The Mercedes 500 E was a 4 door sports sedan, hand built by Porsche from 1991-1994. As the diesel Mercedes E class still is one of the most poplular cars used for taxicab service in the northern EU, the standard Mercedes built W124 E class was also very popular for.

The 1998 French action-comedy film Taxi, written by Luc Besson, is famous for its high-octane car chases and its iconic lead vehicle: a heavily modified 1997 Peugeot 406. This white sedan becomes a character in itself, featuring retractable wings, spoilers, and a high-performance engine that allows it to reach incredible speeds through the streets of Marseille. The main "villains" of the film drive two matching Mercedes-Benz 500 E (W124) sedans, painted in a striking red. These Mercedes were chosen to represent German engineering and precision, serving as the perfect rivals to the nimble, "transformed" French Peugeot. Other notable vehicles appearing in the background or during the chase sequences include the Peugeot 306 (police cruisers), the Citroën AX, and various scooters that add to the authentic Mediterranean atmosphere of the city. The film was so influential in car culture that the Peugeot 406 became an instant icon in France, synonymous with the franchise's blend of humor and mechanical modification, even though the actual stunt cars required extensive engineering to perform the jumps and drifts seen on screen.