The "motor" superiority of the Munich sedans of the fifth series (E34) until 1989 was not so obvious. Yes, BMWs were traditionally a little faster and sharper in reactions, however, the three-liter Mercedes engine of the M130 family developed almost the same 180-190 hp as the in-line Bavarian M30V30 “six” with the same displacement. But in January 1989, the production of the "five" with the designation M5 began in Munich, the 3.6-liter engine of which developed an impressive 315 "horses", thanks to which the "emka" in the back of the E34 with manual transmission gained a hundred in just 6.3 seconds, and the top speed of the top version was artificially limited at around 250 km / h.
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Mercedes had nothing to answer such an "application" of the main competitor, because even after a slight restyling in the fall of 1989, the 300E-24 modification became the most powerful "yeshka". Under the hood of the "three hundredth" with "foliage" around the perimeter of the body, as a result of modernization, the latest three-liter M104 engine with four valves per cylinder appeared, which had previously been installed on the SL roadster with the factory designation W129. Yes, he developed over two hundred forces - 220, to be exact, but this figure could not be compared with the parameters of the "emka".
Therefore, the Mercedes did a rather unusual thing. In cooperation with fellow countrymen - the Porsche company - the top was developed model range E-class in the back of W124, which received the index 500E (later - E500 in accordance with the new model designation in the brand range). The cooperation of two major automakers in the production of the "five hundredth" based on the W124 sedan was by no means formal: the bodies on the stocks were welded almost manually at the Porsche Rossle-Bau plant located in Zuffenhausen (a suburb of Stuttgart), after which they moved to the Mercedes- Benz in the small town of Sindelfingen (part of the administrative district of Stuttgart) and painted with the standard "Mercedes" palette, then returned to Porsche for assembly, after which, in finished form, they again got to Mercedes, where they were tested before being sent to customers or for export.
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This "multi-stage" allowed Mercedes to carry out assembly and finishing work at a third-party enterprise while maintaining standard VIN numbers and designations on the body. In other words, having been in a "foreign stable", the most powerful Mercedes E-class did not turn into a Porsche either formally or in fact. Interestingly, after the "top" on the same Porsche assembly line at the Rossle-Bau plant in Zuffenhausen, they assembled ... a 316-horsepower Audi RS2!
In addition to assembly, the task of Porsche specialists was to fine-tune the brakes and suspensions - after all, Mercedes understood that a powerful sedan should not only drive fast, but also be well controlled.
Five liters of confidence
The main (but by no means the only!) difference between the "top" and other versions of the E-class was hidden, of course, under the hood. The mighty V-shaped eight-cylinder heart was again borrowed from the SL roadster, replacing the KE-Jetronic injection system with a more modern electronic version of the LH-Jetronic. A rather large power unit also required transfer to the trunk battery, which had a positive effect on the weight distribution.
The engine with the M119 index developed an impressive 326 hp. - it was, albeit a small, but convincing advantage over the "emka" in terms of maximum power. Thanks to this, even paired with a four-speed automatic, the five-liter "one hundred and twenty-fourth" accelerated to hundreds in 6.1 seconds - that is, even a little faster than the "emka"! In practice, much depended on the qualifications of drivers, and the maximum speed of sedans was indicated at around 250 km / h, and in any case (for both Mercedes and BMW), it was artificially limited using electronics. And without a programmable "collar" Mercedes was able to gain all 270 kilometers per hour ...
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The stove is what you need: under the hood of the fastest "yeshki" - over 300 "horses"
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The multi-liter engine, which developed 480 Nm of torque, had impressive traction at almost any speed, thanks to which the “top” immediately became the real king of the autobahn, with which few could argue in the speed range “from 150 and above”. Apart from exotics like, in the early nineties, the BMW five was perhaps the only car of this class that could ride with it on the autobahn, as they say, head to head. Moreover, the V-shaped “eight” under the hood of the Bavarian sedan also appeared, but this happened only in 1992, and in terms of working volume, the 540th was still inferior to the “five hundredth” a whole liter, giving out 286 hp. maximum power. Only the owners of a real emka could fully "hack" on the high-speed track with the "five hundredth".
