OWNER OWNER - Glen (744)

[Klink]

I haven't driven this car in a few months so I thought I'd take it out this morning to give it a little exercise. As I sat down in the seat l noticed some parts laying by the shift lever...
View attachment 44701

I look up and sure enough, my rear view mirror has exploded.

Here are the parts and pieces:
View attachment 44702

Anyone ever seen this before?

Yep. The plastic disintegrates and the force of the spring blasts that handle through the plastic. I also think that the small amount of grease applied to that pivot point during manufacture hastens the material disintegration in that area. And yes, the hotter the climate and/or the more direct the solar exposure, the more frequently it occurs.

In central Florida this would sometimes occur when the car was still in warranty. The customers would swear that they didn't do anything ham-fisted, and that they just "found it that way" We wondered what they could have possibly been doing to cause this, then it started happening on our own cars.

You could simply find a pile of parts on the console, or it will come apart as you flip the lever. I have often wondered how many unfortunate valets, spouses, children, etc. were blamed for this over the years...

Can we expect the replacement part to act in a similar "explosive fashion" or has it been modified to eliminate the problem?

Oh, with enough time and sun, that thing's going to detonate just like the others...

 

[nocfn]

I had this on my C126. Took a while to find a good one, but I swab it with A303 like everything else with UV exposure to help prolong life.

 

[Glen]

Went to San Diego Cars & Coffee yesterday to show off my friend Jon's project that we've been working on for the last 14 months. We successfully transplanted a 2006 Pontiac GTO LS2 with T56 6-speed transmission into his 2004 Mazda Miata. The front subframe, engine mounts, radiator, frame rails, rear diff mount, and axles were sourced from Martin Wilson of Monster Miata (here in San Marcos). The fabrication and mounting were done at Monster Miata by us on weekends from June to November. We then trailered the car to Jon's house and began the very tedious process of integrating the GM ECU with the Miata's systems (speedo, tach, CEL, evaporative emission systems, fuel tank pressure and level, etc.). There were many hurdles along the way but the car ran under it's own power for the first time in 14 months last Saturday!

I have to say, the car is an absolute blast to drive. 400 HP/400TQ in a (now) ~2600 pound car makes it really quick. And amazingly, it can be driven very sedately around town and loses very little of what makes the Miata such a fun car. Anyway, here are a few pictures from yesterday:

 

[Glen]

And for those interested, here are some pix of the Miata during the build (these are all recent, within the last month or so):

 

[Stevester 500E]

And for those interested, here are some pix of the Miata during the build (these are all recent, within the last month or so)

Glen,
How many times did it cross your mind doing this same transplant in a W201?

 

[Glen]

Glen,
How many times did it cross your mind doing this same transplant in a W201?

LOL. Just once and only for a moment. As great as the LSx engines are, I think I'd prefer a German engine in a 201.

 

[Maui]

That is very cool Glen and looks like a great project. I love the LSx engines. Easy to work on, easy to tune, zillions of bolts on and plenty of power. What could possibly go wrong!

 

[Glen]

That is very cool Glen and looks like a great project. I love the LSx engines. Easy to work on, easy to tune, zillions of bolts on and plenty of power. What could possibly go wrong!

Thanks Ken. Our goal is to make it California smog legal, which is why its taking so long. Hoping to take it to a referee in the next few weeks.

 

[Glen]

Ugh, it happened again! [emoji52]
Sometime during the last few weeks, while parked in my garage the rear view mirror self destructed...you may recall this happened before too. It must be the car telling me I need to drive it more...

 

[gerryvz]

Time for a couple of the 2Phasters.....

 

[gsxr]

Glen, have you considered having a strip of window tint across the top of the windshield? This may reduce UV rays and miiiiight help prolong mirror lifespan. Funny, I've never seen this besides the two times on your car!

 

[Glen]

Glen, have you considered having a strip of window tint across the top of the windshield? This may reduce UV rays and miiiiight help prolong mirror lifespan. Funny, I've never seen this besides the two times on your car!

The car spends very little time in the sun. At home it’s in my garage. The few times a year I take it to work I park in a covered parking structure.

