OWNER MY911S

[MY911S]

MODERATOR'S NOTE: This thread was cleaved off of this "For Sale" thread, after the current owner bought the car.


I bought the car. Seller was great did FaceTime sent me a bunch of videos and more pics. No pressure, nice fellow super responsive. I’ve had 2 of these in the past - grey and garnet red - always regretted letting the red one go, wasn’t really looking to buy one until someone posted a feeler on rennlist offering to trade his green 500E for a GT3, was tempted thought about trading him my GT3 but glad I found this one instead and maybe my little collection is complete. At least that’s what I tell myself and the wife.

 

[gsxr]

I bought the car. Seller was great did FaceTime sent me a bunch of videos and more pics. No pressure, nice fellow super responsive. I’ve had 2 of these in the past - grey and garnet red - always regretted letting the red one go, wasn’t really looking to buy one until someone posted a feeler on rennlist offering to trade his green 500E for a GT3, was tempted thought about trading him my GT3 but glad I found this one instead and maybe my little collection is complete. At least that’s what I tell myself and the wife.

Awesome! Congrats on the purchase!

 

[TimL]

I bought the car. Seller was great did FaceTime sent me a bunch of videos and more pics. No pressure, nice fellow super responsive. I’ve had 2 of these in the past - grey and garnet red - always regretted letting the red one go, wasn’t really looking to buy one until someone posted a feeler on rennlist offering to trade his green 500E for a GT3, was tempted thought about trading him my GT3 but glad I found this one instead and maybe my little collection is complete. At least that’s what I tell myself and the wife.

Cool and very rare color - congratulations!

 

[duuder]

congrats and nice addition! each of these cars serve a certain driving style/purpose which youre well aware off

 

[MY911S]

Thank you! And glad to be back. Still actually miss my old Garnet Red below . Loved the color and the memories part of which was that the price wasn’t crazy and it was just an ordinary car on a lot- unlike nowadays. But looking forward to enjoying the new ice blue queen.

SOLD - 1993 500E, Garnet Red / Gray, 184kmi, $9000 (Huntington Beach, CA) | Cars for Sale - 500E / E500 ONLY

For sale by a used car dealer in Westminster, CA: http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?c ... =299818868 VIN = [Deleted per request of new owner] Odd color combo. Looks like it's in below-average condition on the paint/exterior, hard to tell from the fuzzy photos.

www.500eboard.co

 

[gerryvz]

Congrats, and I’m glad to hear the seller panned out as OK.

He was a little slippery and disingenuous here with his refusal to disclose the car’s VIN in his advertising as is normal in the US, with his excuse that he was planning to sell the car overseas.

I don’t think he counted on 20 years of the avid 500E sleuths on the quest to identify and document here every car that comes up for sale.

 

[MY911S]

Congrats, and I’m glad to hear the seller panned out as OK.

He was a little slippery and disingenuous here with his refusal to disclose the car’s VIN in his advertising as is normal in the US, with his excuse that he was planning to sell the car overseas.

I don’t think he counted on 20 years of the avid 500E sleuths on the quest to identify and document here every car that comes up for sale.

Thank you. I have seen a number of ads without any VINS after which sellers provide them upon request, probably would have been the case here. I'll post more pics in the future for documentation. I think it's a keeper.

 

[Jlaa]

No prior record of this car in my personal database. This is one of only eight cars of this color combination that were brought into the US. All eight of these US-spec cars had creme leather interiors.

So, this is a fairly rare bird, at least color-wise. Looks like it needs some significant TLC. Count on $15K of deferred maintenance to bring it up to an excellent mechanical and cosmetic standard. All in, it will take $55-60K to bring this car to a very high standard.

Thank you! And glad to be back. Still actually miss my old Garnet Red below . Loved the color and the memories part of which was that the price wasn’t crazy and it was just an ordinary car on a lot- unlike nowadays. But looking forward to enjoying the new ice blue queen.

