If, heavens forbid, we're ever tasked with the difficult task of picking just one single example of a car to own and drive for the rest of time, then the enigmatic Mercedes-Benz 500E would make for a very fitting companion. Noted as being a car that almost certainly comes close to motoring perfection, the bruising Bavarian oozes gangster chic, delivers high-speed thrills, and can luxuriously cosset its owner on a cruise. Surely, the King of the 90s sleeper cars, the Mercedes-Benz 500E still looks fresh and captivating today, with performance levels that still raise a discerning eyebrow.
Often referred to as one of the last true Mercedes-Benz products by devoted MB fans who strongly believe that build-quality and the companies approach to over-engineering its products ceased shortly after its production run, the awesome 500E was a high-performance version of the much-loved W124 and would happily stick a finger up at its fellow German competitor, the infamous BMW M5. Here are 10 things gearheads forgot about the W124 Mercedes-Benz 500E.
10 It's Really A Porsche, Sort Of
Snowed under with the development and production of the S-Class, the decision was made by Mercedes-Benz to turn to friendly neighbors Porsche to develop a performance version of their E-Class executive saloon car.
With parts shipped to a not-too-busy Porsche, the bodywork was revised to take the engine from the Mercedes SL as years of knowledge were poured into creating what would become a truly fantastic and legendary motor car.
9 A Snarling Wolf In Sheep's Clothing
With a wider stance than the other cars in the line-up, the 500E looked like it had gone away for 6 months and swallowed a bucket load of steroids, but thanks to a big, powerful V8 beneath the bonnet it had the strength to match its looks.
Noted as being very fast for the time, the 500E still delivers a knockout punch when competing against cars of a similar ilk today, thank in part to its relatively lightweight nature when compared to heavy, tech-laden modern alternatives.
8 It Had An Awesome Engine
Borrowed from the SL roadster, the 5.0-liter 32-valve V8 generated 322hp, muscular power that remained available throughout the rev range in all gears, and was backed up with an equally impressively burly 354 lb-ft of torque.
Hailed for its bullet-proof engine build quality, many 500Es have dialed up monster mileages without issue, as many fans and mechanics unbelievably state that until the robust unit hits a heady six-figure mileage it's not even run in.
7 An Executive Express
With a set of performance figures that wouldn't embarrass itself today, the 500E would haul itself to 60 mph in a blisteringly quick 5.5 seconds before blasting through the quarter-mile in a rapid and respectable 15 seconds.
Backed up with a gorgeous eight-cylinder soundtrack, the 500E will obliterate roads with ease, its powerplant eager to pile on the speed with a mere brush of the loud pedal with in-gear acceleration making overtaking maneuvers a simple task.
6 Scalpel Sharp Handling
Despite its slabby, box-like looks, the 500E was carefully designed to be very aerodynamic and in fact possessed one of the lowest drag coefficients at the time, making it super slippery and even faster when traveling through the air.
In addition, the 500E was fitted with self-leveling hydropneumatic suspension, which allowed for a very comfortable ride but also allowed for the big Mercedes to slice its way through corner apexes with a flat approach that impressed keen drivers.
5 Very Few Were Made
Only ever offered in left-hand drive configuration, the 500E was a very low volume production car, with a select few countries being offered exported versions outside of mainland Europe at authorized main dealers and franchises.
Due to a number of special customer orders, a further 120 face-lifted vehicles were built in 1995 signifying the end of production. These cars featured updated headlights, better stereos and were badged as the first E500s.
4 The Very Special Limited Version
Towards the end of its life-cycle Mercedes released the special edition E500 Limited, built around the 1994 facelift model only 500 examples were to be built but in fact built 951 as demand from customers proved to be incredibly strong.
Including a number of trim upgrades, the Limited wore a set of 17-inch Evo II wheels, sat noticeable lower, and could be ordered and equipped with the recently introduced E60 AMG pack to create a very rare and sought-after sports sedan.
3 AMG Stole Its Thunder
Built-in very low numbers the E60 AMG version of the car disposed of the 5.0-liter engine in favor of a 381hp 6.0-liter V8 with 347 lb-ft of torque, which would allow the modified machine to hit 60mph in a slightly improved 5.1 seconds.
Along with the bigger, more powerful engine, the E60 AMG received stiffer AMG suspension, a free-flowing sports AMG exhaust, and unique dual-tone leather trim options to set it apart from the lesser, yet still highly capable, Mercedes 500E.
2 Built To Last
With what is often referred to as a 'tank-like' nature to its solid and overly engineered build quality the fit and finish of the 500E, when tested against most modern-day offerings, does make today's cars look very much like disposable items.
Long-term owners have often commented that even with over 200,000 miles showing on the odometer the car remains silent and rattle-free on journeys with the engine feeling as responsive as the day it left the Porsche factory.
1 A Hard To Find Unicorn
Certainly, a cool classic that could be used every day without causing many, if any, headaches, the 500E is a very rare car to find on the second-hand market. That's partly down to the low production volumes, but mostly because once bought they are coveted.
Anyone looking to get in on the action and snap up possibly the most overlooked 90s sports sedan will need to budget to spend around $40,000 for a decent car with age-appropriate mileage, but what a car for the money.