Upgrade 83 Mer 500 SEC from 88 Volvo GLE? - Page 19 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

CamelotShadow · #**271** 08-30-2007, 07:16 PM

It is hpt
over 105 here
Crazy me in the garage

I got flowers to water too
they are thirsty

Thanks for looking
Once I got the number I figured it out
but rememberin the 123 gave me a scare

have to draw a diagram where I find less pull
Some pulls real hard & in some spots
about 2 its a lighter drag.

Car is metric I guess

Looking at my wrenches
wanted to tighten that bolt
I'll take a 10 mm if its not that
it can wait
its too hot to lug tools
I hand tighteneed it
might be a stripped hole

Maybe I should wait
I think the door has sagged
& with that hinge being placed further out
its not helping the door closed

Why did they do that?

It's dangerouslly hot out there
Maybe only 95 in garage
LOL
oooh to keep the benz cool

Jim B. · #**272** 08-30-2007, 07:47 PM

Actually the glass is "Sigla", and "Sekurit". They are supposed to be the best glass for the Mercedes W126 - and I am going to probably specify either of those, maybe Sigla, for the replacement of the tinted windshield. It has some cracks in it.

PPG is also acceptable.

It is too hot to be working inside the garage.

People like you that have some wrenches, with the time, inclination, place and ability to work on them a little are PERFECT candidates to join in the fray at Mercedesshop. You should fit in just fine.

It is good that you learn about this car. The more you learn, the better it will be for you. The knowledge is out there for you.

CamelotShadow · #**273** 08-30-2007, 08:22 PM

Glass looks like good glass

I have simplex or something on the volvo
windows made in Belgium
weindshield Italy

I've dabbled in the garage
nothing that requires knuckle scrap8ing
though had a few of thosre

Its too hot

I;m overheating

Checked trunk toolkit for wheel key
no
but foung post card adressed to owner Dr's wife
dated 07 06
w a thousand Oak address
might be the work

looks like your right
heres the sigla decal
pretty impressive

CamelotShadow · #**274** 08-30-2007, 08:28 PM

Checked the door
they had to install the hinge there or it wouldn;t line up well w the fender.

Perhaps the door is the same

A hinge could have broken & they repalced it with a shorter one necessitating it be moved out???

Its possible

I'll have to check the number on that one

Maybe there was a theft attempt
broke back window
messed up door....possible

could have had a accident too.

Looks pretty good can't see it being major

I just try not to open that door more than I have to as sometimes its a pain to shut

Jim B. · #**275** 08-30-2007, 08:38 PM

I sympathise with you - it is still really hot here.

I just got back in the Subaru wagon. Affixed the orange 2008 sticker to the cars license plate; noticed when I got out the papers that I had it smogged a year ago tomorrow. Looking at the mileage, I could not believe it. For the last year, it has travelled a mere 600 miles. You read that right. Six Hundred. My dog, that is only a couple of tanks of gas in one year. I couldn't believe it. What a lay life the car has led. Basically retired. Lives in a comfortable garage.

With the oil change, and tires and battery, license and insurance, and alternator, that went into it for the year, not counting the dead battery and the flat tire issue I swonder about the cost per mile on that car was for 2006-2007 from Aug to Aug.

Then, the Tire Shop called. Seems the wheels I bought last night that were to come tmw and be installed Monday, are OUT OF STOCK now. A look at the website confirmed that.

But ASA is a good company. They won't arrive until 10/21 at their wherehouse in Indiana. Shoot.

they were apologetic, they didnt know about it. Offered me a non matching "loaner" wheel to put on the car until the wheels came, if I was still willing to wait that long.

Or sell me comparable wheels if I want them and not to wait. This is such a shame.

I think I would like to keep the deal that was put together last night. I told him that. It's a decent price, the wheels are good quality and well suited to that car, and the maufacturer is known throughout USA and Europe.

He said he looked around several other websites for wheels like these but couldn't find them. Apparently mine are special order at tire rack.

Still, I had hoped to roll on them by next Wednesday. Now it could be, at the worst, a couple more months. Dang it. That is coming up hard on winter.

Oh well.

If you want a thorough build sheet printed out on your car from Stutgart, go ahead and let me know. I had this done years ago but still have the information.

CamelotShadow · #**276** 08-30-2007, 08:47 PM

Thats a long time to wait
Guess they will be a xmas present

I'll take the stugart build info
Guess it would be nice to keep with car

oooh I'm tired

I got up after 6
getting earlier & earlier

Still I can't chance a long drive

I need the wheel key too
be a pain if I got a flat

Spare has the orig rim
14 in
Very nice
You can see the quality

Guess my car is missing that orig part
but then again original were 14 inch tores
& 16 inch are supposed to handle better?

