Talk me out of this - 1992 Mercedes 500E

**Qatar-wol** · 26th April 2021, 13:20

Here - CLICK

I fell into a rabbit hole today after watching this good video - I know! A decent quality YouTube video, with a professional presenter! How rare!

VIDEO HERE

I know it's dependant on condition and history, but is there a reason why I shouldn't? I love '90s Mercedes, and the W124 is just the sweet spot of when Benzes were built up to a quality, rather than down to a cost.

I currently have a BMW 530i wagon, and this Merc would have to replace that, I'm sure. I need a second car in the UK, but it makes no sense to have two cars the same size - I'd also need a people carrier, or something small. But a 500E on the drive? That signifies that I'm a man of (some) wealth and taste, surely?

Anyone with any experience? Thank you!

**Tom-P** · 26th April 2021, 13:28

Originally Posted by Qatar-wol

But a 500E on the drive? That signifies that I'm a man of (some) wealth and taste, surely?

Only to a very small subset of people. Most would just think you had an ugly boxy old car ...

(I am trying to help talk you out of this, as exhorted, you understand.)

**Qatar-wol** · 26th April 2021, 13:32

That's quite alright! I'm happy to appear cool only to the cool kids! I know most people will see a Berlin taxi!

**Brauner Hund** · 26th April 2021, 16:01

Originally Posted by Qatar-wol

I know most people will see a Berlin taxi!

Das kannst du laut sagen.

(Hope that helps :) )

**bambam** · 26th April 2021, 16:55

Looks awesome! Get it on the drive.
There are quite a few MB specialists around who will be able to look after it and maybe not as much as you might think in terms of cost.

**AlphaOmega** · 26th April 2021, 17:10

Like the statement that it was built and then the cost was worked out. No compromises.

**Mick P** · 25th May 2021, 09:55

Originally Posted by Qatar-wol

That's quite alright! I'm happy to appear cool only to the cool kids! I know most people will see a Berlin taxi!

One of my neighbours near our Spanish home runs a 500E and he has had it for over 10 years. It is his only form of transport out there and totally reliable. Being in Spain, it does not rust.

It has dated in a cute way. It looks strange when he unlocks the boot with a key etc but it is mega cool despite what anyone says.

Please send a pic of you inside the car, holding the steering wheel with a vintage Rolex on your wrist.

**JasonM** · 26th April 2021, 13:32

I watch more car videos on YouTube than I should, and most 'YouTubers' consistently say that that era of Mercedes is the one to go for, as you say, built for quality not to a cost.
I think it looks fabulous, but saying that, repairs will be expensive.
Why not call around a few Merc indy specialists and ask their opinion, they are likely to be enthusiasts too and also give a honest view.

**Qatar-wol** · 26th April 2021, 13:35

Thanks for the comment! The slightly annoying thing is that my hometown (Warwick. Shout-out CV34 posse) has a really well respected BMW independent that I've used for years. I'll have to look around for a similar Mercedes indy.

**Dave+63** · 26th April 2021, 13:35

That’s cool with a capital K!!

It’s not going to be cheap to run although is likely to be pretty robust mechanically.

If you want it, go for it; I would.

**ralphy** · 26th April 2021, 14:22

I would have that without hesitation.

Check for rust under the wheel arches, around the mirror/door interface and around the boot button, other than that the engine/gearbox are absolutely bullet-proof and the full MB service history is a just icing on the top of a very nice cake.

R

**apm101** · 26th April 2021, 14:55

Lovely. Go for it.

'Youngtimers' and the Germans call them (classics but not so old) are still wonderful, and starting to have their day in the sun. Prices only going one way.

I miss my E30 325i cab.

**Qatar-wol** · 26th April 2021, 15:16

Very nice - my wife had a 320i of the same vintage, and I had a slightly older E28 518i. Lovely slow thing!

No one's mentioned the fact that they are all LHD. That might be a tough sell to my wife!

**markbannister** · 26th April 2021, 15:23

I was going to mention the LHD but assumed you knew anyway!!

**Craizeehair** · 26th April 2021, 14:19

My stepdad ran one of these for a good few years, he had a 380 before that and changed to a Lexus after the 500. I know nothing about cars really, so can’t give you any pointers other than it was double nice... He always said it was the best car he had by a country mile.

