting life: Entertaining stories might be a welcome addition to the dinner table but they’re less welcome in the garage.

The factory-fitted metal sunroof glides fore and aft as it should, and it sits foursquare within its aperture. There are no water stains on the inner headlining either, which suggests it seals tightly too.

The lamp lenses are free of chips, cracks, and other damage, and the doors latch with a finality you rarely see anywhere other than a nuclear submarine.

There is an awful lot to like if you can see past the faded and cracked paintwork.

Including the 15-inch alloy wheels, which might have a slight patina to ‘em but they’re largely free of scuffs and scrapes and are fitted with a matching set of RoadX RX Motion tyres. Made in 2021, all have good tread although the nearside front has light damage to its sidewall.

Other nice touches include a delightfully patina’d Mercedes grille badge and front mudflaps.

The grey hide interior has worn even better than the coachwork and, incredibly, everything we tested works – and testing it all took quite a while as you can imagine…

Because it is stuffed to the gunnels including heated and electrically adjustable front seats. Still plump, they’re all-day comfortable, very supportive, and their face material shows only gentle wear and light stains in the main.

The outside of the driver’s seat has fared a bit worse, but even this is little more than a bit of colour loss and a couple of small holes on one bolster.

The rear seats are even more impressive as they add enormous legroom to the mix, along with individual reading lights – and with barely any sign of aging, the only way they could look any better is if they’d struck up the same deal with the devil Tom Cruise apparently has.

The steering wheel is huge and bereft of buttons but that also means there’s less to go wrong – and it’s not like the dashboard is full of blanks, is it? Those switches and controls also still boast vivid lettering and a crispness to their action you simply don’t see anymore.

The wood ‘n’ chrome gearknob might be loose but it still looks terrific, as do the door cards and the top of the dashboard, both of which could be a quarter of their actual age.

The glovebox lid includes the sort of cupholders your parents used for their Thermos mugs during seaside picnics, the elasticated seat-back pockets are still tight, and the front-seat passenger gets their own carpeted footrest.

The boot is both huge and lightly stained. It’s got a full-size spare wheel in there too, plus a bag that looks like it might contain the missing tool kit.

As for stuff the new owner might like to sort out, the driver’s footwell is missing its carpet and the nearside mirror trim has gone AWOL.

There are also stains to the top of the rear armrest, the LED display below the speedometer is failing, the trim around the nearside front seatbelt has come adrift, and a few of the pieces of veneer trim are starting to discolour and even crack in places.

The trim above the rear seats is also sagging but the headlining is clean and taut still, which means you’ll be able to dodge an expensive trimming job.

You might like to invest some of that saving into something like a period Nakamichi radio-cassette player to replace the modern Blaupunkt Louisiana head-unit and CD-multichanger that’s currently fitted, freeing you to indulge in a proper 1980’s vibe.

The SEL’s service history is recorded as follows:

· 30.08.1990 – pre-delivery inspection by Charles Sidney

· 23.10.1990 and 908 miles – service by Charles Sidney

· 07.05.1991 and 6,045 miles – service by Charles Sidney

· 10.03.1992 and 12,597 miles – service by Charles Sidney

· 24.08.1992 and 16,667 miles – service by Charles Sidney

· 06.05.1997 and 22,457 miles – service by Charles Sidney

· 24.08.1994 and 29,844 miles – service by Charles Sidney

· 03.10.1995 and 36,204 miles – service by Merc-Care

· 27.05.1997 and 41,918 miles – service by Prospect Garage

· 03.06.1998 and 46,424 miles – service by Prospect Garage

· 23.11.1999 and 53,817 miles – service by Prospect Garage

· 02.08.2001 and 54,701 miles – service by Prospect Garage

· 16.08.2002 and 57,481 miles – service by Prospect Garage

· 23.08.2003 and 58,205 miles – service by Prospect Garage

Lymington Motors also carried out work worth £1,251 in May 2022, while Pit-Stop WGC did another £600-worth of jobs in July 2021.

There are many other invoices on file for work and parts, although we note it is now due a service.

Cosmetically, some of the intake ducting has been repaired with (what else?) duct tape but the engine bay otherwise presents well with nothing more than the usual surface corrosion to the alloy components and a thin veneer of grime.

Crucially, as the video demonstrates, the V8 engine starts well and runs beautifully with a metronomic idle and an indecent enthusiasm for revs. It is also very smooth and shows good oil pressure – and there’s almost three-quarters of a tank of fuel, which could double the value of the car within a month if things don’t improve.

Moving underneath, the exhaust has a nice note and while there is some condensation, we can’t see any blue or black smoke. It is leaking a bit though.

The structure underneath appears to be largely sound with only a few short sections of rust on the seams, which should be easy to catch. The underseal looks to be long-established, protecting rather than obscuring.

Some of the bushes and the fuel filter are getting on a bit though, and the rubber jacking points caps have split. Other jobs to do, as per the last MoT, include new front discs and pads, a new balljoint, and perhaps new rear springs.

The SEL’s MoT certificate is valid until September 2027.

The recent Vehicle History Check is clear, and the history file includes the book pack, many historical invoices and MoT certificates, and seven expired tax discs.

Still widely thought to be one of the best cars ever built, the W126 S-Class is a study in understated over-engineering and effortless style—and the 500SEL brings enough power to the party to satisfy anyone bar Donald Trump.

Harking back to a time when luxury was engineered in rather than bolted on, the S-Class was the vehicle of choice for diplomats, potentates, and world leaders throughout the eighties and early nineties.

Cars from this period are for many of us the sweet spot of the classic car world, combining safety and power and handling in a mesmerizing package that offers a nigh-on modern car driving experience allied with the classic car looks we all admired as teenagers.

And all this could be yours for somewhere between £12,000 and £15,000: Throw a few quid at a respray and you could be wafting around in complete comfort for another 35 years – and your grandchildren will probably be able to recoup your investment when the time comes to sell it again.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at THE MARKET HQ in South Oxfordshire. Viewings are STRICTLY BY APPOINTMENT and we are open weekdays (apart from Bank Holidays) between 10am - 12pm or 2pm - 4pm. To make a booking, please use the ‘Enquire About This Vehicle’ button on the listing. Feel free to ask any questions, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.