@deanlaumbach blessed this listing so I will have my Popcorn ready for Monday. Already at $23K and climbing. Seems like @WjK1011 really wants this car.
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SOLD 1993 500E RENNtech 6.0L, Pearl Black/Black, 73kmi, BaT (Nashville, TN)
- Thread starter Jimbo
- Start date
This car doesn't need the blessing of any so-called BaT "expert" who is relying on the same photos & descriptive text as anyone else on BaT. Knowledgeable people here (including those who personally know Marco, the previous owner before the current seller, and who have SEEN the car with their own eyes) can attest that it is a top-tier example.
It fully stands on its own two feet.
It fully stands on its own two feet.
Thanks for location address. Lol! What a journey this car has taken. If the weather is dry, I'll drive out in my 500E & take a peek.
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In here most members will know that, but in the BAT context those onlookers and bidders for the most part don't. It was also the context by which I referenced DL' 'Blessing' on BAT as he has a following there. Don't know either current seller nor DL from a can of paint but he always gets top dollar for his BAT listings. I don't buy cars on online auctions as I prefer the traditional PPI and human to human exchange, but this one is worth watching as I passed on a similar Renntech E500 example last year after PPI and comments as well as price point on this one will be educational for me.
@DerFuror looking forward to the sighting feedback if you can make it.
I think people will be somewhat surprised that in the end, this car won't go as high as many people think. That's not knocking the car at all. I have a sneaking suspicion that there's an over-confidence in certain circles about how much this car will end up bringing.
Yes, those appear to be the stock "corners" for US bound E500s for MY 1994.
Overall, this one looks quite nice. Some nits:
1. Appears that the trunklid trim just below the badges is cracked (see photo #40)....pretty common for the pre-facelift examples
2. Overall quality of the paint is not as phenomenal as the entire "package"...and HUGE credit to the seller for pointing out the flaws. IMO, many of those paint flaws cannot be fixed with a quality paint correction. However, the swirl marks in photo #96 should be correctable.
3. Needs a new headliner
4. I don't recognize that oil-filler cap, but perhaps that's just me...
Will be fun to watch this one.
1. Appears that the trunklid trim just below the badges is cracked (see photo #40)....pretty common for the pre-facelift examples
2. Overall quality of the paint is not as phenomenal as the entire "package"...and HUGE credit to the seller for pointing out the flaws. IMO, many of those paint flaws cannot be fixed with a quality paint correction. However, the swirl marks in photo #96 should be correctable.
3. Needs a new headliner
4. I don't recognize that oil-filler cap, but perhaps that's just me...
Will be fun to watch this one.
Here's what I see, as far as an initial punch list (above and beyond what seller has pointed out in photos):
- Interior could REALLY use a good, thorough cleaning and detailing. It is in great shape, but a detailing would accentuate that.
- Windshield glass has been replaced
- Incorrect "clear" MB windshield sticker - should be replaced with correct sticker
- Car has a Stage 3+ case of DDD (on a 1-5 scale) — no bueno
- Scrapes in paint along bottom of front spoiler. Needs repainting -- a $500 job
- Looks like some modest, localized delamination along rear windscreen, passenger side
- Driver's side underhood rubber seal coming off of inner fender -- needs glued back on
- Aftermarket rear camber arms installed (not a bad thing, just noting it)
- Blue SLS "round" label has turned brown
- Modest curb rash, as shown
- Underside of rear bumper does not appear to have VIN tag
- Non-stock spare wheel
- Big crack in black deck-lid horizontal trim piece
- Odd replacement front struts -- proper for car?
- Suspension rubber bushings pretty much all look a bit tired. Could use a refresh.
