FOR SALE 1992 500E, Pearl Black/Black, 189kmi, BaT (Redmond, WA)

[gsxr]

Re: FS: 1992 500E, Pearl Black/Black, 170kmi, $20k (Ft. Lauderdale, FL)

As a very vague generalization, at ~175kmi in decent condition you are probably looking at a range between $15k to $25k, with some exceptions above or below. When I get around to listing my smoke-silver '92 for sale with similar miles, it will be at the top end of that range as mine has a near-complete mechanical restoration over the last 25kmi or so.

This particular pearl black car in Florida, I dunno, it's been for sale quite a while with the price fluctuating substantially. Makes me wonder why. Good 036's tend to sell relatively quickly unless they are overpriced, or are advertised poorly (bad photos, description, etc), or have something wrong which kills the deal when the buyer sees the car in person or has a PPI done. You're generally better off paying more for a car that has the majority of common repairs already done, and saving yourself headaches of catching up on deferred maintenance. Read this thread from a number of years ago as a semi-extreme example; post #62 has the list of fixes & cost to get it sorted out. Better to let someone else's wallet take that hit...

BTW - welcome to the forum!

 

[8899]

Re: FS: 1992 500E, Pearl Black/Black, 170kmi, $20k (Ft. Lauderdale, FL)

Read this thread from a number of years ago as a semi-extreme example; post #62 has the list of fixes & cost to get it sorted out. Better to let someone else's wallet take that hit...

GSXR - thanks for the link from way back in 2012. Btw, the Matrix force is strong with you. Reading that thread [again] provides a worthy dose of medicine for anyone in the market for one of these.

 

[edfreeman]

Re: FS: 1992 500E, Pearl Black/Black, 170kmi, $20k (Ft. Lauderdale, FL)

GSXR - thanks for the link from way back in 2012. Btw, the Matrix force is strong with you. Reading that thread [again] provides a worthy dose of medicine for anyone in the market for one of these.

*sigh*

Good news is since it was sorted, only had to deal with the rear wheel alignment. Purrs like a kitten, runs like a beast. Bad news is the clear is now clouding on the roof and a few spots on the doors. Tsk.

 

[IconicM]

Re: FS: 1992 500E, Pearl Black/Black, 170kmi, $20k (Ft. Lauderdale, FL)

Gsxr, thanks for the welcome and thanks for the heads up on the potential repair list of a car not taken care of.

I would be looking for a car that is sorted. I already have two of the first variety that I still need to get back on the road.

Are you serious about selling your 500e? Well, I will be lurking around in the meantime.

 

[gsxr]

Re: FS: 1992 500E, Pearl Black/Black, 170kmi, $20k (Ft. Lauderdale, FL)

Back on eBay...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/162319549742 <-- Auction ended December 20, 2016. $18,500 opening bid, no reserve. No bids.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/162432294520 <-- Auction ends March 22, 2017. Starting bid $21,500. No reserve. No bids.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/162467922117 <-- Auction ends April 17, 2017. Starting bid $21,500. No reserve.


Listed for $24,500 on their website, link courtesy of cstratton: http://palmbeachclassics.com/listings/1992-mercedes-500e/

 

[Benz]

Re: FS: 1992 500E, Pearl Black/Black, 170kmi, $20k (Ft. Lauderdale, FL)

I wonder if the respray was done properly or poorly on this one. Id offer 15 lol

 

[8899]

Re: FS: 1992 500E, Pearl Black/Black, 170kmi, $20k (Ft. Lauderdale, FL)

On eBay yet again:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/162467922117 <-- Auction ends April 17, 2017. Starting bid $21,500. No reserve.

 

[Jlaa]

FS: 1992 500E, Black Pearl/Black, 181kmi, BaT (Quincy, MA)

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1992-mercedes-benz-500e-15/
This car was on petrolicious earlier in the year.

No affiliation....

