OWNER Sghm3

[sghm3]

Hello ! Like other people I’m also new in this forum and would like to share my car with you.

I bought the car in 2010 I believe, and this is imported from Sweden. So since I was about 21 years old at the time and little money. I decided to wait with the registration until it’s a «veteran car», (because the crazy taxes here in Norway).

Luckily I`m working at a workshop, where I can barrow red licenceplate to roadtest cars. So went ``roadtesting`` to some Mercedes meetings, before i parked the car and got some other interests.

I have also some interest in old american cars and have one 41` and 49` Oldsmobile
- So I have been working on and off on the 41` since 2018, and in 2021 I thought it will be fun to registrate this 500E. So I put the 41` on hold and started in September 2021 to make the 500E ready for registration, but have been a long trip with troubleshooting and repairing.

In 2021 started the simple stuff with engine oil, oilfilter, sparkplugs, serpentine belt, brake discs (front and back) brake pads (front and back), parkshoes and brake hoses (front and back).
- Needed also to change braketube left side back because corrosion over the rear subframe.
- Glued the lense back on headlight right side front (was starting to fall off)

So in 2022:
Got the car at work in April and changed fuelfilter, oilfilter and oil on gearbox and rear differential
- Changed also a fuel line connecting to fuelfilter, because much corrosion on the metal part of the fuel line.
- Fixed also a fuel leak at the fueltank, because of one bad rubber hose.

Test droved the car and could feel something was faulty with engine, but no warning lights
- Connected the smoke machine, and found one vaccumtube down to the left side of the gearbox was broken. Fixed this, but was still struggling with the engine. The symptoms was like it went in to a protectiv mode sometimes at 3500 RPM and up regardless if it was cold or warm engine)
- Checked the upper wiring harness on engine, this was in nice condition and found a label that harness was from 2006. Sprayed al contacts with contact spray and changed all the fuses. But no differents when testdriving. But now did the warninglight for the ABS-system come on after some driving. The warninglight went off when stop and start engine and you could drive around all from 5-20 minutes before warninglight came back on.
- Connected the diagnose and got fault code (EZ1) - Transmission overload switch, (EFP) Starter lock-out and reversing lamp switch and (ASR) - All RPM sensors (did also have a fault code (ASR) CAN: No reception from EFP, but this did not always come back after test driving!)
- Changed the overload switch and neutral safety switch, (used some time on internett and found one shop in Germany who still had new parts!!!), deleted the fault codes again and went back on the road. Still the same with the engine and the ABS-system, while driving, but fault codes on EZ1 and EFP did not come back again!
- Changed the car battery, because I just borrowed the battery from this 41` Olds at the time. And was thinking maybe this was the cause, because less A and AH then what it should be. But no different....
- Cleaned the front wheel hubs for the ABS-system, still no different. Checked the live-values while driving, and could confirm that wheelspeed left side front start jumping, specialy between 70-80km/h. So ordered a new sensor and replaced this in September.

In summertime I also changed some of the interior lights, front fog lights, rear and center exhaust.
- Because the rear exhaust did fell off while driving from a MB meeting many years ago, and the center was also in bad condition. Luckily the exhaust part with catalysts is OK!
- Did also cleaned the distributor caps for corrosion, in the summertime. Because the engine started to misfiring sometimes when testdriving. (It did work a little, but no good in the end of the summertime)

But after i changed the ABS-sensor, the engine and ABS-system went normal again !!!
- But got a new problem, after finaly the engine and ABS-system start working normal. The reverse gear decided to not engage nicely when warm engine. And this happened at the same testdrive after changed the wheelsensor !!! (Got a little frustrated at this point).

In November I changed the oilfilter and steering oil
- Added also a little additiv in the oil, because the steeringpump and upper seal on steering box do have a little small oil leakage
- Have bought in parts to the steering box, but could not find sealkit/seals to the steering pump. So my plan for now, is just try to use the car and se how it works, before I demont anything of this.

-In the last week of the year 2022, I changed the rear absorbers because very noisy while driving. Busted a retur line (corrosion) in right side under the car, when taking air out of the system. So got mounted a new tube and finaly all air out of the level system.
- And at this point I also noticed the lower wiring harness on the engine was bad

Stored the car at the work while waiting for more parts and the interest to work on the car again
- In the month of March I finaly got the gearbox out and restored it with new K1, K2 and reverse cluches and seals, filter and oil
- Did also changed the lowere wiring harnest on the engine - Could only find repair kit (not include B+ cable to starter and alternator) and rotors, distributor caps and ignition cables

Went for a small test drive on Monday this week and finaly the car looks to be fine!!!

 

[TimL]

Welcome! Awesome that you managed to get your car running properly. That must have been very rewarding. Your car looks very nice and reminds me how amazing brilliant silber looks on an original, unmolested car. Love it!

 

[TerryA]

@sghm3,

Sig, Welcome Aboard! It’s nice to see your 500E revived and back on the road. You must have a mechanical / electrical background to have overcome all of the issues your car had. I love the “Brilliant Silver” cars. Yours appears to have a black interior but I’m just guessing at that.

