Hopefully, with any luck, this thread will take-off and become a really good reference source that people will be able to pull up when searching through the archives!

It would be great to compile a list of known weaknesses, wear items, or idiosyncrasies that are common to the 500E / E500’s. This would be invaluable information for persons (such as myself) that are looking to purchase one of these beauties, or people that already own one & want to know what to watch out for.

If considering a car for purchase, I know that nothing can replace a thorough PPI by a true expert, but a good list may allow mechanically inclined individuals to ascertain whether a particular car is even worth spending the $$ on for a PPI.

If all the owners & experts here in our community at MercedesShop would contribute their collective knowledge into one list, it would be GREAT!

What I hope to compile is a list of the following:

1. Which particular items or subassemblies.
2. The cause of the problem.
3. The mileage at which they become an issue (although I know that mileage is oftentimes secondary to how the car was treated).
4. Any alternative, non-OEM ‘cure’ for the problem. (Such as a lower thermostatic set point for the radiator fans).
5. What model year(s) are affected, & if/when the factory resolved the problem during the production run.

I can contribute the opening salvo with the following list (please correct me if I am in error with anything listed below):

Engine wiring harness insulation failure. Heat & age related, not mileage dependant.

Electronic throttle slide actuator (same problem as the wiring harness)

Engine timing chain, chain rails, & tensioner (wear items @ 100,000+ miles??).

Engine oil tube failures - causes lifter noise and lowered oil pressure at idle (& possible camshaft damage if not fixed promptly???).

Power steering pumps are prone to leakage.

Radiator upper outlet is prone to cracking.

Various climate control problems, worst of which is evaporator failure.

Suspension bushings wear out on rear linkage arms (front bushings also, but dependent upon how the car was driven)

Rear self-leveling system nitrogen spheres & shock absorbers.

Air pump clutches (prone to failure???)

I hope that this thread takes on a life of it's own!

RTH