E500 pre-purchase inspection: Belly Pan and wiring harness advice

[Sacco_Fan]

Hi everyone,
I am looking at a '94 E500 to purchase, and the car is missing the engine belly pan. My shop says the part is NLA from Mercedes. Does this group know if any sources? I saw one on e-bay want wanted to ask the forum first.

The other issue is that the car is still on its original wiring harness. Upper harness was 'repaired', but I am worried about the future. I have read the threads on this forum about the kits from Germany and rebuilding the existing harness as they are NLA. Any advice is appreciated!

I previously owned a '93 500E but sold it ~2012. Found a pretty decent E500 here in Portland looking to get back in the drivers seat.

Thank you!
-Allen

 

[gsxr]

I am looking at a '94 E500 to purchase, and the car is missing the engine belly pan. My shop says the part is NLA from Mercedes. Does this group know if any sources? I saw one on e-bay want wanted to ask the forum first.

Only sources now are used, reproduction/copies, or NOS if you could find one that's not crazy expensive. Note that these are VERY EASY TO DAMAGE IN SHIPPING, in particular the rear corner "ears" break off. If not buying locally, make the seller swear they will crate/box it properly with a ton of bubble wrap / foam / whatever protecting the corners. Used ones might already have the rear ears busted off.

The other issue is that the car is still on its original wiring harness. Upper harness was 'repaired', but I am worried about the future. I have read the threads on this forum about the kits from Germany and rebuilding the existing harness as they are NLA. Any advice is appreciated!

The upper/engine harness should still be available new, buy one while you can, they are only ~$400.

The lower harness to starter/alternator must be rebuilt / repaired via the Kurth kit, or sending to a shop for restoration. This is DIY'able if you're electrically inclined. Just need basic soldering skillz and some high-temp wire / high-temp sheathing.

I previously owned a '93 500E but sold it ~2012. Found a pretty decent E500 here in Portland looking to get back in the drivers seat.

Hope the new E500 works out, you can post an OWNER thread if you buy it! Is the car posted for sale on this forum? Search by the VIN to see if it's here or not.

 

[nocfn]

Mine has been in my shop behind the storage bin for 10 Months and yet there are no drivability problems.

 

[Sacco_Fan]

Only sources now are used, reproduction/copies, or NOS if you could find one that's not crazy expensive. Note that these are VERY EASY TO DAMAGE IN SHIPPING, in particular the rear corner "ears" break off. If not buying locally, make the seller swear they will crate/box it properly with a ton of bubble wrap / foam / whatever protecting the corners. Used ones might already have the rear ears busted off.



The upper/engine harness should still be available new, buy one while you can, they are only ~$400.

The lower harness to starter/alternator must be rebuilt / repaired via the Kurth kit, or sending to a shop for restoration. This is DIY'able if you're electrically inclined. Just need basic soldering skillz and some high-temp wire / high-temp sheathing.



Hope the new E500 works out, you can post an OWNER thread if you buy it! Is the car posted for sale on this forum? Search by the VIN to see if it's here or not.

Thank you Dave! I will check the availability of the upper harness. My shop here in Portland checked and their system is showing not available. I will check out the Kurth kit. I will certainly post the car to the owner thread if I purchase! It is a car that is not listed anywhere.

Thank you,
Allen

 

[gsxr]

Thank you Dave! I will check the availability of the upper harness. My shop here in Portland checked and their system is showing not available. I will check out the Kurth kit. I will certainly post the car to the owner thread if I purchase! It is a car that is not listed anywhere.

Allen, it appears the late upper harness recently went NLA, but the early harness is still available (although slightly more expensive, ~$450-ish). The early harness should be functionally equivalent. Details at the link below:

https://www.500eboard.co/forums/wiki/?title=Upper-Wiring-Harness