What do you guys like about the 500E? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Maddog · #1 06-08-2002, 10:06 PM

I have heard a lot of people recommending the 500E as the car to get. What is so nice about this car? How is the power, handling, and luxury?

Ashman · #2 06-09-2002, 02:17 AM

I think that http://www.need2speed.web.com/ Says it all.

Dean' site has some great information on these cars.

I love them because they are amazing pieces of machinery. A Sedan, that can tear it up like a sportscar, made witht he help of porsche, and a big ol powerful V8 in a widened w124 body. The car looks agressive with the widened fenders, yet subtle and elegant. The power and handling of the car are amazing for a car of this nature. I would buy one in a second if I had the extra cash to do so.

One day I'll have one though.

Alon

tkd_M119 · #3 06-09-2002, 02:41 AM

Ashman, great pics of your CE! Because of your site and pics I came REALLY close to getting a CE but ended up with a 92 400e instead. I'm not far from you - I'm over in West Hollywood. I was wondering if you could refer me to a good shop for service? I unfortunately lack both the time and space for DIY.

Speedtek · #4 06-09-2002, 03:25 AM

MADDOG - You really need to go and drive a 500E. The car is simply AWESOME. Acceleration and Braking and Handling are perfect. I have driven a lot of performance cars and this one is near the top of my list.

But I will be happy when I finish my 325 HP TURBO 190E-8V.

hedpe · #5 06-09-2002, 03:46 AM

i drove my fathers 1989 300SEL for almost 3 years and then a 500E popped up on autotrader 10 miles from my house. I basically went to see it just because i had heard so much about it, and read about it, and thought it was amazing. So i went to look at it, the owner let me drive it around, well...i ended up buying it

It's an absolutely amazing car. Handles amazingly, amazing power for a 4-door sedan, as for the brakes...eh...i beg to differ. The brakes are good, but they could be better for the kind of power it has. The look it has is just...bad @$$. And no one knows what it is...that's the best part. You have no clue how many cars and people i've embarassed off the line because they don't have the slightest clue what it is...camaros...integras...grand prix...trucks...the usual civics...mustang gts...all the usual. Awesome car. I have pics of mine at:

http://home.adelphia.net/~nychis/500E/

(the 'with clear corners' folder has the newest pics)

Ashman · #6 06-09-2002, 05:30 AM

TKD, The best recommendation I can give, and the only one I give, is Enrique at MR MB Motors in Tarzana. Well worth the drive. 818-708-8086. Tell him Alon sent you. He is great. When I was there the other day just to check on some things, I met two members who were there getting service.

Alon

Glen · #7 06-09-2002, 11:32 PM

The 500E is a special car. Built in collaboration with Porsche, it offers a powerful DOHC alloy V8, widened fenders, and sport tuned suspension. It was built at a time when cost didn't seem to be an issue. At first glance most people think it's just another E-class sedan so it's quite stealthy.

In my opinion, there's only two things wrong with it. It's heavy and it doesn't come with a manual transmission. At 3855 lbs. you feel its mass when cornering and/or braking hard. Not that it doesn't do either well, it comes with great brakes and the suspension does a great job of hiding all the weight. But you can definitely feel it. The 4-speed auto works ok, but a manual transmission would really make the car shine, imho.

If 0 to 60 and 1/4 mile times are your first priority, the current crop of AMG models are far superior. If, however, you want a small piece of Mercedes Benz/Porsche history and like conservative yet aggressive styling the 500E is hard to beat.

Snibble · #8 06-10-2002, 12:31 AM

hedpe... Im drooling over the 500e now

How much do these cars cost?

Potomac Pat · #9 06-10-2002, 09:24 AM

My, my what's not to like. What a car!!!

ke6dcj · #10 06-10-2002, 12:47 PM

Power, torque, handling, and stealth.

Once you drive one, you'll want one. The V8's smoothness is like an electric motor.

The brakes are definitely up to the task, the stock tires at 225/55R16 don't offer current performance levels.

Replace them with 245 front and 275 rear, in either a 17" or 18" wheel with sticky tires and you're good to go.

The cons: ASR (no factory defeat), gasmileage, weight. The stock suspension goes from comfort to SPORT handling via a combination of built-in buffers and internal strut springs, which is kind of weird but effective. I personally don't like the steering wheel because it covers the speedo with its small diameter- another tradeoff.

The tradeoffs are small though. If I didn't want to spend the money, a 94-95 E400 without ASR and an upgrade to Euro lights and a 3.07 or 2.82 differential would be the ticket . . .

:-) neil
1988 360TE AMG
1993 500E

yhliem · #11 06-10-2002, 09:55 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Maddog
I have heard a lot of people recommending the 500E as the car to get. What is so nice about this car? How is the power, handling, and luxury?

ummm...everything?

yhliem · #12 06-10-2002, 10:02 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by hedpe
as for the brakes...eh...i beg to differ. The brakes are good, but they could be better for the kind of power it has.

the brakes are progressive. just get your foot in the pedal. don't forget, this car, at 4800lbs, was never really designed to be a track car, but an autobahn-stormer. the market it was aiming for was the long distance commuter. in stock form it's a highway car and the brakes do a pretty damn good job at hauling the car down. and it takes ALOT to stop 4700lbs moving at 120 mph.

yhliem · #13 06-10-2002, 10:05 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Snibble
hedpe... Im drooling over the 500e now

How much do these cars cost?

New they were around $86, 000 US ($106,000 CDN). Now you can get decent ones for $25,000 - $30,000 US ($40,000-$55,000CDN).

Gotta check them over though. Not all were well kept.

Snibble · #14 06-10-2002, 11:21 PM

wow.. kinda pricey for me (17 YO). Maybe in a few years I will find one, heh

Im guessing in like 3 or 4 years it wil fall down to about 10K? USD

Maddog · #15 06-10-2002, 11:53 PM

It sounds like there is nothing to hate about these cars. I think i will go and test drive one for fun just to get the thrill. Thanks everyone....continue to post if you like.