IMO, the bean counters are what killed AMC. They also killed Westinghouse, for that matter…my Dad was an engineer there and was one of the first to get his pink slip in ‘91, after an argument with the bean counter CEO, who wasn’t an engineer.
@Steven Andersson What a sad and pathetic comment. All he did was make an observation and tell us why the quote resonated with him. Get a life, you tosser!
Been driving a w124 300D as my daily car for about 20 years now, sitting at nearly 700 thousand km. All I can say is that she'll be driven at least another 20 years. Best car ever.
Bloody hell! 700k km?!? You must have been treating this car greatly. Most cars nowadays can't even reach 400k and your car is at 700 that's a great car you got there innit mate?
Best car ever. I've had six of those and none of them had under 350 000km on the clock. One had almost 900 000km before it rusted too badly. Amazing machines. Reliable, easy and cheap to fix.
My Dad had this car and he was so proud, so was I. My best memory with my Dad is him picking me up abruptly from my Mum's house and us driving from Lusaka Zambia to Harare Zimbabwe for the weekend. He had a business there. He was a pilot so he drove expertly and fast. It was like I was on a very expensive, air conditioned and cushiony rollercoaster ride. With Luther Vandross, Lionel Richie, Bobby Brown and Whitney Houston blasting through the cassette radio. We stayed at the Intercontinental Hotel and were woken up by the sounds of motorcycles and police sirens. I went to the balcony and President Mugabe's motorcade was going down the street. 10 or more of this very Mercedes speeding by, with outriders stretching as far as the eye could see. Great memory surrounding this car. I was about 8 or 9 years old.
You sound like somebody with whom it would be _fascinating_ to have coffee. Obviously from an upper or upper/middle class family. Living in a place as interesting as the African continent, and living _~ahem~_ in an 'interesting' political time. Would love to hear your full story!
My father owned one…one of the first to arrive in Greece… I got it 15 years ago from him. It’s my only car , still. I can surely say that this piece of engineering is the HIGHLANDER of cars…
these old mercedes are fantastic cars but 1) they can be money pits 2) it's hard to work on them yourself unless you're a near expert - the fact they're so "over-engineered" means things get complex very quickly when you have to do a serious repair. an old toyota or honda is like building lego compared to these old mercedes lol.
@@anuraggorkar5595 Just watched a few of his videos. His presentation is not even close to Jason's. Writing and delivery of Cammisa is next level. Videography and production of Camissas videos is better too.
I remember thinking how amazing both the 190 and m3 EVOs were, and being incredibly sad that they weren't sold here. They were just on a completely different level to the versions we got here.
When I was a kid (I’m 45) MB were really the top of the line. They had a reputation of being built like tanks with indestructible engines. I think you nailed it when you said today they’re built by accountants not engineers. Well done video!
My Dad had the 300E 1986, He bought it brand new , This car is indeed the perfect 4 door sedan, built like a tank, straight 6 engine, german engineering at it's finest, very comfortable ride, My dad donated the car in 2015 with 267K miles . Lots of memories
@@InSaN3ViSioN I saw Tesla had about the worst reliability rating in the world. I get the impression they have no chance of seeing 4 or 5 hundred thousand k's like that Mercedes.
I am a mechanical engineer student and I adore these old German sedans, I have two E34s, a Granada, and I would love to have such an iconic car as the 500E one day, they truly don't make them like they used to anymore.
I learned to drive in this car without having a clue about what was under the hood. 25 years later and I have been looking for a car as good as this one ever since. There is simply no match. It's a masterpiece.
An episode with Jason deserves AT LEAST 2 viewings. Also, Jason called a car with an auto trans the world's perfect sedan? Must be that good to overlook it.
Nothing better than a well maintained, well kept classic. New cars just don't have the character or charisma. I love my Coupe Deville wayyyyyyy more than my CT5.
They are truly beautiful. I've got an uncle who currently owns two of them, and ever since their release has had AT LEAST one in the garage and has owned a total of around 20, I'd guess. And that's JUST the 500E/E500! I've been hounding him since I was 18 to sell me one as he has a knack for finding super clean, low mileage and well cared for classics that wont completely break the bank. At 35 I've given up on him and started looking for one myself that hasn't had the s^^t run out of it and still looks as good as one of these should. I'll find one...eventually!
Can‘t agree more... did almost instantly regret selling my 300E V6 Brabus tuned Sedan ((built 1991) in 2005, best W124 in terms of fuel efficiacy and day to day driving fun. Today it is an Oldtimer... sold long ago... but remebered as one of my best (of almost 60 to date) cars. :)
I've loved the creation of the W124 since I was a kid in Germany when it was introduced in late 1984 as a 1985 Upper-Mid Class Car. This particular Car was the beginning of the insane one up- man-ship between Mercedes-Benz and BMW in that segment much as previously the Battle between the W201 Baby Benz 190E Evolution and the BMW M3. I remember when Automotive Journalists compared the cost of the (C124) AMG Mercedes Hammer's Brakes to the entire cost of an M5 (E34) just to make a point to the reader about the intensity of this rivalry. When AMG gets involved BMW used to benefit from Schnitzer or Alpina getting involved for an attempt to settle the scores. Anyone here remember Opel's Omega getting the Lotus Treatment that resulted in a creation that could outperform even the 500E? It could do 0-100 km/h in 5.4 seconds and come close to the 285km/h mark. It's time we change the way we measure performance and focus on 0 - 160 or 0 - 200 as almost everybody can build you a Car that can do 0-100 in under 3 seconds. I miss the 80s when all this was going on! I remember the yellow 911 Turbo S in 1987 that could beat a 747 from 0 - 250 km/h. Another milestone I reminisce about.
When I was a high school senior (2002) I worked at a body shop after school and there was one that had a fender bender and it sat there for like 8 months and the inside of it was immaculate.
I had the opportunity to buy this car in 2003 (I was the second owner) and it was such a joy to drive. It was hugely misunderstood as a car, and had an army of critics who mocked everything about it. All I can say is that it was way ahead for it's time.
Excellent. Thank you. As a Mechanical Engineer I appreciate the beauty of the W124 design in form and function...my 1991 300e at 451k miles shrugs off aches, rides like a tank, starts at one shot, delivers good MPG, never stranded, and people start asking me in Los Angeles freeways: Want to sell it??...an emphatic and nice NO is always replied.....modern classic indeed....nice video !!
My father bought a W124 in 98' I was about 2 years then. I'm 24 now and I still feel like a little kid when my father drives me in it in summertime 23 years later. Why does my dad still keep it? He totally agrees, it is the most perfect sedan in the world.
My dad also owned a w124 250d a masterpiece of a car i remember as a kid loving to be on it my dad said that i had a nickname for her sadly he had to sell it for his own reasons but if he wouldnt the car didnt had any problems to last until now.
My grandpa also bought a W124 in 1991. We still have it to this day and it was the first car my grandpa taught me to drive. Here in Croatia its still a super popular car.
I worked at a Mercedes Benz dealership for over 19 years (starting in 1988). The500E was an awesome car and fun to drive. The video says no Porsche parts, but I remember standing at the parts counter as they ordered transmission parts from Porsche for a 500E. My friend who still works there had one. He always floored it when we went to lunch. Good times.
@@lobsterwhisperer7932 in 1992 MB changed to a Chinese engines harness supplier. After about 10 years, the insulation disintegrated, caused Christmas tree illumination aka warning lights in the cockpit when it was humid/wet. I changed the harness in my former 1993 W140, using the same engine, and problems went away.
Today i saw this car in my friend's garage in Jamaica 🇯🇲 and that's what lead me here.. he haven't drove it in 10yrs and now i will return back here after i own this beast.. wish me luck🎉
I remember having the opportunity to buy one of these in 2002 for $6,000 or around there. I didn't do it because I was concerned with Mercedes Benz reliability. Then a few years later I bought a W124 with an inline 6 and never had one issue with the car. That was when I realized the mistake I had made. That 500e would have been a way better car to own. Lessons we learn in life.
Mercedes Benz reliability? It was a problem with the models from 2000, because of the "bio" wires they used at the time. But otherwise I never heard about someone saying that :D
@@victorlupu7008 Maybe the guy is from the US, the MB's sold over there are being (badly) assembled in alabama and they suck balls, which is why MB has a bad rep for being unreliable in the US.
Actually, after this model (and the S/190 class) MB stated internally that "our cars are too high quality; customers either keep them or buy low-mileage used one's - we have to lower quality w about 60%" (and they succéded...) Factory workers got devastated!
@@victorlupu7008.....Volvo pioneered the biodegradable wiring insulation; when you sliced open the loom you found nothing but bare copper wires and some gray dust. The Japanese developed soy based insulation which rodents love to chew on.
@Zack Smith sorry don't! agree Yes the Lexus is roomier inside!! But the Mercedes E500 is in a class of it's own!! I know cause my wife drives a Lexus!! ( boring) and I a Mercedes E 500 !! That I will drive till the wheels fall off!!!
i had a 93 400 E . Car was a torque monster. low revving and would pull until ever ! Lowered the suspension, and for a heavy car , it handled really well. Plus cruising at over 130 , the Blaupunkt stereo was brilliant. Loved that car.
