How many Mercedes-Benz 500s are left in New Zealand?
Uncommon 1 in 3,187 on the road Built 1981-2022 European
Updated from the NZTA Motor Vehicle Register, counted as at 31 August 2026. Recounted every month.
For years the number 500 meant the 5.0-litre V8, the engine of choice in the big Mercedes: the S-Class saloons and SEC coupe of the 1980s, the SL, the Porsche-assembled 500E, and later the S500, E500, CL and ML. The badge outlived the engine size, and went on being used after the V8 itself had grown and then shrunk.
Still on the road, by model year
The most are from 2006: 201 still registered. Every year is listed under the chart.
Every model year
| Model year | Still registered |
|---|---|
| 1981 | 7 |
| 1982 | 15 |
| 1983 | 14 |
| 1984 | 19 |
| 1985 | 38 |
| 1986 | 33 |
| 1987 | 6 |
| 1988 | 11 |
| 1989 | 23 |
| 1990 | 36 |
| 1991 | 52 |
| 1992 | 86 |
| 1993 | 92 |
| 1994 | 72 |
| 1995 | 49 |
| 1996 | 26 |
| 1997 | 7 |
| 1998 | 3 |
| 1999 | 10 |
| 2000 | 27 |
| 2001 | 21 |
| 2002 | 64 |
| 2003 | 99 |
| 2004 | 102 |
| 2005 | 167 |
| 2006 | 201 |
| 2007 | 80 |
| 2008 | 14 |
| 2009 | 8 |
| 2010 | 17 |
| 2011 | 8 |
| 2012 | 8 |
| 2013 | 7 |
| 2014 | 21 |
| 2015 | 9 |
| 2016 | 4 |
| 2017 | 7 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2021 | 2 |
| 2022 | 1 |
By badge
The versions the register records, most numerous first.
| Which one | Built | Left | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| SL | 446 | Scarce | |
| CLS | 143 | Rare | |
| ML | 99 | Rare | |
| CL | 73 | Rare | |
| SEL | 67 | Rare | |
| SEC | 61 | Rare | |
| SE | 42 | Rare | |
| AMG Line | 6 | Rare | |
| Avantgarde | 6 | Rare | |
| CLK | 5 | Rare |
What Uncommon means
Spotto grades every car by how many are still registered in New Zealand. With 1,467 still registered, the Mercedes-Benz 500 is Uncommon: the grade for cars with 1,200 to 7,999 left.
By how many are left it ranks 13th of the 102 Mercedes-Benz models and 370th of all 2,903 cars in Spotto's catalogue.
The six grades: Common, 8,000 or more · Uncommon, 1,200 to 7,999 · Scarce, 175 to 1,199 · Rare, 25 to 174 · Super rare, 5 to 24 · Unicorn, fewer than 5.
Seen one?
Spotto grades every car on New Zealand roads by how many are still registered, down to the generation and the badge. Log the ones you spot, build a collection, and see who else has found one.