W124 500TE - Lets do this!
- Thread starter jaymanek
- Start date
OP
OP
Hi All,
Sorry for the lack of updates! Those of you on facebook may have seen that the car is indeed all painted and back from the bodyshop.
We did have some dramas at the bodyshop.
Both rear quarter glass windows were a pain to fit with new seals. We are convinced that the new Mercedes seals simply do not fit properly. We broke one of the glass panes trying to fit the glass. To add insult to injury, Mercedes no longer supply the glass in the correct green tint. Luckily the W124 facebook group helped me out and I got a good used pair of glass from a local member.
On the day of collection, the rear bumper fell to the floor on one side whilst it was being bolted up. This cause some crack damage along the seam where estate and saloon bumper were joined. Of course, this really upset Adi at the bodyshop. The bumper has been the most difficult part of the bodywork.
To me it seemed like the tiniest of cracks in the paint, but it was a setback for the bodyshop, as the bumper now had to be redone.
After Adi cooled down, he was able to repair the damage. A couple of days later, the bumper was repainted and the car ready for collection.
Since the car came back, I have been busy getting loose ends tied up. I have re fit most of the interior. The recaros have bolted in nicely. The rear heated seats work. The kiddie’s seats are almost in.
Refitting some interior panels resulted in a trip to Accident & Emergency on Saturday evening. Eye protection is recommended when using a sharp flat head screwdriver to prise a rubber trim. The screwdriver flung out and I stabbed myself in the eye. I was very lucky that it caught the edge of my eyeball and there is no serious damage. My colleagues were more than a little frightened by the mix of blood and tears pouring out of my skull.
Nothing that sitting in a hospital for 4 hours followed by a teenager sending me home with a tube of cream, couldn’t fix.
In other news, I scored a lovely Brabus exhaust back box from the bay a few weeks ago. Think it suits the car really well.
Earlier this week, I had our local stainless exhaust place, Custom Chrome, manufacture me the missing parts of the exhaust.
I have used the original 500E down pipes.
Custom Chrome have made me a centre box to accept the twin pipes. From this box there is one large pipe to join up to the brabus box.
The sound is lovely. Although I need to try and raise it a little as it seems to kiss the tarmac over the speed bumps.
I am now waiting for the final “outsourced” piece of this jigsaw. The wood.
The wood guy says he is almost done. It will be a couple of weeks longer though. Without the wood, I cannot fit the dash, door cards or speakers.
For now I will be concentrating on little bits and pieces.
- Information Stickers
- Rest of the audio System & antenna
- Replace Front Door Seals
- Wax Underside and fit new arch liners. Fit remainder of exhaust shields etc
- Sort out intermittent ASR issue, something up with brake lamp switch
- Replace all interior courtesy lamps (all gone a bit yellow)
- Replace Indicator & Cruise Stalks for Freshness
- Replace all Sill kick plates
- Fit & Wire in Auto Dim Mirror with Homelink.
- So many other minor things. I still have 6 trays full of parts to fit!
Sorry for the lack of updates! Those of you on facebook may have seen that the car is indeed all painted and back from the bodyshop.
We did have some dramas at the bodyshop.
Both rear quarter glass windows were a pain to fit with new seals. We are convinced that the new Mercedes seals simply do not fit properly. We broke one of the glass panes trying to fit the glass. To add insult to injury, Mercedes no longer supply the glass in the correct green tint. Luckily the W124 facebook group helped me out and I got a good used pair of glass from a local member.
On the day of collection, the rear bumper fell to the floor on one side whilst it was being bolted up. This cause some crack damage along the seam where estate and saloon bumper were joined. Of course, this really upset Adi at the bodyshop. The bumper has been the most difficult part of the bodywork.
To me it seemed like the tiniest of cracks in the paint, but it was a setback for the bodyshop, as the bumper now had to be redone.
After Adi cooled down, he was able to repair the damage. A couple of days later, the bumper was repainted and the car ready for collection.
Since the car came back, I have been busy getting loose ends tied up. I have re fit most of the interior. The recaros have bolted in nicely. The rear heated seats work. The kiddie’s seats are almost in.
Refitting some interior panels resulted in a trip to Accident & Emergency on Saturday evening. Eye protection is recommended when using a sharp flat head screwdriver to prise a rubber trim. The screwdriver flung out and I stabbed myself in the eye. I was very lucky that it caught the edge of my eyeball and there is no serious damage. My colleagues were more than a little frightened by the mix of blood and tears pouring out of my skull.