I just discovered this video. I have a 1989 W124 200, which has done 446 000 km - every thing still original and she goes like a bomb. When I give my grandchild's friends a lift from school, they always say, "wow, it rides so smoothly" even though their parents have the latest models of all types of vehicles. I love my Merc as it goes untouched from service to service. Other cars dread colliding with it as it is like a tank in comparison with many of the flimsy cars of today. Although it has been a family car for years, the interior is immaculate and so too the exterior (except for a bit of rust at rear window (coastal car)). Still quite a few in my Town looking super good. You can park them next to the latest models and it will stand proud. Thanks for the excellent presentation.
I bought a used -91 200 (12000km) in the mid 90's, sold it a few years later (at 16000km), and my feeling the first time I drove it was also "this is a tank"! Not a fast car, but so smooth auto gearbox and an infinity engine if well serviced.
That pride is causing people to not understand the current manufacturing approach of today's models. No manufacturer will say it, but the idea is to keep us in new models more frequently. The overall cost of ownership hasn't really changed much, it's just a different approach in production. You'll notice when your someone who's been around long enough to notice, that there's (for example) a lot more Mercedes on the roads today than there were in the 80s. It's a design approach shared across the globe. They can either cycle us through the latest greatest performing technology, or have you in outdated technology that lasts longer. One of the two is better for the overall longevity of the company, and that's important to decide on in order to stay afloat in today's market. They could produce like they used to, but you'll see a lot less Mercedes on the roads again. That's not a win for Mercedes.
Still an incredibly handsome car, and you can tell that the build quality is fantastic just by looking at the panel gaps and precision with which it was made. I would’ve loved to have seen these offered with a stick, that would’ve been perfection.
no it wouldn't lol, it would have been slower, had a worst mpg and it wouldn't have been as smooth as it was, auto is still the best option Mercedes could ever chosen.
@@hieayu7773 This generation of E Class was made between 1984 and 1997, and back in that time frame a competent driver could shift a manual more quickly than an automatic could shift, and manual equipped cars had better fuel economy than their automatic equipped counterparts, with next to no exceptions. Modern slushboxes are marvels of shift speed and economy, but that’s a relatively recent advancement. For the vast majority of automotive history the manual transmission would always have better fuel economy and acceleration than its automatic counterparts. Watch some old Motorweek episodes where they have auto and manual versions of the same car, and you’ll understand that the difference in acceleration between the two transmissions in an otherwise identical vehicle could be quite notable, sometimes resulting in a gap of a few seconds between the quicker manual and slower automatic. I’m guessing that you’re not very old or you’d already be aware of this. As to your final point, smoothness, I’ll concede that automatic transmissions tend to be smoother than manuals in the hands of many, but a competent operator can negate most of that particular “advantage” (if you can call it that.) At the end of the day, the point of the W124 500E wasn’t smooth shifting or fuel economy, it was being a killer field and track star in a tux… and having at least the option of a manual transmission (y’know, a proper DRIVERS choice) would only have made it better.
The W124 *was* offered with a stick, and other down-market exotica like cloth seats and hand-crank windows -- but only in Europe. You'll see a 5-speed 300E pop up on Bring a Trailer now and again.
What a beauty. I remember the first Merc I rode in when I was little was a W124 which my dad owned as his first German car. Fond memories. He'd always been a fan even after selling his W124. He would flip W124s once in a while as a hobby while earning some profit from them...Sadly, he passed away exactly a month ago. As for myself, I own a W202 C230 Kompressor (manual transmission) for 8 years. Enjoy every second of driving it. My dad played a major role in helping me to keep the car in mint condition. As a way to honor and remember my late dad, I will never ever sell my W202 and will make sure it lasts forever.
I recently read someone stating a W202 is akin to a smaller W124 - very true. I also own a W202 / C36 AMG. Had briefly owned a W124 Estate prior, also with the M104 engine. Regrettably sold the wagon, shoulda kept it in my backyard! Seriously awesome cars
I worked as a Mercedes Benz Mechanic in the late nineties and the early two thousands, apart from being the best job I ever had, it had the pleasure of working on the best cars that the world had to offer. The E500 was one of those cars and the importance of a massive V8 in that compact sedan was not lost on us and whenever we had one come in, we treated it very gently because, despite it being one of the best cars ever made, very few were ever purchased in comparison to all the other models Benz made, and as such they were rare and seen as an incredible work of art that had been created to blow the doors off BMW, a slap in the face of the Bavarians if you will. But one thing we always clear to me working at Mercedes Benz, the Younger German executives bought BMWs and they were nice cars, and I worked on many of them at the Benz Dealership, having customers with bad tastes in their mouths from BMW dealerships, and after the Executives grew older, more refined and maturer, he bought Mercedes Benz cars because Luxury and comfort were much more important than Performance. And this was almost always the real truth behind German Car sales. a good majority of Mercedes owners used to own BMWs but were "Converted" to the Mercedes line as not only a much higher level of status, but also of reliability. I was shocked to learn that BMW cars pretty much had the same long term reliability as the average Ford or Chevrolet, but Mercedes Benz Long term Reliability was vastly higher than any other manufacturer save for Toyota. I could give you hundreds of examples to support this statement, having been incharge of not only pre-delivery Inspections of New Mercedes Benz Models to their customers, but also in charge of used car inspections when they came in from the Auctions, and BMW, though having a high initial quality, they dropped sharply at about the ten to 15 year level, having need of some very stupid repairs that shouldn't ever be an issue with a German manufacturer, such as fit and finish trim inside and out , body panel rust issues and wear on components that even Ford had mastered long ago. In short, BMW was cheaping out on many parts that seemed to last for about 10 to 15 years and then start failing. BUt this was never an issue for BMW, really, because almost all of BMW owners would trade in their models long before this time for a newer one, but there were some hold out customers that thought that BMWs were just as good as Mercedes Benz....a mistaken conclusion. and I had a long list of Customers that I worked on their cars personally who used to think that way, but had been woken up by their 15 year old BMWs issues, and came in to Mercedes Benz to trade in their BMW for a Real German Luxury Car. And we can see in many aspect, at least in the crowds that I associated with, that Mercedes Benz owners held onto their cars, basically until they died, but BMWs were sold on down the road for newer ones because they didn't want the hassle of having to replace practically everything in the car aby the 20 year mark. So when we saw an E500 come in, it was treated very, VERY gently because not only were they RARE as hen's teeth (because of the crazy price tag they demanded for them) but they were a collectors piece that would end up in auto shows as an example of Mercedes engineering that put performance ahead of luxury, or at least on equal terms, which, if you know anything behind Benz mentality was a serious rarity. SO yes, they were beautiful but most long term Benz Customers payed the model no attention, because the E-class was a compact model, intended for people with a lower income bracket than the S-class or SL models. so it is a very rare car, despite it being perhaps the most perfect compact sedan ever made, it was small, and cramped inside compared to the S-class. and although many Benz buyers could easily afford it when considering the cost of the S-class cars, it wasn't appealing to them, so most of the buyers of the E500 were a small fringe group of Benz buyers, or BMW customers that wanted a Benz that could compete with their Beloved Bavarian automobile, and as a plus they could proudly claim they were a Mercedes Benz owner. I would have bought one in a heartbeat if one would ever come up for sale, which was NEVER. but I was a young man back then and would have loved to own ANY Mercedes Benz, but an E500 would be on a different level. even today, that car is fawned over when it is seen, due to being so rare.
Большое спасибо Вам за такой познавательный комментарий! Сам владею W124 250D 1991 года выпуска. Это первая и, думаю, последняя машина в моей жизни. А о Е500 можно только мечтать! Удачи и успехов!
Coming from a BMW background, from 1602, 2002 (my first car) and all the rest of the 3 series up until e46 and a couple of e34s.(all of which i still own except the e34 Hartge that got sold in California) I have 1.2million KMs on the e46 with proof from BMW dealership's service computer printout, i bought that car new on 2000. I became the proud owner of a W202 after a fella was selling it for 300eu . (i thought heck its doors are at that value) I still daily it for the last 5 years to commute to work. Its a great car dont get me wrong. BUT the wiper doesnt clean the windshield efficiently, if you are a tall driver you literally have to shrug to see where you are steering the car,which zeroes the claim it was designed for safety,for me (yes the wiper,is making the piston movement) . It truly loves being on open roads though. And the little C class almost drives like a BMW 5 series comfort wise. I have it on yellow bilsteins with factory ride height aftermarket rims but stock dimensions. Having a vacuum pump control windows, lights, and door locks, from a vacuum pump located in the trunk that has the central relay in the front trunk with all those lines and little receptors....ITS a MAJOR engineering MESS. Name a BMW that has this unearthly engineering. A MAJOR fault is the biodegradable looms. REALLY mercedes? The engine loom is 1200eu new and you can only find it new at dealer because all the others have biodegraded!!! funny. That era BMWs are not how you describe them good Sir. You can find good quality BMW used parts at your local "24/7" meaning everywhere(pre 2000). Its not the case for Mercedes. At least in Europe. I dont know what fitment errors you are speaking of on BMWs but that era had zero problems. Only roof-liners are failing to age but its the same to mercedes cars too. As for mercedes owners keeping the cars for life, my opinion is that they are great cars. But after you pay half the cars value for repairs you just keep it. You dont sell it. Branding in each country is funny though. With 1in 2 cars in Albania now being a Mercedes and in Greece most Taxis are Mercedes and BMW not selling Taxis so that the brand doesnt look like every other Taxi....Go figure. Anyway as always just my opinion and not a personal attack.
