Lee,

Just wanted to congratulate you on your new 500e, and I also wanted to know how it was working out. Is it real fast? Alot faster than your 400? Did you take it out on the track yet? I really wanted to purchase a 500e about a year and half ago, but I could'nt find one for sale at the time I was buying, so I ended up with the 400e I have now. I have never test driven a 500, so you are the only one I can really ask about comparing the differences between these two cars. Please give all the gory details.

Thanks,
Ryan

Thank you for the kind words Ryan. I have not taken the car to the track but preliminary test driving the car is one mean SOB! It is easily as far beyond my 400E as the 400E is beyond a 2-valve 300E. The car naturally starts out in second gear and literally has the pull in 2nd at part throttle (lest you trip the kickdown to 1st) as the 400E does in 1st. Off the line the car will either light up the tires or be in the ASR. What is really interesting is that after the tires are hooked up the car will actually spin them loose again when the engine gets between the torque and HP peaks. The car has 225/55/16 Michelin Pilot XGT Z4's that it will overwhelm in either of the first two gears no problem.

I have timed my 400E at 6.4 0-60 repeatedly. It has run as quick as 6.2 but that was on a 35 degree night, 1/8th tank of gas, just me in car, etc! Stopwatch 0-60 puts the 500E's time in the mid 5 second bracket. (5.5-5.7 on a 75 degree day, 2 people in car) That should tumble even further when the temp falls. Even on the stock tires it should make a triple digit 14 second 1/4 mile run. With better tires and perhaps some other tweaks it should get well into the 13's. I would not be suprised if MB significantly under-rated the power numbers. It is rated at 322HP/354lb-ft. Since it is a 92 model year it has the "hot" engine management system. I would guess the actual numbers are closer to 340HP/370lb-ft. Given that a 3800 lb sedan can accelerate as brutally as this one does it has to be making some serious power. You see 500E/E500's making mid-low 13's in Starfest acceleration runs so I know its doable.

If you have read the MercedesShop reviews you know some of the mechanical differences. By about 1200rpm the 5.0 is making more torque than the 4.2 at its peak. Combine that with 2.82 rear diff and you begin to get the picture of the instant, brutal thrust on tap. The gearing is more "normal" as opposed to the ridiculously tall cogs of the 400E. 1st takes you to 40mph, 2nd to almost 70mph, 3rd to 110, 4th is limited to 155 but without the electronic governor would run out of gears at approx. 165mph. Although still tall by American or Asian standards but not the wacky 50+mph in 1st, 90 in second, 140 in 3rd of the 400E. Porsche's suspension mods include a widened track, lowered by a good bit, self-leveling rear suspension that squelches body roll, and beefed up drivetrain. Ride is easily as good as any other V8 but with much more sporting flavor. Turn in is much more immediate and body roll is nearly nil. The suspension, okay the whole package, is more capable than the tires fitted.

Ergonomically the driver's perspective is improved also. The true manumatic shift gate is retained. The seats are significantly bolstered so you don't slide around any. Not quite Recaro but as much lateral support as you could use on the street. The steering wheel is smaller diameter with a firm grip vs the overly padded loop of the 400E. Brakes match the rest of the package and are typically Mercedes predictable, yet also VERY capable. The backseat is now only for two. The usual W124 bench is replaced by two "bucket" types with a wooden console/armrest in between. All the normal E-class amenities are standard plus rear sunshade, heated seats, ASR, 10 CD, everything but the factory phone. (a phone and CD changer were the only options) Mine is just the way I want it, as the phone would occupy valuable radar detector real-estate. (by the rearview mirror) Oh, one last cherry on top...the exhaust finally sounds like an ass-ripping V8. The 400E's always sounded a bit choked to me (dare I say almost Lexus-ish) but this one sounds like the beast it is when you drop the hammer. Not overly loud or intrusive like Mustang with a Borla, just wonderful tone and proportional noise to throttle/rpm.

