Mercedes sold a lot of different cars in the 2004 model year, and the databases that list them treat each one as an isolated spec sheet. This guide walks the whole US lineup in one pass: what each model had under the hood, what changed from 2003, and which ones make sense as a used buy now. Figures are US-market; European cars had different engines, including diesels.
- Quick reference table
- C-Class
- E-Class
- S-Class
- CL-Class
- SL-Class
- SLK and CLK
- M-Class
- G-Class
- What changed across the 2004 range
- Which 2004 Mercedes-Benz models are worth buying today
Quick reference table
Power figures are approximate US ratings.
| Model | Engine | Power | Body styles |
|---|---|---|---|
| C230 Kompressor | 1.8L supercharged I4 | ~189 hp | Coupe, sedan |
| C240 | 2.6L V6 | 168 hp | Sedan, wagon |
| C320 | 3.2L V6 | 215 hp | Sedan, wagon, coupe |
| C32 AMG | 3.2L supercharged V6 | 349 hp | Sedan |
| E320 | 3.2L V6 | 221 hp | Sedan, wagon |
| E500 | 5.0L V8 | 302 hp | Sedan, wagon (4Matic) |
| E55 AMG | 5.4L supercharged V8 | 469 hp | Sedan |
| S430 | 4.3L V8 | 275 hp | Sedan |
| S500 | 5.0L V8 | 302 hp | Sedan |
| S55 AMG | 5.4L supercharged V8 | 493 hp | Sedan |
| S600 | 5.5L twin-turbo V12 | 493 hp | Sedan |
| CL500 | 5.0L V8 | 302 hp | Coupe |
| CL55 AMG | 5.4L supercharged V8 | 493 hp | Coupe |
| CL600 | 5.5L twin-turbo V12 | 493 hp | Coupe |
| SL500 | 5.0L V8 | 302 hp | Roadster |
| SL55 AMG | 5.4L supercharged V8 | 493 hp | Roadster |
| SL600 | 5.5L twin-turbo V12 | 493 hp | Roadster |
| SLK230 Kompressor | 2.3L supercharged I4 | ~192 hp | Roadster |
| SLK32 AMG | 3.2L supercharged V6 | 349 hp | Roadster |
| CLK320 | 3.2L V6 | 215 hp | Coupe, cabriolet |
| CLK500 | 5.0L V8 | 302 hp | Coupe, cabriolet |
| CLK55 AMG | 5.4L V8 | ~362 hp | Coupe, cabriolet |
| ML350 | 3.7L V6 | 232 hp | SUV |
| ML500 | 5.0L V8 | 288 hp | SUV |
| G500 | 5.0L V8 | 292 hp | SUV |
| G55 AMG | 5.4L supercharged V8 | ~350 hp | SUV |
C-Class
The W203 C-Class was the entry point, and in 2004 it was the most varied part of the range. The C230 Kompressor coupe used a supercharged four-cylinder and sat on 17-inch wheels, which gave the hatch-shaped Sport Coupe a firmer stance than the sedan. The C240 kept its 2.6-liter V6 for buyers who wanted a smooth, slow Benz, with 4Matic available.
The C320 is the one most people mean when they say “C-Class”: a 3.2-liter V6, 215 hp, in sedan, wagon or coupe form. A lowered sport sedan package with bigger wheels and tighter springs gave the sedan a sharper look without touching the engine.
At the top sat the C32 AMG. A supercharged 3.2-liter V6 produced 349 hp and went through either a six-speed manual or a five-speed automatic. It’s a quick, plain-looking sedan, and the manual makes it rare.
E-Class
The big 2004 news was the E-Class wagon. The W211 sedan arrived for 2003 alongside the full list of cars made that year, and the wagon followed a year later in E320 form, with a rear-facing third-row seat as an option. A 4Matic all-wheel-drive version arrived with it.
Sedans came as the E320 (3.2-liter V6, 221 hp) and the E500 (5.0-liter V8, 302 hp). The E500 also brought the new seven-speed automatic to the range, which Mercedes called 7G-Tronic. Above them sat the E55 AMG, a supercharged 5.4-liter V8 with 469 hp, which made it one of the fastest four-door cars you could buy that year.
The W211 also marked the shift to more electronics: Airmatic air suspension on many cars and, on the E500 and E55, Sensotronic brake-by-wire. Both matter when you go shopping, and we come back to them below.
S-Class
The W220 S-Class was the flagship of the decade’s luxury sedans, and the 2004 lineup covered four engines:
- S430: 4.3-liter V8, 275 hp, with 4Matic available.
- S500: 5.0-liter V8, 302 hp, also with 4Matic and the seven-speed automatic.
- S55 AMG: supercharged 5.4-liter V8, 493 hp.
- S600: 5.5-liter twin-turbo V12, 493 hp.
The S55 and S600 produced the same peak power but delivered it differently. The V12 was smoother and heavier; the AMG V8 was louder and a little quicker off the line. Both were limited to 155 mph. Pick the S430 or S500 if you want the S-Class experience without the maintenance bill the twelve-cylinder invites.