1992 Mercedes-Benz 500E

This 1992 Mercedes-Benz 500E is one of 1,528 examples imported to the US between 1991 and 1994 and was reportedly purchased new in Massachusetts before spending time in Connecticut, Colorado, California, Texas, and Florida. The car is finished in Black Pearl over black leather and powered by a 5.0-liter DOHC V8 mated to a 4-speed automatic transmission. Approximately $46k of records date to 2011, and recent maintenance included a new timing chain and valve guides, camshaft seals, a tune-up and transmission service, and suspension refreshment. This W124 was acquired in 2017 by the seller, who has since added approximately 3,200 of its 181k indicated miles. It was featured on Petrolicious in February 2018 and is now offered with records from 2011, removed factory parts, a Carfax report, and a clean Massachusetts title in the seller’s name.

The 500E was assembled by Porsche and featured fender flares, revised bodywork, and a lower ride height than other W124 models. This example was repainted its original shade of Black Pearl Metallic under previous ownership, and the finish is shown from a number of angles below. Road rash is noted on the lower front lip and a crack is present on the passenger-side foglight lens. The 500E emblem is mounted higher than stock, and aftermarket tint has been applied to the windows.

European-market headlights are equipped with US-style wipers, which are reportedly mounted incorrectly but remain functional. Aftermarket clear corners have been installed out back. Staggered 18” AMG Monoblock wheels are wrapped in Sumitomo HTR Z III rubber installed in November 2017. Refinished factory 16” wheels with Uniroyal Tigerpaw tires from 2017 are included in the sale along with the stock tail lights.

Black leather seats are heated and power-adjustable, and Coco mats protect the matching carpets. The seller describes wear on the center armrest as well as sagging seatback pockets and seam separation on the passenger seat. An aftermarket wood shift knob has been added along with incorrect burl walnut trim on the console and climate control panels.

A modern Continental stereo has replaced the factory Becker Grand Prix radio and CD changer, which are included separately. The air conditioning system was serviced under previous ownership and is said to work properly. The factory steering wheel has been recovered in matching leather, and just under 181k miles are shown on the odometer, approximately 3,200 of which were added by the seller. Videos showing operation of the rear sun shade and headrest are viewable here[/URL ]and [URL="https://youtu.be/Xu-l4WFu_Tw"]here.

The 5.0L DOHC V8 was factory-rated at 322 horsepower and 354 lb-ft. of torque when new. A new timing chain, valve guides, and camshaft seals were installed by the seller at Foreign MotorWorks of Quincy, Massachusetts, and the 4-speed automatic transmission was serviced. A cold start video is provided above. Approximately $46k of receipts cover maintenance since 2011, with over $12k of work in the past year. New parts installed since 2012 reportedly included:

• Tandem pump for power steering and self-leveling rear suspension
• Valve covers
• Breather hoses and air tubes
• Oil tube seals for lifters
• New oil sender, oil pan, sump gasket
• Engine air filters
• Spark plugs, wires, insulation cups, rotors, distributor caps, suppressor covers
• Windshield wiper transmission, arm, and washer pump
• Third brake light

New shocks, mounts, boots, sway bar bushings, ball joints, and control arm bushings have been installed. Further maintenance has included a replacement of the steering assembly, fuel pumps and injectors, radiator, air pump, wiring harnesses, engine mounts, and more. Additional undercarriage photos are viewable in the gallery below. The Carfax lists no issues and shows consistent mileage accumulation throughout the years.

[video=youtube;ZLXzQODB7Co]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLXzQODB7Co[/video]

​

 

[ZombieBranz]

Re: FS: 1992 500E, Black Pearl/Black, 181kmi, BaT (Quincy, MA)

Who loves monoblocks? I love monoblocks!

 

[outrbnks]

Re: FS: 1992 500E, Pearl Black/Black, 181kmi, BaT (Quincy, MA)

The wood appears to be much lighter than what I would expect, maple or chestnut maybe? Anyway, only $10K bid with one day to go..

