MBNUT1

How do they compare? The 500E is such a heralded model. Is it better than the W211?

appatula

https://mbworld.org/forums/e-class-w...24-better.html


It's a pretty good thread BTW.


I vote (biased) for the 500E.

abakja1

Depends which W211...
My employer/friend has the e500 and it looks nice with his 19" Axis rims and those flares look nice...Engine wise you cannot compare......well,..

Not fair to compare as I have an 05' AMG E55....enough said....

szvook

There is no comparison even for an AMG model, sorry to say. I have not owned a W211 but drove a few and the owners of those W211’s were in tears after driving my 500E and how they wished they did not buy the W211. Build quality, engineering and materials used on W124 E500E’s by far outweigh anything the new models wish they could offer. The build quality for even the E55 AMG is crap compared to the W124 E500E.

Never mind the “hand build by Porsche in the 959 Rossle-Bau plant pedigree, the M119 engine and admire what was known as true engine craftsmanship since the V8 E class with the M119 engine was the best engine build ever, period” stuff. But to some that type of “older” car has less appeal then a newer Benz – which is a Chrysler underneath. There are very, very few cars out there (also by other manufacturers) the even come close to the W124 E500E’s and the W211 is very far away from that list.

My .02 cents.

Bigdot

i had an E500 124 with a modded engine. and now i have a 211 E500 stock (minus rims) they are very diferent cars. the old 124 felt much more like a muscle car. you had to get the revs up to get the car moving because of its heft. it was geared much more like a "german car" long gears for the freeway, and not to much grunt arounbd town. where as the 211 can throw you around town, but on the interstate, it lacks the awesome power that my E500 had.

i sold the E500 about 1 year ago. to buy a brabus T-12.

i do miss that car.

MBNUT1

As my sig indicates I own a W211. I have test driven two 500E's. My experience is that the 500E is fundamentally a better chassis from the standpoint of solidity and ride handling balance. I am really growing to dislike the amount of feedback of road trash through the steering. It makes the car feel flimsy to me unlike my sense of what a Mercedes should be which I think the 500E lives up to. I think it could be argued that the drivetrains of the newer cars are better given they are as quick and get a lot better fuel mileage. As a e500 driver do you agree?

Jakew903

I have driven both. Either way, I still am utter happy with my 500E I purchased 5 weeks ago. I've done a lot of work to it recently, it was misfiring, it had an oil leak, all of it has been fixed. Nothin' can compare to the old W124 500E's!

omegabenz6

I'm going to take what you wrote totally out of context.

You are absolutely right, the M119 was the finest V8 that mercedes ever produced....

But I know you were refering to the #s.

MACHC5

I still own my 500E Renntech enhanced W124. It's a 600E with the Renntech engine work. I recently went ahead and bought another wide fender car, my CLK63BS. As long as I can maintain the 1993' 500E, I think I'll keep it.

MachC5

Saijin_Naib

Holy crap, how is the Black? That is like a dream car for me.

starcar

Hi MachC5,

Would you mind posting some pics (when you have a moment of course) of your W124 500e Renntech beast? I'm sure that a lot of people would love to see it, including me. Thanks!

starcar

G Man

I currently own a '92 500E and a '04 W211 E55.

Build Quality- 500E
Pedigree- 500E
Acceleration- E55
Handling- E55
Cost to Operate (Repairs, Parts, Fuel)- 500E

Fun to Drive- Toss Up

My favorite is still the 500E.

MBNUT1

So in my quest to answer this question I go to a local used import dealer who has a 500E. I see it and something isn't right. It turns out that it was sitting on the remaining 19 AMG wheel as the other three had been stolen the night before. The dumba$$'s dented the front passenger fender in the process and put a crease in the rocker panel. It was a sad sight really.

batangx

I had the chance before to drive a 500E and just recently a 99 E55. And I agree with what all of the people above me have said.

