FOR SALE 1992 500E, Green/Black (Color change), 179kkm, CC auction (Haarlem, NL)

[DWB]

No affiliation. Another 500E coming up on Collecting Cars. Very few details at the moment, hopefully more (and accurate) information will be added once the auction goes live.

VIN = ???

The VIN in the listing is obviously incorrect (I've tried several options to decipher the full vin without success!)

https://collectingcars.com/for-sale/1992-mercedes-benz-w124-500e-3

 

[gsxr]

More photos:

 

[gsxr]

Oooof. This has the potential to be a hot mess. Most of the exterior photos are poor, it's difficult to see the condition of the paint. A few random observations:

• This is a color change car... originally 199 Pearl Black, per the metal tag by the hood latch
• Appears to be 1991 production, or very early 1992
• VIN plate is missing by the hood latch
• Headlight lenses appear to be standard 124, not 036
• Facelift front & rear
• Wrong tunk carpet above battery compartment - why?
• Tunk/boot lid bumper rubbers completely disintegrated
• Wheels have rust / corrosion bubbles
• Tires appear to be date coded 1998
• EZL is for a 4.2L engine, not 5.0L
• Wrong lug bolts for factory wheels
• Aftermarket roof antenna for something - hope there isn't a hole drilled in the roof sheet metal
• Accelerator pedal not seated properly, or cover coming off
• Rear seat back doesn't appear to be fully, uh, seated in position (sitting higher than it should)
• Shifter decal is in German, possibly originally delivered to German market?

 

[DWB]

And this is why I'm so pleased I joined this forum!
Your notes confirm some of my thoughts and more, it'll be interesting to see how it's marketed when the auction is launched.

 

[gsxr]

Need undercarriage photos to see what's going on down below.

Here's the missing VIN plate:

 

[195910]

Michelin HX ?! that's 25 years old! is it running on 4 spare wheels ?

Pay attention to the front radiator support.

 

[AdamCabrio]

Judging from the Dutch registration number, the first registration appears to have been on June 30, 1992 (possibly in Germany or another german language country - re: shifter decal text). So, indeed clearly modified for facelift. First registration in the Netherlands appears to have taken place on Aug. 8, 1995. RDW (= Dutch) registration log indicates: "4 owners" (in the Netherlands that is) with the last change of ownership logged as of Dec. 20, 2022.

Dutch registration log indicates "green" (suggesting that it was green when offered for RDW inspection & registration on 8/8/1995). Either a not-original metal tag has been screwed on later, with only 1 screw (indicating 199 colour in stead of 249 for malachite; or is it 269 turmalin?), or the car has been repainted (but that must have been a long time ago, as there are several rust spots (filler cap etc.).

It could be that the first (German?) owner had the car face-lifted (in order to look up-to-date) and repainted (from 199 into green) shortly after face lifted cars started leaving the factory (summer 1993). Doesn't sound logical though that the 1st owner changed the color (why didn't he order it in his favourite color in the first place?). So, may be this was a Jahres Wagen, changing hands after already 1 year, to a second (German?) owner who didn't like 199 and did the facelift. This would explain that it was green at the time of first registration in the Netherlands (8/8/1995).

Very curious to know the VIN. I agree with @gsxr that this one could potentially be a hot mess, it's clearly not a well cared for example.

 

[TerryA]

INOP, This car is very suspicious as to it’s history. Judging from the dirt seen on the hood latch and on other surfaces plus the slightly bent plate next to it being re-attached with only one screw, the missing vin plate gsxr spotted above and the one of the poorest detail jobs I’ve seen on a car for sale in a long time. “Lipstick on a Pig” comes to mind. I’m guessing that this car sat outside somewhere recently waiting for a front end repair from an accident. The poor quality pics don’t do much to change my mind.

Sorry

lol

 

[gsxr]

The paint looks like possibly 269 Brilliant Emerald (Tourmaline Green), but no 036 was delivered from the factory in that color. Might also be Pine Green 254 or Forest Green 259 (only 1 and 2 produced, respectively, worldwide). I'm thinking this really is a 199 car that was repainted green.

Note the upper radiator support is black, so if the car was delivered green from the factory, the upper radiator support has been replaced.

Need to get the VIN, it's stamped on the firewall opposite the CAN box, above the passenger valve cover behind a plastic flap.

 

[DWB]

I'll try and get the VIN as soon as the auction goes live

The paint looks like possibly 269 Brilliant Emerald (Tourmaline Green), but no 036 was delivered from the factory in that color. Might also be Pine Green 254 or Forest Green 259 (only 1 and 2 produced, respectively, worldwide). I'm thinking this really is a 199 car that was repainted green.

Note the upper radiator support is black, so if the car was delivered green from the factory, the upper radiator support has been replaced.

Need to get the VIN, it's stamped on the firewall opposite the CAN box, above the passenger valve cover behind a plastic flap.