500E 3D-Modelling Project Blog

[Draginev]

Better late than never I guess!

I know that it took longer than I predicted but there was some few minor detail that was needed for adjustment of both exterior and interior to be 100 % correct.

Also test-renders aswell that I took with more than 100 renders with material corrections etc. The hardest part was the paint of 702 Rausilber because it’s a very tricky paint. In sunny daylight it appears to have a bit of a light brownish to it, but in cloudy (before rain) as this scene or at night it appears to be a little bit silver. It was very hard to determine and achieve this paint. I will upload more paints soon that I have on my list and I will also upload it as well in near future.

I also put the 500Eboard stickers on top of the container as a gratitude and appreciation of this forum and you guys have been an awesome audience! What you witness here, is the result of this forum that formed this car by harvesting and gathering the entire knowledge and resto-mod projects and it formed this beautiful W124 as expected!

These are the teaser computer renders that I will upload for now. I will share the rest when I’m finishing my renders. Where the details and stuff will appear, even the undercarriage.

Information about this car:

Mercedes-Benz 500E – 1992 Euro-spec
VIN: WDB124036NDRAGINEV (Doesn’t exist)
Engine: M119 5.0 liter 322 hp
Paint: 702 Rausilber
Interior: Thruffle Brown Leather with black piano trim
Wheels: AMG Monoblock 18 inch

Next goal, is to compete in 3D-competition for HUM3D challenge 2022, that will end in December 9.
Link of high quality teaser pictures: My artstation profile
In the meantime, I could offer some services such as, if you like to wrap or paint your car in exotic colors before doing it in real time or change the interior, I could render those images at your liking. The price will range between $200 to $500 total of 4 pictures depends on the scenes and camera angles and time.

 

[sheward]

That is awesome. It really looks better than the real thing, as there are no flaws. Color is superb. Anticipating the rest of the pictures.

Thanks for offering your design services, they will be very helpful for anyone wanting to modify, change, or enhance their cars and good luck with the competition.

 

[Draginev]

That is awesome. It really looks better than the real thing, as there are no flaws. Color is superb. Anticipating the rest of the pictures.

Thanks for offering your design services, they will be very helpful for anyone wanting to modify, change, or enhance their cars and good luck with the competition.

Thank you! I forgot to say that this is what it looks like straight outta factory the way you describe it.

 

[500AMM]

Hmmm, I feel bad for coming with this now when you're done, but the SLS (self leveling system) oil reservoir next to the flusher fluid tank is missing. This is standard on all 124 036 model years. Maybe you can add it?


But the final result is really impressing!

 

[Draginev]

Hmmm, I feel bad for coming with this now when you're done, but the SLS (self leveling system) oil reservoir next to the flusher fluid tank is missing. This is standard on all 124 036 model years. Maybe you can add it?

View attachment 157692
But the final result is really impressing!

You are right, I didn't install it because I haven't modelled the suspension system thoroughly and couldn't understand the following parts and schematic at this time. As I stated before that there are some parts I didn't install, steering box for example is not added either. But will be added in the future! For now there is no harm. Thank you for reminding me!

 

[xfadmin]

Perhaps one of the photos can be used as an additional site banner option. Would this be acceptable to use?

 

[Draginev]

Perhaps one of the photos can be used as an additional site banner option. Would this be acceptable to use?

That would be an honor and It's acceptable! I could move down the sticker into this frame ( will take a day ) or you could insert it yourself. Either way, up to you!

 

[Draginev]

Hmmm, I feel bad for coming with this now when you're done, but the SLS (self leveling system) oil reservoir next to the flusher fluid tank is missing. This is standard on all 124 036 model years. Maybe you can add it?

View attachment 157692
But the final result is really impressing!

Hey Arnt!

I was scrolling around thru my paper notes of this project and the plan idea was to implement multilink suspension system from any top tier AMG models. The key idea was to utilize this system for better handling, riding sporty/comfort and reliability for future custom jobs. I remembered when I read about the SLS system, it had some flaws and reliability wasn't there, so that steered me away. But if there was a demand for the oil reservoir to be 3D printed then it can be modeled if there is diagram with measurements or anything that might help me with where hoses go with including parts and with pictures will help tremendously. Heck, there wasn't any diagram for the engine alone.

