Mercedes Benz 300 CE – 24 W124
Year of Manufacture: 1993
Power: 220 hp
Engine Displacement: 2,962 cm3
Number of Cylinders/Valves: 6/4
Weight: 1,710 kg
Condition: Excellent
Catalog Number: 38
The Mercedes-Benz E-Class, internally designated as the W 124, is one of the most successful model lines in Mercedes-Benz history. It was introduced to the market in 1985, with official production ending in 1997. A remarkable total of 2,562,143 units were produced across all variants.
This vehicle belonged to the mid-size class and was available as a sedan, estate (wagon), coupé, and cabriolet. It featured a wide range of engines—from basic four-cylinder carbureted gasoline versions to the top-tier 500E with a V8 engine. All diesel engines produced by the company at the time were also used in this model. Some versions were equipped with four-wheel drive under the 4-Matic badge, marking a Mercedes-Benz first. From its development stage, the car incorporated many advanced features and set benchmarks for future vehicles. It had excellent aerodynamics, and the chassis used design elements previously found only in higher classes. The car stood out for its high level of safety. Its greatest asset was incredible reliability, thanks to quality craftsmanship, premium materials, and advanced technology. When you look at these cars today, their timeless design is unmistakable.
The most interesting model of the W 124 series? Definitely the 500E sedan with a 5-liter V8 engine and 32 valves. This unassuming sedan hid a true sports car with excellent performance. Notably, Porsche participated in its development and production, which speaks volumes about its qualities.
The chassis construction, which was already top-notch in standard versions, was further improved here. Front double wishbones and elastokinematic five-link suspension at the rear are still hard to beat in this class today. The car provided a solid foundation for a powerful model, which the 500E clearly demonstrated. Sitting in its impeccably finished interior, starting the engine, and driving off was a dream for many in the early 1990s. The car’s rigidity is impressive, feeling like it was carved from granite. The chassis offers greater road contact while filtering out irregularities excellently. It is rightly regarded as the pinnacle of German engineering of that era. The entire vehicle was crafted with extreme care.
It accelerates from zero to 100 km/h in 5.5 seconds. The engine not only delivers modern power but is also highly advanced technically. It is made entirely of aluminum, features variable valve timing on the intake valves, and uses a CAN-Bus control unit. Gear shifting is managed by a four-speed automatic transmission. Not all technical features were welcomed by customers; for example, the traction control system was not switchable until 1994, which understandably annoyed driving enthusiasts.
Production of one vehicle took a thorough 18 days, and due to strict quality controls and the complexity of production, the 500E cost 2.5 million CZK when new. Despite this price, it was not profitable.
And what about the cabriolet model? It premiered in September 1991. It was a four-seater convertible—the first in this series in nearly two decades. The car, with the internal code A124, was based structurally on the coupé. The biggest challenge with open-top cars—body torsion—was countered with four vibration dampers. The entire body was reinforced and heavily modified.
Because the cabriolet lacked both the B and C pillars, the front pillars had to be reinforced. Safety during rollovers was ensured by a special system of two deployable roll bars behind the rear seats, which also served as headrests. If the electronics detected an imminent rollover, these bars deployed automatically within just 0.3 seconds. They could also be manually activated by the driver.
The folding roof consisted of 27 parts and 34 joints but occupied only 80 liters of trunk space when folded. The roof had to be operated manually unless the owner opted for the electro-hydraulic system. Initially, only the 300 CE-24 Cabriolet version was produced, starting in 1992. Later, additional engine variants were added. Even today, it remains a very beautiful and unmistakable car.
Owners of all W 124 series vehicles remember them fondly, and for many, they represent the last truly mechanical cars before the widespread arrival of electronic and electric technologies in today’s automobiles.
