Hello All,
I've always admired the older MBs and have finally taken the fall and have purchased my first one, an 83 500 SEC Euro model. I really like these cars, and as I read some of your posts, I realize that these cars are not your typical ride. I love the way everything just feels so "beefy" on these cars, and how well things seem to be put together. Despite this fact, I see now that they have the same reoccurring problems, and even though most of my questions were already answered by the bunch of great guys in this forum, I would like to still ask a few of my own. If anyone has the time to respond to these, I would greatly appreciate it, and of course would share any of my findings and opinions with you guys. Here goes:

1- Whats with the lower corners fogging up on the rear glass of the SECs?? I can't seem to find a good used piece of glass anywhere that isn't fogged up and the defogger rusted. The dealer wants $900 and it's not available aftermarket. Are they all like this?

2- Nothing like cold air blasting you in the face during a New England winter. I tried to find a setting in the climate controls (euro dials, not pushbuttons) that would close those damper doors on the pass side firewall, but no luck. The pods are actuated with vacuum holding those doors open all the time. Is the climate control supposed to close those doors when you turn the inside temp setting to a warm setting? I assume that if it is not closing it, then the control unit is bad?

3- Rear quarter windows go down about 1/2 way and then start going click-click-click.... Are these bad regulators, or is there some trick to getting them to go down all the way.

4- Turning a key in either door does not actuate the door vaccum pump in the trunk. I get no voltage to it. All fuses are ok. Do the actuators in the doors send out current to this vacuum pump? Mity vac test from rear tube confirms system opens/closes fine.

I can predict that this car will probably keep me busy on the weekends. This weeekend, new stereo/speakers. Next weekend, new fuel pump and filter. Weekend after that, new ps pump, ....

Thanks in advance for any help,
Bo

i have an 84 500sec. welcome to the sec world. they are nice cars.

1. yes, pretty much. it seems to be because of the closeness to the deck below...my thought.
2. i dont know
3. new regulator time
4. dont know.

good luck with yours. a euro would be nice.

tom w

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

What's the difference between a Euro & USA model & how can you tell?
Hey, I better run
maybe I can testd drive that 83 SEC 500
Least I will know what it feels like..
but I'm afraid I might never get out...
LOL

having owned a euro 500 for 18 years i can tell you the biggest difference can be felt when you floor the gas pedal , the euro has about 60 more hp.

Lack of North American BS emissions?

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1989 300E 144K

Plus the Euro cars have: first gear start, higher compression engine, MUCH less restrictive exhaust and headers, less lazy axle ratio, lighter weight, for starters.......

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1991 560 SEC AMG, 199k <---- 300 hp 10:1 ECE euro HV ...

1995 E 420, 170k "The Red Plum" (sold)

2015 BMW 535i xdrive awd Stage 1 DINAN, 6k, <----364 hp

1967 Mercury Cougar, 49k

2013 Jaguar XF, 20k <----340 hp Supercharged, All Wheel Drive (sold)