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OWNER Maui (040)
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This is correct... for USA models, the Conti head unit Maui bought is 100% plug+play on any 1994-95 W124 including the E500.
However, it IS NOT plug+play for 1991-1993 USA models (which all came with the funky 1432 head unit). The Conti may be plug+play on 1986-1990 USA cars with a special adapter harness available from Becker (click here for photo of the 86-90 adapter).
European-spec cars are a totally different story, they had multiple stereo systems available, and it gets complicated...
A couple years on now....how is this thing working out for you? Satisfied? Did you look into other brands prior to purchase? Thx.
I love it. I couldn't own a black car without it. I had a smaller blower from Chemical Guys that was certainly more convenient but it does not have the force or the heat of the Master Blaster. It comes with a nice rack to hang it off the wall and wrap the hose. I opted for 22' of hose so I can get around the car easily. I highly recommend it.
Thanks. Just had paint correction done on my E500 and the guy recommended using a blow dryer for post-wash drying. He pointed out that scratches are most likely to occur during the drying process than from anything else.
I don't think there is a soft enough towel for drying a black car. Even the nicest microfiber feels like sand paper across the clear coat.
I also love the Master Blaster for getting the water out of the nooks and crannies. Especially in the mirrors, moldings and the chrome on the bumpers. I hate spending an hour washing a car to find dribble stains running down the side of the car from the mirror the next day. May not show on other colors but it sure does on black. It is amazing how much soap water gets trapped in the mirrors, the chrome and roof moldings. The Masterblaster isn't cheap but I don't think there is a better dryer on the market.
Thanks, Maui! I see they now offer a fancy version with 30-foot hose and swivel wheels. Some reviews mention the 30-foot hose allows mounting the unit on the wall so it doesn't need to be pulled around the car. Might have to add one of these to my wish list...
Thanks, Maui! I see they now offer a fancy version with 30-foot hose and swivel wheels. Some reviews mention the 30-foot hose allows mounting the unit on the wall so it doesn't need to be pulled around the car. Might have to add one of these to my wish list...
A 30' hose would be nice. I guess size does matter.
I decided it was time to get the black car out for a spin today to take advantage of the decent weather. I rarely drive this car because it so special with 72k miles and pristine condition. I took it out today for about 30 miles. I haven't driven it for quite some time. It rests comfortably in the shop under a cover with a trickle charge. I can definitely feel the difference in this car and my red, 212k E500. They are both great cars and both have been very well maintained. The 72k car just feels a lot tighter and more like a new car. Performance is very similar. The most interesting observation is that this 1992 500E seems to have less road noise than my 2011 E550. There is a section of I-205 that has some several boney pavement that no car can hide the road noise. The E500E's are definitely built well and absorb the sound much better.
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I decided it was time to get the black car out for a spin today to take advantage of the decent weather. I rarely drive this car because it so special with 72k miles and pristine condition. I took it out today for about 30 miles. I haven't driven it for quite some time. It rests comfortably in the shop under a cover with a trickle charge. I can definitely feel the difference in this car and my red, 212k E500. They are both great cars and both have been very well maintained. The 72k car just feels a lot tighter and more like a new car. Performance is very similar. The most interesting observation is that this 1992 500E seems to have less road noise than my 2011 E550. There is a section of I-205 that has some several boney pavement that no car can hide the road noise. The E500E's are definitely built well and absorb the sound much better.
Thanks for the comparison! Given that the 212K and the 72K mile E500E cars are both well maintained, what do you attribute the "tightness" too? Perhaps all manners of bushings in the suspension (have those been replaced)?
I echo your sentiment about lack of road noise in the E500E --- even though I have 18" Bridgestone Potenza S04s on the car, (as opposed to OE 16" tires) there is less road noise in the car than any other car that I own, all of which are newer.
Very nice cars !
Finally got the pair together for a quick photo before it started raining again.
I suspect the body bushings could be part of the reason. I recently picked up the body bushing tool and plan to do the bushings on the 1994 (212k) car. I have done the front struts on it already but a few of the front suspension linkage parts will also be on the agenda. The thing I absolutely love about the high mile car is that it is completely guilt free driving. I feel the need to preserve the low mile car for posterity. Unfortunately the LCA bushings mean changing out the entire LCA. Done that a couple times for big brake kits and it ain't cheap if even available.