Thats about all the driving I do too
LOL

Printing the ins info
They finally added benz to card
but the vin is blank
guess they are having a difficulty with it

Jim B. · #**277** 08-30-2007, 09:39 PM

Dr. Harry Niemann
Mercedes Benz Historical Archive
Postfach 56-02-02
7000 Sutttgart Germany

Dear sir

I write to you requesting a copy of the factory Build Sheet for my 1983 500SEC.

I have enclosed a copy of the title showing I am the legal owner of this vehicle.

If possible, I would appreciate receiving the information in English.

The serial number is: WDBxxxxxxxxxxx

Please send the information to:

Camelot Shadow
xxxxxxx
Valley Village CA xxxxx

Many thanks for your attention to this matter.

Sincerely yours

Cam. Shadow

**********************
This was almost 7 years ago, so may not be up to date. Address could be different as Chrysler is gone from Daimler Chrysler this year.

But the information is extensive, worth it. Interesting.

Four pages printed out on the car. Well worth the investment of an airmail stamp envelope and a respectful request
takes about a month or so.

It was interesting, and adds to the paperwork/history on the car.

************************

Also, you could call 1-800-FORMERCEDES and ask for a copy of the car's original window sticker. It is free.

It might not be possible for a gray market Euro car like yours. I never heard of anyone who tried to get one from a Euro car.

The limited Russian site information on your car, I think mentioned the City to which the car was originally sold at a German Mercedes dealer, was it Dusseldorf Nurenburg or somewhere?

Jim B. · #**278** 08-30-2007, 09:49 PM

16" tires work well for cruising in these cars. I have been happy for over 10 years with them. They work well for smoothness and to my knowldege won't throw off the speedometer much, or affect their suspension adversely.

The lower profile 17"18" or 19" tires could fit ,but may scrub the wheel wells, necessitating "rolling" the fender wells. Complicates on cars like yours that have the chromed wheel arches.

This is why my new wheels will still be 16" The originals were l5" on mine I think. It has the original spare, which was only ever down once.

Go for a replacement wheel lock on yours. Perhaps you could look into it at a good tire store nearby. Maybe they might have one that would fit. As I wrote you my response to this last night in a prev post about that

You are lucky your insurance co is cooperating. Gray Market euro cars give many of them headaches. Their VIN#s are not on the Ins company's databases in their computers.

If the car can't be proven to exist, they dont want to insure them.

CamelotShadow · #**279** 08-30-2007, 10:03 PM

Arrgh
It exists
I'll have to wait til I get permaent title

says

Nuernberg branch (227)

old town
http://www.galenfrysinger.com/nurnberg.htm

Hope there is no trouble w title
shouldn;t be as it was resistered once
just have to get thru a bill of sale to a charity to get to mine
but that should be normal as if the charity was the dealer

I might have more luck writing to the owner of the car
see if they remeber the timing chain

I don't want to call
even if I have number

but a nice letter to them
with my phone maybe a self addressed envellope
anythikng just for a lil info

Thing is some people have a few cars
they dont mentally notate repairs
& they could get confused
so you still couldn't be sure...

I have a feeling the papers were as real as his father in law owning the car

LOL

But that's not the cars fault
Car is an innocent victim

Jim B. · #**280** 08-30-2007, 10:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CamelotShadow

I might have more luck writing to the owner of the car
see if they remeber the timing chain

I don't want to call
even if I have number

but a nice letter to them
with my phone maybe a self addressed envellope
anythikng just for a lil info

I have a feeling the papers were as real as his father in law owning the car

Precisely. I think I told you I did this a number of times, ALL with great success.

Usually I enclosed a $20 bill in the envelope, where I was unsure of who the owners were.

That worked EVERY time. Just consider it an investment, CS.

I would bet that they you would get a call.

Once they recognize you are sincere and not interested in invading their privacy, they will open up, tell you everything you need to know.
Maybe some interesting stories. Be sure to get them to mention the places they took the car to, if you can, and call or write a letter to those places.

I got 100% of all the records on my Volvo this way. And everything on the SEC back to April 1992, along with more stories on the car, especially noteworthy, as the Mercedes had THREE owners before me.....

I was VERY lucky, I showed up at the office of the guy who had owned the BH hotel and the SEC at his office in Beverly Hills, and he had a file of original receipts for work that was done at Beverly Hills Mercedes, and West LA shops he took the car to

I then visited those places and got even MORE records on the car. In West LA they remembered the fellow well, and liked him. He took his Porsche to them too.

If they can assure you the timing chain was done, then you don't have to, and saved hundreds to over a thousand dollars.

