Mercedes-Benz 500 E

Specifications and general information

The 500 E had a naturally aspirated 5.0L V8 engine derived from the 500 SL (R129) roadster. Sports car braking performance also came from SL components: front SL 500 300 mm disks with 4-piston calipers came installed on the 1992 and early 1993 cars. The later 1993, and all 1994 cars came with the upgraded 320 mm set taken from the 600 SL. Rear brakes on all years were 278 mm brakes from the 500 SL. In the USA, the 500 E came fully equipped, with the only options available to the buyer being a dealer-installed CD changer and an integrated cellular telephone. The 500 E only came in left hand drive, and had four leather sport seats supplied by Recaro (the front seats were generally heated).

Called the "Wolf in Sheep's Clothing" by the press, performance tests of the day yielded results that were widely considered impressive: 0–100 km/h (0–62 mph) times of 5.5 to 6.0 seconds and acceleration through the quarter-mile (0.4 km) in 14.1 seconds at 163 km/h (101 mph). The top speed was electronically limited to 250 km/h (155.3 mph) as were all Mercedes cars at that time. However, without this limit the 500 E/E 500 could not have gone very much faster since the drive ratio put the engine at its rev limit a little bit over the electronically limited speed. The car was rated at 16.8 L/100 km (14 mpg) in the city and 13.8 L/100 km (17 mpg) on the highway.

With its aggressive stance due to a 38mm wider track, 23mm lower profile, flared wings, side skirts, front air-dam and wide tyres, the 500 E is easily distinguished from its lesser brethren. Because of its appearance, limited numbers, hand-built construction, and unique pedigree, the 500 E is already considered a "modern classic", even within Mercedes-Benz.

Engine

Displacement, type, valvetrain	Power	Torque	Acceleration	Top speed
4,973 cc M119 V8 32 valve, 2×DOHC	240 kW (326 PS; 322 bhp) @ 5,700 rpm	480 N⋅m (354 lbf⋅ft) @ 3,900 rpm	0-100 km/h (62.1 mph) in 6.1 seconds	250 km/h (155.3 mph)

Production figures and yearly changes

500E sedan

1528 of the "super" sports sedans were imported into the USA from late 1991 to late 1994, or roughly 500 cars per year of importation.

Production figures (USA)

Year	Units
1990	46
1991	2,566
1992	4,416
1993	1,596
1994	1,735
1995	120
total production = 10,479

Import numbers by key countries

Country	Units
USA	1,528
Japan	1,184
UK	29
Canada	45
Major country total = 2,786

It is little-known, but 120 cars were produced between January and May 1995, as last-request cars for special customers before the series ceased production. These last cars were produced in Porsche's Rössle building alongside Audi RS2 sport wagons, as that production contract went into full swing with the same work-staff that built the 500E and E500.
The 500 E/E 500 underwent few significant changes during its three-year production run. Models from 1992 and 1993 are virtually indistinguishable from each other on the exterior, with the most notable change being a slightly less powerful (-7 HP) engine in the 1993 and 1994 model for USA. The 1994 E 500 model is more easily identified because of the cosmetic changes that affected all E-Class cars that year (updated headlights, grille, and trunk-lid; the bumper scuff bars were painted the same color as the car). The engine, however, remained unchanged from the 1993 500 E. 1994 models carried an upgraded sound system made by Becker or Alpine, replacing the two-piece Becker 1432 unit used in model year 1992 and 1993 cars. Significantly, 1994 models had larger front and rear brakes than 1992 and 1993 models, courtesy of the R129 SL600 roadster. Numerous running changes were made to the car's mechanical systems during its production life.In the early 1990s, California in the U.S. introduced many measures, including gasoline reformations to reduce emissions to control the state's air quality. All 500 E and E 500 models imported to the United States and Canada were compliant with the more stringent California emissions (a so-called "50-state car", legal for sale in all 50 states).
The 500E and E500 were known by Porsche as Type 2758 in that company's official nomenclature. As of June 2011, an example of a 1995 E500 Limited is on display in the new Porsche Museum in Zuffenhausen, Germany.