Mercedes-Benz 500 E
A discreet Mercedes sedan with a 326 PS V8 and a shared production journey through Porsche's factory.
1991 Mercedes-Benz 500 E · Kieran White · CC BY 2.0
$27,750
Based on a completed sale at Bring a Trailer on March 13, 2019, an estimated value for this vehicle is $27,750.
Why this sale: Exact European-specification 1991 W 124.036 500 E sedan with 5.0-litre M119 V8 and four-speed automatic transmission; the car later moved through Japan and Canada to the United States. The odometer showed 121,000 km. Left rear-quarter paintwork, a faulty rear shade and an aftermarket Pioneer radio were disclosed; recent fluids, tyres and headliner work were also noted.
Winning bid/hammer; Bring a Trailer’s buyer service fee, taxes, title, transport and later work are excluded. One auction result is a reference, not an appraisal; condition, history, options, location and market timing can change value. Accepted as an identity-matched completed sale. Export history, paintwork and equipment changes remain visible comparison factors.
More than a set of wheels.
Mercedes-Benz unveiled the 500 E in Paris in October 1990 and put the European production specification on sale in early 1991. It was the first V8 model in the 124 family. Mercedes engineered it with Porsche and used a multi-stage production route between Sindelfingen and Porsche's Zuffenhausen plant. The car remained 500 E through 1993, before the new E-Class naming system reversed the badge to E 500.
Look a little closer.
Its wider fenders are subtle enough that the 500 E can still look like a quiet family sedan at first glance.
Photos show an example of the model or generation. The pictured vehicle’s year, equipment, or modifications can differ from the specification described here.
Premiere year versus production year
The car was shown in October 1990, but the exact European series-production specification catalogued here begins in February 1991. The title uses the production specification; the story preserves the earlier premiere.
Source: Mercedes-Benz · W 124 history ↗Why two factories touched one sedan
The widened, low-volume body did not fit the normal W 124 line neatly. Mercedes and Porsche split the work between Sindelfingen and Zuffenhausen, making the 500 E both a factory model and a small-series special.
Source: Mercedes-Benz · E-Class history ↗Where these facts come from
- Mercedes-Benz · E-Class/W 124 history
- Mercedes-Benz W124 Club · chronology
- Automobile-Catalog · 1991 500 E
Selected facts checked for this edition. Some source pages link to broader model families. Last reviewed October 3, 2026.