PNW Portland based 500E 1993 recommended mechanics

[LONDONER_BENZ]

hello 500E hive mind, I am looking for a mechanic who really knows their way around a 1993 500 E Mercedes Benz in Portland, Oregon. I need some body work done to look at some rust under the battery tray, some interior work like headline replacement, and someone who can help find the parasitic drain that is keeping me from enjoying actually driving. As well as a general solid mechanic to service and maintain.
Cheers.

 

[R129 UK]

None of those sound particularly 500E specific to me and could be done by an independant specialist in each field.

The parasitic drain should be a straightforward bit of electrical diagnosis - removing fuses etc. one by one until the drain is found.

EDIT - start here for the battery drain:

How to Find a Parasitic Battery Drain: 11 Steps (with Pictures)

If your vehicle is drawing power from the battery and all of the lights and other electrical components are off, you might have a parasitic battery drain (or draw). Luckily, you can usually find the cause of a parasitic draw yourself....

www.wikihow.com

 

[gsxr]

R129UK is correct. Find a body shop that's skilled specifically in metal welding, assuming the battery box will need some patching.

The headliner is a bit of a PITA to get in & out of the car, and requires a fair amount of interior disassembly.

Parasitic drain... if the car had the factory cell phone (dealer installed), make sure the black box in the trunk (driver side pocket) is disconnected. Next up, take a peek at your 38-pin diagnostic port under the hood. If it doesn't look perfect with all bright shiny sockets, there's a chance that could be causing your drain (photos here). Otherwise you need to put an ammeter between battery+terminal and pull 1 fuse at a time until you see the drain go to (or near) zero.

 

[LONDONER_BENZ]

thanks for the responses. I will check the cell phone and the 38 pin diagnostic port. haven't had the best of luck with local independent mechanics in Portland, hence the ask for some specific recommendations!