Absolutely non car related but wanted to post a picture of the beautiful day on Puget Sound. Haven't been to our place up here in a couple months. I know it's a crappy phone picture but it catches the essence. Our place is about 30 feet from the water. A little slice of heaven.
You should continue up to Bellingham and visit Dave's Uncle Kent Bergsma. 
Uncle Kent often talks about the glories of living in the Pacific Northwest.
I'll be in Seattle from Tuesday to Friday, second time up there in a month. Even though I grew up there, I don't miss it one iota. Don't miss Portland either.
Well, I sort of do miss boating in the San Juan Islands and up to Vancouver and Victoria (and the many Seafairs on Lake Washington), but fortunately I now live in the sailing capital of the world, so that boating itch will be scratched soon enough (35-foot boat in process of purchase). They say Annapolis is a drinking town with a sailing problem.
Where is your slice of heaven located? North Sound or South Sound area?
Uncle Kent often talks about the glories of living in the Pacific Northwest.I'll be in Seattle from Tuesday to Friday, second time up there in a month. Even though I grew up there, I don't miss it one iota. Don't miss Portland either.
Well, I sort of do miss boating in the San Juan Islands and up to Vancouver and Victoria (and the many Seafairs on Lake Washington), but fortunately I now live in the sailing capital of the world, so that boating itch will be scratched soon enough (35-foot boat in process of purchase). They say Annapolis is a drinking town with a sailing problem.
Where is your slice of heaven located? North Sound or South Sound area?
Nice pic Ken and 30 ft from the beach. I’m jealous. You should spend more time there. The Northwest does have some beautiful scenery.
A long time ago, I missed my chance for a nice spot like that in Depot Bay, Oregon. The day I remember looked very similar but the home was high up on a cliff. I was excited about it until the Realtor mentioned that in storms the waves would sometimes splash on the house. Anyway it was still a beautiful spot.
Now I’m stuck in SoCal for good w/ our nutty Gov Moonbeam and his $77 billion bullet train to nowhere and being taxed out of our shorts.
A long time ago, I missed my chance for a nice spot like that in Depot Bay, Oregon. The day I remember looked very similar but the home was high up on a cliff. I was excited about it until the Realtor mentioned that in storms the waves would sometimes splash on the house. Anyway it was still a beautiful spot.
Now I’m stuck in SoCal for good w/ our nutty Gov Moonbeam and his $77 billion bullet train to nowhere and being taxed out of our shorts.
You should continue up to Bellingham and visit Dave's Uncle Kent Bergsma.
I'll be in Seattle from Tuesday to Friday, second time up there in a month. Even though I grew up there, I don't miss it one iota. Don't miss Portland either.
Well, I sort of do miss boating in the San Juan Islands and up to Vancouver and Victoria (and the many Seafairs on Lake Washington), but fortunately I now live in the sailing capital of the world, so that boating itch will be scratched soon enough (35-foot boat in process of purchase). They say Annapolis is a drinking town with a sailing problem.
Where is your slice of heaven located? North Sound or South Sound area?
Located in Port Ludlow on the west side of the Sound at the mouth of Hood Canal. We look out at the shipping route and Widby Island. We're a few miles and a couple light years from Seattle. We intend to retire there, but I don't currently have a shop there. One of reasons we purchased this place is because it is located in the Olympic rain shaddow. So, we get about half the rain of Portland.
Ken, I suppose I can't blame you for hooking up with hood star girl. I left her alone for too long, and she's not without some appeal. GSXR, Honch, Glen, can one of you get her moving again? She's just kinda stuck there now...
Just borrowing her for a little while.
I just received my "forever' Oregon plates for this car. They're not antique plates but they are what Oregon calls "SP" plates. The plates are intended for vehicles that are rarely driven and used primarily for events. They cost $85 and you never have to renew them. They also only require a rear plate. In any case, I noticed they goofed up the mileage. The registration reads 70,361 miles and it should have read 72,361 miles. I had to request the DMV to record the miles because after a certain year they generally don't record mileage. Should I mail the registration back and have them correct it or just note the mistake on the registration?
