SOLD 1994 E500, Silver/Black, 107kmi, BaT auction, sold for $92k (Scottsdale, AZ)

[gsxr]

Update: Sold for $92k including fees, see post #58 for details.

No affiliation.

VIN = WDBEA36E5RC068196

1994 Mercedes-Benz E500

Bid for the chance to own a 1994 Mercedes-Benz E500 at auction with Bring a Trailer, the home of the best vintage and classic cars online. Lot #238,610.

bringatrailer.com

This 1994 Mercedes-Benz E500 is powered by a 5.0-liter M119 V8 paired with a four-speed automatic transmission and has been modified with a RENNtech carbon-fiber airbox, a RENNtech EPROM chip, and a RENNtech stainless muffler. It is finished in Brilliant Silver Metallic over black leather, and equipment includes a sunroof, headlight wipers, and 18” AMG Monoblock wheels along with heated power-adjustable front seats, a leather-wrapped airbag steering wheel, automatic climate control, cruise control, and a cassette stereo. The car was acquired by the current owner in 2011 and shows 107k miles. This E500 is now offered by the consigning dealer—a BaT Local Partner—with an owner’s manual, service records, a clean Carfax report, and a clean Arizona title.

The car is finished in Brilliant Silver Metallic (744), and the front bumper and fenders were repainted in December 2023. Exterior features include a sliding steel sunroof, headlamp wipers, fog lights, remote-controlled side mirrors, a power-telescoping antenna, and a single eccentric-sweep windshield wiper. The driver-side mirror cap was replaced in March 2024. There is a scratch on the rear bumper cover and photos of paint meter readings are provided in the gallery.

The 18” AMG Monoblock wheels were mounted with 255/40 front and 265/35 rear Continental ExtremeContact Sport 02 tires in February 2024, and the anti-lock disc brakes were serviced with replacement pads and a fluid flush at that time. [GSXR note: The tire diameters do not match and should be changed, see post #8 below.]

The heated power-adjustable front bucket seats and individual rear seats are upholstered in black leather, while wood trim accents the dash, center stack, and doors. Features include automatic climate control, cruise control, a cassette stereo, driver-seat position memory settings, and power windows.

The leather-wrapped airbag steering wheel frames VDO instrumentation consisting of a 160-mph speedometer, a 7k-rpm tachometer, an analog clock, and gauges for fuel level, coolant temperature, and oil pressure. The six-digit odometer shows 107k miles, approximately 25k of which were added under current ownership. The temperature gauge was repaired in March 2024.

The 5.0-liter M119 V8 was factory equipped with Bosch LH-Jetronic fuel injection, and the selling dealer notes that it has been modified with a RENNtech EPROM chip. A RENNtech carbon-fiber airbox has also been installed. Service in March 2024 involved replacing the drive belt, tensioner, and pulley along with the valve cover gaskets, spark plugs, air filters, hoses, engine oil, and coolant.

Power is routed to the rear wheels through a four-speed automatic transmission. A RENNtech Sport stainless muffler has been installed.

 

[gsxr]

Odd that the broken rear view mirror was not replaced, nor the scuff on the rear bumper impact strip not repaired... but there are a ton of paint meter photos despite documented paintwork? I have a feeling this was detailed to the moon and has highly optimized photos as well...

EDIT: At least one of the wheels is curb rashed and "needs refinished". And, another wheel is missing the valve stem cap. All four wheels do not have the correct 85mm length lug bolts which match the wheels.

 

[maw1124]

Agreed. Strange we’ve not seen it either. But geez these look great in Brilliant Silver. Just proper.

Smells like a dealer prop sale for sure.

maw

 

[duuder]

And another basic keyboard warrior with the wiring harness question...

 

[gsxr]

And another basic keyboard warrior with the wiring harness question...

BaHaT should require all sellers of 036's to have this included in the listing description BEFORE the auction goes live.

At least the wheels appear to be correct W210 E55 monoblocks, although the tire sizes are incorrect. Another peanut gallerist is already recommending wheel spacers... sigh.