Nothing that sitting in a hospital for 4 hours followed by a teenager sending me home with a tube of cream, couldn’t fix.
In other news, I scored a lovely Brabus exhaust back box from the bay a few weeks ago. Think it suits the car really well.
Earlier this week, I had our local stainless exhaust place, Custom Chrome, manufacture me the missing parts of the exhaust.
I have used the original 500E down pipes.
Custom Chrome have made me a centre box to accept the twin pipes. From this box there is one large pipe to join up to the brabus box.
The sound is lovely. Although I need to try and raise it a little as it seems to kiss the tarmac over the speed bumps.
I am now waiting for the final “outsourced” piece of this jigsaw. The wood.
The wood guy says he is almost done. It will be a couple of weeks longer though. Without the wood, I cannot fit the dash, door cards or speakers.
For now I will be concentrating on little bits and pieces.
- Information Stickers
- Rest of the audio System & antenna
- Replace Front Door Seals
- Wax Underside and fit new arch liners. Fit remainder of exhaust shields etc
- Sort out intermittent ASR issue, something up with brake lamp switch
- Replace all interior courtesy lamps (all gone a bit yellow)
- Replace Indicator & Cruise Stalks for Freshness
- Replace all Sill kick plates
- Fit & Wire in Auto Dim Mirror with Homelink.
- So many other minor things. I still have 6 trays full of parts to fit!
brucemillar
MB Enthusiast
- Joined
- Nov 18, 2010
- Messages
- 8,663
- Car
- C55 AMG Wagon - W124 300te 4matic Wagon - BMW 4.8is X5 E53 - SWB Pajero 3.5 V6 24v
Wow. What a great looking car. Now get ready for all the "it's not a real 500, is it?" You know it's going to happen ;^)
That looks absolutely stunning. The only bit that doesn't work for me is the tailpipes, but purely down to personal preference.
- Joined
- Jan 21, 2005
- Messages
- 29,471
- Location
- Mittel England
- Car
- Smart ForFour AMG Black Series Night Edition Premium Plus 125 Powered by Brabus
Well done Jay, it's worth the effort!
shyam27
Active Member
- Joined
- Dec 6, 2016
- Messages
- 212
- Car
- 1983 MB W123 280CE, 1985 Nissan Leopard Ultima F31, 1986 Honda Civic 1.3 SB3 x2, 2000 Aprilia ETX
Looks amazing Jay, I take my hat off to ya! Tailpipes may not be everyone's cup of tea but I like it! it's quirky and unique!
well done Sir.
car looks absolute like a sleeper killer waiting to kick a$$!
did you calculate total cost of your project or are you going to hide all the receipts from your wife bills put under the mattress?
please put up interior pics
car looks absolute like a sleeper killer waiting to kick a$$!
did you calculate total cost of your project or are you going to hide all the receipts from your wife bills put under the mattress?
please put up interior pics
sturgeon
Active Member
- Joined
- Feb 17, 2013
- Messages
- 359
- Car
- ML350 Sport CDI BlueEfficiency
Wow! What a Stunner!
Well Done!
Well Done!
rockits
MB Enthusiast
- Joined
- Dec 31, 2009
- Messages
- 2,352
- Location
- Hertfordshire
- Car
- 2005 E55K Estate; 2020 Jaguar I-Pace HSE;2004 E500 Estate;2005 Alfa GT V6;306GTi-6;206 GTi 180
Lovely work Jay....well done. I have to agree with some on the tailpipes. Looks wrong & doesn't suit to me. Personal preference of course. Needs straight pair of square/rectangle or round pipes INHO.
What a machine though. Very unique & I'm sure worth the pain.
You still got my SL60? How is she going?
What a machine though. Very unique & I'm sure worth the pain.
You still got my SL60? How is she going?
Aorha
New Member
Cheer !!
I just done 500e Bodyworks in Wagon also with Speed Yellow Color from Porsche.
I didn’t move gasoline cap position at right rear fender.
The hardest thing is a rear bumper.
I made it from Genuine Brabus Saloon Rear bumper mix with original rear bumper wagon.
My location is in Bangkok Thailand.
The car is not complete now.
I just done 500e Bodyworks in Wagon also with Speed Yellow Color from Porsche.
I didn’t move gasoline cap position at right rear fender.
The hardest thing is a rear bumper.
I made it from Genuine Brabus Saloon Rear bumper mix with original rear bumper wagon.
My location is in Bangkok Thailand.
The car is not complete now.
