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

Jim B. · #1 08-31-2007, 12:47 PM

I wanted to thank you for these discussions. While perhaps they benefit your learning curve, the benefitted me in quite another way.

I'd been exhausted with the 560SEC, and its problems lately with the AC, antenna that won't raise all the way, occasional flat tire, appetite for premium gas, lack of a heater that works reliably and other little niggles.
It was like being nibbled to death like ducks

To be honest I was on the cusp of getting rid of it and getting a 2007 Mercury Grand Marquis, frankly. Though they are obviously ceaper looking throughout compared to Mercedes

Then you come along with such interest and stars in your eyes, and actually bought a new one knowing as much about them as I did 11 years ago and your enthusiasm and excitement made me take stock of myself.

I guess you can see, by committing to some nice wheels, I decided to keep the car after all. It can now be revealed that you were in no small part responsible for that decision.

The cars are really that good. That is really amazing for a 20 or more year old car. They were light years of other cars of their time, and still worth treasuring today.

The people that seem to have them today are not so much the millionaires and status seekers that had them 15-20 years ago, but people who can work on them, or don't work on them but know something about cars and appreciate their virtues.

Someone told me that with an 18mm wrench you could take apart practically a whole 560SEC and put it back together.

Thanks for opeing my eyes again,CS

The malaise is disappearing.

Jim B. · #2 08-31-2007, 01:12 PM

Yes another scorcher here too. 93 todayat least. I couldnt sleep at all last night.

Thanks for the CS seal of approval for the wheels. I thought about the brushed aluminum, the 17" Aero 1 AMGs, and in the end my heart - for the looks, like a stock 140 Mercedes wheel, but chromed to go with the color, and head for the practicality, and ride comfort and easy to clean aspect that they would give.

I felt I made the right choice but was seeking validation or approval I guess

The downside of course, is that Christmas WON'T come early, thogh I wished it would for these wheels. The guy at the tirte shop said he could look around for different wheel than these I might like, if I needed them n the car now.

He even offered me a non matching "Loaner wheel" if I wanted one, for the car while I waited for the wheels to come in, so I wouldn't get any more flats.

Now is that customer service or what?

I guess I'd have to buy the center caps myself. No reason to get the over priced ones from the Mercedes dealer if these would fit from ebay (apparently lots of them for about $20-$40 set on the 'bay.)..

HOW DO YOU WASH A COVER?

Believe it or not I have a good car cover that is in the trunk of the Mercedes, but is dirty. It was very expensive, and even had a lock for it, but every time I wqent to the trouble of putting it on, it was almost impossible to do it, because the wind was whipping and howling on that San Francisco hill where I parked it

I looked like some sailor fighting a wind intent on blowing away the sail,
The car cover blew off as I tried to put it on.
The next morning it would ALWAYS be half or completely blown off the car.
Effectively useless in SF, then

So, how do you wash these? A chore for me.

Jim B. · #3 08-31-2007, 01:21 PM

I know it is a nuisance, but if the Manganese one were mine, I do think I would really replace the hood pad, Either buy the one on auction, or get one from a parts source.

Price is reasonable, but you'd have to work out the adhesive issue, Perhaps yo could do it yorself.

You seem bold enough and know enough about cars probably you could do it by yourself.

The Adhesive issue needs to be worked out, I don't know how youdo it, or get it to dry and still stay on

You see, it the old one is disintegrating, pieces of it couldn't get sucked into the snorkel I don't think, but could maybe cause mischief elsewhere

Just normal wear and tear over the years suggests this is one thing to replace....

Probably a long drive on the highways this weekend is out of the question for you (and the car till you get some things on it taken care of) but a shorter one might be ok

If it is that hot, it sounds like the beach could be gotten to at least.

Doesn't highway 10 or whatever it is, run straight to Santa Monica (if I recall)?

I hope you enjoy the weekend - whatever your plans might be

Jim B. · #4 08-31-2007, 01:33 PM

Thank you again. I guess the Mercury Grand Marquis is not the totally greatest idea.

There are a lot of good things about them, but you are right, the first year they have ENORMOUS depreciation on them, worse than almost any new one you could buy?

