My first 500E.....WOW!
 

Hello. I am new to this forum and new to the 500E. A co-worker opened my eyes to the 500E and I am greatful he did. This car has seen it's last owner! I just pickup a 1992 500E German spec (American living in Germany), black metallic, gray leather, 85000 km (52,000 miles), 18" Lorinser, H&R springs, new Pilot Sports, new front rotors, Becker radio navigation, 6cd changer, 300W ampilfier, and one year warranty (piece of mind).

Word to describe this car.....WOW! I am in love. It feels like I'm cheating on my wife everytime I take a ride! The original owner purchased the car at the age of 82 year old and had it until last year. There was only 5000 km (3100 miles) the last three years he owned it. Interior is very very clean except it smells of smoke (not a fan of that). At first inspection there was alittle too much play in the front wheel bearings but the mechanic adjusted that. I was surprised to see how that adjustment can be really fine tuned. The steering was alittle tight but I didn't think anything of it. It was a 2 hour drive back home from where I purchased the car and after reading the posts on overheating I had my eyes glued on the temperature gauge. It never broke 98 C with AC on low but it wasn't a hot day and I wasn't driving hard. I have yet to see it hit 100 but I havn't been stuck in traffic on a hot day either.

I just changed the oil, using synthetic Castrol 5W50 and she seems to like it. I wanted to use Mobile1 but I could only get it in 10W40 and I didn't want to use that flavor. The other option was to spend $17 a liter on the German economy....not an option either! While I had the car up on the rack I took a closer look and noticed the power steering pump leaking fluid and with the steering tight I guess the PS pump is going bad.

I found myself on a open streach of Autobahn the other day(getting to be a rarity but a nice perk of living here) and decided to put some distance between me and the 7series BMW in the rear view mirror. I was running at 230 km/h (143 mph) with pedal and torque to spare before I had to slow down. Amazing car!

Only complaint with the car is the top of the steering wheel blocks my view of the gauges no matter how I adjust the seat........but it's so much fun, who cares!

Does anyone have any advice/comments on PS pump or keyless entry? Also, has anyone been through the process of coverting a German spec 500E to US specifications? I have contacted a few registered importer and they want between 5-8K to convert but they will not tell me exactly what they do for that money.

Pictures to follow when I get them under 66k in size.

Welcome to the club! Sounds like you found a great specimen. Don't worry, the perma-grin is normal. ;) Can't wait to see some pics!

A friend of mine has a Euro-E500 that was imported to the US and he has all the papers from the federalising...much of the changeover involves US spec lites and lens, door bracing (on some cars, maybe not the 500E) , cat converter, etc...bolt-on stuff...I'll get his books and check ...the place that imported it was from North Carolina if I remember.

Its funny...many of us want to convert ours to Euro-spec!!! You want to do the opposite...I know, to get the beast over here legally. Then back to the way they intended them...right?:)

Have fun with it...we're jealous we don't have the chance to burn around on the A-bahn with our own cars.

Power steering
 

Congrats!

When I bought my 500E the 'dealer' I had the PPI done at said I needed a new PS pump (lots of fluid).

I took it to an indy shop and he said the cork seals on the 'old' PS pumps always crack. New rubber seal =$2. Fine ever since.

"top of the steering wheel blocks my view of the gauges no matter how I adjust the seat"

My solution was to buy a V-One radar detector and never look down again! (may not be a problem for you on the A-Bahn)


Enjoy!

Dave

Thanks for the comments and info.

I replaced the front grill today, there was a small piece missing in the other one. I am going to work on the PS pump next but first it looks like i'll be changing the oil again. Ever since I put the Castrol 5W50 in I hear value clicking (sort of comes and goes). I didn't hear a thing with the previous oil (ARAL 0W40) in fact, it was very guiet, hardly knew it was running until you hit the gas pedal and heard the deep purr. I've got exactly 8.5 liters in her and that puts the line just above the half way mark between min and max. I was intending to put exactly 8 liters but it registered too low on the dip stick. So I added another 1/2 liter.

Congrats!
 

And welcome to the club.

More importantly: have fun! :D

Welcome to the world of MB hotrods and enjoy you new car! You'll find lots of valuable info here and plenty of great people with advice if you should even need it. And please, take a cruise on the autobahn for all of us!

.. Have fun, drive safe and enjoy ! I have a US spec. car and searched for 2 years here and no-one was parting with the Euro ones. I love my car to death and apart from addiding an oil cooler this winter, I will leave it as it is. I can even live with the dreadful US lights !

Before I foud my 500E, I was thinking about importing one; I was told that almost all the Euros had been smoked in, but that there is a way to eliminate the odor; it is a fine silicone fog that coats the interior. Here in CA, even smokers don't want a smokers car!
I'm jealous - I would love to take a run with my caron the autobahn. I am thinking of going to Europe for a month or so in 2004 - I wonder what it would cost to ship my car there and back? Has anyone on this list done that?
Tom

Welcome!

...wondering perhaps if you can help us souce any Euro 500e parts for us Stateside 500e/e500 brothers?

ie
>the hazard triangle mounting and hazard triangle located in the
trunk lid underside?
>the fire extinguisher, mounting, & carpet sleeve under the drivers seat?

tks-fad

I'll look into that and see what I can find. So, the US spec versions don't come with the fire extinguisher, mounting, triangle, etc.? I originally thought the fire extinguisher would get in my way but I don't even know it's there. I recently replaced my front grill and was surprised how inexpensive it was ($15 from a MB Dealer). I am not sure of the Stateside price differences since I didn't even know what a 500E was when I was living in Northern Va. Glad I do now:)

Side note: I had a little battle with oil changes. I had noticable value noise after my first oil change using (MANN oil filter and Castrol 15W50) and then with (MANN oil filter and Mobile1 5W50). I just switched back to (MB oil filter and Mobile1 0W40) and she back! No value noise. Three oil changes in a week! I think it was the oil filter I was using.

Thanks Garretj for your help-

The N American versions 500e/e500 didn't come w/ warning triangle nor fire extinguisher

best regards
-fad

Yeah, instead we got a rear sunshade and seat heaters (and an oil cooler delete)

FWIW, Traffic triangle needs a specially configured undertrunk pad that is different from the US versions...triangles are cheap...felt piece is not.
Extinguishers just screw to seat bottom front rail and the ones MB uses are the same as many other euro-marques. Such a good idea...wonder we didn't get them over here? I got a new black one if anybody wants it.