Hello @MY911S ! Out of curiosity - have you found good resources to help you mechanically restore the lovely Teal Blue car back to snuff (not saying that it will need it immediately, but I am just noting that all of these cars are super needy, mechanically speaking, as the miles get up there....)

I read through the super intensive mechanical restoration of the Garnet Red car that you previously owned (by @gsxr) and I was pretty intimidated by the sheer amount of work that @gsxr accomplished with his own two hands.... Index of /images/cars/93_500E_Garnet_Red/restoration

Anyways my point is, 10 years on after selling your Garnet Red car, I think you'll find this place to be an even better place for 036 knowledge than it was 10 years ago!

 

[MY911S]

Hello @MY911S ! Out of curiosity - have you found good resources to help you mechanically restore the lovely Teal Blue car back to snuff (not saying that it will need it immediately, but I am just noting that all of these cars are super needy, mechanically speaking, as the miles get up there....)

I read through the super intensive mechanical restoration of the Garnet Red car that you previously owned (by @gsxr) and I was pretty intimidated by the sheer amount of work that @gsxr accomplished with his own two hands.... Index of /images/cars/93_500E_Garnet_Red/restoration

Anyways my point is, 10 years on after selling your Garnet Red car, I think youll find this place to be an even better place for 036 knowledge than it was 10 years ago!

Mechanically Beach Benz was the go to shop in Huntington Beach CA, Mr MB in Tarzana used to be but he retired and White Oak MB in Tarzana is excellent. I also heard that the car is now an official classic and is supported by MB (?- ie parts). I wasn't looking for a show car so for me is cosmetically good enough and can work on replacing items over time through Ebay etc etc.

 

[Jlaa]

Mechanically Beach Benz was the go to shop in Huntington Beach CA, Mr MB in Tarzana used to be but he retired and White Oak MB in Tarzana is excellent. I also heard that the car is now an official classic and is supported by MB (?- ie parts). I wasnt looking for a show car so for me is cosmetically good enough and can work on replacing items over time through Ebay etc etc.

Good Stuff! You probably already know this ---- when buying parts these days, whether it is on ebay, or at FCP Euro / RME / AutohausAZ, or from MB Dealers / MB Classic, the parts situation can be very fluid. It wasn't like this 10 years ago. Looking forward to your journal of work on the tTeal car!

 

[thebrinksman]

Mechanically Beach Benz was the go to shop in Huntington Beach CA, Mr MB in Tarzana used to be but he retired and White Oak MB in Tarzana is excellent. I also heard that the car is now an official classic and is supported by MB (?- ie parts). I wasnt looking for a show car so for me is cosmetically good enough and can work on replacing items over time through Ebay etc etc.

Maz (new owner) at Mr MB is very good.

 

[MY911S]

Maz (new owner) at Mr MB is very good.

Oh did Vic in turn sell Mr. MB. Is Carlos still there? The prices were very high at Mr. MB under Vic. I do some work my self here and there- like last year I replaced the O2 sensors on the GT3 but definitely take it in to the more challenging tool intensive work. It's the 360 Modena I'd be most worried about anyway.

 

[thebrinksman]

Oh did Vic in turn sell Mr. MB. Is Carlos still there? The prices were very high at Mr. MB under Vic. I do some work my self here and there- like last year I replaced the O2 sensors on the GT3 but definitely take it in to the more challenging tool intensive work. Its the 360 Modena Id be most worried about anyway.

Never went there under previous ownership so couldn't compare. Maz's prices are very fair and he's a very honest guy. Used to go to Boulevard and Circle Star...both much closer to me...but Mr MB gets my business now.

 

[MY911S]

Update:
She arrived early- this Friday, wife had to meet the truck drivers because I was busy getting the GT3 motor and tranny ice blasted. She said "I went around the block to try her and she's got some power!" She loves the wheels too- which was the first thing that WAS going to go.

Anyway, finished my GT3 errands by driving to the storage unit, meeting the owner and dropping off Mr Black (GT3) - awesome place super cool cars. Wife picks me up in the Cayenne - notice the right front tire has a blister, and so we take it slow going home. Mad rush to AAA 1 hour to closing time, find out membership expired, renewed it, eventually got to the counter and told they can't process dealer transactions. Mad rush to DMV, get there just in time - 3 mins till close. Got the registration started.

