SEC road trip - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Bruce Kennedy · #1 12-07-2006, 03:24 PM

I recently purchased a 84 500sec for my sons college graduation gift. The car is in Denver and I fly out Sunday to pick it up and drive it back to Cincinnati. Any quirks or typical problems that I should be aware of, or spare parts I should have with me. Car is supposed to be A1 mechanically with only 58k on the rebuilt engine. I'm pretty good with a wrench so I'll have some tools with me. Almost forgot , this is a euro model with the AMG engine and suspension upgrade.

Any input is greatly appreciated

Bruce Kennedy · #2 12-07-2006, 04:17 PM

Sorry, dont know what I did to post this tree times.

Pete Geither · #3 12-07-2006, 08:47 PM

If that car is what they say, you will have a wonderful ride bringing it back. Enjoy, and I hope the roads don't get too bad.

reinier · #4 12-07-2006, 09:07 PM

Congratulations to your son!

And not because of his diploma

Bruce Kennedy · #5 12-07-2006, 10:19 PM

He worked his way through college all on his own and I'm very proud of him. There is some very straight and flat stretches of road on 70. I should probably put this car through some high speed stability test. You know, I want to make sure its safe and all. Whats the top speed anyway?

t walgamuth · #6 12-07-2006, 10:55 PM

i think the standard 500sec is about 130 (i have never found a place to really let it out).

with your setup i would think at least 140 maybe 150.

tom w

cdplayer · #7 12-07-2006, 11:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bruce Kennedy

I recently purchased a 84 500sec for my sons college graduation gift. The car is in Denver and I fly out Sunday to pick it up and drive it back to Cincinnati. Any quirks or typical problems that I should be aware of, or spare parts I should have with me. Car is supposed to be A1 mechanically with only 58k on the rebuilt engine. I'm pretty good with a wrench so I'll have some tools with me. Almost forgot , this is a euro model with the AMG engine and suspension upgrade.

Any input is greatly appreciated

This year/model is awesome. Found mine online in Washington state. Came with a volume of receipts. Even the origonal window sticker.
All electronics worked great.
I flew in and drove it 700 miles home. Took 13 hrs. Car ran smooth. Came over the Northern mountain range with out a problem. I took along a pen and note pad to write down any glitches I noticed on the trip home.

I do caution you to do this first before you drive home. I did not but I was lucky. Temp outside was in the low thirties as I drove home. Look carefully under the brake booster and clean out all debris. It is common for leaves and such to get in there. Use a blower if you have to. Because of the blower resistor group which gets pretty hot, a fire is emminent. As did mine. Mine caught fire while I had the hood up checking something else at home in my driveway. Got it put out really fast though.
Then I ordered a new blower motor and resistor group. The dirt that collects in the blower motor/housing causes the blower to draw more current. Not enough to blow the fuse though but enough the heat up the resistor group.
Check my signature for some of the work I have done. Good luck.

POS · #8 12-08-2006, 08:01 AM

Drive it with an open mind, the post pics when you get home.

I drove my '84 280E AMG from Chicago to Houston when I bought it two months ago. The car had only left Chicago once its entire life, but it made the journey without any issue and it gave me a genuine sense that after the 1200 miles, I could drive the car another 1200 miles without issue. I have faith in that car's ability to take me anywhere - I don't think I'd have that faith if I had trailered it.

Bruce Kennedy · #9 12-08-2006, 09:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cdplayer

This year/model is awesome. Found mine online in Washington state. Came with a volume of receipts. Even the origonal window sticker.
All electronics worked great.
I flew in and drove it 700 miles home. Took 13 hrs. Car ran smooth. Came over the Northern mountain range with out a problem. I took along a pen and note pad to write down any glitches I noticed on the trip home.

I do caution you to do this first before you drive home. I did not but I was lucky. Temp outside was in the low thirties as I drove home. Look carefully under the brake booster and clean out all debris. It is common for leaves and such to get in there. Use a blower if you have to. Because of the blower resistor group which gets pretty hot, a fire is emminent. As did mine. Mine caught fire while I had the hood up checking something else at home in my driveway. Got it put out really fast though.

Check my signature for some of the work I have done. Good luck.

