W124 500E (1991-1994)
When Mercedes wanted a hot E-Class to challenge BMW’s M5, they were occupied with the development of the W140 S-Class, so farmed out the job of shoehorning the SL’s 5-litre V8 into the W124 to Porsche. The suspension revisions needed meant wider wings, too wide for Mercedes’ production line, so what became the 500E was developed and built by Porsche. The 500E was fast, luxurious, subtle and aggressive, but at £63,000, around 30 per cent pricier than the BMW.
Faster AMG Mercs replaced the 500E and with over 10,000 sold in total, prices dropped with desirability. By the early 21st century, a 500E was merely an old Mercedes that could be bought for around £12,000, even the best barely breaking £20,000 a decade from new. Prices slowly…