The Collectibility of the 500E / E500, according to Frank Barrett - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

suginami · #1 06-08-2002, 06:34 PM

I purchased "The Illustrated Buyer's Guide to Mercedes Benz" by Frank Barrett, Second Edition, today at the bookstore.

It's a great book and every owner of a Mercedes should buy it. He rates all of the Mercedes cars ever built on an investment rating system, and gives cars a ranking from one stars to five stars.

I just wanted to start a thread with his rating and comments on the 500E / E500, and see what you, the owners, of these cars think about their value and investment potential.

The 1992-1993 500E's and 1994 E500's have a four (4) star rating. Frank Barrett gives a nice description of the car, and mentions MB's tradition of building the world's fastest and finest sedans, like the 300 SEL 6.3 and the 450 SEL 6.9. He also mentions AMG built a Hammer model, but sold very few at $150,000 / copy. He concludes the summary of this car with the following:

"The 500E is the prime Mercedes-Benz collector car of the early 1990's".

The definition of a four star rating is:

"Excellent Performance, elegant styling, high collector insurance, and / or low production".

FWIW, not many cars are given four stars. The only other models in the entire history of Mercedes' cars that he has awarded four stars are:

*Production 300SL 1954-1957
*300SL Roadster 1957-1964
*300CE Cabriolet 1993 and E320 Cabriolet 1994-1995
*Rally cars, i.e. 450SLC 5.0, 1961-1962 300SE
*300S 1951-1955
*Grosser Mercedes: The 770 1930-1943
*The early 1920's models, i.e. 1921 28/95, 1923 10/40/65
*C36 AMG, 1995-1997
*C42 AMB, 1998-on
*CLK 430, 1999-on

Sooooo, if you believe Frank Barrett, I think these 500E / E500's are more collectable than most of the owners on this site realize, and IMHO the upgrade to the 1994 hood / grill of the 1992-1993's like many owners on this site do is a mistake.

Any thoughts on any of this????

Glen · #2 06-08-2002, 07:27 PM

My $0.02...
Don't buy one as an "investment". It's a car, drive it, enjoy it, have fun with it.

Obviously, take care of it but don't leave it in the garage with a cover...hoping for a huge profit 10 years from now.

If you like to modify/update it, go ahead. If you like it stock, great.

placo1 · #3 06-08-2002, 07:52 PM

I'm glad to see that someone else also believes this car will some day be worth collecting.

I'd have to partially agree with Glen on this. I absolutely love this car, it's super fast, handles well, looks unbelievable, cradles you in comfort and is built like a tank. It would be sad to leave such a good performer in the garage with a cover. I bought it to drive it, if I wanted an investment I'd buy another house in San Diego!

I have however decided to limit the amount of miles I drive the car per year. I use it mainly as a weekend toy or occassionally to see customers when I know the drive will be fun. I have also decided that any modification I make to the car can be easily removed and will not affect future resale.

Personally if someone wants to put the newer style hood on the car I would say go for it. But spend the extra money and put the original hood in storage and buy a new hood! You'll retain all the original parts and will be able to revert it back to original later.

As far as this car being an investment, I don't plan on making any money on the car. But.....I don't plan on losing any money on the car either.

suginami · #4 06-08-2002, 08:04 PM

I agree that even though collectible, these cars should still be driven.

I just think that in the short term, the grill / hood modifications might in a strange way be more desireable to buyers of these cars. People seem to like the new hood / grill look better.

However, maybe 10-20+ years from now, I think the modifications may start to detract from the value, as interested buyers will be more concerned about "originality".

I feel the same way about these cars that I feel about the low-production American muscle cars that have exploded in value, i.e. the Chevelle SS396's of the late 60's, all of the early-mid 60's corvettes, the late 60's and early 70's big block Corvettes, the Pontiac GTO's, 68-69 Dodge Chargers with the 383's, late 60's Dodge Challengers with the 440 six-pack or the 426? Hemi, Oldsmobile 442, etc. People that owned these cars drove them into the ground and sold them for little. Who would've thunk that 30 years later, they're worth $30 ++.