 

[a777fan]

Just read all the way through this. Two e500e's. You're a lucky guy! (I do agree, 744 is faster tho... )

Anyway, i noticed something on your car that I haven't noticed before. Your PRND32B surround seems to be multi-colored. P is red, D is green etc. Are all 500s like this?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Glen]

Hi Jon. No, I made that shifter panel several years ago. I scanned the original and printed it out on thin plastic, actually several layers of plastic because the black wasn't solid enough with a single layer. It's not quite as crisp as the factory panel but looks pretty nice overall.

 

[Glen]

Today is my 20th anniversary with this car. In 2 decades, I've managed to drive it LESS than 40K miles but I love it more than ever. No pictures, just wanted to put it out there. Carry on.

 

[Glen]

Took the car in for it's required biennial emissions test. And as always, this car passes easily with really good numbers:

 

[maw1124]

Today is my 20th anniversary with this car. In 2 decades, I've managed to drive it LESS than 40K miles but I love it more than ever. No pictures, just wanted to put it out there. Carry on.

They DO age well, don’t they?

maw

 

[Trae]

How's your rear view mirror?
The plastic on my 93 is starting to self destruct.

 

[Glen]

How's your rear view mirror?
The plastic on my 93 is starting to self destruct.

Hi Trae, after my last one exploded I switched to a different type. I’m done with factory mirrors!

 

[Glen]

This year's emission test results:


Mileage: 128,818

 

[Glen]

The stock brakes are perfectly adequate for the driving I do, but that isn’t the point here.
I call this my “vanity” brake upgrade and it’s only about bling

Enjoy...
6-piston, 345mm x 30mm rotor


4-piston, 330mm x 26mm rotor

 

[gsxr]

Glen, those look amazing! What is the change in stopping power from high speeds vs stock? I assume you had the 320 front / 278 rear previously?

 

[Glen]

Glen, those look amazing! What is the change in stopping power from high speeds vs stock? I assume you had the 320 front / 278 rear previously?

Thanks I don't know yet. During installation I found a bad tie-rod end that I need to replace before I can do any serious testing.

 

[Lowman]

Glen, those look amazing! What is the change in stopping power from high speeds vs stock? I assume you had the 320 front / 278 rear previously?

320mm front and 300mm rear more likely? 278 rears was never matched with the 320 fronts?

 

[Glen]

Glen, those look amazing! What is the change in stopping power from high speeds vs stock? I assume you had the 320 front / 278 rear previously?

320mm front and 300mm rear more likely? 278 rears was never matched with the 320 fronts?

Here in the U.S. we only got the small 278mm rear rotors.

 

[gsxr]

Here in the U.S. we only got the small 278mm rear rotors.

Yep... USA + Japan received an upgrade to 320 front only, with the same 278 rears (and, the same MC+booster combo).

Europe/ROW received 320+300 plus a switching MC, different booster, and different ASR/ABS control unit. This was a NICE setup, it's very annoying that MB decided to pinch pennies in the USA + Japan markets.

 

[Glen]

While I wait for fresh brake fluid to come in for a full brake fluid R&R, I thought I'd share my journey to installing these calipers. I started this project in 2019 when I bought new SLK55 6-piston calipers through Tom at the Classic Center. At the time I also bought a used front spindle so I could mock up the brackets on the bench. Also bought some used matching 4-piston rear calipers on eBay. With the calipers in hand, I quickly realized that it would take more than a flat bracket to fit the huge 6-pot calipers properly. At the time, JC (5thscaleracer) had brackets for the 360mm rotors available but I wanted to use 345mm rotors to keep the cost manageable because as I mentioned, for me the upgrade was more about bling than outright performance.

Anyway, as I pondered the project, 2020 rolled around and COVID hit. I shelved the project and sort of forgot about it. Fast forward to late 2024 and I bought a 3D printer and started to teach myself CAD using AutoDesk Fusion. After successfully making usable plastic parts for my cars and around the house, I suddenly had a lightbulb moment! I dug out the calipers and spindle and started designing a bracket to mount the calipers. After taking careful measurements, I drew up a rudimentary bracket. It took a few iterations but I ended up with this:


Printed solid in ABS:


I then went looking for a machine shop to have them made and quickly found out that none of the locals wanted to touch the project for less than a 10 unit run. Fortunately, this is 2025 and there are a number of online shops looking for business with decent prices and most importantly they will take on a small single unit project. All you do is upload a file, select material and surface finish. An engineer may contact you if they have any questions and then you get a quote. It really couldn't be any simpler.

