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Longest Trip on Your E500/500E?
- Thread starter Raxar
- Start date
I've done one trip to Tampa (+900 miles) and two round trips to/from Atlanta (four drives of 650 miles each). The only issue I had was a malfunctioning windshield wiper mechanism. Rain-X on the windshield kept things clear until I got to Jono's shop (luckily I was pretty close to Atlanta when it happened). So my advice would be to apply Rain-X before your trip.
My trips tend to be 2-300m each way when I take the car outside of town. Since I have been driving a 91 C126 for almost 6 years, that back of the mind fear has gone away. However, the car did perform great on the latest round trip. The next day I took a short trip to the other side of town and my reverse piston went out. Point is that new or old, when something mechanical goes it makes no difference where it is. Expect the best, drive like you stole it!
Sarasota to Opelousas, LA (about 900 miles each way), a couple of months after I bought it in 2011. Fun drive, while I "dialed in" the new stereo (I didn't even consider keeping the original one in there). Sarasota to Miami to Atlanta to Sarasota a couple years later (another 1600 miles).
Things to keep in mind: (1) slap that shifter down to 3 liberally; (2) enjoy the engine notes if you have a "real" exhaust; and (3) a big bottle of Chevron Techron each way on long trips works minor miracles.
;-D
I had issues on all trips. Nothing that left me stranded, but typical "500E that hadn't been driven much" stuff -- wiper, NSS. NOCFN has it right, when things go, they just go. But it's a hearty car overall.
Cheers,
maw
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1500 miles in the E420, Malmö - Trondheim and back plus some extra driving in Trondheim area. I drove 680 miles to Trondheim with only stops for fuel and food, since my wife was about to give birth to my son. When passing Lillehammer I had 6 degrees F outside, with summer tires and no ASR. This was the 10th of April, my som was born on the 11th at 10 am, I made it to the hospital at 7 am. The 034 performed perfect!
With the 500E the longest trip was about 500 miles, and that was when we bought it and drove it home. A very sweet drive indeed!
Things to keep in mind apart from the obvious with fluids, tires etc, is to check that you have air in the spare tire, the jack is there, and working. I keep some basic tools in the trunk (small socket wrench set etc), along with my spare EZL. I r&r’ed the alternator by the roadside on my 300CE once. You can solve alot of small and big issues with a few but well chosen tools.
I usually make sure to renew the fuel in my jerry can at the first fuel up stop, if I haven’t done it recently.
Know what insurance/road side assistance you have (yes, I’ve had the need to call for help on one occasion where I didn’t remember which insurance company I had. I just paid the bills for years...) and the phone number for them stored. But that’s basics really.
With the 500E the longest trip was about 500 miles, and that was when we bought it and drove it home. A very sweet drive indeed!
Things to keep in mind apart from the obvious with fluids, tires etc, is to check that you have air in the spare tire, the jack is there, and working. I keep some basic tools in the trunk (small socket wrench set etc), along with my spare EZL. I r&r’ed the alternator by the roadside on my 300CE once. You can solve alot of small and big issues with a few but well chosen tools.
I usually make sure to renew the fuel in my jerry can at the first fuel up stop, if I haven’t done it recently.
Know what insurance/road side assistance you have (yes, I’ve had the need to call for help on one occasion where I didn’t remember which insurance company I had. I just paid the bills for years...) and the phone number for them stored. But that’s basics really.
I've made multiple trips from 1500 to 2000 miles. It's been mentioned here before to carry extra lug bolts for the spare if you should happen to run aftermarket/staggered or non standard OEM wheels. Enjoy the drive! These cars are all about this kind of driving.
Drew
Drew
The bolt advice is great! Also remember that if you fitted the Silver Arrow brakes, the stock 16” spare won’t fit up front. Either get a 17” spare (with matching bolts) or be prepared to rotate tires around if you have a flat up front.
Appreciate all the advice everyone, makes me excited!
Don't forget to enjoy it! Even if something happens. When I broke my drive axle, I had a nice chat with the tow truck guy, he was totally into Mopars and talked about his new V8 for his Plymouth all the way back to my garage. It was a good time, between two car guys. I told him about my car, and recommended him to watch Roadkill and the rest of the shows on the TEN network. A good day even though my car broke down.
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I drove 2,500 miles from Santa Barbara, CA to Northville, MI in January. If you're going to drive in cold or if there's a chance of snow, make sure you have All Season tires mounted and de-icing windshield washer fluid in the reservoir. Believe me, Summer tires and summer windshield washer fluid does not make for a fun drive in the cold and snow!
