OWNER 744Brilliantsilber (E420)

[gsxr]

I had the chance to hear the Fox-Racing silencer and muffler there too. I am not very impressed. Sounds almost like the stock exhaust But good to know before buying one.

IMO... there is no cat-back system that will sound substantially "louder" than stock. The factory catalysts reduce sound dramatically. The Fox has slightly more rumble, but that's about it. Same with the Remus mufflers for .036 and Timevalve-style Y-pipe, or both. If you want loud, most likely the factory cats need to change.

2 90 Liter fuel sending units. One for a friend and one as a spare for me. The price was that good I took two.

Those look like standard sending units, which have white plastic tops. You may want to measure the length, and resistance at empty position, before getting too excited. Also, the EPC has errors where it shows the -03-04 yellow-top sending unit in diesel 90L tanks, which is not how the cars were delivered from the factory.

Here is what the 90L sending unit A1245420304 looks like for 034/036, with yellow plastic top:

 

[744Brillantsilber]

Hey Dave,
thanks for letting me know. I will look that up for sure!
At least they were in 90 liter tanks and been in there for quite a time...
Can you tell me the length and resistance?

 

[gsxr]

Hey Dave,
thanks for letting me know. I will look that up for sure!
At least they were in 90 liter tanks and been in there for quite a time...
Can you tell me the length and resistance?

I'll have to dig out one of each and measure the length. Yellow is shorter.

Resistance is in the FSM, but from memory, white-top is 86 ohms and yellow-top is 82 ohms... double check those specs though.

 

[744Brillantsilber]

I'll have to dig out one of each and measure the length. Yellow is shorter.

That would be awesome!

 

[744Brillantsilber]

Resistance is in the FSM, but from memory, white-top is 86 ohms and yellow-top is 82 ohms... double check those specs though.

According to the German FSM CD, it is 80,4 Ohms for .036 and .034 90 Liter tanks and 85,6 Ohms for all other sedan with both 70 Liter and 90 Liter tanks

 

[744Brillantsilber]

According to this guy both look the same on the top (same color...) except for a resistor on top of the 90 Liter one

70L to 90L W124 fuel tank swap pics - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

I thought some people might be interested in seeing the W124 70L and 90L fuel tanks side by side. I was looking for this info earlier and wasn't able

www.peachparts.com

My parts both have that resistor.
The sending units both came from W124s older than our V8s (one was from a 1990 300E-24V with optional 90 liter tank). Can that play a role with the yellow color used on later units only?

 

[gsxr]

According to this guy both look the same on the top (same color...) except for a resistor on top of the 90 Liter one

Ah, tits1, one of PP's esteemed members. Those 2 senders are identical. As I mentioned above, the 90L tank used in the diesel uses the same white-top, 86-ohm sending unit as all 70L gasoline tanks. He's comparing 2 of the same thing, that happen to be from different size tanks.

Note that he did NOT measure the resistance of the sending unit in the 'empty' position. The resistor across the top is irrelevant. Also, based on previous posts from the same person, I would take anything he says with a sizable chunk (not grain) of salt.

The sending units both came from W124s older than our V8s (one was from a 1990 300E-24V with optional 90 liter tank). Can that play a role with the yellow color used on later units only?

No.

The shorter, yellow-top, 82-ohm sending unit was used in vehicles with higher fuel consumption... V8 engines. That is why the FSM correctly specifies it for 034/036 with 90L tanks. Other 124's with 90L tanks but with 4/5/6-cyl engines, gas or diesel, used the standard white-top sending unit.

The EPC is wrong when it specifies that the yellow-top sending unit was used on other 124's.

 

[744Brillantsilber]

Ah, tits1, one of PP's esteemed members. Those 2 senders are identical. As I mentioned above, the 90L tank used in the diesel uses the same white-top, 86-ohm sending unit as all 70L gasoline tanks. He's comparing 2 of the same thing, that happen to be from different size tanks.

