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Did you have one, or know someone who had one, that that happened to?
A buddy owns an E500 and it happened on his. We have mutual friends that run a MB repair shop and the conversation has come up several times. Apparently numerous MBs of the early 90s had the issue.
A buddy owns an E500 and it happened on his. We have mutual friends that run a MB repair shop and the conversation has come up several times. Apparently numerous MBs of the early 90s had the issue.
Yes they designed a lot of the car to be green friendly and biodegradable including the wiring. I remember their proud announcement of this with the new S Class in 1991 and wondered how their owners would feel when the wiring on the car went bye bye in 13 years. I believe this was their standard practice for a few years in the early 1990's on all cars.
Yes they designed a lot of the car to be green friendly and biodegradable including the wiring. I remember their proud announcement of this with the new S Class in 1991 and wondered how their owners would feel when the wiring on the car went bye bye in 13 years. I believe this was their standard practice for a few years in the early 1990's on all cars.
Green, yes! Now that you mention it I remember the mechanic telling me that. I wondered how all those genius German engineers couldn't that see this would be a problem in the not-so long run.
As they age, the gaskets do leak, so if you do not want to do the repair, look for one with documented service history and the lowest miles that you can find. The basic structure of the W124 is very solid, and mechanically, if well maintained, you should not have a catastrophic failure. However, there is a known transmission issue with the W124 where the reverse gear will cease to function and requires a rebuild. It's generally not a question of an if, but a when, with mileage and other factors, once you notice a hesitation when putting the vehicle into reverse. It's the reverse issue that signifies a dying transmission, IIRC, but some of the forward gear problems may be serviced, should a problem arise.
There are places where you can get a rebuilt transmission at a reasonable price, with core exchange, in Sun Valley, CA and Frederick, MD. Potomac German Auto is also a great resource for parts, though W124 parts are not difficult to obtain.
The wiring harness issue is known, and the real issue is that, when failing, the electrical system can damage the integrity of other electronic control parts, which is where the real money in time and labor enters the equation to set right. Many were switched, but not all, so you want to see that it has been addressed, and look at the service history for phantom electrical problems, as that can be an indicator of a failing harness. Some were replaced with the same stock of bad harness, too, if it was an early repair, but many should have been replaced by now if the car is on the road, though I would still keep an eye out for it, as it would the value of the vehicle would be diminished with the original harness to someone who knows the W124 and early 90s Benzes in general because it will fail.
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All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players: they have their exits and their entrances; and one man in his time plays many parts, his acts being seven ages.
~William Shakespeare (As You Like It Act II, Scene VII)
vmaxnc, wanneroo, and bmwguydc, do you know if any other parts of the wiring harness also tended to fail?
I assume the entire wiring harness from bumper to bumper, had this eco-junk insulation, not just the part in the engine compartment. But the part in the engine compartment was subject to more stress, from heating/cooling cycles, vibration, oil impregnation etc., I'd imagine.
Did the wiring to the taillights, the convertible top, the power seats etc. suffer from disintegrating insulation too?
As far as I recall, the engine compartment wiring harness is the main problem because of the extreme operating environment in the engine compartment. The other lights and wiring don't have any major issues related to the design, though given the age of the vehicle, there could be a problem, but I do not recall there being any issue with the headlights or taillights.
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All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players: they have their exits and their entrances; and one man in his time plays many parts, his acts being seven ages.
~William Shakespeare (As You Like It Act II, Scene VII)
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