A few weeks later, I received my custom brackets in 7075-T6 aluminum anodized in black:


They bolted to the spindle perfectly!


Trimmed and painted dust shields:

And with the caliper:

 

[Glen]

And even though I probably won’t drive the car enough to wear down the pads, I wanted to have functional wear sensors. So I modified the new style sensors by soldering on the older style plugs.


I need to print some clips to secure the sensor plugs as my originals came off years ago.

 

[luckymike]

Amazing. Very cool, Glen.

 

[ArauzMotoring]

Wow this is one proper 500E! I really love all the thoughtful modifications done on it… Kudos on the big brake kit bracket creation and install as well!

How did you come to figure out about the s210 camber arm? I have camber king control arms I was thinking of installing to get rear camber fixed a bit on my car.. But I like how your set uses oem bushings.. lol

 

[Glen]

Wow this is one proper 500E! I really love all the thoughtful modifications done on it… Kudos on the big brake kit bracket creation and install as well!

How did you come to figure out about the s210 camber arm? I have camber king control arms I was thinking of installing to get rear camber fixed a bit on my car.. But I like how your set uses oem bushings.. lol

Thanks! I’ve had the car almost 25 years now, still love it

I think you mean thrust arms…I don’t recall how I came upon those. The adjustable camber arms I found on eBay, nothing too special about them.

 

[gsxr]

The aluminium torque arm was identified years ago, as noted on W124performance back in 2007 (photo below).

For rear camber adjustment, I prefer the Megan Racing units. More info, and photos, are in this thread. Avoid anything with Heim joints (like Camber King).

 

[maw1124]

Concur... except @gsxr I haven't seen the Megan Racing units since I did mine lo these many years ago. I'm glad I bought that spare set. They were becoming scarce even then.

I feel like these were they ( Pardon Our Interruption... ) but that price meant they're not really available, just a place holder for the listing.

maw

 

[gsxr]

Concur... except @gsxr I haven't seen the Megan Racing units since I did mine lo these many years ago. I'm glad I bought that spare set. They were becoming scarce even then.

I feel like these were they (Pardon Our Interruption...) but that price meant they're not really available, just a place holder for the listing.

maw

Yeah, I hate when eBay vendors list things are ridiculous prices as a placeholder for stuff they don't have (and/or it's their last one, basically "€5000" pricing).

However, it appears the OOS a few years ago was temporary. I'm seeing multiple different vendors with them in stock at $175-$200. Read the thread linked above, there's links there that will take you to active listings. One place has them for $185/pair delivered.

 

[maw1124]

Oh I remember that thread all too well... and yes, I see Megan has them back in stock... maybe they scaled back their eBay distribution efforts because fees, taxes, etc. This is the part (Rear Camber Kit for Mercedes Benz C-Class 01-07 / SLK 98-04 / Chrysler Crossfire 04-08 – MRS-MB-0310 – Megan Racing).

Sorry to partially thread jack @Glen

maw

 

[Glen]

Met up with my nephews for breakfast in Aliso Viejo this morning. Had a nice visit catching up and enjoying the great weather. On the way home, I suddenly noticed the temp gauge climbing so I pulled off the freeway in San Clemente (about 30 miles from home) before it reached the red zone to check things out. As I got out of the car, I could see steam coming out the grill. Sigh, looks like the driver side radiator tank sprung a leak. Had to hitch a ride to get home...first time this car has stranded me away from home in the 25 years I've owned it.

 

[maw1124]

Still beautiful... classing up the tow truck.

Are those tanks still available?

maw

 

[Glen]

Still beautiful... classing up the tow truck.

Are those tanks still available?

maw

I don't know, once I have the radiator out, I'll see what exactly failed and if it's fixable. In the meantime, I ordered a new Nissens radiator.

 

[ArauzMotoring]

Thankfully you caught it before it spent a long time in the red zone..

 

[Glen]

Found the leak…

Pressure testing radiator

Hairline crack:

 

[gsxr]

I had something similar, but not as severe, a year or two ago. How old was that radiator? Any date code?

