Highlights
This Mercedes-Benz S 500 CGI 7G-TRONIC from the W 221 series combines the composure of the S-Class of its era with a BRABUS refinement package worth around €30,000, carried out and documented when the car was still new. Built in November 2011, this German-market vehicle has had just two owners and has covered only 51,575 km. The saloon is accident-free, all servicing was carried out by Mercedes-Benz, the service book is complete, and a fresh service has just been performed. According to the available documentation, the vehicle's original list price including options was €173,642.
General Information
The W 221 series represents a generation of the Mercedes-Benz S-Class in which traditional luxury-car virtues were combined with an extensive range of comfort and safety equipment. Generous dimensions, deliberately restrained styling and powerful engines defined a saloon designed less around overt sportiness and more around effortless, commanding long-distance travel.
In this S 500 BlueEFFICIENCY, that concept is paired with a 4.7-litre twin-turbo V8 and the 7G-TRONIC transmission. Another notable feature is the classic rear-wheel-drive configuration rather than 4MATIC all-wheel drive. The defining difference from a standard S 500, however, is the extensive BRABUS refinement, which according to the verified documentation was carried out when the car was still new.
This was not limited to a particular wheel-and-tyre combination or a few cosmetic details. The suspension, exhaust system and major exterior components were incorporated into the BRABUS concept, resulting in a comprehensively configured interpretation of the W 221.
This Vehicle
Exterior
The saloon is finished in Obsidian Black Metallic, a restrained colour choice that suits the character of a large S-Class particularly well. The major distinction from the standard car comes from the documented BRABUS components.
These include 21-inch BRABUS Monoblock VI wheels with a twin-spoke design, finished in Silver “High Gloss” with polished surfaces and BRABUS aluminium centre caps. They are complemented by a BRABUS front apron with light package, side skirts, rear apron and rear spoiler. A BRABUS suspension module provides the corresponding lowered ride height.
The modifications give the car a considerably more dynamic appearance without obscuring the fundamental shape of the W 221. Crucially, the verified documentation shows that this is not a combination of individual aftermarket parts assembled many years later, but rather a documented BRABUS conversion carried out when the vehicle was new.
Interior
The interior also features details from the BRABUS refinement package. Documented equipment includes illuminated BRABUS stainless-steel door sill plates. Confirmed comfort equipment includes air conditioning, electric windows, central locking, cruise control, heated seats, power steering and a sunroof.
The vehicle is explicitly described as a non-smoker car. Its low mileage of 51,575 km and documented service history are particularly relevant when assessing this example.
Technical Specification
Under the bonnet is the confirmed 4.7-litre twin-turbo V8, paired with the 7G-TRONIC transmission. Power is transmitted exclusively to the rear wheels; this vehicle is explicitly not a 4MATIC version.
The BRABUS refinement also extends beyond the visual aspects. The car is equipped with a BRABUS stainless-steel sports exhaust system with valve control, complemented by the BRABUS suspension module and lowered ride height.
The mileage of 51,575 km is confirmed by the available documentation. All servicing was carried out by Mercedes-Benz, the service book is present and complete, and a fresh service has recently been performed. The vehicle's technical inspection is valid until November 2026.
History
The S 500 was first registered in 2011 as a German-market vehicle. Its history to date comprises just two owners. Its German origin, ownership history, mileage and accident-free status can be traced through the available documentation.
For the collector appeal of this comparatively young vehicle, the origins of its present specification are particularly significant. The extensive BRABUS refinement was carried out as a conversion when the car was new and is documented. Its original scope is stated to have been worth around €30,000. According to the available documentation, the vehicle's original list price including equipment was €173,642.
Service and Documentation
The vehicle comes with its fully maintained service book, maintenance and service records, vehicle documentation and documentation relating to the BRABUS refinement. Two vehicle keys are also present.
All servicing was carried out by Mercedes-Benz, and the car has most recently received a fresh service. Mileage, accident-free status and the key components of the BRABUS new-car conversion have been verified. No separate condition or valuation report is available, so no formal condition grade is assigned. The vehicle has German registration documents. For registration in Austria, all required documents are available, including entry in the Austrian vehicle database with all BRABUS modifications recorded by a certified automotive expert. For buyers resident in Austria, it should also be noted that the purchase price is exclusive of NoVA.
Summary
A W 221 S-Class is still young enough to be used in modern traffic without any significant adjustment, yet old enough to be regarded as a representative of a now-closed chapter in Mercedes-Benz history. This example clearly distinguishes itself from an ordinary S 500 through its combination of just 51,575 km, two owners, a complete Mercedes-Benz service history and a documented BRABUS conversion carried out when new.
Obsidian Black Metallic and the relatively restrained basic specification preserve the character of a large Mercedes saloon, while the 21-inch Monoblock wheels, bodywork components, lowered suspension and valved sports exhaust add a distinctly sportier dimension. For its future collector appeal, the documented origin of the BRABUS specification may prove particularly interesting: this was not a car restyled retrospectively, but one conceived in this configuration from the outset and preserved over just 51,575 km.
Personal Impression
A black S-Class with a V8 hardly needs any help to project authority. BRABUS, naturally, saw things a little differently. What is particularly noteworthy here, however, is that the result did not emerge from twenty years of subsequent modifications: the car was already refined to this specification when new. Twenty-one-inch Monoblocks, lowered suspension and a V8 with a valved exhaust are hardly subtle – yet beneath it all, it remains an S-Class. With 51,575 km and a complete Mercedes-Benz history, that combination is arguably more interesting today than performance figures alone.
