frm1484

I am a newbie to the forum and looking to any advice regarding a potential purchase of a 92 500E. I plan to use the car on as a daily - I will have a short commute to work and I tend to treat my dailys better than most people do, I obviously wouldn't treat such a special car as a "beater."

The car has 144K mi and has had the wiring harness, timing chain/rails, check valve, oil pump, water pump and more replaced. Current owner (seems like an extremely meticulous guy) has had the car for the past 10 years and he has all of his records plus many from the previous owners.

I have driven the car and it drives very well and is cosmetically pretty tight (stone and bug chips up front and a couple of minor scratches here and there). The bad is that the check engine light comes on sporadically (The seller claims that it reads an intermittant error code for #19 injector and #224 idle control valve - but since its intermittant mechanics havent been able to fix the problem and that it doesnt affect driveability).

He wants $12K (claims this as his bottom line) and has agreed to get the 150K maintenance done before I would buy it. Also for what its worth this car was referred to me by my independent Benz mechanic (a personal friend of the seller) who I have taken cars to for a couple of years and he is a pretty trustworthy guy.

Any advice, comments, or suggestions would be greatly apreciated. Pics are at the link below:

http://s565.photobucket.com/albums/s...view=slideshow

Thanks and Regards

neanderthal

Seems legit.

Milage is more than i'd want, but damn, how many 124.036 are you ever going to get the opportunity to buy?

I would buy it, and also look for a regular 124 that would be my daily driver. I'd keep the 500E as a weekend car.

pifcat2

There are more 500E owners at 500Ecstasy.com if you want more first hand input. Looks good and the price is reasonable but there are common issues you should research...

battlecat714

1992 is like the best year for this car, I'd offer $10k...

Any leaks from the P/S or SLS pump?
How's the transmission shifting? Any slips? Reverse gear ok?
Have the vacuum hoses, radiator (leaking?) and bushings in the F/R suspension been replaced?

willho

hi - this car mercedes 500E looks good. But there is a small dent at the back corner. If the owner really cares for this car....why is there a small dent? Anyway, for a 1992 car, i do expect some scraps on the paintwork.

As for the engine, it isn't really a mercedes engine. Why? Because the 500E body and trim was assembled by mercedes BUT the engine was built by porsche. At the time, in 1990, merecdes company wants to reply to BMW M5 competition. Such that 500E mercedes was ferry to and fro between the 2 factories.

One of the differences between a standard w124 and a w124 500E is the front wings. They might look the same, but they are actually different. The 500E front wings are wider with a bigger wheel arches.

Anyway, it is very important to pay attention to the 500E engine. If there are some or even one engine error code....you need to look into it and check whether it is solveable....it could turn out to be very expensive.

There are not many good, clean and honest 500E on the road. Unless the owner is very careful and really looked after it....no dents etc.

I would offer $10K. with the 150K miles maintenace done, and the error codes sorted.

Don't forget there are rips with his 500E's seats. You might even use this to reduce the price even further.

frm1484

The Transmisson shifts well and reverse works fine. He does have a receipt for the entire power steering pump being replaced by the previous owner while it was still under warranty (@18K miles and again at 36K) I dont think anything else is leaking right now (I will check it out today). I dont believe any of the bushings have been replaced

pifcat2

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercedes-Benz_500E

I've read that timing chains and tensioners need replacing around 150k

frm1484

Both chain and tensioner/rails were replaced at 130K mi

2PHAST

Whew, you really need to do research before you post such incorrect information.

The 500e engine is a M119 motor used in the 500sl, it is a bone stock M119 motor, same displacement and same power output as the 500sl. There are NO PORSCHE parts on this car, nor are any parts made by Porsche. Porsche was contracted to perform modifications to this car to accept the 500sl parts (engine, trans, subframe, rear differential etc.)

As for the fenders. Your correct about the front fenders being widened, the rear fenders have also been widened and the bumpers are wider to flow with the new body lines. The gas tank is also enlarged (by using the tank from the 500sl). There are many more differences , but its redundant to repeat them all here, follow the link below to open the 1992 Intro to Service Manual for the 500e/400e, which details specifically the differences.

http://www.2phast.com/500e/techdocs/500e.pdf

FraKctured

He's asking too much money. Not sure what the Blue Book says, but I would guess around $8,000 if it's in great condition. His "bottom line" is ridiculous.

You can get a LOT of car for $12,000, with a lot fewer miles and a lot newer, even in the Mercedes market. If you're going to spend that much money for a used car, you can get a lot more value than this. I think that $10-12K is the "sweet spot" for the luxury used market--keep shopping.

190E 16V

This is a lot of car. If it drives the way you like it, and it is as well sorted as it seems, it's worth the extra$$$.

Timing chain and guides are $5k to replace, and this car already done. Tranny would be $3k, but hopefully it's good too.

This looks well maintained. If it checks out, you should be really happy with it, and the expensive stuff will be done.

Read about it, check out potential problems. Remember too, this car is an icon.

Good luck.

190E 16V

Try going to this site: http://www.500espot.com/forums/index.php

Very knowledgeable folk there.

Also try www.500ecstasy.com - many many threads` on what to look for. This site has been around for at least six years!

epowers777

Is that rust on the front of the engine were has it lived its whole life that another good question. Near salted roads? look good for rust. I want a 500E!!!

cermedes

Hey Willho, I just found this post from you from about a year ago, just so you know, the engine in the 500E was NOT made by Porsche, the engine IS the M119 sourced from the R129 car, 500SL. Porsche collaboration with Mercedes was limited to suspension, chassis and body panels, and final tuning, but, engine wise, it was pure Mercedes. I own one, and is actually a very reliable car, not as finicky as the M5 BMW, and far more fun to drive.
Cermedes