 

[sheward]

A bit of an odd choice of tire sizes used. 265/35/18 and 255/40/18. Although the O.D. should be a good match it looks like a 255/40/18 on an 8 inch et31 rim up front rubs a bit inside.

 

[maw1124]

I guess that would explain what looks like tire rub marks in the wheel wells.

maw

 

[gsxr]

A bit of an odd choice of tire sizes used. 265/35/18 and 255/40/18.

This is not a good choice. The 255/40 is larger diameter by 2.8% (81.8" front, 79.5" rear). Under hard acceleration, the ASR could engage prematurely without any actual wheelspin, as the computers will sense the additional rotations of the rear vs the front. This could also result in the cruise control not functioning at higher (freeway) speeds.

To match the 265/35 rear, the front should be 235/40. Someone didn't do their homework. Pity, since the tyres are almost new (installed in 2024).

 

[sheward]

That's more of a discrepancy than I thought from memory. I run those sizes at times but not with each other. Your example is what I run. I also run the 255s with 225/45/18 up front which works.

 

[maw1124]

This is not a good choice. The 255/40 is larger diameter by 2.8% (81.8" front, 79.5" rear). Under hard acceleration, the ASR could engage prematurely without any actual wheelspin, as the computers will sense the additional rotations of the rear vs the front. This could also result in the cruise control not functioning at higher (freeway) speeds.

To match the 265/35 rear, the front should be 235/40. Someone didn't do their homework. Pity, since the tyres are almost new (installed in 2024).

I always used +/- 3% as my guideline. Is that no longer the case?

Or was that just for "departure from stock" and not for "difference in size on the car at the same time"?

maw

 

[gsxr]

I always used +/- 3% as my guideline. Is that no longer the case?

Or was that just for "departure from stock" and not for "difference in size on the car at the same time"?

I don't know the exact cutoff, but <2% seems OK, and >4% definitely causes problems (no cruise control).

3% is smack in the middle. I am not sure at what point things get wonky. I do know that in general you want the rear slightly larger, as ASR gets less happy with the rear smaller.

 

[PHK]

I think the whole rims-and-tires thing detracts from the car which otherwise seems pretty good. The RennTech chip puts me off a bit, as well, as I don't know what the long-term implications are.

 

[gerryvz]

I have genuine 18" E55 Mono IIs on my car, in a staggered setup. I run 275-35s on the rear and 235-40s on the front, and have for many years. I have never had any front wheel rub (or rear, for that matter), nor any ASR anomalies.

I have always felt this size to be most appropriate and best for these wheel width, but I could be mistaken on that. I wonder why he went 265 on the rears.

Just happened to look today, as I prepare to order new rears. I installed these Michelin PS 4s in early 2018 (not long after I moved to Maryland). The rears have almost 12K miles on them, and even the middle and outside is fairly worn down (not to the bars). I'd be surprised to get 15-17K out of them even if the inside corners weren't wearing due to the geometry change from the Monoblocks. The fronts are a bit less worn, as to be expected.

 

[gsxr]

I think the whole rims-and-tires thing detracts from the car which otherwise seems pretty good. The RennTech chip puts me off a bit, as well, as I don't know what the long-term implications are.

The RENNtech chip is useless. Years ago I compared the code of their chip vs stock and the ONLY difference is the top speed limiter was increased / removed. Which means you gain about 7mph of top speed, from 155 (limited) to a de-limited ~162mph, restricted by the engine redline. Needs taller gears to go any faster.

 

[maw1124]

I don't know the exact cutoff, but <2% seems OK, and >4% definitely causes problems (no cruise control).

3% is smack in the middle. I am not sure at what point things get wonky. I do know that in general you want the rear slightly larger, as ASR gets less happy with the rear smaller.

Yeah I must be thinking about moving from factory to larger fitment.

