I had three SECs, the last a euro spec 560 with a 300hp motor. I owned them for five years and did 40k miles. Great cars, but after a year with a 500E there is just no competition. I cannot think of a single area where the 560 SEC was superior to my 500E. Day in day out, the 500E is a blast to drive, up to 3000 rpm, its like any MB. Over that and its a monster.

David Hendy
'92 500E 65k miles

If I were you. I would compromise and buy an aftermarket warranty. Do some research into that area. Have the car looked over my mechanic and buy the car. Sell your car. That way, you know what you're total costs will be up front except, how much you'll get for your car.

Get the 500E.

After David Hendy, took me for a ride in his, I also saw the light. I want one! Also David is inaccurate about the 500E's performance. Its not a monster above 3000 at all. Its a MONSTER all the time. The thing is a Ballistic Missile, yet very refined and Subtle. The MBZ sales brochure was right as referring to the car as Fire and Silk.

__________________
"Damn the torpedos, four bells full speed ahead"
-Admiral Farragut




-1987 300E Smoke Silver
-1997 S320 Black on Black
-Soon To be E55 AMG
-27 foot Grady White Offshore Sportfish.

Would there be a way to tell if I do have ASR? Why would it just go when going straight but if I make a right and nail it she will rip loose but only 1 tire. Is this normal? I do not have an idiot light that says ASR do you?

All cars (if I'm not mistaken) have a light in the center of the speedo that engages whenever ASR is activated. I know this is the way that 500E's are and all the newer models (ie my 98 E300)

__________________
"Damn the torpedos, four bells full speed ahead"
-Admiral Farragut




-1987 300E Smoke Silver
-1997 S320 Black on Black
-Soon To be E55 AMG
-27 foot Grady White Offshore Sportfish.

You should have a rectangular warning light in the middle-top of the speedometer, just above the needle(pointer)base.

Andy Kuo

__________________
1992 Mercedes-Benz 400SE
http://members.shaw.ca/AKRY/W140_Side.gif

2002 Acura TL Type S
http://members.shaw.ca/AKRY/type_s_side.gif

You're right! I can not beat a 500E for performance with my 560. I can beat it with ride quality, size,looks, comfort and probably gas milage. Sure it goes 0-60 in 6.2 and I am 7 but it's nice to be slow. I know also that you can't compare a 420E to a 500 performance wise but the interior, looks, windnoise,etc are the same. My 420e has 275hp and the 500 has 315, it's a difference but not enough to make it a monster.If I want balls I drive my 400hp corvette or my zx6. If I wanted to go crazy with performance I would buy a real hot rod like a 911, viper, nsx, etc. Guys 0-60 in even 6 seconds is slow in todays numbers a freakin seville sts will do 6.5. I admit it is more of a novelty than anything that it is a Benz and has 4 doors but numbers are numbers. Sure I would love a 500e but the $ dif is not worth it between that and the 420.Plus a miata will crush it in g's. I hope I did not hurt anyones ego.

Get on a wet and rutted road, bring the car to a stop, then nail it. If the wheels spin, no ASR.

I read an article a long time ago about the 500E. It's always been a dream car for me since I was a kid, because it's such a Q ship. Anyway, this article was by ex-formula 1 driver Jonathan Palmer who has a driving school which at that time used 500Es. He told how careful insertion of a paperclip in the engine management gubbins disabled the ASR. Timed around the track, though, the car was quicker with ASR enabled than without, and that was with a former F1 driver at the wheel. Having recently driven an ESP equipped A-Class in snow and ice I can believe it: just about defied the laws of physics!

jjrodger,

Any chance of you digging up that old article?

I am always looking for information concerning the 500E.

Thanks

I'm afraid that one is long gone. I'm not "allowed" to keep my car clutter too long! It was in Car Magazine, a UK title now published by emap. The article was by Rowan Atkinson, the actor/comedian who is also a well informed car buff. It would date from about 1993. He had just purchased a used 500E (this was before the E500 facelifted version was released). The article was something of a eulogy on the car. At this time ASR was a relatively new and unsophisticated device. The point he made was an aside in a more general article, simply that for even a relatively skilled driver like himself and a highly skilled driver like Palmer, the car was faster even on the track with ASR enabled. He didn't give specific details on how to disable the system beyond referring to the insertion of a paperclip in the electronics. This car is quite rare in the UK because it was available only in lhd, consequently there are but few reviews etc.

jjrodger,

Thank you for the effort. Maybe I'll find this out in Web land.