August Market Report: Broad Summer Correction for Classics
August Market Overview
High summer brings a broad correction across all three brands - and, at the same time, a market that has grown considerably. The number of tracked listings is up sharply versus our July report: the W140 reaches 118 listings, the W124 117, and the W210 (99), R107 (95) and Z3 (91) also post new highs. A large share of these newcomers are affordable driver-condition cars - and that is exactly what pushes the averages down. An important caveat for interpretation: a substantial part of the declines is a composition effect of the broader supply, not pure market weakness. The averages are falling harder than the values of well-kept individual cars actually are.
The direction is clear nonetheless: at Mercedes, all five core models are in the red, at Audi the volume models are easing, and at BMW the E38, E46 and E30 are correcting. Bucking the trend are the E39 (+7.9%), the Z3 (+3.1%) and the E39 M5 (+8.2%). For buyers, this is one of the most interesting setups of the year: considerably more choice than in previous months, combined with noticeably lower entry prices.
The tables below show current average prices (as of August 3, 2026) and the change versus our July report.
BMW Market Report
The BMW range is split - the flagship and the compacts correct, while the E39, Z3 and M5 gain:
| Model | Average | Trend | Min | Max | Listings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| E38 7 Series | €16,617 | ↓ -10.7% | €2,000 | €39,900 | 75 |
| E39 5 Series | €7,743 | ↑ +7.9% | €1,300 | €24,990 | 85 |
| E46 3 Series | €7,564 | ↓ -12.4% | €1,500 | €25,800 | 65 |
| E30 3 Series | €18,148 | ↓ -8.4% | €1,599 | €48,950 | 70 |
| Z3 | €15,758 | ↑ +3.1% | €2,500 | €59,480 | 91 |
| E39 M5 | €37,617 | ↑ +8.2% | €23,000 | €43,300 | 9 |
The most striking move comes from the flagship: the E38 eases 10.7% to €16,617. Notably, the most expensive listing currently sits at €39,900 - the high-priced collector examples of early summer are absent from the current supply, while entry now starts at just €2,000. July’s winner, the E46, has given back more than its entire jump (-12.4% to €7,564). The E39, by contrast, swings firmly into the black after its weak July (+7.9% to €7,743) and remains superbly available with 85 listings. The Z3 also gains (+3.1% to €15,758) - with 91 listings and a top listing of €59,480, the roadster market is in summer form. The E39 M5 climbs 8.2% to €37,617 - though with only 9 listings, individual cars carry outsized weight.
Mercedes-Benz Market Report
Mercedes sees the sharpest correction of the three brands - all five core models are in the red, alongside strongly expanded supply:
| Model | Average | Trend | Min | Max | Listings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W124 E-Class | €11,124 | ↓ -22.7% | €1,400 | €44,990 | 117 |
| W140 S-Class | €14,175 | ↓ -6.9% | €1,500 | €45,000 | 118 |
| W210 E-Class | €4,282 | ↓ -38.1% | €1,150 | €14,500 | 99 |
| R107 SL | €30,770 | ↓ -10.2% | €3,990 | €89,980 | 95 |
| W116 S-Class | €12,591 | ↓ -28.1% | €1,499 | €40,900 | 63 |
The month’s biggest loser is the W210: -38.1% to €4,282 makes the late-nineties E-Class by far the cheapest youngtimer entry point at Mercedes. A look at the details takes some drama out of the number, though: 99 cars are now listed instead of 74, and the most expensive listing sits at just €14,500 - the additional supply consists almost entirely of affordable everyday examples that drag the average down. The picture is similar for the W116 (-28.1% to €12,591) and the W124 (-22.7% to €11,124): with 117 listings, the W124 is more widely available than at any point this year, with supply ranging from a €1,400 project to a €44,990 collector piece. The W140 holds up comparatively well at -6.9% and, with 118 listings, is the most available model in the entire report. On the R107 SL, the cheap project cars are back on the market: entry starts at €3,990 again, which puts additional pressure on the average (-10.2% to €30,770).
Audi Market Report
This time, even Audi cannot escape the summer correction - only the RS2 holds its level:
| Model | Average | Trend | Min | Max | Listings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C4 A6 | €8,700 | ↓ -6.5% | €1,100 | €29,000 | 58 |
| D2 A8 | €9,175 | ↓ -8.2% | €1,200 | €34,990 | 47 |
| RS4 B5 | €46,505 | ↓ -4.2% | €20,000 | €69,999 | 26 |
| RS2 | €55,789 | → +0.8% | €3,600 | €100,000 | 37 |
The C4 A6 eases moderately (-6.5% to €8,700) and moves away from the €10,000 mark again - now with 58 listings, considerably more than in July. Here too, the influx at the lower end of the price range weighs on the average: entry now starts at just €1,100. The D2 A8 corrects to €9,175 (-8.2%), keeping the aluminium flagship clearly below the €10,000 mark. The investment tier stays calm: the RS2 is practically unchanged at €55,789 (+0.8%) with 37 cars now available, while the RS4 B5 eases slightly to €46,505 (-4.2%, 26 listings).
Seasonal Patterns and Mileage
This month’s pattern is less a classic demand slump than an expansion of supply: during the holiday season, many privately offered everyday cars traditionally come onto the market, and this broad influx at the lower end of the price range pulls the averages down. Well-kept collector cars and roadsters remain in demand - the Z3 and E39 M5 are even posting gains.
Mileage figures continue to show clear patterns:
- Youngtimers (under 30 years): mostly 185,000-210,000 km - a normal usage profile (E39 ~205,000 km, W210 ~186,000 km)
- Classics (over 30 years): usually lower thanks to enthusiast preservation (Z3 ~144,000 km, R107 ~138,000 km, W116 ~158,000 km)
- The high-mileage exception: the D2 A8 at ~245,000 km - long-distance comfort leaves its mark on the odometer, not the price
Price spreads remain enormous for volume models like the W124 (€1,400 to €44,990) and E38 (€2,000 to €39,900) - condition matters more than ever.
Outlook for September
As the holiday season winds down, we expect for September:
- A normalisation of averages for the models that fell hard (W210, W116, W124) - once the mix of cheap newcomers and well-kept examples settles again, the averages should firm up
- A bottoming-out for the E38 and E46 - historically, demand for sedans and everyday classics picks up again in autumn
- Ongoing firmness in the investment segment (RS2, RS4 B5, E39 M5) with small volumes
The current price level among Mercedes youngtimers should attract buyers in the medium term - anyone who finds a well-kept example within the broad supply is currently buying on unusually favourable terms.
Buy, Wait or Watch?
Buy now if you…
- Want a W210 as an affordable youngtimer entry (an average of €4,282 across 99 listings - the lower price bracket has not offered this much choice in a long time)
- Have a W116 or E38 flagship classic in your sights - both attractively priced after pronounced corrections
- Want a W124: 117 listings and -22.7% mean maximum choice and negotiating room
Wait until…
- You find a well-priced E39 or Z3 - both are gaining against the market trend, so time works against buyers here
- The E39 M5 shows more supply again - 9 listings are too few for reliable price discovery
Watch…
- The E46 - after a -12.4% slide, autumn will decide whether it finds a floor
- The R107 SL - the return of project cars from €3,990 widens the spread, while well-kept examples hold their value
August is a buyer’s month: anyone who has been waiting since spring for a correction at BMW, Mercedes or Audi is getting it now - with unusually broad market choice and plenty of movement at the lower end of the price range.