CL-Class
The CL is the S-Class cut into a two-door coupe, with the same engines and a lot of the same electronics. The 2004 range was CL500 (302 hp), CL55 AMG (493 hp) and CL600 (493 hp). The seven-speed automatic spread here too. All three carry Active Body Control, a hydraulic suspension that keeps the car flat in corners and is expensive when it leaks.
SL-Class
The R230 SL was a folding-hardtop roadster, and in 2004 it came in three forms:
- SL500: 5.0-liter V8, 302 hp.
- SL55 AMG: supercharged V8, 493 hp.
- SL600: 5.5-liter twin-turbo V12, 493 hp, and 590 lb-ft of torque.
The SL600 was the quiet monster of the group. The torque figure is the number to remember: it pulls hard from idle and never feels busy doing it. Like the CL, all three use Active Body Control, and the power-folding roof adds more hydraulics to check on a used car.
SLK and CLK
The SLK was the small roadster, and 2004 was the last year of the first generation. Two versions were sold: the SLK230 Kompressor with a supercharged 2.3-liter four-cylinder, and the SLK32 AMG, a 349 hp, supercharged 3.2-liter V6. The second-generation car followed for 2005.
The CLK was the mid-size coupe and cabriolet, built on the C-Class platform. It came as the CLK320 (215 hp), the CLK500 (302 hp) and the CLK55 AMG (a naturally aspirated 5.4-liter V8). The CLK500 is the sweet spot: V8 torque in a car light enough to feel quick.
M-Class
The ML350 replaced the ML320 for 2003 and took the larger 3.7-liter V6 with 232 hp, which fixed the old truck’s lack of low-end pull. The ML500 stayed on the 5.0-liter V8 at 288 hp. The ML55 AMG was dropped for 2004, so the range topped out at the ML500.
It’s a unibody SUV with all-wheel drive, built in Alabama. Family buyers liked it, and the V6 is the one to look at for running costs.
G-Class
The G-Class was the odd one out: a boxy, body-on-frame off-roader with three locking differentials that had been in production since 1979. For 2004 you could get a G500 (5.0-liter V8, 292 hp) or a G55 AMG with a supercharged 5.4-liter V8 making roughly 350 hp. Neither was fast in a way that fit the shape, which was part of the appeal. Prices on good ones have risen faster than any other car on this list.
What changed across the 2004 range
A few trends cut across the model lines:
- Seven-speed automatic. The 7G-Tronic spread to the E500, S500 and CL500, replacing the older five-speed.
- New E-Class wagon. The first W211 wagon reached US dealers, with the E320 and E500 4Matic versions.
- ML55 AMG dropped. The M-Class lost its top version, leaving the ML350 and ML500.
- SLK farewell. The first-generation SLK ended its run, while the SL, CL and S lines carried over largely unchanged.
- 4Matic spreads. All-wheel drive was available on the C-Class, E-Class, S430 and S500, though not on AMG models.
Which 2004 Mercedes-Benz models are worth buying today
Most 2004 Mercedes-Benz models trade for a few thousand dollars, and a few cost more. Prices swing with condition, so check recent sales before you commit.
Safest picks:
- C320 sedan or wagon. The simplest car here. Check for balance shaft problems on the V6 and for leaking engine seals.
- ML350. Common and cheap to run, though air-conditioning and drivetrain issues show up with age.
- E320. Smooth and sensible. If it has Airmatic air suspension, budget for new struts.
Worth it if you’re prepared:
- E55 AMG and S55 AMG. They’re fast and relatively cheap to buy. They also carry the same electronic complexity as everything else, plus AMG parts pricing.
- SL500 and CL500. Beautiful cars, but a leaking Active Body Control system can run into thousands of dollars.
- G500 and G55. Buy for the shape, not the numbers. They’re collectible and increasingly expensive.
Avoid unless you have a specialist: a high-mileage SL600, CL600 or S600. The twin-turbo V12 and its plumbing can turn a cheap purchase into a very expensive repair.
On any of them, run the VIN through the NHTSA recall database before you sign. Recalls on this generation covered brakes and electrical components, and a car that skipped them is worse than the listing suggests. If fuel costs matter, the EPA’s fueleconomy.gov lists official ratings for the V6 and V8 cars, and the gap between a C320 and an S600 is large.
Sensotronic brake control on the E500 and E55 deserves its own warning. It was replaced with conventional brakes in later years, and a replacement unit is costly. Ask whether the work was done.
The strongest overall 2004 Mercedes-Benz models for most people are the E320 wagon, the CLK500 and the S500. Each gives you a different version of the same idea: an engineered, over-built German car, ten years past the point where most of its depreciation is gone.
Daniela Voss
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This article was researched against manufacturer records and editorially reviewed before publishing. We accept no payment for coverage. Some guides contain affiliate links; see our affiliate disclosure.
