Another 500E
- Thread starter Seamster15
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- 500e
Hi guys,
just bought myself a 500E and first post.
I wanted to ask if there are any 500E owners/specialists/enthusiasts in Cambridgeshire at all. I'd like to talk to someone about my car who is familiar with its pitfalls to ensure I haven't bought a donkey.
p.s. how does one pm someone?
uchiha
just bought myself a 500E and first post.
I wanted to ask if there are any 500E owners/specialists/enthusiasts in Cambridgeshire at all. I'd like to talk to someone about my car who is familiar with its pitfalls to ensure I haven't bought a donkey.
p.s. how does one pm someone?
uchiha
NW_Merc
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- Over here, sometimes over there
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- 1994 Mercedes C180 classic
That ones in Mercedes Enthusiast for £12,500. Looks a nice car but I would prefer it in black
Vlad
MB Enthusiast
Just do a search under 500E or E500 and you should be able to dig up a lot of info......read about wiring harness issues as a first off.
you won't be able to pm somebody until you have 30 posts - just put up a general query in "Genreal Discussion" for now
Cheers (and welcome!)
Andy
500E
MB Enthusiast
They want £9995 for that silver 500E.
500E
MB Enthusiast
Hi - Can you provide some further details of your 500E, maybe someone on the forum knows it from a previous owner - there are very few in the UK. Cheers.
NW_Merc
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- 1994 Mercedes C180 classic
Not a bad price for a good condition car :bannana:
Hi, i'm in Peterborough and know a garage i'd trust to do work on the 500E in your area.
http://www.candvcars.co.uk/
It's where the previous owner of mine bought the car and also where I took it to have the air con regassed. Very good place.
Dave!
http://www.candvcars.co.uk/
It's where the previous owner of mine bought the car and also where I took it to have the air con regassed. Very good place.
Dave!
st4
Banned
I'm sure that eBay ad has been posted here before.
Thank you gentlemen for the replies.
I bought the avantgarde car. It really was in excellent condition so I didn't mind paying top dollar for it.
http://www.avantgardecars.co.uk/View.asp?ID=246
When I got home after having picked up the car I felt very uneasy. I had been on the market for an E34 M5 for several months and made an appointment that day to see a car I was convinced I was going to buy. I just wanted to see the 500E before I headed over to see the E34 to convince myself that I was making the right decision.
Fortunately or unfortunately (i haven't decided yet) things didn't go according to plan. What happened when I went to see the Merc is just a blur. I saw the car parked up and it looked bee - autiful. The car is so much more charismatic in the metal than the photos let on. There was a black car for sale as well. Slightly better condition but with the facelift. My brother and I both preferred the two tone silver with the bigger grill and the evo alloys. I don't think I've seen a better looking 500E imo. I turned the ignition, blipped the throttle and that was it. GRRRROOOOWWWW.
Game over.
Next thing I knew I was driving it home with a confused look on my face as to what I'd just done. I actually felt sick.
The thing is, having researched the M5 thoroughly, I knew exactly what to look for on the car, exactly what the potential pitfalls could be and exactly what to look for in the service history. With the Mercedes I had absolutely no idea what I was doing - I didn't even look through the bills or service history (still haven't) so I'm pretty stressed now. As I said, I don't know what happened - I've done this before and I said I wouldn't do it again but something strange happens to me when I'm buying a car.
I brought it home and my wife loved it. This made me feel better and having driven it around, it's slowly growing on me. You have to understand that I was expecting to have a BMW on my drive so I'm still in shock. LHD is not a problem at all, my wife could drive it immediately with no problems. What's comforting me is that the things end up liking the most are the things that grow on me slowly.
Thank you Uberwagon for the info on servicing. I intend to take it over to them at the earliest opportunity to get it checked out. This wiring harness thing is worrying me and I'm praying that I don't have any significant expenses. I would be interested in meeting up as I have lot of questions at this point.
