W124 500E - put a deposit down.

[d w124]

Now we're talking

Make sure you don't let me find out where you live as that front bumper will go missing

Glad I'm not the only one in SE London anymore with a Lorinser style I mean

 

[500E]

Right few more jobs on the 500E done:

- 245/45 and 265/40 tyres fitted back/front - no scrubbing at all so good atm (don't like Bridgestones though but ok for now until I get a refurb done)
- 2 x number plate lenses replaced and new LED bulbs fitted
- 1 x aux fan resistor replaced
- 1 x coolant reservoir replaced
- 1 x coolant sensor replaced
- 1 x SLS reservoir replaced + topped up

Pics below (starting with some pics from MB Dartford) - hope you enjoy

 

[500E]

No pics of the finished product but you get the idea...yellow connectors not right for this but ok for now.

Quite happy at how it's all coming together - love this car!!! Hope you enjoyed the pics, more to come of course

Cheers

Bill

 

[d w124]

You really have gone to town Bill,credit to you
It must be something about nicknames like Bill or Billy

 

[500E]

Cheers bud - hoping to restore it as best as possible Any suggestions welcome!

Next step will be looking at the bushes and mounts, I think they'll be pretty knackered...

 

[C36fan]

Cheers bud - hoping to restore it as best as possible Any suggestions welcome! Next step will be looking at the bushes and mounts, I think they'll be pretty knackered...

as I told you before do the polybush ones you won't regret it the whole kit from USA is around £600.

 

[Terry_]

as I told you before do the polybush ones you won't regret it the whole kit from USA is around £600.

I really do think poly bushes are an acquired taste ( I mean in terms of the ride quality ). I know you can get different grades but I just can't get on with them.
Much prefer standard set up unless for track use etc

 

[mercedes4480]

hello, i think you really found a nice car, i would leave it as it is, but for Japan imports, it is possible to have all the history and records. I bought several years ago a w126 560SEL with the AMG body kit, it even came with the original invoice and all the history and bills, it wa a first owner LHD with only 17.420 KM on the clock. It's rare but possible to find all the paperwork with them...

 

[mercedes4480]

But as i can see you really threat it well, it found a good home and by seeing all you are doing to it it will be as good as new, once you've finished it.

 

[Niks]

It's coming along nicely Bill! It will look even better once you get the alloys refurbed with slightly lower profile tyres and the car repainted.

Looks great so far.

As for the poly's, leave it as it is and enjoy the car for what it is - don't get too carried away.

 

[500E]

Cheers guys - I have to agree with the guys Bruno I think the poly bushes will kill the ride of this thing and make it too stiff and crashy. I really like the chameleon character of the 500E, wafting along one minute in comfort and full on psycho mode the next minute, had a drive of another 124 and the 500E handles really well anyway in stock form so I think replacement of bushes with OEM items might be the answer to sharpen things up. I have had the poly bushes on an old BMW and they really are bone shaking but suit those type of cars for handling purposes, still quite stiff though and not sure if I want to go down that route at all. Poly bushes also tram line badly and "follow the road".

So nearly clocked up 4k km's and after driving it for a while I really love the car and I am visualising what to tackle next to get it into a shape which I am happy with and where it will stay for a while - deffo a keeper. There is quite a severe rear vibration at high speed from the rear axle (amplified now with the 10J rear wheels) so this will be next for investigation. Naturally have been accumulating parts so next up probs:

- diagnosis of the above issue (hopefully WG Ltd will want her back...ha!)
- flex joint and bolts replaced (front)
- Deerfield brake hoses fitted (front and rear)
- brake bleed and fluid refresh
- pollen filter replaced
- fan belt replaced
- rear speakers replaced (still not got around to it)
- lower coolant hose replaced (stupidly did not tie this back when I changed the coolant reservior and the belt rested on the fan belt and tore a hole into it! Noticed it dripping today but have a temp fix on there now) - new part ordered
- original MB LHD mat set needed

Few things the 500E needs and should have had from factory:

- ASR defeat - nice to have this off at times to allow for some action with the rear wheels, asr kicks in easy and kills it (some guy on the E500E forum is making up a custom loom with the "ASR" button that can be mounted in the dash so have bought one to make it a switchable ASR feature)
- first gear start - needs a E420/400E valve body for the gearbox - looking for one at the moment so give me a shout if anyone has one. 500E starts in second gear from factory but I really like the feel of a first gear start, more rapid for city driving and shouldn't damage the gearbox at all given they had it standard on the E420/400E W124.
- LSD? potentially but might be big bills to get one of those done for a car like this. Miss the LSD on the M3 tbh
- louder exhaust - open to ideas here but I'm thinking cats out and straight through pipes to the backbox

Once I am happy on the mechanical side of the 500E I will be looking at cosmetics so I can actually do the car justice and show it off at meets! I will be sending it for a full repaint with a whole bunch of parts from MB to get her looking fresh:

- full respray in 744 silver (the original paint code)
- 2 x new mirror boots
- 1 x boot seal
- 1 x passenger side chrome trim
- potentially a new rear screen as all the filaments don't defrost
- 2 x indicators clear
- 2 x side indicators clear
- 2 x fog lights Bosch
- split and refurb of the Lorinser alloys in OEM finish and centre caps refurbed
- new premium tyres fitted (Michelin or Conti's) matching all around
- laser wheel alignment
- rear brake calipers removed and repainted professionally
- arches de-tarred, cleaned and undersealed

Any suggestions for repaints and recommendations for things to "get done" at the same time? Got a silly quote earlier but if anyone can suggest someone in the London area that is good I would be interested in getting a quote. Also any thoughts behind what else I should replace/get done at the same time would be appreciated as I've never really had this sort of thing done before.

Cheers,

B

 

[C43AMG]

I have used Vanleigh for over 20 years for my body work.

It is run buy Ron who is the father, he does the bodywork and Lee the son who does the spraying. They do restorations and are highly recommended. Depending where you are in London, they are in West Molesey 0208 783 1212

 

[markjay]

I had some respray work done by Andy at Tony Fawkes, also a family run business, and was quite impressed. See:

http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/bodywork/168109-paintshop-bodyshop-north-west-central-london.html

http://www.tonyfowkesautomobiles.com/

 

[A-AvantGarde]

I have used Vanleigh for over 20 years for my body work. It is run buy Ron who is the father, he does the bodywork and Lee the son who does the spraying. They do restorations and are highly recommended. Depending where you are in London, they are in West Molesey 0208 783 1212

On C43AMGs recommendation I used Vanleigh a couple of times a few years ago and was very happy with their work.

 

[500E]

Cheers guys. It will be going to Dips at Custom Cars. Well known on the BMW scene and has painted lots of cars. Plus there was a 1959 190SL there which made me feel comfortable...

Anyways not much else going on with the beasty. It needs a set of engine mounts and i've ordered the Lemforder ones at about £50 each. Also bought a gearbox mount and spare plates for the engine mounts and all bolts, washers etc from MB today, cost about £150ish.

So, jobs to do:

- Fit the steel brake hoses (x4)
- Fit the micro filter
- Replace the top coolant hose
- Replace engine and gearbox mounts
- Replace fan belt
- Flush brake fluid and bleed brakes
- Replace front prop donut and bolts

I'll get the above done when it goes in to have the engine mounts replaced (big job on the 500e).

Finally managed to get some decent photos of the car today with my DSLR, shame the sunshine went but hey ho - enjoy!
























Problem areas with the bodywork...










Cheers

Bill

 

[trapperjohn]

Sweet job.

 

[WDB124066]

It's always nice to see someone refit a car correctly. Keep it standard as it will be worth more on the open market would be my leaning, nice to see!

The correct Leather for the steering wheel is MB Parana, by Bader. BADER LEATHER | History

http://www.bader-leather.de/cms/index.php?article_id=87&clang=1

 

[C43AMG]

A question. The V8 badge's on the front wings, where they there originally ?

 

[500E]

A question. The V8 badge's on the front wings, where they there originally ?

The 500E never came with them and I bought them from MB for a G55, i've placed them poorly, so will be moving them at the bottom edge of the cladding where the wing meets the door.

 

[C43AMG]

Just not sure Bill if they look okay IMO