Familiar E55 W211 Moved to New Home Further North

[Vick N]

Excellent build thread.
I’ve recently acquired a very clean E55K and over winter will be getting my hands dirty with cleaning and not freshening it up.

 

[Lewis 2.3 16]

Need to replace my rear Arch liners as they are shrunk, good time to clean and protect mine too, look good, I want to restore my subframe too, definitely on the to do list.

 

[pmcgsmurf]

My list just keeps getting looooooonger............

 

[Lewis 2.3 16]

Quick question are you brushing the por 15 on or using aerosol?

 

[pmcgsmurf]

Quick question are you brushing the por 15 on or using aerosol?

Use the POR15 Rust Preventive coating and just brush this on, most of the time it's only a small brush and sometimes even an artist brush.

 

[pmcgsmurf]

Still not seen my parts, they seem to have moved Germany further away.

Decided I'm dropping the back subframe and running gear off the car.

Dropped the exhaust today as a start.



Well the left side, will drop the right side tomorrow along with the prop shaft and a few other bits and bobs.

 

[daveenty]

and a few other bits and bobs.

It's the bits and bobs that take the time up Pat. Nice to see it's getting looked after though

A suggestion: Unbolt the callipers and hang them up with a couple of bits of wire to save you having to bleed them. I did mine like that, then decided I'd change the rubber hoses anyway so a complete waste of time. Ah well, never mind.

 

[pmcgsmurf]

It's the bits and bobs that take the time up Pat. Nice to see it's getting looked after though

Exactly, but it gives me something to do when I have the time.

A suggestion: Unbolt the callipers and hang them up with a couple of bits of wire to save you having to bleed them. I did mine like that, then decided I'd change the rubber hoses anyway so a complete waste of time. Ah well, never mind.

Calipers are off all 4 corners as I'm putting all new on.

With the exhaust and prop shat rear off it's basically 4 bolts to drop the rear sub frame.
I did ponder leaving this till the winter but with hindsight it's crazy when I'm at the stage I am just now.

Great thing is once I've got this off I can refurb. (clean, media blast, paint) a lot of the parts in no time at all.

 

[pmcgsmurf]

Parts arrived from Mercedes, ironically now need more parts.



Got a little bit more done today.

Exhaust fully off now.


Propshaft off.



Parking brake, cables etc. all off, just ready to drop the subframe, may do this tomorrow if time permits.

 

[Major774]

Holy crap... thumbs up for the effort.

 

[Major774]

Oh... If you have taken off the easy pack rails and are struggling to get those screws back in then give me a shout. I noticed that Alps needed to cut more off the interior carpet so that the rails are actually in direct contact of the mounting brackets.

I have retro fitted the same option to my car.

 

[pmcgsmurf]

Oh... If you have taken off the easy pack rails and are struggling to get those screws back in then give me a shout. I noticed that Alps needed to cut more off the interior carpet so that the rails are actually in direct contact of the mounting brackets.

I have retro fitted the same option to my car.

Thanks, I've had them out before and not had too much trouble, will see how it goes.

 

[pmcgsmurf]

After looking at the back end I think I'll strip the suspension parts and wheel carriers off while the subframe is still on the car then drop the subframe.

There's sometimes a bit of force required on some of the suspension bolts so gonna be a lot easier while still on the car and all I'd do when I get the subframe off is start stripping it anyway.

 

[Alps]

Great job Pat! your nuts mate, but she will be better than factory fresh by the time you have finished.

 

[pmcgsmurf]

Great job Pat! your nuts mate, but she will be better than factory fresh by the time you have finished.

Wouldn't be the first time I've been called bonkers.

That's the plan to try and freshen up as much as I can and get it looking as nice as possible, even the bits that can't be seen without putting it on a ramp.

 

[pmcgsmurf]

Got a bit more work done tonight.

Dropped the wheel carriers, shocks and drive shafts off.
There were some seriously tight nuts and bolts holding things on.

Then got the diff off, this could be doing with a blast and a fresh coat of paint.





After this it was a formality to drop the subframe off.


Poor thing looks rather bare now.



Going to strip the sub frame next, clean this then see how good all the bushes are.

I did find that the rear flex joint from the prop shaft to the diff was in quiet bad shape so this will need a new one.

 

[daveenty]

As you've gone this far I'd be tempted to change the bushes anyway.

Not vastly expensive and a lot easier to do with the access you have at the moment. Just watch out for the oil going everywhere if you chisel/hammer them out like I did on mine...

 

[pmcgsmurf]

As you've gone this far I'd be tempted to change the bushes anyway.

Not vastly expensive and a lot easier to do with the access you have at the moment. Just watch out for the oil going everywhere if you chisel/hammer them out like I did on mine...

I didn't look today but how do you get them out then in again?

 

[daveenty]

I hammered mine out but acquired a press to put them back in Pat.

I suppose that theoretically they could be tapped in but, with them being oil filled, the risk of damage is always high.

 

[pmcgsmurf]

Thanks, could use a floor press but wouldn't fancy trying to hold the subframe on it.

Sounds like a little tool to do it would be ideal.