kmagnuss

Hey guys. Great site here.

A little background on me first. I work as a shop manager. I wrench on my own cars and absolutely refuse to allow anyone else to work on them. You may as well ask to sleep with my wife. I currently own a 200k mile Range Rover, so I'm no stranger to frequent repairs and expensive parts.

That being said...

I'm strongly considering a 2005 E500 that seems to be pretty well loaded out. I'm not 100% familiar with these cars (or any Mercedes for that matter) but I THINK it has a sport package (the tires tuck nicely into the fenders similar to most bmw's), air suspension (coming from RR's, I love air suspension), nav, awd, pushbutton start, and I'm sure some other options.

Anyway, there were a few things about it during the walk around that I'm not sure if they were broken or if I just wasn't doing it right.

1. When I locked the doors with the remote while standing outside of the car, I could open the rear doors still. I thought maybe it was due to the keyless remote system, but it didn't let me open the driver's door. I didn't mess with it that long, but I could have it wrong.

2. I opened the sunshades for the sunroofs (or is it rooves jk ) from the rear seats, but I couldn't get them to close back. I tried the front button as well as the rear button and neither would close them.

3. I couldn't get the pushbutton start in the gear shifter to work... BUT ... I had the key in the ignition. So I'm thinking maybe that is the reason, and I should try it with the key in my pocket as it is designed to do.

Well, thanks in advance guys. I hope to see you back here soon, and contribute some knowledge when and where I can.

kmagnuss

Forgot to ask: Is there an online shop manual with detailed repair instructions, including electrical schematics? It's available for Range Rovers and has been invaluable throughout the ownership of mine.

Barry45RPM

To start the car (with keyless go) the key should be in your pocket and your foot must press firmly on the brake. Then you push the start button.

If your car has the Sport Package, the wood trim will be black, not brown, and the dual exhaust tips will be clearly visible when standing a foot back from the rear bumper.

All the doors should lock and unlock at either a press of the key fob button or (with keyless go) when you grip and pull any door handle. In your year car, you can program whether all the doors lock/unlock with one push at the same time or ONLY the drivers door.

It sounds like the car has the pano glass roof by your plural description. ("sunroofs") Mine is not a pano car so I can't be of assistance there.

spinn

I've actually seen an E500 w/sport package, but with brown wood trim, not black.

Barry45RPM

Probably an '07 built in December 06 onward, for USA spec cars, unless someone changed out the wood or something else like one of those Designo cars.

kmagnuss

Thanks for the replies guys.
The wood in this car is a greenish/grey color. Very similar to the wood in my current car (which was a $12k upgrade at the time)

No exhaust tips to be seen. you have to get down on the ground to see them, and there aren't any finisher tips or anything on them.

KEY08

That greenish grey is the sport trim color. I have it and no one knows what color to call it
If you do your own wrenching it will help to own this car and keep costs reasonable. They have their quirks, but lots of helpful information on this site and others to keep things in working order.
I have the same exhaust setup and the pipes aim down so that you can create a dust storm when you hammer it. HA!

Seriously, I think there is tremendous value in these high performance E500 cars and I have loved mine. I came out of a C32 and the extra room with no performance letdown was the best thing for me. The SBC brakes are the only thing that scare me as they will eventually fail and maybe not at the most opportune moment. They need TLC, but when running right the W211 is a great looking bargain in the world of luxury cars. Good luck to you!

spinn

Actually, it's a 2005 E500 sport.

kmagnuss

In the Range Rover I have, the wood is called Poplar Anthracite and is in every way identical.

lkchris

http://www.startekinfo.com/StarTek/o...tedDocId=11498

kmagnuss

Well crap guys... my boss just pulled me aside and said he's buying me a company truck. A little bittersweet since I really fell in love with that e500... but I'm still happy about it. I'll definitely look for another one when I sell the wife's X5.

Thanks for the help guys... I'm sure I'll be back before long.

-Mag

gnma

Thank your lucky stars you won't be driving an SBC equipped car.

kmagnuss

ahhh gnma you lucky dog! I see you have a supra turbo. man... I've been trying to buy my Uncle's for years now, but he just won't let it go.

gnma

Unfortunately, u're probably referring to the MKIV "Fast & Furious" 1994-1998 TT model. I own the previous single turbo model. But no regrets. I love the car and with the recent mods, hope to be putting down 400whp at moderate boost levels. The MKIII is a proven daily 400whp driver.

Keep at your uncle

gaazmon

+1 don't let it go

jcat

FWIW, I had the same problem with the door locks on my old 99 ML that I used to have. I think it's a sign of the actuators beginning to let go. My 06 e500 doesn't have that issue.

keyless go requires the 'smart key' (one that looks like a credit card) not the standard key to work. The standard key that you put in the ignition does not transmit the keyless go signal.

As for the sunshades, that's strange. You'll have to forgive me as I don't have the pano roof, the sunshades are motorized correct? If so the motors could be going or possibly popped off track when you put them back all the way.

god bless you for having a 200k mile range. I had an 01 discovery for about 3 months and they truly are an....adventure shall we say? haha

and definitely keep on your uncle about that MKIV. One of my dream cars is a 97 (so no vvti) RSP TT 6MT targa