INTRODUCTION TO 500EBOARD.COM
My name is Gerry, and on November 30, 2008, I set out to create an organized and friendly community dedicated to the Mercedes-Benz 500E / E500 and associated enthusiasts, known as the 500Eboard. I was unhappy with the fact that the 500Ecstasy.com community – this forum’s predecessor that had been in operation since August, 2003 – had become unreliable and had not been up and running for some months. Existing Mercedes-Benz related forums such as PeachParts, MBCA.org, Benzworld.org, MBworld, 190Revolution.net and Club202 did not adequately cover the needs of 500E/E500 owners.
The effective demise of 500Ecstasy.com left 500E and E500 owners without a dedicated home. I felt that I could do it better myself with a combination of my active experience, technical knowledge, MB knowledge, and willingness to take on the challenge of establishing, running and nurturing a forum. Hopefully my formula for leadership and website design is enough for you to stick around for a bit. But if you do think something could be different, please share your suggestions, as I'm always looking to improve the 500Eboard according to the needs of its members.
On a personal level, I am longtime MB owner and collector who cut his teeth with “vintage” MBs, such as the 300SEL 6.3 and the 450SEL 6.9. I grew up doing basic to moderate wrenching on cars and repairing just about everything in the house with my Dad, which stimulated my desire to learn and maintain mechanical things. I’ve owned my 1994 E500 since the fall of 2003, my 1989 560SEC since the fall of 2002, and my 1995 G320 (G-wagen) since the summer of 2014. Though a Seattle and West Coast native, I am living in Annapolis, Maryland as of 2017, after a 10-year stint living in the Houston, Texas area.
If you need to contact me for anything at all, you can send me a private message or send me an e-mail at site-admin@500eboard.co.
THE MISSION
The mission of 500Eboard.com is to provide 500E, E500 and related models’ enthusiasts an informative, organized, and friendly community to discuss and learn to maintain and modify their cars, entirely for free. Other MB-related forums tend to be cluttered, not as user-friendly as the 500Eboard, and filled with elitists that are not willing to share their experience to new members who are looking to learn. 500Eboard.com is designed to be very easy to navigate whether you are using a desktop computer, tablet, or mobile phone, and our homepage is not a never-ending list of junk you don't need.
The core of our community is built from like-minded individuals with a wide array of knowledge that are willing to guide you if you just bought your car and have initial questions and/or are recently picking up the 500E and MB lifestyle. Even the most experienced can learn something new here and we always approach each discussion with a "no stupid questions" mindset. In addition to the concise network of resources we offer, we have every so often hosted meet-ups on a regional basis, so members can meet on a more personal level. Lastly, we have negotiated a “free shipping” deal with Mercedes-Benz of Naperville, IL (Mercedes-Benz Parts - Genuine OEM | MBOEMParts.com | MB OEM Parts) for factory MB replacement parts.
Over the years, the scope of this site has expanded somewhat to include separate forums for the 1992-1995 Mercedes-Benz 400E and E420 models, which most people consider the "little brother" of the 500E and E500 models. The 400E/E420 are close enough to the 500E/E500 in most respects that about 80% of the content available here is directly applicable; however we have established several specific forums to meet the particular needs of 400E and E420 owners.
I have also added individual sub-forums for Mercedes C126 Coupe and G-wagen owners, mostly to indulge my personal whims and interests in these vehicles. If you own either of these models, you are very welcome to learn and contribute to these forums, as well.
Even with these additional forums, the primary focus for this site IS, and will always be, the Mercedes 500E and E500 models.
FORUM GUIDELINES AND ETIQUETTE
As mentioned a few times above, it is important to me that our forum is a welcoming and organized resource for people to continuously want to come back to. Without those core principles, we risk the tight-knit community we've built and we could eventually become one of the rest. I, along with our moderators, will do our best to ensure that doesn't happen and I ask all members do the same by abiding to the following set of guidelines.
We are all adults here I and just ask you use your common sense when engaging in discussions. Don't attempt to circumvent these rules in some clever way. Loopholes are immature and immediately reveal your questionable integrity, so don't bother!
