SOLD 1993 500E, Silver/Gray, 175kmi, BaT (Los Angeles, CA)

[gsxr]

EDIT: For sale again July 2021, thread title updated.


FS: 1993 500E, Silver/Gray, 148kmi, $22,500 (Greenbrae, CA)

No affiliation. Non-enthusiast offers not accepted. Facelift hood indicates possible accident. Wrong headlight wipers, can't tell if headlights are correct. AutoCheck report attached below photos.

VIN = WDBEA36E5PB917925

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/nby/cto/4339314651.html

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In 1993 [this car] commanded a whopping $105,000 sticker price. My father purchased this car in 1994 with only 5,000-miles on it. It was then meticulously maintained and he put 90,000 freeway miles on the car while living in Los Angeles. In 2002 I purchased the car from him, and over the next 12-years pampered this beauty and only put 50,000 more miles on the car. That's 20-years this car has spent in the same family. ​

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A few years ago I had the front and rear bumpers repainted to clean up a little road rash. At the time I decided to paint the black impact strips the same color as the bumpers, giving the car a little 1994 upgrade.​

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It now has 148,000 miles. And has been maintained by a very good independent mechanic here in Marin, CA. The car is in excellent shape both inside and out, and is mechanically sound. It was recently serviced, had new tires installed, and a complete detail. It is now sleeping under a car cover waiting for a new owner. Selling this car may be one of the worst mistakes I ever make! So I am only taking offers from an enthusiast that will provide a good home. It's not a one-of-a-kind car, but it is very close. ​

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415-328-9184​

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[gerryvz]

Seems high priced for the mileage, and his quoted figure for the cost of the car new is about $20K too high. If the cosmetics and mechanics check out, I'd say this would be a high-teens car ... $16-19K sounds about right. He's asking more than Dr. No was asking for HIS car, and Dr. No's had barely 1/3 of the miles on it that this car has.

Since it's a one-family car, the seller MUST know why the car was facelifted. It would be a good disclosure for him to make. Dave is correct about the headlight wipers, and the rear bumper looks a little warped/tweaked too ... perhaps just needs a slight adjustment.

Has anyone been in contact with the seller and raised these questions?

Cheers,
Gerry

 

[Roma_500E]

For this price some people might not like painted bumper impact and face lifted hood . "Non-enthusiast offers not accepted" if the guy really means it that makes me feel good about him even without seeing him.

 

[texas993]

90,000 freeway miles on the car while living in Los Angeles

​Yikes! That isn't a selling point to me! Worse that NYC city miles!

 

[Maui]

Too many miles for the money. Too bad they didn't do the trunk when they did the front.

 

[gsxr]

I agree with Gerry. The facelift hood and wrong headlight wipes are at least a yellow flag, if not red. Need a good explanation there. In the current market, it might be mid-teens, assuming there are ZERO mechanical issues, and the interior is in good condition. More photos and info required. Nice color combo though.

 

[jlico911]

90,000 freeway miles on the car while living in Los Angeles

​Yikes! That isn't a selling point to me! Worse that NYC city miles!

Yikes indeed. 90k freeway miles at an average speed of 5.5 mph.

Also odd for an "enthusiast" to mention that the bumpers were painted but no mention of the other work to the front end (facelift)

 

[alexis]

Hi,
"Non-enthusiast offers not accepted" might also means "Pay the price I fixed"...
Yes, few things to check on this "non stock" car
Alex

 

[gsxr]

Price reduced slightly to $9,900... although that could be a typo, might be $19,900...?

http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/vehicledetails.xhtml?listingId=368471357

Location now listed as Manhattan Beach, CA 90266.

 

[Maui]

I think $22,500 was the typo. Looks like the seller wants to move the car.

 

[jhodg5ck]

Gerry, did you have any record of this car?? Have a client that may be interested..

Anyone in the area who might be able to take a look? Compensate for time/effort of course!

Thanks!!!

jono

 

[gsxr]

Did anyone ever confirm the price? It's still $9900 on AutoTrader...

 

[tanger]

I live in Manhattan Beach! Have never seen it though. Let me know if I can help look at it for anyone... PM me

Gerry, did you have any record of this car?? Have a client that may be interested..

Anyone in the area who might be able to take a look? Compensate for time/effort of course!

Thanks!!!

jono

 

[Hi-Power]

I live in Manhattan Beach! Have never seen it though. Let me know if I can help look at it for anyone... PM me

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Willing to join Mel (Tanger) if there is anyone seriously interested…

 

[jhodg5ck]

Sweet! That youTanger and Hi Power! I'll speak w/ my client/do our research and if things proceed further I'll ping you guys out..

Thanks Much!!

Jono

 

[Trae]

BAT today.

1993 Mercedes-Benz 500E

Bid for the chance to own a 1993 Mercedes-Benz 500E at auction with Bring a Trailer, the home of the best vintage and classic cars online. Lot #51,659.

bringatrailer.com

 

[gsxr]

Well, I think we found the reason for the front-end facelift (see attached). Bummer about the headlight lens, this is a lesson in Why You ALWAYS Install Lamin-X On 036 Lenses.

Odd that there was a new title issued 2 moths ago and the auction says "...this 500E is offered by the seller on behalf of the owner". Edit - the seller has clarified this in the comments. They bought it recently, from the person who had listed it back in 2014 but did not sell it.

 

[gerryvz]

Need @cascade to provide a Punch List.......

 

[JAB12]

Funny how this thread was dormant for 7 years. Car doesn't look bad for the mileage. Not sure about the stories though.

 

[Bogeyman]

Sold on BAT for $27k, or $28.3K total with fees.

