One to Buy: 1994 Mercedes-Benz E 500 Limited
The W124-based 500 E launched at the Paris Motor Show in October 1990 was Mercedes’ highly anticipated answer to the BMW M5. Prior to its arrival, customers of the three-pointed star that wanted a true high performance Saloon had to commission a vehicle from AMG, Brabus or one of the other myriad tuners around at the time.
As Mercedes did not have the capacity to manufacture a specialist low volume model like the 500 E, they commissioned Porsche to act as a development and production partner.
Porsche was responsible for practically all the 500 E’s integration work which included modification of the W124 bodyshell to accept a five-litre V8 engine. Other performance upgrades included enhanced suspension, brakes, wheels and tyres, a long-range fuel tank and beefed-up transmission. Cosmetically the 500 E came with flared wheelarches, deep side skirts and custom bumpers.
The 1994 model year marked the arrival of a face-lifted version re-branded the E 500.
In addition, Mercedes introduced the E 500 Limited which came with 17-inch wheels from the 190 E 2.5-16 Evolution 2, duo-tone upholstery, a two-tone steering wheel and black-stained birds-eye maple wood trim. Stainless steel door sill trim panels embossed with Mercedes-Benz script, a rear sunshade and heated memory seats were fitted as standard.
Just 951 were built.
Currently on offer at The Hairpin Company showroom in Compton Bassett, Wiltshire, is this outstanding low mileage E 500 Limited configured in Brilliant Silver Metallic with Anthracite leather and a wide array of optional extras.
It was originally ordered by a German customer who retained it until 2000 at which point the car had covered a little over 45,000km. It was then owned by a British collector who retained it for 17 years and took the mileage to just over 94,000km.
Today this superb E 500 Limited as covered just 97,000km and is presented in superb original condition.
Reprinted below is The Hairpin Company’s description:
The E500 LTD was, as the name suggests, a limited edition special final version that marked the end of production for the now legendary E500 model. Launched in 1990 the E500 or 500E, as it was then known, followed the Mercedes tradition of shoehorning a very powerful engine into a sedate looking saloon body and hence creating a very rapid yet understated and eminently usable performance car. This began with the 300SEL 6.3 model of the 1960’s followed by the 450SEL 6.9 in the next decade.
The 500E was actually assembled for Mercedes by Porsche on the then redundant 959 production line at the main Stuttgart works, indeed there are a number of period photographs showing completed 500E’s parked amongst brand new Porsche 964’s outside the factory.
The 500E was virtually hand-made and the quality of the many examples I have owned over the years seems to be of a higher order than the already excellent standard W124 model. They were also exceptionally expensive when new and hence demand and production was quite limited. However, much like the previous hot rod Mercedes models, many great collectors and racing drivers have owned a 500E at some point in their lives.
It is now very hard to find a really great and original late production E500 model with low mileage, let alone a LTD version. Here though is just such a car, an immaculate example that has covered just 95,500 km in the hands of four owners from new. Finished in Brilliant Silver metallic with Anthracite Limited leather it features a fully optioned specification including electric heated memory seats, electric steering column, electric/tilting sunroof, auto dimming rear view mirror, electric rear window roller blind, central folding armrest, fire extinguisher, black birds eye maple wood trim, infra-red remote locking system and special model LTD designation, of course.
The car was ordered from and first supplied by the Schweinfurt branch of the Karl Mühlfeld Official Mercedes Dealer Group. The original stamped service book confirms that the pre-delivery inspection was completed at the Mercedes Sindelfingen works factory on the 18th April 1994. The supplying dealer continued to service the car for the first German owner as per schedule until 2000 at which point it had covered 45,500km.
In 2000 the E500 was purchased by a British collector who retained the car until 2017. Initially he used the car occasionally, the mileage rising to 91,000km in 2007, during this time it was serviced by Arlington, the Mercedes Benz dealer in Bedford and by Millenium Mercedes, a well-regarded independent marque specialist. From 2007 until 2017 the car was carefully stored at the owners house in the South of France and saw very little use, the mileage rising to just 94,374 km when it was purchased along with the rest of the owners collection by Sytner Select, the specialist arm of the Sytner Motor Group in Nottingham.
Sytner’s sold the E500 predictably quickly to an established Mercedes collector who recognised the rare opportunity to buy such a car. It remained in his collection since 2017 and 2020 and has seen minimal use, with just a further 1,000km being added. Invoices on file detail the fastidious care and maintenance the car has received whilst in this collection.
We purchased the car directly from the collector in 2020 and sent it for a full inspection and service, any item found wanting being dealt with. Precautionary work included the replacement of the engine wiring loom, a well-known weak area on this model, in addition all HT leads, coils and distributor caps were replaced and the air conditioning system fully serviced and all five tyres replaced.
We sold the car to a well-known local collector of German cars who has again looked after it carefully and covered around around 1,000 kilometres, the mileage now being 97,000 kilometres.
It is in superb factory fresh condition in all respects, everything works as it should and it drives beautifully with a tightness and fluency most have now lost. I have owned many of these over the years and this is as good as it gets.
It comes with all original books in the correct Limited leather wallet, all tools and a good history file.
A rare and special car.
Price: £64,995
