This 1991 Mercedes-Benz 560SEL was ordered for the Canadian market and shows documented registration in British Columbia dating back to 1994. Finished in Blue-Black Metallic (199) over Black Leather (261), power is provided by a 5.5-liter M117 V8 paired with a four-speed automatic transmission driving the rear wheels. Factory equipment includes heated front and rear seats, an electric rear sunshade, automatic climate control, heat-insulating glass, rear footrests, a passenger airbag, and a premium sound system. A Kenwood stereo has replaced the original Becker Grand Prix 2000 head unit. The odometer currently shows 255k kilometers, or approximately 158k miles. In preparation for the sale, the car received an engine oil service, new spark plugs, distributor cap and rotor, and new fuses. The braking system was also refreshed with new calipers, rotors, and pads at all four corners. This 560SEL is now offered from British Columbia with a spare tire, a clean Carfax report, and a clean Canadian title.
The body is finished in Blue-Black Metallic (199) with contrasting lower body cladding and chrome trim along the bumpers, beltline, window surrounds, and grille. The finish shows cosmetic wear consistent with the car’s age and mileage. Rock and paint chips are visible across the front bumper, grille surround, and hood, along with a small dent on the driver side of the hood and a scuff on the left-front bumper. A larger scratch extends through the paint on the roof, while the rear bumper and other body panels show additional small chips and scratches. Carfax reports no accidents or other damage over the vehicle’s documented history.
Factory 15” Gullideckel alloy wheels are mounted with Cooper CS5 Ultra Touring tires measuring 205/65 at all four corners. The front tires show 2017 date codes, while the rears date to early 2018. A spare wheel and tire are included. The wheels show noticeable finish wear, scratches, and curb rash. Braking has recently been refreshed with new calipers, rotors, and pads at all four corners.
The cabin is upholstered in Black Leather (261) with matching carpeting and Burl Walnut wood trim across the dashboard, center console, and door panels. Factory amenities include heated front and rear seats, an electric rear sunshade, rear footrests, automatic climate control, heat-insulating glass, and a premium sound system. A Kenwood stereo system has been installed in place of the original Becker unit. The leather shows age-related cracking around the seat bolsters and seatbacks, though no tears are noted. Some of the wood veneer also shows cracking around the center console and door trim. The headliner remains in notably good condition with no sagging reported, and the cabin presents well overall for its age and mileage.
The leather-wrapped steering wheel fronts analog instrumentation including a speedometer, tachometer, analog clock, and gauges for fuel level, fuel economy, coolant temperature, and oil pressure. The odometer currently indicates 255,131 kilometers, equivalent to approximately 158k miles.
Power comes from a 5.5-liter M117 V8 rated at 238 horsepower and 287 lb-ft of torque from the factory. A four-speed automatic transmission sends power to the rear wheels. Recent seller-reported maintenance performed in preparation for the sale includes an engine oil service, new spark plugs, distributor cap and rotor, and new fuses. Carfax additionally records an oil and filter service and transmission-fluid change at approximately 156k miles in 2012, followed by battery replacement later that year and another battery replacement in 2021. The engine bay presents well for its age, though the hood insulation is deteriorating on the driver side and some of the finish on the airbox is peeling.
The Carfax report shows 8 service history records with British Columbia registration documented since new. No accidents or damage reports are shown.
By the time this 560SEL was built, Mercedes had spent more than a decade refining the W126, and the final cars are arguably where the formula came together best. The shape was still unmistakably Bruno Sacco, the cabin was full of leather and real wood, and the long-wheelbase SEL managed to feel formal without becoming fussy. Add the M117 V8, heated rear seats, rear footrests, and a power sunshade, and you get a pretty good snapshot of what flagship motoring looked like before screens and drive modes took over the luxury-car conversation. There is also something appealing about a W126 that has actually been used. This one is not pretending to be a 30k-mile time capsule; it wears its 158k miles honestly, with the sort of cosmetic patina that comes from decades on the road. Underneath that, however, is the same late-production 560SEL recipe enthusiasts keep coming back to: Blue-Black over Black, the big V8, a clean Carfax, and a cabin that has held up remarkably well considering the mileage. Recent ignition service and a full brake refresh help make the case for this one as a driver rather than a car destined to sit under a cover. For anyone who wants to understand why the W126 earned its bank-vault reputation, a final-year 560SEL remains one of the best places to start.
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