Hammer Time: 1993 Mercedes-Benz 500E W124
In 1990 Stanley Kirk Burrell (also known as M.C. Hammer) released his Album Please hammer, Don’t Hurt ‘Em which featured his signature song U Can’t Touch This. Coincidentally this was the same year that Mercedes-Benz released their untouchable Hammer into the world, in the form of the 1991 through 1994 model year 500E. Find this 1993 Mercedes-Benz 500E W124 here on eBay
bidding for $12,100 reserve-not-met located in Scottsdale, AZ with 1 day to go.
The Hammer was built in collaboration with Porsche who not only did most of the chassis engineering, but also hand-built the 500E at their Rossie-Bau plant in Zuffenhausen. It started with a modified V8 engine and brakes from the R129 500 SL — but was finished with a lowered ride height and a sporty body kit.
Power comes from a 5.0 liter M119 V8 that is rated at 322 horsepower and 354 ft-lbs of torque — not at all something to scoff at in 1993. Matched with a 4-speed auto gearbox the 500E could hit 60mph in 6.1 seconds and reach a top speed a 161mph — it was certainly more of a highway passing car than a drag strip king.
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The 500E was quite a car for its time, $84K at a point where the competitive M5 was $56K and an Audi 200Q 20V was $47K.
Love the color, hate the wheels.
That's the glass half-empty comparison mrkwong. The glass half full (and I'm guessing the way MB's product planners envisioned it being perceived) comparison is that this is a screaming bargain next to a $135k AMG Hammer. 😉
So the 500E has nearly 100 more horsepower and 100 lb/ft more torque than its contemporary Audi S4, yet it manages to hit 60 mph only one tenth of a second sooner? I guess this proves just how pointless are peak hp/torque numbers.
It's not all about the numbers. The Benz like all RWD product is traction-limited, the Audi has all four turning and burning off the line.
0-60 is a fake metric. Show me 0-100mph.
The 200Q/20V, urS4, urS6 is a brilliant car, but in stock trim definitely no faster above 30mph, can be tuned to enormous performance. This is a much more relaxed product, it makes the best use of its slushbox in daily use. The E34 M5, stock to stock, will take ALL of them at 10/10ths, so it all depends on what you want.
Beautiful car, love the car and hate the wheels. Those low profile tires would need servicing frequently on our northern roads. I really hate the early 90's 4-speed auto on my 190E 2.6! It is really a 3 speed and I hope this one is better. It deserves a shiftable 5-speed to make it into a real-wrold road car.