I'm double your age and it's been my favourite since I was a kid too. I'll never forget when I first saw one, must have been '86-'87. One of the sheep farmers in the area where I grew up had a very good year selling wool, and they bought a red 300D sedan, and I thought it was the coolest thing I'd ever seen. I'm currently on the hunt for a S124 wagon, to which I plan to add a little more horsepower ;)
I bought a 1992 500E for $31,000 in 2002…it had 38K miles on it and it was an awesome car. The best car I’ve ever owned, save the A/C. This car garnered looks, thumbs up, compliments and requests to drive her. She gave me nothing but good times and great memories. I wish I still had her. I sold her to a California couple because the black leather interior was a heat sink in the Texas summers and the A/C just couldn’t cool the cabin or us. But that car was a dream…better than the BMW, Porsche and other sleds I’ve owned. I wouldn’t hesitate to buy this car today because no one makes a car like this. No one. Thanks for this. I truly enjoyed it. 👍🏼
this popped up yesterday in my feed and today the first car I passed on my way to work was a mint 500E. Mind was blown with the biggest grin on my face.
My father owned a '86 300E which still works perfectly up to this day after tens of years in service, then this video just make me to appreciate more about that car.
I had two 300E one 87 and the other 95.... those were my teenager cars and I love them. I still have the E300 95 storage with over 200,000 miles. Still work like new
I have a 1992 Mercedes 500E that still kicks with 240,000 miles. Soon I’m going to restore it and truly create a beast on the road. There is a reason this was called the “first Porsche sedan”. This is truly a special car and no other classic I’ve driven is like it. Loved you video to truly showcase just why this is an awesome car!
I used to work for Mercedes Benz and I had the unique honor and pleasure of driving a brand new 500E several times, until it was sold to a customer. It was a fantastic car. The handling was excellent and I loved the 300 E of time but the 500 was a whole different animal and the engine and suspension made it epic. The seats were comfortable but firm and you knew were driving a fast sports car as soon as you sat down. It was a fantastic car.
Greetings from Malaysia, I have 4 units of the W124, 2-E260 and 2- CE230, I just cant imagine the comfort, handling and durability of these cars, I simply love them .
I have so many great memories about the W124. My dad had one, I was sitting on his lap steering maybe 8years old. This was the moment I became a lifelong Mercedes fan and owner.
Watched this vid some time ago, thought it was brilliant, informative and entertaining. Love the car, the W124s were probably the best sedans ever made. A clean example will still turn heads today. The 500e and AMG Hammer were legends in their own lifetimes. And yes it is the world's most perfect sedan.
@Charl Kitching .. +1 .. Agreed. .I'd inherent a 1994 E320 Coupe from a relative whom had purchased the Mercedes new. . The coupe was his baby all those years. . The understated, elegant 2-door aesthetic is contemporary even today; 2021. . A four place seating interior covered with Creme Beige Leather everywhere contrasting the Stone Grey Metallic exterior. . Its gorgeous I must say. . The W124 Coupe is library quiet at any speed. . A great "Road Trip" car. .. ✌😎
@@Norquartum Yes. Great car that easily out ran the M5 and E500. Think it had a 3.0 or 3.5 straight 6 with twin turbos. Top speed 280 plus. A vauxhaul carlton /opel omega tuned by lotus. It was one of the 100s pics that I had plastered on my wall's as a teenager
I love Jason Camisa's style. Manages to create a mesmerizing piece every time, making people long for the car he's talking about. So good that a BMW guy like me now NEEDS a W124.
These pre-electronics cars were amazing. Simpler to fix, with cheaper parts. Their upper bound of maintenance costs were dictated by manufacturing and design flaws. Now, every component is so complex, that the smallest fixed require massive costs and non isolated replacements
Before you replaced a vacuum hose or a cable, now it's the whole assembly because of the circuit board. Parts are more expensive, repair is harder and more costly. At the same time power, driveability, and efficiency are through the roof. It has its ups and downs like all things
Basically these days just drop what you feel should still exist from the past quality. It's not a myth, but it's just that business has changed. You can see it all around the globe, that the idea is to cycle customers through models quicker and provide quality longer that way, versus counting on people to invest in over-engineered vehicles to last 30+ years and afford those related costs. Car makers have a system to sell more units this way and obtain a better brand presence. Anyone old enough to recognize that there's a lot more Mercedes on the roads these days than say in the era of the model here? The focus for overall output production has evolved into more affordable prices and shorter lifespans. This is primarily why proper maintenance is so important these days. So you can sell your vehicle after around 5-10 years and apply that to a new well-running model. It's become a vicious cycle in successful motoring for the customer, over investing in your favorite mechanic for years to keep your vehicle going strong for 30+ years. People want to buy vehicles that will last 30 years but can't come to terms with letting the past be the past. They do not build like they used to, they build better now but not for longevity like before. Many just can't come to terms with it because they want to hold onto a vehicle for as long as possible. I wish we could, but sadly that's just not the business model any longer. Or, you can plan to keep fixing parts and still basically end up investing the same comparable amount of money that it would've cost for a quality built machine like we have shown to us here.
There's a Gentleman in germany who was featured in a vintage car magazine here recently, who built the one thing Mercedes skipped: A 500E WAGON. And due to all the changes in the bodyshell it's not just a powertrain-swap. The guy had a 500E, so he bought a W124-wagon and basically cut large parts of both cars' body off. And then swapped them. Roof, rear doors, rear quarters, trunk, tailgate, all grafted onto a 500E, without letting that one's cut-down body get too soft in the process to ensure everything remains straight.
@@yasir11 Excuse me Yasir but Carlos is telling us what "He" thinks mate, how bout you write what you think in your own comment yep? Chris Harris? I definitely agree with you on that.
This was an amazing story. I'm of the age group that's never lived through the Oil Crisis, so the W124 Mercedes E500 story is eye-opening. Incredible how the assembly took place.
Didn't know it had the Silver Arrows V8 in it. That makes this car very special indeed. Those silver Sauber-Mercedes Le Mans prototypes blew me away when I saw them in person in '89. I had a poster in my room of the exploded engine and remember looking at it in total awe for what seemed like hours.
My dad gave me a w 124 when I was 18. It had about 550000 miles on it being a former Taxi. I changed oils and filters and drove across Europe like it was brand new. I miss that car and those times. It was a beauty . Yo uh don't see them anymore on German roads.....
I live near Stuttgart and i basically see this mercedes atleast 5 times a day. I never thought about how old it actually is as allmost all of them are in good condition. Its very rare to see an bmw or audi from that time on the streets. Just speaks to how crazy well engendered Mercedes used to be
i drive a 2005 e320. it just clocked over 200,000 miles and it drives better than new. a car built for the highway. no squeaks, no rattles, no wind noise. amazing engineering, technology and comfort.
The amazing thing about the Lexus story, is that it was almost predestined to happen. Clayton Christenses did a wonderful summary of this and used it as a case study in his model for "disruptive innovation". Modern entrepreneurs should learn from the Lexus, if they really want to pretend to be "disrupting" more than their wardrobe.
There once was a time, when Mercedes was building cars as they should have - in accordance with the rock solid quality. Late mid 80s to early 90s E-Class was the best Mercedes to this date...Built like tank, and refined as Rolls.
They also had fewer problems with gearboxes but the w123 102 motor with that nasty single chain... I spoke to the factory rep/engineer and said to him it would be simple to make that horrible flaw into a double chain. I had had some full sized printing done to display in the Epping workshop in 85/86 and showed how easy it would be to solve the snapping chain issue.
German engineering precision is very respectable but never in refinement. Indeed Germans are actually quite coarse and raw come to interior, while Americans are worst full of plastic and noise(esp Ford). Mercs is far from Rolls refinement, not even close to cheap Rover with hand stitched stirring wheel and heavily paddling soft leather seats, a standard Brits refined handicrafts. Only French Peugeot come close in refinement, while Italians are flamboyant in design. Scandinavia Volvo and Saab are another class of their own.
@@naturetruth5218 I agree. They aren't particularly refined. I've been I every s class since 1990, and none of them compare to a lexus, or something like a range rover. As for the styling, they've rarely built anything other than conservative. Very boring. The journalist might need to go to an optician. The quality at that period with Mercedes was very good, though. After 1990 it all went down hill. They've never recovered, despite what their adverts and sycophantic journalists tell us.
