Looking for a 1991-1994 Mercedes 500E..Help appreciated..

yasir · 07-12-2006, 04:25 PM

Guys,I am looking for a Porsche made Mercedes 500E ( 1991-1994 ) so if any one knows of one for sale please let me know....BTW the miles have to be under 50K yes i know it won't be easy but i also know this that they are out there...any leads be greatly appreciated..
Thanks...

dd74 · 07-12-2006, 04:33 PM

That's quite a car. It's like Mercedes' answer to a Mustang or Camaro.

I've seen them for sale on Mercedes forums. I'd google: "Mercedes forums" and something should come up.

Also, go to a good high-end newsstand if you can, or a Barnes and Noble, and check out the car section of the magazine rack. There should be a couple of Mercedes-only magazines there, which have fairly extensive classifieds sections.

I'd also check the auto buy sites online, etc., but with the sort of car you want, I'd much rather buy from an enthusiast.

Aurel · Aurel's Garage

Hope your son will like it as much as the Supra...

Aurel

ChemMan · ChemMan's Garage

This 500E came up last week for sale.

http://www.benzworld.org/forums/sale-trade-wanted-items/1269125-sale-1993-500e-signal-red.html

Mike

ChemMan · ChemMan's Garage

oops....did not see the 50K part. Thats going to be tough. I assume you looked on autotrader.
Mike

yasir · 07:05 PM

Mike,no luck on the autotrader and i am not in any rush either...I need a sport sedan by next spring and if i can't find a 500E then 2002-2003 ///M5 is always there ..
Aurel,
Not a day goes by when he doesn't ask me about it

and although i do want to buy a Supra TT ( great car ) but i think i'll still end up buying a P-car..I am sure he'll get over it..

slow&rusty · 07-12-2006, 07:29 PM

Yasir - I posted on here a few times about the 500E. It is my favorite 4door car of all time and arguable my favorite Mercedes Benz of all time.

The W124 body style means its the last of the classic Benzes and its a tank and well made when quality was still high at Mercedes.

I have driven 500E and its a rush.

Finding one under 50K will cost you easily $25K

I drove a beautiful one that was lowered with 19" wheels had some interior upgrade stuff on it I did not care for but the car was a blast. I should have bought it...it was $17K and had 115K on the clock.

Here is the website you need to join, not much traffic on it but a great resource:
http://www.500ecstasy.com/forums/vbpicgallery.php

I check eBaymotors and Autotrader every week and would settle on one for less than 80K on the clock if the price was right. From my research the only issues are the EFI harness that disintegrates over time from heat and is usually $1200-$1700 to repair and replace, some used cars have had this replaced.

Good luck and great choice in a sleeper!

Hopefully I will have one soon.

Yasin

Noah930 · Noah930's Garage

Mmmmm. Factory Hammer. Good luck!

yasir · 07-12-2006, 08:14 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by slow&rusty
Yasir - I posted on here a few times about the 500E. It is my favorite 4door car of all time and arguable my favorite Mercedes Benz of all time.

The W124 body style means its the last of the classic Benzes and its a tank and well made when quality was still high at Mercedes.

I have driven 500E and its a rush.

Finding one under 50K will cost you easily $25K

I drove a beautiful one that was lowered with 19" wheels had some interior upgrade stuff on it I did not care for but the car was a blast. I should have bought it...it was $17K and had 115K on the clock.

Here is the website you need to join, not much traffic on it but a great resource:
http://www.500ecstasy.com/forums/vbpicgallery.php

I check eBaymotors and Autotrader every week and would settle on one for less than 80K on the clock if the price was right. From my research the only issues are the EFI harness that disintegrates over time from heat and is usually $1200-$1700 to repair and replace, some used cars have had this replaced.

Good luck and great choice in a sleeper!

Hopefully I will have one soon.

Yasin

Yasin,
I have actually found one with 42K miles but just realized the rear can only seat 2

and then i long for an '03 ///M5 too,so what do you think,which one ? Could rear seat not be an issue where you can only accommodate 2 ?
Later...

Steve Carlton · 07-12-2006, 08:23 PM

I've always lusted after that car, too. I was asking a friend of mine about it, who owns an independent Mercedes repair shop, and he said they're very expensive to maintain. IIRC, the shocks are a big ticket item.

RickM · RickM's Garage

Put an WTB ad here and check their other forums. A finders fee may grease the wheel as well.

http://www.mercedesshop.com/shopforum/index.php

kaisen · 07-13-2006, 06:46 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by yasir
Yasin,
I have actually found one with 42K miles but just realized the rear can only seat 2 and then i long for an '03 ///M5 too,so what do you think,which one ? Could rear seat not be an issue where you can only accommodate 2 ?
Later...