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Other differences
Despite the rather strong external resemblance of the 500E version with more modest modifications of the "yeshki", the body of the "top" differed significantly from the standard one. First, there were extended front and rear wheel arches, which required a corresponding change in the wings and adjacent panels. Secondly, the body received other bumpers with a body kit, which were also “fitted” to fit wider arches. Thirdly, thanks to a stiffer suspension, the car became a little lower, and on alloy wheels low-profile tires of dimension 225/55 R16 appeared. Finally, the dipped and high beam smashed into sections of head optics, and foglights moved to the lower part of the front bumper.
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In comparison with the rest of the "one hundred and twenty-fourth" 500E immediately stood out with a special landing of the body and massive contours of the wings, which made it possible to accurately distinguish this "beast" from the outside of ordinary E-class sedans.
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In addition, the "500th" received more powerful brakes and automatic adjustment of the level of the rear hydropneumatic suspension. As standard equipment on this car appeared traction control ASR. Since the cost of the "top" (135,000 DM) was more than twice the price of the "average" Mercedes-Benz W124, the rich interior equipment included not only air conditioning and numerous electric drives, but also a Sportline leather interior with Recaro seats. At the same time, the car formally turned into a four-seater due to the wooden console in the center of the rear seat.
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The interior of the early 500E differed from the "base" except for leather trim and an abundance of buttons.
Alien vs. Predator
Due to the specifics of the assembly mentioned above, the full production cycle of the "top" stretched for 18 days, and in just five years about 10,000 copies of the "five hundredth" were produced. However, the history of Mercedes' high-speed sedan in this body would be incomplete without mentioning the 300E 5.6 AMG model, nicknamed Hammer ("hammer"). It was he, and not the "top", who was the first "one hundred and twenty-fourth" to receive under the hood, thanks to AMG specialists, the V-shaped "eight" M117 from the 560 SEC model. This engine was even more powerful (360 hp) and developed 510 Nm of torque, thanks to which the 300 E 5.6 AMG gained a “hundred” from standstill in just 5.4 seconds and for the first time for sedans of this class officially exceeded the speed threshold of 300 km /h There was also an even more powerful six-liter version of the 300E 6.0, the engine of which produced a mind-blowing 385 hp. It was believed that the creation of specialists from Affalterbach on driving performance was comparable to Ferrari supercars!
The history of the W124 family sedans begins its history in 1991. A remarkable date, it should be noted, is associated with a mass of "interesting" events in Russia. So, it was in that very 91st that the well-known German automobile manufacturer Mercedes-Benz and the no less popular Porsche decided to cooperate in the field of creating a small series of sedan. The overall project involved the birth of a car equipped with a V8 engine. A strong eight-cylinder engine that develops solid power, however, turned out to be only one of the notable features. Mercedes E500 W124.
In addition, the design german car received a sports suspension, an upgraded transmission and a reliable reinforced brake system. It is worth noting that the design of the E500 was completely developed by the engineering group of Mercedes-Benz.
Porsche specialists carried out only partial assembly. The native "brother" of the E500 was the E420 model. These two so-called "tops" were remembered for a long time by the motorists' society. Even today, cars are positioned no lower than modern models. Version 500E can often be found in the list of competitors of other machines released much later.
How the Mercedes E500 W124 was created in the technological cycle
The history of the creation of the model- the process is quite interesting. The transport was created on the basis of an engine taken from the 500SL model of the R129 series, but subjected to significant refinement. As a result of the modernization, Mercedes-Benz engineers managed to get a real monster, with a total cylinder volume of 5 liters and a net power of 326 hp. Automobile "nuclear reactor", among other things, equipped:
- four-speed automatic
- ASR system (rotation lock)
- hydropneumatic suspension level adjustment
- doubling the catalyst
- fuel injection system "LH-Jetronic" instead of "KE-Jetronic"
The result was not long in coming. One of the German "tops" - Mercedes E500 as W124- got the ability to accelerate to a speed of 250 km / h, and the control speed - 100 km / h, could gain in just 6 seconds after starting from a standstill.
