1994 MERCEDES-BENZ (W124) E 500

KEY FACTS

• This Mercedes-Benz E 500 – also known by connoisseurs and insiders as Porsche Project Type 2758 – is part of the ‘Automobili Eleganti Collection’, offered on Collecting Cars alongside an E34-era BMW M5 is equally impressive condition.
• It is a very rare ‘non-sunroof’ example of the E 500 model.
• An excellent example of the muscular W124-generation ‘super saloon’, this E 500 is presented in particularly well-preserved ‘only original once’ condition and with an intriguing provenance.
• Under the bonnet is the mighty 322bhp 5.0-litre naturally aspirated V8, which drives the rear wheels via a four-speed automatic transmission.
• First registered in Italy in October 1994, this E 500 was initially owned by food producers Ferrarini SpA Group, before being sold to the noble Caetani d'Aragona family in 1998, with the car being kept in the private collection of Prince Bonifacio Gaetani for 21 years, during which time it was routinely maintained but seldom driven.
• The car was then registered to one of the Prince’s companies in 2008, before being re-registered under his own name in 2019.

EQUIPMENT AND FEATURES

• It is important to note that the E 500 W124 is much rarer than the previous 500 E W124: only 1,855 examples were built for the 1994 and 1995 model years, compared to 8,624 examples for the 500 E. Very good, low-mileage survivors are even rarer, so this represents a particularly hard-to-find car.
• The most important technical improvement adopted on the E 500 was the R129-model 600 SL braking system with the upgraded 320mm front discs.
• The M119 motor was born as race engine and won the World Sports Prototypes and Drivers Championships in 1989, claiming the 1st and 2nd place spots in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and winning among others the 1,000kms of Spa and Nürburgring in the Sauber-Mercedes C9. The same engine secured the World Sports Prototypes and Drivers Championships in 1990 in the Mercedes-Sauber C11, notching up a raft of high-profile wins.
• This E 500 is finished in the elegant and timeless hue of Brilliant Silver Metallic, with Alpaca Grey leather upholstery punctuated by handsome wood trim.
• Factory-fitted equipment includes heated and electrically adjustable Recaro front seats with memory function for the driver, Recaro rear seats, an electrically adjustable steering wheel, automatic climate control, cruise control, headlight washers, air pollution control, remote central locking, automatically dimming rear-view mirror, and its original Mercedes-Benz Equisit stereo.
• The car rides on its original and never-refurbished 16-inch eight-hole alloy wheels, which have some small marks and scratches on their surfaces, but are in very good shape overall.
• The car will be accompanied by its original handbooks and stamped service book, as well as invoices for its maintenance from 2019 onwards.

Option and build codes:

• 241 Electrically adjustable seats with memory for driver seat
• 249 Automatically dipping inside rear view mirror
• 278A Alpaca Grey leather
• 305 Dust filter
• 341 Additional blinder lamps
• 441 Electrically adjustable steering wheel
• 481 Undershields
• 511 Radio MB Exquisite with VK, RDS
• 524 Paintwork preservation
• 551 Antitheft anti-break-in warning system
• 570 Folding armrest, front
• 581 Automatic climatisation system
• 592 All around WD-green glass, heated rear window-vsg
• 620 Air pollution control
• 630 ECE warning triangle
• 682 Fire extinguisher
• 810 HI-FI Sound System
• 866 Model 202/129 technical modification MY 1995
• 873 Seat heater for left and right front seats
• 880 Closing system with infrared remote control
• 882 Interior safeguard/ towing protection

CONDITION

• No known bodywork damage.
• The Brilliant Silver Metallic paintwork is largely original, though the driver’s-side front wing and door have both been resprayed.
• Overall, the finish is in very good condition, with a bright and glossy appearance around the car and a few stone chips on the front hood and below the headlights, in line with its mileage, as well as two long scratches on the passenger-side rear wing.
• Inside, the cabin is in superb order given the car’s age, with no significant wear to the leather upholstery, and the interior trim has an attractive light ‘patina’, commensurate with the car’s age.
• There are no known electrical or mechanical faults with the vehicle, and there are no warning lights showing on the dashboard.
• The car’s last roadworthiness inspection was conducted in July 2020, which it passed with no reported faults or warnings.

SERVICE HISTORY

• This E 500’s most recent routine maintenance was carried out in February 2020 at 114,651km by Mercedes-Benz specialist DTM Auto of Mougins, France, who changed the distributor and distributor cap.
• Prior to this, the ignition coils were changed in November 2019 at 112,988km, and a comprehensive service was carried out in May 2019 at 112,944km, when the engine oil, oil filter, gearbox oil, brake fluid, coolant, fuel filter and fuel pump were replaced, along with the battery, air conditioning compressor, rear brake pads and the tyres.

Dates and mileages:

• 20/10/1994 delivery check
• 11/11/1994 at 1.896 kms
• 28/03/1995 at 16.013 kms
• 28/07/1995 at 8.247 kms
• 27/02/1996 at 43.984 kms
• 27/08/1996 at 59.971 kms
• 14/03/1997 at 75.047 kms
• 24/09/1997 at 91.564 kms
• 09/03/1999 at 110.000 kms
• 24/03/2004 at 110.987 kms
• 15/05/2019 at 112.944 kms
• 26/11/2019 at 112.988 kms
• 13/01/2020 at 113.798 kms
• 20/01/2020 at 114.268 kms
• 21/02/2020 at 114.651 kms
• 27/02/2020 at 114.966 kms

SUMMARY

This Mercedes-Benz E 500 is a rare and refined mid-90s performance saloon, which was hand-built by Porsche at the famous Rossle-Bau plant in Zuffenhausen, where the hallowed Porsche 959 was built some years before. It presented in impressive condition throughout and benefits from frequent routine maintenance. A particular favourite of several Formula One drivers in period, these cars were favoured for as cross-continental tourers to get from one race meeting to the next, especially when they could be unleashed on the German autobahns. Boasting timeless good looks, superb build quality, a well-equipped cabin and a punchy race-inspired 322bhp 5.0-litre V8, this ‘super saloon’ is a milestone in both Porsche and Mercedes history, and will surely take pride of place in any collection of classic and performance automobiles.

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