It is bone stock now but I have a few minor things in mind. Tires will be first. I'm going to replace the near dead Michelin XGT's with 245/50/16 size. Specific tire I am not decided yet. Michelin MXX3 would be my ideal but I'm also thinking of the SP9000, SP8000, Firestone SZ50, and Nitto 555R competition tire. *eg* Of course, I welcome all votes/experiences/opinions for tires... I am also curious to try out a "chip". Yeah I'm a power junky but I've always wondered if they work as advertised. They claim about a 10%-12% gain so that would be impressive if it does deliver. When I get the software I will dyno before/after, time some runs, and write it all up on the site. I'll probably give Superchips a try unless Autothority will do something to the public. The other definite upgrade will be a true ASR defeat switch. The stock ASR does not deactivate it completely and the system slows the car WAY more than necessary. I'm also looking into those upsized airboxes. I will avoid K&N filters as I plan to keep this car indefinitely. Smoother intake plumbing would probably help out a by pony/ft-lb or two. Hmm...wondering if the V12 airbox will bolt right on. Benzmac? MB DOC?

My car is a 92, metallic black with gray leather, dealer books + in between oil changes, bit over 100K miles. Its valvetrain literally shows less "color" than well maintained 30K mile cars. (there is something to be said for the ole standby 3K changes) All the panels are numbered + match, never had any paintwork, does not smell as if smoked in. (I got in it before the dealership detail team got at it) The wood in the 500E's is a burl walnut that is lighter than the dark 400E stuff. It doesn't show every physical contact that the wood has had since day 1 but still looks quite warm.

As far as direct 400E vs 500E...perhaps a detailed review will happen in the near future. Till then, this will have to do it. My 400E was stock except for the 225/50/16 wheels/tires. Comparing a 400E on its 195/65/15 tires vs a 500E makes it all the worse for the 400E. The 400E is fast but always felt as if it was "trying". Plus the combo of that overly conservative tranny with the 2.24 diff caused driveability problems. Read: torque converter with "idle" stall speed. Okay not quite THAT bad but you get the point. Combined with the 2.24 diff made for HUGE flat-spots between the gears. Example: hit the gas at 35-40mph in a 400E. the car shifts to 2nd at 2800rpm or so and that is ALL you get. Kick the 500E down at that speed (or any other) and you will chirp the tires(and ASR) as you are pinned to the seat while the speedo gets to triple digits VERY rapidly. The 400E gets better gas mileage (I typically got 18-20mpg in town, 26mpg on trips) but let's face it, if you are interested in a 500E gas mileage doesn't really matter. The 500E has a enlarged gas tank so range is actually greater. The 400E is quick and has lots of room for improvement (where MB sort of neutered it) but the 500E is another breed altogether. One is quick among sedans/sport sedans, the other is damn quick among all cars. The 500E is "adjust your headrest" quick where the 400E has a more "up on its cams" acceleration feel.

After all the performance stuff is done you are left with other 500E benefits. The "wow" look of the lowered stance with flared fenders is like the lines of a beautiful woman. The 500E is also perhaps the most collectable MB of the 80's and 90's. The E55 will have a yearly run of 4000 cars (last I heard) whereas there are only 1500 500E or E500 cars ever. Besides, now that MB and AMG are so intertwined it is doubtful that Porsche and MB will ever do another model again. I didn't get mine as a "trailer queen" but because it was the flagship of performance engineering during a time when engineering was paramount in MB. To this day it still is world class comfort, safety, luxury, beauty (okay that is opinion), and of course performance. Plus it is a car that doesn't attract every cop or "kid in a Camaro". The 400E with only a 1" 4 where the 3 is makes for even more of a sleeper. Very little warning that this is a 275Hp V8 instead of the usual 177-217 HP grocery getter. The 500E's seductive bodywo

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[This message has been edited by Mark Herzig (edited 04-29-99).]

very nice comparison.