1983 Mercedes-Benz 500 SEL (W126) |

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1983 Mercedes-Benz 500 SEL (W126)

This vehicle has now been sold - click ‘Register Similar’ below to get notified when we consign a similar vehicle.

Sold Price

£10,720

Mileage~47,119
TransmissionAutomatic
Engine5.0L
LocationWeybridge

SOLD

1983 Mercedes-Benz 500 SEL (W126)

I WANT ONE

Introduction

Darren Rungasamy

Consigner and Editor

Graceful V8 elegance with sophisticated simplicity, this 500 SEL has been in the family since 1986.

Capitalising on Mercedes-Benz's reputation for durability, longevity and long-distance cruising, the W126 series of S-Class was a result of 7 years of development. Released in 1980, it fitted with novel safety features such as a driver's airbag, seat-belt pre-tensioners, rear headrests, anti-lock brakes and traction control, the S-Class Mercedes Benz models were considered halo models, often featuring innovations and technology that would filter into their smaller models.

As the pinnacle of mass-produced luxury, the advantages that a Mercedes had over a hand-built luxury car, were evident in its engine efficiency, aerodynamics and use of cutting-edge technology. Placed at the top of the perch of the 1983 Mercedes-Benz range, the 500 SEL fulfilled the expected standards of a flagship luxury saloon. Powered by a fuel-injected alloy ~237 bhp 5.0-litre V8, the SEL model signifies a long wheelbase, offering an impressive amount of leg space for all passengers, climate control, an electric sliding roof and rear passenger footrests.

This 1983 first phase 500 SEL is presented in a well-preserved silver-blue finish, with immaculate velour seats. It has been in the same family ownership since 1986 and has seen just ~47,119 miles. It comes with an impressive provenance, including a good record of servicing, MOTs since 1986 and its full owner's wallet including its original delivery checklist. Recently serviced, it comes with two keys, a MOT to July 2025 and is exempt from road-tax.

This listing was written from information supplied by Darren after meeting Saeed the owner, and having visited and photographed the vehicle.

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Secure Auctions

We verify all our sellers and buyers to keep our community safe whilst also providing the highest levels of website security.

Full Transparency

8 out of 10 people that buy cars via our service don’t feel the need to visit due to the transparency and thoroughness of our listings.

Vehicle Delivery

We're there every step of your buying journey and will even arrange pick-up and delivery of your new vehicle.

Meet the owner

It has been with us for a long time, we'll be sad to see it go.

Very much a car that has been part of the family, the Mercedes is registered under the vendor's sister-in-law's name, who fondly recalls being taken to school in the car in the 1980s.

Saeed is thinning out the collection of cars in his possession, simply due to a lack of use.

Saeed will be happy to answer any questions about the car in the comments section below.

Saeed

Vehicle Owner

Saeed saved £1,800* when they
sold their Mercedes with us.

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EXTERIOR VIDEO

Exterior

The exterior condition of the 500 SEL is superb, solid with very little in terms of age; this is genuine time-warp material.

Wheels and Tyres

The car is fitted with 14” steel wheels, their condition is in line with the positive condition of the car. Shod with its original plastic hubcaps, they show lacquer damage and some road wear in places.

The Michelin XWX tyres are over 20 years old, but they have plenty of tread and nothing has been flagged up in past MOTs.

Bodywork

The car's exterior is free of dents or metal damage. The wheel arches, door bottoms and wings are cleanly presented. All doors open and close easily, the panel fit is flush and displays consistent shut lines.

The same positive note applies to the underside of the car, which appears solid. The floor pan, engine bay, wheel wells, boot floor and suspension mounts have been well preserved.

We've highlighted in more detail our observations through our high-resolution images and videos, so please take time to look through all the media files for a detailed view of what’s on offer, and for you to assess the condition of the car for yourselves.

Paint

The paint finish has lasted well and retains a decent lustre, showing only mild swirls in the sunshine - the colour is consistent in hue and retains a healthy gloss.

There are a few minor chips noted on the bonnet and boot lid and a few surface scuffs elsewhere, but far better than to be expected on an original car of this age.

The images are taken from a few different angles to show off the car as you would see it if you were standing there for yourselves. So please take the time to fully assess these high-resolution images and videos of the car, for you to make up your own minds about the condition of the paint.

Glass and Trim

The glass is in good condition with very few signs of age - they all have good seals.

