- Porsche co-developed the W124 E 500 and assembled it in Zuffenhausen.
- The final example shows just 262 miles and now sits on display in Stuttgart.
- Only 500 Limited trim V8 cars were built, each offered in just two colors.
These days, performance cars love to make plenty of noise about software, giant screens, and electrified punch. This one doesn’t bother. Sitting at the Mercedes-Benz Museum is something far more old-school, the final W124 E 500 ever built, and it doesn’t need theatrics to make its point.
Conceived as a rival to the E34 BMW M5, the hottest version of the W124 arrived in 1990 as the 500 E, before adopting the E 500 name after the 1993 facelift. Development was a joint effort with Porsche, which handled the chassis and suspension tuning along with final assembly.
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Porsche’s role went beyond engineering input, as Mercedes couldn’t justify reworking its Sindelfingen line to accommodate the 56 mm wider and 23 mm lower body. The project was instead handed to Zuffenhausen, where bodies were built and then shuttled back and forth between Mercedes and Porsche during production.
By April 1995, production wrapped at 10,479 units. Every single one was a four-seater, not out of choice but necessity, as the massive differential left no room for a proper middle seat in the rear.
This particular example, the very last to leave the Zuffenhausen factory, is one of just 500 cars built in the exclusive Limited trim. It effectively marks the end of the line before the W210 stepped in, and remains in exceptional condition, showing just 422 km (262 miles) on the odometer after a life spent carefully preserved as a museum piece.
Understated Design
Visually, the E 500 maintains a restrained appearance that continues to appeal to purists, sitting just below the ultra-rare E 60 AMG in the W124 hierarchy. The exterior is defined by wider tracks and flared front fenders that distinguish it from lesser variants, along with a lowered suspension and model-specific alloy wheels. Facelifted versions gained a more contemporary grille, body-colored bumpers, and clear indicators.
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The final example is finished in Sapphire Black, one of two available colors for the Limited trim alongside Brilliant Silver. A distinguishing detail is the set of 17-inch alloy wheels with a six-spoke design, borrowed from the 190 E 2.5-16 Evolution II W201 homologation special.
Inside, it gets Recaro sport seats trimmed in soft leather with a Techno pattern, paired with black-stained bird’s-eye maple across the dashboard and door cards. Buyers could choose from gray, red, or green interiors, though this example sticks with a more understated black and gray combination.
V8 Power, Porsche-Tuned Chassis
Under the hood sits a naturally aspirated 5.0-liter V8 sourced from the 500 SL, producing 315 hp (235 kW / 320 PS) and 470 Nm (347 lb-ft) of torque in these late-production examples. Power is sent to the rear wheels through a four-speed automatic gearbox, good for a 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) sprint in 6.1 seconds and a top speed electronically limited to 250 km/h (155 mph).
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The Porsche-tuned suspension and chassis are paired with larger brakes, measuring 320 mm (12.6 inches) at the front.
See It In Stuttgart
The E 500 Limited is currently displayed alongside its EVO II sibling at the Mercedes-Benz Museum. Both are part of a selection of ten special vehicles from the 90’s and the 00’s featured in the “Youngtimers” exhibition, which runs until May 31.