Involvement of Porsche specialists in the creation of Mercedes-Benz vehicles
The German city of Zuffenhausen is famous for the fact that the Porsche factory is located on the territory of this settlement, where part of the E500 assembly process took place. Here, at the first stage, W124 bodies were made, which were then transported for painting to another plant operating in the city of Sindelfingen, company-owned Mercedes-Benz. After painting, everything returned to normal, and Porsche specialists proceeded to complete set painted body. At the final stage, fully assembled cars were again transported to the possession of Mercedes, where they underwent pre-sale preparation before being sold.
Product of German production under the Mercedes-Benz brand
On the shelves of the international market, the car was positioned exclusively as the property of Mercedes. Actually, this opinion was supported by the full-fledged traditional symbols of the famous German brand, plus the identification numbers were most directly related to the noted German company. Distinctive external features models were details such as:
- extended wheel arches
- wheel disks made of light alloy with daisies
- oversized low profile tires
- Headlights with independent high and low beams
- fog lights at the bottom of the front bumper
Epilogue for E420/E500
German works of art in the form of W124 sedans have become perhaps the most successful phenomenon in the entire industrial production of the Mercedes-Benz enterprise. In just one class of sedans, more than two million cars were produced and sold over ten years of mass production. The guys from AMG once laid eyes on the E420 / E500 sedans, with whose hands several dozen cars were modernized, which later received the E60 AMG marking.
We are not afraid of the gray wolf, Gray wolf, gray wolf! Where do you go, stupid wolf, Old wolf, dire wolf?
Outside
This sedan is living proof that the idea of implanting large motors in small bodies is not limited to tuning studios. In the late 1980s, Mercedes decided to set the competition on fire by releasing a hot remix of its then favorite W 124. Stuttgart fellow villagers from Porsche were called to help in the arrangement. With such initial data, mediocrity could not be born in principle. The car received universal recognition and the formidable nickname "Wolf" to boot. The nickname stuck firmly to the sedan, having stood the test of time.
Outwardly, the favorite of taxi drivers around the world is a classic of the classics. Bruno Sacco clearly painted the W 124 with an eye on the younger 190, but with all the stylistic similarities, the older model is expected to make a more solid impression. Subordination, reinforced by the signs of restyling in 1993, is impeccably observed.
Wherever you look, the sedan exudes a confident, well-fed arrogance. The very spirit of the true Mercedes, which many lack in his heirs. The car simply does not have bad angles. The square body of dark green color is completely devoid of excessive embellishments. Although it was the E500 that had full right dress up to the fullest. Each piece took 18 days to make by hand. But the wings and other tinsel are for amateurs. Muscular wings that hide the extended track and more massive bumpers - the "five hundredth" is modest, like a true bourgeois.
Inside
The door closes with a characteristic weapon click. Salon "five hundredth" is in complete harmony with the appearance. At one time, Mercedes invested a lot of effort and money in the design of the 124th. It is not surprising that the interior at the molecular level has absorbed this German solidity. Whatever you touch - the feeling that everything has been done for centuries does not leave you for a second.
For a 23-year-old car that has driven most of its 160,000 km on not always hospitable Russian roads, the interior is in excellent condition. Volchara managed to survive in the nineties, lasted in the 2000s and, without any restorations, looks as if he had just left the stocks of the factory in Zuffenhausen.
The style of the interior hung halfway from the thoroughbred "eighties" to the king of the "nineties". The vertical front panel, molded from high-quality vinyl, protrudes into the cabin by no more than 30 cm, so the interior space is at the level of modern business-class models that are larger than the old man.
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Thick black leather upholstered door inserts and gorgeous seats that are in no way inferior to buckets. The standard finish of the banal "Mercedes" walnut root has been replaced with slats of noble dark wood. It turned out both brutal and stylish. A black ceiling just begs here, but such a whim was not even provided for by the list of options, and the “collective farm” is contraindicated for such machines.