Power-wise, the E55 is much more fun and more responisive but it feels somewhat unsurefooted unlike the 500E (or maybe because the 500E isn't as brutal feeling, I don't know). And with the 500E, it had this special presence inside that I can only describe as a sense of occasion. I somehow knew that I was driving and riding in a Mercedes even if I didn't knew it was built by MB. The E55 on the other hand though, feels somewhat closer to riding and driving Japanese cars in the same class... maybe something similar to a top-spec Toyota Camry only alot lot more powerful.. I thought it had too puch plastic inside.

Exterior-wise, it's just a matter of personal preference. I would take the E55 because it looks fresher, but the 500E doesn't look bad either..

Practicality, the 500E gets this. The E55 had a longer repair list than the 500E, even though it was a decade fresher, it had much less mileage and the owner was more of a DIY type of guy.

But I'd still take the E55 though, because I'm still too young to outweigh power, moderness and fun with anything else.. lol

MR888

What kind of sick non sense is this lol? I had a top end lexus before getting my E55 and the e55 has a much more detailed interior, comparing it to a "Camry" is uncalled for

DCTMOTORSPORTS

Title said W211 with 500E so I can still share some opinion here!
my W211 is just a E320 wagon, it is an easy to drive and practical commuter for daily usage!
500E, then on the other hand has so much fun and doesn't cause me that much problem to keep it! Since W212 is coming up, I think W211 lines will vanish in time just like what people treat W210 today. For a modern classic: W124 500E

batangx

well I knew something was gonna come up with this comment!

what I meant was it just 'felt' like a top-spec Japanese sedan, cause of too much plastic, so to speak. somehow it moved away from the 'traditional feel' of Mercedes interiors. that's what I thought anyway, so I'm sticking to it :P

RBYCC

I agree fully with you

The W202 and the W140 in my opinion had the last of the Mercedes feel interiors.
Only to look at the quallity and color of leather and the less then tactile feel of the dash and switchgear on anything newer.

Even the styling of the latest Mercs make them extremely generic and far from being head turners...

The 124 was the last of the great overdesigned and overbuilt Mercs..

YNVDIZW124

why leave the w210 out?....it looks the same as the w202 interior but with added wood trim.

Chinny4290

i'd buy a W124 way before I'd consider a W211...just CONSIDER.

I'd even buy a W210 way before I consider a W211.

Though the W211 does have drop dead gorgeous looks.

Saijin_Naib

I want the new CE, the e500 Coupe. Rawr.

Chappy

I like nostalgia too....

Some would 'argue' the last great MB performance car was the W109 300SEL 6.3!

My 2 cents is this: If you like the latest technology, the W124 500E/E500 isn't for you. The dash harkens back to the 1970s W123 and subsequent W126s, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, particularly if you're familiar with the Mercedes layout and controls.

In the United States, the W124 500E/E500 is a very rare car (production numbers-wise), but - over 10,000 of these cars were built for all markets. Not necessarily 'exclusive' like a Gullwing or 300SL Roadster.

I've driven and enjoyed a 500E, and almost considered buying one several years ago, but opted for my CLK55 instead. I'm a long-time W124 owner (both a 300CE and W124 wagon). Perhaps I would not have purchased my CLK55 if Mercedes-Benz had made a 500CE.

My verdict: 500E > W211, unless it's an E55 Estate.

Chinny4290

HELLLLLLLL NO.

I would 500^550000% disagree with anyone who said that.

I would easily say W116 450SEL 6.9 short of the 500E.

MR888

You guys either never sat in a W210 or are just not too bright , the 202/210/140 all have similar interiors with appropriate sizing difference, this cannot really be argued, one of my friends has a 202 and one has a 140 so I sat in and drove both, so i know. Now I may be a little biased since I have the 2 tone multicontour perforated leather seats along with birds eye maple wood trim but i know regular w210s are still of good quality.

Chinny4290

While the issue may not be with overall build quality, there are considerable differences in durability that I've noticed, as well as reliability that 202s, 140s and 210s can't match with 124s.