slownrusty

Hey Gang - Some of you may remember that I was going to buy a Euro '85 5Speed that had been sitting for over 10years (the red one with the neat white leather interior).

I have decided to pass on it...as I feel it would be throwing good $$$ after bad.

I am now considering the very awesome '94 500E \ E500 Mercedes (W124 chassis code). The one that I have come across has been heavily upgraded with genuine Brabus parts and very nice 19" Speedlines. The owner of the car has a friend that works for Brabus in Germany and so he gets some neat Euro parts for the car, he is also very meticulous and fantaical with the car's maintenance, the car has 111K on the clock.

Some of you may know, but this is the same car that was built as a collaboration between Porsche and Mercedes, this was the only collabo. between these two car companies. The engine is 5L 32V Porsche designed and assembed engine and is mated to a Benz 4speed auto. This is a rare car with only about 1800 ever imported to the US. Stock is 322hp, but this one is putting about 350hp with the upgrades.

For the $$$ I could get a '90-'91 S4...which would you guys choose, am I asking the obvious by posting this on a 928 list?

Here is the Benz:








Yasin

Alan

Well the Benz is very nice but its an apples & oranges comparison - right?

If you just want a Luxo cruiser that has some performance - sounds like this Benz is a great option and has beeen well looked after. It will probably last very well.

The only problem is that it isn't a 928 or even close....

If you really want a 928 this is a real problem - if you just want a practical reliable car with some pizzaz the Benz could be the ticket and may have fewer issues given its provenance than a relatively unknown S4...

But it could also surprise you and come between you and your friend if there are problems!

You just have to decide what you want - these are basically complimentary not competing cars IMHO.

Alan

wds928

Get both! That's what I did. I had actually looked for 500E/E500's about a year before I bought my GTS, but didn't bite on any. Then bought the GTS about 2.5 years ago. Great car, but too fun to drive and the miles were piling up. Found a local 500E (1992) about 14 months ago and bought it too. Now that's my daily driver. Really a blast. The GTS is driven when the weather's nice. And the Suburban just sits. Hardly driven at all.

Good luck picking one. Gotta have one of each.

fabric

Hmm, that sounds familiar. Does anybody know if this is in fact simply a 928 engine?

Very nice car. But it's going to be very different from a 928. they will both be great for long highway drives, but the 928 will be more fun and engaging in the twisties, but that's not to say the Benz wouldn't be enjoyable. Obviously the Benz will hold 4 people in full comfort. Maintenance is probably a wash, but it's much easier to find Benz mechanics - although if that's really the 928's engine, that adds some complications.

I don't think you can go wrong with either. This is certainly a unique car and an interesting opportunity. I've always been a huge fan of that body style. Hard decision, since it might take you some time to find a nice S4.

I think it comes down to what you need. If this is going to be your "fun" car, get the 928. If this thing is going to be your daily driver/primary transportation, and you have kids or know you'll need the space, I"d go for the Benz.

Jim bailey - 928 International

Buy the Mercedes the E-500 is far more rare and with 8x16 rims (stock)on all corners weight about 3,800 lbs plus the power it should be quite a ride !

Warren928

The benz would be fun, but if your planning on using it as a transport vehicle for people, there are two things that will become a problem: Ground clearance on the lowered suspension and the super low profile tires. They will become an annoyance if not a problem during daily use, take my word for it.

Jim bailey - 928 International

Ground clearance ? a stock S-4 at original ride height has only 4.7 inches !

wds928

The engine is a Mercedes M-119 designed unit. Chain driven quad-cam, 32 valves, etc. The same basic engine (minus twin-turbo) won LeMans in 1989 in the Sauber Mercedes C9.

With a numerically taller rear axle ratio than the 928 GTS (2.82 versus 2.20), the 500E seems about as quick to 60 as the GTS. It's really sneaky fast in that it looks like a regular 300E, but goes like stink. Very easy to run 80 to 90 without even noticing. Top of the steering wheel blocks the view to the speedo at these speeds.

