500e Purchase Advice

[500enewbie]

Hi All,

Hope this is the right area to post, go easy if it isn't as all is given away in my username! I was hoping someone could offer some advice on buying one of these amazing cars.

I am from the U.K and currently working in Oman. At least in the U.A.E I've seen several prisitine and what look like bargain priced 500e's for sale.


One particular example was owned by an ex-pat. It was the most expensive for sale, but also the most immaculate looking. Unforunately, the car sold for the asking price, but he seemed like a good bloke and said I could keep his number if I needed any advice on any similar cars.

I found what looks like an immaculate japanese import 500e on Dubizzle. It has no service history, but apparently this is common with cars coming through Japanese auctions.

The ex-pat I told to quite sensibly told me to add 1/3 onto the asking price for any of these type of cars in preventative mainetenence as it should be assumed it will need a good overhaul irrespective of how clean it looks.

I came across what I thought was a lovely dark blue example, however I was told by this guy that the interior is non-standard - and the dash colour is wrong, therefore buyer beware and find something else.


It's a shame really as it at a dealer who sounded credible and I notice the flared arches and V8 Engine.

My question is, are there a lot of fake/non standard E500 and if so, is there anyway of knowing? Any advice for this and related issues would be really appreciated.

Thanks in Advanc!

 

[nocfn]

Post a picture of the car or a link or a vin.

 

[Glasgo_Chris]

Louis, although your car is real your old fenders you bought your car with are a perfect example of how easy it is for people to duplicate these cars!

 

[500enewbie]

Hi. Sure here it is: https://dubai.dubizzle.com/m/motors...5JnByaWNlX19ndGU9JnByaWNlX19sdGU9JnBhZ2U9Mw==

 

[s4cruiser]

Looks like the front seats are not original E500E seats.

 

[nocfn]

Louis, although your car is real your old fenders you bought your car with are a perfect example of how easy it is for people to duplicate these cars!

but in my case, they tried to make it a sportline, which was not available on the E500E and when they fitted standard fenders, recognized that some bondo, torch and some sheet metal was in order. Never quite saw that before, dumbing down the appearance. But whatever, she proudly looks whistles Dixie like the E500 she was born to be!

 

[sheward]

Besides the seats being wrong the front has been facelifted but the trunklid has not. There are not many "fake" E500Es out there but there is no shortage of badly doctored and poorly maintained examples.

drew

 

[500enewbie]

Besides the seats being wrong the front has been facelifted but the trunklid has not. There are not many "fake" E500Es out there but there is no shortage of badly doctored and poorly maintained examples.

drew

Thanks Drew, makes sense. Would be hard for a back street mechanic to mimic the wide arches for example. I'm not sure about this particular car, however are slightly rough Japanese imports like this still worth taking a chance? On balance perhaps the very cheap purchase price can help offset the money required to bring it back to as original as possible.

 

[Melville]

what's up with the headlight wipers? It looks like when the front was facelifted they fitted the wipers on the wrong way. That doesn't say much for the quality of the work and attention to detail.

 

[superstar]

Pictures added for future reference

There you go

 

[Christian_K]

You need to verify that its a real 500E. The seats are none-Sportline standard W124 seats. The steering wheel has no Aribag (wasnt that stock?) and super-rare no-airbag for the co-drivers seat aswell.
It could be "just" a standard E420 which they put 500E fenders and stuff on it, to make it look like one. Also the front headlight wipers... what is going on there?

 

[superstar]

I would suspect this car was involved in a front end accident where both airbags were deployed. This is justifying the reason of the facelift with no airbags and a pre-facelift trunk!

 

[superstar]

If you pay attention to the last photo, you would see clearly the whole dashboard was taken from a none matching gray interior of a W124!

 

[nocfn]

Is that a glove box?

 

[sheward]

An often used response to purchase questions is buy the best example you can afford and I agree. Bringing neglected E500Es back to a state of drivability and/or originality is much more expensive than most imagine.

