1992 500e
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1992 500e
Can someone give me more info on the 1992 500E? I have traded for one and have since found out that they are somewhat rare cars.
I did find that for the 2 year run there were 1505 brought to the US, is this right?
Any additional info would be helpful.
I did find that for the 2 year run there were 1505 brought to the US, is this right?
Any additional info would be helpful.
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From: az
bmw
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From: Vancouver, BC, Canada
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315-322 hp
354 lbs-ft (with approx 300 lbs-ft available at below 2500 rpm)
0-60 approx 6 sec
1/4 mi. approx 14 sec @ 100 mph
Modified and hand assembled by Porsche, this is the car of choice for most MB execs and factory race drivers.
I've heard that the 500E is actually faster than the stock SL600 of the same era mainly due to it being about 400 lbs lighter but I've never actually tried to prove this. However I DO know, from personal experience, that it will very easily waste a modified 5.7L Trans-Am uphill.
The fascination with acceleration from a standing start is primarily a North American one. Europeans, German in particular, tend to be more concerned with equal helpings of power and handling. Anyone who has been on the German country roads around Stuttgart can easily understand why. As such, the strength of the 500E is not in its 1/4 mile performance but rather in its mid-range acceleration. Get the car to about 60 mph and punch it and you'll see what I mean.
Last edited by yhliem; Dec 13, 2006 at 02:50 PM.
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Mercedes-Benz w124
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From: Kirkland, WA
500E Signal Rot
1992 model had 322 hp, 93-94 was 315 hp.
Porsche did not assemble the vehicle, they were shipped a raw frame/body which they did extensive modifications to, once completed, it was shipped back to Mercedes for paint and assembly.
Porsche did not assemble the vehicle, they were shipped a raw frame/body which they did extensive modifications to, once completed, it was shipped back to Mercedes for paint and assembly.
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Joined: Jun 2002
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From: Vancouver, BC, Canada
See sig
Sorry Rik, you're wrong on this one.
Assembly was by Porsche at Werks II in RossleBau - the same production line that assembled the 959 - and was done concurrently with the Audi RS2.
Bodies in white were shipped from MB to Porsche for modification, back to MB for paint, back to Porsche for assembly, back to MB for final inspection. There may have even been a couple of more trips in there depending on what the actual assembly order was, (ie. intreior could have been done by MB while drivetrain was installed by Porsche, etc.) but the fact that Porsche handled much of the assembly of the 500E is documented and quoted in several magazine articles and confirmed by a gentleman who worked on the 500E project for Porsche.
I met him this past September during my visit to Stuttgart. He's one of Porsche's main race car restorers and has a shop near Moensheim.
Don't forget that one of the reasons that MB contracted Porsche was that with the success of the regular W124 MB did not have the production capacity to spare for a low numbers, specialized production run.
Also given Porsche's cash flow problems at the time and that MB and Audi contracted out the 500E and RS2 projects to aid Porsche, it wouldn't be unreasonable for either manufacturer to give Porsche as much of the projects as was deemed practical.
With over 4,000 parts that were not a part of the original W124 BOM (Bill of Materials), MB could not dedicate the resources to doing all of the assembly.
Last edited by yhliem; Dec 18, 2006 at 03:27 PM.
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From: Stockholm Sweden
A190 500E C43 CLK430
2:nd gear start
5.0L DOHC 32 valve V-8 is a modified version of the M119 found in the 500SL of the same vintage.
315-322 hp
354 lbs-ft (with approx 300 lbs-ft available at below 2500 rpm)
0-60 approx 6 sec
1/4 mi. approx 14 sec @ 100 mph
Modified and hand assembled by Porsche, this is the car of choice for most MB execs and factory race drivers.
I've heard that the 500E is actually faster than the stock SL600 of the same era mainly due to it being about 400 lbs lighter but I've never actually tried to prove this. However I DO know, from personal experience, that it will very easily waste a modified 5.7L Trans-Am uphill.
The fascination with acceleration from a standing start is primarily a North American one. Europeans, German in particular, tend to be more concerned with equal helpings of power and handling. Anyone who has been on the German country roads around Stuttgart can easily understand why. As such, the strength of the 500E is not in its 1/4 mile performance but rather in its mid-range acceleration. Get the car to about 60 mph and punch it and you'll see what I mean.
315-322 hp
354 lbs-ft (with approx 300 lbs-ft available at below 2500 rpm)
0-60 approx 6 sec
1/4 mi. approx 14 sec @ 100 mph
Modified and hand assembled by Porsche, this is the car of choice for most MB execs and factory race drivers.
I've heard that the 500E is actually faster than the stock SL600 of the same era mainly due to it being about 400 lbs lighter but I've never actually tried to prove this. However I DO know, from personal experience, that it will very easily waste a modified 5.7L Trans-Am uphill.
The fascination with acceleration from a standing start is primarily a North American one. Europeans, German in particular, tend to be more concerned with equal helpings of power and handling. Anyone who has been on the German country roads around Stuttgart can easily understand why. As such, the strength of the 500E is not in its 1/4 mile performance but rather in its mid-range acceleration. Get the car to about 60 mph and punch it and you'll see what I mean.
and from time to time look into other interesting forums I found it wise to
register at MB world . I live in Sweden's capital Stockholm and MB cars I now
own are '92 500E with an AMG E60LH engine coming in this winter and a
'00 A 190 automatic.