- Rear SLS/suspension height appears to be slightly too high (mis-adjusted)
- Front and rear turn signal lenses have been replaced with "facelift" W124 lenses — incorrect for car
- Clamp on radiator overflow hose is rotated 180 degrees
- Rubber seal on brake vacuum pipe not properly inserted/fitted into engine plastic top cover
- Interior headliner sagging on sides and rear -- needs replacement badly
- Paint peeling/chipped off of radiator support VIN plate
- Slight curling up of center console plastic at transmission tunnel next to driver's seat
- Tear/slash ripped through bottom of wheel housing plastic on passenger side (near foglight trapdoor)
- Holes punched in plastic lower cover of rear LCA, passenger side
I always find lots of entertainment reading through old service records. Never in my life have I said to myself, "SELF, as I am living a carefree life of relaxation and extreme importance in the BAHAMAS, I may find myself having to, very occasionally, stop from 100 MPH very quickly and practicing evasive maneuvers from car jackers. This is a semi-regular activity for me. I better FAX Renntech over on the mainland and describe to them what I want exactly ----- because when I travel to purchase my new convertible / sportfisherman in my 500E 6.0, I am sure there will be a multitude of car jacking attempts against me...... in the Bahamas." 
Clearly I am not the target market for Renntech.
Clearly I am not the target market for Renntech.
I always find lots of entertainment reading through old service records. Never in my life have I said to myself, "SELF, as I am living a carefree life of relaxation and extreme importance in the BAHAMAS, I may find myself having to, very occasionally, stop from 100 MPH very quickly and practicing evasive maneuvers from car jackers. This is a semi-regular activity for me. I better FAX Renntech over on the mainland and describe to them what I want exactly ----- because when I travel to purchase my new convertible / sportfisherman in my 500E 6.0, I am sure there will be a multitude of car jacking attempts against me...... in the Bahamas."
Clearly I am not the target market for Renntech.
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A couple of obvious questions...
These are small islands. Isn't the speed limit 35 or 40mph?
And seeing as these are small islands, where does the car jacker take their newly-stolen car?
As per living and working 15+ years in the Caribbean in multiple locations including the Bahamas, I can tell you this vehicle is not one to be had over there. No roads. No good roads or enough length to open up. Other larger islands, Jamaica, PR, DR, Barbados etc. yes. OO was probably being sarcastic with the carjacker comments. An LR Defender, Landcruiser or Jeep is a more suitable vehicle for the islands than a W124 of any variant.
So I looked at this: About TMW - Tobin Motor Works
Holy shit, this is a small world. Dave Tobin? We hung out sporadically when we were 16. Our mutual friend was C. Fieler - Mariemont, OH. I remember when your dad brought home a new 2nd generation Mazda 929.
Drop me a line. (PM)
Cheers!
jlaa
Gerry,
Your item #14 struts are Koni REDs. If you check the strut towers in the engine bay you can see the adjusters. Koni provides a knob that sets on top to adjust re-bound if I remember correctly. They could only be adjusted one way. The other way is bounce which can only be done with valving. The knob adjuster is probably in the car somewhere.
Anyway, when I installed Konis REDs on my old 300E I bought them from an outfit in Canoga Park, CA. I picked them up personally at there shop and while speaking to the guy I asked him about the Koni YELLOW sport shocks. He told me that RennTech designed the YELLOWs for there cars and that they would be to harsh for my 300E. He also said that they could re-valve the REDs to the YELLOW spec it I later wanted to do it.
So, IMOP the RED struts were installed by Renntech and maybe just as is or possibly re-valved to the YELLOW spec.
lol
- The aftermarket rear links with Heim joints are RENNtech's overpriced $2000 "subframe upgrade", as noted in the pre-purchase paperwork in photo #394. Not my cup of tea, but part of the original RENNtech build.
- Non-stock spare wheel is REQUIRED to clear oversize Alcon brakes. No point in hauling around a stock 16" wheel that won't fit when you get a flat.
- I think Terry is right, those front struts are likely KONI reds (NLA items), which are softer than the yellows. Also not my cup of tea, if original they are likely shot to the point of zero damping, but the new owner can install whatever they'd like (I'd install new OE, but that's just me).