I have no idea what half the buttons in the car do. I can't get the Becker radio to work (the aerial doesn't come up when the radio is turned on) and there are loads of weird sounds that I need someone to tell me are normal. Also car is pulling strongly to the left which I didn't realise in the test drive principally because I'm a plum. How do I know when the car is due for a service? Anything similar to the lights systems on BMWs?
I have about a hundred questions but this post is getting long so if someone can tell my why the car makes a noise intermittently when it's parked up that sounds like the air suspension being adjusted on a bus i'd appreciate it.
Going to spend tomorrow cleaning it.
I bought the avantgarde car. It really was in excellent condition so I didn't mind paying top dollar for it.
http://www.avantgardecars.co.uk/View.asp?ID=246
When I got home after having picked up the car I felt very uneasy. I had been on the market for an E34 M5 for several months and made an appointment that day to see a car I was convinced I was going to buy. I just wanted to see the 500E before I headed over to see the E34 to convince myself that I was making the right decision.
Fortunately or unfortunately (i haven't decided yet) things didn't go according to plan. What happened when I went to see the Merc is just a blur. I saw the car parked up and it looked bee - autiful. The car is so much more charismatic in the metal than the photos let on. There was a black car for sale as well. Slightly better condition but with the facelift. My brother and I both preferred the two tone silver with the bigger grill and the evo alloys. I don't think I've seen a better looking 500E imo. I turned the ignition, blipped the throttle and that was it. GRRRROOOOWWWW.
Game over.
Next thing I knew I was driving it home with a confused look on my face as to what I'd just done. I actually felt sick.
The thing is, having researched the M5 thoroughly, I knew exactly what to look for on the car, exactly what the potential pitfalls could be and exactly what to look for in the service history. With the Mercedes I had absolutely no idea what I was doing - I didn't even look through the bills or service history (still haven't) so I'm pretty stressed now. As I said, I don't know what happened - I've done this before and I said I wouldn't do it again but something strange happens to me when I'm buying a car.
I brought it home and my wife loved it. This made me feel better and having driven it around, it's slowly growing on me. You have to understand that I was expecting to have a BMW on my drive so I'm still in shock. LHD is not a problem at all, my wife could drive it immediately with no problems. What's comforting me is that the things end up liking the most are the things that grow on me slowly.
Thank you Uberwagon for the info on servicing. I intend to take it over to them at the earliest opportunity to get it checked out. This wiring harness thing is worrying me and I'm praying that I don't have any significant expenses. I would be interested in meeting up as I have lot of questions at this point.
I have no idea what half the buttons in the car do. I can't get the Becker radio to work (the aerial doesn't come up when the radio is turned on) and there are loads of weird sounds that I need someone to tell me are normal. Also car is pulling strongly to the left which I didn't realise in the test drive principally because I'm a plum. How do I know when the car is due for a service? Anything similar to the lights systems on BMWs?
I have about a hundred questions but this post is getting long so if someone can tell my why the car makes a noise intermittently when it's parked up that sounds like the air suspension being adjusted on a bus i'd appreciate it.
Going to spend tomorrow cleaning it.
OP
OP
Seamster15
MB Enthusiast
Post some pictures, chill out a bit and don't worry. There are losts of very well read people on this forum that can help you.
Simon
Simon
NW_Merc
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- 1994 Mercedes C180 classic
One very lucky fella :bannana: 
:bannana:
:bannana: Congrats dude, that car seriously ROCKS and i'm sure if you keep yourself posted on the forum, you will be able to get help with whatever you need. I dream of this car, or the E60 or the E55 AMG's when i get to about 30 yrs old 
.
and i'm sure if you keep yourself posted on the forum, you will be able to get help with whatever you need. I dream of this car, or the E60 or the E55 AMG's when i get to about 30 yrs old .
Last edited:
Dieselman
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The prices at Avantgarde make Charles Ironside look cheap. Do they discount much.?
I think the advertised price was pretty much a steal so there was sadly no further discount. I think it was worth it, more so when you actually see how much car you are getting for the money. I guess the price is what you are willing to pay. There's a snow chain button for God's sake!