If the car hasn't been driven in a while, things have a tendency to break. The passenger-side window motor failed on my trip. I suggest you bring a modest tool kit, some zip ties and duct tape--outside of an AmEx Platinum card, these are a traveler's three best friends.
If you have a few minutes, here's a summary of my trip: http://www.500eboard.com/forums/showthread.php?t=7335&p=93132&viewfull=1#post93132
Safe travels!
If the car hasn't been driven in a while, things have a tendency to break. The passenger-side window motor failed on my trip. I suggest you bring a modest tool kit, some zip ties and duct tape--outside of an AmEx Platinum card, these are a traveler's three best friends.
If you have a few minutes, here's a summary of my trip: http://www.500eboard.com/forums/showthread.php?t=7335&p=93132&viewfull=1#post93132
Safe travels!
You're going to think I'm crazy but I HATE cruise control. It always feels weird if my right foot isn't doing something when I'm driving.
Also, when I visited Gerry, he noticed my car is already wired to power a Valentine 1. I always thought that cable above my passenger side visor was for an old garage door opener or something. Unfortunately, living in DC, I don't want to risk it. It's bad news if you are caught with a radar detector in DC or VA. Potential repercussions aren't worth it to me, so I rely on Waze. And as luck would have it, on my trip to Atlanta when I got my ticket, Waze wasn't loading up properly so I wasn't using it.
I understand. I like to drive as fast as conditions (weather, traffic, range of sight/officers) allow and prefer to stay fully engaged, within the law of course, only using the cruise when my leg succumbs to paralysis. No radar detection for me either. As you said, some states and officers can be brutal about them.
Drew
Toronto, ON - Great Falls/Vienna,VA for Katies Cars n Coffee, 2015 DC E500E GTG & Deutsche Marque Classic, Vienna, VA. About 1300 miles. ZERO Issues. Done nothing to car since then & I would not hesitate to do the trip again.
![[deleted]](/forums/data/avatars/m/5/5947.jpg?1552261947){kind=avatar}
About 600 miles round trip from Portland to Medford for some training for work. Not a single hiccup... Well, the back portion of the heated seat went out on the way home. In fact, that same problem on my R129, right now. This car, on all weather tires, woas like a slot car through the passes in Southern OR. Just a dream to drive! About 15 miles out of Portland I got a thumbs up from a guy in an E30; I knew it was gunna be a good trip.
I took my ‘95 E320 wagon (I know, not the topic of conversation) to Monterey Car Week this year, about 1,500 miles round trip. It just settles in at 80 and clicks miles off.
These se cars are all so good at hyper-miling. Nothing more than a 40 mile commute in the SL, yet. But, I get the sense it’s every bit as good as the other two. I do find, if I’m honest, that the 500E is a more comfortable car.
I took my ‘95 E320 wagon (I know, not the topic of conversation) to Monterey Car Week this year, about 1,500 miles round trip. It just settles in at 80 and clicks miles off.
These se cars are all so good at hyper-miling. Nothing more than a 40 mile commute in the SL, yet. But, I get the sense it’s every bit as good as the other two. I do find, if I’m honest, that the 500E is a more comfortable car.
No more than 250 miles driving locally here in SoCal. Trips to Palm Springs, Santa Barbara, San Diego ect; I've always wanted to go to Legends of the Autobahn but haven't made it yot. I did take my 84- 500SL to Laguna Seca in Monterey back in the 90's. I think it was 96 or 97I wanted to see the Mercedes LeMans CLK-GTR cars race. They were awesome to watch in person.
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Longest trip was back in 2007, roughly 2000 miles total, touring Glacier and Yellowstone national parks. Even managed 22.8 (!) mpg in Montana and twice hit 499 miles on the trip odometer before refueling. Couldn't quite crack that 500 mile barrier, although on the one tank there was 2+ gallons left... but didn't want to drive in circles just to rack up the odo. In hindsight, I wish I had, lol.
Several years later we drove two 036's to Canada, to compete in NHRA divisional drag races, round trip was about 1,200 miles. Both cars ran flawlessly. Photo shows a third 036, forum member Sean met us up there.
Several years later we drove two 036's to Canada, to compete in NHRA divisional drag races, round trip was about 1,200 miles. Both cars ran flawlessly. Photo shows a third 036, forum member Sean met us up there.
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Longest trip in my E500 ... a couple of them. First, the trip from San Francisco to Portland, OR when I first bought the car, back in September, 2003. About 650-700 miles.
Second, the trip from my former home in The Woodlands, TX to Alabama for the MBCA StarTech event, back in 2014 I think it was. That trip was fun, and met the likes of Jono, Uncle Pierre, Hartmut Feyhl of RENNtech, Sheward, Klink, Trae, and many others. About 750-800 miles each way. That was just a couple of days after I did my cam oiler tube replacement HOW-TO.