I regret that when I saw 500E in one of the car shop in town, I didn’t ask them to lift the car to see the undercarriage so that made the project very challenging. They were very generous to offer me one hour with this car so I hesitated to ask for more! I will reveal further the next goals of this project for some time after I’ve finished my 3D competition.

 

[Draginev]

Perhaps one of the photos can be used as an additional site banner option. Would this be acceptable to use?

Here you go, it's free of charge for this!

 

[Draginev]

Now I've installed the SLS oil reservoir, so I won't think about it in the future for time efficiency. Now the Engine bay is fully complete! Last thing is suspension system which I will think about in the near future. Thanks @500AMM for pointing out!

 

[Draginev]

Hello all!
While I'm still working to render photos of the model, so that it will be up for sale soon. I begin to have ideas to customize a racing widebody kit that has a Sacco design finger print with some carbon fibre to combine abit with modern. The inspiration is this:

Now I'm not a big fan of this wide bodykit because it distorts from the car topology. So instead it might be a change to the fender itself to be that wide. It's perhaps 100 mm wider than the 500E. Same as the Hammer coupe that has a wide rear fender:





Again, just some few ideas. But it's still going to be a sedan.

Another thing to add, I just came across this video on Youtube that is the Hammer 1 of 13, is that true and is this car still around?

 

[sheward]

I think it would be interesting to see your design ideas for the 500E. I think something like the 100mm rear design on the coupe matched with a more or less standard front fender would possibly work without taking too much beauty out of the original. A racing design could be entirely different.

I believe that was or is Johnathan's Hammer in the photos. Red, with the faired-in ducktail.

 

[Draginev]

I think it would be interesting to see your design ideas for the 500E. I think something like the 100mm rear design on the coupe matched with a more or less standard front fender would possibly work without taking too much beauty out of the original. A racing design could be entirely different.

I believe that was or is Johnathans Hammer in the photos. Red, with the faired-in ducktail.

That's so cool, a rare sedan! I hope it keeps intact.

Of course, to keep the original is the main key. The rear design of 500E is shorter than front, so I might keep it matched and aligned. The rear door is the most daunting, it has to match somewhere.

The pictures below, even the rear door got widen. But it goes something like this. A part of this plan was to avoid to touch the door to keep it original but I will check my sketches and see how it goes

It goes like this: Pictures sources

 

[sheward]

I agree. You really have to include the doors with any change to make it look integral.

 

[Draginev]

Here I thought I will share with you some sneak pictures render that I've been doing so far. The 500E will come soon!

 

[Draginev]

And here is for 500E, Enjoy! More pics is on its way.

 

[sheward]

Fantastic!

 

[Draginev]

Showtime:

I’ve now finished my final renders for my 3D-model product that will be published for sale this week. So I wanted to share with you guys to show what I’ve been up to.

I’m trying to be as transparent as possible beforehand to clear out any misunderstanding and hopefully answer any questions you may have about my work. The products can now be mainly used for both 3D-artists and Game developers for both private and commercials depending on the licenses. Or those who are experienced in CAD software such as Autodesk Fusion 360/AutoCAD in order to print these parts and thereafter require a lot of metal/plastic workshop. For some might use it to print in 1:18 scale or 1:1 scale. The file has to be in .STL in order for print machines to be able to read. So it may or may not suit you yet. This 3D-model doesn’t have a full anatomy. For example, the bumpers I modeled, is just a cover, cosmetically, or bare surface as you could call it, without bracket, clips etc. Because I don’t know where the bolts/clips/brackets sit and couldn’t find any measurements anywhere so by eyeballing it, will cause disaster or my PC is too old to bear with me.