And they have an unfortunate reputation for being a Senior Citizen's car.
You know driving along in the left lane at 50mph with the turn signal blinking for 20 miles.

And then they don't have the magic, or quality that an old Mercedes would have.

Plus the one I have seems to run pretty well, and no particularly horrible problems or anything, and it's in good mechanical shape, and fairly good cosmetic shape too

Plus I know it well, and it does what they are meant to do, very well - takes long cruises.

Maybe I should keep it and try and find a Euro fire extinguisher for it

I ahve a question about yours; what is the backet mounted to. The seat perhaps>.?

Like, when you move the seat on its tracks, what happens to the fire extinguisher? Does the fire extinguisher move too? I couldn't figure out whether the fire exinguisher gets run over by the seat if you move it forward for the shorter drivers, for example.

What happens to it when you move the seat?

CamelotShadow · #5 08-31-2007, 01:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim B.

Thank you again. I guess the Mercury Grand Marquis is not the totally greatest idea.

There are a lot of good things about them, but you are right, the first year they have ENORMOUS depreciation on them, worse than almost any new one you could buy?

And they have an unfortunate reputation for being a Senior Citizen's car.
You know driving along in the left lane at 50mph with the turn signal blinking for 20 miles.

And then they don't have the magic, or quality that an old Mercedes would have.

Plus the one I have seems to run pretty well, and no particularly horrible problems or anything, and it's in good mechanical shape, and fairly good cosmetic shape too

Plus I know it well, and it does what they are meant to do, very well - takes long cruises.

Maybe I should keep it and try and find a Euro fire extinguisher for it

I ahve a question about yours; what is the backet mounted to. The seat perhaps>.?

Like, when you move the seat on its tracks, what happens to the fire extinguisher? Does the fire extinguisher move too? I couldn't figure out whether the fire exinguisher gets run over by the seat if you move it forward for the shorter drivers, for example.

What happens to it when you move the seat?

I thought it was mounted to the seat
but its not
When the seat is back more of the exting is exposed
so its must be bracket under & not move with the seat
or else it would always be exposed the same amount

I have the seat foward as much as any [erson driving could handle
& it wtill goes foward more
The extinguisher is still visable at my driving range
but not as much as it would be when the seat is back more

Jim B. · #6 08-31-2007, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CamelotShadow

I thought it was mounted to the seat
but its not
When the seat is back more of the exting is exposed
so its must be bracket under & not move with the seat
or else it would always be exposed the same amount

I have the seat foward as much as any [erson driving could handle
& it wtill goes foward more
The extinguisher is still visable at my driving range
but not as much as it would be when the seat is back more

That confuses me (or I am dense) is the bracket mounted to the floor? or to the seat or its frame?

What I can't work out after even looking at the pictures, is how the seat can move back and forth without the extinguisher getting crushed if you go forwards. Yet you did it. Hypnotism?

I would really want to get one of these and mount it like on the euros. In fact, some guy on Mercedesshop has a friend in Germany and who will be going to junkyards there with Mercedes there, and look for fire extinguishers & brackets for them, trunk triangles, and other things that Americans want for their Mercedes. Generous guy. I can think of a couple of things I would buy, for sure.

CamelotShadow · #7 08-31-2007, 01:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim B.

That confuses me (or I am dense) is the bracket mounted to the floor? or to the seat or its frame?

What I can't work out after even looking at the pictures, is how the seat can move back and forth without the extinguisher getting crushed if you go forwards. Yet you did it. Hypnotism?

I would really want to get one of these and mount it like on the euros. In fact, some guy on Mercedesshop has a friend in Germany and who will be going to junkyards there with Mercedes there, and look for fire extinguishers & brackets for them, trunk triangles, and other things that Americans want for their Mercedes. Generous guy. I can think of a couple of things I would buy, for sure.

I'd have to chack it closer
All I know is apparently it is not moving with the seat frame or it would alwasy be exposed the same amount

Could be bracketed on a part of the seat fram that doesn't move...
Not sure have to look.