By the way, that's a really nice looking E500

Cameron

By asking the question of an apple or an orange, you must not have a specific need for one vs the other. So I will presume that it is not a decision based upon utility.

A nice E500 is hard to find. If you have a line on a good example that you like, get it. You can always find an S4 in the future. There are alot more S4's to chose from in the market than E500s.

blau928

Get both.. I would get the MB first, as it's getting much harder to find.. If you really want a specialone,you could always get an E60 AMG (a 500E with a 6.0L) Anyway, I have always had a Mercedes around the place... They are great cars. I have owned S500's,but not an E500.. Same engine... The E500 car was assembled at PORSCHE, not at Mercedes. the motor and transmission are Mercedes units. The trans is the MB722 that is in a 928.....

Get both, you'll be happier... and get lots of tickes too....

HTH,

wds928

Check out this W-124 link to the world of 500E/E500

http://www.500ecstasy.com/forums/

hans14914

I have a 1985 500sel AMG with the original 5.0 quad cam design based on the F1 motor. It pumps out 340hp, and sounds magnificant. That said, i have test driven many cars, including a 1986 hammer. Out of all the cars i have owned, my 1989 928s4 has been the best driving, most reliable car of the lot. The 119 motors are great, very reliable, and have the updated motoronic system. That being said, if you are looking for a truely agressive driver, the w124 is not an ideal choice. The steering will always be vauge. Even when you disconect the power steering, the recirculating ball type unit in there will always isolate you from the road. I love my amg, and will never sell it, but it doenst hold a candle to the 928 as far as fun factor and driving confidence. The 500e is a rare car, but unless it has documented engine modifications, the value of a modified 500e is much less than a clean original. I would say, that if you dont need to take more than one passenger with you, get yourself a nice late model S4. Also, incase you didnt know, the rear of the 500e has a "soft" hydraulic suspension, and to get it to be more of a drivers car, you need to delete that. Also, it has permanent traction control which can not be defeated without a plugin module that is actually quite expensive. Talk to Renntech in florida, they have a rear suspension replacement kit with nice aluminum rear end reinforcements, and they also sell the traction control defeat module.
Feel free to email me if you need any more information on 500e's or amg's in general.
Hans

slownrusty

Thanks for the comments and feedback guys!!! Much appreciated!! I am very much lenaing towards the car....and yes I kind of need the space too...

wds928 \ hans - seeing as you drive your car evereyday, can you comment on overall cost of ownership? I will PM you too..thanks!

I posted the same thing on Pelican and look at how SHALLOW the members \ posts are - **** me off...UG!!!:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/showt...62#post2427462

Yasin

hacker-pschorr

I cannot remember specific years, but the first few years of the 500E were built by Porsche in the 959 assembly line.

wds928

Yasin, I bought mine with 136k miles on it. Needed brake job, cleaning, minor tuneup type stuff. Now it has 154k miles on it, changed the oil twice with Mobil 1 (sent to Blackstone for analysis, no problems found). Just bought new tires from TireRack, 245/50x16 Pilot Sport A/S. Needed 4 wheel alignment with mounting and balance. Added a battery after one month (and again last month, on warranty). Now I need to fix the trunk light switch. Needed a starter about two months after I bought it. Just up and died. One tuneup, plugs, caps, rotors, similar setup to the 32 valve 928.

Oh yeah, watch the engine harness. Seems Mercedes thought it would be fun to use wire insulation that breaks down with high heat and age. Mine's ok, but a new harness will run $500 to $600, plus installation.

The throttle actuator (a Bosch drive by wire type brain and throttle body in one unit) decided to slowly die. About $1,200 retail. Rebuilt units can be found for about $850.

Brother with an independent Mercedes Benz shop = PRICELESS. I called him for tuneup parts (plugs, caps, rotors) one afternoon (East coast time for me) and they were at my office at 10am the next day. Almost as fast as Mr. Bailey and 928 Int'l can ship!

It's not a new car with a warranty. Got a good deal on a very desirable car. Even if I didn't have two other cars to use, I would get one of these as a daily driver.

The transmission is solid, shifts great. Interior seat bolster has a small tear, and should be re-done.