The final product is the best I can deliver now, due to my limitations. The reasons are:

• My old PC can’t handle this amount of data as this dense.
• Takes up tons of my private free time

I do not work for any company nor do I have contacts, both national and international. But, I’m open for suggestions and I would love to continue with help by collaborations if there is a big demand of 3D-printing of parts for customers. But my 3D-model is a great start at least.

However, after I’ve been investigating and came to the understanding that some parts are NLA or going to be NLA is very frustrating for the majority of W124 owners, more specifically for E500E owners. So it’s part of the agenda that W124 is slowly dying and becomes the real minority while US muscle cars is still alive because it get a lot of supports from aftermarkets. Me hoping that (if prices doesn’t go up crazy) to own one of these, will also be affected during this circumstances. Only difference is that I might go ham to use 3D-scan laser everywhere to create many files to print. I would love to see W124 E500E still mocking down these boring modern cars of Gen Z in the future. We shall see.

The 3D-model is by far the most accurate model in 3D-market today. By closely studying the shape, with the support of blueprints and other software such as Autodesk Image-modeler 2009 (Discontinued software) to use locators in different angles from images that was taken from my visitation in local car shop here in my city, Orebro. And then calibrates the measurements. So hopefully it will be exact as expected.

Also, I’ve been trying to contact any Game Developers to implement my model into any Street/racing games. So far no luck because no one is responding yet. So I might try harder and see other alternatives to catch attentions.

Thank you and I hope that you enjoy these images and support me!

Right now, I need to set up the project files to be ready and doing some further work on the car before going out.

Sincerely, Yasser.

 

[sheward]

Your work has been very interesting from start to finish. I think you have a good eye for design as well, judging from your interior ideas. I find your choices blend nicely with the cars design, as good or better than MBs own choices. Your renderings are captivating. I have very little knowledge of your end use market, but I certainly hope you are rewarded for your time and talent and ultimately end up owning one of these cars we all covet.

 

[Draginev]

Your work has been very interesting from start to finish. I think you have a good eye for design as well, judging from your interior ideas. I find your choices blend nicely with the cars design, as good or better than MBs own choices. Your renderings are captivating. I have very little knowledge of your end use market, but I certainly hope you are rewarded for your time and talent and ultimately end up owning one of these cars we all covet.

@sheward Thank you for your warm and kind words. I'm deeply grateful that you guys been there from start to finish. Can't wait to own one of the E500E soon in the future and join the group! I hope that the 3D-model will spark the aftermarket and keep W124 alive for the foreseeable future.

I've a lot more in my sleeves to show you which is the new bodykit design of the W124036. Will reveal the plans and idea as soon as I published my products on the market.

 

[Draginev]

It's official!

The product is on sale at : https://www.artstation.com/marketplace/p/1R7Od/mercedes-benz-w124036-500e-1992-eurospec

My artstation portfolio case: https://www.artstation.com/artwork/3qRZ5g

Let's admire, when the Mercedes Benz headquarters modelled the W124. Such an elegant lines of the car, great work Bruno Sacco!

 

[Draginev]

Now I've also released the AMG version of the W124036. If u are interested in seeing them.

Which is also on sale: https://www.artstation.com/marketplace/p/KX91d/mercedes-benz-w124036-500e-60-amg-1992
Enjoy the images!

 

[Draginev]

Now that I have done modeling the original 500E and the AMG version. I’ve always wanted to make a modernization of the world most perfect sedan in the history.

Let’s start with the prologue. It seems to be unfair but yet not a compliance that the Mercedes-Benz decided to keep the G-Wagon production alive from 1979 till today 2023 which is truly fascinating and that they kept the G-wagon DNA design language to be modern as possible without much changing of its shape like we see with C,E and S-class. The evolvement of the G-Wagon has not deterred in any way except from being a boxy machine to the bulbous and curvy form.

The modernization of the W124

I just don’t see why it would require the developments of appearances in W210, W211, W212 and W213 when the W124 is extremely dominant except for the mechanical parts and technology from the AMG departments. It could have stayed the same in the W124 in my opinion with just small adjustments. Just like the G-Wagon models. That’s why it’s unfair but still no complaint.