Attachments
- Joined
- Apr 15, 2005
- Messages
- 7,538
- Location
- Weybridge. U.K
- Car
- 500L ( W221 ), 2014 AMG CL 5.5 Biturbo ( W216 ) Sold, 2014 Brabus Smart ( 451 Coupe ) Mapped 130bhp
Great work Jay. Now when you have your GTG !! we will all be able to admire it in person along with the rest of your amazing collection !!
OP
OP
Not quite over the finish line yet guys, but not far off!
I will post pitctures of the interior when I am done.
I will post pitctures of the interior when I am done.
OP
OP
Love the SL60, not selling it! Love the power delivery of that car.
Makes an awesome noise too.
rockits
MB Enthusiast
- Joined
- Dec 31, 2009
- Messages
- 2,352
- Location
- Hertfordshire
- Car
- 2005 E55K Estate; 2020 Jaguar I-Pace HSE;2004 E500 Estate;2005 Alfa GT V6;306GTi-6;206 GTi 180
Good man. It does sound good indeed. Don't you remember signing that contact to agree to sell it back to me as first option for 20k after 5 years?!
OP
OP
Hi Everyone!
Hope everyone is having a lovely Easter.
I have been slowly re assembling the interior and electrics.
One of the items I really wanted to swap was the factory front door speakers from the 500E. A cool option that was standard for the US spec cars.
Luckily the mounting holes are present in the standard doors.
The original, factory sound deadening pad came off altogether from the donor 500E. I don’t think the door panels had ever been removed on the donor car, everything was still totally perfect.
The wood arrived back with me yesterday. Im amazed by the quality. Pictures to follow as it is raining here and I need the car to be outside to get some good pictures.
The dash is back on with its refinished wood, the door cards are all back together and in.
I will spend the next few days just carefully refitting all the wood panels and generally getting the inside all finished.
The little fiddly things zap up so much time!
Hope everyone is having a lovely Easter.
I have been slowly re assembling the interior and electrics.
One of the items I really wanted to swap was the factory front door speakers from the 500E. A cool option that was standard for the US spec cars.
Luckily the mounting holes are present in the standard doors.
The original, factory sound deadening pad came off altogether from the donor 500E. I don’t think the door panels had ever been removed on the donor car, everything was still totally perfect.
The wood arrived back with me yesterday. Im amazed by the quality. Pictures to follow as it is raining here and I need the car to be outside to get some good pictures.
The dash is back on with its refinished wood, the door cards are all back together and in.
I will spend the next few days just carefully refitting all the wood panels and generally getting the inside all finished.
The little fiddly things zap up so much time!
OP
OP
Hello All!
Its almost there!
The interior is all in and finished. What do you think?
Today the transmission has been fettled by the company that rebuilt it back in September.
It needed some minor adjustments to make the shifts nice and sharp. Really does pull well now.
On the way to the transmission place, I had a nervous situation. Occasionally, when I went around bends, there was an almighty banging from the transmission tunnel which would last a few seconds. Strange? Well I had to wait until I brought the car back tonight to inspect.
It was a bolt for the seat runner that must be slightly too long, or maybe I missed a washer, as the bolt was just touching the prop shaft universal joint, but only when going around corners! Decided to cut the bolt down a bit and all sorted.
So now all that is left now, is to wax protect the underside and box sections with Dinitrol and then next week it is off to have specialist wheel alignment. I only set the wheel alignment up roughly. It will be going to a place where they spend a full day getting it all perfect with weights etc etc.
And then hopefully it will be ready for the show season!
It feels like it’s been a long journey, but the light can be seen now.
Its almost there!
The interior is all in and finished. What do you think?
Today the transmission has been fettled by the company that rebuilt it back in September.
It needed some minor adjustments to make the shifts nice and sharp. Really does pull well now.
On the way to the transmission place, I had a nervous situation. Occasionally, when I went around bends, there was an almighty banging from the transmission tunnel which would last a few seconds. Strange? Well I had to wait until I brought the car back tonight to inspect.
It was a bolt for the seat runner that must be slightly too long, or maybe I missed a washer, as the bolt was just touching the prop shaft universal joint, but only when going around corners! Decided to cut the bolt down a bit and all sorted.
So now all that is left now, is to wax protect the underside and box sections with Dinitrol and then next week it is off to have specialist wheel alignment. I only set the wheel alignment up roughly. It will be going to a place where they spend a full day getting it all perfect with weights etc etc.
And then hopefully it will be ready for the show season!
It feels like it’s been a long journey, but the light can be seen now.
