Contemplating 1997 S500's

[Stevester 500E]

I like the big body MB's. I am not too well versed as to weather these suffer from eco-junk wiring.
I want to stay away from a car that required too much maintenance, etc.

 

[alabbasi]

Yes the wiring issue is fixed
No it does not have bullet proof glass

 

[maw1124]

Skip past the W140 and grab a W220 S55. You won't be sorry. All of the "cutting edge" W140 technology shows up in the W220 with a lot of the kinks worked out. The W220 is smaller and lighter, with a lot more power and torque. You end up with a "big body" Benz that feels as nimble and athletic as the .036, if not more so. And because they've gotten so throughly trashed in the chat rooms over the ABC, you can probably get it for about the same price. If athleticism isn't high on your list, the W140 may be more satisfying in some sense. More "old world" tankish Benz.

Speaking of, Al are you still playing with yours?

maw

 

[alabbasi]

Speaking of, Al are you still playing with yours?

maw

Yes sir, I have determined that 500hp is my sweet spot. I can drive like a complete nut job and still feel safe

 

[maw1124]

Yes sir, I have determined that 500hp is my sweet spot. I can drive like a complete nut job and still feel safe

No doubt. You have to try really hard to lose control of that car. That said, (1) take off ESP, and (2) give it too much throttle at the apex; and she’ll screech really loud to let you know you’re trying really hard.

maw

 

[alabbasi]

That said, (1) take off ESP, and (2) give it too much throttle at the apex; and she’ll screech really loud to let you know you’re trying really hard.

That's called driving by the poop of your pants

 

[S70/2]

I’d go for a obd1 600sel personally, most likely already have replaced harnesses and etas..however most still need the MAF wires redone back to the coffin box which isn’t a huge deal. After that you have no soy related issues to worry about, also the 96-97MY is still soy’d...up until late 97 IIRC

Either go diesel or m120 with a w140, the m119 is pretty pointless

 

[maw1124]

That's called driving by the poop of your pants

It’s a delicate balance, but hooking the tires up out of a corner without a downshift in that car is all the reward you need.

;-D

maw

 

[gsxr]

... also the 96-97MY is still soy’d...up until late 97 IIRC

You sure about that? AFAIK, the soy (biodegradable wiring insulation) problem should have ended with the 1995 USA model year / LH injection. I'm not aware of any wiring issues on 96-up with ME injection. Now, it's possible some of the chassis wiring harnesses might have had issues after 1995, but the engine should be fine from 96-up.

Either go diesel or m120 with a w140, the m119 is pretty pointless

Yeah, I'd tend to agree here, unless you just want a cruiser. Get an S600 plus this 7.4L upgrade and you'll be rockin' in style.

Just curious, is there some reason you are limiting your search to 1997 only?

 

[gerryvz]

I was always under the impression that the bio-wiring (or “eco-junk” per our pal Q*baert) was also present on 1996 W210 models. No?

 

[alabbasi]

I was always under the impression that the bio-wiring (or “eco-junk” per our pal Q*baert) was also present on 1996 W210 models. No?

Not to my knowledge. the 96 W210 was a completely new car and they were well aware of the issue by then. Biodegradable tail light sockets maybe but the wiring was fine.

 

[gsxr]

Not to my knowledge. the 96 W210 was a completely new car and they were well aware of the issue by then. Biodegradable tail light sockets maybe but the wiring was fine.

Correct. The W210 was, AFAIK, immune to this issue from start of production. I have a few 1997's and have never seen wiring insulation failing anywhere on the car. (Although, now I want to go look at the taillights, lol.)

 

[S70/2]

I recall seeing a soy harness on a 96 E300D, although it could just be my imagination...maybe more biodegradable night terrors...

Edit : After some quick research I confirmed many cases of 96-97 E300Ds with failed harness problems. Perhaps it was just the diesels...but the soy lives on past OBD1. Thanks Mercedes!