 

[ace10]

Re: FS: 1992 500E, Pearl Black/Black, 181kmi, BaT (Quincy, MA)

The wood appears to be much lighter than what I would expect, maple or chestnut maybe? Anyway, only $10K bid with one day to go..

Looks similar to the burled walnut on my old W211.

 

[gsxr]

Re: FS: 1992 500E, Pearl Black/Black, 181kmi, BaT (Quincy, MA)

8 hours to go and only $11k.

 

[daantjie]

Re: FS: 1992 500E, Pearl Black/Black, 181kmi, BaT (Quincy, MA)

Just sold for $20K.

 

[frm1484]

Re: FS: 1992 500E, Pearl Black/Black, 181kmi, BaT (Quincy, MA)

Seems like a steal at 20k.....know it has some miles but with that much replaced and miles not really being an issue for these if maintained this would have been my ideal car to buy.......get 46k worth of refurbishment work for 20k and consider yourself to have gotten the underlying car for free


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Dario]

Re: FS: 1992 500E, Pearl Black/Black, 181kmi, BaT (Quincy, MA)

Man 500E’s got cold as hell.

 

[TerryA]

Re: FS: 1992 500E, Pearl Black/Black, 181kmi, BaT (Quincy, MA)

IMO, This is a bad time of the year to be selling a car. Late spring or summer is best. Car prices are cyclical. They have thier ups and downs. My advise is unless you need the $$$ and are desperate, hang on to your car until the next upturn in the market. Right now the flippers are the biggest losers. Just like the stock market stay in for the long haul and you won’t get burned.

Back in the 80s the Japanese were buying up all the collector cars for almost double thier value. Everybody was selling everything to them (cars real estate ect and laughing all the way to the bank. At that time everybody was worried that they were “buying up our country”. Anyway, when the bubble broke the Japanese sold it all back to us for half price.

 

[outrbnks]

Re: FS: 1992 500E, Pearl Black/Black, 181kmi, BaT (Quincy, MA)

Man 500E’s got cold as hell.

That's just one sale and it's hard to show a trend with one data point, unless you see many others going for less than value.

Maybe I missed a few low sales somewhere, but I thought the market for E500E's was on an uptrend recently.

If you follow any of the auction shows on TV, there are auctions that just don't seem to work for a particular car, and the owners hold the reserve to try a different set of buyers on a different day.

 

[gerryvz]

Re: FS: 1992 500E, Pearl Black/Black, 181kmi, BaT (Quincy, MA)

I think we’ve established on this forum that E500E prices have shown a noticeable cooling over the past couple or three months.

It corresponds directly to the cooling of the stock market. People aren’t feeling as flush as they were because their brokerage accounts and 401ks are t skyrocketing as they were.

 

[ZombieBranz]

Re: FS: 1992 500E, Pearl Black/Black, 181kmi, BaT (Quincy, MA)

Agree. There is clearly been a pull back just in the last couple months but the E500E prices have been on fire so a brief pullback is not unwarranted. Lots of potential factors as to the recent decline; stock market is one, also time of year and just the number of E500Es for sale is the highest i’ve seen it in the last 2 years. When I was looking I was having to wait for listings to come up to even find cars to look at. There has to be what? 15-20 of these for sale?

Heck I now have to consider picking up another one if quality cars like this are gonna go for sub $20k. this owner literally gave away a free steak dinner to the BAT winner lol.

BAT is still hit of miss in my mind. There are plenty of people making outlandish claims and comments on auctions. I’m all for calling out legitimate deficiencies on the car but damn some people have zero chill or respect and can create some very negative mojo using some very reckless comments (IMO). I’ve seen several auctions recently where people are bashing BAT reserves and complaining about reserves being too high. Just seems to be too many bottom feeders on that site currently for me to consider selling on there. They just seem to enjoy talking negative just for the sake of keeping the price low because I guess they think they are gonna get some great deal on a car. BAT is a weird interesting place that’s for sure.

