The Mercedes 500E / E500, part of the W124 series produced from 1984 to 1995, stands out as a distinguished member of the brand’s lineage of Q-cars, harking back the W109 300SEL 6.3. Developed in collaboration with Porsche, the 500E was conceived to provide Mercedes-Benz with a high-performance sedan that could rival sports cars of its time, such as the BMW M-series or the Audi V8.

Under the hood lay a potent 5.0-liter V8 engine delivering 322 horsepower, mated to a sedate, smooth four-speed automatic. This powertrain allowed the 500E to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in just over six seconds, a remarkable feat for a sedan of its era. AMG, an independent company from Mercedes-Benz at the time, did not hesitate to provide even more exuberant models, boasting special exhaust, body kits, interior upgrades, and larger displacements —6.0L being the most popular.

Beyond its performance, the 500E featured sophisticated engineering and design. Its wider track and flared wheel arches accommodated its sportier stance while maintaining Bruno Sacco’s clean, angular design language. The interior oozed quality and restraint in classic Teutonic fashion, featuring advanced amenities uncommon for its time, and still luxurious by today’s standards. Production involved meticulous hand-built assembly at Porsche’s facility in Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen, a luxury that cost Mercedes-Benz a loss on every car sold.

This particular car was sold new on February 1993 in Yokohama, Japan, to its first owner. In nearly 30 years in the country, the car changed private hands six more times —passing through Yanase Mercedes as part of their stock at some point— until our acquisition in 2021. Under our ownership, we have performed comprehensive mechanical work for full usability —including a full engine rebuild due to failing timing chain rails—, and test-driven the car for 1,000 kilometres for a proper break-in. Still to this day, it remains the best 500E we have ever used. The car comes with English manuals, ownership records, service records, first aid kit, warning triangle, and spare keys.