My F+R are always much closer in spec. On this car, they're the same as I run a square fitment. But on the S55 I run 245/40/19 up front (778 revs per mile) and 285/35/19 out back (774 revs per mile) -- which is "slightly" higher but only that, depending upon tire pressure. No issues anywhere.

maw

 

[gsxr]

I have genuine 18" E55 Mono IIs on my car, in a staggered setup. I run 275-35s on the rear and 235-40s on the front, and have for many years. I have never had any front wheel rub (or rear, for that matter), nor any ASR anomalies.

My speculation is the rubbing shown in the wheelwells is NOT from the current wheels/tires mounted. Note the rubbing in the REAR, which should not be there with only 265's on a 9.0 ET35 wheel. I think the rubbing is from some previous oversize set of wheels/tires...and/or, related to excessive suspension compression from worn dampers, or possibly lowering springs that were removed and replaced with stock.

Interestingly, there is NO sign of rubbing on the passenger front wheelwell. I wonder if a tire shop accidentally put a 9.0 wheel on the front left at some point?

I have always felt this size to be most appropriate and best for these wheel width, but I could be mistaken on that. I wonder why he went 265 on the rears.

Usually a 235/265, or 245/275, combo works well with the 8.0/9.0 wheels. Minor variations are fine, but this particular car has a definite mismatch of sizes, and in the wrong direction too (slightly less of an issue when the rears are larger diameter vs front).

 

[PHK]

My speculation is the rubbing shown in the wheelwells is NOT from the current wheels/tires mounted. Note the rubbing in the REAR, which should not be there with only 265's on a 9.0 ET35 wheel. I think the rubbing is from some previous oversize set of wheels/tires...and/or, related to excessive suspension compression from worn dampers, or possibly lowering springs that were removed and replaced with stock.

Yeah, but this thing has been so thoroughly (and recently) detailed including the wheel arches that I would think the rubbing was done since it was detailed which would imply to me with these tires.

 

[PHK]

...and Mum's the Word on the engine tray.

 

[PHK]

Yeah, but this thing has been so thoroughly (and recently) detailed including the wheel arches that I would think the rubbing was done since it was detailed which would imply to me with these tires.

On second thought, I am inclined to believe that it is more than just rubber from the tires; on closer examination of the photos it seems possible that the paint has been scraped off down to bare metal! That takes some kind of abuse.

 

[PHK]

you gain about 7mph of top speed, from 155 (limited) to a de-limited ~162mph, restricted by the engine redline.

I've hit the limiter on mine several times and I don't think I need the extra 7 mph.

 

[gerryvz]

My speculation is the rubbing shown in the wheelwells is NOT from the current wheels/tires mounted. Note the rubbing in the REAR, which should not be there with only 265's on a 9.0 ET35 wheel. I think the rubbing is from some previous oversize set of wheels/tires...and/or, related to excessive suspension compression from worn dampers, or possibly lowering springs that were removed and replaced with stock.

Interestingly, there is NO sign of rubbing on the passenger front wheelwell. I wonder if a tire shop accidentally put a 9.0 wheel on the front left at some point?



Usually a 235/265, or 245/275, combo works well with the 8.0/9.0 wheels. Minor variations are fine, but this particular car has a definite mismatch of sizes, and in the wrong direction too (slightly less of an issue when the rears are larger diameter vs front).




View attachment 235479 View attachment 235480 View attachment 235481 View attachment 235482

Would you say that my combo of 235 / 275s is acceptable (i.e. receives the Good GSXR Seal of Approval)? Or is there a preferred size you would recommend for an 8.0 front / 9.0 rear setup? Tire Rack is out of the 275 PS4s until 4/21, so I have not ordered yet.

 

[gsxr]

235/275 is "all good", as the kids say! Rear is 0.7% larger which is perfect.

275 is on the wide side for a 9.0 wheel though? I'd lean towards a 235/265 just to have a bit less 'stretch', but it should be within the acceptable wheel width range, so either way is AOK.

 

[gerryvz]

My tires don't have any obvious "stretch" look. They've always seemed perfect to me. I abhor stretching. I can't remember where I heard some 20 years ago that a 275 was the way to go on a 9.0.

