8 V8-Powered Mercedes E-Class Models
There is something magical about Mercedes-Benz's luxury sedans and wagons when they are powered by V8 engines.
The first E-Class 'Benz with V8 performance
The tradition of Mercedes-Benz's V8 powered E-Class cars starts with this very mysterious W123 wagon. One of AMG's earliest creations, it ranks as the rarest of all high-performance E-Class cars. The formula was simple: transplant an M117 5.0-liter V8 into the W123 TE body. The results were extraordinary: a 1979 wagon with nearly 280hp.
The really big E-Class V8
The next influential V8-powered E-Class was yet another AMG creation, which debuted in 1988. Known as the Hammer, this W124 300CE was powered by a huge V8 engine. AMG enlarged the capacity of Mercedes-Benz's production 5-liter V8 to 6 liters, thereby increasing peak power to 380hp. The performance was radical for a late-1980s Mercedes, with the car fondly known as the 'Hammer', capable of 186mph.
>>Join the conversation about these V8-powered E-Class cars right here in the MBWorld Forum!
The Porsche connection
Staying with the W124 series E-Class, the next legendary Mercedes-Benz V8 in this range was a sedan. Mercedes-Benz entrusted the development of its 500E to Porsche. A car with great presence, thanks to its subtle upgrades of the W124 design, it remains one of the most iconic sports sedans. Powered by a 5-liter V8 good for 320hp, it was limited to a 160mph top speed - which the 500E achieved with performance to spare.
>>Join the conversation about these V8-powered E-Class cars right here in the MBWorld Forum!
A true modern classic in waiting
The introduction of Mercedes-Benz's W203 model range gave E-Class a distinctive round double-headlight appearance. It also welcomed AMG into the fold and the engineers at Affalterbach rewarded Mercedes-Benz's confidence in them with the first-generation E55 AMG. Powered by a naturally-aspirated V8 of 5.4-liter capacity, it was good for 349hp and a booming exhaust note during peak acceleration.
>>Join the conversation about these V8-powered E-Class cars right here in the MBWorld Forum!
The blower beauty
How would Mercedes and AMG improve upon the E55? That question was answered with the second-generation car, which added supercharging. The blown 5.4-liter V8 engine boasted 469hp and 516lb-ft of torque, both incredibly impressive numbers for a 2002 car. The performance was epic, with 0-60mph in 4.5 seconds.
>>Join the conversation about these V8-powered E-Class cars right here in the MBWorld Forum!
The E63 which transitioned to turbocharging
The W212 E-Class is interesting in the history of its V8s, as AMG fielded two different engines during this E63's lifecycle. It started off with the 6.2-liter naturally-aspirated V8, producing 518hp. That equated to 0-60mph in 4.3 seconds. AMG would eventually replace its atmospheric V8 in the E63 with a 5.5-liter turbocharged unit, boosting 577hp in its most potent factory configuration.
>>Join the conversation about these V8-powered E-Class cars right here in the MBWorld Forum!
The sleeper
For those who desired a slightly less intense, and more anonymous-looking W212 series V8 E-Class, this was the answer. Mercedes-Benz's E550 was untouched by AMG but that by no means meant it was slow. A naturally-aspirated 5.5-liter V8 made 383hp, a wonderful noise, and it ensured this Mercedes-Benz luxury sedan was still good for 0-60mph in 5 seconds.
>>Join the conversation about these V8-powered E-Class cars right here in the MBWorld Forum!
The current E-Class V8 king
It is very fitting that the most impressive current E-Class, is a V8-powered station wagon, much like the first car we profiled. The AMG E63 estate, in 'S' specification features a twin-turbocharged 4-liter V8 that produces 612hp. It is a wickedly fast car, especially for a wagon, capable of 0-60mph in 3.4 seconds. With enough space for any school run, or family weekend away, and the ability to tail supercars, this is one of the coolest vehicles in production.
>>Join the conversation about these V8-powered E-Class cars right here in the MBWorld Forum!
For help with service and maintenance of your car, check out the how-to section of MBWorld.org.