coolant loss

[smilecenterlab]

Hi everyone i recently noticed the radiator light went on in the dashboard so i added some distilled water and it went off.i drove the car again and notriced the temp going up a little,next day i tookj it in to the independant benz shop next to me to see whats going on.He said i need a water pump and the estimate was $2700
Seems a little steep,what do you guys think.thanks
Andy

 

[gerryvz]

That's WAY steep.

Get another estimate.

Also, ask them what the breakdown in their estimate is of the part, vs. the labor.

 

[smilecenterlab]

The guy said it's a 7 hour job

 

[gsxr]

Book time is 4.3 hours if everything goes perfectly, so 7 hours isn't out of the question. Still, that doesn't add up to $2700 unless they are charging $300 per hour.

FWIW, if the water pump really does need to be replaced, have the front crank seal replaced proactively at the same time if it's old / original. It's incremental labor at that point. If the seal was already done, nevermind.

 

[smilecenterlab]

thanks ,i will check others.

 

[gerryvz]

Book time is 4.3 hours if everything goes perfectly, so 7 hours isn't out of the question. Still, that doesn't add up to $2700 unless they are charging $300 per hour.

FWIW, if the water pump really does need to be replaced, have the front crank seal replaced proactively at the same time if it's old / original. It's incremental labor at that point. If the seal was already done, nevermind.

I agree 100% with this. It would be probably an hour of labor, plus a $25 part, to replace the front crank seal. Particularly if the car has 100K or more miles on it, and the front crank seal has not been replaced.

 

[nocfn]

I do it for 2500....

 

[nocfn]

that is once I install AC in my shop!

 

[smilecenterlab]

i pay cash!

 

[nocfn]

oh cash, 2750.... adjusted for pinheads cpi

 

[emerydc8]

That's crazy expensive! Changing the water pump on my 95 E420 was so easy due to the notch in the crank damper that allows the one water pump bolt to be removed without disturbing the damper, unlike the earlier models. Did the 94/95 changeover to the newer skeleton-type damper apply to the E500E at some point?

 

[gsxr]

That's crazy expensive! Changing the water pump on my 95 E420 was so easy due to the notch in the crank damper that allows the one water pump bolt to be removed without disturbing the damper, unlike the earlier models. Did the 94/95 changeover to the newer skeleton-type damper apply to the E500E at some point?

Jon, yes, but it likely was after USA imports ceased... so the late damper may only be found on late-build Euro E500's. EPC break point is 8/94. E500 production continued to 03/95 04/95. It's possible a handful of the very last E500's imported to USA had the late damper but there's no way to confirm AFAIK.

 

[smilecenterlab]

got another estimate around $1400.will be taking it down to Benny at Milbrae Motors on tuesday for some other problems ,hopefully he can match that price.Will keep you updated .

 

[gsxr]

E500 production continued to 03/95 04/95. <--xfadmin edited?

Dunno how to pin down the day, but the Infallible Oracle of All Things Production (LastVIN.com) says the final 036 VIN was produced in about March 1995. Search the forum for that VIN for more deets.

Mercedes VIN Decoder | Decode Your Mercedes-Benz VIN

Datacard for 1995 Mercedes-Benz E500 (124.036) - WDB1240361C249300

www.lastvin.com

 

[gerryvz]

Multiple MB literature & press releases about the 500E (Google them) all say April 1995, FYI.

I was just looking at this a couple of days ago in relation to the near-unicorn May 1994 production '1995' E500 listed on HaT with IRCL and “MY95” code.

Yoink NOT ACCEPTED.
Mushroom NOT ACCEPTED.

I’m in Pennsylvania right now, but will be home in 60-75 minutes and will happily post screen shots from the press releases commemorating the 500E. They also have been posted here over the years.

 

[gerryvz]

Dunno how to pin down the day, but the Infallible Oracle of All Things Production (LastVIN.com) says the final 036 VIN was produced in about March 1995. Search the forum for that VIN for more deets.

Mercedes VIN Decoder | Decode Your Mercedes-Benz VIN

Datacard for 1995 Mercedes-Benz E500 (124.036) - WDB1240361C249300

www.lastvin.com

View attachment 151120

Multiple MB literature & press releases about the 500E (Google them) all say April 1995, FYI.

I was just looking at this a couple of days ago in relation to the near-unicorn 1995 E500 listed on HaT with IRCL and “MY95” code.

Yoink NOT ACCEPTED.
Mushroom NOT ACCEPTED.

I’m in Pennsylvania right now, but will be home in 60-75 minutes and will happily post screen shots from the press releases commemorating the 500E. They also have been posted here over the years.

Here are a few "official" references that say April, 1995 was the month when E500 production ended:

Mercedes-Benz:

Mercedes-Benz Media

Exklusive Einblicke und individuelle Angebote: Erleben Sie mit Mercedes-Benz das Maximum aus digitaler Live-PR. Exclusive insights and individual offers: Experience the maximum of digital live PR with Mercedes-Benz.

group-media.mercedes-benz.com

Mercedes-Benz:

Mercedes-Benz Media

Exklusive Einblicke und individuelle Angebote: Erleben Sie mit Mercedes-Benz das Maximum aus digitaler Live-PR. Exclusive insights and individual offers: Experience the maximum of digital live PR with Mercedes-Benz.

group-media.mercedes-benz.com

Porsche Museum:

Tracing the story of the Mercedes-Benz 500 E

Porsche was commissioned to design the fast touring saloon by what was then Daimler-Benz AG. Thirty years on, two of those involved in the project take a look back.

newsroom.porsche.com

 

[gsxr]

I'm going with April 1, 1995. (Note the last 2 say "by" April, lol...)