 

[gsxr]

275/35 is at the minimum approved wheel width range of 9.0-11.0" (screenshot below), but it is in spec, so if you like the 275's... go for it!

As long as the sizes are approved by the tire mfr for wheel width, AND the front/rear size difference is within about 1% (if possible), at that point it's personal preference.

The BaHaT car for sale is outside the GSXR-recommended limits for front/rear diameter difference, AND also it has a 255/40/18 tire on an 8.0" wheel, which is outside the tire mfr's approved wheel widths of 8.5-10.0.

 

[Bogeyman]

Showed up on Hemmings while on BAT??

https://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/listing/1994-mercedes-benz-e500-portland-or-2937454

 

[8899]

I had 275s on the rear of my E500 and thought it looked/performed perfect.

1994 Mercedes-Benz E500

Bid for the chance to own a 1994 Mercedes-Benz E500 at auction with Bring a Trailer, the home of the best vintage and classic cars online. Lot #20,205.

bringatrailer.com

 

[TerryA]

My first set of 18” Michelin's were off of a 2004 SL500 and were 255F & 285R which I put 25K miles on with no appreciable wear but got noisy and signs of rubbing. My second set were 245F & 275R Pilot Super Sports which are still on the car and will be changed out this year due to age and cracking on the edges but no rubs that I can tell or see. I will go with that size again.

 

[Larwik]

Hello...after all this Carb info:

"The airbox and tune would probably take it out of Carb compliance. I am very hesitant to ever say that a used car is 100 percent CARB-compliant. I am not even sure you could get Carb-compliant parts in 1994. California emissions on old cars are always a struggle."

Reading the yellow sticker on the front "beam" and including(OBD 1 certified) ...Is there a reason after removal/replacement of the RennTech airbox and Chip tune that this E500 would not pass California Smog check?...and are those parts still available as replacement parts?... I believe catalytic converters are not available (NLA)...Thanks.../ Lars...

 

[gsxr]

Reading the yellow sticker on the front "beam" and including(OBD 1 certified) ...Is there a reason after removal/replacement of the RennTech airbox and Chip tune that this E500 would not pass California Smog check?...and are those parts still available as replacement parts?... I believe catalytic converters are not available (NLA)...Thanks.../ Lars...

It will pass CA emissions with the airbox and "tune", because neither item affects emissions. The chip does absolutely nothing besides remove the top speed limiter. The airbox might be up to the whim of the test station employee but I've never heard of one failing a car for an aftermarket airbox. You can get a stock airbox from eBay or a salvage yard if desired.

Factory catalysts are present on this car and these VERY rarely fail. Never, ever, EVER replace the factory cats on an E500E unless they are proven beyond any shadow of a doubt that they are absolutely, positively, definitely, defective... not just the test station's opinion that the cats are bad based on the sniffer results. Because yes, factory cats are NLA and yes, almost all CARB-compliant cats are garbage (plan on replacing the aftermarket junk cats every few years). Not to mention the CARB aftermarket cats will look awful, and do not fit properly, although nobody will see them. The OE cats are a triangle shape to tuck into the chassis without protruding below the floor of the car. Aftermarket cats will not do this.

 

[canyoncarco]

Not to deviate from the car on auction but the discussion regarding tire sizes has me thinking twice now. I am currently getting four 18x9 monoblocks refinished and planned on running 275/35 all around. Am I going to have fitment issues on the front? They are four rears from the W211 E55.
Thanks in advance.

Manny

 

[gsxr]

Not to deviate from the car on auction but the discussion regarding tire sizes has me thinking twice now. I am currently getting four 18x9 monoblocks refinished and planned on running 275/35 all around. Am I going to have fitment issues on the front? They are four rears from the W211 E55.
Thanks in advance.

Manny

Yes - you may have issues with the 9.0 wheels and 275 tires up front. They may touch the strut tube. I don't know specifics as to how close this will be, i.e. if the 9.0 wheel will fit but will need a narrower tire, or if the 9.0 wheel is a no-go without spacers. You might want to start a new thread in the Wheel & Tire subforum.