 

[gsxr]

I recall seeing a soy harness on a 96 E300D, although it could just be my imagination...maybe more biodegradable night terrors...

Edit : After some quick research I confirmed many cases of 96-97 E300Ds with failed harness problems. Perhaps it was just the diesels...but the soy lives on past OBD1. Thanks Mercedes!

Bizarre! What harnesses were the problem on the 96-97 E300 diesels? Engine, engine compartment, interior, etc? I've never heard of this!

 

[alabbasi]

Correct. The W210 was, AFAIK, immune to this issue from start of production. I have a few 1997's and have never seen wiring insulation failing anywhere on the car. (Although, now I want to go look at the taillights, lol.)

If you haven't seen a headlight defective warning on a gen 1 W210 you have not lived

Edit : After some quick research I confirmed many cases of 96-97 E300Ds with failed harness problems. Perhaps it was just the diesels...but the soy lives on past OBD1. Thanks Mercedes!

This is new to me and surprising as there is not much by way of wiring under a diesel hood, but they could have used hold over harnesses from W124's with OM606 P #'s. It would be interesting to see if they are in EPC.

 

[S70/2]

Just the engine/glow harness I believe, makes sense if they used the “leftover” soy spools for the early 210 NA 606.

Seems they resolved it with 98-99 606.962 turbo models. Blair bought a 97 e300d in limp mode a couple months ago as a unimog engine donor, will have to investigate and document further to see if soy is present

 

[Stevester 500E]

I know we are talking about W210's...
I know for sure, first hand, the 1996 (OBDII) W202 (C36 to bee specific), also had the upper engine harness nightmare issue too.

Bizarre! What harnesses were the problem on the 96-97 E300 diesels? Engine, engine compartment, interior, etc? I've never heard of this!

 

[Stevester 500E]

I think you are correct. I know for sure that W202 1996 models had eco junk upper engine harness-first hand account !

I was always under the impression that the bio-wiring (or “eco-junk” per our pal Q*baert) was also present on 1996 W210 models. No?

 

[gerryvz]

I’m probably wrong on that because GSXR said so

 

[salvine]

I’d go for a obd1 600sel personally, most likely already have replaced harnesses and etas..however most still need the MAF wires redone back to the coffin box which isn’t a huge deal. After that you have no soy related issues to worry about, also the 96-97MY is still soy’d...up until late 97 IIRC

Either go diesel or m120 with a w140, the m119 is pretty pointless

I happen to have a 600 sitting at my house that needs a new home...

 

[Klink]

The 202 and 210 wiring harness on both the gasoline and diesel are considerably different from those of the 124 vehicles. Some “leftover“ wiring, perhaps, but definitely not “leftover” harnesses. I have never seen engine harness wire insulation disintegration on anything model year ‘97 or newer. Outer harness tubing, etc., a little, but no wire insulation disintegration. I vaguely remember seeing some extremely early production ‘96 model year vehicles with harness disintegration, but I could be mistaken about that. I definitely have never seen engine harness wire insulation disintegration in any USA version car from early ‘96 production onwards...

Some places where wiring insulation disintegration remained commonplace was in 140 and and 210 exterior mirrors and ACC pollutant sensors. Interestingly, early 140 exterior mirrors did not have insulation disintegration, yet the harnesses inside the mirror assemblies were available separately. Late 140s, which received the 210 style exterior mirrors disintegrated terribly, and those harnesses were not available separately. You got those free with the new exterior mirror chassis assemblies. The resulting short-circuits also did a great job destroying the “MSC“ (mirror/steering column) actuation/memory control unit.
The wiring inside headlamps from the 202 onwards can be a problem, and the problem is much more prevalent in cars that received the completely worthless “daytime running lamp” functionality. No words for how much I hate those. None...

 

[S70/2]

[video=youtube_share;CJh59vZ8ccc]https://youtu.be/CJh59vZ8ccc[/video]