500Es were available with a glove box. I can't recall the specifics but I have seen non US cars here on the forum without the passenger airbag.

drew

 

[nocfn]

Cool, didn't know about glove box

 

[Maui]

Lots of red flags on this car. You need to get the VIN to verify it is a 500E. I love the color but I'm not convinced it is a real 500E.

 

[gsxr]

Lots of red flags on this car. You need to get the VIN to verify it is a 500E. I love the color but I'm not convinced it is a real 500E.

I agree. Need VIN for sure, and a photo of the engine compartment would help as well... also a photo of the rear seats.

The wrong seats and wrong dash indicate to me that the car likely had airbags, a front impact, airbag deployment, and non-airbag parts (of the wrong color) were installed to fix it cheap.

 

[500enewbie]

Thank you immensely chaps. As a result of the guy I mentioned giving me the initial advice - backed up with what you've said, this is a no-go for me now. I've since come across this. Getting a friend to check it out tomorrow. Already noticed the passenger seat has been retrimmed for some odd reason and is mismatched. Apart from that, worth a punt? If the consensus is no. I'm going to wait for a more honest example perhaps. Wish me luck anyway, my spidey sense is telling me to buy this one despite any potential flaws!

 

[gsxr]

The silver one has the wrong steering wheel (and headlights, ugh!), but otherwise it appears legit. Worth a test drive anyway. Don't forget to verify the VIN and get some photos under the hood.

 

[500enewbie]

The silver one has the wrong steering wheel (and headlights, ugh!), but otherwise it appears legit. Worth a test drive anyway. Don't forget to verify the VIN and get some photos under the hood.

Ha ha I can live with those foibles for now (I think!) I'll come back on here if all goes well with the test drive and update this thread. Thanks again, really appreciated everyones help

EDIT, silly question, best way to verify the VIN?

 

[Bogeyman]

Must have had a sale on paint??
Painted the taillight surrounds, the door handles, the rearview mirror rubbers...???

 

[gsxr]

EDIT, silly question, best way to verify the VIN?

The VIN is usually in the driver door jamb on Euro cars, also on a metal tag under the hood near the hood latch. If you really want to check carefully, look for the number stamped into the firewall near the passenger valve cover, photo below. Early cars should have VIN tangs on each door and fender, late cars only have VIN tags on the trunk lid and rear bumper lower edge.

 

[nocfn]

Must have had a sale on paint??
Painted the taillight surrounds, the door handles, the rearview mirror rubbers...???

oddly, the rain gutters appear in out of the box condition. go figure (where is that electrical tape

 

[bing]

Plenty cheap E500Es in Dubai compared to the rest of the world. Trouble is they are mostly ex japan that carry aftermarket mods, some tasteful but most distasteful, no records and with low miles dealer/seller front. Good ones are out there I'm sure, but they're a few and far between. So take your time!

 

[e500.org]

Plenty cheap E500Es in Dubai compared to the rest of the world. Trouble is they are mostly ex japan that carry aftermarket mods, some tasteful but most distasteful, no records and with low miles dealer/seller front. Good ones are out there I'm sure, but they're a few and far between. So take your time!

Agree with this.

 

[500enewbie]

Thank you GSXR and thank you everyone else for the advice, even if its mocking what could be a potential purchase! . I also feel that a European or American market 500e is far more desirable for the reasons mentioned.
I need a car here though and I'd like to enjoy the incredibly cheap price of gas here too ($8 for a full tank!). I will therefore take it for a drive and see what my heart says. I am not a fan of the mods either, but hopefully they're reversible.
One more note on the VIN. I have tried using the search function, but is it likely to include it saying 500e on it somewhere? Apologies again if this is a silly question!

 

[Maui]

I would have to look at these two:

E55 Wagon

E55 Wagon

Then there is this also

E500

Some good deals on E63's. I'm not sure what the constant sand exposure does to a car though.