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Equipped with the "five hundredth" to match its special status. Dual-zone climate control, power seats (driver's with position memory), sunroof, Becker top-end audio system and other amenities of a rich life. On the second row, two separate seats are optionally installed. Being a passenger here is a special honor. There is enough legroom, and the seat itself pleases with a successful back profile and tangible lateral support. The high class of the model is emphasized by individual reading lamps in the side pillars and an electric blind on the rear window. Such a gray wolf is definitely not terrible for us.
In move
“Well, Bavarians, do you drive tractors?” - Sami Naseri's joke, told by him in the film "Taxi", cost the creators of the picture $ 2 million. Looking at the characteristics of the E500, it's hard to understand what the Mercedes people were so offended by. 326 l. s., taken from a five-liter eight, accelerate the sedan to hundreds in almost six seconds. The only thing left for the French was to enviously troll the Germans with the movie records of the non-existent Peugeot.
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In absentia, being led by a loud nickname, I considered the "five hundredth" uncompromising sports sedan. Therefore, having easily adjusted the electric chair for me, having adapted to the family mirrors of different sizes, I turn on the Drive and, sinking the gas, I prepare for a fight with a fierce beast. But already at the next traffic light, it became clear that I was in vain clutching a stranglehold on the bus "steering wheel".
At city speeds, the "500" is comfortable, as befits a car with a star on the hood. Despite the sharper steering compared to the standard W124 (three turns from lock to lock), straight line stability was not affected, but there was confidence in cornering. "500th » with its lightweight steering, it still keeps you at bay, but it's clearly more nimble than its "dashing '90s" counterparts.
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The old-fashioned four-speed "automatic" left the most pleasant impression. The gears change smoothly, and a slight thoughtfulness when you sharply press the gas is more than compensated by the most powerful thrust of 470 Nm. Sports tuned suspension is such only by the "Mercedes" standards of the last century. Chassis perfectly absorbs asphalt joints, tram rails and other road "evil". The tendency to wobble is moderate even by today's standards. The branded reinforced concrete directional stability has not gone away either. It seems that there are no forces in the world capable of knocking off the intended trajectory of the Wolf, rushing in pursuit of game.
Fuel consumption Mercedes-Benz E500 W124
For 100 km
Confident habits in any of the modes, comfort built into an absolute, coupled with impressive power, the "500" can be a real Gran Turismo, albeit with four doors. This beast was trained to devour kilometers of freeways, delicately (and not so) driving away any husk from the left lane. Rushing furiously to fulfill the will of the owner, the Wolf along the way scattered small competitors and forever staked out a place in the hearts of the true fans of the brand.
Purchase History
For the first time, Vitaly learned about the 500E / E500 by watching the same comedy action movie by Luc Besson "Taxi". It was only in 2011 that the dream of owning a car “like those of movie robbers” was realized. Then Vitaly bought his first E500. The car was in the wrong best condition. Realizing that the restoration of this instance is a costly and troublesome business, Vitaly sold it, buying another, better preserved sedan. Then there was another and another.
This Volchok is already the fourth in a row. At Vitaly, he appeared by chance. Friends said that there is a collector who owns the E500 in excellent condition, and he is not at all averse to parting with it.
The meeting with the car brought a lot of surprises. 1993, imported into Russia in 1997, "native" mileage of 160,000 km, good technical condition and only two owners by title. It was simply impossible to resist. The purchase of Volchka cost Vitaly a little less than a million rubles.
Repair
Immediately after the purchase, the E500 went to the pits for troubleshooting. Vitaly's goal was to bring the car to a state as close to new as possible.
Rear lights
25 000 rubles
The body of the car was in good condition - only the paintwork needed to be updated. For painting, Vitaly personally dismantled the sedan, removing the engine and interior. The color of the new paint is No. 199 (according to the catalog, it completely matches the VIN number). Along the way, all external rubber bands and moldings were updated (the cost of each is approximately 12,000 rubles). All optics have been replaced with new ones. Only the taillights cost 25,000 rubles. Also, a new rear window was installed here, bought for 53,000 rubles. The high price is due to the use of particularly thin heating filaments that are not afraid of damage from the use of a lifting electric curtain. Such glasses were installed only on expensive modifications of the W 124.