**notenoughwrists** · 26th April 2021, 15:40

Love it.
I think they had these in the Luc Besson movie “Taxi” as the getaway cars... and I learned to drive in our estate version, cerca 1994/95.
I love a boxy old merc

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

**Idontgram** · 26th April 2021, 15:54

I drove a beige/gold W123 around South Africa while I was working there for a couple of months. It was glorious.

The 124 is meant to be a cut above in engineering but I prefer the looks of the 123.

Not much of a statement to put you off I guess.

**Macca** · 26th April 2021, 15:57

Walter I can’t in good consciousness tell you not to, my uncle has always had Mercedes, still had one of these, an sl350 and a new GLC currently, it’s the pick of the bunch for me and a bit of a wolf in sheep’s clothing

Can’t beat the engineering in these vehicles, built to last and I seem to recall you have a seiko land master that suits the colour of the car in the link too

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

**Lammylee** · 26th April 2021, 18:11

Uber cool car for those in the know, Eddie Irvine owned one as well as an SLR.

**tommyzzj** · 26th April 2021, 21:12

buy it!

**GraniteQuarry** · 26th April 2021, 21:53

Either that’s an old advert or a very sketchy example!

BTW if you’ve seen Ronin some of the filming of De Niro driving the Peugeot was it being towed by a red 500E.

14:06 here

https://youtu.be/7H-z5rUM4i4

**Raffe** · 27th April 2021, 08:09

Originally Posted by GraniteQuarry

Either that’s an old advert or a very sketchy example!

BTW if you’ve seen Ronin some of the filming of De Niro driving the Peugeot was it being towed by a red 500E.

14:06 here

https://youtu.be/7H-z5rUM4i4

Looking at that reminds me how great a movie Ronin is and that I haven't watched it for a long time. Hopefully on Netflix or Amazon...

**Raffe** · 27th April 2021, 08:29

Originally Posted by Qatar-wol

...the W124 is just the sweet spot of when Benzes were built up to a quality, rather than down to a cost...

When the W124 was released in 1985, it initially enjoyed very poor reputation due to quality issues, mostly suspension, steering, drivetrain and also problems with rust. But Mercedes took control and from late 80's those cars were indeed impeccable (if a little old-fashioned in design).

My favourite Merc model is the pre-predecessor, the famous /8 model:

**Saint-Just** · 27th April 2021, 10:40

Originally Posted by Raffe

When the W124 was released in 1985, it initially enjoyed very poor reputation due to quality issues, mostly suspension, steering, drivetrain and also problems with rust. But Mercedes took control and from late 80's those cars were indeed impeccable (if a little old-fashioned in design).

My favourite Merc model is the pre-predecessor, the famous /8 model:

Lovely bit of kit, this.

**greasemonkey** · 28th April 2021, 08:43

Originally Posted by Raffe

When the W124 was released in 1985, it initially enjoyed very poor reputation due to quality issues, mostly suspension, steering, drivetrain and also problems with rust. But Mercedes took control and from late 80's those cars were indeed impeccable (if a little old-fashioned in design).

My favourite Merc model is the pre-predecessor, the famous /8 model:

mine too,i restored this 1968 250/8 one in the nineties.it was a yuk grey when i bought it,much bodywork later i resprayed it Ford diamond white.it had done a quarter of a million miles but the straight six ran smooth and sweet.a lot of local brides went church in this,mostly FOC if i knew them or they were customers at my Garage.we used it as a family car for about 10 years before i sold it to a Merc enthusiast..we now have very nice low mileage w211 E class 320 which i do enjoy but sometimes i hanker for an older classic again..

**Macca** · 24th May 2021, 19:59

Did you end up buying it then!?

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

**Qatar-wol** · 25th May 2021, 08:26

Nothing purchased yet! But the idea is simmering.

Part of my difficulty is that I've always been a BMW driver, and I keep seeing things like this -

https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/11710607

**Saint-Just** · 25th May 2021, 08:30

Originally Posted by Qatar-wol

Nothing purchased yet! But the idea is simmering.

Part of my difficulty is that I've always been a BMW driver, and I keep seeing things like this -

https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/11710607

He already had to pay £20K in bills, and that doesn't include petrol. And you're still tempted?