So here I thought. What if the Mercedes-Benz or better yet aftermarkets tuning company like famous BRABUS made these cars again? How will they change the appearance of the W124, while keeping it in retro style? During this study of design, I’ve so far, seen a lot of customized body kits for the W124 but none were in perfect match. Some were extremely awful and other was decent but never perfect (I don’t know if mine is perfect either). The body kit of the original 500E is proper and same for the AMG version. The design of the W124 is timeless and it doesn’t needs to change in any form and also the air drag coefficient at 0.30 is really impressive for its time and today.

During the work of the new body kit, I came across this video Mercedes E63 S AMG BRABUS 900 - YouTube of the new facelift W213 900 edition Rocket performance by BRABUS. The audacity to the call it the wolf in sheep’s clothing is to damn high! That title belonged only to the W124 E500E alone. So I thought we should make a proper match in this case.

Ladies and gentlemen. May I present you. The W124 900E Rocket Performance Edition with a little modern touch.

This is a Rocket project performance. I want to use from new AMG parts for the W124. Also, I got a 3D-scanned of M159 Engine and use the SLS manifold intake for this project.

This new design is not intentionally to be provocative for the E500E owners. And critics is allowed! I’m hoping to improve it further. It could also work with original headlights and grille for this type aswell.



Front revamp: the front bumper is abit similar from the G-wagon model. It has a LED light on it, room for two turbo cooler/oil cooler and Carbon fibre lips and etc. The new modern headlights ( still needs work). New grille in carbon fibre. Anything that was chrome in 500E, is in carbon fibre for this model. Front turnsignal is original, but changed the color red all around.


Side: The lower part of the door and side skirts on lower part below got widened out. The wheel fender arc has sharper line around and both front and rear share the same shape. So no need to widen out the fenders further or touch the door. The front fenders and rear fenders parts that can glue to the W124 E500E body, similar to the new CLS 900 Rocket.



Rear: The rear bumper is similar from the AMG one, but got further widen and longer in to the rear wheel arc. Has rear diffuser in carbon fibre, rear lips, LED lights, red reflectors in the bumper, and of course, quad exhaust system. Also the new trunk spoiler with both carbon fibre and the color of the car.
Original Tail lights.

It’s easier to compare side by side and see the difference yourself, more pictures in attachments.

 

[195910]

I like your ideas for the headlights.

IMO, the W463 is the most successful Mercedes series, because its purpose built and maintained its identity while being constantly refined even after 40 years of production.

A modernized 500E should be true to the identity of the original car. A long distance autobahn courier with a discreet sporty character, the Rocket900 is entirely different. Can I suggest a core E500 facelift design with modern features similar to the W463. carbon instead of metal inlays, LED technology headlights, wheels and just slightly larger front apron vents.

 

[Draginev]

A modernized 500E should be true to the identity of the original car. A long distance autobahn courier with a discreet sporty character, the Rocket900 is entirely different. Can I suggest a core E500 facelift design with modern features similar to the W463. carbon instead of metal inlays, LED technology headlights, wheels and just slightly larger front apron vents.

Yes, it's such a good idea and I agree that Rocket900 is different.

I had a lot of trouble to make a such proper modernization of the W124. There was a time I would make a facelift E500, but then I came across that the grille is slightly smaller than the pre-facelift so I stuck with the 500E. The key is: I wanted to stay within Bruno Sacco perimeters and the philosophy of his design that has a Horizontal homogeneity lines of the car and I went to try with the ROCKET900 modification from BRABUS because the transitioning is easier for me to make such modifications to the car. For some might think I have done in such extreme length.

For example lets take the front bumper. Because Mercedes-Benz has done such a great job to modernize the W463 (G-wagon)



I could simply copy this front bumper to make such a normal modernization and the Panamera grille with those headlights that I've done and you get the modernization of the W124 500E simply put. But the big emblem on the grille for W124 is a big no no. But to make the W124 modernization discreet is kind of hard, whatever the modernization you choose it will scream and no more wolf in sheep's clothing.

