W124 500TE - Lets do this!

[Flyinspanner]

Could they use the ‘stiched Together’ bumper as a mould and lay up fibreglass bumpers? - at least then you could always more easily replace if damage occurs in real world usage. (Plus you could sell sexy bumpers to other TE owners)

This is a great thread, love the dedication you’ve poured into it - top job.

 

[Flyinspanner]

Hahaha.... thought I’d look at the link to the shop doing the bodywork... not sure if my CL is ready for facial scrub yet

 

[grober]

I reckon the key to such a conversion is that it should look pretty "normal/standard " apart from a few subtle details. As you are documenting in your thread this entails lots of tricky hidden modifications. From those pictures you are well on the way to achieving a successfull conversion. The proof of concept being that to the casual observer it doesn't appear at first glance to be too dissimilar to an ordinary W124 estate appart from a few tell tale visual clues that subtly hint of a far from ordinary w124 estate!

 

[jaymanek]

Thanks, thats exactly the plan. Apart from the BBS AMG wheels and Recaro seats, I want it to look like a 500E estate, as if the factory had built it.

 

[Blazer]

Looking Good...... Glad to hear & see that the project is still moving forwards

 

[WDB124066]

Ed ran in to those bumper problems on his widebody 124. Maybe search through his threads for the way he managed... RBYCC.

 

[jaymanek]

Just a mini update:

The bumper shape is now almost there.

The height has been made up using fibre glass sheeting.

The centre insert has been made using a new centre estate section and the original 500E side parts.

The bumper has taken a few days and is not finished yet!

Another update in a few days!

 

[jaymanek]

 

[jaymanek]

 

[jaymanek]

Almost ready for primer!

 

[WDB124066]

I do like the way you execute your projects quickly Jay - and the way you have found quite some considerable skill in the tradesmen of your choice.

 

[sturgeon]

Thanks so much for this excellent project write up! There's a lesson in every aspect and the project management has been so meticulous!

Enjoy your unique driving experience!

 

[jaymanek]

Thanks all. I find that if you dont get on with it, the motivation and momentum soon dries up!

 

[lordlee]

Excellent work Jay - your attention to detail is borderline fanatical.

 

[Londonscottish]

Thanks all. I find that if you dont get on with it, the motivation and momentum soon dries up!

Glad to hear it. Can't wait to see it painted.

 

[jaymanek]

Hello!

Last week was a slow one, the bodyshop had some other work to get through.

This week the shell has been primed. This now sits for a few days before anything else is done.

In the meantime, the bumpers are being further prepared.

Then all the smaller parts will be primed; under headlight panels, side skirts, bumpers, mirror caps etc etc.

 

[grober]

From the bonnet/grill I assume you are going for the "facelift look" rather than the more traditional "emblem in grill" for the recipient estate rather than the older engine donor front end ? - makes sense altho as a one off you could have gone for either??

 

[jaymanek]

Yes as the wagon is a facelift, sticking with facelift parts.

 

[KillerHERTZ]

Excellent stuff!

 

[Uberwagon]

Loving the work, a perfect 500e in my view!

I saw you mentioned you are waiting for another run of lower wiring harnesses? I was getting funny oil pressure readings at high revs and after replacing the level sender, pressure sender, screen and pick-up I think it was my fettling of the lower wiring harness which cured it. When I asked Mercedes for a price it was around £300 but was then told they no longer supply them. I even tried to buy the connectors but only about 3 of the 7 or so were available.

Are they going to make some more still or is my parts guy not telling me right do you think?

Dave!