HOW TO SUPPORT 500Eboard
500Eboard.com is, and always will be, privately owned. I did not create this forum to eventually sell it off to some major company that buys forums and ultimately ruins them, which I see happen often. I pay for the monthly server costs, yearly software and domain fees, software licensing fees out of my own pocket. If you wish to, there is one way you can help me:
DISCLAIMERS
Please "like" this post so I can roughly know how many people took the time to read it.
My name is Gerry, and on November 30, 2008, I set out to create an organized and friendly community dedicated to the Mercedes-Benz 500E / E500 and associated enthusiasts, known as the 500Eboard. I was unhappy with the fact that the 500Ecstasy.com community – this forum’s predecessor that had been in operation since August, 2003 – had become unreliable and had not been up and running for some months. Existing Mercedes-Benz related forums such as PeachParts, MBCA.org, Benzworld.org, MBworld, 190Revolution.net and Club202 did not adequately cover the needs of 500E/E500 owners.
The effective demise of 500Ecstasy.com left 500E and E500 owners without a dedicated home. I felt that I could do it better myself with a combination of my active experience, technical knowledge, MB knowledge, and willingness to take on the challenge of establishing, running and nurturing a forum. Hopefully my formula for leadership and website design is enough for you to stick around for a bit. But if you do think something could be different, please share your suggestions, as I'm always looking to improve the 500Eboard according to the needs of its members.
On a personal level, I am longtime MB owner and collector who cut his teeth with “vintage” MBs, such as the 300SEL 6.3 and the 450SEL 6.9. I grew up doing basic to moderate wrenching on cars and repairing just about everything in the house with my Dad, which stimulated my desire to learn and maintain mechanical things. I’ve owned my 1994 E500 since the fall of 2003, my 1989 560SEC since the fall of 2002, and my 1995 G320 (G-wagen) since the summer of 2014. Though a Seattle and West Coast native, I am living in Annapolis, Maryland as of 2017, after a 10-year stint living in the Houston, Texas area.
If you need to contact me for anything at all, you can send me a private message or send me an e-mail at site-admin@500eboard.co.
THE MISSION
The mission of 500Eboard.com is to provide 500E, E500 and related models’ enthusiasts an informative, organized, and friendly community to discuss and learn to maintain and modify their cars, entirely for free. Other MB-related forums tend to be cluttered, not as user-friendly as the 500Eboard, and filled with elitists that are not willing to share their experience to new members who are looking to learn. 500Eboard.com is designed to be very easy to navigate whether you are using a desktop computer, tablet, or mobile phone, and our homepage is not a never-ending list of junk you don't need.
The core of our community is built from like-minded individuals with a wide array of knowledge that are willing to guide you if you just bought your car and have initial questions and/or are recently picking up the 500E and MB lifestyle. Even the most experienced can learn something new here and we always approach each discussion with a "no stupid questions" mindset. In addition to the concise network of resources we offer, we have every so often hosted meet-ups on a regional basis, so members can meet on a more personal level. Lastly, we have negotiated a “free shipping” deal with Mercedes-Benz of Naperville, IL (Mercedes-Benz Parts - Genuine OEM | MBOEMParts.com | MB OEM Parts) for factory MB replacement parts.
Over the years, the scope of this site has expanded somewhat to include separate forums for the 1992-1995 Mercedes-Benz 400E and E420 models, which most people consider the "little brother" of the 500E and E500 models. The 400E/E420 are close enough to the 500E/E500 in most respects that about 80% of the content available here is directly applicable; however we have established several specific forums to meet the particular needs of 400E and E420 owners.
I have also added individual sub-forums for Mercedes C126 Coupe and G-wagen owners, mostly to indulge my personal whims and interests in these vehicles. If you own either of these models, you are very welcome to learn and contribute to these forums, as well.
Even with these additional forums, the primary focus for this site IS, and will always be, the Mercedes 500E and E500 models.
FORUM GUIDELINES AND ETIQUETTE
As mentioned a few times above, it is important to me that our forum is a welcoming and organized resource for people to continuously want to come back to. Without those core principles, we risk the tight-knit community we've built and we could eventually become one of the rest. I, along with our moderators, will do our best to ensure that doesn't happen and I ask all members do the same by abiding to the following set of guidelines.