Note that he did NOT measure the resistance of the sending unit in the 'empty' position. The resistor across the top is irrelevant. Also, based on previous posts from the same person, I would take anything he says with a sizable chunk (not grain) of salt.




No.

The shorter, yellow-top, 82-ohm sending unit was used in vehicles with higher fuel consumption... V8 engines. That is why the FSM correctly specifies it for 034/036 with 90L tanks. Other 124's with 90L tanks but with 4/5/6-cyl engines, gas or diesel, used the standard white-top sending unit.

The EPC is wrong when it specifies that the yellow-top sending unit was used on other 124's.

Very informative!! Thanks a lot!
So both units are perfect for my friends E300D.
According to the EPC, all 90 Liter cars got the A1245420304 unit. Good to know that is false!

 

[gerryvz]

Did you get the VIN numbers of his [.036] cars for me, for my database?

Yes, the PeachParts tits1 guy ... he is a work of art. I would not really trust what he says.

 

[744Brillantsilber]

Did you get the VIN numbers of his [.036] cars for me, for my database?

No, I did not think about asking. Sorry, the next time I get the chance I will ask him!

 

[gerryvz]

Where is this W124 Schrottplatz located? In B-W?

 

[gsxr]

Photos of the 2 sending units side by side have been uploaded along with measurements & specs. Click link below.

https://www.500eboard.co/forums/threads/fuel-level-sending-unit-a124-542-03-04.15016/post-212006

 

[744Brillantsilber]

Where is this W124 Schrottplatz located? In B-W?

Yes, in Bad Rappenau. The company is called "Schwabenklassiker". Some of his parts are on ebay kleinanzeigen, but far from all:
Schwabenklassiker | eBay Kleinanzeigen
He has some E500 parts (rear sidewalls...) right now too, since some Volkswagen run a light and totalled one of his E500
Sad to see an other one gone

 

[gerryvz]

Yes, in Bad Rappenau. The company is called "Schwabenklassiker". Some of his parts are on ebay kleinanzeigen, but far from all:
Schwabenklassiker | eBay Kleinanzeigen
He has some E500 parts (rear sidewalls...) right now too, since some Volkswagen run a light and totalled one of his E500
Sad to see an other one gone

Ahh, interesting. So not too far from the Auto-u.-Technik-Museum at Sinsheim. I'll have to stop by the next time I'm blowing by there on the A6...

There is a good wrecking yard on the north-east side of Munich that has a lot of W124 and W126 stuff. I've known it for 15 years...

 

[744Brillantsilber]

Ahh, interesting. So not too far from the Auto-u.-Technik-Museum at Sinsheim. I'll have to stop by the next time I'm blowing by there on the A6...

There is a good wrecking yard on the north-east side of Munich that has a lot of W124 and W126 stuff. I've known it for 15 years...

Yes, very close and worth a look for sure!

You know the other Museum in Speyer too? I guess so, but if not you have to go there the next time you are around!

Can you tell me which yard near Munich you mean? Would be interesting for future parts searches!

 

[gerryvz]

Yes, I was actually at the Speyer museum in June 2019 on a business trip (I was staying in Frankfurt), the second time I visited it.

 

[TimL]

Thanks for the driving impressions! I've always been curious to know how 'different' the two are. You would think that your engine and drivetrain notes would be enough to quench my thirst, but I find that I still want the 500! Must be those fenders

Hi Jon, next time we get together for coffee you can drive my .036 so you can compare it with your car. If I recall my driving impressions of a 400E from many years ago correctly then I don’t think the few extra horses are that impressive. Now the suspension is a different matter though....

 

[744Brillantsilber]

IMO... there is no cat-back system that will sound substantially "louder" than stock. The factory catalysts reduce sound dramatically. The Fox has slightly more rumble, but that's about it. Same with the Remus mufflers for .036 and Timevalve-style Y-pipe, or both. If you want loud, most likely the factory cats need to change.