Since the 500E is a W124, why not just buy a matching 300E rear seat and seat belts from a salvage yard? Then you'd have a 500E that seats FIVE. You can always put it back to 'original' when needed. Takes about 15 minutes.

That said, I have no idea why anyone would spend $25K to buy a 12 year old E-class when the modern E's will blow it away for the same money. Yeah, it was built by Porsche. Yeah, it was fast in its day. But that was in the early nineties.

E

slow&rusty · 07-13-2006, 06:46 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by yasir
Yasin,
I have actually found one with 42K miles but just realized the rear can only seat 2 and then i long for an '03 ///M5 too,so what do you think,which one ? Could rear seat not be an issue where you can only accommodate 2 ?
Later...

The M5 is a sweetheart no "ifs or ands or buts" about that.

But there is a certain magic about the W124 500E that I just love and left stock (looking) no one would know that there is monster 325hp motor lurking under the hood. The M5 is much more aggressive looking and more modern, and probably more expensive to maintain.

The two rear seats would be a non-issue for me...talk about taking four people out on the town in comfort, style and speed!

I do prefer the '94 and '95 models with their European headlights.

Yasin

yasir · 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by kaisen
Since the 500E is a W124, why not just buy a matching 300E rear seat and seat belts from a salvage yard? Then you'd have a 500E that seats FIVE. You can always put it back to 'original' when needed. Takes about 15 minutes.

That said, I have no idea why anyone would spend $25K to buy a 12 year old E-class when the modern E's will blow it away for the same money. Yeah, it was built by Porsche. Yeah, it was fast in its day. But that was in the early nineties.

E

Great idea about the rear seat never thought about that...Regarding buying the newer Mercedes,the problem is
1)- love the 500E stance and with wider wheels/tire combo and with a lowered stance the car looks simply awesome.
2)-The newer mercedes esp the '03+ E55 although look great and has a wonderful performance but the reliability is as ****ty as it gets...
3)-Why do people still pay $40,000+ for a 930 or $70,000 plus for a 993 TT when you can get a 996 TT for the same money

So yes i want a 500E 'coz they are pretty rare,have good performance and even after all those years they still look fabulous..

ChemMan · ChemMan's Garage

Have you considered a 560SEC? Might be a bit easier to find.
Mike

slow&rusty · 07-13-2006, 08:03 PM

Actually the "normal 300E" rear seat will look out of place in a 500E, as the rear seat of a 500E has the ventilation holes in the leather and very distinct hand stitching, plus it makes the car very individual. Like so and so:

A normal 300E rear seat - much different and will be a pain in the a$$ to remove the beautiful rear chairs of the 500E and put this yuk slab in place:

Mike - thanks for bringing up the 560SEC, that is my second fav. benz of all time...again heralding back to the solid, well built, tank W126 chassis....timeless and incredible cars....how can you NOT like this - WOW, I might consider a 560SEC if I get fedup looking for the "right" 500E!:

And BTW modern E Classes are as desirable as a Ford Focus and reliable as a Ford Pinto and as slow as Ford Escort. The 500E has them EASILY outclassed....and I mean EASILY.

Yasin

kaisen · 07-13-2006, 08:24 PM

The later 93-95 E class had perforated leather too, just not the aggressive bolsters or fancy stitching (partly necc. because of the bolsters). You picked a picture of the early or base E-class seats. Here are seats from a 1993 'regular' E class:

E

ChemMan · ChemMan's Garage

Okay this is getting away from the 500E, but I had to share the following.
I am not sure if this link will work since the auction has already ended, but this is a pretty interesting w140:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/JAMES-BOND-007-STYLE-GOODIES-AWESOME-MBZ-600-S-CLASS_W0QQitemZ220001591346QQihZ012QQcategoryZ6472 QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

This is second link is what I consider the ultimate w126. I've seen this "600SEC" in person and it is something else:

http://www.mbcoupes.com/memberscars/T/satishtummala/satishtummala.htm

For you Michigan guys this is the guy who owns Motorwerks in Commerce Township.

I will keep an eye out for 500E's . I've seen 3 come up for sale in the past few months. If I remember correctly none had low mileage and one was in Hawaii. I have considered the 500E as a replacement for my w126 when the time comes. Hopefully I can get to 300,000 miles first before I have to look into that.
Good Hunting,
Mike