Well here are the before pictures of my replacement for my 500sel that was totalled. I just had the new wheels and tires put on today. I forgot to take a picture before that was done to show the true changeover but if I have to I can past some 15 hole wheels over the 8 holes to show the true before and after pics. I should be getting my European headlights and smoke turn signals next week and then the week after my red and smoked clear tail lamps (no yellow but smoked clear instead). I think the smoked color will go perfectly with the paint color. I am very happy with the way to new wheels look and hope I am as glad after I get all the new lights put on. If anyone has any other sugestions on what I should do, I think I will have $500 or so leftover from the insurance payment. Thanks and enjoy!

I will post the after pictures as soon as the lights come in and they are installed. There will probably be 2 separate updates, one for the front lights, and one with the rear lights since they wont be here for another week and a half or so.

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89 300E Pearl Grey Metallic
7 Spoke 16" staggered wheels (SLK)
215/55/16 Hankook Ventus HRII H405 tires
Euro Headlights
Smoked Corners
Smoked red/clear tail lights

1987 300e Black Metallic (mom's car)
8 hole 15" wheels (C Class)
Clear Corners
Red/Smoked tail lights

Are those the old 15 holes sitting back by the cask?

Looks like a fine project to replace the SEL. Keep us posted.

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Mike Tangas
'73 280SEL 4.5 (9/72)- RIP
Only 8,173 units built from 5/71 thru 11/72

'02 CLK320 Cabriolet - wifey's mid-life crisis

2012 VW Jetta Sportwagon TDI...at least its a diesel

Non illegitemae carborundum.

Yes, those are teh old 15 hole wheels. Are you interested? They are for sale to anyone who is interested. Also, I am very pleased with my 300E and wish I had purchased one of these over teh SEL even though I will always love the SEL for the ammount of rear seat leg room and just overall roominess of the car (I'm 6'5"). I think it will be fun to see how much I can do to this car to make it look really nice. I also plan to have the vacuum locks replced with electric ones and a keyless entry as well. It also need some paint touch ups due to some fairly long key marks from the previous owner.

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89 300E Pearl Grey Metallic
7 Spoke 16" staggered wheels (SLK)
215/55/16 Hankook Ventus HRII H405 tires
Euro Headlights
Smoked Corners
Smoked red/clear tail lights

1987 300e Black Metallic (mom's car)
8 hole 15" wheels (C Class)
Clear Corners
Red/Smoked tail lights

Your vacuum locks are already electrically controlled. I wonder how you're going to change that, or why?

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Paul S.

2001 E430, Bourdeaux Red, Oyster interior.
79,200 miles.

1973 280SE 4.5, 170,000 miles. 568 Signal Red, Black MB Tex. "The Red Baron".

Looks good, I am sure you will enjoy it.

It does look a lot fresher with the 8 hole wheels.

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Ali Al-Chalabi

2001 CLK55
1999 Dodge Ram 2500 Cummins Diesel
2002 Harley-Davidson Fatboy
Merlin Extralight w/ Campy Record

I think I have this color! And the mods you are about to do to...
go here:

http://iyalla.fws1.com

No interest in the rims, wrong offset most likely. The 560 requires 25mm and those are probably 43mm. Others may have an interest though.

__________________
Mike Tangas
'73 280SEL 4.5 (9/72)- RIP
Only 8,173 units built from 5/71 thru 11/72

'02 CLK320 Cabriolet - wifey's mid-life crisis

2012 VW Jetta Sportwagon TDI...at least its a diesel

Non illegitemae carborundum.

Thanks for the link to the pictures of your car. It looks great. My turn signals came in today and I put them in since it only took 5 minutes but I am still waiting the head lights and tail lights. I think your turn signals are different because yours are clear while mine are smoked to match the headlight color.

The vacuum part of the locks is electronically controlled but I am talking about replacing the vacuum motor with eltric servos at each of the doors (much like todays newer cars). Unlocking the drivers door would send a signal to the servo at each door and a little motor (I believe) would unlock each lock as opposed to a central pump unlocking the doors.

I will take pictures tomorrow of my car with the OG headlights but smoked turn signals then another set once I get headlights in and one more when the tail lights are installed.

I also plan to upgrade the speakers as well. Infinity Reference 45.2i 4" in front with Infinity Kappa 50.3cs 5.25" Components in the rear as well as teh 10" bandpass sub in the trunk from my 500sel. I also plan on experimenting with an 8" or 10" woofer or pair of woofers below the rear seat (one where the vacuum pump is and the other on the other side) hooked up to the rear speakers via a passive crossover or maybe just a small amp for just them. If I go with the amp I will probably be getting a capacitor to make sure both amps get enough power.

__________________
89 300E Pearl Grey Metallic
7 Spoke 16" staggered wheels (SLK)
215/55/16 Hankook Ventus HRII H405 tires
Euro Headlights
Smoked Corners
Smoked red/clear tail lights

1987 300e Black Metallic (mom's car)
8 hole 15" wheels (C Class)
Clear Corners
Red/Smoked tail lights

Yal, cool pics of you car! How do you like the exhaust? I love the looks but do you notice any performance gain? How about the exhaust note? Obtrusive or acceptable? I really like the sound of my stock system and wouldn't want to mess this up.

tkd_M119,
Thanks for the comments!!
The exhaust is a Supersprint dual square tip. Bolts right on with no modifications and sits right against the rear bumper bottom lip.
Supersprint prides itself in low noise, lots of noise restirictions in Europe apparently. You'll barely hear this thing from inside the cocoon of the benz. There is a low audible rumble at idle, sounds great with the windows down. There is an unobtrusive note at initial acceleration and I only noticed this after about 9 months of driving. I know people who have cut out their resonators in order to get more sound. This is just a nice 'quiet' muffler by Honda aftermarket standards. Its also quieter than the stock mufflers you here on some early nineties BMW's and thats just fine by me.

I did notice some performance gains! Very mild gains. Nothing shocking Its much smoother and free in the higher revs also. Higher revs isn't very high for an old benz