New throttle assembly
120 000 rubles
Long periods of idleness affected technical condition"five hundredth". Vitaly completely went through the suspension, replaced the brakes. The largest amount of work was carried out with the engine. Did without overhaul, but the motor has undergone a total revision. A new throttle assembly (120,000 rubles), a flow meter, all consumables, plus a recently replaced cooling pipe - this is not a complete list of new parts that went to the legendary M119. The engine compartment is decorated with new factory stickers.
Salon thanks to factory tinting has been preserved in excellent condition. No restoration of the skin or plastic was required. The electronics are also in perfect order. All options, including electric drives and seat memory, work perfectly.
The work was carried out in the workshop for the restoration of oldtimers, which is led by Vitaly. Spare parts, with rare exceptions, are used new and strictly original. The search for details took about six months, the work itself lasted about the same. Investing in a car is almost equal to the cost of buying it.
Improvements
Vitaly sincerely considers the image of the standard E500 almost perfect, but he could not resist and made a couple of changes.
Connoisseurs will note that 18-inch Evo wheels have never been installed on this model. Regular size- 17 inches. With all due respect to the work of the Stuttgart engineers, Vitaly believes that this is too little for such a car. So, a Japanese replica of the legendary "Mercedes" wheels appeared on Volchka. The wheels are installed through centimeter spacers.
The second revision concerns the interior and inspires special respect. Vitaly got the car with a standard walnut finish. Now the car is decorated with dark wood inserts (in the common people "Bird's Eye"). This finish was the prerogative of the limited edition version of the E500 Limited. The panels were found by Vitaly purely by accident. He just saw an advertisement for the sale of interior parts from the E500, where the desired panels were visible in the background. Negotiations with the seller were not easy, he clearly understood what a rarity is in his hands. As a result, they bargained for 70,000 rubles for a complete set of inserts.
The E500 is a car that deserves special attention. There are legends about the “500th Mercedes”. Even the person whose ideas and knowledge about cars are very superficial can recognize this car. Because the “five hundredth” model of the “Mercedes” of the 124th body, even in our modern age, is one of the most popular cars that were previously produced by the Stuttgart concern.
The history of sedans produced in the 124th body began its annals in 1991. It was at this time that Mercedes-Benz, together with the equally popular Porsche concern, cooperated in the field of creating a special, small sedan series. What did this general project envisage? And it was planned to release a car, under the hood of which a powerful eight-cylinder engine with excellent performance would thunder. However, this turned out to be one of the many features of such a “ iron horse”, like the Mercedes W124 E500.
The design of this car also received a good sports suspension, an improved transmission and an excellent brake system, on which the engineers worked especially carefully. It is important to note one interesting nuance. The design of the E500 was entirely developed by the engineering group of the Stuttgart company.
Cooperation with Porsche
Of course, specialists from Porsche also took part in the development of the E500. But they only worked on a partial build. Most of their work went into the development of the engine. In general, it is not surprising that the car turned out to be so powerful. Everyone knows that Mercedes and Porsche are concerns that produce really high-quality, reliable and powerful cars. And by combining their forces into a single whole, it turned out to create a real powerful hybrid in terms of technical characteristics. True, not all people know that Porsche specialists also took part in the process of developing the motor.
Bandit "wolves" of the nineties
Not only the E500 was very popular in those days. This “gangster” car has a “brother”. And this is a Mercedes E420. Also made in the 124th body. These cars were nicknamed "wolves". True connoisseurs of quality will remember two bright, impressive cars for a long time. These cars are still positioned above many modern models to this day. These are cars for true adherents of the German "Mercedes" classics. Both the 500 and the 420 are machines that compete with many much later executive sedans.
Indicators
Speaking of Mercedes W124 E500, specifications definitely worth noticing. And, of course, its closest “relative”, the 420th model, cannot be ignored either. The technical characteristics of these cars are similar. Of course, the “five hundredth” version will be more powerful. The engine generates 320 Horse power, maximum speed - 250 km / h, acceleration to "hundreds" - 6.1 seconds. Fuel consumption, however, is too big - 13 liters in the city. But people who allow themselves to purchase this car are rarely embarrassed.
