kre8tive202

Hey everyone,

I am looking of for a new toy and daily driver. I was originally looking for a 500E but they are hard to come by with my budget limit ($6,000.00). So I began to look at C36. Any opinions to which would be a better buy?

Thanks,
Mario

KJI3jflarryfe93

Mario, W124 E500 is pure S.E.X!
They are sought after cars, lots of them might be in Japan?
Keep lookin'

kre8tive202

I live in the San Francisco area, anyone know of either a C36 or 500E in my price range. High mileage is not an issue as long as it was not abused. Leaning towards the C36, but only because I am getting impatient and I can find a C36 easier. I love the 500E's.

hoontastic

i bet you can find a lower mileage c36 for the money.. but i know the 500e is pure pr(-)n

503C43 ////AMG

I own a W202 and I have to say 500E FTW.

500E:
V8 = WIN
RARE = WIN
320 HP = WIN
LOOKS SIMILAR TO A W202 = WIN


If I was you I would wait to find the right 500E, you won't regret it.

hoontastic

500e is one of my favorite cars period.. but i wouldn't want a $6k specimen.

kre8tive202

I think with a 6K budget I may be better off with a C36. 6K for a 500E, maybe asking for trouble

hoontastic

really clean 500e's are like 10-12k

kre8tive202

Yeah, I may be better off with a C36.

503C43 ////AMG

This is true.... I didn't take the limited budget into account

AMG140.6

I used to have a 96 C36 which I really enjoyed ! had no issues other than ****ty AC.

I currently have a 93 500e...

The C36 handles a lot better, but thats about it.


The v8 in the 500 is just ridiculous. Doesn't stop pulling, but you don't want to buy a beater. It'll put you in the poorhouse....for that matter, a C36 beater is not a good idea either, as the M104 has a fragile HG if its the original one.

Wiring harnesses are issues for both of the cars, but aren't really that expensive or difficult to r&r.

Good luck with your search and report back on what you end up with.

PS -I'd avoid a 97 C36., but thats just me.

kre8tive202

I found one a 500E in the SF Bay Area that has 158K miles on it. The car needs tires almost immediatley so I bidded the agreed price down by $500.00. Owner wouldn't take my offer. Here's a couple pics. What do you guys think?

FLYNAVY

I agree that you should go for the 500E. With a CL500 as your current driver, you may be a little disappointed with the m104. Once you get used to the awesome torque and driveablity of a big MB V8, it is hard to go back IMHO. 6k is probably a little on the low side of a reasonable budget for a 500E, but there certainly could be some decent fixer-uppers out there for somewhere south of 10k. Go check out the 500E board if you haven't already....normally there are quite a few over there, and they can give you a good idea of what to look out for. I'm sure the consensus will be to steer clear of cheapo 500E's but there is at least a wealth of info there.

kre8tive202

Prior to this thread I was leaning towards the C36 but now I am back on the other side of the fence wanting a 500E bad.

PaulRicciardi

The guy I bought my C36 from also had a 500E (and an E55...and a shelby cobra...and 2 mustang cobras). He said the two cars run neck and neck til about 80mph and then the 500E pulls away.

I considered a 500E when I was car shopping. As previously mentioned, $6,000 does not go far in 500E land. 6k will get you a good C36.

The powerband on the cars is totally different: the 500E's much flatter, the C36 is a fairly peaky engine. I imagine the 36 will handle better but this is speculation. For 6,000 you're better off with the C36. If you can come up with another 4-5k I'd go for the 500E.

Also, something that hasn't been mentioned yet is build quality and comfort. I drove a '92 300E for 5 years and 70,000 miles. Felt a bit better screwed together than the W202 and was quite a bit more comfortable. Also some minor convenience things with the W124 you don't get with the W202-seat position memory, the little mini sun shade above the rear view mirror, the skirt under the chair that stops your cell phone from going under the seat when you drop it, etc.

Both great cars. Eventually I want another W124, probably a 500E

geosss

hey guys i just had a 500e and sold it for 6 k had some ext estetical damage but technically and interior was superb, i must say that it is something indeed, tomorrow i have the c36 from 97 delivered , just got it this week from az and i will see the diff, i was looking a lot for a 500e and i must say that really nice 500e (flawless) u wont be able to touch under 13 k whats under that u'll have to be carefull what u get and 6 k i'ts at the bottom of 500e, so u really have to be carefull . c36 might sound easier but still it is not that easy to come along one in good cond at that price , checked it for a while and it is fro 6 to 12k so your call but what i would do id get a c36 till i'd have enough $$ for a nice500e

siideways

Don't mean to thread hijack, but not sure why you'd say this. If I were back in the market for a C36, the 97 would be the ONLY year I would get (sorry to all you 95-96 owners). I shopped for well over 8 months for my 97 C36, and it was well worth the wait. I drove numerous 95s and 96s, and quite frankly, the older 4-spd trannies coupled with less HP just made the car seem so lethargic. It just seemed to lag, like it was bogging due to the (necessary) taller gears. The 97's 5-spd tranny and bumped power (from 268 to 276 HP) and torque (from 280 to 285 lb/ft) make a HUUUUUUUUUUUUUGE difference, and that's an understatement. That's what makes these things just about identical in performance to a C43!

kre8tive202

Ok, What years did they make the C36's?

DRBC43AMG

Did the 97' C36 have the new engine harness?? Non biodegradable

siideways

For the US market, they only made them for 95-97MY.

From what I understand, the infamous C36 harness issue was resolved with the last of the 95MY units. The only issue I'm aware of with the 97s was supposedly the tranny itself, like with the C43s.

kre8tive202

Can someone explain briefly to me what the issue was with the harnesses. Is it an easy fix? Is it a DIY kinda thing?

503C43 ////AMG

The stock harness degrades and disintegrates which leads to short circuiting due to wires making contact, needs to be repaired (make your own harness, Jumph4X has a thread about this) and/or replaced (buy a new harness from the dealer, $$$$$$)

Almost all (if not all) C36's before '97 suffer from this ailment

kre8tive202

Is it hard to replace?

geosss

not that hard if u get the new one is around 1000$ and it is just plug and play. i just had it changed to my ce, but if ur about to make your on i wouldn't recomand, cause one loose conection and u will never know whats wrong with your car, electric problems are the worst to be taken care of

hoontastic

just curious why not c43? I see them with slightly higher mileage than mine in your general price range. I am loving mine so much.