Launched back in 1990, 25 years ago, the V8-powered Mercedes-Benz 500 E remains one of the brand’s most important models. Though curiously enough, it was built by Porsche.
Yes, this rather modest-looking top-of-the-range W124 model has a very interesting background. At first glance, you’d be hard pressed to differentiate it from other models in the 124 series, having only a slightly lower body and a modified front apron with inset fog lamps to go on visually.
Performance-wise however, you had the 5.0 liter V8 powerunit to go on, which good for a mighty impressive 326 PS (321 HP). Accelerating the W124 500 E in a straight line was a fun experience, considering the fact that it needed just 6.1 seconds in order to get from 0 to 100 km/h.
Now, 25 years later, the modern-day E 500 carries 408 PS and will hit the 100 km/h mark in 4.9 seconds – just a little over a second less than a car old enough to be its great-grandfather, which it is!
Both its engine and its four-speed automatic transmission were borrowed from the 500 SL, and thanks to the “standard deck” engine, sorter connecting rods and Bosch LH-Jetronic injection system, the 500 E actually had to be electronically limited to 250 km/h (155 mph).
Between 1990 and 1995, only 10,479 units were built (including the E 60 AMG), whereas in 1993…as the facelifted model surfaced, the car was renamed the ‘E-Class’ and so the model designation no preceded the figures, turning the 500 E into the E500.
Other changes included a revised radiator grille and a redesigned rear end as the car also came with ASR (acceleration skid control), which was more of a necessity rather than clever marketing.
Now, about the whole “built by Porsche” thing, it just so happens that the Stuttgart-based sports car manufacturer was brought on board by Mercedes at an early stage of the project, for development capacity reasons. As the manufacturing process was split, Porsche ended up being the ones that took care of the final assembly of the components.
One of the reasons for this was that the relatively small volume was a great match for Porsche’s manufacturing processes, the other being that Porsche was actually going through somewhat of a difficult period in the early 90s.
All in all, the E 500 continued its production run until April 1995, when it made way for the W210 E-Class model, launched on the same year, in June.
Also, the true spiritual successor to the E 500 was actually the W210 E 50 AMG, which just happened to show up for the first time at the International Motor Show in Frankfurt (IAA), in September 1995. Precisely 20 years ago.
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