 

[500enewbie]

I would have to look at these two:

E55 Wagon

E55 Wagon

Then there is this also

E500

Some good deals on E63's. I'm not sure what the constant sand exposure does to a car though.

Yes thanks for these. I prefer the W124 vintage. I saw the black one too. Nice exterior, dreadful interior and higher in mileage and price to the silver one. I think silver really suits this car too.

 

[Maui]

I love wagons especially AMG wagons.

 

[bing]

One more note on the VIN. I have tried using the search function, but is it likely to include it saying 500e on it somewhere? Apologies again if this is a silly question!

The search function on here will not decode VIN , if that's what you're trying to do . (?) However, if you post the VIN on the car that you're interested in , a member here can help decoding it . E500Es will have a VIN beginning WDB124036XXXXXXXX. Japan and euro models . WDBEA36XXXXXXXX US models

 

[500enewbie]

The search function on here will not decode VIN , if that's what you're trying to do . (?) However, if you post the VIN on the car that you're interested in , a member here can help decoding it . E500Es will have a VIN beginning WDB124036XXXXXXXX. Japan and euro models . WDBEA36XXXXXXXX US models

No, what I meant was what to look for generally on a VIN. That's perfect thanks, I'll get it checked from my friend and post it on here.

 

[DerFuror]

I was hoping someone could offer some advice on buying one of these amazing cars.

Read the Wiki entry entitled, "What to check when buying an E500E".

..are there a lot of fake/non standard E500 and if so, is there anyway of knowing? Any advice for this and related issues would be really appreciated.

Use the Vehicle Identification Code (VIN) to help confirm if the prospective purchase is a real E500E.

 

[500enewbie]

Hello all. Just wanted to say a sincere thanks for all the advice so far. Has been massively useful joining this site. I've got my friend to give it a cursory look over. It's a shame he doesn't know a huge lot about cars, but he did say "it looks brand new" from the outside! And sounded nice on startup. He was able to take some photos including the all important VIN. I've attached a photo below, but I think it reads:WDB 1240361C238633. I guess this is the crunch post then. Either I buy the car of my dreams right now (or not). Your honest and useful feedback really welcome. I hope it means a trip to pick it up this weekend, fingers crossed!

 

[gsxr]

WDB1240361C238633 is a very, very late build car... engine # 10,602 one of the last hundred built, I think? VIN checks out as silver & black. From the looks of the engine compartment, plan on catching up on deferred maintenance ($$$). But you'd have that with any "cheap" 500E...

 

[500enewbie]

Thanks, gsxr and as you'll have noticed I'm ignoring quite a few health warnings! Easy answer to a hard question then. Despite the flaws, the car is straight enough a 500e albeit needs prettying up?

Oh and silver and black means to make it revert to the original look means painting the lower plastic elements black again? Anyway, it looks like I'm going to go get this at the weekend

 

[bing]

Silver exterior and black leather interior as your photo shows .

 

[Maui]

As long as you are happy with it and have another $5k to $10k to sink into it then go for it. These cars are not for the faint of wallet.

 

[gsxr]

Silver exterior and black leather interior as your photo shows .

What Bing said... Brilliant Silver paint, with black leather interior. The exterior is not stock though, someone painted the bumpers & lowers in Brilliant Silver. These were 2-tone from the factory, the lower plastics should be a contrasting color - Atlas Gray.

 

[500enewbie]

I just wanted to say a genuine thank you to everyone. I have enough information to warrant me looking at this car. I will update this thread by the weekend hopefully. Thank you everyone for putting up with what were probably some very basic questions at times.

 

[Maui]

I just wanted to say a genuine thank you to everyone. I have enough information to warrant me looking at this car. I will update this thread by the weekend hopefully. Thank you everyone for putting up with what were probably some very basic questions at times.

I think most people have the same sorts of questions when they start looking at these cars for the first time. At the end of the day you are the only person that needs to be satisfied. No one here is going to publically humiliate you for buying a car. You will be congratulated on your purchase.