Dave, I don´t want it super loud.
A sound close to a stock W210 E50 AMG would be perfect!
Do you think a different muffler and a y-pipe could get me there?

 

[gsxr]

I've never heard a W210 E50 but from what you describe, a different muffler and/or Y-pipe may get what you want. Unfortunately unless you can find someone with the exact parts installed, it's a trial-and-error process...

 

[744Brillantsilber]

Thanks Dave!
Yes, it is trial and error. I hope to find somebody with the MKB exhaust installed!

 

[744Brillantsilber]

Just when I started a thread about E420 suspension updates, the wagon decided it wants some new front springs
One just broke down... They look to be the original springs from 1993, not to bad to have one broken after lasting 285kkm and 27 years!

 

[744Brillantsilber]

Great news:
The wagon just passed the "TÜV"-inspection without even a small deficit
Even the usual wet differential can be seen as a deficit, depending on the TÜV-tester. You still pass with a small deficit, but it is noted on your documentation sheet

Registration will finally happen on Monday morning!

 

[744Brillantsilber]

Small update:
LOTS of not-car related things going on right now. Meaning I did not have the time to work on the cars as intended.

But I managed to finally register the wagon!
And now the AC stopped working, one more thing that needs attention
Plus the wagons summer wheels are off to the refurbisher, receiveing a silver powder coating. The new tires (205/60R15 Continental Premium Contact 2) are already waiting...

And I had at least a bit time to work on the 420 again:
Front bumper is now off too. Very happy to find no rust behind it!!
Decided to start it up again after nearly 10 months. Fired right up, just like parked 5 minutes ago

 

[744Brillantsilber]

Very small update:
The summer wheels for the wagon are done and look great

 

[744Brillantsilber]

I finally have access to the EPC now!
And I will do more work to the wagon: remove the three rear windows to remove the beginning rust, plus conservate the whole car.
But first I will address the AC and rear end noise next week.
Hope to get it done soon, so that I can work on the E420 again!

 

[LWB250]

Very small update:
The summer wheels for the wagon are done and look great

While I'm not a fan of these wheels mainly because they're difficult to keep clean, yours turned out very nice. Looking forward to seeing them on the car.

Dan

 

[744Brillantsilber]

While I'm not a fan of these wheels mainly because they're difficult to keep clean, yours turned out very nice. Looking forward to seeing them on the car.

Dan

Haha, I hear you! I can´t remember seeing an other 2nd facelift W124 with this late-style 15 hole wheels. Expecially the late 7x15 sportlines are rare and can go over 1000 Euro refurbished over here.

I mainly bought them because they were cheap, and without any knocks or missing pieces around the edge. Plus with Covid, I did not want to go to too many places for only a set of wheels for the future daily driver...

Pictures will follow as soon as they are on the car

 

[LWB250]

Haha, I hear you! I can´t remember seeing an other 2nd facelift W124 with this late-style 15 hole wheels. Expecially the late 7x15 sportlines are rare and can go over 1000 Euro refurbished over here.

I mainly bought them because they were cheap, and without any knocks or missing pieces around the edge. Plus with Covid, I did not want to go to too many places for only a set of wheels for the future daily driver...

Pictures will follow as soon as they are on the car

I'm not criticizing at all. I've had these on a couple of cars myself, and as I said, while I like the wheels, they're just a real pain in the bottom to keep clean because of all the sharp edges that collect brake dust and road dirt. I can recall having to sit down with a toothbrush and spend a good 10 minutes or more on each wheel every time I washed the car to keep them clean.

That's one thing I really like about the 8 hole wheels, they are a lot easier to keep clean with no sharp edges on them.

These will look nice on the car when you're done.

Dan

 

[744Brillantsilber]

I'm not criticizing at all. I've had these on a couple of cars myself, and as I said, while I like the wheels, they're just a real pain in the bottom to keep clean because of all the sharp edges that collect brake dust and road dirt. I can recall having to sit down with a toothbrush and spend a good 10 minutes or more on each wheel every time I washed the car to keep them clean.