- Agree that more photos of engine compartment, particularly underneath, would be helpful.
- Also would like to see a video of the speedometer during a WOT run from a stop, to redline, through the first couple of gears... this will help show if the power output is normal. I did this on the E60-RS that I sold last year on BaT.
Really nice car, will be interesting to see where it lands.
Red struts are adjustable Koni's I left the knob in the spare tire bucket. Front sway bar is a large Renntech piece definitely larger than the OE on my
92 500E. No big deal but car does have braided brake lines installed by Renntech. The car had three piece BBS wheels when it left Renntech and when I sold it.
92 500E. No big deal but car does have braided brake lines installed by Renntech. The car had three piece BBS wheels when it left Renntech and when I sold it.
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Can you measure the front sway bar diameter with a slide caliper, at the thickest area? I had the RENNtech front bar on one of my cars and it looks very different. Could be they had different production runs with different appearances. Or, that could be an AMG E60 bar.
My estimate is that this car will end up somewhere around $60K -- possibly in the mid to high $60K range.
It has a fairly short punch list, and honestly probably deserves a complete repaint given the paint issues that were pointed out.
Even with the relatively low miles, the car is going to have some deferred maintenance needs that either haven't been disclosed (really need to see the bottom of the engine with out the lower cladding), or (more likely) are not known at this time.
I understand that the current title owner has had a lot of work done to the car over the past five years, by his local shop and by RENNtech. But there is undoubtedly more that must be taken care of -- at current shop prices and list parts prices that shops like to charge, there is probably $10K worth of needed work, that is currently lurking unknown.
At this age, there are going to be A LOT of rubber and soft item replacement requirements underhood that are needed. Even with not much use, rubber and soft items get brittle with age, which is pushing 30 years. If items like the brake hoses, hydraulic lines and fuel lines are original or are not recent, they DEFINITELY need to be replaced.
It has a fairly short punch list, and honestly probably deserves a complete repaint given the paint issues that were pointed out.
Even with the relatively low miles, the car is going to have some deferred maintenance needs that either haven't been disclosed (really need to see the bottom of the engine with out the lower cladding), or (more likely) are not known at this time.
I understand that the current title owner has had a lot of work done to the car over the past five years, by his local shop and by RENNtech. But there is undoubtedly more that must be taken care of -- at current shop prices and list parts prices that shops like to charge, there is probably $10K worth of needed work, that is currently lurking unknown.
At this age, there are going to be A LOT of rubber and soft item replacement requirements underhood that are needed. Even with not much use, rubber and soft items get brittle with age, which is pushing 30 years. If items like the brake hoses, hydraulic lines and fuel lines are original or are not recent, they DEFINITELY need to be replaced.
These non-AMG tuner cars seem to sell for a bit less than I'd expect on BaT - a v similar car w twice the mileage sold for mid 60s over a year ago. Maybe this one breaches $70k?
I think for the next 036 BaT auction that we should do something similar to the Price is Right game show. How it would work is that 500EBoard members would be able to participate in guessing the ending price. The guess closest to (and without going over) would win the prize money of let's say the sum of all entrants $5 fee.
All submissions would have to be in before the first 24 hours of the auction start. Members would be committing to pay the winner via PayPal within 3 days of certified winner.
Robert
All submissions would have to be in before the first 24 hours of the auction start. Members would be committing to pay the winner via PayPal within 3 days of certified winner.
Robert
In order for that to work one of the senior members such as yourself would have to be the bank, similar to the group buy collection. Count me in if that takes shape. $57K is my approximation for the conclusion of this car to keep it under $62K out the door
What prevents you from selling a car, me guessing the price, and then me “winning” the right price by “buying” the car myself...... but actually the car doesn’t change hands. You and I would then split the pool half and half.
We need the some entity like “JLAA SEC” to regulate this. “JLAA SEC” probably only charges 20% of the pool size to provide the useful oversight.