The lights and lenses are well presented - just the nearside front indicator has a couple of cracks and the front bumper has a mild surface scuff on the same corner.

The body trim, bumpers and chrome are well-mounted and have aged well.

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INTERIOR VIDEO

Interior

An almost spotless interior, the cabin retains a faint-aroma of newness.

Seats and Carpets

The velour seats are in superb condition, few signs of age noted - just a light discolouration in places.

The carpets are also pleasing, with the front footwells fitted with two layers of Mercedes Benz mats. The rear footwells have padded footrests. There are no signs of dampness inside the car. The boot is clean, suggesting limited use.

Dashboard

The dashboard is in excellent shape, with no damage or wear noted on the facia. The veneer is clean, with no significant marks on the centre console. The dials, controls and switches are in good condition.

The door cards and headlining are both in excellent condition which finishes off a remarkably well-preserved cabin.

Steering Wheel / Gear Stick

The steering wheel and gear lever are both show in great condition with very little wear and presented cleanly.

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'ON THE ROAD' VIDEO

Mechanics

Reliable and durable, this 500 SEL retains its reputation for top-notch dependability.

Engine and Gearbox

The cold start procedure didn’t pose any issues at all, the car started up without hesitancy and was free of any unwanted engine noises. The engine idles smoothly, with nothing more than condensation coming out of the exhaust. We didn’t spot any fluid leaks on the day.

The 5.0-litre V8 engine shows signs of maintenance, with decent hoses and ancillaries. There was very little wear on the engine plastics. The car is fitted with a new battery.

Fitted with a 4-speed automatic gearbox, Saeed has been happy with its performance. It selects drives without delay and operates free of noise or slippage.

Suspension and Brakes

The suspension components appear to be in good visual condition and negotiated the speed humps without any knocks or unwanted noises. They absorbed the road smoothly.

The car brakes evenly and are free of grinds or squeals.

No warning lights for ABS malfunctions were flagged up.

The Drive

As Mercedes’ flagship sedan, it offered the best of ride comfort and still suggests an insight into the S-Class' supple and sure-footed handling. Guided by the ultra-smooth transmission, slick V8 power and graceful manners, the S Class feels like a modern car. Its careful use, good maintenance and decades of indoor storage tell us a lot about the car's mechanical health.

The car is nicely composed at urban speeds, the braking proved to be trouble-free, with no vibrations or pulling at the steering wheel. There were no issues with the engine, its refinement and smoothness were remarkable, with no undulations or hesitation. It accelerates smoothly, selecting ratios with precision.

The suspension coped with the numerous speed humps, to no ill effects to the suspension, the car remaining completely unflustered. Saeed has not experienced any issues with the oil pressure or engine temperature, both were confirmed by his mechanic as fault-free.

Electrics and Other

Fitted with its original Becker Mexico tape player, the electric windows, climate control and sunroof were tested as operational.

The windows all function, however the nearside rear window is sometimes a bit sticky.

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History and Paperwork

Almost everything has been kept, and it appears to have been mostly trouble-free over its ~41 years.

Originally supplied by Mercedes main dealer Mitchell Cotts of Birmingham in September 1983, it was brought to London and owned by a food distributor. Sold to Saeed's father-in-law in 1986, the car has remained in the hands of the family and is currently registered to Saeed's sister-in-law.

It retains its original owner's wallet, which includes the full set of booklets and its original delivery checklist. The service book has 8 stamps, with two more services, one from Mercedes in 2017 and the other carried out in July 2024. There are a handful of historic invoices, including Mercedes invoices showing new steering components and an ABS sensor. There is also evidence of earlier main dealer work on the discs and pads.

Almost all of its MOTs since 1986 are included. The car has been kept indoor over the years and lightly used, covering around ~500 miles a year until the mid-2000s and then used at a drastically reduced rate to 2016, yet it was still MOT’d almost every year. It was placed into storage in 2016 and recommissioned in July 2024.

The car is sold with a current MOT, valid until July 2025. It has seen a recent service and comes with two keys. Please note that the car's original age-related number plate will be sold with the car, and the ageless one will be retained by the owner.

We’ve done all our usual seller checks including photo ID, V5 and also actioned a history check on the vehicle - this is a professional check operated by HPI that will highlight if the car has been previously stolen, recorded as being in an accident, or have any outstanding finance - note, this does not include a mileage history check.