@@saintadolf5639 I don't think that he's British, from his grammar and spelling. Why didn't you say Frenchman or Italian, or Swedish, because he also (correctly) sang the praises of those nations?
It's getting to the point where building a E500 is cheaper. The trans tunnel isn't actually any different to the normal W124. They have a different engine crossmember and firewall.
I just discovered your page, and I must say this is some of the best automotive journalism I’ve ever seen. The quality is record breaking. The only thing that comes remotely close is donut.
TBF, compared to this, Donut looks pretty amateurish, and I've been with them since they didn't even have a youtube channel and were posting on Facebook only.
What a grand story! I knew about the connection between Mercedes and Porsche but was not aware of building a short stroke motor in order to fit the wheel wells. And all the other stuff. Amazing.
Oh man... That star at the end of the hood. I'm driving a new E400d today but I still remember and miss that view with the star from my 2nd car: The 190e 4-gear automatic. Ps.: I loved that it started out on the 2nd gear. It made city cruising so calm and smooth 🙂
You my friend are by far the most knowledgeable person on cars, car histories, their comparative histories and their contexts within the modern times in the world my brother....
@@verdict1163 I counter with any late (94 and 95) W124 in silver, grey, navy blue, emerald green, white, or black. Actually any W124 in those colors as long as it has the European headlights. The W201 is a beautiful car, but it's the styling and engineering predecessor to the W124; the W124 improves on it everywhere.
@@monunyabidness5949 W201 is faceted like a cut gemstone and has much more complex surfaces than the W124. Really stunning design in person, especially in silver. For what it's worth, the designer of both (Bruno Sacco) is on record stating the W201 is his favorite. W124 underpinnings are identical to the W201, it just has a slightly bigger body.
This is an amazing car. I always thought I understood why the older mercs had such a devout following, but now I can see (even if only in part,) why that is.
This is one of my favourite videos on RUclips! It’s funny, informative and that car is absolutely beautiful. Thank you for taking the time to produce this masterpiece, it is much appreciated.
"This is a car from back when Mercedes engineers outranked Mercedes accountants" - That hit me real hard being an Automotive Engineer :(
IMO, the bean counters are what killed AMC. They also killed Westinghouse, for that matter…my Dad was an engineer there and was one of the first to get his pink slip in ‘91, after an argument with the bean counter CEO, who wasn’t an engineer.
@Steven Andersson Aspiring psychiatrist, aye?
@Steven Andersson What a sad and pathetic comment. All he did was make an observation and tell us why the quote resonated with him. Get a life, you tosser!
People working at cost controlling departments are also usually engineers :)
@Steven Andersson looks like somebody has a complex!
Been driving a w124 300D as my daily car for about 20 years now, sitting at nearly 700 thousand km.
All I can say is that she'll be driven at least another 20 years.
Best car ever.
Bloody hell! 700k km?!? You must have been treating this car greatly. Most cars nowadays can't even reach 400k and your car is at 700 that's a great car you got there innit mate?
Best car ever. I've had six of those and none of them had under 350 000km on the clock. One had almost 900 000km before it rusted too badly. Amazing machines. Reliable, easy and cheap to fix.
Right, there"s a very particular reason why taxi companies generally only use mercedes.
elle vas passer le million logiquement si la chaine a été changer vers 450000 elle est bonne a refaire avec un controle boite et pont
@@AtuMan190 200D 4 cyl, 250D 5 cyl, 300D 6 cyl.
My Dad had this car and he was so proud, so was I.
My best memory with my Dad is him picking me up abruptly from my Mum's house and us driving from Lusaka Zambia to Harare Zimbabwe for the weekend.
He had a business there. He was a pilot so he drove expertly and fast. It was like I was on a very expensive, air conditioned and cushiony rollercoaster ride. With Luther Vandross, Lionel Richie, Bobby Brown and Whitney Houston blasting through the cassette radio.
We stayed at the Intercontinental Hotel and were woken up by the sounds of motorcycles and police sirens. I went to the balcony and President Mugabe's motorcade was going down the street. 10 or more of this very Mercedes speeding by, with outriders stretching as far as the eye could see.
Great memory surrounding this car.
I was about 8 or 9 years old.
You sound like somebody with whom it would be _fascinating_ to have coffee. Obviously from an upper or upper/middle class family. Living in a place as interesting as the African continent, and living _~ahem~_ in an 'interesting' political time.
Would love to hear your full story!
When Zimbabwe was Zimbabwe 😥
movies were developed on less plot than you just described. its beautiful.
@@Liampowell4 oh wow, thank you... I was keen on literature at school and I've been told I have the best memory in the family lol😂
@@harmo7777777 it was a beautiful time.
My father owned one…one of the first to arrive in Greece… I got it 15 years ago from him. It’s my only car , still. I can surely say that this piece of engineering is the HIGHLANDER of cars…
U mean HOMELANDER?
There can be only one!
U mean HOMUNCULUS?
@@DrMcMoist my doctor friend i got your back :)
Lies again? Wrestle Mania PS4 Face
This popped up on my feed, an I just couldn’t stop watching! What an incredible piece of machinery.
Just stick with a Camry boss and you be fine.
That’s what made it famous and lived in Albanian
these old mercedes are fantastic cars but 1) they can be money pits 2) it's hard to work on them yourself unless you're a near expert - the fact they're so "over-engineered" means things get complex very quickly when you have to do a serious repair. an old toyota or honda is like building lego compared to these old mercedes lol.
@@chrishayes5755 i am talking about back then now they are too old!!!
Same with me
This is some of the finest youtube'ing I've ever seen.
Ya the storytelling is top notch
@Usman Khan Do you not realize the ones in my picture are plastic halloween props?
@Sloppy Turtle seeing how my reply is several days old by the time you're asking and my profile says 7 years since join. What would your guess be?
@Usman Khan dude,.. you're bitching on RUclips. Whatever your issue is it's clear me or my picture ain't it.
@@clausalbk1699 Still what makes it so fine? Is it his teeth?
Jason Camissa is hands down one of the greatest automotive journalists I have seen in a very long time. Thank you for this series.
just met him....and agree.
Ever heard of Matt Watson🤣
Hands down
Yep Cammisa is ;)
@@anuraggorkar5595 Just watched a few of his videos. His presentation is not even close to Jason's. Writing and delivery of Cammisa is next level. Videography and production of Camissas videos is better too.
I think it's still one of the most beautiful "modern" Mercedes ever made, together with the 190 EVO 2.
@Snakejüce you're welcome
I remember thinking how amazing both the 190 and m3 EVOs were, and being incredibly sad that they weren't sold here. They were just on a completely different level to the versions we got here.
Yes❤
Especially in 2 door form
beautiful? really??
When I was a kid (I’m 45) MB were really the top of the line. They had a reputation of being built like tanks with indestructible engines. I think you nailed it when you said today they’re built by accountants not engineers. Well done video!
Boeing has the same problem.
@@deltavee2 that's true
Not literally said 'the quality controls outsourced to the usa
and the accounting to China.' lol
Top notch comment
@@deltavee2 Boeing's problem is Product Testing being outsourced to unskillful engineers for company's cost cutting..
My Dad had the 300E 1986, He bought it brand new , This car is indeed the perfect 4 door sedan, built like a tank, straight 6 engine, german engineering at it's finest, very comfortable ride, My dad donated the car in 2015 with 267K miles . Lots of memories
Nice you still got it ? My father had a 260e tank !!
No lol. Tesla Model S is the greatest 4 door sedan. Just go drive one.
@@InSaN3ViSioN loool Tesla POS , falls apart
@@InSaN3ViSioN I saw Tesla had about the worst reliability rating in the world. I get the impression they have no chance of seeing 4 or 5 hundred thousand k's like that Mercedes.
@@InSaN3ViSioN with panel gaps larger than a geo tracker and an ipad scotch taped to the crumbling dash? no thanks. lol
I am a mechanical engineer student and I adore these old German sedans, I have two E34s, a Granada, and I would love to have such an iconic car as the 500E one day, they truly don't make them like they used to anymore.
True! Same for the BMW E38.. think the best sedans were made in the 90s 😄
I own three E32 750iL’s
I'm a mechanical engineering student as well! And my daily driver is a W124 300D! Not as fast as a 500E, but every bit as much a Mercedes...
@@dinispaulino7512 Those too are amazing cars, nothing just keeps on going like one of those old classic MB diesel engines! 😀
@@Anirossa No doubt about that!
From a lifelong Mercedes-Benz fan, this is the best video I've ever watched!
I learned to drive in this car without having a clue about what was under the hood. 25 years later and I have been looking for a car as good as this one ever since. There is simply no match. It's a masterpiece.
Would you buy one in todays time? No modern tech, but I dont care. I just need a GPS and radio maybe. But it is a masterpiece.
It's simple... An episode with Jason Cammisa deserves a like by itself.
Woo, thank you!
True dat. I go where he goes.
@@JasonCammisa Jason, please do an E60 W124 or an R129 SL73 if you can find one. Love your content!