 

[msq]

Re: FS: 1992 500E, Pearl Black/Black, 181kmi, BaT (Quincy, MA)

...... but damn some people have zero chill or respect and can create some very negative mojo using some very reckless comments (IMO). I’ve seen several auctions recently where people are bashing BAT reserves and complaining about reserves being too high. Just seems to be too many bottom feeders on that site currently for me to consider selling on there. They just seem to enjoy talking negative just for the sake of keeping the price low because I guess they think they are gonna get some great deal on a car. BAT is a weird interesting place that’s for sure.

Agreed, there's a nice redone green BMW 2002 on the site and one commenter starts criticizing potential buyer for bidding it up in an increment he didn't like (too fast), basically trying to tell the potential buyer how he should spend his money, and how may have knocked him (the commenter) out as a bidder. The commenter must have just taken a class in "Socialism 101"....aka- I get to tell you how you spend your money. Crazy.

 

[gerryvz]

Re: FS: 1992 500E, Pearl Black/Black, 181kmi, BaT (Quincy, MA)

A lot of owners are “cashing in” on the recent runup of E500E prices and moving on. Many of them will make a few bucks over what they paid for their cars.

Unfortunately there is indeed a glut happening right now — a lot of the current and recent sellers got in a bit too late, and unless they are pricing their cars well (putting pressure on their profit over what they paid) the cars are taking a bit to sell.

I think it’s going to be a buyer’s market for at least the next 6-12 months.

 

[maw1124]

Re: FS: 1992 500E, Pearl Black/Black, 181kmi, BaT (Quincy, MA)

I'm thinking for the next 2 years at least. Like I said around 6 months ago, unless you're going to hold it through the next downturn, you should have been selling this Spring. I sometimes hate it when I'm right. I think this is gonna be one of those times.

maw

 

[gsxr]

Re: FS: 1992 500E, Pearl Black/Black, 181kmi, BaT (Quincy, MA)

I think there were a few high-dollar sales earlier this year, or late last year... and a lot of people jumped on the selling bandwagon, trying to cash in. Flippers amplified the effect. Seems that now there is more supply than demand, which has put the brakes on the price run-up. Obviously cars are still selling, but the price has to be reasonable. I agree with Gerry, at the moment it's more of a buyer's 036 market, especially if you like pearl black.

 

[993Twin]

Re: FS: 1992 500E, Pearl Black/Black, 181kmi, BaT (Quincy, MA)

will be here in a few days....had him install the original taillight lenses, also all warning light bulbs replaced---lights up like a bright Christmas tree now!, check engine comes on and goes off as it should, headlight and windshield washer reservoir replaced, sending consoles and climate control wood to Igor soon as she gets here obviously, new shift knob-black leather with the V8 and logo on top- and rod from formymercedes.com, will see about the front seats leather---$895 for seats and headrests and armrest from German auto tops..think that ought to sort her out...seems like most issues have been addressed . this will be my second one so looking forward to enjoying the ride again! would have liked to been at $16k or $17k, but whadayagonnado?

 

[gsxr]

Re: FS: 1992 500E, Pearl Black/Black, 181kmi, BaT (Quincy, MA)

Congrats on the purchase! Post a new OWNER thread with photos when you get it:

https://www.500eboard.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=40

 

[993Twin]

Re: FS: 1992 500E, Pearl Black/Black, 181kmi, BaT (Quincy, MA)

will do!

 

[Bogeyman]

Now on BAT with 186K miles out of Prosper, TX.

1992 Mercedes-Benz 500E

Bid for the chance to own a 1992 Mercedes-Benz 500E at auction with Bring a Trailer, the home of the best vintage and classic cars online. Lot #30,178.

bringatrailer.com

 

[gerryvz]

Will download the photographs later on -- there are 250+ of them, plus some YouTube videos.