That's one thing I really like about the 8 hole wheels, they are a lot easier to keep clean with no sharp edges on them.

These will look nice on the car when you're done.

Dan

Haha,
it is ok Dan! Don´t worry, that is just the way I understood you!

Serious: They look great, but I am not sure how they will look on the car. I prefer the early round-hole 15-hole wheels like on the R129 (pre-facelift), R107, W126 and earlier W124. The late style 15-hole can look a bit harsh sometimes.
If i don´t like them at all, I can still sell them later without loosing much money...

And a little side not to everybody: Please don´t be shy to critizise me if you feel so! A honest opinion is always good in my opinion, and of course the opinions can differ a lot.
Would not it boring if we all would agree about everything? Just imagine every W124 looking the same, it is all about personality and character

 

[744Brillantsilber]

Great news:
The wagon now has a working AC plus no rearaxle noises any more
I look foreward to see the wagon wheels on the car, after seeing a R129 with the late "sharp" 15 hole wheels in person.
And I finally managed to get the families R129 600SL running again today, and the suspension still lifts the car up too Still work to do, but a good start. Now it can be put on the lift later
Now I can spend the rest of the weekend watching the 24h of LeMans, just like every year. And the 24h of the Nordschleife next week

 

[744Brillantsilber]

Removed the panels from the wagon to get some little body work and rust presercation done soon.
Found some rust, but nothing to bad. I am happy with it, expecially for a car with 27 years of daily use!

I have seen way worse (German delivered and driven) W124s and W201s with way less mileage. So Swiss (like the E420 and a W201 I saw last week) and Italian (like the wagon) cars are the way to go imho.

Appologize for the crappy cell phone pics! The camera was empty...

 

[a777fan]

Its really a shame that Germany is so hard over on road salt for winter applications, it being the land of the Autobahn and all. You'd think some German auto enthusiast would have invented a non-corrosive alternative by now.

Dousing the roads liberally with a corrosive agent just seems so 'un-German' to me. lol.

 

[JC220]

Its really a shame that Germany is so hard over on road salt for winter applications, it being the land of the Autobahn and all. You'd think some German auto enthusiast would have invented a non-corrosive alternative by now.

Dousing the roads liberally with a corrosive agent just seems so 'un-German' to me. lol.

Yes indeed road salt sucks! Lots of it used here too and it's a car killer. I'm guessing the only salt you guys see on the road over there is when someone chucks a Mc Fry out the window?

 

[a777fan]

Yes indeed road salt sucks! Lots of it used here too and it's a car killer. I'm guessing the only salt you guys see on the road over there is when someone chucks a Mc Fry out the window?

Indeed! In the lovely PNW that is entirely accurate. I think the Canucks just to the north get a little bit of salt if the WX gets REALLY bad, but for the most part we're salt free here in WA. We do get sand/gravel use which can be hard on paintwork and windshields, but little or no salt.

The Northeast though... that's an entirely different story. There is a reason the geographic footprint of my car searches looks like a crescent moon, with the southwest corner of the country the firm anchor spot.

 

[744Brillantsilber]

@a777fan and @JC220: Yes, all that damn salt sucks big time!!

But it is not only the salt, but the way the POs took care of the car too.
The 1st owner of the E420 lived in Switzerland and worked in Frankfurt/Germany. He bought the car in Frankfurt (German delivery) but had it serviced in Zurich.
He kept the car for about 15 years and had the underbody and the parts under every single panel etc. waxed every 1-2 years at the MB-dealership.

I have seen W124s (even before the "rusty" 2nd facelift) with only 60-80000km and with more rust than my 420.
Every single old MB (W124, W201,...) I have seen from Switzerland had less rust than most German ones too.

Probably 60% is the salt, 40% is how the owner deals with it...
Guess why the wagon now gets welded and waxed!