If I would take from other ideas, like the E-class W212 E63s. IMO it doesn't fit.

 

[TerryA]

@Draginev, I think you have done great work on your E500E project so far. I even like your updated design on the car but not a100%. I would prefer to see it with the original euro E-Code headlights. To me that is and always has been an outstanding feature of the 500E which stands the test of time.

Take Care

 

[winmutt]

This is amazing. Any chance you have a model of the third brake light cover you'd be willing to sell? Being able to print that would make many w124 lovers very happy.

 

[Draginev]

@Draginev, I think you have done great work on your E500E project so far. I even like your updated design on the car but not a100%. I would prefer to see it with the original euro E-Code headlights. To me that is and always has been an outstanding feature of the 500E which stands the test of time.

Take Care

Right back at you Terry.
I began to render the images again with the original 500E headlights and I think it looked so much better than the modern headlights I made.
Take a look yourself.

 

[gsxr]

I so want to build a replica of that model!

 

[Draginev]

This is amazing. Any chance you have a model of the third brake light cover youd be willing to sell? Being able to print that would make many w124 lovers very happy.

Do you mean the LED brake light that sits at the bottom with rear diffuser? I'm still no expert in 3D-printing so in the meantime I sell only files to these 3D-objects. But this brake light is a custom made, the idea I took was from this video Mercedes E63 S AMG BRABUS 900 - YouTube and just flipped the brake light horizontally but added more LED because it's wider

 

[gsxr]

I think he meant the USA-spec third brake light, shown below. The rear cover often breaks when you remove it to replace the bulb:

 

[195910]

In a recent video, Constantine (CEO of Brabus) mentioned that they are building a RESTOMOD 500E.
I am interested in seeing what Ideas they are presenting, I have ideas for a restomod 500E as well, but don't see this happening anytime in the near future

 

[TerryA]

Right back at you Terry.
I began to render the images again with the original 500E headlights and I think it looked so much better than the modern headlights I made.
Take a look yourself.

@Draginev, OUTSTANDING!

 

[036]

Please add some buttons there

 

[Draginev]

I think he meant the USA-spec third brake light, shown below. The rear cover often breaks when you remove it to replace the bulb:

View attachment 163558

I see why. If I have measurements and alot of pictures with parts then I might 3D-model it in near future. But still would leave it to the 3D-printing experts.

 

[Draginev]

Please add some buttons there

Thanks for pointing out. Seems I forgot this vital part! I will also make a gauge cluster without Reiserechner.

 

[036]

Well, you do what you like to do, this is not PhD dissertation here )))
Anyway, trip computer was only avaliable at 1 Series, from Facelift no more. Yours is obviously Facelift, so i guess "usual" cluster would fit better.
So consider my first response as completely wrong

 

[195910]

Well, you do what you like to do, this is not PhD dissertation here )))
Anyway, trip computer was only avaliable at 1 Series, from Facelift no more. Yours is obviously Facelift, so i guess usual cluster would fit better.
So consider my first response as completely wrong

Please cite 200 references in IEEE style.

j/k

 

[Draginev]

Sad news....Artstation has disabled my account after that I've successfully sold one 3D model of 500E in the 3D-market. It happens right after a week when the product was sold and then I was about to collect the income. Really unsure if it was technical issue on their site since I've been spamming to log in to the account and forgot the password or if it is something else.
I've sent email to their support team and awaits for their answers. The reason for disabling my account is unknown. According to their website they put several reasons for the account to be disabled but my issue doesn't fit any of them. Since my work is original and worked with the model for 3 years.
If unlucky appears. then I have to move to Behance.net ( My new portfolio ) as my portfolio but unsure where I could sell my 3D files when the commission is very high for the majority of 3D-shops.

 

[Draginev]

This is amazing. Any chance you have a model of the third brake light cover youd be willing to sell? Being able to print that would make many w124 lovers very happy.

View this content on Instagram

View this content on Instagram

There is a guy who is modelling parts for the W124, W201 and W126. Maybe you ought to contact him for the file and start to 3D print He has done the Air vents for the W124 aswell.