**Qatar-wol** · 25th May 2021, 09:13

Originally Posted by Saint-Just

He already had to pay £20K in bills, and that doesn't include petrol. And you're still tempted?

Well, I'm hoping he paid the bills so that I don't have to!

**Macca** · 25th May 2021, 09:16

Originally Posted by Qatar-wol

Well, I'm hoping he paid the bills so that I don't have to!

That cinnamon interior is beautiful and looks very well maintained

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

**hogthrob** · 25th May 2021, 09:22

Originally Posted by Saint-Just

He already had to pay £20K in bills, and that doesn't include petrol. And you're still tempted?

I was thinking the same thing.

**murkeywaters** · 25th May 2021, 09:40

Originally Posted by Saint-Just

He already had to pay £20K in bills, and that doesn't include petrol. And you're still tempted?

I have owned cars with big folders of history with extortionate bills, often when looking through the paperwork I can see the owner has been taken advantage of especially if the owner is clueless with mechanics and has stuck to the same dealer.

My current everyday had lots of money spent on it in the last 15k miles of previous ownership, touch wood 2 years on I haven’t spent a penny bar servicing, tyres..

**Saint-Just** · 25th May 2021, 09:51

Originally Posted by murkeywaters

I have owned cars with big folders of history with extortionate bills, often when looking through the paperwork I can see the owner has been taken advantage of especially if the owner is clueless with mechanics and has stuck to the same dealer.

My current everyday had lots of money spent on it in the last 15k miles of previous ownership, touch wood 2 years on I haven’t spent a penny bar servicing, tyres..

The issue is that the M5 is a high performance car, and as such when things start to go slightly wrong, costs pile up rather quickly. The initial requirement of 500E (or S) was for a high(ish) end motor, a comfortable grand tourer with loads of space for 4 or 5 passengers.
The M5 may be (one of) the best high performance saloons on the market, but with a loaded history I would probable stay clear, especially as it doesn't fit the initial query.

**Raffe** · 25th May 2021, 09:58

Originally Posted by murkeywaters

I have owned cars with big folders of history with extortionate bills, often when looking through the paperwork I can see the owner has been taken advantage of especially if the owner is clueless with mechanics and has stuck to the same dealer.

My current everyday had lots of money spent on it in the last 15k miles of previous ownership, touch wood 2 years on I haven’t spent a penny bar servicing, tyres..

I once bought a Merc 300CLS, it was five years old and had less than 5,000 km on the clock (it still had the smell of a new car inside). the owner was a retired public employee and I am pretty sure the car hadn't see a rainy cloud until I bought it. Still, I found a thick pack of maintenance bills in the glove compartment, the Mercedes dealer had changed oil and brake fluid every year; and automatic gearbox fluid twice in five years. Annual change of air conditioning micro-filters, winter tyres (I am sure the car was never driven with them), you name it and it was on the bills.

I owned the car for five years/80,000 km and had no repair except for a broken suspension spring.

**walkerwek1958** · 25th May 2021, 10:17

I know little about the car in question, but I do know the realities of owning/running an old car. A mountain of old invoices doesn`t always mean a lot and doesn't give any assurance of the car's current condition, an invoice for an engine rebuild by a reputable firm is worth having but a mountain of bills for windscreen wipers and bulbs isn`t.

No matter how good the original build quality the car is almost 30 years old and it'll need TLC to keep it running reliably. Usually it's not the big things like gearbox failures that happen, it's the little ones such as the central locking and minor electrical stuff that goes wrong, typically there's something every few weeks that will need attention. Older cars suit enthusiasts and those with good mechanical know-how, being able to tackle the minor stuff yourself is key. Having to take a car to a repairer on a frequent basis is both inconvenient and expensive.

90s cars are now old, make no mistake; compared to 70s/80s classics they have much of the complexity that makes new cars more difficult to fix so they're more of a challenge to keep running despite being newer.

Whether this car is a good or bad buy is immaterial, the question the OP needs to ask himself is whether he's the right type of owner for a car this age.

**Macca** · 25th May 2021, 08:33

Originally Posted by Qatar-wol

Nothing purchased yet! But the idea is simmering.