As for clearance
I have the seat up to max & still I would like it higher
so maybe thats why it clears
Still it does seem to be same distance under seat
so it must be tied to seat in vertical
but it doesn;t explain why it doesn;t move foward & back with the seat

Oooh can't figure it out

well better gets some things done

Have a great day

Jim B. · #8 08-31-2007, 01:42 PM

One more thing about washing a car cver. Can you do it in a home washing machine?

Or does it require a trip to a laundromat and and A heavy duty commercial washer there?

Regardless, do you ned to put it in the dryer after that?

I really ought toknwo he answer t this, but I don't

I still haven't hard back from Justin. Maybe those 3 college age Mercedes mechanics won't visit me after all on Sunday. I wish I knew what to do

Maybe it will be a quiet weekend after all. I have no dog to walk. Nor cockatiel to talk to either!

LOL

This "thread" got insanely long I wonder if it will get locked soon. Wold not surprise me. I never got in trouble with the Moderators here for violating the TOU yet, so far.

I wouldn't want to get kicked off. I enjoy the advice, humor & ideas, and some of the people are really nice, I have personally met some of them, and driven on the roads with them, also.

CamelotShadow · #9 08-31-2007, 01:50 PM

Though long I think its a unique profile of a Euro.
I hope its not cause for violation...

CamelotShadow · #10 08-31-2007, 01:20 PM

While I don't kno much aobut Mercury Mar
I wouldn't get a new one unless you needed a car to drive alot of miles.

Thing is with new

when you walk out well drive out of the lot
it's a;lreadt lost $ value

$ for $
I'd rather put money into a solid timeless car like this benz
than to waste it on a new car
well unless I was given one of them sporty new AMg MB couples

I have likes the SLC
never was fond of the boxy benz
but I now understand the following is inmost part for its engineering

This car came out of the blue
it was a 2 dr
one I have never seen on the road
it was a few blocks away
& I had the cash

I have since seen one dark blue sec drive oassed my house

Now it could have been any year
but no mistaking the style

I gave it a thumbs up as it went by...

Glad to have helped you.
You still had the enthusiasm in you
I could feel it
I just woke it up...

If it wasn't for the enthusiasm I felt here I may have passed with all the problems & concerns.

I rwally have a good solid Volvo
I don't drive alot
& its was not a practical thing to do
but then again does everything in life have to be pratical?

CamelotShadow · #11 08-31-2007, 01:28 PM

I had a cotton flannel blue one
well still have itI washed it twice in a washer
Got to have a big one
Do it on gentle
then I dried it
but it was cotton

Not sure what this is
Probably a polyester or something

Its sort of flannel but doesn't feel like cotton

I could use the blue on

I never put mine on in the wind
it was mostly to cover the car in the garage
& to keep away prying eyes

As the garage has barred windows once we got a bad wind & half of it blew off

There are grommets to tie it
I just use a big rope and secure it in middle.

not that easyfor one person to get one
but you get the hang
fols it a certain way and just plop it on the roof & start unwrapping itin a certain way til you get it all on...

I guess I have to rethinkl
it if it wont dry well or shrink it might be useless
but a dirty cover is also not that good
it has some dust in it
my fingers got dirty

I guess I could try to shake it
but being 5 foot its not easy for one person to do
LOL
Heck I have trouble folding sheets

CamelotShadow · #12 08-31-2007, 01:37 PM

No highway til it runs cooler
I can't chance it doing a heat up & be stuck or stranded on the highway
its too dangerous & I am not a danger luster...

Just probably somewhere I usually go where I know there are places to pull over & cool down

I could be sitting with her for a hour while she cools

LOL
Want to make sure its not on the side of the highway or a p;ace where I don't want to be.

I dodn't want to get the pad til I know more about installation
Its not something you can do yourself
its big.

I have to look into that
but I can't go long with all that rubber dust getting in there
It probably will blow out
but could get in fan clutch while it will break up
I really don't want all that crap in there

Could take the neighbor up on his offer
sure he'll want some $
but ot might be worth to pay a pro then to deal w him on his time & then have him think he has rights to the car.

He thought I should take it out yesterday in 105 rather than fussing with it in the garage

Its too hot to be sitting on the side of the road waiting for it to cool

I can't use AC yet as it will add to engine heat load
So I will wait til the time feels right for me...

I think he want to drive it...LOL
He really likes it

Can't blame him though