This comment alone deserves a like
An episode with Jason deserves AT LEAST 2 viewings. Also, Jason called a car with an auto trans the world's perfect sedan? Must be that good to overlook it.
This car is truly a timeless piece of beauty. Never knew a four decade old car could look so captivating..
Nothing better than a well maintained, well kept classic. New cars just don't have the character or charisma. I love my Coupe Deville wayyyyyyy more than my CT5.
Agree. This design is probably one of the kind of design which will never get boring
They are truly beautiful. I've got an uncle who currently owns two of them, and ever since their release has had AT LEAST one in the garage and has owned a total of around 20, I'd guess. And that's JUST the 500E/E500! I've been hounding him since I was 18 to sell me one as he has a knack for finding super clean, low mileage and well cared for classics that wont completely break the bank. At 35 I've given up on him and started looking for one myself that hasn't had the s^^t run out of it and still looks as good as one of these should. I'll find one...eventually!
Can‘t agree more... did almost instantly regret selling my 300E V6 Brabus tuned Sedan ((built 1991) in 2005, best W124 in terms of fuel efficiacy and day to day driving fun. Today it is an Oldtimer... sold long ago... but remebered as one of my best (of almost 60 to date) cars. :)
@@Atulnavadiya dieses Design ist zeitlos. Obviously the German language has a word that fits perfectly...
I've loved the creation of the W124 since I was a kid in Germany when it was introduced in late 1984 as a 1985 Upper-Mid Class Car. This particular Car was the beginning of the insane one up- man-ship between Mercedes-Benz and BMW in that segment much as previously the Battle between the W201 Baby Benz 190E Evolution and the BMW M3. I remember when Automotive Journalists compared the cost of the (C124) AMG Mercedes Hammer's Brakes to the entire cost of an M5 (E34) just to make a point to the reader about the intensity of this rivalry. When AMG gets involved BMW used to benefit from Schnitzer or Alpina getting involved for an attempt to settle the scores. Anyone here remember Opel's Omega getting the Lotus Treatment that resulted in a creation that could outperform even the 500E? It could do 0-100 km/h in 5.4 seconds and come close to the 285km/h mark.
It's time we change the way we measure performance and focus on 0 - 160 or 0 - 200 as almost everybody can build you a Car that can do 0-100 in under 3 seconds.
I miss the 80s when all this was going on! I remember the yellow 911 Turbo S in 1987 that could beat a 747 from 0 - 250 km/h. Another milestone I reminisce about.
Including the little driving footage I was desperately waiting for at the end made this video a 10/10 for me.
We got to hear that magnificent engine. Perfect.
I wanted to see the burnout he mentioned...
Would've loved some external shots during the driving portion as well
When I was a high school senior (2002) I worked at a body shop after school and there was one that had a fender bender and it sat there for like 8 months and the inside of it was immaculate.
I had the opportunity to buy this car in 2003 (I was the second owner) and it was such a joy to drive. It was hugely misunderstood as a car, and had an army of critics who mocked everything about it. All I can say is that it was way ahead for it's time.
7:03...and I've heard the fender flares were delicious gorgeous and finger licking as well...
Excellent. Thank you. As a Mechanical Engineer I appreciate the beauty of the W124 design in form and function...my 1991 300e at 451k miles shrugs off aches, rides like a tank, starts at one shot, delivers good MPG, never stranded, and people start asking me in Los Angeles freeways: Want to sell it??...an emphatic and nice NO is always replied.....modern classic indeed....nice video !!
My father bought a W124 in 98' I was about 2 years then. I'm 24 now and I still feel like a little kid when my father drives me in it in summertime 23 years later. Why does my dad still keep it? He totally agrees, it is the most perfect sedan in the world.
My dad also owned a w124 250d a masterpiece of a car i remember as a kid loving to be on it my dad said that i had a nickname for her sadly he had to sell it for his own reasons but if he wouldnt the car didnt had any problems to last until now.
My grandpa also bought a W124 in 1991.
We still have it to this day and it was the first car my grandpa taught me to drive. Here in Croatia its still a super popular car.
As much as i respect W124 to the maximum,i still find W126 and W140 abit better engineered...hmmmn....surprise me
MY GRAMPS LINCOLN TOWN CAR HAS 1 MILLION PLUS ON IT. STILL PURRS LIKE A KITTEN
. THE AIR RIDE IS A MAGIC CARPET!
@@captainamericaamerica8090 whoooahhhhh👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄
I worked at a Mercedes Benz dealership for over 19 years (starting in 1988). The500E was an awesome car and fun to drive. The video says no Porsche parts, but I remember standing at the parts counter as they ordered transmission parts from Porsche for a 500E.
My friend who still works there had one. He always floored it when we went to lunch. Good times.
great cars, they refuse to die, ive been driving one with all the warning lights on for the last two years, the only thing changed are the rear tires.
@@lobsterwhisperer7932 in 1992 MB changed to a Chinese engines harness supplier. After about 10 years, the insulation disintegrated, caused Christmas tree illumination aka warning lights in the cockpit when it was humid/wet. I changed the harness in my former 1993 W140, using the same engine, and problems went away.
That driving bit was the cherry on top of one of the finest pieces of automotive content I've seen in a while.
You should check the Icons episode with the CT5 Blackwing, M5 CS and the Model S Plaid, if you haven't already.
@@ZainJafar I'll definitely check it out!
Today i saw this car in my friend's garage in Jamaica 🇯🇲 and that's what lead me here.. he haven't drove it in 10yrs and now i will return back here after i own this beast.. wish me luck🎉
I remember having the opportunity to buy one of these in 2002 for $6,000 or around there. I didn't do it because I was concerned with Mercedes Benz reliability. Then a few years later I bought a W124 with an inline 6 and never had one issue with the car. That was when I realized the mistake I had made. That 500e would have been a way better car to own. Lessons we learn in life.
Mercedes Benz reliability? It was a problem with the models from 2000, because of the "bio" wires they used at the time. But otherwise I never heard about someone saying that :D
@@victorlupu7008 Maybe the guy is from the US, the MB's sold over there are being (badly) assembled in alabama and they suck balls, which is why MB has a bad rep for being unreliable in the US.
Actually, after this model (and the S/190 class) MB stated internally that "our cars are too high quality; customers either keep them or buy low-mileage used one's - we have to lower quality w about 60%" (and they succéded...)
Factory workers got devastated!
The 500E has a "de-tuned" DOHC Sauber C8 engine so parts are hard to come by, extremely pricey, and there's no room in the engine bay
@@victorlupu7008.....Volvo pioneered the biodegradable wiring insulation; when you sliced open the loom you found nothing but bare copper wires and some gray dust. The Japanese developed soy based insulation which rodents love to chew on.
Crediting Derek Tam-Scott as Derek TamHyphen Scott brought such huge smile to my face. GOAT editing
Heh glad it did. I had to argue with my editor to spell it wrong - but here's the best part: Hyphen himself approved that spelling. Heh.
I died laughing!
@@JasonCammisa had a good giggle too.. Top class stuff as ever sir!
@@JasonCammisa love it or hate it, that's just part of the jason-verse now.
@@JasonCammisa I have a feeling you had a strong hand in that approval
Can we talk about the wheels? Seriously the sexiest looking OE wheels in history
Yes they definitely are!
@Zack Smith sorry don't! agree Yes the Lexus is roomier inside!! But the Mercedes E500 is in a class of it's own!! I know cause my wife drives a Lexus!! ( boring) and I a Mercedes E 500 !! That I will drive till the wheels fall off!!!
Hideous!
They are essentially the wheels they throw on the current Maybach models. Look pretty similar
@Zack Smith b
Was raised in Germany and this car is an ICON to me 🥰
Finding little gems like this is why I still have hope for the YTube.
little gems from the 1.7 million subscriber Hagerty channel lol
Otherwise it’s toxic commie soup
Fr
Who directs/edits these? Absolutely deadly work - this is how you capture a host who can carry a show. I promise, I don't usually get this excited.
Same team that does all my videos - me, my director Anthony, and editor Rob. Thank you!
@@JasonCammisa truly car pornography. Really appreciate the incredibly high content quality!
I didn't see anyone die
@@JasonCammisa Das Beste 👌✅😃 Öder Nicht 👍🏁
Bruno Sacco is a genius. W124, R129 and W140 are absolute pinnacles of modern Mercedes-Benz.
w126 ???
@@canhuseyinoglu6477 That too.
I'd also add the w201
The R129 is my favorite car (the sl300 of course)
C126 was Bruno Sacco's favorite car by his own admission.
i had a 93 400 E . Car was a torque monster. low revving and would pull until ever ! Lowered the suspension, and for a heavy car , it handled really well. Plus cruising at over 130 , the Blaupunkt stereo was brilliant. Loved that car.
