92+ 500E vs. 97 E420... hmm.

I was just thinking about upgrading from my 92 400E, and these two cars are on my short list. They are about the same price, and usually around the same mileage.... what would you guys choose?

Depends on what you're looking for. If it's performance, then the 500 smacks the newer 420 around pretty bad...50+ extra ponies certainly invigorates the car. And if you're looking for individuality, then again the 500E wins with its lowered stance and flared fenders.

On the flip side, the 420 will be better on gas, and will also benefit from the enhancements that came with the W210 car when it replaced the venerable W124. It'll be newer so presumably less maintenance, and it may ride a little nicer on the highway.

I'm sticking with my 500, but performance was my #1 requirement. I'm not disappointed.

Which style of car do you like better?

You can't go wrong with either one.

Personally I see a 500e/E500 as a collectors car. something you wont see again by mercedes.

The 500E was specially made with the assistance of porsche, and was built by both mercedes and porsche.

This makes for a hell of a car. and to me it is worth more money because it was a colaborated effort between germany's true sports car maker, and germany's true luxury car maker.

With a 500E, you get the rock solid build quality of the 124 series, with more oomf than other 124 chassis cars. The lowered stance, flared fenders, and big v8, make for an awesome combination of style, elegance, and quality. Not to mention the 500e to me is a rocket.

Whenever I see one I just have to look at the car, it has a power over me that say look at me, want me, buy me.

Of course my wallet says no, but the rest of me screams yes. :) hehe

i think the 97 E class styling looks good, but its not a 500E. :) hehe

You can't go wrong buying either car, so the choice is yours. My personal choice would be the 500e.

post some pics of whatever car you decide to get. you already have a 400e, so you know the car. getting the 500E, would be like transplanting a faster engine, better suspension, flared fenders, and lower stance to your 400.

getting the newer car you get more technology, so its a decision you have tomake. Newer technology, or older technology that is tried and true and virtually trouble free.

i personally don't like all the extra electric gizmos that can end up having problems, the more electronics you have the more that can go wrong.

For instance a rolls royce is basically run by the exlectrical system, fuses everywhere, probably like 20 or more fuses. if one fuse is blown the car wont run right or has other problems.

too much electronics can be a hassle, but with todays technology, breakdowns aren't as common due to exlectrical problems.

The 97 E420/430 and e500 are both great cars, so the choice would be older style or newer style.

With the 500E you pretty much know all the controls in the car and what does what. witht he 97 e class you have different controlls and all so you have to learn everything.

in anycase, you can't go wrong with either car. I would go with the one that appeals to you the most.

Alon

Well put Alon!

I should add that I'm completely biased, and never myself considered any car other than a '92 500E, and for all the reasons Alon cited. Plus, the '92s were a hair quicker.

Get the 500E!!

well, if anyone is interested

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=512374698&r=0&t=0&showTutorial=0&ed=975989750&indexURL=0&rd=1

i just got my 94 e420, so i won't be buying this but looks pretty good.

Kyle:

You will find the 1997 model still very familiar as to switches and controls. It retains much of the traditional Mercedes control placement. Be sure to spend a lot of time driving the 1997 model at interstate speeds and in windy conditions if possible. Many of us with the W210 model feel it isn't as stable as the 124 series on the highway and tends to wander. This problem seems to be random and not all owners of the newer model complain about it. As far as maintenance goes, I think it is too early to tell on the W210. I do know that there is much more plastic used in that model and a lot of cost cutting took place including snap together assembly. Once the W210 cars get to be 7 to 10 years old they may prove to be very expensive to maintain. When I decided to replace our 1983 300D this spring after 17 years of ownership, I searched for the 124 body style because I felt that model was still built in the way Mercedes was known for.

Bob

1998 E320
1995 E420

I'd go with the 500E. But then again, I'm biased :D

Hehe, speaking of 500E, there are TONS, yes TONS of 500Es popping out....so far, I have seen all those in 2 days, yes 2 days.....

