18th Oct 2005, 09:43

Early this year I got a 1992 500E. The car (148 000kms) was in good condition with the gearbox changed at 125 000.Few oil leak, gearbox and steering has been since corrected with the change of the engine wiring which was cracked (few ignition flash cut) The car is now perfectly OK, except sometimes a noise (the car is so silent) on the hydraulic valve tappet.

Somebody ask how many remains from the 8 800 (approx) manufactured.. I have to say for the one I got that it was just the right time before decadence, as it has got three owners in two years, because some forgot that 13l/100 are minimum, that the insurance is costly, and that the Mercedes service is crazy high..

I recently complete the car with the original Becker 2330 with remote. Lucky those who have been able to run high speed.. This is quite risky here (in France)

Everybody to enjoy with..

14th May 2006, 06:13

Interesting to see other owners views on the W124 E500. There doesn't seem to be too much about them on the internet really.

Expensive to run? I own a 92 car with 194,000Km on the clock. I am the third owner, the first in Germany from 92 - 2002, the second a collector in the UK and now myself. I think that if you are sensible with the car then its not too expensive at all.

The car required a service when I bought it (Full MB Service History) and I live in Germany. The 190,000km service cost me about £300. Quite reasonable for a car with such incredible performance potential.

Of course - you do not have to drive at high speeds to appreciate the quality of this particular model. My car is brilliant silver with black leather interior and I ALWAYS look back over my shoulder when walking away from the car. It is absolutely spotless and as it left the factory. I also own a 2004 Audi A4 and my 14 yr old E500 has many of the features of this much younger car. It is quite simply a tremendous machine.

Fuel consumption? I almost want to say "Who cares?" Its OK is my answer. I use my E500 daily to potter about and do not really rack up the mileage, but around town its fine. Not quite super mini standards, but what do people expect from a 5Ltr V8?

I keep toying with the idea of keeping the car and in a few years really going to town and getting her up to immaculate standards. Originality is everything (Lots of RUINED cars out there) and the real attraction of the car is the performance on tap WITHOUT shouting about it. In Germany there are hundreds of W124 E-Class Mercedes on the roads - only those with an eye for detail know what they are looking at. Its understated and modestly wafts about the roads without shouting "here I am!"

The car is fantastic. Originally it would have cost well in excess of £60,000 with options fitted. Of course its not cheap to run - but then who would expect it to be.

Enjoy the car for what it is - an autobahn Stealth Bomber that seems indestructible!

17th Apr 2007, 08:11

Just traded my yuppie 2001 BMW 740il for a 1992 500E. I love the feeling of driving something so understated, yet such a powerhouse. Nobody on the road see's anything special about this car, until they see my rear license very quickly. A youngster in a brand new Ford Mustang found this out last week. I have had Mercedes and BMW's for the last 15 years, and I have never driven a car like this. Incredible, to put it mildly!

21st Aug 2007, 15:49

I completed another 30k this last couple of years and since the last message in Sept 05, I have had to replace a few items on the car, not unexpected and all mentioned in the forums on the Internet.

I had to replace the front shock absorber struts, at the same time, I replaced the rear gas spheres. I replaced the steering damper and rubber bushes in the steering linkage.

I changed all the rubber hoses in the water system after the heater hose cracked to be safe, I changed the electronic throttle actuator and the top wiring harness for the engine.

I guess I spent about €2500 in parts, but it's money well spent and all should be fine now for another few years.

Perhaps I will sell it later this year, but it's so enjoyable to drive, looks great and is 'invisible' to most people!

30th Dec 2007, 14:05

I just bought the car of which I have dreamed of the last fourteen years, the E500 limited. From Denmark I went to Holland to bring my dream home. It is silver, black/grey leather and full options. Only 124000 km. on the odometer. Not mistreated or worn.

What a car.

Now I just wait for 2008, before I buy license plates. As you probably know, cars are extremely expensive in Denmark, and it will be some cheaper after new year.

Happy newyear to all 500E/E500 owners.

Best regards, Christian 51 years old. It is newer too late.

29th Jan 2008, 00:21

Jan 28, 2008.

Greetings Fellow MB 500E enthusiasts.

What a pleasure to come across this site!

I own a 1993 MB500e purchased in the summer of 2006 from its second owner in San Diego CA and shipped it back to NYC. My car is used for pleasure driving and I've put about 13K miles on it, mostly out of town trips including a long one this summer up to Canada. The car has never been driven in winter and I lay it up from November through March.

This is my third MB and by far the most satisfying auto I have every owned. My car has been well taken care of and is exceptionally reliable. The low visibility 124 look (gunmetal gray metallic over black with 17" AMG wheels) is perfect for greater NY driving and even occasional street parking. Most people don't notice it. But I never go anywhere without other car buffs coming along side and giving me a knowing nod of approval. And when you ask for it, the locomotive power is right there, right now.

Plus we have room for four, there's a big trunk and the 5 liter V8 provides effortless power for relaxed driving at low and higher speeds alike. No hassles in stop in go either.

As the 500E is a modified 124 car, it's easy to maintain by my local mechanic. Parts are readily available. Insurance costs are low (I'm 59 with a clean license and pleasure drive only) Performance is just right, although I have never explored anywhere near the true upper speed potential as enforcement in the N.E. US is very high. So I set the cruise and enjoy the ride.

My car has exactly 100,010 miles on it now. In the spring I plan to replace the front and rear shocks and bushings, the interior headliner, possibly the wiring harness although I've had no problem, and overhaul the steering linkage.

Replacing the worn Bridgestone 245/45 17 tires with new Yokohama Advans last summer at 94K miles was a great move, yielding a very quiet smooth ride with excellent handling in wet or dry. I get 16.5 mpg on 91 octane unleaded consistently with the AC on. Passable for 300+ h.p.

500e cars are still fairly available at very reasonable cost here in America, though many are starting to show a lot of mileage as they tend to be driven rather than kept for show. Given the high cost of new cars of any sort, an older well-maintained 500e is not only a blast to drive, but a relative bargain to boot. The look and feel are a little dated now and there are lots of newer cars that are quicker, but there is nothing like the complete experience of the older Benz cars that to me is absent in the newer cars.

PROS: Smooth, elegant, very fast, safe, reliable, quiet comfortable and discrete rapid transit. No complicated electronics or gimmicky do-dahs. Nothing new under $50k US comes close to the performance, prestige and quality.

CONS: Second gear start, poky 4 speed automatic box, no manual transmission available, small external mirrors, no cup holders..ok, it's America. The Cd changer is in the trunk... And the worst: traffic and low speed limits!

What they say is true. A wonderful machine. If you can only have one car, it's a great choice.

Lynton G.

NYC.