Recently I had the chance to get my hands (and feet) on a 2005 Mercedes-Benz E500 4MATIC. This model is a variant of the older W211 pre-facelift (pre-2007) era. Even though the W212 is far more technologically advanced and perhaps more comfortable, this car is by all means still an excellently styled car with certainly still-advanced features in it.
EXTERIOR:
The exterior of the car is still, by all means, very sleek and curvy, in fact, it is curvier than the new W212 E-Class. Smooth, rounded A- and C-pillars lead to the well-rounded front and rear bumpers. The famous four "oval-eye" headlights are updated with more ovoid lenses, which are now clear, with projector lenses now rounding out the lighting (yes, that was a pun). The classic grille still remains, complete with hood-ornament Mercedes-Benz Logo.
INTERIOR:
The interior of the E500 definitely has an older feel to it because we are so involved with the newer cars of today. Interior comes with a choice of MB-Tex Leatherette or Natural Leather. The center console is trimmed with a choice of Burl/Walnut Wood Trim or Black Ash Trim. This is also where the gear selector resides. The climate control controls are above the COMAND system, which is optional. The instrument cluster features a digital fuel gauge as well as a digital coolant temperature gauge. The analog gauges, from left to right, are a clock, speedometer, and tachometer. The speedometer is intuitive and has a digital readout, which can display things from speed and outside temperature to mileage and service countdowns. Rear legroom is fairly decent with the front seats forward. Cargo volume is generous in the trunk, but not the best.
TECHNOLOGY:
The E-Class has always been one of the cars which is well ahead of its time in terms of technology. My favorites were the individual suspension damping settings (ADS-Adaptive Damping Suspension), which stiffens or softens the suspension based on the road condition. There are three modes: Comfort, Sport 1, and Sport 2. Sport 2 stiffens up the suspension so much that it is preferable only when you want to get a little active on the highway. Sport 1 is stiff too, albeit a little smoother for long and twisty country roads. Comfort cushions the ride incredibly, however I feel that Comfort mode could be a little smoother than it already is. The car also has the AIRMATIC DC suspension, which is automatic leveling and adjustable ride-height suspension technology which adjusts the suspension dampening 20 times per second to ensure a smooth ride. DISTRONIC radar-based cruise control is optional and adjusts your following distance to other vehicles in front of you. PARKTRONIC is low-speed parking collision assistance. Phone bluetooth is also available along with the COMAND Navigation System and a Harmon/Kardon Sound System.
Braking is done through a system known as SENSOTRONIC braking. The brake is not attached to the wheels hydraulically (well, it is as a backup but this backup line is hardly used). When you push the brake, the car takes into account the road conditions, the braking force, the speed of the car, and many other factors and applies a different, continually adjusting amount of braking force to each individual wheel.
PERFORMANCE:This car has incredible performance. It might be the old "x500" engine, which now the "x550" engine, yet it still packs a punch. This thing is a beast! Powered by a 5.0 L V8, it pumps out 302 HP @ 5600 RPM and 339 lb-ft of torque @ just 2700 RPM. Floor it and the thing rockets to 60 MPH in 5.8 seconds, which is only a few tenths of a second slower than today's E550. For some reason, 4MATIC models stayed mated with a 5G-Tronic 5-speed automatic transmission as opposed to the non-4MATICS, which got the efficient 7G-Tronic 7-speed tranny, but I'm not complaining; this thing still is a wonderful transmission that shifts right when it is supposed to and is usually never hesitant to downshift and give you more "oomph!" when you need it.
THE ACTUAL ROAD TEST!
I never completely took the car out on the main roads or freeways, just suburban roads. However I can tell you right now; this car is POWERFUL. There is a 5.0 L monster under the hood itching to burst it's power to those wheels. Tap the accelerator pedal lightly and the V8 emits a gentle growl, and the car still seems to take off. The brakes and the SENSOTRONIC braking system do the job, however the brakes feel oddly disconnected from the car with no firm link between your foot and the brakes. The accelerator is also completely electronic and does a good job of delivering power to the wheels. I was able to floor the car once, and 339 lb-ft of torque is incredible. Let me tell you this; when the new E550 came out in 2007, it got Benz's new V8 with 382 HP and 391 lb-ft of torque; if you can't afford that, then the E500, going for between $19K and $22K today, is a MORE than adequate substitute. AIRMATIC does a good job of cushioning all bumps and compensating for changing road surfaces.
In all, the E500, the best V8 luxury sedan of its time (2005), is still a thrill to joy and will still deliver heart-racing thrills as you put that pedal to the medal.
SPECIFICATIONS:
MSRP: $57,000; as tested ~$60,000
Vehicle type: front-engine, rear- or 4-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door sedan
Engine: DOHC 32-valve 5.0 L V8, 302 HP, 339 lb-ft torque
Transmission: 5G-Tronic 5-speed automatic with manumatic shifting
Dimensions:
Wheelbase: 112.4 in
Length: 189.7 in
Width: 71.3 in
Height: 57.2 in
Curb weight: 3812 lb
Performance:
0-60 MPH Est.: 5.8 sec
Quarter-mile: 14.3 sec @ 99 MPH
Top speed (limited): 155 MPH
Fuel Economy Estimates:
18 City/21 Combined/24 Highway
