500E Maintenance

[Fangio]

Hello All,

I've had a 1992 500E for about 6 months, and, living in Michigan, have only started driving it regularly since the snow melted--a couple months ago. I found it on autotrader.com at a dealership in Indianapolis (Ooley & Blackburn). I am in love, having wanted one since they came out. Here are the particulars:

*Pearl Black with gray leather
*Alpine 7263 CD player with BBE sound equalizer
*100-watt amplifier
*Built-in K40 radar detector(haven't used)
*47,979 miles when purchased, 49,850 miles now
*Stock 16-inch 8-hole wheels with Michelin XGTZ4 225/55 tires, soon to be replaced with Bridgestone Pole Position
S-03 245/45-17s with 17 x 8.5-in AMG 5-spoke 170 wheels (per the recommendations of many on this board, including Michael in Conn.)

I'm about to do an oil change and read through the DIY section here. I'm also going to check the condition of the coolant, the brake fluid, the tranny fluid, brake pads and rotors. Any other procedures you'd recommend performing at 50K miles/a car you just purchased?

Thanks for your attention--this is a great board and I'm addicted!

Well, the only thing I would do on a car with such low miles is replace all fluids, using Synthetic fluid when possible such as Redline, Mobil, etc.

I would also have a Dealer or excellent Independant go over the car from top to bottom.

Are you going to keep the car stock?

[Fangio]

Ross,

Thanks for the reply. I've had a 1987 Porsche 944 Turbo for 6 years now, and have used synthetic oil and tranny fluid exclusively in it. I'm a firm believer in synthetics--even use it in my portable generator and lawn mower!

Before I bought the car, I had the dealer take it to the local M-B dealer in Indianapolis. While their policy was not to do a complete used-car inpsection (liability reasons, they claimed) they would inspect anything I requested. Here is the list I sent them:

1. Check installation quality of recently installed belt tensioner.
2. Check transmission function, fluid level and condition, leaks. Harsh shifting?
3. Inspect condition of brake rotors, front and rear.
4. Inspect condition of brake pads. Estimate of useful remaining life?
5. Check ASR system.
6. Check sunroof operation.
7. Check HVAC operation. Cools and heats to spec?
8.Check steering system for operation and fluid leaks.
9. Check battery charging system/alternator. Proper voltage output?
10. Check CD/radio operation.
11. Please check all gauges and bulbs, turn signals, and headlights for proper function.
12. Please check engine compression and overall condition of the engine. Oil/coolant leaks? In need of coolant flush?
13. Please report on overall condition of interior and exterior.

The only thing they noted was the useful life of the front pads (70% left) and the weak battery, which they recommended I replace. (Sure enough, the battery went south a month ago.)

As to keeping the car stock, I am definitely wrestling with that demon. On one hand, I like the idea of driving the car exactly as Mercedes engineered and intended it to drive. On the other hand, I'm especially tempted in the first-gear start valve body and the Y-pipe adapter. I don't think I'd ever chip a car; I've heard it has a detrimental effect on the engine, specifically, the head gaskets. I'm very interested in how the new wheels and tires will impact the ride and handling, but for right now, I'll probably just enjoy this magnificent automobile!

Just curious, but how much did you pay for this beauty?

[Fangio]

I paid $31,500 for it, which seemed reasonable to me at the time, given what was on the market. And I shopped a number of cars, probably 10-15 in all. When I found one I thought sounded good, I would run a CarFax report on it. I found a couple of cars with salvage titles that way, and the listing in both cases never mentioned the fact. I had the car flatbedded to me on a Saturday morning, and it was pretty exciting. Dawn comes early on the morning your first Mercedes is being delivered.

Aside from some touched-up paint on the left-front fender, the car is pristine--in fact, it took me a while to drive it, because it was so nice! (It was also Michigan in the middle of November, and of course it snowed the next day!)