I just discovered this video. I have a 1989 W124 200, which has done 446 000 km - every thing still original and she goes like a bomb. When I give my grandchild's friends a lift from school, they always say, "wow, it rides so smoothly" even though their parents have the latest models of all types of vehicles. I love my Merc as it goes untouched from service to service. Other cars dread colliding with it as it is like a tank in comparison with many of the flimsy cars of today. Although it has been a family car for years, the interior is immaculate and so too the exterior (except for a bit of rust at rear window (coastal car)). Still quite a few in my Town looking super good. You can park them next to the latest models and it will stand proud.
Thanks for the excellent presentation.
I want to buy it
goes like a bomb is an overstatement i think xD damn those things are slow
Thank you for your Ted talk.
I bought a used -91 200 (12000km) in the mid 90's, sold it a few years later (at 16000km), and my feeling the first time I drove it was also "this is a tank"! Not a fast car, but so smooth auto gearbox and an infinity engine if well serviced.
That pride is causing people to not understand the current manufacturing approach of today's models. No manufacturer will say it, but the idea is to keep us in new models more frequently. The overall cost of ownership hasn't really changed much, it's just a different approach in production. You'll notice when your someone who's been around long enough to notice, that there's (for example) a lot more Mercedes on the roads today than there were in the 80s. It's a design approach shared across the globe. They can either cycle us through the latest greatest performing technology, or have you in outdated technology that lasts longer. One of the two is better for the overall longevity of the company, and that's important to decide on in order to stay afloat in today's market. They could produce like they used to, but you'll see a lot less Mercedes on the roads again. That's not a win for Mercedes.
Still an incredibly handsome car, and you can tell that the build quality is fantastic just by looking at the panel gaps and precision with which it was made. I would’ve loved to have seen these offered with a stick, that would’ve been perfection.
Exactly my thought; I can't say any car without a true, 3-pedal-manual is the best ______ car ever made.
no it wouldn't lol, it would have been slower, had a worst mpg and it wouldn't have been as smooth as it was, auto is still the best option Mercedes could ever chosen.
@@hieayu7773 This generation of E Class was made between 1984 and 1997, and back in that time frame a competent driver could shift a manual more quickly than an automatic could shift, and manual equipped cars had better fuel economy than their automatic equipped counterparts, with next to no exceptions. Modern slushboxes are marvels of shift speed and economy, but that’s a relatively recent advancement. For the vast majority of automotive history the manual transmission would always have better fuel economy and acceleration than its automatic counterparts. Watch some old Motorweek episodes where they have auto and manual versions of the same car, and you’ll understand that the difference in acceleration between the two transmissions in an otherwise identical vehicle could be quite notable, sometimes resulting in a gap of a few seconds between the quicker manual and slower automatic. I’m guessing that you’re not very old or you’d already be aware of this. As to your final point, smoothness, I’ll concede that automatic transmissions tend to be smoother than manuals in the hands of many, but a competent operator can negate most of that particular “advantage” (if you can call it that.) At the end of the day, the point of the W124 500E wasn’t smooth shifting or fuel economy, it was being a killer field and track star in a tux… and having at least the option of a manual transmission (y’know, a proper DRIVERS choice) would only have made it better.
The W124 *was* offered with a stick, and other down-market exotica like cloth seats and hand-crank windows -- but only in Europe. You'll see a 5-speed 300E pop up on Bring a Trailer now and again.
@@hieayu7773 why do you think a manual would have worse mpg? Its the opposite really lol
What a beauty. I remember the first Merc I rode in when I was little was a W124 which my dad owned as his first German car. Fond memories. He'd always been a fan even after selling his W124. He would flip W124s once in a while as a hobby while earning some profit from them...Sadly, he passed away exactly a month ago.
As for myself, I own a W202 C230 Kompressor (manual transmission) for 8 years. Enjoy every second of driving it. My dad played a major role in helping me to keep the car in mint condition. As a way to honor and remember my late dad, I will never ever sell my W202 and will make sure it lasts forever.
That's dope!
I recently read someone stating a W202 is akin to a smaller W124 - very true. I also own a W202 / C36 AMG. Had briefly owned a W124 Estate prior, also with the M104 engine. Regrettably sold the wagon, shoulda kept it in my backyard! Seriously awesome cars
very nice ❤
I worked as a Mercedes Benz Mechanic in the late nineties and the early two thousands, apart from being the best job I ever had, it had the pleasure of working on the best cars that the world had to offer. The E500 was one of those cars and the importance of a massive V8 in that compact sedan was not lost on us and whenever we had one come in, we treated it very gently because, despite it being one of the best cars ever made, very few were ever purchased in comparison to all the other models Benz made, and as such they were rare and seen as an incredible work of art that had been created to blow the doors off BMW, a slap in the face of the Bavarians if you will. But one thing we always clear to me working at Mercedes Benz, the Younger German executives bought BMWs and they were nice cars, and I worked on many of them at the Benz Dealership, having customers with bad tastes in their mouths from BMW dealerships, and after the Executives grew older, more refined and maturer, he bought Mercedes Benz cars because Luxury and comfort were much more important than Performance. And this was almost always the real truth behind German Car sales. a good majority of Mercedes owners used to own BMWs but were "Converted" to the Mercedes line as not only a much higher level of status, but also of reliability. I was shocked to learn that BMW cars pretty much had the same long term reliability as the average Ford or Chevrolet, but Mercedes Benz Long term Reliability was vastly higher than any other manufacturer save for Toyota. I could give you hundreds of examples to support this statement, having been incharge of not only pre-delivery Inspections of New Mercedes Benz Models to their customers, but also in charge of used car inspections when they came in from the Auctions, and BMW, though having a high initial quality, they dropped sharply at about the ten to 15 year level, having need of some very stupid repairs that shouldn't ever be an issue with a German manufacturer, such as fit and finish trim inside and out , body panel rust issues and wear on components that even Ford had mastered long ago. In short, BMW was cheaping out on many parts that seemed to last for about 10 to 15 years and then start failing. BUt this was never an issue for BMW, really, because almost all of BMW owners would trade in their models long before this time for a newer one, but there were some hold out customers that thought that BMWs were just as good as Mercedes Benz....a mistaken conclusion. and I had a long list of Customers that I worked on their cars personally who used to think that way, but had been woken up by their 15 year old BMWs issues, and came in to Mercedes Benz to trade in their BMW for a Real German Luxury Car. And we can see in many aspect, at least in the crowds that I associated with, that Mercedes Benz owners held onto their cars, basically until they died, but BMWs were sold on down the road for newer ones because they didn't want the hassle of having to replace practically everything in the car aby the 20 year mark. So when we saw an E500 come in, it was treated very, VERY gently because not only were they RARE as hen's teeth (because of the crazy price tag they demanded for them) but they were a collectors piece that would end up in auto shows as an example of Mercedes engineering that put performance ahead of luxury, or at least on equal terms, which, if you know anything behind Benz mentality was a serious rarity. SO yes, they were beautiful but most long term Benz Customers payed the model no attention, because the E-class was a compact model, intended for people with a lower income bracket than the S-class or SL models. so it is a very rare car, despite it being perhaps the most perfect compact sedan ever made, it was small, and cramped inside compared to the S-class. and although many Benz buyers could easily afford it when considering the cost of the S-class cars, it wasn't appealing to them, so most of the buyers of the E500 were a small fringe group of Benz buyers, or BMW customers that wanted a Benz that could compete with their Beloved Bavarian automobile, and as a plus they could proudly claim they were a Mercedes Benz owner. I would have bought one in a heartbeat if one would ever come up for sale, which was NEVER. but I was a young man back then and would have loved to own ANY Mercedes Benz, but an E500 would be on a different level. even today, that car is fawned over when it is seen, due to being so rare.
Большое спасибо Вам за такой познавательный комментарий! Сам владею W124 250D 1991 года выпуска. Это первая и, думаю, последняя машина в моей жизни. А о Е500 можно только мечтать! Удачи и успехов!
Coming from a BMW background, from 1602, 2002 (my first car) and all the rest of the 3 series up until e46 and a couple of e34s.(all of which i still own except the e34 Hartge that got sold in California) I have 1.2million KMs on the e46 with proof from BMW dealership's service computer printout, i bought that car new on 2000.
I became the proud owner of a W202 after a fella was selling it for 300eu . (i thought heck its doors are at that value) I still daily it for the last 5 years to commute to work. Its a great car dont get me wrong. BUT the wiper doesnt clean the windshield efficiently, if you are a tall driver you literally have to shrug to see where you are steering the car,which zeroes the claim it was designed for safety,for me (yes the wiper,is making the piston movement) .
It truly loves being on open roads though. And the little C class almost drives like a BMW 5 series comfort wise. I have it on yellow bilsteins with factory ride height aftermarket rims but stock dimensions.
Having a vacuum pump control windows, lights, and door locks, from a vacuum pump located in the trunk that has the central relay in the front trunk with all those lines and little receptors....ITS a MAJOR engineering MESS. Name a BMW that has this unearthly engineering.
A MAJOR fault is the biodegradable looms. REALLY mercedes? The engine loom is 1200eu new and you can only find it new at dealer because all the others have biodegraded!!! funny.
