Some older "E" designations meant "Einspritzen" or fuel injected, while lack of the "E" meant carburetor.

Our 96 is an E class 300 Diesel (W210 chassis), while the late, great 85 was a 300 S class Diesel (W126 chassis)

Then, there is the 500E and the E500... Super cars, different years. Letters used to follow numbers, now they lead. This really doesn't make a lot of sense, does it!

Try a search as this subject has also been covered before.

BCingU, Jim