Doug DeMuro Claims Mercedes 500E Started the AMG Craze
YouTube favorite thinks the Porsche-built 500E was a solid effort that fell short of the AMG-infused greatness of its successors.
The W124 represented Mercedes at its absolute peak. Obviously, the company didn’t go downhill after production ended. But that generation solidified the company as one of the best luxury automakers throughout its ten year run. It also contained at least one very strange performance model worthy of preservation: the 500E.
That’s the model that YouTube favorite Doug DeMuro discussed in one of his recent videos. DeMuro, a repeat Mercedes owner, liked the 500E not just for its brawny V8 and weird interior touches, but also because it occupies a unique place in the company’s history. Aside from Rowan “Mr. Bean” Atkinson owning one at some point, the 500E is noteworthy because Porsche helped develop it.
First Sedan From…Porsche?
As always, DeMuro starts his review with a succinct history of the 500E. Essentially, Mercedes wanted to stuff their 5.0 liter V8 from the SL into the W124, but needed some help. As a result, they ended up recruiting Porsche to devise a way to do it. A Mercedes collaboration with Porsche would be unheard of today, but Porsche faced bankruptcy and needed the cash.
Initially, Porsche was only tasked with developing the 500E. But when Mercedes discovered it couldn’t be manufactured on their assembly line because it was too wide, they called Porsche up again to see if they could built it for them. “If you think the Panamera was the first sedan Porsche built you’d be wrong. They also built a Mercedes sedan in the 1990s and it was the 500E,” says DeMuro. Technically, he’s right. Although Porsche might feel differently about that claim.
Inside the 500E
DeMuro traditionally pours over every noteworthy interior oddity he can find. The 500E did not disappoint. Perhaps the most interesting feature Mercedes equipped in the sedan was the phone. Instead of uh, “phoning” it in, the company fully integrated the phone into the car’s stereo system. That included a panel near the sunroof controls that included some commands for the phone, like two preset numbers and the ability to end the call with a push of a button. The microphone was also situated next to those buttons. All those things seem quaint today, but for 1992, that was quite an advanced system.
Unfortunately, the phone pretty much destroyed all the available front storage space, because Mercedes could not fit a glovebox into the 500E. “You had a mid-size, regular sedan with no storage! You couldn’t even find a slot for your registration papers! That was kind of an issue,” says DeMuro. Seems like 500E owners who opted for the car phone had to compromise in a major way. Then again, given the era, they probably amazed all their passengers when they whipped out the phone, so it was probably worth the hassle.
Behind the Wheel of the 500E
DeMuro isn’t a stranger to the 500E. He actually owned a 1993 before he flipped it for a profit. And the sedan is even more of a sought after car today. “This car is kind of seen as a bit of a Porsche and so values have started to really climb as they become more collectible,” says DeMuro. That being said, he does have some qualms about the car. “One thing I always didn’t like about the 500E was the seats. They are laughably unsupportive,” says DeMuro. Basically, despite ostensibly being a performance sedan, Mercedes equipped the 500E with seats more suited for the regular E-Class.
As for driving dynamics, he also felt the 500E leaves a bit to be desired. “This car, I always thought, was a good example of how a dynasty kind of starts. Which is to say it was good, but not fully refined,” says DeMuro. Because of the success of future E-Class models like the E55 AMG, DeMuro feels that the 1992 500E occupies an awkward teething period for Mercedes, which was an era when they weren’t fully focused on performance. With that being said, he did find the 500E to be extremely quick for its time.
“This was not the final evolution. It was just sort of the beginning,” concludes DeMuro. That’s a perfectly reasonable take on the 500E. Overall, the car isn’t a dynamic masterpiece. But it is definitely one of the most historically interesting models in the entire automotive industry. And that’s certainly worth something. DeMuro’s reviews are long but always worth watching. Head here to check out his take on the 500E, which includes several high quality shots of the 5.0 liter V8 barely fitting into the engine bay of the E-Class.