Longest roadtrip (non-MB): when I drove from my Mom's house in the Seattle area to my home in Annapolis, MD. But in a Hertz Penske truck. I did stop and visit the @gsxr along the way. That was almost three days and 3,000 miles of non-stop driving. In a big old F350 box truck that averaged 9.4 miles to the gallon.
Second, the trip from my former home in The Woodlands, TX to Alabama for the MBCA StarTech event, back in 2014 I think it was. That trip was fun, and met the likes of Jono, Uncle Pierre, Hartmut Feyhl of RENNtech, Sheward, Klink, Trae, and many others. About 750-800 miles each way. That was just a couple of days after I did my cam oiler tube replacement HOW-TO.
Longest roadtrip (non-MB): when I drove from my Mom's house in the Seattle area to my home in Annapolis, MD. But in a Hertz Penske truck. I did stop and visit the @gsxr along the way. That was almost three days and 3,000 miles of non-stop driving. In a big old F350 box truck that averaged 9.4 miles to the gallon.
I did San Francisco to Tampa in my 1982 300SD in four days in 1999. Glad it was dark when I got to El Paso. When I woke up in Ozona, TX the next morning I realized I hadn't missed anything on the previous leg....
2942 miles
29.84 mpg
San Bruno - Crestline, CA
Crestline, CA - Ozona, TX
Ozona, TX - Pensacola, FL
Pensacola, FL - Valrico, FL
Lots and lots of caffeinated beverages.
Dan
2942 miles
29.84 mpg
San Bruno - Crestline, CA
Crestline, CA - Ozona, TX
Ozona, TX - Pensacola, FL
Pensacola, FL - Valrico, FL
Lots and lots of caffeinated beverages.
Dan
The longest trip I had in my 500E was when I bought it. I got dropped off at Belfast Airport around 5.30am and got a Starbucks whilst awaiting the flight and being super excited to finally drive my own 500E that I had lusted after for many years!
Arrived in Birmingham Airport I think it was and the seller was good enough to pick me up and take me to his house where the 500E was. A quick inspection revealed really bad engine wiring with bare wires at the cam magnets etc - oh dear! Paid the man and set off not knowing how far I'd make it. It drove impeccably actually and I just took it very easy since I had a ferry to catch before nightfall and didnt want to break anything.
I covered a good number of hours driving and the weather turned horrible. A very bad rain storm coupled with the bare engine bay wires and having to start shifting faster to make the Ferry was a worrying combo. A couple of times whilst driving the whole car shuddered / died then took off again like nothing happened.
I had a flexi ferry ticket which meant I could arrived any time I wanted. In the terrible rain storm I put on the headlights and oh no!! I had no lights so really had to start punching it to make an earlier ferry before nightfall. I was the last car to reach ths ferry and load up. By this stage it was late evening so I got a quick bite to eat and lay down on a side bench. Out like a light- woke up several hours later as the ferry banged to a stop in Dublin docks.
Drove it out through customs and they took a double take at me and made me pull over thinking I was a foreigner with no insurance or something! (Steering wheel on wrong side) They quickly realised I was just an Irish idiot and let me go.
The next challenge was the toll on the Dublin motorway which is very busy as the ferry is unloading. I had lots of change in anticipation of this since I had to stop and chuck the coins across and out the window into a basket. Amazingly I got it first time barrier opened and I was on my last straight home in a couple of hours.
Came to a tunnel just outside Dublin, it was damp and my ASR + ABS lights were on due to the wiring issues. Floored it and it immediately lunched the tyres in a rolling burnout at over 60mph
Got home quick fast and in a hurry as darkness fell and only when I slowed down at a set of lights did it dawn on me. I DID have headlights the whole time it was just SDS. (Sticky Dimmer Syndrome)
That was actually a great trip even though I was on my lonesome and the car had issues. I did quickly fix all that in my ownership. Ref the sudden death and resume at speed - I found that the PO had just set both battery terminals on and that was actually a battery terminal lifting off on a bump on the road and setting down again
I plan a similar trip next spring to England when I want to add something collectable to the fleet again. Either a really sorted Cosworth or another V12. R129 perhaps
Arrived in Birmingham Airport I think it was and the seller was good enough to pick me up and take me to his house where the 500E was. A quick inspection revealed really bad engine wiring with bare wires at the cam magnets etc - oh dear! Paid the man and set off not knowing how far I'd make it. It drove impeccably actually and I just took it very easy since I had a ferry to catch before nightfall and didnt want to break anything.