Data card attached and linked: VIN Decoder for Mercedes-Benz

YouTube videos:

 

[gsxr]

Someone may buy those Euro lights and get a free car!

 

[gerryvz]

Badge placement on the deck-lid is too high.
Owner took photographs while wearing his jammies, slippers and a "Got Bulldogs?" t-shirt.

Interior wood has been refinished.

The biggest issue I see with the car, is that it doesn't have the gray trunk switch.

 

[gsxr]

See post #31 where a PO had re-installed the badge... had been de-badged previously, when first listed in 2014.

 

[gerryvz]

More photos:

 

[gerryvz]

Last group of photos:

 

[gerryvz]

Looks like there are a lot of sellers out there who think they have a bird in hand with their 500Es, and are lining up at BaT to get paid in this COVID environment. And it looks like BaT is only permitting one .036 auction at a time. Hence when one ends, the next one in the queue starts up within minutes.

 

[gsxr]

And conversely, the peanut galleries are expecting everything to sell dirt cheap now. The comments on the RNM's for the 200kmi 500E that ended today, and the green W211 E63 AMG wagon, are good examples.

Will be interesting to see where this one lands.

 

[8899]

Someone may buy those Euro lights and get a free car!

Shame though that those Euro lights were never paired up with the proper wipers....

 

[gsxr]

Shame though that those Euro lights were never paired up with the proper wipers....

I was thinking the same thing. The wrong wipers look worse than a wiper delete, IMO.

 

[janos_z]

Can't help notice the uneven bumper cover surface to the left of center (car's left, our right). Makes me wonder about the structure underneath.

 

[gsxr]

Can't help notice the uneven bumper cover surface to the left of center (car's left, our right). Makes me wonder about the structure underneath.

Which number photo on BaT shows this? I couldn't find it.

 

[gerryvz]

$11,500 out of the gate -- not bad for the first 24 hours. Hard to say right now how this one will go, but I think it will have a difficult time, in the current environment, getting much above the $16-18K mark. Will be really surprised if this one hits $20K.

Here's my take on what I see going on with this car, as it currently sits:

1. Front spoiler needs repainting, due to curb rash on the underside
2. Headlight wipers are horrible -- best if removed STAT
3. Mercedes-Benz star emblem on front of grill is BADLY faded -- replace with new one
4. Grill insert needs replacement due to chip near hood release. Aluminum strips dented; need replacement
5. 500E trunk badge is about 1/2"-3/4" too high -- needs to either be removed or re-oriented in factory-specified position
6. Taillamp lenses -- REPLACE STAT. I've seen 10x better ones in any wrecking yard
7. Front bumper looks bowed up under grill center-line; confirm whether this is true or an optical illusion
8. Grill shell looks kind of rough overall and has spot rust on bottom; consider replacing
9. Extra hole on headlight wiper panels under headlights -- WTH?
10. Is that water INSIDE the driver's side headlight lens?!?
11. Obvious windshield replacement; no MERCEDES-BENZ PRODUCT sticker on windshield
12. Mirror boots OK, but you can see the first signs of sun-caused hardening & wrinkling
13. Nobody bothered to clean inside of gas-cap; out of sight....out of mind?!?
14. Litter that Boston "Back Bay" sticker at top of rear windscreen !!!
15. Proud MBCA member cling-badge on rear window -- showing that M-B Club Pride !!!
16. Lil' bitta curb rash on those AMG wheels
17. Driver's side door pocket appears bowed outward ... or is it an optical illusion?!?
18. What is that Wheelskin hiding, if anything?
19. Wood grain of refurbished wood veneer is funky and non-Mercedes-like. Bows up weirdly above center console. Must have been a furniture resto shop that did it
20. Driver's & Passenger's seat hides have been replaced -- it is GAT aftermarket leather
21. Climate control wood panel not quite lined up correctly with wood above it; wood above it appears to have a crack in corner
22. Water stain? along rear of sunroof on headliner
23. Sagging and marked headliner along passenger side "B" pillar area
24. Center armrest leather has been replaced
25. Rust under the spare tire -- likely only a fraction visible of what is actually there
26. Headlight clip missing in radiator support on driver's side
27. Radiator overflow hose is mis-routed and sagging downward
28. Knob missing on power steering reservoir
29. Brake fluid reservoir appears to be slighly overfilled
30. What is going on with the hoses attached to the coolant overflow tank ?!?
31. Strap missing from lid of windshield washer tank
32. Evidence of fluid leak at rear of plastic undershield -- engine oil? Transmission fluid?
33. Aluminum heat-shield corrosion underneath car
34. Appears to have a hole in exhaust pipe going into center resonator
35. Rear differential is pretty wet -- more than one typically sees. Leak?!?
36. Spare tire well is missing rubber drain
37. Some of the paperwork shown is actually from a 1991 560SEC (126.045)