 

[Larwik]

It will pass CA emissions with the airbox and "tune", because neither item affects emissions. The chip does absolutely nothing besides remove the top speed limiter. The airbox might be up to the whim of the test station employee but I've never heard of one failing a car for an aftermarket airbox. You can get a stock airbox from eBay or a salvage yard if desired.

@gsxr ...Thank you very much.../ Lars...

 

[sheward]

The 9-inch Monoblock will just clear the strut however the widest tire that will work will be a 245/40/18. A 3mm spacer can be utilized without losing hub centering for added clearance. I have not seen or tried a 275 up front but I'm near certain you would have issues.

 

[Larwik]

In regards to the tire rubbing marks in the left side wheel well and the discussions of the various tire sizes:

It looks like the paint readings are showing thicker paint readings (on the hood and the left front fender) than on the passenger side.
Thinking out loud here: ...Could it be possible that the front left of the car experienced a "hit/impact" that threw the alignment of the left side slightly in wards and pushed the entire "front axle" over to the right and therefore allowed the tire to rub a little more on the inside?
Maybe far-fetched and just a thought...If so, I assume that can be proven by cross measuring the entire car on an alignment table?

 

[PHK]

I am not a bidder on this car and I don't want to post an 'ugly' on BaT, but the paint meter readings worry me a bit and I would appreciate the views of members more expert than me. But...I always thought too much paint in one area was a sign of collision repair. So, this car has high readings on the left front fender and hood. Could that indicate unreported collision repair on that corner?

 

[gsxr]

Thinking out loud here: ...Could it be possible that the front left of the car experienced a "hit/impact" that threw the alignment of the left side slightly in wards and pushed the entire "front axle" over to the right and therefore allowed the tire to rub a little more on the inside?
Maybe far-fetched and just a thought...If so, I assume that can be proven by cross measuring the entire car on an alignment table?

This would be very unlikely. Any impact hard enough to move the entire wheel inward several millimeters would result in the car never passing alignment. But yes, it would show up on the alignment rack, you'd never get the alignment in spec. Much more likely to be from incorrect wheel size/offset and incorrect tire size, along with (possibly) disintegrated strut foam stop buffers allowing excess upward travel.

 

[gsxr]

I am not a bidder on this car and I don't want to post an 'ugly' on BaT, but the paint meter readings worry me a bit and I would appreciate the views of members more expert than me. But...I always thought too much paint in one area was a sign of collision repair. So, this car has high readings on the left front fender and hood. Could that indicate unreported collision repair on that corner?

Listing states that front bumper and fenders were repainted... this could have extended on to the hood as well. If "DOT" decals were present on the fenders or hood that would indicate those panels were replaced, but new panels may not have thicker paint, so I'm guessing it was the original items painted?

 

[PHK]

Listing states that front bumper and fenders were repainted... this could have extended on to the hood as well. If "DOT" decals were present on the fenders or hood that would indicate those panels were replaced, but new panels may not have thicker paint, so I'm guessing it was the original items painted?

But why would the fender panel paint readings be asymetrical if it were just down to a benign bumper re-spray?

 

[gsxr]

But why would the fender panel paint readings be asymetrical if it were just down to a benign bumper re-spray?

Great question. I do not know. I'm not a paint guy, I'm the mechanical guy.

 

[gsxr]

BTW, @Larwik - the exhaust system on these cars is VERY quiet in stock form. The oversize factory catalysts cut down a lot of the noise, and the resonator (middle muffler) cuts down more, then the rear muffler pretty much eliminates the rest. The RENNtech muffler will be barely louder than stock. Adds a slight rumble you probably will not hear from the driver seat with the windows up.