That era BMWs are not how you describe them good Sir. You can find good quality BMW used parts at your local "24/7" meaning everywhere(pre 2000). Its not the case for Mercedes. At least in Europe.
I dont know what fitment errors you are speaking of on BMWs but that era had zero problems. Only roof-liners are failing to age but its the same to mercedes cars too.
As for mercedes owners keeping the cars for life, my opinion is that they are great cars. But after you pay half the cars value for repairs you just keep it. You dont sell it.
Branding in each country is funny though. With 1in 2 cars in Albania now being a Mercedes and in Greece most Taxis are Mercedes and BMW not selling Taxis so that the brand doesnt look like every other Taxi....Go figure.
Anyway as always just my opinion and not a personal attack.
Im 25 years old, pretty young but ever since I was a kid, this has always been my dream car.
LEXUS IS BETTER. SO ARE THE LINCOLN TOWN CARS LIMOS. WE HAVE ALL THREE. SO WE KNOW
Same.
I'm double your age and it's been my favourite since I was a kid too. I'll never forget when I first saw one, must have been '86-'87. One of the sheep farmers in the area where I grew up had a very good year selling wool, and they bought a red 300D sedan, and I thought it was the coolest thing I'd ever seen. I'm currently on the hunt for a S124 wagon, to which I plan to add a little more horsepower ;)
I liked it too, but I much prefer the 190, both aesthetically and dimensions wise, that's the perfect sedan for me.
You have fine taste
So great to watch someone praise my beloved W124... she lasted our family just under 30 years, eventually replaced by a superb W211... thank you 🙏🏼
I’m loving the Revelations series with Jason Cammisa. A lot of stuff people don’t know and packages it into a really interesting, digestible episode.
these videos are so necessary, people need to know a little bit of history behind these iconic models! well done sir, well done.
I bought a 1992 500E for $31,000 in 2002…it had 38K miles on it and it was an awesome car. The best car I’ve ever owned, save the A/C. This car garnered looks, thumbs up, compliments and requests to drive her. She gave me nothing but good times and great memories. I wish I still had her. I sold her to a California couple because the black leather interior was a heat sink in the Texas summers and the A/C just couldn’t cool the cabin or us. But that car was a dream…better than the BMW, Porsche and other sleds I’ve owned. I wouldn’t hesitate to buy this car today because no one makes a car like this. No one. Thanks for this. I truly enjoyed it. 👍🏼
that is so sad :(
In Europe we only need A/C from the breath of an Asthmatic Hamster gargling an Ice cube. 😂 Hot days per year are counted on 1 hand.
this popped up yesterday in my feed and today the first car I passed on my way to work was a mint 500E. Mind was blown with the biggest grin on my face.
My father owned a '86 300E which still works perfectly up to this day after tens of years in service, then this video just make me to appreciate more about that car.
I had two 300E one 87 and the other 95.... those were my teenager cars and I love them. I still have the E300 95 storage with over 200,000 miles. Still work like new
Love that at the end we get to see a POV drive, no music, no talking just the sound of the engine on a winding road.
I have a 1992 Mercedes 500E that still kicks with 240,000 miles. Soon I’m going to restore it and truly create a beast on the road. There is a reason this was called the “first Porsche sedan”. This is truly a special car and no other classic I’ve driven is like it. Loved you video to truly showcase just why this is an awesome car!
That's baby miles for a 90's Merc. Keep it up man! 👍
The video just literally tried to disprove that "first Porsche sedan" image, but oh well...
I've never identified with a car reviewer more than when Jason gingerly caressed those fender flares
I licked it, too, but my director thought that was gross. What a jerk.
Your producer has no taste then. That's why he can't lick it I guess.... :-p
Exquisitely and deliciously intimate.
That was a cringy part in the video for me, however, I didn't even flinch when the guy opened er' up on the back roads
those fenders are sexy indeed. So are the C5 RS6 fenders. And 911 rear fenders.. hot damn.
I used to work for Mercedes Benz and I had the unique honor and pleasure of driving a brand new 500E several times, until it was sold to a customer. It was a fantastic car. The handling was excellent and I loved the 300 E of time but the 500 was a whole different animal and the engine and suspension made it epic. The seats were comfortable but firm and you knew were driving a fast sports car as soon as you sat down. It was a fantastic car.
Greetings from Malaysia, I have 4 units of the W124, 2-E260 and 2- CE230, I just cant imagine the comfort, handling and durability of these cars, I simply love them .
I have so many great memories about the W124. My dad had one, I was sitting on his lap steering maybe 8years old. This was the moment I became a lifelong Mercedes fan and owner.
My dad had 2 w124 as he was a german engineer during college. I loved his gray 300e with body kit and the monoblocks
@@onuohafamily MY DAD HAD 3!!!
Only the Germans can work together despite being rival brands. It does make me appreciate their friendship even more.
Friendship with Germans is good. They tend to be harsh with their enemies.
Tell that to Adidas and Puma
Toyota-Mazda, Subaru-Toyota.
@@rockino2562 adidas, puma AND lecoque sportive... all the same family xD
While not really rivals, Toyota and Yamaha have had a great relationship.
Can I request an episode on the E34 M5?
Yes. Yes you can.
Now tuning in 🍿
Noo Misha, not the second most perfect saloon! Both are my dreamcars :)
They should come drive my 1995 E34 M5 3.8L EVO TOURING!
500e and M5 head to head story pls
Jason, you're gifted in storytelling. Can you please do a part two with the W201 and it's EVO versions... Please ?
Watched this vid some time ago, thought it was brilliant, informative and entertaining. Love the car, the W124s were probably the best sedans ever made. A clean example will still turn heads today. The 500e and AMG Hammer were legends in their own lifetimes. And yes it is the world's most perfect sedan.
@Charl Kitching .. +1 .. Agreed. .I'd inherent a 1994 E320 Coupe from a relative whom had purchased the Mercedes new. . The coupe was his baby all those years. . The understated, elegant 2-door aesthetic is contemporary even today; 2021. . A four place seating interior covered with Creme Beige Leather everywhere contrasting the Stone Grey Metallic exterior. . Its gorgeous I must say. . The W124 Coupe is library quiet at any speed. . A great "Road Trip" car. .. ✌😎
Nailed it!
Have you ever heard about Lotus Omega?
@@Norquartum Yes. Great car that easily out ran the M5 and E500. Think it had a 3.0 or 3.5 straight 6 with twin turbos. Top speed 280 plus. A vauxhaul carlton /opel omega tuned by lotus. It was one of the 100s pics that I had plastered on my wall's as a teenager
They have souls... my 90's childhood was spent with W124 and S500.
Thank you Mercedes for showing me the world, with your beautiful light.
I'm stunned by the production quality of this video.
Here ... Take my sub.
I love Jason Camisa's style. Manages to create a mesmerizing piece every time, making people long for the car he's talking about. So good that a BMW guy like me now NEEDS a W124.
These pre-electronics cars were amazing. Simpler to fix, with cheaper parts. Their upper bound of maintenance costs were dictated by manufacturing and design flaws. Now, every component is so complex, that the smallest fixed require massive costs and non isolated replacements
Best comment of all
Before you replaced a vacuum hose or a cable, now it's the whole assembly because of the circuit board. Parts are more expensive, repair is harder and more costly. At the same time power, driveability, and efficiency are through the roof. It has its ups and downs like all things
I just feel sorry for the mechanics who have to put up with these crappy mondern designs
Basically these days just drop what you feel should still exist from the past quality. It's not a myth, but it's just that business has changed. You can see it all around the globe, that the idea is to cycle customers through models quicker and provide quality longer that way, versus counting on people to invest in over-engineered vehicles to last 30+ years and afford those related costs. Car makers have a system to sell more units this way and obtain a better brand presence. Anyone old enough to recognize that there's a lot more Mercedes on the roads these days than say in the era of the model here? The focus for overall output production has evolved into more affordable prices and shorter lifespans.
This is primarily why proper maintenance is so important these days. So you can sell your vehicle after around 5-10 years and apply that to a new well-running model. It's become a vicious cycle in successful motoring for the customer, over investing in your favorite mechanic for years to keep your vehicle going strong for 30+ years.
People want to buy vehicles that will last 30 years but can't come to terms with letting the past be the past. They do not build like they used to, they build better now but not for longevity like before. Many just can't come to terms with it because they want to hold onto a vehicle for as long as possible. I wish we could, but sadly that's just not the business model any longer. Or, you can plan to keep fixing parts and still basically end up investing the same comparable amount of money that it would've cost for a quality built machine like we have shown to us here.
A W124 is full of electronics. A lot of it is very complex too, as it was not as interated as it is today.
By far the best episode yet. Jason Camisa and Hagerty are the ultimate partnership. Enthusiasts owe hagerty their business for these films!
I love the 500E since I was a kid and knew about its history. No video has done it justice until now. Thank you.
There's a Gentleman in germany who was featured in a vintage car magazine here recently, who built the one thing Mercedes skipped: A 500E WAGON.