What can be said about the weaker (if in this context it is appropriate to use this word) version? That is, about the 420th model? The maximum speed is the same, also 250 km / h. Acceleration to a hundred kilometers more by 1.1 seconds - it is 7.2. The engine is weaker by a little more than 40 “horses” - it is not 320, but 279 hp. But the consumption is less - 11.8 liters per 100 km. In general, in fact, these were two maximally similar models. That one, that the second was wildly popular in the 90s. And now, by the way, too.
Solid buy
To date, the “five hundredth” version is being acquired by wealthier people. Mercedes-Benz W124 E500 is a car that you can buy in about half a million rubles. The 420th version is bought cheaper. About 250,000 rubles can be asked for a car in good condition. As you can see, the difference in our time between the prices of these machines is double. Why? Perhaps because of the cost of parts, and maybe because of the “status” of the car. The price is also largely determined by how much the previous owner invested in the car during the time he drove it. And, of course, from the mileage and other important details.
By the way, no matter how high-quality the Mercedes is known, the car should be checked at the service station before buying it from hand. Outwardly, the car may look like new, and many people who are not versed in cars fall for this. And then it turns out that putty, a rotten body and a junk engine were hiding behind an attractive price. To avoid such errors, it is worth being safe and checking the car.
Technological production cycle
Mercedes W124 E500 "top" - a car that has quite interesting story creation. This vehicle It was created on the basis of a motor that was taken from a model known to motorists as the 500SL (R129 series). However, the unit was not left without improvements. The concern has significantly improved the engine. As a result of the fruitful work of Mercedes-Benz engineers, this is a real five-liter monster with 326 hp. If today this engine makes an incredible impression, one can imagine how he struck the public then, twenty years ago. This car was perceived by lovers of powerful cars as the perfection of the automotive industry. Indeed, the Mercedes W124 E500 “Wolf” is the real pride of the famous Stuttgart concern. A car that was popular and prestigious then and that has become a classic and a sign of perfect taste today.
Specifications
The "500th" Mercedes, like the 420th, the test drive was "excellent". The handling of the car was top notch. As a matter of fact, the specialists of the Mercedes concern have always paid special attention to the technical characteristics. Some people may not appreciate the design (although the vast majority believe that there is hardly a more presentable look), but it's hard to argue with the indicators. Obedient behavior on the road, responsive pedals and comfortable steering, perfect smoothing of obstacles, no difficulties on the steepest serpentines and turns - everything is perfect. Well, besides running characteristics, the "five hundredth" and the 420th are well developed and technical.
Automatic four-speed gearbox, ASR system, hydropneumatic adjustment (suspension is equipped with it), catalyst doubled and new system fuel injection. All this affected the test drive. Due to such additions, the car became even better to cope with its tasks.
The Ultimate Mercedes-Benz Car
It is almost impossible to praise the “five hundredth”. The Mercedes W124 E500, whose price in new condition in the nineties was several tens of thousands of dollars at that rate, is the dream of many. Even today. This car is good not only in technical terms. She is gorgeous on the outside as well. What can be noted as design features? First of all, these are wide wheel arches that look very impressive, presentable and expressive. Also wheels made of light alloys. They have a small feature, which consists in a curly neckline "chamomile". This car also boasts oversized low-profile tires. And, of course, fog lights. They are on front bumper- at the bottom of it. Finally, it is worth noting the attention of the headlights, which are endowed with independent high and low beam lamps.
Important nuances
By the way, it is worth noting some point regarding the expense. The “500th” Mercedes is not considered by many to be an economical model, but some do not take into account one point. According to the urban cycle, its consumption is 16.9 liters per 100 km. At 90 km / h, it drops to 10.3 liters. If you move at a speed of 120 km / h, the consumption will be 11.9 liters. But 13 liters, which everyone usually talks about, is already an indicator of the European cycle. The 420th will have less consumption. According to the urban cycle - exactly 15 liters, at 90 km / h - 9.4 liters. At a speed of 120 km / h, the engine consumes 11.1 liters. According to the European cycle, as mentioned above, 11.8.
