Hi all,

We think we have traced my weird electrical gremlins to a faulty Basic Module. Car is a 1992 500E. New, the module is very expensive, so I would like to find a used one to buy, or at least one to borrow and try.

Can anyone tell me what other vehicles might share the same module, since 500E's are so hard to come by?

Thanks,
Brian

Do you have a p/n?
EPC has p/n 011 545 97 32
listed for 500e, 400e and 500SL

Once you get the part number, do a websearch (yahoo/google).
That, and if you haven't looked at it yet, there is a fuse on that module that can be replaced.

__________________
It is a truism that almost any sect, cult, or religion will legislate its creed into law if it acquires the political power to do so. Robert A. Heinlein


09 Jetta TDI
1985 300D

The base module has about 4 fuses. They are the standard AC Delco-type, plastic, flat fuses (I think 10 amp) and can be found at Autozone. The Mercedes parts catalog at the dealer doesn't even show them. They are really easy to access since they are right on top. I talked to an MB shop forman last week and he said that he has seen these fuses go out many times.

__________________
1993 400E, 256,000 miles (totaled)
1994 E420, 200,000+ miles
1995 E420, 201,000 miles

Oy, my head hurts....

p/n 011 545 97 32, as listed by Myarmar, is available from a parts yard I found which specializes in MB parts. I went to double-check it on my car, however, and found mine to have p/n 009 545 91 32 instead. Called them back and they told me they do not have one by that p/n, and in fact that p/n didn't even come up in their database. So.....

Anyone know if these two part numbers interchange? Not having the car fixed is killing me!

-Brian

Thanks, checked that, all fuses were good!

That p/n is for Euro 500E and 400E

Which p/n, the one you referenced, or the one on my car? If it's the one on my car, wonder how I ended up with a euro one? Mine seems to be an U.S. model, or perhaps I just assumed that...

Will they interchange?

Thanks SO much for the help!

-Brian

You need to find a reasonably competent dealer parts person - they'll be able to answer your question definitively in a matter of minutes.

Yes, p/n 009 545 91 32 listed in my EPC for 500e and 400e, but "not relevant to MBUSA"
I don't know about interchange.

Hi all,

My theory was correct! A replacement Basic Module fixed my weird electronic gremlins, she's good as new now! Since the p/n I had in my car didn't match what ANYONE thought I should have and appeared to be not even for a U.S.-spec car, I went with p/n 011 545 97 32 as suggested. It has 4 fuses under the cover, vs. 3 fuses in the one that came from my car. (The weird p/n module had been working perfectly in my car for however long it had been in there, up until a few months ago.) I plugged in the replacement, cranked 'er up, and VOILA!!! All systems are go!

I would like to kiss and hug every one of you that has offered help and advice through this frustration! However, I do not have enough frequent-flyer miles at this time.

Thanks again, guys, you ROCK!!!

-Brian

Good to know this module works fine. I checked and my 92 500E also has the same p/n 009 545 91 32, but it works fine. It maybe not euro, just old and replaced part. What kind of problems did you have with it?
Thanks,
Mike

Mike,

Here is a copy of my original post regarding the problems I was having:

"Hi all,

Hopefully someone can help me diagnose a problem. This morning when I started up to go to work, I noticed very weird and delayed throttle response from my 1992 500E. I had to push the accelerator down much farther than usual, maybe 40-50% of the way, to get any response. I looked down and saw the tach was inoperative. The car was shifting very strangely, perhaps a limp-home mode? And as I got on the freeway, I found the cruise control was also inoperative. The speedometer and other gauges all are working fine.

I had removed the air cleaner assembly last night to replace the temp sensor for the aux. fans, but it drove fine for the 30 miles (and several restarts) I drove afterwards last night. I wondered if I could have disturbed something under there, but don't know why it would have been a delayed reaction before the problems started.

Does anyone have any ideas? I do not know where to begin looking. I would much rather try and diagnose this myself if possible, rather than taking it to our local dealer, who sucks...

Thanks,
Brian Flanagan"

Apparently, and thanks to some very dilligent digging by a good friend of mine who happens to be a BMW Master Tech (but very good at electrics in general), the Basic module was the culprit! Replacement fixed all of it, except for my check engine light, which remains mysteriously dark at key-on, when all the others on the dash light up. Hmmmm, maybe it's a bad bulb after all! Oh well, I am just glad to have my baby back to health! Thanks again, Mike, for the part number!

-Brian