 

[744Brillantsilber]

Just pulled the JVC radio in the wagon:
Looks like it came with the old-style radio wiring (no ISO-plugs) from factory and was converted to ISO later.
Pretty strange for a car made in December 1993 imo

And no volume-blend in the center console, plus none in the other console that came with the car too.
I need to pull that again and take a second look...

I am still waiting for a liquidproof concrete floor for the spare room.
Can´t do much with the E420 until that room is done and I can "park" the engine and gearbox there

 

[744Brillantsilber]

I am still waiting for the concrete floor to be installed before continuing with the E420. Covid is slowing everything down...

But there are news from the wagon:
It is away for some Body work (removing the three rear windows, welding two little spots,...). The Workshop does old MBs only (many Pagodas, W201s and W124s...) and it will take a while because they have lots of work right now. But knowing how good they work I am 100% fine with that!
The AC compressor is now leaking, but the rest of the car is running fine.
It now has the period correct MB Special radio in it, a Yatour in the glove box and a Cassette box (code 331, cassette box instead of ashtray) will follow too! Bought the storage instead of ashtray (code 304) from MB this week since the cassette box is NLA and sellers want silly money for them, but found one for a good price on ebay just today haha

Edit: And found six tubes of NLA Hirschmann antenna grease while buying an antenna adapter!

 

[a777fan]

Neat! Can you post photos of the cassette box?

 

[744Brillantsilber]

Neat! Can you post photos of the cassette box?

Thanks! Sure, as soon as it arrives you will get them

 

[744Brillantsilber]

Neat! Can you post photos of the cassette box?

Here you go

 

[Jlaa]

Here you go

What is that flap thing to the left of the cassette trays? It is powered by 12v .......

 

[744Brillantsilber]

What is that flap thing to the left of the cassette trays? It is powered by 12v .......

Correct, it is a 12V socket.
The old and smaller ISO socket, not the modern "ashtray size".

 

[Jlaa]

Correct, it is a 12V socket.
The old and smaller ISO socket, not the modern "ashtray size".

What? So after deplaning from my private 707 and entering my w124 on a cold, brisk, October Munich day, I carefully insert my Howard Jones cassette into the tape player and light my unfiltered Gauloise. Where do I deposit the ashes?

 

[744Brillantsilber]

Please apologize my stupid question, but who is Howard Jones?
I have the feeling that there is a good reason why I never heard of him before

 

[Jlaa]

Please apologize my stupid question, but who is Howard Jones?
I have the feeling that there is a good reason why I never heard of him before

1985 was his peak. Howard Jones’ Dream into Action a Classic 30 Years Later

I must admit I'm not really familiar with what music Germans in Munich may have enjoyed in the late 1980s, but I have noticed that many of my Munich colleagues seem to suck down Gauloises like their life depends on it.

 

[744Brillantsilber]

Thanks @Jlaa!
I was not around in the 1980s, so don´t ask me about Munich back then
But the car will have to take some 1980s Music for sure, mostly from the Yatour (thanks again @Jlaa!!!) but also from the good old cassettes.
Need to fire up the loved Nakamichi Autoreverse and make some more cassettes

 

[744Brillantsilber]

Alright,
I am still alive, but again have only a little update:
The wagon is still at the body shop and I am still waiting for the floor before I can continue to work on the 420

But now to the good news:
A spring compressor is on the way! I found a used Miller (Klann) with both the long and the short shafts.
There are two sportline LCAs waiting to be installed in the future. The other sportline parts will follow next year!
Got a set of sportline wheels for the wagon. High sheen finish from factory, with lots of peeling clear coat but no curb rash. I did not intend to buy another set of wheels, but a friend gave them to me for free since he had 3 sets of wheels with only one W124 left in his garage...

 

[a777fan]

@Jlaa is going to be jealous of your machine finish!

 

[Jlaa]

@Jlaa is going to be jealous of your machine finish!

Machine finish is the BEST finish!

 

[TerryA]

Here is the passenger mirror.
Is that a common thing?

@744Brillantsilber, Here is a SoCal mirror that I just took off to change the boot yesterday.