What about top speed? She is different too. In 1st gear, the “five hundredth” squeezes out 68 km / h, and 420 - 71 km / h. On the second - 117 and 120 km / h, respectively. The third gear shows more indicators - 181 km / h and 186. And in the fourth, both cars drive the same way - at a speed of 250 km / h.
Well, as you can see, the 500th Mercedes (and the 420th, which has slight differences from its counterpart) is a good car. Strong, high quality, beautiful. Owner reviews are extremely positive about him. And this is understandable. Everyone unanimously assures that the car is reliable, does not break down, and has served faithfully for many years. So if you want to buy a car that would demonstrate the status and taste of the owner, you can safely make a choice in favor of the "five hundredth". Or the 420th - then someone's soul will lie down.
Mercedes-Benz is a manufacturer that has proven and shown that cars can be incredibly high quality, reliable, beautiful and comfortable.
In the history of the German brand, many families have already been created. At the same time, each of them has its own leader, a star.
The W124 line is in great demand even 20 years after the end of production. The star of the line is the E500 model, which was popularly nicknamed "Wolf" or "Top" for its 326 hp engine. and outstanding technical performance.
Handsome Wolf
The name was assigned to the Mercedes-Benz W124 E500 car during the "dashing nineties". Interestingly, motorists really liked this name, it is well-established and is actively used in our time. But most importantly, the car remains in demand just as it was at the time of its appearance on the market.
Specifications
Examining a car from a photo is one thing. It is quite another thing to find out what is hidden under the hood, what engine the German engineers proposed, what the body is.
We will try to tell you in detail about the technical characteristics and parameters.
Dimensions
- Body type - sedan;
- Quantity seats — 5;
- Number of doors - 4;
- Trunk volume - 520 liters;
- Height - 1408 millimeters;
- Width - 1796 millimeters;
- Length - 4750 millimeters;
- Wheelbase - 2800 mm;
- Ground clearance - 160 millimeters.
Engine and gearbox
Engine Capabilities and Consumption
And what is this 326-horsepower 5-liter engine capable of? Quite a lot considering the size of the car.
- Acceleration from 0 to 100 kilometers per hour - in 6.1 seconds;
- Maximum speed - 250 kilometers per hour (artificially limited);
- Volume fuel tank- 90 liters;
- Type of recommended fuel - AI95, gasoline;
- Consumption in the city - 16.9 liters per 100 kilometers
- Consumption on the highway - 10.3 liters per 100 kilometers.
History of success
Now let's plunge a little into the past, study the history of the creation of this car. This will make it possible to understand why, in addition to a powerful engine, the Mercedes Volchok is so popular.
The story began in 1991, when sedans from the W124 family were born. At the same time, the Company entered into an agreement with the manufacturer Porsche. The goal was to create a special version of the sedan, under the hood of which there will be a V8 engine. Of course, as a result, the car stood out not only with a powerful engine.
Porsche's task was partial assembly. The E500 model has a sibling - the E420.
In addition to the power unit, engineers have worked hard on the following components:
- sports suspension
- Advanced gearbox
- Reinforced braking system
From an engineering point of view, the Mercedes Volchok is deservedly considered a purely creation of Mercedes-Benz, which is destined to forever compete with BMW products.
Technological features
From the point of view of the technical capabilities of the car, its history is quite interesting. The car was based on an engine that German engineers borrowed from the 500SL model from the R129 series. At the same time, the refinement of the power unit turned out to be significant.
What has been achieved as a result?
- The displacement of the 8-cylinder engine increased to 5 liters.
- Engine power reached 326 horsepower.
- The car received in addition to the engine an automatic four-speed gearbox.
- The car was equipped with a wheel spin prevention system - ASR.
- The suspension level became possible to adjust due to the hydropneumatic system.
- The catalyst was increased exactly twice.
- The old KE Jetronic injection system was replaced with a more advanced LH Jetronic.
What is the result? As a result, the car was able to accelerate to 250 kilometers per hour, which is not a limit, but an artificial limitation. Plus, up to a hundred, the Wolf easily scored from a place in 6 seconds. And that's with his weight.
