OWNER Lavaone

[Lavaone]

Hi, I never realized I should have done this years ago,

I purchased my 1994 E500 in 2008 from a friend with ~22,000 miles. That's the car's miles, not my friend's. My baby now has 155,000 miles and has moved from requiring occasional repairs to now seemingly needing full-on restoration every time something goes wrong. The incredibly knowledgeable members of this forum have helped me with everything from fluid changes to NLA parts location assistance and so I am extremely grateful for the many member's assistance.

Ignition lock; door lock; hydraulic fluid and brake fluid purges; upper harness; rebuild ETA from Beckmann, pads and rotors; stainless steel braided brake lines; power steering pump low pressure hose replacement; odometer gears; clock; exterior temp display; heater regulator and blower: there's likely a few more repairs for which I have received excellent advise and timely responsiveness to questions arising during repairs.

Alas, I am considering parting ways with my baby as, at 68 years old, I no longer find myself flexible enough, eager enough, or with adequate relevant experience enough to jack up my car and slide myself under it. Nor is my back able to endure spending hours contorted over the engine.

Thank you again for all the advice.

Charlie L.

 

[gsxr]

Wow, you bought the car nearly brand new in 2008... and got to enjoy it over two decades and 130kmi! That's amazing.

What is the color combo? Do you have any photos?

 

[doolar]

Nice history, I bet there are many a good memories over the years. Hope you find a way to keep the car, but if it’s time, it’s time.

 

[sheward]

I feel your pain. I'm the same age.

 

[TerryA]

I feel your pain. I'm the same age.

You and Charlie are just kids. You’ve both got a long way to go!

Charlie as long as you can mash that peddle keep your E500 you’ll regret selling it.

I’m 82 oldster: Yea that me) Just yesterday I hit 6K RPMs on my Tach

 

[Lavaone]

I get it! I play golf with gents ranging from my age to 82. Keep moving is my mantra.

This is my first Merc and I fell in love. Why oh why did it have to be an E500 for an incredible price??? I thought it a marriage made in heaven.

I used to enjoy updating things every winter and thought I would forever. But like all marriages, cracks began to show. Now, modules are failing or are due to imminently that truly require a more intimate acquaintance with 90s MB E500 unique tech, including access to factory systems through what seems to be arcane interfaces.

Going on internet safaris to far flung places in the hopes of an opportunity to pay a small fortune for parts whose availability ranges from near impossible to “you’ve got to be kidding” with coincident prices for these last known items and then paying $150/hr+ for them to be installed is exhausting and financially unsustainable.

Of course, since I’m almost there with planned fixes, I hang on knowing that if I do sell it, I’ll hear regularly that it never gave the new owner a single problem!