Replacing the middle muffler with a Y-pipe adds back some of the rumble... still quiet, but not silent. The Y-pipe with aftermarket muffler (Remus, RENNtech, Fox, etc) is a nice upgrade behind factory catalysts. Sadly the Timevalve Y-pipe is NLA and you'd likely have to get one custom fabricated, not cheap to do properly. Do not butcher a good resonator to convert it to a Y-pipe, as some people had done years ago. The resonator is NLA and good used ones are impossible to find today. Chop it up and you'll never find a replacement if you ever wanted to go back to stock.

 

[PHK]

In regards to the tire rubbing marks in the left side wheel well and the discussions of the various tire sizes:

It looks like the paint readings are showing thicker paint readings (on the hood and the left front fender) than on the passenger side.
Thinking out loud here: ...Could it be possible that the front left of the car experienced a "hit/impact" that threw the alignment of the left side slightly in wards and pushed the entire "front axle" over to the right and therefore allowed the tire to rub a little more on the inside?
Maybe far-fetched and just a thought...If so, I assume that can be proven by cross measuring the entire car on an alignment table?

It's all very odd. If there were a serious left-front impact that required doing something with the fender panel requiring a re-spray, wouldn't it be the left-front where the paint in the wheel well was 'good' rather than the right? That is assuming the impact occurred before the rubbing. Where is Sherlock when we need him?

 

[duuder]

BTW, @Larwik - the exhaust system on these cars is VERY quiet in stock form. The oversize factory catalysts cut down a lot of the noise, and the resonator (middle muffler) cuts down more, then the rear muffler pretty much eliminates the rest. The RENNtech muffler will be barely louder than stock. Adds a slight rumble you probably will not hear from the driver seat with the windows up.

Replacing the middle muffler with a Y-pipe adds back some of the rumble... still quiet, but not silent. The Y-pipe with aftermarket muffler (Remus, RENNtech, Fox, etc) is a nice upgrade behind factory catalysts. Sadly the Timevalve Y-pipe is NLA and you'd likely have to get one custom fabricated, not cheap to do properly. Do not butcher a good resonator to convert it to a Y-pipe, as some people had done years ago. The resonator is NLA and good used ones are impossible to find today. Chop it up and you'll never find a replacement if you ever wanted to go back to stock.

i think quiet and subtle is good, once i got an AMG, i really appreciated everything about the E500E more

 

[PHK]

i think quiet and subtle is good, once i got an AMG, i really appreciated everything about the E500E more

I drove a few 2000s-era AMGs but always preferred the toned-down sound of the 500E.

 

[PHK]

I drove a few 2000s-era AMGs but always preferred the toned-down sound of the 500E.

But the Mercedes with the best sound to me was my 1987 300E. On that, there was almost no exhaust sound at all. What you did hear, however, was the induction and engine mechanicals of the terrific straight-six. To me, it was music from 5k RPM to the redline.

 

[duuder]

But the Mercedes with the best sound to me was my 1987 300E. On that, there was almost no exhaust sound at all. What you did hear, however, was the induction and engine mechanicals of the terrific straight-six. To me, it was music from 5k RPM to the redline.

this was the car that started my obsession!!!

 

[gsxr]

this was the car that started my obsession!!!

Trivia: GSXR's first W124 was a 1990 300E, purchased in 1995. This also started the 124 obsession. It was almost a decade later before he could afford a W124 with an M119 in it...

 

[PHK]

this was the car that started my obsession!!!

Me, too!

 

[duuder]

Trivia: GSXR's first W124 was a 1990 300E, purchased in 1995. This also started the 124 obsession. It was almost a decade later before he could afford a W124 with an M119 in it...

my father had this as a real estate professional... i NEVER thought i could afford a Mercedes-Benz much less a E500E - i appreciate these things much more now that have them

 

[FD.]

If there are any suspicions of an accident, it’s worth requesting additional measurements with a paint thickness gauge across all door jambs.

 

[Larwik]

[USER=6]@gsxr[/USER] ....Thanks for the answers and sorry to "lean-in" on you this much...Just to be sure...To me the cats, Y-pipe and the rest looks OK (like factory?)...is that your opinion as well?... (no liability on your end but your opinion is valued and appreciated)​

Thanks.../ Lars​