Mercedes-Benz 500E (W124)

The Mercedes-Benz 500E W124 in the Australian market sits at a median of AUD $145,000, having climbed 11.2 percent over the past 12 months. This steady appreciation aligns with its classification as an appreciating classic, though the hold signal suggests we're in a consolidation phase rather than an aggressive rally.

The 500E commands a highly collectible rating on the strength of its rarity—just 10,479 units were built globally—and its status as one of the last naturally aspirated performance sedans from the W124 generation. That combination has proven durable enough to sustain moderate desirability in a market where supply of clean examples remains scarce.

Liquidity remains thin, with nine recorded sales over the past year and zero active listings at present. That scarcity underscores both the challenge and the opportunity: buyers serious about acquisition will need patience, while owners holding good examples have limited outlets for quick exits.

The base projection suggests AUD $185,796 within three years and AUD $201,470 over five years, representing 28.1 percent and 38.9 percent appreciation respectively. These forecasts rest on sustained collector interest in air-cooled, analogue-era Mercedes performance cars, a segment that has proven resilient even as newer alternatives proliferate.

The medium confidence rating reflects the small sample size and thin trading activity, which limits our ability to spot emerging shifts in buyer preference. For prospective buyers, the hold recommendation signals that current pricing is fair; further gains depend on whether the next three years bring genuine scarcity-driven momentum or simply market-wide inflation adjusted for inflation.