OWNER 3300-500E_JP

[3300-500E_JP]

Hello

I own a Mercedes-Benz 500E in Japan. This vehicle is a Japan-spec, officially imported model. The color is Blue Black. It is equipped with an AMG-built M119.985 engine (same as the W210 E50) and features the later-model suspension and air conditioning system. Please note that these sentences have been automatically translated.

 

[gsxr]

Looks fantastic - welcome to the forum!

 

[ArauzMotoring]

Beautiful car in tip top shape!

How do you like your W210 AMG engine in your car ? It’s still running on a distributor I imagine.

 

[3300-500E_JP]

Beautiful car in tip top shape!

How do you like your W210 AMG engine in your car ? It’s still running on a distributor I imagine.

Thank you.

This engine is faster and more responsive than the standard M119 engine. It also has fewer pulleys, making it easier to maintain. I purchased it for ¥70,000 (~$450 USD).

 

[195910]

Welcome to the forum,

Did you reinstall the the distributor ignition system on the E50 Engine block? what about the compression ratio ?

 

[gsxr]

Welcome to the forum,

Did you reinstall the the distributor ignition system on the E50 Engine block? what about the compression ratio ?

Based on the photos, it appears the distributor ignition was swapped to the E50 engine, as a couple of other forum members have also done. Nice upgrade for the E500E, but difficult to find the E50 engine here in USA.

 

[3300-500E_JP]

As others have mentioned, I replaced the engine distributor, but in Japan's hot and humid climate, these don't last long. Many older vehicles have caught fire due to these failures. (Just recently, a Ferrari Testarossa burned and was lost.) I also replaced the entire fuel line and fuel system.

Additionally, due to Japan's climate, some vehicles have had their distributors removed and been modified to direct ignition.

 

[3300-500E_JP]

In Japan, vehicles modified in this way are looked down upon by some shops. However, even if the shop staff open the engine compartment, they cannot tell whether it is in stock condition or modified to M119.985 specifications.

 

[ArauzMotoring]

As others have mentioned, I replaced the engine distributor, but in Japan's hot and humid climate, these don't last long. Many older vehicles have caught fire due to these failures. (Just recently, a Ferrari Testarossa burned and was lost.) I also replaced the entire fuel line and fuel system.

Additionally, due to Japan's climate, some vehicles have had their distributors removed and been modified to direct ignition.

Have you seen the distributor cap slot modification?

Thread 'HOW-TO: Solving M119 Stumbling at Ignition Distributor Caps'

Sep 5, 2025

It is a common malady to nearly all M119 engines with dual-distributor systems, sooner or later, that the engine will suffer stumbling and cutting out. This condition is because there is inadequate air circulation inside the closed environment of the distributor caps, which causes condensation to form inside of the caps, effectively electrically "shorting" the flow of electricity to the spark plugs inside of the cap.

There is MUCH more background about this condition here on the forum, in this thread: FYI - Essential M119 Ignition "Tune Up" mods [Distributor cap vent / slot] | M119...

• gerryvz
• Replies: 20
• Forum: "HOW-TO" Tutorial Articles

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I personally would love to have a way to swap to coil on plug ignition on this car and I feel like a computer that can adjust timing, spark and fuel would be great - if it can still work with factory systems such as abs, eta, asr, etc

Btw your car looks like such a nice sleeper, congrats and I hope you enjoy it for a long time!

 

[okra]

Welcome to the forum, your car looks great! I'm still learning about non-US vehicles, are the Japan spec cars any different in the interior?

 

[036]

いらっしゃいませ！
If you post or privately send me your VIN i can provide you with a sequencial number of your car.
By the way, very nice pictures. More of that please.