Next day, take the Cayenne to Americas tire to replaced the blistered tire, get home, switch cars and drive the 500E to go smog her down the street. Passed the emissions stuff, but failed the gas cap test and the Check Engine light actually does not turn on - which was interesting for obvious reasons. Run to the Mercedes dealer- which as it turns out is 5 mins from work - I didn't even notice that it's practically in front of my freeway exit every morning - get the gas cap, order a cluster bulb, just in case. Ordered the Amazon gauge cluster tool to see what is the deal with the check engine bulb tomorrow.

All in all pretty happy with the car. Seems to drive well, reviewed the maintenance records in detail- was pretty well maintained - tranny work, periodic cap and rotor changes, new radiator, ac work, new antenna, periodic oil changes. There are a couple of small areas of paint "bubbles" and some areas where the clear coat looks to be gone or almost gone and some weird slight surface scratches here and there. But good bones and I'm pretty pleased -- now to just pass smog!

Oh and here's Seen Through Glass's GT3- looks to have a similar not so common color! I started following him because we have similar 360 Modenas- red, coupe and gated shifter - now we have 2 similar colored cars.

.

 

[gsxr]

... Passed the emissions stuff, but failed the gas cap test and the Check Engine light actually does not turn on - which was interesting for obvious reasons. Run to the Mercedes dealer- which as it turns out is 5 mins from work - I didnt even notice that its practically in front of my freeway exit every morning - get the gas cap, order a cluster bulb, just in case. Ordered the Amazon gauge cluster tool to see what is the deal with the check engine bulb tomorrow.

Sounds great! Do you mean the CEL doesn't turn on at all, when you turn the key to position 1, with all the other warning lights? If so, it's likely either the bulb, or the wire isn't plugged into the cluster. Less likely is something up with the DM (Diagnostic Module).

If you meant the CEL didn't turn on despite the gas cap failing leak test, that's because OBD-1 cars have no sensors for the fuel tank pressure. You can either replace entire gas cap, or replace just the seal. In a pinch, often flipping the seal over will work to pass the test, if not cracked on both sides. I can't recall if the early 90's style all-silver gas cap is still available new, or if it was superceded to the black type used on later models.

 

[need2speed]

I know teal was often used to describe this color but it was listed as beryll over lago on my datacard. Were American versions given a different name for 888? Anyway, this thread has got me missing the old girl...

 

[gsxr]

I know teal was often used to describe this color but it was listed as beryll over lago on my datacard. Were American versions given a different name for 888? Anyway, this thread has got me missing the old girl...

Dean, in North America paint code 888 was called "Teal Blue" in the dealer sales literature. I believe "Beryl" was the name of that color in Europe. As with interior color names, they often are different between North America and Europe. USA Garnet Red is Almandine Red in Europe, etc etc...

 

[MY911S]

Do you mean the CEL doesnt turn on at all, when you turn the key to position 1, with all the other warning lights?

Yes exactly!

 

[gerryvz]

Where applicable, the name (and it's US equivalent name) for each paint code is listed on the Wiki's entry for paint codes/colors.

https://www.500eboard.co/forums/wiki/?title=500E-Paint-Codes-and-number-of-each-color

 

[MY911S]

I received my Amazon tool and pulled the gauge cluster out lonand behold bulb is missing and when I temporarily moved the neighboring bulb over to the gaping hole for check engine bulb CEL was lit up. I cleared the impulse codes - I think a bunch of 6,4 and 9s. Not sure I was doing it right because there were so many but all the same repeating ones. But now light is out and I’m going to drive it to work again. On a side note there was a super loud bang driving the car to work this morning I thought my engine exploded or the rear speaker imploded. But the car kept driving well all good temps and speaker sound volume eventually came back after I adjusted the fader and balance etc etc again . So no idea what that was about. Oh and yes the dealer still sells the silver gas cap got it on Saturday. I called the dealer and the tech said my touch up paint code was 8888 but I trust the 6888 on your chart.

