Enthusiasts Blogging Our Favorite Classifieds
The Mercedes-Benz 500E is one of those cars that was fairly affordable for a long time, but dwindling supply and greater awareness has raised values considerably. I knew it was a matter of time before this legend started to increase in value. We often see these four-door hot rods with Porsche DNA in black or silver, but this metallic blue example for sale in Florida bucks that trend. This car is closing in on 150,000 miles but has had the same owner for the last 18 years.
The Mercedes-Benz 500E is a car which needs no introduction to the fans of GCFSB. We feature the model on a regular basis; as one of the most popular super-sedans produced by Mercedes, we’re always glad to see a very mint condition, low mileage model and hopeful for a steal when we see less pristine examples. The possibility always exists that one will sneak in at a cut-rate – a model that has higher miles and a small list of needs, for example, that will allow for a more reasonable purchase price. But as we pine and search for values on the 500E/E500 market, ironically we seem to ignore the model which replaced it in spirit; the E55 AMG. Part of that comes down to both the real and perceived gap in quality between the W124 and the W210 chassis; however, what is undeniable is what that equates to in the real world. Find a not-perfect, higher mile 500E today and you’ll be looking at around $10,000 or more while a mint condition, low mile E55 AMG is available for around the same amount. Which is the better proposition?
Mercedes-Benz has been one of the mainstays in diesel passenger car offerings in the United States. However, into the 1990s, the selection became a bit thin. If you wanted a diesel engine with estate carrying capacity towards the end of the W124 E class production, you were out of luck. In fact, Mercedes has not offered a diesel estate in the US since 1987, as 1988 saw the introduction of the 300TE to replace the 300TD. One intrepid Mercedes mechanic, though, has gone the extra mile to create what never was on this side of the Atlantic, with this 1994 E300 Diesel Estate.
It’s been over a decade since I last hopped behind the wheel of one, but I still remember my last encounter with a Mercedes-Benz 500E. Harmless enough though it looks, it packs a big bite. Acceleration, braking and handling were a revelation for a luxury sedan of its day, even if this car had serious sporting intentions imbued in it by Porsche. For a while, these special W124s were somewhat affordable but values have been on the climb, even for those with more than 100,000 miles on the clock. This 500E, replete with monoblocks, has 136k miles on the clock but looks to be well cared for.
Say you have under $10,000 to spend on a car. Do you do the sensible thing and go with a nearly new compact or subcompact that, if you are lucky, may have some of its factory warranty left? Or do you do tempt fate and go with that older luxury vehicle you’ve always been craving? Fortunately, there’s a middle of the road example: the W124 Mercedes-Benz E class. Rock solid build quality, relatively affordable running costs in comparison to other German iron of the era and a healthy dose of leather, wood and other goodies to comfort passengers. This Smoke Silver example for sale in Indiana has just over 63,000 miles on the odometer, leaving it barely broken in.