Jay, regarding your engine clatter, do a search on this site for "racka-racka." You will probably be soon replacing your oil filter check valve and possibly your oil pump pressure relief valve. It IS most likely oil leak-down as you guessed, from the variable valve timing mechanism.

Regarding the ASR light problem, my symptoms remain. Those are: intermittently the ASR light will go on and the car will instantly lose throttle response, feeling like an ignition cutout. Idle is unaffected, however, and when you mash the throttle, you find the car is driveable. It has happened six times in four weeks now, under variable conditions, although usually while cruising at freeway speeds. I've found that stopping the car, shutting it off and immediately restarting it does solve the problem temporarily.

I'm still thinking about attempting this repair myself. I've tried mounting "Virtual PC" on my home Mac now in an attempt to run the 124 Chassis CD/ROM, and I was unsuccessful. I'm now off to try to borrow some time on a friend's PC so I can search for the procedure to R&R the upper engine harness. If that looks to be within my capability, I'll order the part and try myself. I'm thinking that would be the cheapest solution, rather than dickering with my local dealer over the goodwill warranty for the harness, and paying his repair rate to have it installed.

It seems to me that I would be smart to R&R the upper harness and the Throttle Control Valve at the same time, right?

Halfway home
 

Well, my car's problem is progressing typical with others on this thread. I borrowed a friend's PC and spent some time perusing my CD shop manual. I decided to leave the repair to MB. My dealer offered 50% warranty for the upper wire harness, and diagnosed the idle speed control switch ("closed throttle position switch" - #140-545-01-14)as the culprit. I thought that 50% warranty was honorable, considering the high mileage (109K)of my car. I did have a Starmark warranty transferred to me by the prior owner, but it expired at 100K. The PO bought the car from my dealer, so there was a connection.

I got the car back after a two-day wait for the parts. I drove straight home and barely drove it the next day. That brings us up to today, when with less than ten miles since the repair, the ASR light kicked on again.

I expect it will be the throttle actuator. I think I'll shop around. I'll keep you posted

ASR
 

I have the same problem,usually caused by hard acceleration The ASR light comes on and the car goes into limp home mode. This is cured by restarting the car.
There are so many of us out there maybe we should petition MBNA for a fix for this.
Id also be interested in making up a harness. whats the part# . I have all kinds of teflon hi temp wire etc

Hi guys,

I have some new actuators for sale on the shop swap classifieds. I am trying to help out a friend of mine, who is a Tech at the local dealership. He has two of those puppies. Let me know if you need one . Our dealer sells them for $1250 (with ASR) and $1350 (without ASR). We have a lot of cars with 119 engines out here and we had the same problems with the actuators. I’ve bought one myself for my 94 S420 (no ASR). I had an idle problem on my car.

Vin

Intermittan 500E ASR problem (new thread)
 

Rather than clutter this thread, I've started a new thread, "Intermittant 500E ASR problem" here:
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/tech-help/39898-intermittant-asr-problem-1993-500e.html

I'm giving notice here for better visibility.
In short, I only get it during startup (sometimes), and so far only during a cold start or when the car has been sitting for at least 4-hours. Yes it goes into Limp Mode. Disappears after a restart.

Please respond to the new thread:
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?threadid=39898

Thanks,
:-) neil
1988 360TE AMG
1993 500E