Living in SoCal I cannot get used to the challenges our members have in the Baltic countries with rust and corrosion. I hope once all is restored that you can keep it in good condition.

I / We hope to see more of you here in the future

Take Care

 

[sghm3]

Thank you guys!!!
Yes… I’m still little confused if ``all`` is OK yet, since everything just went on and on last year…

I do work in a car service, but I’m been working in the office (last 6-8 years). So have been much working hours on this car before and after the daily working hours and offcourse in weekends… The car service I’m working at, is like a «universal» car brands (for the Mekonomen services). But we prefere working on MB!
- And I got working much with electronic, before I ended in the office and answering the phone. But I’m still helping the other guys on the floor with diagnosis, when they are struggling. So thats why I’m so comfortable with the electronic troubleshooting and reading litteratures.

So hopefully I get a time for vehicle inspection soon, and order some registration plates ! But the time will tell

 

[gsxr]

Very nice work - especially troubleshooting all those issues!

FYI, the ASR fault code 030 is a generic fault which appears any time limp mode occurs. You can ignore this fault code, as long as it doesn't appear by itself (and I've never seen that, ever).

The secondary ignition system is a common problem. If you haven't replaced the cam sprocket seal located behind the rotor bracket, I'd consider doing that, along with adding ventilation slots to the new caps as described in this thread. If the insulators (dust shields) haven't been replaced, consider that also, particularly if there is any liquid on the back side.

I see you had the headlight lens glass separate from the frame - good thing you caught this in time, the lenses are NLA and very difficult / expensive to replace. The power steering pump seal kits should be available, do you need the ZF kit, or LuK/Vickers kit?

Welcome to the forum!

 

[sghm3]

Very nice work - especially troubleshooting all those issues!

FYI, the ASR fault code 030 is a generic fault which appears any time limp mode occurs. You can ignore this fault code, as long as it doesnt appear by itself (and Ive never seen that, ever).

The secondary ignition system is a common problem. If you havent replaced the cam sprocket seal located behind the rotor bracket, Id consider doing that, along with adding ventilation slots to the new caps as described in this thread. If the insulators (dust shields) havent been replaced, consider that also, particularly if there is any liquid on the back side.

I see you had the headlight lens glass separate from the frame - good thing you caught this in time, the lenses are NLA and very difficult / expensive to replace. The power steering pump seal kits should be available, do you need the ZF kit, or LuK/Vickers kit?

Welcome to the forum!

Thank you, Gsxr! I changed also this cap behind the rotors, there was no oil from the seals to the camshafts I was considering to make more slots in the caps, but did not do this. I’m not sure if I need ZF or LUK/Vickers, is there any easy way to check what need or should I use EPC ? I did also change plastic cover under the engine and innerliner left side front, but the innerliner right side front should also be changed, but difficult to buy

 

[gsxr]

I changed also this cap behind the rotors

I’m not sure if I need ZF or LUK/Vickers, is there any easy way to check what need or should I use EPC ?

You'll have to look at the tag on your tandem pump to see which type is installed on your car. They are different part numbers, and use completely different seal kits.

 

[sghm3]

Youll have to look at the tag on your tandem pump to see which type is installed on your car. They are different part numbers, and use completely different seal kits.

Nice, then we see what happens later with this small oil leakage !

 

[sghm3]

Little update on this car, I have changed absorbers in front, caliper (two side) in front, regreased lower ball joint (two side) in front, O2-sensor and new wheels. Did also get MOT last Thursday without any problem Did also recharged the AC-system today, but still have to fix the small oil leak from the steering gear and tandem pump

 

[TerryA]

@sghm3,
Sibgjorn, Welcome, please give us more details on your 500E. It looks great in that pic.

 

[sghm3]

@sghm3,
Sibgjorn, Welcome, please give us more details on your 500E. It looks great in that pic.

Hey, Thank you!!! Well I don’t know if there is something to tell about, but it’s an old german car who got exportet to Sweden in year 2000, and later imported to Norway in 2008. I bought it in 2010, and I have been waiting since then to now for registration. Because high import taxes when the car is not a «veteran». But last week the fan clutch exploded and broken the radiator, so the summertime for this car is over for this year! I’m searching for new AC-condenser now also, because this is also broken and nice to change toghether with the radiator. And I’m also change the oilcooler lines to the automatic gearbox, because they are rusty… But do anyone here found a replacement for the AC-condenser ???

 

[sghm3]

Finaly got changed some parts again, but need to wait to spring, to enjoy the car again But this time I’ve changed : Waterpump, thermostat, hoses to the waterpump, generator, belt adjuster, serpentine belt, oil-cooler lines to the «radiator-side», radiator and the fan clutch Did not fix some of the AC-system this time But did find a company in Germany, who can replicate the AC-condenser… They say like about 1800,- US dollars and one month factory time, if i demont the original and send it.

 

[kubasz]

Hi.
Your story resembles mine when it comes to 500E adventure. I also bought mine (silver over black) in 2010 while i was in my early 20s and although i parted with it in 2012, i regreted this move big time and just few weeks ago i bought back my ex 500.

Respect to you for keeping hold of it for so long