The guy who developed that amazing dead-nuts-accurate BaT pricing model would have ***such*** an advantage.
Let me see if there is an add-on that has that functionality. If not I could probably create it pretty easily, using the polling function as a base engine for the game. The PayPal function is already embedded in the forum software, so folks would need to pay up front to create an entry. No pay, no play. I'd think that $5.00 would be something that folks would do....
Would be interesting to do this, actually. Sort of like a mini-lottery for members.
Good to see that member "Pimpslap" (@EPTXCarlover) just made a comment on this auction.
You'd still owe BaT the Buyer's Premium of 5% so our game would have to have a lot of participation. For example, a $30K hammer price would generate a $1,500 premium so, at $5/spot, you'd have to be sure that there were at least 300 500EBoard members participating just to break even on your scheme.
Also, you have to buy your spot within the first 24 hours of the listing START so it would be tough to know what it would go for 6 days later.
Robert
Ain't happening. In any given month, the 500Eboard has around 650 "active" members who log in. That's about 7% of the total membership.
Though I'm sure that a number of people would participate in the 500E Price is Right.....look at the amount of teeth-pulling it took to get people to pay up for the latest group buy.
Though I'm sure that a number of people would participate in the 500E Price is Right.....look at the amount of teeth-pulling it took to get people to pay up for the latest group buy.
There is some serious braggadocio going on between a couple of commenters over there. Perhaps a force-choking would calm them down.
If they have to pay $5 to submit a guess, that would change the dynamic.
The next Group Buy I do (yep, I'm planning another one) will be of the format "Your name goes on the list when you submit payment." Of course, I will have to post the price first.
Robert
$59,500 + fees. Not bad.
For additional perspective. The '94 Renntech 6.0L that I passed on had 84k miles, did not present anywhere near as well as this one did and was being offered for $75K last year. That car has been discussed elsewhere in this forum previously.
For the Japanese replica rear bumper fender well inserts, Yes??
I’m all about that Price is Right action... like a skins game in golf... put up your dough and bet on your skill, or shut up... as for this car, I think $60k is about right actually... RENNtech isn’t AMG... spend any time around FL mechanics and race track rats and you’ll hear the same... while I’m sure a 6.0L M119 is a great thing, I’m pretty sure I’d rather have AMG doing the boring... no offense... and no thank you on new heim joints, airbox or exhaust... and yes this car needs a paint job... $60k was my guess, never more possibly less.
All that said, Euro lights, paint and some money on deferred maintenance probably boosts this car’s value more than the $25k you’ll spend on it. Probably. You’d need time to pass and/or the Fed to keep printing money. There are certainly worse ways to spend money and time.
maw
All that said, Euro lights, paint and some money on deferred maintenance probably boosts this car’s value more than the $25k you’ll spend on it. Probably. You’d need time to pass and/or the Fed to keep printing money. There are certainly worse ways to spend money and time.
maw
I wanted to share a photo update. Only took 18 months but @jhodg5ck got her sorted for me and I can’t stop staring
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@thedanweisman,
Beautiful Car! 18 months is a long time but now you should be ready for some serious fun time.
I see you added a new “Ducktail”
Please give us an
on your new driving experience.
lol
Beautiful Car! 18 months is a long time but now you should be ready for some serious fun time.
I see you added a new “Ducktail”
Please give us an
on your new driving experience.lol
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Unfortunately it’s looking like I might need to part ways with this car. Before I list on Bring A Trailer, I wanted to see if anyone here is interested.
Sorry to hear that, Dan. Can you share any additional info - location, miles, asking price, etc?
Oops none of the photos posted. 72k miles. Located in Nashville. The car is perfect. No expense was spared in the overhaul. Ask Jono.
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We are likely moving and won’t have the garage space.Shame you will let your car go.....you took care of so many high dollar maintenance items!
Im sure it will do really well when you sell it. Best of luck with the sale!
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