Remember when you used to order your entire vehicle from the Christmas catalog? Yeah, me either. But this is exactly what six very wealthy people did in 1999. In one of the strangest marketing moves I’ve seen, our friends at Europa International, the G-Wagen importer before Mercedes officially starting bringing in the G500 in 2002, partnered with luxury department store Neiman Marcus to sell a special edition G500 through their Christmas catalog. It was a three page spread (attached below) with a few photos and a paragraph of information all to hit you with the price tag: $160,000. For those keeping score at home, that is nearly $240,000 in today’s money. What did you get for all that dough? A G500 with a special two-tone interior and Swedish Birch wood trim. Like I mentioned, they only managed to sell six of these. I am not sure if you ordered this and the G factory would build them or they only built six to sell. My guess is the former.
Today, one of these Neiman Marcus Gs is up for sale in the Atlanta area. This is one of two that I’ve ever even see photos of and luckily for the next owner of this G500, it has been cared for and loved over the past 17 years. Question is, are you willing to pay a pretty big premium for it?
CLICK FOR DETAILS: 2000 Mercedes-Benz G500 Neiman Marcus on eBay
Year: 2000
Model: G500 Neiman Marcus
VIN: WDBEG421XY7118833
Engine: 5.0 liter V8
Transmission: 5-speed automatic
Mileage: 92,385 mi
Price: $50,000 Buy It Now
I am selling my overly maintained 2000 Mercedes-Benz Neiman-Marcus Limited Edition G500. It has 92,385 excessively maintained miles on the clock. There is no rust of any kind, since it has never spent any time in the rust belt. Exterior is Obsidian Black Metallic in good condition, with some easily buffable light pin stripes from brush in the Desert Southwest. Interior is two tone Black and Tan Leather Upholstery with Swedish Birch Wood Trim. Extras included are:
MB Factory Brush Guard
Europa Int’l Narrow Running Boards
Five (5) 16″ Atik Alloy Wheels with LT265/75R16 Yokohama Geolandar A/T-S Tires with 13/32″ tread remaining in a 5 tire rotation sequence. Wheels are scuff and damage free.
G-wagenaccessories Spare Wheel Cover with Lockable Compartment
Trailer Hitch Receiver with Harness for Brake Controller and 7-pin RV Connector
OEM MB Accessory Towing Mirrors
JW Speaker LED Headlights
LED Backup Lights
G-wagenaccessories Cargo Area LED Lighting
Special Wiper Relays to allow adjustment of intermittent wiper timing for both front and rear
SiriusXM Radio Module connected to a fully working Audio 30 AM/FM/WB/CD/Cassette Head Unit
Complete unused Factory Tool Kit.
Original factory Hella Emergency Lantern
Complete Set of Owners Manuals
Original Window Sticker
Factory Maintenance Manual
Log Book of all service done since purchased in 2002.
Two (2) Keys with operating IR Lock/Unlock Control
Emergency Credit Card Key with Operating IR Lock/Unlock Control
One (1) Pair of Rhino Rack Cross BarsThis unique and collectable SUV originally sold for $160,000.00 through the 2000 Neiman-Marcus Christmas Catalog (pristine copy included), and only 6 were sold. I am the second owner since 2002 and have overly maintained and fixed things as needed. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask. It can be inspected in the Atlanta, GA area.
Since this vehicle is also listed locally, I reserve the right to end this auction at any time.
This G500 is pretty well known in the small G-Wagen community and the general conscious is that it is a winner. You can see the owner has a big list of extras he has added over the years in addition to mentioning he has an entire log book of maintenance and repairs since 2002. The photos aren’t great and you can see this G is actually quite dirty, both inside and out, but I don’t think this matters one bit to the serious buyers. You don’t buy a Europa G by accident or a whim and you certainly don’t pony up the asking price for this one without knowing what you are getting yourself into.
The asking price of $50,000 certainly is high compared to other G500s from this era, but it is tough to say it isn’t warranted. The rarity, long-term ownership history, maintenance records and never-ending demand for these all add up to this asking price. If you are somehow a person out there waiting for this one of six Neiman Marcus editions to pop up for sale somewhere, jump now. I don’t think it is going to last very long at all and I’m sure they’ll be plenty of inquires. I’m just happy to add this one to database after all these years of existing but never actually seeing one for sale.
– Andrew
Audi pulled the same thing with the first run of TTs – I looked at one back in 2015: https://germancarsforsaleblog.com/2000-audi-tt-neiman-marcus-edition/
I am told that Europa Int’l actually had 15 of these trimmed up for the catalog, but only sold 6.
I just don’t understand how anyone can claim well maintained and then present a filthy car inside and out. Even a quick pressure wash would help the engine.
Thanks for the info Dutch and thanks for stopping in.
Cool G-wagen.
It’s no Neiman Marcus submarine, but plenty unusual nonetheless.
Was hoping to see the data card for this example, but the VIN is coming up with a blank.
Noticed that too, Ace. Was curious to see what it said about the interior.
STAY AWAY from this one. After owning a couple of early wagens, I decided to get a third one, so I’ve been looking around for a clean example. This one looked cool and clean, so I contacted the seller, asking if he had undercarriage photos. You know, from the common rust areas in these beasts.
His replied was “I do that have undercarriage photos because I don’t have access to a lift”. I suggested that one doesn’t need a lift to photograph under the wheel wells, under the trunk lid area (behind the rear bumper) and inside the tail light area; and his response was “I don’t want to sell it to you”.
Oh! And I inquired about the long maintenance log that he refers to in the ad and his reply was. “I did all the maintenance myself (without ever being able to get under the car I guess) I will share the log with the buyer”.
I’m not saying this is a polished G-Turd; but the seller’s refusal to share critical information with a serious buyers raised a bunch of flags. Buyer, BEWARE!
I meant to write “I do not have undercarriage photos because I do not have access to a lift”.
Darn auto spelling 🙂
Dutch and this G are beyond reproach. Buy with confidence.
The Europa Int’l VIN will not show up on the Daimler EPC. One has to use the original European VIN.
Thanks for the good reference Chuck.
As to the truck being un-detailed, it is still being used. I would NEVER pressure wash an engine.
With regards to the complainer, he obviously is not familiar with the Gwagen community; and the truck is available for inspection in Atlanta.
I’ve never seen a vehicle more in need of window tint in my life.
Not “complaining” Dutch, just sharing my experience with the seller of this specific vehicle. Unlike him, I have nothing to hide and screenshots of my conversation with him are available to anyone that may be interested in it: mpuente-benz@hotmail.com
Dear ANDREW.
Do you know this car which is being sold in Kobe Japan now?
https://www.old-mercedes.net/brokerage-sale/amg-560-sel6-0-4v
ï¿¥7,900,000.00-
1991 AMG 560 SEL6.0-4V Recaro CSE 119head・・・
Thank you.
Mario Dutch is the owner or was.
Yes, DUTCH is the owner of this truck; and it is not for sale to Mario at any price.