We've summarised our own view on the car based on information gained from the seller in the listing above, however, as you can see, we go to great lengths to photograph and video the car in hi-resolution detail - this has been done for you to make your own assessment from the comfort of your sofa. So please sit back, have a cuppa and take your time to review everything on this listing in order to make your own assessment of the vehicle's condition. Viewings are also welcomed with all our listings, so please get in touch with us to arrange a suitable time - we just need to speak to you first and receive a valid photo ID before confirming.

If there's anything you're unsure about, no matter how small, then please first ask the owner in the comments area below before placing your bids, as bids can't be retracted and form a binding contract if you win the car - just like a traditional auction house.

Service History

Date	Type	Mileage
17-07-2024	MOT	47,105
20.06.2017	MOT	46,992
20-06-2017	Mercedes Economy Service	46,987
24-05-2016	MOT	46,871
21-05-2015	MOT	46,749
03-06-2014	MOT	46,610
30-04-2013	MOT	46,474
27-09-2011	MOT	46,240
06-05-2010	MOT	45,756
20-04-2009	MOT	45,525
08-08-2007	MOT	44,820
13-07-2006	MOT	43,949
11-07-2005	MOT	43,529
12-07-2004	MOT	43,012
06-06-2003	MOT	42,447
18-05-2002	MOT	41,457
02-05-2001	MOT	41,056
22-04-2000	MOT	40,312
09-11-1999	Mercedes 42,000 Mile Service	40,102
05-05-1999	MOT	38,946
25-04-1998	MOT	38,724
19-04-1997	MOT	38,477
13-04-1996	MOT	38,369
15-04-1995	MOT	38,203
16-04-1994	MOT	37,788
01-05-1993	MOT	37,214
29-02-1992	MOT	37,267
05-04-1990	MOT	36,684
28-04-1989	MOT	36,183
19-04-1988	MOT	34,815
16-09-1986	MOT	31,390
04-07-1986	Mercedes 30,000 Mile Service	31,128
25-07-1985	Service	25,161
16-11-1984	Service	21,488
16-01-1984	Service	15,621
13-12-1983	Service	7,258
09-09-1983	Mercedes Inspection	914

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Key Details

Model500 SEL
Transmission4-Speed Automatic
Reg. Date05-09-1983
CC4973
Mileage47,119 on clock
HistorySee Media
ColourSilver-Blue
Interior ColourLight Blue
Interior TrimVelour
Chassis #12603722036154
Engine #11796322030125
Last Service07-2024
MOTYes Exp. 16-07-2025
MOT ExemptYes
Road Tax ExemptYes
HPi ClearYes - all clear
Former Keepers3
Tyre BrandMichelins
Tyre Age20 years +
# of Keys2
LHD or RHDRHD
VisitedYes
Sale TypePrivate
Owned~6 years
Key FeaturesFamily owned since 1986 and low mileage
Vehicle RegistrationA96 UOF
Fuel TypePetrol
Body Type4-door saloon
Auction ID2188

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Vehicle Sold

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Seller : Saeed Sale Date 30.01.2025

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10 Comments

Saeed

Seller

21 days ago

Perfect interiors, low mileage, A+ condition – 1 hour to go amd we are not far from the reserve. Good luck all ?

Kimboy

22 days ago

Hi, could you please list the interior appointments for this car, ie heated seats, air con, climate control etc Thanks

Saeed

Seller

Kimboy

21 days ago

It has everything including aircon, seat adjustments, climate control etc but no heated seats as they did not exist in 1983 for these cars. Everything is in perfect
condition internally and the car even still smells new! You should have seen this gem before and anyone who gets it will feel lucky once they see the condition of this car.

Gksturge

25 days ago

Is there a reserve on this auction. I can’t seem to see if it says so in the listing?

ColinB

Admin

Gksturge

25 days ago

Hi,

yes there is a reserve on the car, we can’t disclose what it is though.

Thanks,
Colin.

bmwx5m50d

29 days ago

Good morning Saeed please could I have the registration number of the car so I can look at its mot history , thank you

bmwx5m50d

29 days ago

One other thing is the car tax and mot exempt? Thanks

bmwx5m50d

28 days ago

No worries I got my answers on the listing,,,sorry to bother you

Saeed

Seller

bmwx5m50d

28 days ago

The reg is A96 UOF and the car is classified as exempt and therefore in indeed exempt.

bmwx5m50d

Saeed

28 days ago

Thank you

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Weybridge

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