1992 Mercedes-Benz S600 SEL V12

The Mercedes-Benz S600 SEL was the marque's flagship luxury saloon, combining stand out presence with effortless V12 performance.

Paint

Finished in a prestigious shade of 'Almandine Red Metallic', the deep ruby-burgundy metallic colour gives the Mercedes-Benz real presence on the road and looks every bit the timeless classic.

We didn't note any real concerns with the paint apart from a couple of stone chips to the front bumper edge. There were a few minor marks to the wing mirrors and a slight scratch was observed on the rear edge of the roof.

Overall though, the car presented very well, it was clear the car had been looked after and given the attention it deserves.

The images are taken from a few different angles to show off the car as you would see it if you were standing there yourself. Please take the time to fully assess these high-resolution images and videos of the car to form your own opinion about the condition of the paint.

Bodywork

The Mercedes-Benz bodywork presents in very good condition overall, clearly reflecting the level of care and attention the S600 has received during its life. Looking around the car, we noted no major dings or dents on our visit.

Shut lines are visually equal and matching, as is the bonnet, and both sets of doors. The bonnet, boot and soft-close doors all opened and closed well.

When we looked over the car, we didn't see any major visual signs of marks to the body panels, although we noted a small mark to the upper lip of the front bumper, closest to the base of the grille.

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

Dashboard

The black dashboard and dark wood trim sections extending across the centre console are all in lovely condition, with no major issues to report; just a few light marks to the interior trim sections.

Black dials with orange needles looked excellent and were all functioning as expected. The odometer showed a reading of ~70,536 miles during our visit.

Gauges, controls and interfaces were functioning without concern when starting up the car and out on the road - and the dial surfaces were free from fogging.

The drive

The Mercedes-Benz S600 SEL delivers a driving experience focused on comfort, refinement, and seamless performance. The SEL version of the car is particularly significant, as its long-wheelbase setup offers the rear passengers increased room.

Its smooth 6.0-litre V12 delivers effortless power through the automatic transmission, while the well-appointed cabin and supple ride make it an accomplished long-distance cruiser.

Composed, stable, and refined - the S600 still remains a really impressive luxury saloon to drive to this day.

Glass and trim

For the main part, the glass and trim on the S600 displayed smartly with no major cause for concern. The windscreen, side windows, all show really well, with no significant scratching or marks. An interesting note was the side windows are double glazed, making the journey out very quiet.

On the rear windscreen, there was a slight note of condensation build up to the lower edges. A rear blind is fitted internally as part of the finishing equipment.

The seals look great around the outside and in line with the rest of the condition of the Mercedes. Badges and emblems are present and show no issues.

Lights and lenses are in smart condition to the front and rear. The driver side wing mirror glass was a little loose in the frame, which would benefit from being replaced.

We've taken you around the car in greater detail in our exterior review video, please take the time to look over the video and see how the glass and trim look from different perspectives.

Wheels and tyres

Fitted with 18" five spoke wheels with Mercedes centre caps, the S600 presents really well. The wheels appeared to be in good shape and looked well maintained throughout, just a small chip to the passenger side rear wheel.

The front of the Mercedes is fitted with Pace Impero tyres and a spec of 225/50 dated from 2025. To the rear, the same brand are fitted, showing a spec of 235/50 and coded from 2021.

Also included are a spare set of wheels fitted with Continental tyres, we've featured these in our gallery section.

Please take time to review the photos and videos for a detailed view of the exterior, wheels, and tyres so you can make your own assessment of their condition. Tyres are a key safety item, and you should consider replacing any that are cracked, perished, unevenly worn, or over 10 years old.

Seats and carpets

It looked clear, upon reviewing the interior, that the S600 has been looked after and respected through its ownership.

The heated front seats are in great condition for the age of the car, with the cream leather upholstery and headrests all showing well. There were no major issues, although there were signs of age to the driver bolster section.

The rear reclining seats present well, remaining in smart overall condition with light signs of use; just some minor creasing to the leather.

The headlining also presents well.

The front carpets look to be in good condition, although the driver's footwell showed signs of wear. The rear cabin and boot are tidy. Beneath the carpets, the floor pans showed no areas of concern.

A particular highlight was the blue-toned carpeting, extending through to the rear section, which adds a distinctive touch to the interior.

We've captured high-resolution photos and a full interior video tour through the car. This covers off the angles inside the car for you to review and appreciate the condition of what's on offer here in our interior review section.

Engine and gearbox

Powered by a smooth and composed 6.0-litre V12 that was produced ~402BHP and could reach 60MPH in under 6 seconds; impressive for a extended wheelbase car, even by today's standards.

During our visit, the Mercedes idled smoothly, pulled strongly, and performed as expected on the road. Klausen reports no issues during his ownership, with the four-speed automatic transmission delivering power seamlessly.

Out on the drive, the gearbox shifted consistently through the ratios, further highlighting the S600's quality and long-distance character.

Take a look at the mechanical video to see the car starting from cold, driving around some local roads, and for a closer look underneath the Mercedes and the engine bay.

Electrics and other

The Mercedes-Benz features front and rear heated seats, front and rear air conditioning, soft-closing doors, Bose Sound Package, and a CD changer in the boot. The radio wasn't working on our visit.

Other features include electric adaptive steering and reclining rear seats. The car is finished with an extra set of wheels, sunroof, rear blind and a set of keys. A spare wheel is located in the boot.

We weren't able to fully test all of the functions when visiting the car, although Klausen told us everything other than the radio was working as far as he was aware.

History and paperwork

The Mercedes-Benz S600 SEL V12 represented the pinnacle of the W140 range and the next level for the marque's engineering and luxury ambitions. This well-preserved example remains in highly original condition, free from modification and displaying just over ~70,000 miles from new.

Having been used sparingly throughout its life, it starts and runs beautifully, offering the smooth driving experience for which these V12-powered flagship saloons are so highly regarded.

The original service booklet is present and complete, featuring 8 supplying dealer stamps through to 1999 at ~54,974 miles, after this, maintenance has been carried out by Mercedes-Benz specialists. As noted by the mileage count and MOT records, the car has seen relatively limited use since the early 2000s.

Most recently, a full service was completed in September 2021, along with a change of the brake fluid, anti-freeze and gear, combination, fuel, and air filters.

Accompanying the car as part of the final sale, is an extra set of wheels equipped with Continental tyres.

The MOT certificates, maintenance, invoices records, service notes, and works receipts are available to view in the “History and Paperwork” gallery section. The Mercedes is accompanied by a good history file, owner’s manual, and folio.

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, and 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 on 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 bid/s, as bids can't be retracted and form a binding contract if you win the car - just like a traditional auction house.

Suspension and brakes

We noted no knocks or bangs from the suspension when we were out driving. Klausen let us know that he thought the suspension felt a little bouncy for his liking, although it gave us no concerns in its performance or handling when visiting the car.

The brakes felt to have no pull or vibrations that stood out to us when on the journey, and brought the car to a stop without a problem. Overall the car performed as to be expected with no concerns.

Please take a look over the mechanical videos and photographs to see close-up images from under the car.

Steering wheel gear stick

A classic and clean black 4-spoke steering wheel presents well, aligning with the quality of the rest of the car.

The black auto gear selector looks great, especially set against the finish of the wood surround.

We've captured high-resolution photos for you to review and check over the condition of the interior in our gallery section.