3 Black(1 '92, 2 '94), 1 brown('94), 2 blue('93), 1 Burgandy('93), 2 Pearl Grey('92), 1 Grey(not pearl, but more like Moon Stone Grey, '94), 2 Beige('93)

Man, oh man was I in heaven!!! :p Sadly, most of them are in pretty bad shape(all scratched paint, smoke coming out of exhaust when nail the throttle, F@#$-Up front air dam..etc). The Brown, Pearl Grey and the Moonstone Grey were in Showroom Condition though...love the Moonstone Grey with Titanium EvoII and Clear front turn signals with Remmus Exhaust(I think, it's 2 square ones)..a killer!!

Andy Kuo

P.S. Out of all 12 500Es, 8 of them were driven by ladies in their mid-late 40's...go figure.. :p

Get a 500E
 

You won't regret it! Better performer, collectible, you won't loose money on depreciation. Potentially higher build quality and better materials. Yeah the newer one has round headlights...big deal. Get the 500E :-)

Akry (Andy)

How do you visually differentiate a '92 from '93? Thanks.

Personally I am not that big a fan of the round headlights.
The 500E will become a collectors item in the future. The 500E is a very very very rare machine. The E430's are rather common. Think about it, Porsche and Mercedes cross. Its a hard to beat combo.

Blue Devil,

The only way to visually differentiate between a '92 and '93 500E is the brake calipers..MAYBE.

'92 and early '93 were equipped with black paineted, Brembo, 4-piston, aluminum calipers. These were sometimes problematic and later cars were upgraded to 500SL and then 600SL brakes which are cast iron 4-pots made by ATE. The 500SL variant has 300mm rotors while the 600SL brakes are 320mm.

The '92 has a little bit more in the way of horsepower...approx 6 bhp more if i remember correctly. the 92 has 322 bhp while the '93 has 316 bhp or so...officially these are the numbers. But at over 310bhp does it REALLY matter that much when you're not on a racetrack? ;)

IMHO I'd rather go for the later model as these are the ones in which the bugs have mostly been worked out.

Thanks yhliem...I was just curious because akry was able to spot the years of the 500Es during his 2 days! As a 500E driver, I often get fooled by other w124 sedans unless I see the fog lights in the front air dam (and of course the badging). When compared side by side the fender flares are much larger, but when seen alone it can be easy to mistake a regular w124 for a 500E (especially if it is passing you in traffic). Usually I just make the assumption it isn't a 500E because of the low volume. Cheers.

WOW akry, where do you hang around?
 

Hey Andy,

Where did you see all those 500E/E500's? All I see driving around Vancouver in terms of W124's are 300E/E320's...and I occasionally spot another 400E/E420. I don't think I've ever spotted a 500E/E500 drivin' around Vancouver, although I DID see one in the showroom at the W. Broadway dealership. Maybe we can camp out wherever u've been making these sightings with some binoculars when I get back to Vancouver for Christmas break eh? he he...see ya around!

DuckMuck

Hehe, sure thing Duck!! Have been thinking about gathering up with you guys again!! How long are you going to stay in Vancouver???

Anways, I saw the Moonstone Grey, Pearl Grey, 1 Beige, and 1 Black at 49th and Boundary. Saw 1 Black and the Burgandy near my GF's house(next to Churchill Secondary School in W. Van), and saw the rest in Downtown(Robertson and Burrard). The blue and 2 Blacks were parked in the underground parking lot of the new Eatons in Downtown Vancouver(GF wanted to check out the new Eatons, and came across these beauties). :) All I can say is, WOW!! They are beautiful!! Almost all the 500Es I saw have some dents and scratches.....only the Pearl Grey, Moonstone Grey, and 1 Beige were in mint cond(and I do mean MINT, they looked like they just came off the production line).

Anyways, look forward to meet ya(and more 500Es to be seen)

Blue Devil,

Didn't meant to ignore you.. :p Didn't notice your posts(My bad, I usually read posts from last, and scroll up). Yes, the brake calipers and the disc size gives out the clue, and to judge whether it's a '92 or '93 is pure experience, I guess......but I have to admit, it's not 100% correct as you have to "eye-ball" the size of disc, try to see the caliper when that 500E is in montion, and drive my own car at the same time(don't try this at home..:p). Anyways, besides brake components differences, I believe '92 W124s have power driver side rear mirror and remote(manual)right rear mirror while '93 W124s have DUAL power mirrors....

Andy Kuo

[Edited by akry on 12-06-2000 at 01:30 AM]