Hi,

I have loved both of my 500Es, they are simply fabulous cars. Unequaled build quality, a proper wolf in sheep's attire. My '92 endured 300k miles and about 25 HPDE track days, and was only sidelined when an ML430 (driven by a distracted driver) punched it from behind. Hard. Total loss. I did manage to buy the car back, so its perfect interior is now in my '95, which was bought as a dumpster fire. That car is now very nice, amazing what about $20k in parts & bodywork can do for a car.

However, even my '95, the end of the end of the run, is 25 yrs old so requires considerable continuing maintanance to remain in proper order, even given I put Very few miles on it (actually planning to put it up for auction once I sort the headliner). Know that parts are becoming tough to find. F'rinstance, I had some problems with the A/C last year, and finding the right condenser (which is the same as every other 400E/500E made!) was near impossible, and OE was nearly a grand...ooof.

So, my advice is this: buy the nicest one you can afford, with the thickest wad of parts receipts. You cannot go wrong no matter the model year. My '95 feels no slower than my '92, even before I installed the '92 LH module in the '95 car. And my '95 stops no better (although can likely handle more repeated big braking events) even though it has bigger brakes both in the front and rear (the big rear brakes were Euro only). Great brakes on all of them, even the early front aluminum calipers

Good luck with your search!!

__________________
"If God had meant for us to walk, why did he give us feet that fit car pedals?" Sir Sterling Moss

Michael
2014 E63S Estate
2006 SLK55
1995 E500
1986 Porsche 944 turbo