- Use respect when you have a different opinion than other members. People often come to this forum looking for advice on how to modify their car, what parts or accessories to buy, etc. I encourage everyone to participate in the various discussions this creates, and there will usually be no right answer -- only suggestions. Disagreeing with other members is acceptable as long as you support your opinion with informative details and use a respectful tone in your writing. It goes without saying, but you should be respectful to whomever you speak to in life, and if you apply that on the forum, the experience will be better for everyone. If you do end up in an uncomfortable confrontation with another member, you can use the report button at the bottom of the post in question to send it to the forum staff, or you can message any of the forum staff directly.
- "Use the search function" should not be an answer to ANY question – but DO perform a search before starting a new thread. One of the main purposes of being on this forum is to learn and teach others. Replying to people by just stating that their question has already been asked and answered a million times, and that they should've searched first, is not helpful to them. It does not hurt the community, the server, or anything else if a new thread is created about a question that has been answered some time ago. To make even more of a point about it, two different members that asked the same question could and often do require a different answer based on their application and goals. It is much more useful for them to receive a response that is specifically tailored to exactly what they asked. However, if you've made your best attempt at an answer and feel they could benefit from information that you don't have, you may politely suggest they try searching to further dial in on what they need at the bottom of your reply.
- A newbie question is not a stupid question. Not everyone has been doing this for years and not everyone has mechanical or DIY experience. Do not shame someone for asking a question that you believe they should already know the answer to. Use your higher level of knowledge to properly inform them. I don’t care if they’re asking why their 500E holds second gear for seemingly too long upon starting up – just inform them that the behavior is how the car was designed, and point them to a relevant thread that discusses the topic in more detail.
- Do not link to or post sexually explicit images, graphic images, or illegal content, in threads, avatars, or anywhere on the forum. A good rule of thumb is to ask yourself if it would be allowed on Instagram. Even then, please keep potentially NSFW posts to our off-topic section. I don't mind slightly inappropriate humor or images that could be found on Instagram. Use good taste and while I don't mind the occasional curse words either, please do not use them in a derogatory way toward a member, their car, a brand (cheap Chinese parts such as URO, Febi, Trucktec and Hamburg Tech are exceptions!), or anything else. Slander and racial slurs are not allowed with no exceptions.
We are all adults here I and just ask you use your common sense when engaging in discussions. Don't attempt to circumvent these rules in some clever way. Loopholes are immature and immediately reveal your questionable integrity, so don't bother!
HOW TO SUPPORT 500Eboard
500Eboard.com is, and always will be, privately owned. I did not create this forum to eventually sell it off to some major company that buys forums and ultimately ruins them, which I see happen often. I pay for the monthly server costs, yearly software and domain fees, software licensing fees out of my own pocket. If you wish to, there is one way you can help me:
- You can share the 500Eboard.com link to friends and other 500E/E500 and W124 owners on your Facebook, Instagram, and other social media pages. Putting the link to your build thread on your car's Instagram page is not only a way to bring new members to the forum but also helpful for you to quickly show people the modifications you are running. If you are a YouTuber, you can also link to the forum in your video description or mention 500Eboard in the video itself. A community like this works best with participation, so the more members we have, the more input we'll have in our discussions, and then the ideas, knowledge, and other resources available to everyone will grow!
DISCLAIMERS
- 500Eboard.com and associated social media pages are in no way affiliated with Mercedes-Benz or Daimler AG.
- 500Eboard.com uses basic cookies to remember your account preferences and forum settings: Cookie usage
- 500Eboard.com is not responsible for your transactions with other members when buying, selling, or trading products. If an issue does arise during a transaction, please let me or one of the other staff members know so we can take disciplinary action on their forum account as necessary. You will need to deal with your funds or product with your payment provider on your own.
- Everything posted to 500Eboard.com is public. Do not publicly post email addresses, phone numbers, or mailing addresses, unless they are for your business and you want them visible to anyone.
- Everything mentioned in this thread is subject to change as needed.
Please "like" this post so I can roughly know how many people took the time to read it.
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