Part of my difficulty is that I've always been a BMW driver, and I keep seeing things like this -

https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/11710607

Oh well I mean an m5 is a heck of a car but it’ll take a bit more looking after, I’m a BMW man, always had them or VW as my personal car, and company car

Can’t fault bmw they always drive the best but always suffer from silly faults .. need to stay on top of wheel alignment or they eat tyres for example

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

**Dave+63** · 26th May 2021, 07:01

Whoever spent £100k restoring that is a complete numpty and is unlikely to ever see his money back. This ones a bit cheaper.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/384154425688

No matter how well the auction house describe it, I doubt it will fetch more than £30k.

My friends father traded his beautiful Opel Commodore for the Senator and, to be fair, it was a nice car to be in in the late 70s/ early 80s.

Stick with the Merc!

**jaytip** · 26th May 2021, 07:12

Originally Posted by Dave+63

Whoever spent £100k restoring that is a complete numpty and is unlikely to ever see his money back. This ones a bit cheaper.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/384154425688

No matter how well the auction house describe it, I doubt it will fetch more than £30k.

My friends father traded his beautiful Opel Commodore for the Senator and, to be fair, it was a nice car to be in in the late 70s/ early 80s.

Stick with the Merc!

I’ve got to second this. That for me personally is a waste of 100K. The car has no historic value.

**Taxboy** · 27th May 2021, 09:00

Originally Posted by Dave+63

Whoever spent £100k restoring that is a complete numpty and is unlikely to ever see his money back. This ones a bit cheaper.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/384154425688

No matter how well the auction house describe it, I doubt it will fetch more than £30k.

My friends father traded his beautiful Opel Commodore for the Senator and, to be fair, it was a nice car to be in in the late 70s/ early 80s.

Stick with the Merc!

That's true from a purely financial point of view. In fact I would suggest most classic car restoration / high maintenance doesn't stack up when you crunch the numbers.

However to these owners it probably gave them pleasure and at least it has saved a slightly different model for the future.

Sent from my moto g(7) plus using Tapatalk

**BSB** · 27th May 2021, 10:42

A friend of mine had a 500E that I was lucky enough to drive a few times. Awesome car, very well engineered and assembled at the Porsche factory. The engineering is about as solid as you can get and not littered with as much electronic trickery as more modern cars. If there is a good history with the car, I'd still invest in an RAC (or equivalent) inspection beforehand as this could potentially save you thousands should there be anything needing attention.

**wileeeeeey** · 24th September 2021, 18:35

Beautiful car, I think Matt has one too and is a big fan. You can change the infotainment unit for an android screen which more options if you're ever interested.

I'd love one but I'm losing the estate battle.

**junglebert** · 24th September 2021, 18:37

The link doesn’t work for me, I’m gutted, I like vicarious car buying.

**Matt8500** · 6th October 2021, 20:23

Must have missed it- but where is it coming from?!

**Qatar-wol** · 6th October 2021, 20:35

The shipping? Or the Mercedes?!

The shipping is all our stuff from Qatar - it's been stuck in Liverpool due (mainly) to the shortage of HGV drivers, and (slightly) to the cock-ups of the shipping firm!

The Mercedes is Chelmsford!

**Matt8500** · 6th October 2021, 20:50

Originally Posted by Qatar-wol

The shipping? Or the Mercedes?!

The shipping is all our stuff from Qatar - it's been stuck in Liverpool due (mainly) to the shortage of HGV drivers, and (slightly) to the cock-ups of the shipping firm!

The Mercedes is Chelmsford!

All is now clear- thought the Merc was in a container somehow

**murkeywaters** · 6th October 2021, 21:21

Beautiful car Walter, I love fast estates, you sound very busy with cars and containers so thanks for putting some goodies up on SC

**Qatar-wol** · 6th October 2021, 21:32

Ha, when the shipping gets here, you won't get me off the SC! And MattOZ - always nice to know there's another Warwick member!

**MattOz** · 6th October 2021, 20:39

Just seen this. The 500E in your first post would appear to be something of a bargain. And props to the Warwick crew!

Thread: Talk me out of this - 1992 Mercedes 500E

Thread Tools

Search Thread

Display

Hybrid View