1993 Mercedes-Benz 300CE

Registered on the 11th of January 1993, this beautiful 300CE Mercedes has been cared for by just five previous keepers, the last owner being a lady who owned it for 18 years.

Finished in the stunning and desirable colour of Bornite Metallic, the vendor who purchased the car in 2018 and who is a huge Mercedes fan, having owned other Mercedes 300 saloons and convertibles in the past, had never owned a coupé and was smitten with the colour, and we can easily see why.

Seeing the car's potential, the vendor immediately knew what he wanted to do to the Mercedes to make it a very usable classic. This started with having the car fully resprayed in the original colour of Bornite Metallic. The next was to have the mechanical side fully checked over and serviced, and anything needed was replaced.

The result is a stunning-looking Mercedes 300CE, which, being a coupé, has fantastic pillarless windows that let masses of light and air in - and, let's be honest, they look very cool, which is why they generate lots of interest when examples like this become available.

When it comes to modern classic Mercedes, the CE version certainly fits the bill. Slightly shorter than the saloon version, the coupé's already elegant styling is extended with its pillarless windows.

The 300CE's paintwork is finished in Bornite (Blackberry) Metallic and is extremely well-presented, thanks to a full respray in 2019 to freshen everything up. From the front, you will notice the bumper is an Anthracite grey colour, which is a fantastic contrast against the Bornite Metallic. There are no scuffs to point out on the bumper, and the headlights and indicators are free from any damage. The chrome grille has a bright finish, and the bonnet aligns with an equal gap along each wing.

Looking down the lovely flanks of the classy coupé, there are no dings or dents to point out, and both doors align well with a matching panel gap. The anthracite lower trim and door mirror are all in good condition and look to fit as they should. The windows are in excellent condition with no noticeable scratches, especially to the front and rear, which have been replaced. There is a small amount of wear to the trim on the edge of the quarter windows where they have folded down over the years. The factory electric sliding and tilting sunroof opens and closes without any issues.

The clean lines at the rear produce a great-looking rear end. The lights are free from damage, and the boot lid aligns correctly. To keep you guessing about the exact model, the badges have been removed for a cleaner look.

The factory eight-hole alloy wheels are fitted, and they are in excellent condition and show no signs of kerb damage or corrosion to the faces. The tyres are all Continental, but two different types, all with a good amount of tread.

The luxury 90s leather has coped very well over the past 30 years, a true testament to the quality of Mercedes-Benz when they built the 300CE.

Finished in beige leather (Code 265), the electric front seats are in good condition. There are some minor age-related creases and a small amount of colour wear to the driver’s side bolster, as you would expect for the age, and there is also a cracked plastic trim on the seat base. The optional fitted armrest has signs of wear to the piping, which has cracked, and just below on the centre storage area, the leather has come unstuck. The rear seat is in good condition and has optional fold-down rear headrests fitted; between these is the original first aid kit. Both front door cards are in good condition with no damage to mention. In the rear, the driver’s side rear quarter panel has split on the edge nearest the window, which is quite common to see on this model, possibly sun damage being so close to the glass.

The dashboard top is in good condition with no damage. The instruments work as they should, with the odometer showing 107,439 miles. All the switchgear appears in good order, with no real signs of wear to the lettering in the usual high-wear areas, such as the window switches. The factory CD head unit is in place, surrounded by the classic burr walnut root trim, which does have some small cracks in the lacquer.

Having been protected with a set of factory mats throughout the cabin, the carpets are in excellent condition. The headlining is also in good order, as is inside the boot, which has the warning triangle, jack and spare wheel in place.

Fitted with the famously over-engineered and very strong M103 engine, the 300CE was treated to a full service and many new parts in December 2020 at 103,857 miles. These included a new set of injectors and seals, distributor cap and rotor arm, ignition coil, oxygen sensor, coolant temperature sensor, full fluid service, new vacuum hose connectors, and pretty much anything else needed to make the 300CE run as well as it should.

The vendor states that the automatic transmission has a smooth change, and no issues have been reported. When the vendor purchased the car in 2018, it was also fully serviced. At the same time, a new power steering filter and two engine mounts were installed.

The Mercedes sits beautifully and handles as it should, with no knocks coming from any corner of the car; the ride is smooth, as you would expect from a Mercedes-Benz.

The 300CE is said to stop in a straight line, and there is no juddering through the pedal. New discs and pads were installed in 2018 at 100,512 miles.

Looking at the underside, the floor area is clean and tidy, with no areas for concern. The suspension components have some minor surface corrosion but nothing excessive, and the exhaust is in excellent condition, as it is stainless steel from the catalytic converter back.

The previous owner of the Mercedes, unfortunately, had misplaced the service booklet, meaning the only history was the previous MoTs, which do seem to tally up with the mileage and shows that the car had only covered just over 2,200 miles from 2007 to when the vendor purchased the car in 2018.

Since owning the car, the servicing has been meticulous and fully documented, with a new service booklet and invoices to back up the work and parts purchased to bring it up to a well-maintained and well-presented example.

There is a current MoT, which was carried out on the 28th of March 2024, and you will be pleased to know it passed with no advisories.

1990s coupés don’t come much cooler than a pillarless Mercedes, and the 300CE has a lot of plus points. 

The engine is a tried and tested M103 unit, which is capable of achieving monster mileage and is regularly seen to exceed the two hundred thousand mark. Then there is the stunning Bornite Metallic colour which isn’t often seen, and having been repainted in 2019, the condition is excellent.

We estimate this classic German coupé will bring in the region of £10,000 - £12,000.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at the Bonhams|Cars Online HQ. Viewings are strictly by appointment. To make a booking, please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, and read our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.