About this little thing 0-60 a bit missguiding, reading contemporary magazines
and later buyers-guides many do not realise that the 500E always do start
in 2:nd gear even if you fully "kickdown" so you will delay the acc. at first
second,IF you do use the manual awkward downshift to 1:st gear and
then go back to 2,3or drive you will get a kick in the butt and see that
annoying ASR skid controll light flash if the traction is too bad.
You also can build in one first gear start module and always have quick
action right on and think you sit in a totally different car.Then you may
feel the need for some attention to the ASR and control that by an override
defeat button, theese mods. were done by BRABUS and AMG.
Even without all this I still think the 500E 124 036 does impress alot Roger
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Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 3,094
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From: Boston
is a German Tank
Hi from a new kid in town ,as I spend most of my time in 500Ecst.com
and from time to time look into other interesting forums I found it wise to
register at MB world . I live in Sweden's capital Stockholm and MB cars I now
own are '92 500E with an AMG E60LH engine coming in this winter and a
'00 A 190 automatic.
About this little thing 0-60 a bit missguiding, reading contemporary magazines
and later buyers-guides many do not realise that the 500E always do start
in 2:nd gear even if you fully "kickdown" so you will delay the acc. at first
second,IF you do use the manual awkward downshift to 1:st gear and
then go back to 2,3or drive you will get a kick in the butt and see that
annoying ASR skid controll light flash if the traction is too bad.
You also can build in one first gear start module and always have quick
action right on and think you sit in a totally different car.Then you may
feel the need for some attention to the ASR and control that by an override
defeat button, theese mods. were done by BRABUS and AMG.
Even without all this I still think the 500E 124 036 does impress alot Roger
and from time to time look into other interesting forums I found it wise to
register at MB world . I live in Sweden's capital Stockholm and MB cars I now
own are '92 500E with an AMG E60LH engine coming in this winter and a
'00 A 190 automatic.
About this little thing 0-60 a bit missguiding, reading contemporary magazines
and later buyers-guides many do not realise that the 500E always do start
in 2:nd gear even if you fully "kickdown" so you will delay the acc. at first
second,IF you do use the manual awkward downshift to 1:st gear and
then go back to 2,3or drive you will get a kick in the butt and see that
annoying ASR skid controll light flash if the traction is too bad.
You also can build in one first gear start module and always have quick
action right on and think you sit in a totally different car.Then you may
feel the need for some attention to the ASR and control that by an override
defeat button, theese mods. were done by BRABUS and AMG.
Even without all this I still think the 500E 124 036 does impress alot Roger
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Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 280
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From: Dallas, Texas
SL550
Terry --- I'm sure you're aware, but you have a twin in Orange County. I'm home for the holidays in Laguna Beach, and just drooled over a gorgeous 040 500E with a black interior parked just off P.C.H. Gorgeous car.
Junior Member
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 39
Likes: 1
From: Orange County, California
1993 040 500E
bm75204,
I love my 500E and 040 black is the coolest color in my humble opinion. There are quite a few 040s in Orange County but you rarely see them on the street. Mine stays in the garage and gets driven about every 2 weeks.
Take Care
I love my 500E and 040 black is the coolest color in my humble opinion. There are quite a few 040s in Orange County but you rarely see them on the street. Mine stays in the garage and gets driven about every 2 weeks.
Take Care
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Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 280
Likes: 0
From: Dallas, Texas
SL550
Great pics! The SL wheels look great on that car. About 10 years ago I got a black/black 1993 400E since I couldn't afford a 500E (I was 19, so it was hard enough to afford the 4-year-old 400E). It spoiled me to the point where I still miss the older car's build and material quality compared to my new E350. It's just not the same anymore. Oh well...it's good to know that these 500Es have owners who still appreciate and take excellent care of them.
Junior Member
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 39
Likes: 1
From: Orange County, California
1993 040 500E
Thanks for the kind comments, actually the pics are kind of fuzzy. When I took them I had just started using my ditigal camera and I was on the wrong settings. I haven't had time to re-do them but soon I will have some clearer pics more like Roger's (taxi-driver) elsewhere in this thread.
My daughter has an 2002-E320 4-Matic. It is a beautiful car but she has had some electrical problems with it. The E350 Sport is great looking car with a lot more power than the E320 and a lot quicker.
I have no desire to purchase a new MBZ, I wouldn't want to pay for it for one and I really like the body style of my car and it is the last handbuilt car from MBZ excluding the SLR McClaren which I won't be owning in this lifetime. Besides that, my car runs perfectly even with104K on the odometer.
My daughter has an 2002-E320 4-Matic. It is a beautiful car but she has had some electrical problems with it. The E350 Sport is great looking car with a lot more power than the E320 and a lot quicker.
I have no desire to purchase a new MBZ, I wouldn't want to pay for it for one and I really like the body style of my car and it is the last handbuilt car from MBZ excluding the SLR McClaren which I won't be owning in this lifetime. Besides that, my car runs perfectly even with104K on the odometer.
Junior Member
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 39
Likes: 1
From: Orange County, California
1993 040 500E
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Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 1,311
Likes: 11
From: Manchester, CT
The Porsche guys who put together the 959 assembled most of the 500E...with the paint and some detail work done at Sindelfingen done between its 8 visits between the 2 factorys over the 18 days it took to build one... I think nowadays they take about 18 minutes to build a new MB (judging by the quality)! LOL
...one of the most significant 100 cars in the last century (according to some magazine writer)
Still so glad I have one.
Get 'em now while there cheap and still in good shape...they will (hopefully) only be going up in value from now on.
...one of the most significant 100 cars in the last century (according to some magazine writer)
Still so glad I have one.Get 'em now while there cheap and still in good shape...they will (hopefully) only be going up in value from now on.
