PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum - View Single Post - Upgrade 83 Mer 500 SEC from 88 Volvo GLE?

Jim B. · #**244** 08-29-2007, 10:29 PM

Yeah, reassuring words from your brother. I agree with him, I don't think you have a cracked head from what has been said here.....

Something way less than that. It is quite possible the Euros may normally run hotter than 80. All I know that mine justs sit at 80 all the time.

The insurance companies often have problems insuring the euros because the VIN#s for them are unfamiliar to them. Luckily for you, your insurance company seems to be a little more enlightened than many...

That is a good thing.

Even better, is that they are out of harm's way and prying eyes, in a covered garage. Much better than a carport or the street.

Well, I returned from the tire shop finally. Looks like Christmas is gonna come early...WOO HOO. The baby is gonna get new shoes.

A lot of questions needed to be resolved. Incredibly, the Tire Shop I have always used in on the approved list for the "Tire Rack" up here. I know the owner and their employees and they have always looked after the SUbaru and this car, and before that, the AMC Eagle 4x4 my late parents had before
that. So installation and shipping will be no problem at all.

They even gave me a tire pressure gauge, and set the gas station ones are inaccurate, often dropped, and worth little. Nice of them. But then, if you spend over $1,000, they ought to be...

I decided to go with the chromed ones in the end, even though they cost much more because they will look better with the Pearl Black, than the painted steel ones. Also they will clean up easier, and not to mention the fact that the clearcoat on the painted ones could peel off, making them look ugly.

A friend scored a set of Factory in the Box vintage AMG AERO I wheels, which look good but they are 17" ones, so I would have to buy new tires if I went with them; not to mention also, that I have new 16" tires on the car with just less than 1,00 0 miles on them and they are top of the Line Yokohamas, and virtually brand new.

It was pointed out to me, also, that 17" ones look awesome, but they degrade the ride, as they transmit everything, and are really low profile, and less suitable for cruising, and so low to the ground that lots less protection is offered. Plus I would surmise that they would throw the speedometer way off.

The wheels are 225x55x16", and my tires I have now are new 225x50x16, so the size difference is no problem - nothing with hubcentic spacers or anything, that it would need.

It is in perfect alignment, and they said I would not need to realign the tires - another big savings.

Apparently, a truck from the Tire Rack visits their approved installation sites, every day, kind of like the Snap-On tool trucks, so they would be able to order the tires themselves directly from there, and thus save me the (quite considerable) shipping charge; plus waive the disposal charge as I am an old customer.

So the money goes to a local merchant - I am good with that.

Mounted, balanced, right out the door ran me $1,052 . Not cheap, but good for what I wil get.

And it is pretty much exactly what I wanted. W140 replica wheels, like on the later S class Mercedes. Authentic looking, easy to clean up, and looking good chromed on a black car.

They should arrive Friday, and possibly installed on Monday.

If I can figure what to do about the airconditioning, I should be good to travel anyplace after that. The idea of going over 500-600 miles in this car to have Enqique work on it gives me pause.

However I would like him to do it, plus the sunroof, and check some other things. I still want to get down there soon.