 

[gsxr]

#9: it has the USA DOT wipers/panels. That's the extra hole you are seeing. Needs blank panels, or proper wipers/panels.

#25: if referring to photo 118, that "rust" wouldn't bother me at all. One of my cars has worse than that visible, but the metal is 100% solid, and there is not a speck of rust anywhere else (entire life in CA). Cars with real rust issues will show up underneath in multiple areas, not inside the trunk. This wouldn't concern me, but it would be nice to get a photo with the spare tire removed.

#38: Exhaust crossover pipe is mis-aligned, lol. Photo #174. Easy to fix.

#39: Both rear bumper inserts are present and accounted for! Photos 192 + 197. Someone may buy the car just for those, and the Euro headlights...

 

[gerryvz]

I think the Euro headlamps and the cocomats are indeed what the car will mostly be purchased for.


Very short honeymoon that the current owner had with the car. A lot of flippers and speculators in the E500E market. He got this one back in 2018 for $20K + fees. Don't think he'll be recouping that in this envinronment.

 

[959benzo]

New member here. Great forum/site...thanks for keeping the enthusiasm for this rare model going! A couple of questions about this car...what is the average lifespan of the transmission for these cars with regular fluid/filter replacement? The paint on this car looks great...was the original factory paint all that special? Does a repaint affect long term value?

 

[gerryvz]

If a repaint is of good quality and of the original color, then it should not really affect resale value negatively at all. Though there are some folks who value original paint. But at 25+ years old, fewer and fewer of these cars wear their original paint, even though it was of excellent quality. BUT, what you want to look for, if repainted, is good quality, and the original color. To me, a color change would not be as desirable. Again, these things are subjective, though.

As far as the transmissions -- as with all MBs with the 722.3 transmissions (millions of them), it's quite common for the reverse gear to go out, albeit with plenty of warning in the form of longer and longer times it takes to shift into reverse. When the transmission is taking 3-4 seconds to shift into reverse, it's living on borrowed time. I've seen this happen at under 100K miles on the 500E, though generally it happens in the 100-200K mile range.

My own car, which has 143K on it, has had this problem for the past 10 years. I don't drive the car that much (3-5K miles per year), but I'm at 1-2 seconds to change into reverse, so I'm not quite at the point where the transmission needs to be redone ... but that day is coming. I try to minimize how much I put the car in reverse, by pulling straight into parking places when I can, backing into the garage with a warm transmission, etc. But it's only a matter of time. With parts and labor, a rebuild is going to run $3-4K. You can get a rebuilt transmission for $2K shipped if you R&R it yourself.

My 1989 560SEC, with 250+K miles on the odometer, is still on the original 722.3 and it shifts into reverse just fine, no issues. My 1995 G-wagen, also with a variant of the 722.3, with 130K on it also shifts just fine into reverse. So it is hit or miss, but more often than not 500E owners need to rebuild the transmission at some point.

 

[gsxr]

New member here. Great forum/site...thanks for keeping the enthusiasm for this rare model going! A couple of questions about this car...what is the average lifespan of the transmission for these cars with regular fluid/filter replacement?