 

[Draginev]

I will show you guys something fascinating that has been happening here!
I've been talking to a dear member here @AS Design and we went back and forth about 3D model project. Turns out, he had 3D-scanned his own W124 E500. But struggle to 3D print the car, because it lacks thickness of the mesh. So I volunteered to help him out because it's a learning curve for me and the 3D printing world. So he sent me the file. While I analyze the file and the 3D scan datas, I couldn't help but compare the 3D-scan with my 3D model, trying to see if they are really identical. Which it is.
The clay brown mesh is the 3D scan datas and my 3D model of the 500E:





Then when I overlap them together, they are identical.



So then we decided to try by taking the fender on the drivers side, by giving it a thickness as in 5 mm, I decided to model the fender completely and gave it a thickness, as best as I could ( it would need to adjust later ). Now I await to see if the machine can read this time!

 

[Draginev]

Video 1:

 

[Draginev]

Video 2:

 

[TerryA]

Video 2:

@Draginev,
Albert is very talented. His latest creation was taken over by OttoB. He did a beautiful job on it. Maybe you and he can start building E500Es someday.

Take Care

 

[Draginev]

@Draginev,
Albert is very talented. His latest creation was taken over by OttoB. He did a beautiful job on it. Maybe you and he can start building E500Es someday.

Take Care

There is no doubt about Albert being talented. I’m very honored to speak with him and learn about his work! His talent is an inspiration. If that day will come to build E500Es then it would probably be in carbon fiber moldings maybe and some custom works but Albert is the expert . We shall see what future holds.

 

[Draginev]

Attempt 1: Albert (@AS Design) made a test print for a fender and I’m very excited that 3D printing a fender works and the machine can read it. So now I need to add more thickness to print small sizes to give some support. But as you can see that the surfaces is very rough and very thin. It’s about 6 inches so the actual scale is unknown. So much to learn about 3D printing!

 

[Draginev]

Artstation has finally restored my account. When a buyer bought my 3D files the system suspect a fraudulent and hence the disabling the account. So we went back and forth about this investigations. Turns out the buyer didn't has a valid credit card. So in other words he stole my files by doing so. So there is fault in both Artstation marketplace system and the buyers that can steal like that. I should also be more careful into placing the files aswell.

I have talked with the buyer briefly before he bought it. At first he messaged me if I was interested in other CAD files of random car models in exchange for mine and I declined the offer. So now I will look into other marketplace instead to sell to avoid these thefts.

 

[Draginev]

Update on the 900E Rocket.

I made some changes on the front bumper mostly. It got much wider. Added fog lights that will align to the air intake of turbo coolers. I picked blue-black paint this time. New wheels as well to fit the widebody. The old bumper, aerodynamically will result in havoc. So the new one will smooth it out on the sides of the bumper. Aerodynamic and practicality need to come in mind, in case of speed bumps occurs so it means I can't go any lower than that.


The rear bumper got wider abit aswell. So you can see the attachment that it's surrounding the rear wheels well.

 

[Draginev]

The 3 W124s I've created in my journey so far. See the comparison yourself. Which one do you like most?

 

[TerryA]

The 3 W124s Ive created in my journey so far. See the comparison yourself. Which one do you like most?

@Draginev,
IMOP, I think that all three are exceptional designs with something for everyone.

The original 500E looks perfect to me.

I like the AMG with the exception of the Penta wheels and the grey color. I would prefer the AMG wheels that are on the 500E and I’m not a fan of what I call battleship grey.

The Brabus to me an outstanding updated design that I would like to see someone like AS Designs try to copy on a real car. It appears that it is mainly the front and rear lower valances are main features with out widening the actual 124 body. Correct me if I’m wrong. My only comment is the red outlining would have to go. The rear view and exhaust setup is very attractive.

Everybody has their own preferences and I think you have provoked a lot of interest with all of your designs.

Take Care

PS: What do you have in mind for the 900E designation?