Thanks for that tip. I've cleaned the same area on my 300sd but I did'nt realize it was a fire hazard. Looks like you've done alot of work. I'm sure he will want to ask you some questions.
I also want to get him a shop manual. Which one should I get? I have the cd for my diesels but the pictures are terrible. Looks like they are copies of copies of copies.
I will post some pictures when I get it back and this will definately be a good shakedown cruise. Oh, one more question. I bought some wheels for this car that came off a later s500. They have the same offset but will the same lug nuts fit?

jhodg5ck · #10 12-08-2006, 10:19 AM

I Strongly recommend you stop @ a Dealers somewhere in the area and have a PPI. Being an unknown car and you are not personally familiar w/ SEC's it's best to have a professional give the car a look over.

It's really not so much fun having someone minor yet critical let go in the middle of no where.

I'd suggest going through the ignition system (pull plugs/cap/rotor, inspect/clean them all)..check all the exhaust hangers, brake pad thickness.. If you can get the car in the air and give the wheels a spin..see if any one is dragging. Check all the fuses, give them all a spin as I'm sure they will be aluminum..make sure you have a few spares of each with you.

Pull the fuel pump relay, make sure everything looks nice and clean, same w/ the OVP. Wouldn't be a bad idea to bring some contact cleaner with you.

Check the brake fluid, make sure it's been flushed w/ in the last year..if you are going to be pushing this car you don't need the fluid boiling. Also want to check brake lines, make sure they don't have any dry rot.

Look @ the diff, see if she's weeping..find out or have the lever checked...seized diff's make forward progress difficult!

Check the power steering pump for leaks, also have a look @ all the bushings on the front drivers side, if the pump leaks it ruins guide rod/lower control arm and even engine mounts.

That's all I can think of right now, but really take it for a PPI...Best 100$ Anyone can spend before purchasing a car.

Jonathan

Bruce Kennedy · #11 12-08-2006, 04:10 PM

Jonathan
all good suffestions but what is an OVP? There is a mb dealership within a stones throw of where I'm picking up the car. Hopefully they wont be to busy to have a look. I'll only have about three days to hang around in the Denver area, and I plan on hitting the slopes on one of them. Also my son is moving to Atlanta in January. He plans on doing alot of the work on this car himself but there will probably be things that will be beyond his current mechanical skills. He will most likely be a new customer.

cdplayer · #12 12-09-2006, 12:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bruce Kennedy

Thanks for that tip. I've cleaned the same area on my 300sd but I did'nt realize it was a fire hazard. Looks like you've done alot of work. I'm sure he will want to ask you some questions.
I also want to get him a shop manual. Which one should I get? I have the cd for my diesels but the pictures are terrible. Looks like they are copies of copies of copies.
I will post some pictures when I get it back and this will definately be a good shakedown cruise. Oh, one more question. I bought some wheels for this car that came off a later s500. They have the same offset but will the same lug nuts fit?

Not sure of the wheels. But as for the manual, I bought mine on Ebay.
From Ebay motors home page click on manuals/literature. And type in W126 service manual. See what is available. I prefer the manuals on CD.
You need Acrobat reader. And using Netscape browser works best on the XP version computors. The CD I got came with instructions for startup.

cdplayer · #13 12-09-2006, 12:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bruce Kennedy

Jonathan
all good suffestions but what is an OVP? There is a mb dealership within a stones throw of where I'm picking up the car. Hopefully they wont be to busy to have a look. I'll only have about three days to hang around in the Denver area, and I plan on hitting the slopes on one of them. Also my son is moving to Atlanta in January. He plans on doing alot of the work on this car himself but there will probably be things that will be beyond his current mechanical skills. He will most likely be a new customer.

Have your son read up on the DIY links in this site. Thanks to all the guys who have contributed, I was able to change my leaking steering box and replace the steering coupler too!

suginami · #14 12-09-2006, 01:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bruce Kennedy

Jonathan
all good suffestions but what is an OVP?

OVP stands for Over Voltage Protection relay. It is basically a big fuse.

Do a search for OVP and you'll get more reading than you can bear.

The OVP's were a big failure item on W124 chassis 300E's and E320's, but I'm not sure your car has one.

I know for sure that W124 chassis cars with a V8 (400E / E420 / 500E / E500) did not have one.

jhodg5ck · #15 12-09-2006, 01:31 AM

Yup, it has one.. Just look for a small silver 1 inch square, 2 inches tall w/ a red 10amp fuse in the top. That's your OVP.

If ya'll have any problems while driving feel free to give a ring 404 805 1357..I've talked more then my fair share of people through issues over the phone

Look forward to meeting your son and seeing his Coupe!

Jonathan