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  #1  
Old 11-16-2000, 05:49 PM
Ron D. Harriman
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< crossposted to Tech and Hot-Rods since it
kinda overlaps the two categories -- Ron >

Got that 500E bug and have been looking.
I understand it can be an expensive bug, tho.
And there don't seem to be any perfectly
kept 50K mile examples around. Wonder why :-)

Called a local dealer to price a PPI. They
said about $400 to check brakes, timing
chain and compression, plus general exam.

I've got my own list of stuff to check.
Some of it I can do myself. That would
help if I can disqualify a car ^before^
it goes off for PPI. If anyone cares to
comment on these points, I'm all ears.

--> Signs of overheating

I dug all through the archives; found
someone saying that Lee posted on how to
spot a previously overheated 500E. Can't
find the post for love or money. I do know
that every single 500E I've ever seen has
heat discolored firewall insulation. Any
other clues?

--> Wiring harness

I know that this can be expensively killed
by underhood heat, but don't know how to
spot the symptoms. MBZ dealer testable?

--> Timing chain, chain guides

Measure chain stretch, pull cam cover(s)
to verify guides. The archives say timing
chain should be done in the young hundreds.
No idea what that will cost, though. Given
the clearances I assume it's expensive.

--> Power steering pump

Per the archives, I'm expecting this to
die around 100K. I am competent enough to
put in a new OEM unit. Hope it's not some
weird goldplated 500E only thing for $1K.

--> Hoses, belts, etc.

Aware of the weak hose to the steering pump.
Aware of the unibelt tensioner needing
to be checked. (And replaced? $$$?)

--> Brakes

Verify happy calipers all round, find out
if the fronts are aluminum units or not.
FYI dealer service adviser said that 500E
brakes are "very expensive" items.

--> Motor/transmission mounts

Verify and estimate remaining life. Assumed
expensive to replace.

--> Flex disk

Pretty normal check on a German sedan.

--> Shocks

Told it's critical to estimate remaining
life on the expensive adaptive rear shocks.
A friend with an M5 got socked for $1200
EACH on these. I assume I can stick on a
set of performance Bilsteins instead when
the OE set die.

--> Front suspension

Probably the thing about which I'm the
most clueless. I do know enough to have
the PPI guy verify that it hasn't been
curbed hard. Don't know what wears out
in the 100K range or what it costs.

--> Fenders and body

Verify VINs on each panel to ensure not
crashed. I have seen cars with some sag
in the rear bumper cladding. I don't know
if that part is 500E specific or if it's
E-class generic. Geez, what do you do for
new front fenders if they get bashed? I
imagine the factory replacements are gold.

--> Transmission

Called an MBZ slushbox shop. They said it's
basically a 722.X unit, cheap to rebuild.
A surprise!

--> Engine

Haven't priced a rebuild yet. Assuming it
will cost about as much as a 500SL do-over,
probably $6500 bare minimum.

I'm sure I'm missing something here. Again,
those of you (lucky SOBs!) who already have
500Es in the family and who can clue me in
are due for a round of drinks once I get a
good specimen diagnosed and purchased.

Ron

--


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  #2  
Old 11-17-2000, 10:16 AM
Mark Herzig's Avatar
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Join Date: Apr 1999
Location: Austin, Texas
Posts: 380
Great List for the archives... Pulls a lot of information together. I'll share with the forum some work I an having done today on my '92 500E with 105K miles.

Other than the basic service, I have had some computer-posted faults from the THrottle Body Actuator. I decided to replace it: approx.: $1000. I also decided to bite the bullet and replace the timing chain and guides: approx: $800. My front roters need replacing so front brakes add another $500.

My rationale on the first two items is they are investments that will keep the car value high. Currently, I'd speculate that my car value has not depreciated in the two years I've owned it.... These cars REALLY hold their value BUT you have to keep up with the maintanance and make the investments when the time comes.

keep us posted on how the purchase is going...
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  #3  
Old 11-17-2000, 09:05 PM
Michael's Avatar
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Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Boston, USA
Posts: 2,701
Tensioner's no big deal, maybe $150 installed; if it's never been done, just do it.

Brakes are easy to do, and parts run about $250-300 to do the fronts. Inquire at PartsShop. I recently just replaced the pads ($40) without doing the rotors and they're just fine.

As to overheating, just simply look for any/all oil leaks, quality of the coolant/oil, etc. Pull the air cleaner off and really look around. Cap/rotor replacement at some point's a must.

The color of the firewall is not, I would opine, a good arbiter of whether the car's been overheated. It simply demonstrates that it's hot under a 500E hood!

The wiring harness thing would seem to apply to 500Es post 8/92 build date, and run their entire lives in Texas/Southern Cal. Have a tech inspect it, perhaps, but otherwise don't sweat it..there'd be a bunch of stored funky codes.

Motor & tranny mounts not unreasonable...for a Benz. Not ridiculous, but they are complex little items.

I really like the rear adaptive setup, and my 300TE's is just fine at 12 yrs. old and 163k on the clock (my bro in law's 300TE has 256k and no probs other than doing the accumulators once). Flush the fluid now and again and you'll be fine. The 500E rears run about $325 per.

Good luck...they're a good time!

------------------
All the best, Michael
500E
300TE

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