In February of last year I imported a G500 from Europe. I did a lot of research and went with RI close to me. The car is sitting there ever since. I thought that "conversion" (side marker lights and testing) would take some time but not 4 month! I being told that since my G does not have OBD2 the process is even more expensive and much longer. I am really puzzled. Does any one know if OBD2 (on board diagnostics) is mandatory in all 50 states? Does any one know how much the OBD2 (sensors, wiring, etc.)might cost with and without installation? I have brabus engine kit (sport camshafts and special valve springs)and exhaust installed, will any of this crap affect the performance? Thanx in anticipation, any comment would be greatly appreciated.

PS. Greed sux

Off hand I would say you have a big problem. I haven't imported any cars since the rules changed 15 years ago.

If you are real interested in doing this I know someone still doing this. In the case of OBDII there easily could be NO way to do this. If there are any G500s being made for EOBD I hear that will satisfy US standards.

To give you an example of the complexity of OBDII one only needs look at the misfire detection problem. The way misfires are determined is by very closely watching the engine speed. On a six cylinder engine the actual speed (watched very closely) looks like a sine wave with the speed accelerating and decelerating as each cylinder fires then slows. A single cylinder misfiring causes the speed to continue decreasing beyond one time interval. The problem with doing this dynamically is that the action of brakes and pot holes can give intermittant deviations not misfire related.

Ford got into trouble for rewriting the software for misfire detection to ignore too much of this deviation.

Most new systems now also monitor the ABS sensors and compare deviations to wheel speed to modify the misfire protocols while driving on rough roads. If your car doesn't have an ABS controller and a network prepared to tranfer this data then its impossible to achieve this.

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Steve Brotherton
Owner 24 bay BSC
Bosch Master, ASE master L1
26 years MB technician



[This message has been edited by stevebfl (edited 05-31-2000).]

I am 100% sure that the car is OBD2 compatible and even prewired (that what I was told by Registered Importer). But now they want more money. Even though they realized complexity of the problem. I would like to contact someone capable of installing and also do you know ballbark cost. Thanx a lot

I also heard about false readings in the OBD2. Stuff like harsh roads and even gas tank cap not being tight enough. Anyway again if you can provide contacts that would be great. Also are the EPA tests that expensive. I am told they run up to $5200!

The EPA doesn't test cars for importing only for enforcement.

I'm not sure how its done now, but I can tell you how it was done before they changed the rules (15 years ago). At that time one could bring in a car, modify its systems, with engineering and documentation, and present the car for testin at PRIVATE EPA certified test labs. The car had its tank drained and filled with a standardized volitility fuel, placed in a 70 deg F room for twenty-four hours, then it was placed in a sealed room where it was sniffed for a certain time at ambient temp. This was to measure emissions from the evaporative containment system.

From this room it was moved to the DYNO where a large bag was sealed to its exhaust. The car was started cold and driven a prescribed 240 second road test. The bag was taken and the entire contents sucked through a huge analyzer to determine grams per mile emissions of CO, HC, O2, CO2, and NOX.

Immediately after the first bag was taken another bag was installed and a second 240 second drive like the first one proceeded and results tabulated.

The car sat for twenty minutes then to get a hot soak condition and was restarted for the final run (hot soak). After that run the car was taken back to the evaporative "sniffing" sealed room for a "hot" evaporative test.

At the time many people were bringing cars in and numerous methods were used; no standardization, no real warrantees, no idea how long they would continue to comply. The manuafactures were pi... mad! They had to certify models and guarantee total failures beneath certain percentages and warrantee the whole system for 50k miles. BTW the test cost $1200 in 1985 (if passed, $800 if failed; they didn't have to do the EPA paperwork if it failed).

Things were changed. The last I heard only a few larger companies, that could certify a model with all the similar arrangements to manufacturers rules, were doing these conversions. I have never seen a G500 so I have no idea how closely their systems might conform. I think MB would make all their cars with basically similar systems. Since the EOBD rules will apply soon they should be making all cars about the same.

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Steve Brotherton
Owner 24 bay BSC
Bosch Master, ASE master L1
26 years MB technician

[This message has been edited by stevebfl (edited 05-31-2000).]

I know Europa Int'l in AZ or NM imports G-wagens. I assume they are THE authority on G-wagen compliance. I'd give them a call and beg for guidance....what have you got to lose!

Good luck, amigo.

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Best regards, Michael
'92 500E
'88 300TE

Yeah Michael, i know Europa. Well I did an extensive research for about 3 months before bringing my G500 here. New G500 is about 130,000 DM, which is about $65,000 now with a strong dollar. Europa charges $140K! for the same car. Granted, they do all the certification yet it is a rape made legal. When I called them about their Registered Importer services before getting my G500 to US, I was quoted a $75K tag for conversion. Which brings the cost to their selling price of $140K (how convenient). Anyway I went with another RI who charged much less, yet I am still going through major anguish dealing with these idiots. It sux that Europa set a precedent for price inflation. I'll never ask them for anything. The savings enabled me to afford awesome G and allowed me to get a Brabus kit, exhaust, rims and brakes.
By the way 500E is one of my favorite cars ever. Hammer is simply great