That being said, I would see if you can have the car checked out by a reputable shop first if at all possible. These cars are expensive to own and there will be plenty of deferred maintenance. No if, ands or buts, it will be expensive to own. It is not a Toyota, but its not a Ferrari either. If you can't do the work yourself you will want to make sure there is a shop nearby that you can trust to know what they are doing and not rip you off.

 

[500enewbie]

An update then. I went to see the car yesterday. Front seats are indeed a mismatch, it has a cheap DVD SatNav system and a few other cosmetic challenges. Took it for a test drive and the engine sounded lovely, nice and straight panels all round, so I'm now hopefully the proud owner of a 500e

I've not got to pay for the car and get it sent to Oman. There are a lot of issues to do this. Hope it all works out!

 

[Maui]

Congrats. It is a great color combo just ask 600Eric.

 

[500enewbie]

Congrats. It is a great color combo just ask 600Eric.

Thanks Maui. I'm may regret this, but speaking to people who know a little about cars in general in this part of the world tell me it would be a bad idea to buy this - my gut instinct is telling me the same. I thought I'd share my experiences out of courtesy for those interested.

1) I'm no expert on bodywork, but I am paranoid about the car having suffered crash damage. If I was in the U.K I could take a knowledgable friend. The panels seemed nice and straight, but I keep asking myself why the front lights have been replaced, the various other questionable silver accents to the car and the general reputation for ex-Japanese cars to disguise accident damage history through the import process and lack of traceability.

2) Rear headrests don't work, no heated seats. Not a massive problem in itself (even though the dealer told me it had heted seats and that the car was "perfect" inside out. Front passenger seat being mismatched with a ripped bolster was playing on my eyes. It could be that I am able to pick up a decent replacement, but most likely will have to find at least two good (and rare) sportsline electric leather seats or a retrim, which could easily mean £1000

3) Even if these aren't too much to worry about I am receiving too many mixed messages about exporting the car from Dubai to Oman. The word is that any car over 9 years old isn't allowed through the borders anymore and if so, they decide how much tax to charge at the border. This could be 2 cents or £2 million. It's entirely subjective and a big risk financially. The Royal Omani Police weren't quite sure either when I went in to personally ask them today, but they did say probably. The dealer selling the car was adamant that this rule is going to kick in after October (perhaps he would say that) and he'll be able to deliver the car to the Muscat border for around £100. I'm just thinking to myself that he would say that and if it gets to the border and they refuse to let it through, it's me who will be stuck with a car in Dubai, when I don't live there!

I'm not trying to do a character assassination of either the dealer or the car. If I was based in Dubai, I might still have taken a chance. I was advised today to buy a car from an ex-pat if possible and not a local dealer. This will come across as a sweeping statement I know, but the one similar car I saw in Oman before this was sadly sold was owned by a British guy for 15 years, which he personally imported it from Japan. He was knowledgable, friendly and seemed extremely honest. I'd rather pay a 1 or even 2k premium for such a car as you guys hinted before. The dealer in this case didn't want to go through a bank account and instead insisted on Western Union for a money transfer.

My search goes on then. I'm going to update this thread with any queries or advice as before if that's ok and hope one does turn up in Oman again. It's been an interesting learning experience and I've lost my deposit of 500 AED - as well as money converting US Dollars to Dirums. Another way of looking at is saving £7000 on a car that could ultimately turn out to be hiding accident damage, a money pit or both.

Thanks again for everyones help. It's been massively helpful. You guys rock

 

[gerryvz]

I think you're smart to go with your gut here. I would do the same, and given all the facts in front of you, I would have come to the same conclusion. Sometimes things just don't add up, and things aren't meant to be. Keep looking !!

 

[Maui]

I agree with your decision. Too many unknowns there. I would also hold out for a private sale if at all possible. Dealers are dealers and will say whatever it takes to make a deal.