We just picked up a CPO 2018 GLE350 4Matic with 10,500 miles. It's basically a rebadged ML. I had purchased a new ML320 back in 2000 and I would say this vehicle is light years ahead of that one. Since we do a lot of driving back and forth between Portland and our house on the Olympic Pennisula this one will come in handy. Previously whenever I had to haul anything of any size I had to drive my Colorado pickup. This should make the drive a little sweeter. It has just about every safety option you can get plus the parking package. It has three years left on the factory warranty plus the standard one year CPO warranty. Knowing we will own this for a while I picked up two more years with unlimited miles. Mercedes warrantys are great. Never regretted upgrading the warranty on the W212. My only regret is that it does not have the premium lighting package. I'm a bit surprised that MB would sell you all these safety options and fit it with halogen lights. I should have done a little more homework. I'm already researching options to upgrade them. I love the Carplay and I think it might be a tad quieter inside than the W212. We were looking at the GLC but decided the four banger was just not in my play book. These are built in Kilnk's backyard so it has to be good.
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Congrats Ken,
That MB SUV looks pretty slick to me. With all of the onboard systems on the new cars you need all the warranty you can get. Your new wheels should be in service for a long time.
It’s nice when your at that age that you can select your own Christmas presents.
That MB SUV looks pretty slick to me. With all of the onboard systems on the new cars you need all the warranty you can get. Your new wheels should be in service for a long time.
It’s nice when your at that age that you can select your own Christmas presents.
I did a similar thin with my Son's 2005 Tacoma. Back from college we had a factory recall, so as I was looking they had a 2018 with 14k that the dealer titled as a loaner. All the modern electronics stuff on it that didn't exist in 2005. Keeps me from fixing that thing too. 2.7L 6 speed trans that cuts his gas use by 50%, and my cost of 1k a year in tires as it wont spin them with the gearing it has for fuel economy.
Thanks Terry. It's actually my wife's car. I'll only get to drive it when we travel north.
We just picked up a CPO 2018 GLE350 4Matic with 10,500 miles. It's basically a rebadged ML. I had purchased a new ML320 back in 2000 and I would say this vehicle is light years ahead of that one. Since we do a lot of driving back and forth between Portland and our house on the Olympic Pennisula this one will come in handy. Previously whenever I had to haul anything of any size I had to drive my Colorado pickup. This should make the drive a little sweeter. It has just about every safety option you can get plus the parking package. It has three years left on the factory warranty plus the standard one year CPO warranty. Knowing we will own this for a while I picked up two more years with unlimited miles. Mercedes warrantys are great. Never regretted upgrading the warranty on the W212. My only regret is that it does not have the premium lighting package. I'm a bit surprised that MB would sell you all these safety options and fit it with halogen lights. I should have done a little more homework. I'm already researching options to upgrade them. I love the Carplay and I think it might be a tad quieter inside than the W212. We were looking at the GLC but decided the four banger was just not in my play book. These are built in Kilnk's backyard so it has to be good.
Nice car. One thing you will have to check out when replacing the headlights is MB now codes the headlights into the computer and changing them requires a visit to the dealership. I hate it that these items are no longer plug-n-play.
Robert
This is correct. And, you may need the "developer" license key for DAS/Xentry in order to change the coding. Not a big deal through 2009-ish, but I don't know about anything as new as 2018. Worst case you'd need to get Jono to dial in to your SDS and work the coding magic remotely.
We made the four hour drive north on Friday and I have to say the GLE is pleasure to drive. The steering feels good, the accelertion is acceptable and the comfort was great. It handles well and I never felt like the V6 was laboring. The safety features are great. I think this is a great compromise between a sedan and a truck. It definitely feels more like the sedan than a truck. It's actually a little quieter on the road than the E550. The cargo space is fantastic. We hauled 65 inch TV in the box, 8' rolled rug, full sized cooler, a couple boxes of odds and ends, and two suit cases with plenty room to spare. Just what the doctor orderd. I love the Apple Carplay sound system. The car has several cameras, so when you put it in reverse you see a split screen showing what's behind you and an over view of your entire surroundings from the top. Very cool how it instantly splices all the camera views into what appears to be a camera view from 10' above the vehicle. Again, my only complaint is the crappy halogen headlights. The high beams are fine but these low beams should not be standard equipment on any Mercedes. Not to mention I am spoiled by the adaptive lights on the E550. Had I done my homework I definitely would have looked for one with the light package. Otherwise, I have zero complaints and my wife is happy to be riding a little higher. She's a pretty small in stature, so she like the ride height of an SUV.