 

[gerryvz]

Yep -- all too common. Some idiot mechanic simply solved the CEL "issue" by removing the bulb, instead of actually trying to diagnose and fix the problem. Seen that more than a few times over the years.

8888 is fine on the paint code. It's the last three digits that matter.

 

[MY911S]

Yep -- all too common. Some idiot mechanic simply solved the CEL issue by removing the bulb, instead of actually trying to diagnose and fix the problem. Seen that more than a few times over the years.

8888 is fine on the paint code. Its the last three digits that matter.

Happy to report that I stopped by the dealer on the way home, popped in a new bulb behind the gauge cluster- the CEL light hasn’t returned- caught the smog guy right before he left for the day and the car passed smog. Yay! So now I just need the inspection at the DMV and get registered!

 

[MY911S]

Got to dmv 25 mins till close got it inspected and registered! Drove off the lot and CEL light goes on. 4 blinks and 9 blinks

 

[gsxr]

Drove off the lot and CEL light goes on. 4 blinks and 9 blinks

4 = air injection inoperative (smog air pump)

9 = Intake air temp sensor (may be disconnected, located at driver headlight air tube)

 

[gerryvz]

For the smog pump code #4, I had this code for years. Probably a broken vacuum line.

 

[MY911S]

4 = air injection inoperative (smog air pump)

9 = Intake air temp sensor (may be disconnected, located at driver headlight air tube)

Thank you!

 

[MY911S]

Looks like my immediate need are rear brake rotors f/r pads and oil pressure sensor. Thinking of doing the brakes myself. Wish I had a lift though. Not looking forward to struggling with breaker bar under in tight spots.

 

[gsxr]

Looks like my immediate need are rear brake rotors f/r pads and oil pressure sensor. Thinking of doing the brakes myself.

Brakes are straightforward DIY's in the driveway or garage. Stick with OE/Genuine, or Zimmerperson CoatZ, and don't remove the gray coating. I like Porterfield R4-S pads but they aren't cheap, and are medium dust. Depends on what you want for braking performance.

Wish I had a lift though. Not looking forward to struggling with breaker bar under in tight spots.

Search the forum for QuickJack info... nice unit if you don't have the 12' ceiling height for a full-size lift.

 

[MY911S]

Got under the car to squirt some Blaster on the fasteners in case I do try to do the brake job myself. Got a better look at the under body condition and in the trunk under the wheel. Squirted some rust inhibitor for now until I take it to for ice blasting. Definitely not a West Coast car but not terrible, except for one area. Under the battery box is pretty squish - so I'm thinking will need some metal fab and patching in that area someday.

 

[Jlaa]

Looks like my immediate need are rear brake rotors f/r pads and oil pressure sensor. Thinking of doing the brakes myself. Wish I had a lift though. Not looking forward to struggling with breaker bar under in tight spots.

This sounds like a good excuse for a Milwaukee M18 impact ……. (just be careful not to break heads off bolts!). Or maybe a good excuse for an induction heating gun.

 

[MY911S]

After seeing this pic I'm definitely going back to stock wheels.

 

[500AMM]

Congrats with your purchase!

I really, really like like this color combo.

As for the wheels, let me suggest 18" Rial Arc M800, they would fit extremely well with this color IMO. I couldn't resist doing a photoshop on your car, hope you don't mind. BTW, the wheels sitting on the car now are 18"?

 

[gsxr]

After seeing this pic Im definitely going back to stock wheels.
View attachment 161147

I'm not positive, but it almost looks like that car [in post #67] has spacers with the stock wheels....?

 

[MY911S]

Congrats with your purchase!

I really, really like like this color combo.

As for the wheels, let me suggest 18 Rial Arc M800, they would fit extremely well with this color IMO. I couldnt resist doing a photoshop on your car, hope you dont mind. BTW, the wheels sitting on the car now are 18?

