Hi,

I've just bought a 1993 E500. The car is in excellent condition throughout,
but there are a few things I am not sure about. The car came with an alarm
fob - a little black thing with two buttons and Mercedes sign and the light.

Also, from the documents that I received I concluded that the car had the
original Mercedes alarm. I found a red siren in the engine compartment, but
I'm not sure how to enable it. On the key fob I have a very small key
(barrel like similar to some of the bike U-locks.)

Second question:
The temperature gauge indicates 50 degrees. It can't be normal. I wonder
whether the thermostat has gone and how to fit a new one. Does the low
temperature affect the running / reliability of the engine?

Regards
Martin Wollny
1972 280SE 3.5
1979 230
1993 E500
http://www.motorsnippets.com

Martin,

I have a V8 5.0L engine (bottom left pic) and 50 deg C is definitely not normal. SB more like 80-90 deg C running at highway speed on a 'normal' temperature day.

Looks like the temp gauge in panel is maybe sticking or broke. If car seems to run ok, the ECT sensor is probably ok.

If you can read DTCs (diag codes) from car, do so. They may help you figure out what is wrong.

But there are a lot of 500E/E500 owners here to advise you.

__________________
Regards . . . . JimF
-------------------
'94 S500 Cpe

Visit my Mercedes Web Page

Nice car.

Sounds like you do have a MB alarm. The small barrel key which resembles a bike lock key is used to reset/deactivate the alarm. This can be useful where the alarm is malfunctioning, or the alarm fob batteries are flat and you have to open the car with the key.

Fit new batteries to the alarm fob for a start. If your alarm doesn't work, it has probably been deactivated. I'm sure somebody here will tell you where the little key fits if it doesn't tell you in your handbook. You may wonder why the alarm has been deactivated. In my experience, car alarms all fail long before the car does!

__________________
JJ Rodger
2013 G350 Bluetec
1999 SL 500
1993 E300 diesel T
1990 190

Hey there Martin congrats on your new purchase,
If its a 1993 prduction dates 12/92 up considered 500E.
9/93>considered E500 new hood and light assemblies.
I recently just purchased my 1993 500E.

for you 1st question

Mercedes benz did not make some kinda of after market or factroy alarm with a remote. Just blade keys. So what you have is an aftermarket unit/with a constantly blinking led>I take it. The blade key the small one is called a wallet key. Then if you have one with a red dot/that key tells you it has a factory alarm a valet key is one that is just black in color.

For you temp gauge. I believe The temp guage sensor could be bad. The problem with mine is it runs too damn hot.
I think your temp sensor is Bad. Its rare the guages go bad they do but not often. As being a factory tech for all these years I cant say I have replaced many plus the temp sensor is cheap to replace.
Do you have any pics of your 500E?

Guido
Factory Certified Tech 13 yrs
Southern calif Mercedes Benz dealers
1993 500E 85K pearl black


[Edited by ItalianBenz on 04-23-2001 at 02:23 AM]

Thanks for your reply.

The Mercedes is indeed E500 even though it was registered in October 1993. A mystery to me also.

How do I attach pictures here?

Regards
Martin Wollny
1972 280SE 3.5
1979 230
1993 E500
http://www.motorsnippets.com