This 1988 Mercedes-Benz 420SEL was originally built for the Canadian market and shows first digitally-recorded registration in 1992 at 19k miles. It’s remained in British Columbia since new and shows 106k km (~65k miles) from new. The car is finished in Astral Silver (735) over Black Leather (271) and powered by a 4.2-liter M116 V8 paired with a four-speed automatic transmission. Features include heated electrically-adjustable front seats, a sunroof, automatic climate control, a factory Becker head unit, disc brakes, and 15″ wheels. Not much service history is included from previous ownership and the owner ensured an oil and filter service was performed. Thorough photos are included in the gallery showing the underside, tire condition and depth, and the engine bay. This 420SEL is offered for sale by the current owner with an original first aid kit, a factory tool kit, a clean Carfax report, and a Clean B.C. Registration.
This 420SEL is finished in Astral Silver (735) and shows well in stock condition. Exterior features include North American market bumpers and headlamps, original glass, a power antenna, and headlamp wipers. The seller reports this example to be rust-free and under prior ownership both left-side doors received repaints. Detailed photos of the exterior are included in the gallery.
Silver 15″ Gullideckel wheels are mounted with a set of 205/65 Winda tires showing 2024 date codes. Tread depth is also shown in the gallery for each tire. Stopping power is provided by disc brakes stationed at all four corners. A full size spare and factory tool kit are included in the trunk.
The cabin is upholstered in Black Leather (271) with matching carpets and door panels while Zebrano wood trim adorns the dash, center console, and door cards. The wood shows some fading and cracking and the shifter surround has a small piece of trim that's slightly loose. Amenities include power-adjustable heated front seats with position memory, automatic climate control, cruise control, an analog clock, power accessories, and a factory Becker head unit. The seller has included detailed photos in the gallery and notes each feature to work as intended.
A four-spoke airbag steering wheel frames VDO instrumentation including a 160-mph speedometer and a tachometer with a 6k-rpm redline. Additional gauges provide readouts for fuel level, coolant temperature, oil pressure, and instant economy. The six-digit mechanical odometer shows 106k km (~65k miles) from new.
The 4.2-liter M116 V8 was factory-rated for 201 horsepower and 228 lb-ft of torque when new. It sends power to the rear wheels via a 722.3 4-speed automatic. Not much service history is included from previous ownership and the owner ensured an oil and filter service was performed. Thorough photos are included in the gallery showing the underside, tire condition and depth, and the engine bay.
The included Carfax report shows a clean history and linear mileage updates. This 420SEL is offered for sale by the current owner with an original first aid kit, a factory tool kit, a clean Carfax report, and a Clean B.C. Registration.
The seller has included the following videos:
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11 Comments
@GoBoGo Thanks for the comment. As I mentioned in another reply, when I got the car the badge was already missing. The previous owner (an older gentleman) told me he wasn’t sure what happened to it—he thought it may have been removed or possibly stolen at some point while the car was parked, but he couldn’t say for certain. From what I can tell and based on my inspection, there are no signs that the trunk has been repainted or worked on, but I don’t have any documentation to confirm anything related to the badge history.$4,900 bid placed by @CTBenz
From the peanut gallery, either it was ordered 'badge delete' from the factory, or the trunk would have had prior paintwork to remove the 420SEL as the 'logos' had pins that fit into holes on the trunk. Either way, a lovely luxury cruiser!Last hour of the auction on this beautiful 420SEL — it’s been a great experience so far. Thank you to everyone who has followed, commented, and shown interest. Wishing all bidders the best of luck in the final stretch. Happy bidding!$4,650 bid placed by @alealm01
Thank you for catching that. That was a mistake made during the drafting process and does not apply to this vehicle. The car has been in British Columbia since new and has never been titled or registered outside of BC. It will be sold with its current British Columbia registration and documentation. I apologize for the confusion and appreciate you bringing it to my attention.$4,400 bid placed by @Jacksonb
$4,050 bid placed by @Wadester75
$3,800 bid placed by @Jacksonb
$3,500 bid placed by @Marko
$3,250 bid placed by @Wadester75
$3,000 bid placed by @TheBoss
$2,750 bid placed by @Marko
@Kianoosh ok thx!@loutra1967 Thanks for the question. The 420SEL badge was already missing when I acquired the car. The previous owner mentioned it may have been removed or stolen many years ago, but he wasn't sure exactly when. I don't have any further history regarding the missing badge.Just noticed there is no 420SEL on the rear trunk? Was this removed for some reason?$2,500 bid placed by @Wadester75
@ArmyGuy63 Thanks for the question. Yes, I absolutely feel this car is road-trip ready. It has brand-new tires, a new battery, and a recent oil service. I drive the car regularly on weekends and have not experienced any issues. I would have no hesitation driving it a long distance. Regarding the paperwork, once the auction is completed and payment is received, I can provide the necessary ownership/title documents and work with you on the timing. I can also store the car safely in my garage until you're able to travel here and pick it up. Please feel tree to let me know if you have any other questions. Good luck with the bidding!@Kianoosh, Do you feel she is road trip ready? If so, and I end up as the winner, once paid for, would you be able to send me the title and any documents for the car in advance of me coming there to collect it? This would allow me to get the car plated her in AZ as a collector car with collector insurance. When I come there to get it, I can cross the Canadian Border with far greater ease. LMK$2,238 bid placed by @JackOwenParker
@Peabo Thank you for the question. To my knowledge, the timing chain, guides, and ramps have not been replaced during my ownership. The car has only 65,000 original miles, runs very well, and I have not experienced any timing chain-related issues. However, I do not have records showing that this service was previously performed, so I cannot confirm whether it was done before my ownership.@Kianoosh, do we know if the timing chain and ramps have been serviced? That's the biggie with these engines. Thank you$1,988 bid placed by @OriginalAndRare