The Mercedes-Benz lineup is quite extensive, and buying new can be expensive! Owning a Mercedes doesn’t have to be that expensive though if you go the route of purchasing a classic. If you want a vehicle that could be your next project car, or have a little more money to spend on a road-ready vehicle, then this list is for you. We’ve compiled a list of the five best classic Mercedes that you can buy! Ranging from under $10,000 to $25,000, you can choose which classic Mercedes best suits you.
Mercedes W201 190E
The Mercedes-Benz W201 is a timeless classic designed by Bruno Sacco for the years 1982 to 1993. This is one of the more popular vehicles for owners under the age of 30, due to its sporty look, which is coined by the 190E 2.5-16 Evolution II. That special edition vehicle will run you a couple hundred thousand dollars though.
An entry level 190E can be purchased from Bring A Trailer (this is where all of our prices are based upon) for under $10,000. That price tag won’t necessarily get you a museum-quality vehicle, but it’s a great entry-level choice for young or old classic Mercedes enthusiasts. Low-milage examples are becoming more rare as time goes on, but this vehicle will surely last a lifetime if properly maintained. Finding the perfect vehicle for you may take some time, however, it will bring years of enjoyment afterwards.
Another option within the W201 designation is the 190D, the diesel model. It’s not too common anymore to find new diesel vehicles, but Mercedes surely has plenty of options for buyers looking to go that route.
Mercedes W124 E320 Cabriolet
Is the 190E not flashy enough for you? Then the W124 E320 Cabriolet may be a better choice. These vehicles are another example of a design that Bruno Sacco finalized, and they are sure to turn heads. Most examples sell for between $10,000 and $20,000, but some pristine low-milage examples have been sold for up to $40,000!
Production numbers are fairly low for the cabriolets, with just under 34,000 vehicles produced. With a vehicle that’s 30 years old now, it’s surely becoming increasingly rare as there aren’t nearly that many left on the roads today. With the folding top down, the E320 Cabriolet is sure to make some great memories.
W124 prices in general have slowly appreciated throughout the years, and it seems as though the cabriolets have kept pace. It is a potential opportunity for a classic-loving enthusiast to purchase a vehicle that will last a lifetime while also maintaining its price if properly maintained. Buyers should beware, however, because these cabriolets have a specific set of parts that are becoming more difficult to find. Since the cabriolets are the only non-coupe vehicle in the W124 lineup, Mercedes had to find a way to support the chassis without the hardtop. This left a fair amount of parts that are cabriolet-specific. Despite the reliability of these vehicles, known issues include leaking of the hydraulics for the folding top, and deterioration of the interior plastic pieces.
Mercedes R129 SL
One of the more popular classics that Mercedes produced is the R129 SL500. They are not too difficult to find within the United States, as most examples were produced for the North American market. The price tag is the highest on this list, running about $25,000. That price, however, will buy you just about all you can ask for in this vehicle. Some may think that price is a steal, considering some R129 models had an MSRP above $100,000 back in the late 1990s!
The R129, while it looks like a sporty vehicle, is more of a luxurious grand-touring vehicle. A little bit more money can buy a massive V12 engine in an SL600, compared to the V8 or V6 engines that all of the other R129s carried. The R129 underwent its first facelift after 1995, with minor differences between the early and later models. Most notably, the V8 and V12 engines were upgraded to five-speed electronic transmissions compared to the previous four speed hydraulic transmission. The second facelift occurred for the 1999 and later models, which aside from the V8 engine swap from M119 to M113, was mostly cosmetic.
The R129 came from the same era as the W124, and even shares a few parts with the cabriolets. Parts for the R129 are becoming increasingly difficult to find like the W124, and it shares some of the same issues of leaky hydraulics. Our personal recommendation for an R129 is to purchase a model year 1996 or later, as the early vehicles have issues with a degradable wiring harness, which the later vehicles do not.
Mercedes R107 SL
The predecessor to the R129, the Mercedes R107 SL is another excellent choice for a buyer who has a taste for the 1970s and 80s Mercedes as opposed to the 1990s. The R107 had the longest production run out of any SL, from 1971 through 1989. Early R107s from the 1970s can be purchased for under $15,000 and some models even sell for below $10,000. These models include the SL350 and SL450. The later model SL560 is more expensive and can cost upwards of $25,000.
The R107 was produced at a time when the United States was a large source of revenue for Mercedes, and about two-thirds of the models produced were for the American market. This means they are not too difficult to come by. The United States market R107s only carried V8 engines with automatic transmissions, as opposed to European models that had the option of manual or automatic transmissions. Major differences between North American and European models stemmed from emissions regulations in the United States that regulated the engine and fuel type.
The R107 is an excellent choice for a buyer in the market for a classic grand-touring vehicle that predates the more contemporary designed R129. It should be known that these vehicles may have a cheap entry point, but as with any Mercedes, they will cost you in ownership. They have notoriously low gas mileage and a cheap Mercedes is one of the most expensive cars to own thereafter.
Mercedes W123 300D
When it comes to reliability, the Mercedes 300D is precisely known for that. These vehicles carry a diesel engine that has countless examples with hundreds of thousands of miles if properly maintained. As opposed to a modern Mercedes, chances are you will spend less in maintenance on this $10,000 Mercedes. You could consider this a cheap price tag, as the W123 had an MSRP of over $70,000 in today’s money.
The hump begins when you first purchase the vehicle, and it will most likely need much of it replaced. After all, it is a 40+ year old vehicle. So long as there is no rust, this vehicle can last a lifetime after replacing necessary seals, gaskets, and other odds and ends. The materials used to produce the vehicle were much higher quality than what we see on the road today, which is why they are still around after so long.
The W123 was an extremely popular choice across the world, so examples can be found just about anywhere. It may even be one of the most popular budget classic Mercedes in existence. If you enjoy project cars, perhaps a 300D is the next one for you.
Do you own a classic Mercedes-Benz? Have you wanted to work on a project Mercedes for awhile now? Let us know your thoughts about our list in the comments below.