View attachment 161165 View attachment 161166 [ATTACH alt=Rial Arc M800.jpg]161163[/ATTACH]

Thanks for the photoshop definitely helps the comparison. That is a good look I’ll have to research that wheel.

 

[MY911S]

 

[MY911S]

Some future cleanup

 

[MY911S]

Oil arrived. Ordered the rotors pad oil pressure sensor and a set of timing chain guides just in case the latter probably have a shop do it

 

[MY911S]

Congrats with your purchase!

I really, really like like this color combo.

As for the wheels, let me suggest 18 Rial Arc M800, they would fit extremely well with this color IMO. I couldnt resist doing a photoshop on your car, hope you dont mind. BTW, the wheels sitting on the car now are 18?

View attachment 161165 View attachment 161166 [ATTACH alt=Rial Arc M800.jpg]161163[/ATTACH]

235/45 R17 no spacers

 

[gsxr]

235/45 R17 no spacers

Those are 1 size small. For 8.0-8.5 wheels the size should be 245-45-17.

 

[500AMM]

Thanks for the photoshop definitely helps the comparison. That is a good look I’ll have to research that wheel.

They can be hard to find, but show up from time to time. I found a set on Kleinanzeigen for sale in Germany. I have no affiliation and don't know anything about the seller. The seller says only for pick up, but that's just optimistics, if he want that money he may have to step up for it. In case you need assistance for questions/purchasing you may contact some of our German members.

Rial M800 w124 E500

 

[J. M. van Swaay]

The car in the picture does not have spacers. I‘m not 100% sure but I think they are Rial rims.

 

[TimL]

Congrats with your purchase!

I really, really like like this color combo.

As for the wheels, let me suggest 18 Rial Arc M800, they would fit extremely well with this color IMO. I couldnt resist doing a photoshop on your car, hope you dont mind. BTW, the wheels sitting on the car now are 18?

View attachment 161165 View attachment 161166 [ATTACH alt=Rial Arc M800.jpg]161163[/ATTACH]

The photoshop makes them stick too far out in the front to be realistic. Here‘s what they look like from those angles without spacers

 

[gsxr]

IMO the Rials [18x8.0] need spacers to look correct. On a side note, IIRC, they are quite heavy... ~30 lbs each?

Edit: For reference, click here to see photos & details of the aftermarket Rial wheels.

 

[J. M. van Swaay]

Never mind my previous post. I thought that was an old picture of my car…. Here’s the real picture I thought it was. No spacers on my car, pretty sure they are Rial wheels

 

[500AMM]

Never mind my previous post. I thought that was an old picture of my car…. Here’s the real picture I thought it was. No spacers on my car, pretty sure they are Rial wheels
View attachment 161294

FYI - here is the main aesthetic difference between 18" Rial Arc and 16" stock wheels.

 

[J. M. van Swaay]

Thanks! I now see the difference between the Rial wheels and the wheels on my car. Still not sure what wheels my car has though, the spare is different from the other four, and if I remember correctly the four on the car have “Made in Italy” stamped on them. The spare looks very much like a stock MB wheel, and the lug bolts for the spare are a bit longer than those for the other four. Makes me wonder if my car had a wheel swap prior to my owning it.

 

[MY911S]

Anyone know if the battery box sheet metal is the same in 1999 SLC in case I have to cut and weld in a new one

 

[gsxr]

Anyone know if the battery box sheet metal is the same in 1999 SLC in case I have to cut and weld in a new one

Nope. The sheet metal is unique to the 124.036 specifically. The removable battery tray which bolts in, is sold separately and is shared with the R129... but you probably don't need that.

 

[MY911S]

Nope. The sheet metal is unique to the 124.036 specifically. The removable battery tray which bolts in, is sold separately and is shared with the R129... but you probably dont need that.

ah bummer looks like custom metal work if I need it. How about from a 400E same year?

 

[gsxr]

ah bummer looks like custom metal work if I need it

Yes. On the bright side, usually it's just the flat area on the bottom which needs repair, but you'll find out more when you dig into it.