Makes me wonder if all the plastic tanks are on borrowed time.

 

[Glen]

I had something similar, but not as severe, a year or two ago. How old was that radiator? Any date code?

Makes me wonder if all the plastic tanks are on borrowed time.

I bought the car in 2001 and never changed the radiator so I assume it’s the original…so it’s 32 years old.

 

[gsxr]

Same here. The radiator that I had with a hairline crack, very similar to yours (but smaller), appears to be the original from spring 1993. Mine was small enough that I think external application of JB Weld miiiiight have worked. I actually drove / raced that car for over a year, as it was a tiny seepage only visible from the white residue after the leaking coolant dried. Never lost any perceptible amount of coolant, no running hot. I replaced it with a new/NOS radiator in spring 2025 though, I didn't want it to rupture on the dragstrip.

 

[TerryA]

I had to replace my radiator back around 2006 not sure of the date. Similar condition cracked plastic on the top of the driver’s side. At the time it was a OEM BEHR for a reasonable price.

BTW; I drove it home from work about 30 miles filling up at every other filling station all the way home. It never got HOT! Whew

 

[gerryvz]

I had the same thing happen when I lived in Texas. I think I did a radiator HOW-TO for it here. That was probably 2012 or 2013, and mine was the original unit, as well.

Sadly Nissens is your only real bet for these, unless you are able to dredge up a NOS Behr unit. I got a South African Behr in 2020 that I used to replace my perfectly good Nissens unit.

 

[Glen]

The Nissens I got is made in India. It’s clearly not as well made as the original, but at the moment it’s the only option. I also had to scavenge the trans cooler line brackets from the original. In any event, it doesn’t leak and seems to keep the engine cool.

 

[gerryvz]

The Nissens I got is made in India. It’s clearly not as well made as the original, but at the moment it’s the only option. I also had to scavenge the trans cooler line brackets from the original. In any event, it doesn’t leak and seems to keep the engine cool.

Yeah, I forgot about the transmission cooler line brackets mod for the Nissens. When I installed the Behr back in 2020, I was able to revert the mod as it had the proper factory-style setup. But, the Nissens mod is pretty minor, in the overall swing of things. Its too bad that the options for the V-8 MB radiators are so limited nowadays, but I guess we should be thankful that even the Nissens India option is still available.

 

[alexwh0]

While I wait for fresh brake fluid to come in for a full brake fluid R&R, I thought I'd share my journey to installing these calipers. I started this project in 2019 when I bought new SLK55 6-piston calipers through Tom at the Classic Center. At the time I also bought a used front spindle so I could mock up the brackets on the bench. Also bought some used matching 4-piston rear calipers on eBay. With the calipers in hand, I quickly realized that it would take more than a flat bracket to fit the huge 6-pot calipers properly. At the time, JC (5thscaleracer) had brackets for the 360mm rotors available but I wanted to use 345mm rotors to keep the cost manageable because as I mentioned, for me the upgrade was more about bling than outright performance.

Anyway, as I pondered the project, 2020 rolled around and COVID hit. I shelved the project and sort of forgot about it. Fast forward to late 2024 and I bought a 3D printer and started to teach myself CAD using AutoDesk Fusion. After successfully making usable plastic parts for my cars and around the house, I suddenly had a lightbulb moment! I dug out the calipers and spindle and started designing a bracket to mount the calipers. After taking careful measurements, I drew up a rudimentary bracket. It took a few iterations but I ended up with this:
View attachment 219042

Printed solid in ABS:
View attachment 219044

I then went looking for a machine shop to have them made and quickly found out that none of the locals wanted to touch the project for less than a 10 unit run. Fortunately, this is 2025 and there are a number of online shops looking for business with decent prices and most importantly they will take on a small single unit project. All you do is upload a file, select material and surface finish. An engineer may contact you if they have any questions and then you get a quote. It really couldn't be any simpler.

A few weeks later, I received my custom brackets in 7075-T6 aluminum anodized in black:
View attachment 219043

They bolted to the spindle perfectly!
View attachment 219045

Trimmed and painted dust shields:
View attachment 219046
And with the caliper:
View attachment 219048

Have interest in selling a few sets of the brackets(F&R)? I'd be interested in at least five sets.