And due to all the changes in the bodyshell it's not just a powertrain-swap. The guy had a 500E, so he bought a W124-wagon and basically cut large parts of both cars' body off. And then swapped them. Roof, rear doors, rear quarters, trunk, tailgate, all grafted onto a 500E, without letting that one's cut-down body get too soft in the process to ensure everything remains straight.
I absolutely love your personality during all your interviews well done my friend! Subscribed 👊🏼
Yeah , I like Ben Affleck too
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Yeah Jason is a funny guy. Him and Carlos Lago was my favorit Motortrend host back then.
someone said on a comment Adam Sandler! so funny like him too!
Gonne leave this endearing comment in response to the adam sandler comment... "adam sedandler" 😋 great videos btw
Honestly i can never get enough of Cammisa. I want this guy to narrate my life!
I would watch a car show that this guy presents every day. Clearly he loves cars!
When I was back in high school, this was one of my favorite cars. I always wanted but never could get.
my dad had this car when i was young he purchased it in 1995
and now he is still driving it till today
best car memories ever
uvuvwevwevwe onyetenyevwe ugwemubwem ossas, is that you?
This guy, jay leno and Clarkson are the only guys I like to hear talk about cars.
And Chris harris
@@yasir11
Excuse me Yasir but Carlos is telling us what "He" thinks mate, how bout you write what you think in your own comment yep?
Chris Harris? I definitely agree with you on that.
@@joshbrookes6439 i was just adding to that list cus it would be the same as mine plus chris.
Facts
And daddy doug
This is one of the most interesting motoring reviews of all time.
I really adore the piece of driving down the winding road at the end of each series. Great idea. Thank you!
This was an amazing story. I'm of the age group that's never lived through the Oil Crisis, so the W124 Mercedes E500 story is eye-opening.
Incredible how the assembly took place.
@M. Kuviac .. Agreed, just so happened during a Porsche factory tour to see the actual 500 E production. .. What an idea!
Just let us not to forget the fact that they had the best resale values of all time too.
.... and keep rising
What do you they cost now?
@@Moondoggy1941 They cost around €35k until max 55k. I'm currently 20 and cannot wait to buy a beautiful 500E.
in Germany, this story is almost taught in school. Every kid of the 90s knows about it but thank you for presenting it so beautifully..
Didn't know it had the Silver Arrows V8 in it. That makes this car very special indeed.
Those silver Sauber-Mercedes Le Mans prototypes blew me away when I saw them in person in '89. I had a poster in my room of the exploded engine and remember looking at it in total awe for what seemed like hours.
My dad gave me a w 124 when I was 18. It had about 550000 miles on it being a former Taxi. I changed oils and filters and drove across Europe like it was brand new. I miss that car and those times. It was a beauty . Yo uh don't see them anymore on German roads.....
My dad just (re)imported one from belgium so you‘ll see one on the streets of berlin :)
I have on as well (w124t 1994 220e) and I’m filled with joy every time I pass another w124 on the streets in germany and we greet each other
they got sold to other parts in the world, Germany had years where they abolished many youngtimers :(
This is the first Hagerty video I've ever seen, and I feel ashamed it's taken so long. Wow. Just amazing work!
I live near Stuttgart and i basically see this mercedes atleast 5 times a day. I never thought about how old it actually is as allmost all of them are in good condition. Its very rare to see an bmw or audi from that time on the streets. Just speaks to how crazy well engendered Mercedes used to be
Jason. I've been watching your content for about 5 years. You have never ceased to amaze me. Please keep going with videos here.
Now I understood how masterpiece this car was and still is.
This was and still is one of my favorite cars. I would call it PERFECT.
i drive a 2005 e320. it just clocked over 200,000 miles and it drives better than new. a car built for the highway. no squeaks, no rattles, no wind noise. amazing engineering, technology and comfort.
The amazing thing about the Lexus story, is that it was almost predestined to happen.
Clayton Christenses did a wonderful summary of this and used it as a case study in his model for "disruptive innovation". Modern entrepreneurs should learn from the Lexus, if they really want to pretend to be "disrupting" more than their wardrobe.
As an 80s kid and a small youtube creator this is the best youtube video I've ever seen! I'm sitting here in AWE of the production values!
There once was a time, when Mercedes was building cars as they should have - in accordance with the rock solid quality. Late mid 80s to early 90s E-Class was the best Mercedes to this date...Built like tank, and refined as Rolls.
They also had fewer problems with gearboxes but the w123 102 motor with that nasty single chain... I spoke to the factory rep/engineer and said to him it would be simple to make that horrible flaw into a double chain. I had had some full sized printing done to display in the Epping workshop in 85/86 and showed how easy it would be to solve the snapping chain issue.
German engineering precision is very respectable but never in refinement. Indeed Germans are actually quite coarse and raw come to interior, while Americans are worst full of plastic and noise(esp Ford).
Mercs is far from Rolls refinement, not even close to cheap Rover with hand stitched stirring wheel and heavily paddling soft leather seats, a standard Brits refined handicrafts. Only French Peugeot come close in refinement, while Italians are flamboyant in design.
Scandinavia Volvo and Saab are another class of their own.
@@naturetruth5218 Spoken like a true Brit.
@@naturetruth5218 I agree. They aren't particularly refined. I've been I every s class since 1990, and none of them compare to a lexus, or something like a range rover. As for the styling, they've rarely built anything other than conservative. Very boring. The journalist might need to go to an optician.
The quality at that period with Mercedes was very good, though. After 1990 it all went down hill. They've never recovered, despite what their adverts and sycophantic journalists tell us.
@@saintadolf5639 I don't think that he's British, from his grammar and spelling. Why didn't you say Frenchman or Italian, or Swedish, because he also (correctly) sang the praises of those nations?
One of the Best videos explaining the beauty of W124!
Great, now I'm off to Autotrader again looking at 500es that I'll never be able to afford..
Same! I wonder which modern car made in the last 10 years somehow ticks the right boxes as the 500E? Even if it has a slush box.
It's getting to the point where building a E500 is cheaper. The trans tunnel isn't actually any different to the normal W124. They have a different engine crossmember and firewall.
Build a 500ce lol
i feel you my brother like wise here
jajajajajajaaa
You can own a sl witch has the same motor lol how fast I made mine
I just discovered your page, and I must say this is some of the best automotive journalism I’ve ever seen. The quality is record breaking. The only thing that comes remotely close is donut.
TBF, compared to this, Donut looks pretty amateurish, and I've been with them since they didn't even have a youtube channel and were posting on Facebook only.
I've been in love with that car since I was a kid after I saw the French movie Taxi. The German bank robbers were driving those
Daaaaaaa!
As I get older, I become more sentimental and my dream car changes. I learned driving on a 190E and I strive to get a 500E in the future.
Especially loved the last 30 seconds of driving footage. Great story about a great car.
I love the way he narrates his videos, a touch of sarcasm, witty and personality.
What a joy to see his creations !
got pom poms?
What a grand story! I knew about the connection between Mercedes and Porsche but was not aware of building a short stroke motor in order to fit the wheel wells. And all the other stuff. Amazing.
Oh man... That star at the end of the hood. I'm driving a new E400d today but I still remember and miss that view with the star from my 2nd car: The 190e 4-gear automatic. Ps.: I loved that it started out on the 2nd gear. It made city cruising so calm and smooth 🙂
W124 still a good looking car, even today. 320E with 104 engine was a beast.
Great, prices of w124s are gonna go up after videos like this. Thanks a lot Cammisa!
cammisa i dont have fucking money!
The back road driving clip looked like it was a blast to film 😁
Channeling Mr Regular with that funky watch band.
You my friend are by far the most knowledgeable person on cars, car histories, their comparative histories and their contexts within the modern times in the world my brother....
Great video Jason. The w124 500E is definitely the best looking sedan ever built.
Narrow-body (non-16V) 190E w/side cladding in a two-tone metallic color
@@verdict1163 I counter with any late (94 and 95) W124 in silver, grey, navy blue, emerald green, white, or black. Actually any W124 in those colors as long as it has the European headlights.
The W201 is a beautiful car, but it's the styling and engineering predecessor to the W124; the W124 improves on it everywhere.
@@monunyabidness5949 W201 is faceted like a cut gemstone and has much more complex surfaces than the W124. Really stunning design in person, especially in silver. For what it's worth, the designer of both (Bruno Sacco) is on record stating the W201 is his favorite. W124 underpinnings are identical to the W201, it just has a slightly bigger body.
@@verdict1163Even tho Sacco’s fave is w201, I like the w124’s interior styling more than the w201’s, it just look more refined to me.
The Audi 200 20V is a strong contender too.
This is an amazing car. I always thought I understood why the older mercs had such a devout following, but now I can see (even if only in part,) why that is.
The 500e is one of my favorite Mercedes’s ever!🐟
This is one of my favourite videos on RUclips! It’s funny, informative and that car is absolutely beautiful. Thank you for taking the time to produce this masterpiece, it is much appreciated.
"So you don't back over your neighbour's kid...by accident". Good one
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