About me
I'm one of the gear heads on the board, a huge car enthusiast, and am a degreed mechanical engineer and have been building and repairing cars for the last 25+ years. I am fastidious and meticulous perhaps to the point of aggravating some with how I maintain my vehicles (like my wife). I have a 2 post lift in my garage with $10ks of thousands worth of tools and have gone through every mechanical detail of this car to make it ride, drive, perform reliably (and not leak) like new. Many months ago I accomplished these objectives (which is part of my motivation for considering this sale as the car is now complete as a mechanical project for me). The 500E was always a bucket list vehicle for me. Secondarily, after almost three years of ownership, I'm ready to scratch a different itch and to top it off, my wife doesn't appreciate 500Es - she thinks they look like her grandfather's car. Anyhow... In the process of going through this car, I've spent thousands of dollars on new Genuine Mercedes parts and 100s of hours installing them properly. Also, note, this is a southern car. I bought it from Arizona and live in the San Diego area. When you review the photos, you'll see there is no evidence of corrosion on the car, fasteners, etc.
I know mileage makes people nervous. Still, there is so much new here that I might suggest open-mindedness, especially given well-maintained car(s) on this board has over 500k miles without even opening up the engine. The engines here are known to be bulletproof and this engine burns about 1/2 quart in 5k mile oil change period, runs super clean as evidenced by passing california smog with flying colors and it does not leak. Though only my opinion, I believe deferred maintenance is what should make a buyer nervous and this car has none of that.
Condition
Photos here (including many photos of mechanical restoration projects): https://www.icloud.com/sharedalbum/#B08G4TcsmTQDOq
Owner thread: http://www.500eboard.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3593
A respray was done in factory silver about five years ago to a high standard. It was color-sanded and polished properly so no orange-peel shows and then clear bra'd on the front, including leading edge of the hood, fenders, front and rear. There are several small chips on the trunk lid, one on the rear fender and a few blemishes. Most people are shocked to know this 500E is nearly 25 years old. It has always been garaged since the respray. I work from home, so for me, it sees little sun.
The interior is beautiful and has worn incredibly well. The driver's seat shows only creases in the leather.... no pulling seams, wear spots on the bolster, etc. The wood lacquer has a few superficial cracks in the rear tambour storage door. Though not perfect, one has to look hard to find the flaws.
I bought the car from Arizona and like many cars there, it came with tinted windows. I don't love or hate the tinted windows myself, but decided a professional should remove the tint .... and ultimately ambivalence about the tint won out, so it never got removed.
500E upgrades / repairs / maintenance summary
Bought in December 2012 @ 186k miles as a bucket list car. It served as partial daily driveralong with the restomod '51 Ford truck I built.
New parts within the last two 1/2 years:
BODY
New front windshield by OEM supplier Pilkington.
ENGINE
- harnesses were done prior - I checked dates when I bought.
- starter - Bosch OEM - grade
- engine oil pan gasket
- engine oil level sender
- rear engine main seal
- oil changes @ 5000 mile intervals. 3 since I’ve owned it. I use Royal Purple or Redline or
- high grade synthetic
- thermostat - OEM mercedes
- all soft rubber coolant hoses
- fan clutch - used aftermarket at Glen’s endorsement
- repaired resistor wiring for high and low speed electric cooling fans (aux cooling and ACcondenser)
- Cap and rotors and new plugs
- Muffler hangers
- exhaust coupler bushing at crossover under transmission
TRANSMISSION
- resealed transmission. replaced all external seals.
- replaced connector boot.
- new driveshaft couplers (where it attaches to trans and rear differential)
- driveshaft support bearing and mount
- rear transmission mount is new
- replaced trans oil filter and fluid.
SUSPENSION / STEERING
- Rear end is a five link setup (similar to 993 and later 911s). All links and lower control arms are new with OEM mercedes parts.
- Replaced rear shock hydraulic flui
- Rear shock hydraulic accumulators (spheres)
- Bearing and bushings in rear uprights are new with OEM parts.
- Front control arms are new. Mercedes OEM.
- Steering gear box seals and pressure and return hoses with proper OEM heat shield tubing
- Steering pump reservoir seals and hose
- Steering idler is new with Mercedes OEM parts
- Front upper strut mounts are new. These are heavy duty Meyle parts - per recommendation on 500eboard. A bit of leap of faith, but so far so good.
- Bilstein sport struts upfront are new.
- Replaced rear subframe mounts with new sport OEM bushings.
- replaced front wheel bearings and seals.
- lowered about 1 1/4" from stock. Added adjustable upper control arm links to correct rear camber given the lowered stance.
DRIVETRAIN
- driveshaft couplers on both transmission and differential ends were replaced with OEM - grade parts
- driveshaft support and bearing was replaced, again with OEM - grade parts
BRAKES
- Changed front and rear pads with Akebono dust-less pads. Rotors were measured to be true and sufficiently thick (meeting OEM specs) before installing new pads. They were surfaced to ensure proper bedding.
- All soft lines (to calipers) changed at the corners with OEM parts.
ELECTRICAL
- new AGM gel battery (no maintenance). Summer of 2014, I believe.
- Stereo head unit rebuilt by Becker USA added AUX in too to plug in your phone
- Euro headlights
- 6 - disc changer in trunk works as it should.
INTERIOR
- Interior is in outstanding condition. A few wood pieces have cracks in the lacquer finish. The seats have no appreciable wear outside of some creases.
- The headliner and pillars were upgraded with grey ultra-suede.
WHEELS
- Set of six matching and recently re-finished Renntech wheels. New, a set of four of these were about $6000. They are manufactured by Champion Motorsports, who makes the lightest and strongest wheels you can find, including wheels for Formula 1 and many other racing applications. All six wheels will come with the sale with the extra two as spares. I'm open to separating the wheels from the sale of the car. -$1000
- Tires (Continentals) have about 10k miles.
Very glad to answer any questions. email me at dougwierenga@icloud.com if you are interested in discussing.
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. I even parted with my '71 Porsche 911 hot rod which was a magazine feature car (Excellence) that I built from scratch and owned for ten years. My daughter cried her eyes out when the new owner drove away and I turned my back on it. 
, thank you Doug.
That was a short honeymoon.