I think transmissions that fail prior to 200k were probably not maintained properly. Serviced appropriately, it's not uncommon for them to last 200-300k, or even longer. IIRC, Glen's infamous high-miler with over 600kmi is still on the original, non-rebuilt transmission. Too many people didn't believe (or, really didn't know) that the trans fluid+filter was supposed to be changed every 30kmi, or every 15kmi with severe service. Anyway, I have several cars with original, non-rebuilt 722.3 transmissions.. the highest miles are 180k, 220k, 240k, and 330k.

I consider transmission life irrelevant, it's filled with wear items (friction dics/bands), and designed to be rebuilt periodically just like you change brake pads & rotors. It's not a huge cost as Gerry noted above, and should be a 1-time expense. By comparison, the M119 engine is nearly bulletproof and rarely needs anything beyond periodic seal & gasket replacement. I believe Glen's 600kmi engine has never been opened.

The paint on this car looks great...was the original factory paint all that special? Does a repaint affect long term value?

There was a longer discussion on this a while back on the forum. My $0.02... the factory paint isn't that special, but the zinc-dip the chassis received prior to painting is kinda special. So if a repaint takes the car down to bare metal, make sure everything is done right.

Otherwise, any paint job that looks good to your eyes is going to be better than faded factory paint, right? I don't think original, perfect paint matters unless it's a super-low mile museum piece (like, <20kmi) that is never driven. And then it's just to preserve resale value of the museum piece. Others disagree, and feel that if factory paint had been cared for meticulously since new, it should still look fabulous 30 years later - while true, this is exceedingly rare on a 30-year old car with 200k.

BTW, welcome to the forum!

 

[gerryvz]

I think transmissions that fail prior to 200k were probably not maintained properly. Serviced appropriately, it's not uncommon for them to last 200-300k, or even longer. IIRC, Glen's infamous high-miler with over 600kmi is still on the original, non-rebuilt transmission. Too many people didn't believe (or, really didn't know) that the trans fluid+filter was supposed to be changed every 30kmi, or every 15kmi with severe service.

I bought my E500 with 67k miles on the odometer. And since, I have changed the transmission fluid every 25-30K. I would not say that I have put it through severe duty in those miles. I first started noticing reverse issues by 110K miles or so. And I've lived with it for 35+K, and probably have a bit more to go before it fails outright.

And I have not treated my transmission in my E500 any differently than my 560SEC, or the 200+K transmission that the former white (Stag) wagon had (which had the forward, not the reverse, gears go out).

It is luck of the draw with these things. While service quality and frequency certainly plays a role in the premature failure of any part, in my case I can definitively say that my E500's transmission has been conscientiously serviced, at proper intervals, with quality parts and fluids, and it still had the failure (well, it hasn't failed yet, but it will eventually).

I have noticed others' 500E transmissions lose reverse at pretty early (<100K miles) intervals, and many in the 100-200K range, and many beyond 200K, or not at all. There is no definitive pattern or single factor you can point to that causes the failure of the reverse gear.

 

[959benzo]

Thanks guys for the welcome and the informative answers. I've been a fan of the 500E since they came out (and a fan of the earlier AMG Hammer). Keeping an eye out for the right one and learning as I go. Given the current COVID reality, it may or may not be the right time to get one...we'll see.

 

[The Emperor]

A few bolts of my Force Lightning has "motivated" the seller to begin remedying this car's most glaring flaws.



The seller is a member of this forum, and thus a recipient of the power of my Force Lightning.

 

[janos_z]

Which number photo on BaT shows this? I couldn't find it.

On the BaT listing, take a close look at photos 33, 35, 41, 42, and 125.

Photo attached.

 

[gerryvz]

On the BaT listing, take a close look at photos 33, 35, 41, 42, and 125.

Photo attached.

I caught that too, and noted it in my list. Looks like the bumper cover is bowing upward.