On the way to the mechanic's for a PPI with a 500E, the check engine light came on. Truthfully, how much money have each of you 500E owners spent in straightening out the electronics in your cars? I'm getting a little wary, because I do not have a several thousand dollar reserve.

Tom

I cannot recall spending any money on electrics (other than the wiring harness on all three, warranty). I' ll look thru the records again.

Tom,

It's likely O2 sensor time-on these cars it is assuredly a 60k maintenance item...even if the O2 sensor isn't slow-reacting enough to throw a trouble code, it'll affect performance at anything but WOT. Been there, experienced that.

Only other sensor I've had to change (knocking on wood) is the intake air temp sensor, a $25 part

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"If God had meant for us to walk, why did he give us feet that fit car pedals?" Sir Sterling Moss

Michael
2014 E63S Estate
2006 SLK55
1995 E500
1986 Porsche 944 turbo

You've already had my answer in your "limp home mode" thread.

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Mark Stetson
1995 E320 Wagon Moonstone Grey/Parchment 106K mi.
2007 E63 AMG Graphite/designo 75K mi

I have not had any problems with my 92 at all. The only item that I have been advised to change are the O2 sensors and the engine wiring harness. I do not know about the O2 sensors but the harness was about $293.00 from Tom Hanson at Caliber Motors.Good Luck ! .

Alan

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92 500E Silver 66k
82 Porsche 911SC 84K
68 Cadillac ( Gone Now )
03 Suburban Z71 200K
85 300SD 217k From Original Owner ( Dad )

The electronics haven't caused me any problems (knock on burl walnut)

I used to own an Audi 5k TQ...now THAT was a car with electrical problems

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Dean Albrecht
"Lead, follow, or better yet, get out of the way!"E500 owners motto

New alternator at 131,000 miles, original was still in there, less than $400...that's it for electrical besides some silly little parts from the first owner like power window switches and the passenger lite in the visor. No complaints here on electrical issues...so far.

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Jim

1992 500E
2007 CLK63
2003 Audi RS6
2001 Audi allroad

Hi all-

Tom- your check engine light episode on the 500e/e500 prospect should definitely be sourced (& repaired) to determine causes and/or if its a chronic type of issue with this particular vehicle. It's definitely not healthy to have an ailing 500e- to your pocketbook or your mental health.

I've not had any 'check engine' nor 'limp mode' occurances- though I've only owned '94 E500 for coming up on a year/ 6k miles (knock on burlwood too!).

...appears that quite a few '92-'93 500e's have had limp mode fiasco's (search) ...due to a number of different causes/ culprits

I did have a Aux Fan Relay/Sensor replaced the first week of E500 ownership. My E320 Coupe uses an Aux Fan Relay about once a year.

Other than that, work/ $$ has been limited to:
> 1500 mile oil/filter changes (15W-40 Penzoil Longlife Dino)
> Dist caps and rotors
> Rear Hydraulic Nitrogen Cell replacement x2/ fresh fluid/ filter
> Front Cam seals or Dist seals? replacement (slight oil seapage)
> Motor steam cleaning
> Front Sway Bar Bushings replacement (due to squeaking)
> Bridgestone S-03's/ Alignment/ Balancing
> OEM MB All Weather Rubber Mats (front and rear)
> Clear Bra (front flares, wiper panels, side skirt)
> Hella E-code headlamps w/ city lights wired
> CT Sensor Cooling Piggy Tail (thanks Guido)
> Alpine CHM-S620 CD Changer
> OEM CD Carpet Casket (thanks Scott)
> Zaino & polished OEM muffler tips

hope this helps
-fad
'94 E500 (38.6k) Starmark

Wow FAD...38.5K on your car....no wonder no problems...its still almost new. Get out and drive the darn thing...and more than around the block !!!

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Jim

1992 500E
2007 CLK63
2003 Audi RS6
2001 Audi allroad

Hi Jim- I guess the E500 has been relatively trouble-free

...believe it or not- I take the E500 out as often as I get a chance .... as you know it requires lots of open road. I picked it up last year with 32,800 miles on it, and have taken it to Willow Springs for some hot laps and a couple of trips to S Cal (from N Cal) too.

as you can probably guess- I'm fortunate to have other wheels to enjoy as well...

-fad
'94 E500 Starmark
'94 E320 Coupe Starmark
'88 BMW 325is
'88 Toyota Celica GTS
'97 Toyota T100 SR5 Ext Cab
'78 Lincoln Continental Town Coupe Cartier (land yacht)

FAD...only teasin' ya'...I'm jealous that I couldn't find a low mileage car like that, or afford one...I doubt you'll see any problems until it hits 100K...lucky you.

BTW...nice fleet

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Jim

1992 500E
2007 CLK63
2003 Audi RS6
2001 Audi allroad

Jim,
You really have to see -fad's E500 to appreciate how "as new" it really is! It's, like, perfect!

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Mark Stetson
1995 E320 Wagon Moonstone Grey/Parchment 106K mi.
2007 E63 AMG Graphite/designo 75K mi

...oh, I know you're teasing Jim- no problemo

Thanks Mark on the compliments-
if anyone hasn't seen Mark's 500e, his is so close to looking new and stances just perfect with the 17" EVO II's and S-03's (I hope mine will look as good @ 100K)

fwiw- Guido's '93 is great shape as well!
Guido- why are you going back to the factory OE 16" wheels?

-fad

>I hope mine will look as good @ 100K

-fad,
Hmmm, 6K miles per year, about 72K to go, we're talking about 2014 before your baby turns the 6th digit over! By then, I expect we'll all be swapping tales (with our wireless voice-activated PDA's) about our cherry 2003 E50's! And then, I hope I'll be taking out my 21-year-old 500E for the occasional Sunday nostalgia drive to keep performance in perspective.

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Mark Stetson
1995 E320 Wagon Moonstone Grey/Parchment 106K mi.
2007 E63 AMG Graphite/designo 75K mi

Well, in all honesty, I've only seen one or two of these cars that didn't look in tip top shape...but aren't we all 'Type A' personalities anyways?

Mark, me thinks my boy won't get into the car until he's maybe like 30 years old...and he's not even born yet !!

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Jim

1992 500E
2007 CLK63
2003 Audi RS6
2001 Audi allroad