 

[hpxxhan]

Hey folks.. i'm the lucky new owner of this silver 500E. i'm here in LA picking up the car this weekend and looks like car has intermittent EZL issue. And i need to drive up to San Jose so wondering if anyone has a spare EZL for 93 M119 that you can sell it to me in LA area? Kind of a last minute emergency so i would really appreciate it if u folks have a spare u can sell around LA.

 

[gsxr]

Congrats on the purchase @hpxxhan, and welcome to the forum!

That said, EZL issues are almost never intermittent. Typical EZL failures are either the engine runs on the same 4 cylinders at all times, or it won't fire at all. Anything intermittent is almost certainly a different problem.

Can you explain what the problem / symptoms are?

 

[hpxxhan]

Congrats on the purchase @hpxxhan, and welcome to the forum!

That said, EZL issues are almost never intermittent. Typical EZL failures are either the engine runs on the same 4 cylinders at all times, or it won't fire at all. Anything intermittent is almost certainly a different problem.

Can you explain what the problem / symptoms are?

Looks like car is intermittently miss firing. It's nice and smooth at one point.. and next it's misfiring. I dig around and looks like it might also be the cap/rotor/dust shield. I was contacted by seller and see if i still want to pick it up or get refund but I'm planning/thinking to move forward with the purchase. I had a w140 s500 sometime back and it was miss firing intermittently and turned out to be EZL going out so i was thinking along those line based on my experience. Any thoughts? I am planning to order a set of cap/rotor/dust cover to replace regardless but thinking about getting an EZL as well just in case since they tend to go out and at least i can rule it out.

 

[Jlaa]

Looks like car is intermittently miss firing. It's nice and smooth at one point.. and next it's misfiring. I dig around and looks like it might also be the cap/rotor/dust shield. I was contacted by seller and see if i still want to pick it up or get refund but I'm planning/thinking to move forward with the purchase. I had a w140 s500 sometime back and it was miss firing intermittently and turned out to be EZL going out so i was thinking along those line based on my experience. Any thoughts? I am planning to order a set of cap/rotor/dust cover to replace regardless but thinking about getting an EZL as well just in case since they tend to go out and at least i can rule it out.

If you find liquid behind the disti caps then replace the cap/rotor/shield and that may likely be the INTERMITTENT issue.…. And hopefully enough to get you home up to San Jose! Please find attached some light reading.

 

[hpxxhan]

If you find liquid behind the disti caps then replace the cap/rotor/shield and that may likely be the INTERMITTENT issue.…. And hopefully enough to get you home up to San Jose! Please find attached some light reading.

Than you so much ! I will check it out as well and maybe do a quick mode with more vents to get it smooth and stable for the trip back.

 

[gsxr]

Looks like car is intermittently miss firing. It's nice and smooth at one point.. and next it's misfiring. I dig around and looks like it might also be the cap/rotor/dust shield. I was contacted by seller and see if i still want to pick it up or get refund but I'm planning/thinking to move forward with the purchase.

This sounds like secondary ignition problems. Caps/rotors/insulators is a good place to start if they are not recent. Bosch or Beru caps, ONLY Genuine MB (Dodcuo) rotors, and Bosch insulators. With 175kmi, I'd replace the camshaft oil seal behind the rotor bracket too, unless there's a record of it being replaced. It wouldn't hurt to also verify the spark plugs are the correct NON-resistor type (very common to have the wrong plugs installed). If there is no record of the wires or coils being replaced, new Beru wires (click here) and new Bosch coils would complete the ignition system restoration. Gapping the plugs to 1.0mm (wider than spec) may also help.

A long shot would be a crank sensor issue (this connects to the EZL) but that typically has different symptoms. And, the PO of your car says the crank sensor was replaced recently, and the photos show it appears to be a quality OEM part, which is great.

I had a w140 s500 sometime back and it was miss firing intermittently and turned out to be EZL going out so i was thinking along those line based on my experience. Any thoughts? I am planning to order a set of cap/rotor/dust cover to replace regardless but thinking about getting an EZL as well just in case since they tend to go out and at least i can rule it out.

As mentioned previously, EZL's don't have intermittent failures. But it wouldn't hurt to buy a spare for both testing, and in case the old one does fail. You can find them on eBay at pretty reasonable prices but most sellers don't actually test them, although some may claim to. I have some for sale which are tested in my car, guaranteed good, codes cleared etc, but the cost is a bit more.

 

[gsxr]

Than you so much ! I will check it out as well and maybe do a quick mode with more vents to get it smooth and stable for the trip back.

The liquid/moisture issue USUALLY will go away after the car reaches full operating temp, although you may either need to live through 15-30 mins of intermittent misfiring (mostly at medium/heavy throttle), or shut it down for 30+ mins after the misfiring starts and it may be fine afterwards.

BTW, when you get the car, put Lamin-X on both those irreplaceable headlight lenses. The Lamin-X should seal the crack/hole on the driver side lens and keep the interior of the lamps clean & dry. Won't be pretty, but will keep them functional. The lights and lenses are NLA, and the standard 124 lenses are both visually and functionally different... you don't want them.

 

[hpxxhan]

Thank you all for the valuable inputs and notes. After I picked up the car yesterday the car was running like a champ. It wasn't used regularly and was parked in the underground parking for quite sometime so I now suspect moisture build up and after running it properly at temps i think things cleared up. The trip back home from LA to SJ was uneventful and a smooth sailing. Car pulls hard and i was thoroughly enjoying it For now, I'll start with caps, rotors and insulators. I'll also put lamin-X on the lenses soon.

Thanks again for the inputs and help folks. First thing first.. i need to reinstall the hood star. Just look odd without it.