MERCEDES · MERCEDES 420 · Cars
MERCEDES 420 Uncommon
As of 2026 Q2, 1,150 MERCEDES 420s remain registered in the UK — an increasingly uncommon sight on today's roads. That's down from a peak of 1,237 in 2014 Q4 — only 93% of the high-water mark, a loss of about 87 cars. Unusually, the numbers are actually rising — up 9 (0.8%) over the past year, as imports and barn-finds rejoin the register faster than cars leave it. Tellingly, 62% are declared SORN — kept off the road in garages and barns rather than driven, the signature of a car being looked after rather than used up.
Survivors over time
How rare is it?
Uncommon — a few thousand still about (1,150).
Rarer than 34% of the 2,315 UK car models we track.
Fuel breakdown
Trend
About the 420
The Mercedes-Benz W211 is the third generation Mercedes-Benz E-Class made from 2002 to 2009 in sedan/saloon and station wagon/estate configurations – replacing the W210 E-Class models and superseded by the Mercedes-Benz W212 in 2009. The C219, marketed as the CLS, was introduced as a niche model in 2005, based on W211 mechanicals. Launched in 2002 for the 2003 model year, the W211 E-Class was another evolution of the previous model. Before North American sales began, the car was shown in the 2002 movie Men in Black II. The W211 development program began in 1997, followed by design work. The final...
MERCEDES 420 — questions & answers
How many MERCEDES 420 are left in the UK?
As of 2026 Q2, 1,150 MERCEDES 420 were still registered in the UK — 441 licensed and on the road, plus 709 declared SORN (off-road). The figures come from official DVLA vehicle licensing data.
Is the MERCEDES 420 rare?
The MERCEDES 420 is uncommon, with 1,150 still about, making it rarer than 34% of the 2,315 UK car models we track.
Is the MERCEDES 420 increasing or decreasing?
Over the last year the number of MERCEDES 420 on UK roads rose by 9 (0.8%).
What fuel do most MERCEDES 420 use?
Most MERCEDES 420 run on petrol — about 100% of those still registered, with the rest split across diesel.
When did the MERCEDES 420 peak?
The MERCEDES 420 peaked at 1,237 registered in 2014 Q4, and was first recorded in the data in 2014 Q3.