I covered a good number of hours driving and the weather turned horrible. A very bad rain storm coupled with the bare engine bay wires and having to start shifting faster to make the Ferry was a worrying combo. A couple of times whilst driving the whole car shuddered / died then took off again like nothing happened.
I had a flexi ferry ticket which meant I could arrived any time I wanted. In the terrible rain storm I put on the headlights and oh no!! I had no lights so really had to start punching it to make an earlier ferry before nightfall. I was the last car to reach ths ferry and load up. By this stage it was late evening so I got a quick bite to eat and lay down on a side bench. Out like a light- woke up several hours later as the ferry banged to a stop in Dublin docks.
Drove it out through customs and they took a double take at me and made me pull over thinking I was a foreigner with no insurance or something! (Steering wheel on wrong side) They quickly realised I was just an Irish idiot and let me go.
The next challenge was the toll on the Dublin motorway which is very busy as the ferry is unloading. I had lots of change in anticipation of this since I had to stop and chuck the coins across and out the window into a basket. Amazingly I got it first time barrier opened and I was on my last straight home in a couple of hours.
Came to a tunnel just outside Dublin, it was damp and my ASR + ABS lights were on due to the wiring issues. Floored it and it immediately lunched the tyres in a rolling burnout at over 60mph
Got home quick fast and in a hurry as darkness fell and only when I slowed down at a set of lights did it dawn on me. I DID have headlights the whole time it was just SDS. (Sticky Dimmer Syndrome)
That was actually a great trip even though I was on my lonesome and the car had issues. I did quickly fix all that in my ownership. Ref the sudden death and resume at speed - I found that the PO had just set both battery terminals on and that was actually a battery terminal lifting off on a bump on the road and setting down again
I plan a similar trip next spring to England when I want to add something collectable to the fleet again. Either a really sorted Cosworth or another V12. R129 perhaps
Do you have a picture of you two together, from that visit? Please share if you do. It'll be the most liked/loved picture on this forum ever!
Dave, what years?
My longest 500E trip was last summer, from Bath (UK) to Monaco for the Historic Grand Prix. Total of around 2300 miles round trip incl diversions for sightseeing. My only issue was the MAF playing up 100 miles from home. As this is not the first experience of a failed MAF, I'd be tempted to take a spare one next time.
The only other problem on one of my frequent trips across Europe, was a failed alternator.
Had hoped to go to Italy for the Mille Miglia this year, but Covid 19 put a stop to that!
The only other problem on one of my frequent trips across Europe, was a failed alternator.
Had hoped to go to Italy for the Mille Miglia this year, but Covid 19 put a stop to that!
All 3 trips were in 1994. From memory it was ±45 hours behind the wheel, not counting time for sleeping.
Pics below, clean one was in NY before driving back... dirty one is after 3 days on the road and going through some nasty weather over Donner pass.
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I don't even see a car in that first picture...
I don't even see a car in that first picture...
It’s there let it open up. 5 pics
Mille Miglia now is set for October 22nd-25th.
I wanted to go too, but Corona changed a few things.
If you never been there, try to make it happen after Corona! It is worth the wait!
Longest trip in my E420 was when I bought it sight unseen from Atlanta. Flew down and drove it from Atlanta to Delaware via Birmingham with no issues aside from a frayed belt which I changed in an Autozone parking lot in Tennessee. Hopefully will be taking the car back down south late summer to cruise the Blue Ridge Parkway.
2200 miles. Texas to NY. One of the best times in my Life.
As others have previously said, proper tire pressure (including spare), road tools, spare fuses/critical relays, some microfiber cloths, top-off all fluids (including windshield washer), ideal time to pour in a container of fuel injector cleaner into a full tank of fuel, toilet paper, a superior flashlight.
I had almost none of these on my trip. Successfully flew by the seat of my pants, but I recommend the above list instead of good luck & bravado.
As others have previously said, proper tire pressure (including spare), road tools, spare fuses/critical relays, some microfiber cloths, top-off all fluids (including windshield washer), ideal time to pour in a container of fuel injector cleaner into a full tank of fuel, toilet paper, a superior flashlight.
I had almost none of these on my trip. Successfully flew by the seat of my pants, but I recommend the above list instead of good luck & bravado.
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This is what I would like to do, all 400 something miles, while I'm still living in Virginia. Have you done this ride before, or is it going to be your first time?
Ive done parts of it but only between Asheville and the south end of the road as well as up by Shenandoah but it’s been years.
Pre-pandemic this trip was best done off-season to avoid being caught behind an RV/towed camper going 35 mph for miles and when the foliage was either greening (spring) or turning colors (fall). Not sure what it will be like this year. Also, best not to have passengers who tend to get motion sickness (less of a problem if you're behind said rv) or afraid of heights.
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