Heck, my buddies and I all had 64-72 Chevelles. My best friend owned a 1970 Chevelle SS396, gun metal grey with the factory hood scoops and black stripes down the middle of the car. Just think of the value of that car today...

tom woolner · #5 06-08-2002, 10:24 PM

Jeez, it appears that old Frank upgraded his opinion since I bough the "illustrated guide". My issues says 2 stars for the 500E, although he does have a blurb about it being the most collectible MB in the early 90's.
In my edition, he gives 4 stars to 560SLs!
Someone once told me that the only collectible MBs have cxonvertible tops.
However, I'm really glad I own one. 13 days to blast-off.
Tom

Ashman · #6 06-09-2002, 05:28 AM

so how does a regular 300ce stack up there buddy? How many stars? Just curious to know.

I consider the 300CE a collectable daily driver.

hehe

Alon

#7 06-09-2002, 12:49 PM

Frank's write up is THE reason I got interested in these cars in the first place.

FWIW.

Dave

suginami · #8 06-09-2002, 03:08 PM

Alon,

The 1988-1995 300CE and E320 Coupe were given 3 stars.

FWIW, many cars were given 3 stars, such as:

*1986-1992 300E, 260E, 300E 2.6, 300E 2.8
*1993-1995 300E and E320
*190E 2.3-16, 190E 2.6 Sportline
*1992-1995 400E and E420
*1990-on 300SL and 500SL, 600SL 1993-on
*1977-1985 300D, 300TD, 300TDT, and 300CD
*1981-1987 300SD, 300SDL
*1961-1967 300SE and 300SE Long Sedans
*1969-1971 280SE 3.5 convertible
*1961-1967 300SE coupe and convertible
*1968-1971 300SEL 6.3
*1971-1089 350SL, 450SL, 380 SL, and 560SL
*1972-1980 350SLC, 450 SLC
*1977-1979 450 SEL 6.9

Some surprises to me, though, are the cars given 1 and 2 stars. Most diesel models were given one and two stars, but 2 star cars are also the C-class sedans (except C36 AMG's), all of the gasline 126 and 140 sedans and coupes, the 124 4Matics, 123 gasline sedans and coupes, 114 and 115 sedans and coupes (four and six cylinders), 116 sedans (except 6.9), 108 and 109 sedans (sixes and V8's).

Given the number of really nice cars with 2 stars that have at least bottomed out in value or are already appreciating, like the 108 / 109 sedans, 107 roadsters, etc., I have no idea why the 124 sedans and coupes are given 3 stars. Their values are still falling and with the excepting of the 500E, will never become collectible. If I were a betting man, and I'm not, I'd lay down my money that the 124 coupes might have a chance of some price appreciation. They made so few of them that I just don't understand why they have the same rating as the 124 sedan.

Further, I don't understand why the 81-87 300SD and 300SDL's have 3 stars, when the 126 gasoline models have 2 stars, and 126 diesel values are half as much as the gasloline models.

tom woolner · #9 06-09-2002, 07:39 PM

Frank's book was the first time I had heard of a 500E, and I wanted one then and there. I had to wait two and a half years for my income to rise and the prices to fall.
A week from Friday, and I'm ready for my road trip!

Tom

-fad · #10 06-10-2002, 11:35 AM

...seems like there's quite a few '500e admirers' within the Euro-vehicle following (MB, BMW, Audi, Porsche, etc.)- - so enthusiast recognition for this particular vehicle will most likely be consistent

....as the 500e ages though, we'll see if it becomes another 6.3 or 6.9 type of pocketbook predator (evaporator, wiring harness, limp mode possibilities, etc.)

also, the relative high or low number of surviving 'quality examples' (out of ~1506 N American versions) will likely play a role in its N American future market values

nonetheless, it offers a unique motoring experience as does the 6.3, 6.9, and AMG models

-fad