If anyone is in the market, the remaining black car at avantgarde is MINT with regards to bodywork and interior. Can't comment on mechanicals as I can't even comment on my own.
I'm in Peterborough at the moment so I don't have my camera with me. Will post some pics in a couple of days.
Thanks for the positive comments guys (& girls?), I feel slightly better.
UC
Sorry to hear you're in Peterboghorror 
I live in Werrington near the 3 Horse Shoes pub. Nice to have another 500E in the neighbourhood, just my luck it's in better condition than mine
As for pulling to the left, get it checked out right away, doing the geometry on these cars is a pain in the **** and mine pulled to the left for a while till it was set up properly. Once I have looked over the work i'm currently having done I also have another guy you may want to use, I wont reccomend him for the E though until i'm 100% with his work, very nice chap though and only in Bretton.
If it's a european car i'd not worry about the harness yet, maybe have it done over the winter but enjoy the car first.
As for the radio, I really don't know, i've lost 2 bulbs behind the radio itself but it all works.
You have REALLY made me want the EVO alloys again now, I hope you're happy
.
You paid top price for the car, but if it has a good history, the bodywork is good and the interior looks well cared for then you have definitely done the right thing.
As for the E34 M5, I looked at these too, it's just not as complete a car as the 500. They are lovely cars and i'm sure you would have been happy with it but when you step into the E you suddenly turn into Mr Toad .
Will have to get the cars together when i'm back.
As for servicing, I give mine and oil and filter change every 5000 miles (not needed that early but for me it's peace of mind) and then consumables as and when needed. Front discs, pads all round along with all sensors, less than 300 from the dealers, use genuine parts, keep on top of the servicing and they will run forever. The owner of RUF has one in the same colour as yours and has 430,000km on it I believe.
Dave!
I live in Werrington near the 3 Horse Shoes pub. Nice to have another 500E in the neighbourhood, just my luck it's in better condition than mine
As for pulling to the left, get it checked out right away, doing the geometry on these cars is a pain in the **** and mine pulled to the left for a while till it was set up properly. Once I have looked over the work i'm currently having done I also have another guy you may want to use, I wont reccomend him for the E though until i'm 100% with his work, very nice chap though and only in Bretton.
If it's a european car i'd not worry about the harness yet, maybe have it done over the winter but enjoy the car first.
As for the radio, I really don't know, i've lost 2 bulbs behind the radio itself but it all works.
You have REALLY made me want the EVO alloys again now, I hope you're happy
.You paid top price for the car, but if it has a good history, the bodywork is good and the interior looks well cared for then you have definitely done the right thing.
As for the E34 M5, I looked at these too, it's just not as complete a car as the 500. They are lovely cars and i'm sure you would have been happy with it but when you step into the E you suddenly turn into Mr Toad
.Will have to get the cars together when i'm back.
As for servicing, I give mine and oil and filter change every 5000 miles (not needed that early but for me it's peace of mind) and then consumables as and when needed. Front discs, pads all round along with all sensors, less than 300 from the dealers, use genuine parts, keep on top of the servicing and they will run forever. The owner of RUF has one in the same colour as yours and has 430,000km on it I believe.
Dave!
Last edited:
lomo
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- 1994 E220 coupe Bornite/AMG styled.2001 CLK 320 Convertible.2005 Mitsubishi L200 Animal / Black .
You have got yourself a really great looking car and hope to see more pics soon.
Vlad
MB Enthusiast
I had a European 500E and just prior to me buying the car the harness went and fried the coil packs, harness and ECU's....cost of replacement £3500+
The 500E can suffer even more from harness problems than the smaller 320's and 280's as there is far more under bonnet heat....its easy to check and well worth doing as the harness tends to fail in spectacular fashion rather than a slow death with lots of warning.
The 500E can suffer even more from harness problems than the smaller 320's and 280's as there is far more under bonnet heat....its easy to check and well worth doing as the harness tends to fail in spectacular fashion rather than a slow death with lots of warning.