Role of Porsche
Specialists from another equally well-known Porsche Company have put their efforts into creating a car. To be more precise, they helped Mercedes-Benz produce Volchkov. Porsche did not claim the authorship of the W124 500 project.
How was the production scheme for the powerful version of the W124 carried out?
- On the territory of the city of Zuffenhausen, in Germany, there is a Porsche factory. Partial assembly took place here. This plant provided the construction of the body
- The finished body was sent for painting to the Mercedes-Benz plant in Sindelfingen.
- After painting, the body returned to Porsche again, where specialists assembled the Mercedes E 500 Volchok completely
- After assembly, it again moved to the MB plant, where specialists carried out pre-sale preparation
External Features
Now, when the car was fully assembled, it was sent to Mercedes-Benz showrooms, presenting the car as their author's project. Whether they were offended by this in the Porsche camp or not, it is difficult to say.
How could buyers determine that in front of them was not one of the usual W124 sedans (although the language does not dare to call them ordinary), but a modernized, powerful version of the E500, based only on external characteristics? 
Mercedes Volchok stood out against the background of his brothers with several bright elements, which only a person who is not versed in cars can overlook:
- Extended wheel arches
- Camomile cutouts adorned the new alloy wheels
- The car stood on wide low-profile tires
- The front optics received independent high and low beam lamps
- Fog lights are located at the bottom of the front bumper
What's next?
And then came a period of incredible success. The leaders of Mercedes-Benz themselves admit that their W124 sedans turned out to be the most successful project for the company in its entire history. And the "Volchok" personified the pinnacle, the real decoration of the entire line.
It is not surprising that the 124 body is in demand today. Sedans of this series for 10 years of production were sold worldwide in the amount of more than 2 million copies.
Soon, experts from the leading tuning studio, AMG, drew attention to the E500. They took Mercedes Volchok to work and made a real ferocious Wolf out of him. These modifications are known all over the world under the marking E60 AMG.
Issue price
Another important point is the cost of the car.
During the 1990s, when the car was just beginning to appear on the market, it was almost impossible to purchase it due to the limited edition in Russia and the impressive cost.
But even in those days there were quite a lot of people who laid out 150 thousand DM for his unique, powerful Mercedes Volchok. At the moment it is about 75 thousand euros or 5.5 million rubles.
What cars of this Company can be purchased today for similar money? Modern sports car. A striking example is the SL400 model. Its 3.0 AT version costs about 5.4 million rubles, despite the fact that the power of this car is only 13 horses higher than the capabilities of the Wolf.
But that was when 124 "Volchok" was just appearing on the market. For what money can you really buy it today? Obviously, not for 5 million rubles.
After analyzing the market for used cars, and having studied the proposals for the E500, we can draw the following conclusion. per car in perfect condition age 20 years with a mileage of 100 thousand kilometers will have to pay only 1.3 million rubles. This is four times less than the amount it originally cost.
To be honest, not many people are ready to pay that kind of money for such a car. Considering the quality, reliability and capabilities of the engine, this is a small price for a car of this level.
There are a couple more points that I would like to draw your attention to.
- Origin of name. It will not be possible to give an exact answer, since the origins of the name "Volchok" do not exist. According to the most common version, the car received such a nickname because of the saying about the wolf in sheep's clothing. Here we are talking about the fact that the car is beautiful, interesting, and incredible power is hidden behind such a presentable shell. Believe in this version or not, decide for yourself.
- E500 and 500E - completely different cars? Sometimes the name E500 is found, and in some cases 500E. Is it a typo or two different car? Not that, and not another. Indeed, there are two versions of the Wolf - E500 and 500E. How do they differ from each other? Watch video reviews. Didn't find anything? Not surprising. How are they different? Yes, nothing, except for the turn signals, made in orange. So don't get confused.
As you can see, this is an amazing car, ahead of its time. How else to explain the fact that this option remains one of the most desirable cars for millions of buyers. They say about such projects with sadness - "Yes, today such machines are no longer made." And this is the bitter truth.