However, you know they are the original and only owners and if you are lucky, they would supply you with the names of the shop who worked on it, which would be worth further following up on by calling or going to those places.

YOu might even learn how and why they bought a Euro car

Why they got rid of it and where they had been in it, and other stories.

It would make for a very helpful story for you. Well worth a $20 investment.

No question, you should do it. You could be very lucky. It would give you peace of mind, even if you found out whether it had been in some accident that wrecked the door or something.

All they could do is say no or ignore you. BUt most people will be glad to discuss their old car, when they have nothing to lose by doing so.

Go ahead and do it

CamelotShadow · #**281** 08-30-2007, 10:27 PM

I looked up the address on the pink slip
well its on the alarm bill from late 80's

they live/d right off Mulholland near Malibu

Cool to know someday I want to take Mulholland to Leo Carillo

I'll have to draft a letter
maybe enclose a pic
but I don't have hard copes of a way to print them
but heck they should remember the car
LOL

I think they are very wealthy but I guess everyone appreciates a tip

I don't know
someone may have died
you never know
they weren't using it much

Wealthy people will be driving new MB's
but guess they hung on to this one for along time

I think I saw same address on billof sale
not sure
thing is they may have moved
Then I guess letter would come back to me shouldn[t it?

Jim B. · #**282** 08-30-2007, 10:41 PM

A nice picture with you next to the car is an even better idea, I never thought of that. It sounds like they were real rich. A good reason your approach needs to be sincere and respectful and not sounding like you want to con them.

Be clear, it is ONLY about the history of the car and its repairs. Nothing more. It should be fine. Your impulse to want to drive by their place and snap a picture as you go by is understandable

The title issue is a red herring

The car got imported and the Registered Importer sold it to them, and they got the EPA door sticker, the car got smog.

Apparently they had personalized California plates on it.

Once in the system, for California plates, you don't need to worry anymore, all the hurdles are passed, except the norma smog inspections from time to time

Believe me, if there were problems, you WOULD NOT have got the Calif license plates, you would have a red suspense receipt glued to the rear window and 90 days to fix the problems.

Since you got the plates, all you have to do is wait a few weeks till the title comes through the mail

If it were me I would pester the curbstoner for the records he supposedly has, and car cover and sheepskins for it he said he had.

If he gets bothered enough, maybe he will give them up or maybe admit he doesnt have them.

Nice pictures of Nurenburg. It is a big town in So Germany, I never have been to Germany but would like to go

My fathers ancestors were from there; his mother and father were both from there. But they met each other in USA. He never told me much about it

Jim B. · #**283** 08-30-2007, 11:03 PM

Mentions how it got started in 1982 (when the only US Mercedes S class coupe would have been the 155 hp 380 SEC and everyone wanted the more powerful 500SEC you could only buy in Germany

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grey_import_vehicles

It was TOO successful (the gray market was) the gray market cars were that good and really cut into Mercedes retail sales at US dealers and so Mercedes lobbied the US Congress and killed it.

The exhange rate between the euro and $ changed in 1986, and the 560 engine in the SEC and SEL starting out that year didnt help either

CamelotShadow · #**284** 08-30-2007, 11:20 PM

I'll have to read that
its long

Didn't know 380 was only one us legal

true my 83 manual is only the 380 line
in 84 they a added the 500

So apparently there should be no 83 US 500 SEC's????

Do you know on a google search of 83 500 SEC
this thread comes up 2nd!!!!

Jim B. · #**285** 08-30-2007, 11:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CamelotShadow

I'll have to read that
its long

Didn't know 380 was only one us legal

true my 83 manual is only the 380 line
in 84 they a added the 500

So apparently there should be no 83 US 500 SEC's????

Do you know on a google search of 83 500 SEC
this thread comes up 2nd!!!!

Yikes, I am not looking for that much attention

Yes, in 1982 and 1983 if you went to a Mercedes Dealer all you could buy in the W126 would have been the 380SE sedan and the 380SEC.

They weren't very fast. Only 155 hp on them with the catalytic converters and the US smog equipment.

No 1983 500SEC cars at the US dealers at all being sold new. None

People knew the Euro cars those years could have the 500SE, 500SEL and 500SEC. They were much faster and more powerful than the puny US cars

So, people wanted the Euros and the gray market got started to bring them in

It hurt the dealers bad. You could save a lot of $$$ from new getting one yourself, and importing it through the gray market even if you had to wait for it, and federalize it through the Registered Importers

A lot of cars came in that way, Mercedes especially. The largest number of Mercedes were the 1984 and 1985 ones that came in that way.

Even some Mercedes Diesels and a few 4 cylinder gassers made it in.

But mostly the expensive ones, because you would save the most money and get the most power - the mighty 500SEL and the 500SEC.