 

[Marc R]

Good thinkin there....too many mismatches

 

[bing]

You did good walking away. TBH, I would have walked away after seeing the photos, and your last post post says it all.

 

[500enewbie]

Thanks again chaps. It's ironic really, friends usually take me along when they want to buy a car because I can usually spot problems and I'm good at negotiating. My emotions got the better off me and I was almost grateful to see the car after an 8 hour trip. I didn't really do any checks and it was almost a purely impusle purchase. I'm extremely fortunate not to have taken cash, where the dealer would have signed the car over to me and then I really am stuffed.
On the plus side, I've now driven one and know this is the car for me if I can find a decent one here. I'll update this post if I do.

Edit: anyone reading this in Oman and having a good chuckle at my experiences who has or knows of a decent 500e get in touch!

 

[500enewbie]

Hello again everyone! Another interesting experience this week. I finally managed to get hold of a guy who had a clean looking silver 500e advertised for 3200 OMR (about £5,400 so very attractively priced). Unfortunately he had sold this, but said he knows the guy who now owns it and would ask if he wants to sell it on or not. Very keen therefore, but not that hopeful. I decided to put an advert in the local Oman Dubizzle, asking for anyone selling an E500. I didn't expect anything to get back, to my surprise a British guy called Steve said he had one that he bought over from Japan with 71,000KM on the clock. Apparently the car had been maintained meticulously, so I thought I'd go see it today. Some photos:

In my excitement, I didn't get a chance to take any photos of the interior nor the VIN, however there is an A4 binder full of receipts from the official Mercedes garage in Oman in excess of £5,000 including partial resprays, new battery, new rear screen, new rear air suspension. The car sounds lovely and drives perfectly. Bodywork is generally fantastic, some scratches to the plastic lower parts, but nothing too horrible. In terms of the interior there is some minor wear to one side of the driver seat bolster, but it might respond to a SMART repair or some leather conditioning. It has some nasty chrome highlights to the switches, but hopefully these will come off without damaging the lacquered wood trim. Speaking of which, it has a lovely birds eye black maple that looks lovely and (if someone can confirm this). You'll notice that the lights aren't standard, but that's because the seller wanted to upgrade them and he will include the originals in the sale as well.

The owner is a real gentleman and has lived in Oman for over 20 years. There is one catch. The price! Seller wants £6000 OMR (£10,000). In this market (maybe any market) this is strong money, even for a car as immaculate as this one. I took £7,500 with me, hoping this or perhaps £500-1000 more would seal the deal, but the seller politely refused and says the price isn't negotiable. I walked away a little disappointed.

I would describe it as being in particularly good condition and with low, genuine mileage. The owner mentioned that if he didn't get the price which he wanted, he'd take it back to England and sell it there, where he could get £15,000. I mentioned, (clearly also from a bargaining perspective too) that it would cost to send it over, that it is a Japanese market car and they would probably have a preference for European or officially imported cars into the U.K, but to no avail!

Maybe I'll answer my own question with this question eventually, but am I being unrealistic to expect some money off? Everyone likes a deal and I guess if was hoping the money in hand would have tempted him. I had planned on keeping the car with a view to never selling it, so I'm not looking to flip it, but it's still nice to know I got a little bit of a bargain. £10k is strong money for this car in the Middle East, even with such a thorough service record and he is unlikely to get it from the local market who just view it as another old merc. I would want to send it back to the U.K, which will cost at least £2,000 and then I am in range of getting a 500e from Europe. I don't think the guy has any shortage of money, perhaps it's a personal thing where he would feel insulted selling it for less, especially when he's got receipts to prove over £5000 in maintenance.

Options are to then ponder for now (he's not put it for sale yet so I have time to think) or look out for another one. There are no guarantees I'll find another one in such a relatively small market and they're unlikely to be as clean as this one. Any different advice/opinions? Would be appreciated as they previously were.