OWNER - Ricsim

[ricsim]

Hi !
I live in France, near Paris.
I'm 46 years old an i'm a man.
I'm married and have 2 daughters and pets.
I'm a plumber and i'm on my own.
As i'm not very good in english and american translations, i will often use "google traduction' to translate understand your differents posts (not for this one)

I just bought a 500E (1992) in Japan. (imported)
--> 161133kms (certificated Jevic to download with this link - .pdf)--> http://www.jevic-psi.com/certificate.asp?vinno=wdb1240361B767766&serial=&action_=SEARCH

It's a nautical blue 929 one with blue leather interior.
It's actually on a boat in indian ocean.
I 'll drive it for the first time in the last 2015 november's days, after debarquement.
I'm really impatient to receive it and touch it.

For the moment, my actually car is W124 E250D (1994). I usually do car maintenance myself, with originals parts only.

As most of you, be owner of a W124 500 was a dream.

I'm happy to meet other 500E/E500 owners and exchange experience with you.

Some pictures, now:

 

[mwaldron]

Welcome to THE board, bear with our language deficiencies (lack of). You will love this car, when maintained you will get many enjoyable hours of driving out of it.

Mark

 

[lowman]

welcome to the forum i must say
Your car looks very good..even though the blue takes some time getting used to..i find it refreshing to see something you DO NOT see everyday.so i can dig it

cheers from Norway

 

[126v8]

Wow a very blue interior! Nice car you got different from the usual colors.Congrats

 

[nocfn]

Nice species

 

[Glasgo_Chris]

Very jealous of this blue. Welcome

 

[sheward]

Welcome and congratulations! Interesting custom interior work. Might look very nice with grey or black seats. Are you expecting any documents or records?

drew

 

[KarlC]

I think I had that blue leather in a 1994 E320 Cab

 

[ricsim]

Thank you for your welcomes messages

Are you expecting any documents or records?

drew

I don't have all documents and records yet.
Most of them should arrive the november 10-20th (service book, historic, invoices (japan)
i just have the car invoice, export certificate and Bill of landing.
Actually i waiting for Europe approval certificate from MB.
As i 've imported this car by an import club, i 'll attended for documents.

 

[doolar]

Same color combination as my dad's 500E, really nice!

And welcome to the boards btw!

 

[ricsim]

With many, many, luck, this car could be mine, earlier. What is your mind?
http://www.500eboard.com/forums/showthread.php?t=714

 

[r44raven]

Hi!
Congratulations on your 500e. You will love it. About meeting with other owners we are trying to organise a meet in Germany next summer. Look at the "E500 International Meet Germany 2016" thread under the sub forum Events Meetings and Get- together.
The more owners that we can get attending the bettet!

 

[gsxr]

Very rare color paint AND rare color interior.... nice car!

 

[Marc R]

nice find! great colour and interior, my car is also from japan and also on the ocean as we speak. ;-)

 

[ricsim]

nice find! great colour and interior, my car is also from japan and also on the ocean as we speak. ;-)

So, i think you are very impatient to receive your car too.
Have you got pictures from your japan car.
The mine will arrive by this boat:
HOEGH AMERICA v.90
http://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/details/ships/shipid:375150/mmsi:311595000/vessel:HOEGH AMERICA
http://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/home/shipid:375150/zoom:10

 

[Zed]

I think I know that car ! ;-)

 

[ricsim]

Hi Zed.
Yes you know my car, I think so !
It's actually in the mediterranean sea !

 

[ricsim]

So, i've just received my new lenses from germany, from this site: http://www.online-teile.com/mercedes-ersatzteile/
308,44€ (the twice), payed by paypal
Just three day for delivery in France.
Very good package !
A 000 820 12 66 et A 000 820 13 66

 

[ricsim]

So, My car is at home since 17th November 2015
You can see my 500E near my E250D.

What happened during the come back travel (at home).
5 hours by the road for browse 220 kms.
Juste after received the car, i've notice that engine was limited.
The gearbox was OK. 1,2,3,4 without problems.
No lights on after engine startup.
Everything seemed OK excepted the engine output.
After 30mn, a grey smoke coming out from under the car, as i was in jams.
I notice that start a fire just under the car.
I stopped on the side of the road and try to stop fire with water and clothes.
Impossible !
The exhaust pipe was orange and rubbers that hold the exhaust pipe were on fire.
I decided to cut the rubbers to stop fire.
I finished my trip with 50km/h
My friend who was following me asking me to stop each time that flames were coming out from exhaust pipe.

The problem was caused by an improper ignition
Since i've replaced the 8 candles, the ignition finger and ignition head, the engine has regained power.
I've replaced new rubbers that hold the exhaust pipe

But the fire who was under the car has created others problems
As bulbs dashboard were not working, in a first time i've searched and replace this fuse placed behind the dashboard

The fuse melted as soon as i turned on the headlights

The safety belt plastics where melted

Wiring harnesses which pass above the tunnel of the drive shaft were melted and carpet was glued with the tunnel.

I had to repair wiring harnesses with solder ant thermo retractable sheath.

 

[ricsim]

Others maintenances operations:

• I 've replaced my Engine electric harness
• re-waterproofing jar steering oil
• Power steering oil change
• Replacing the suspensions of spheres
• under the car (Emptying ZHM)

 

[lowman]

are you sure you used the proper servo oil?
its not supposed to have ATF oil in the servo /powersteering...

 

[ricsim]

No, you are right, i'm not sure !

I know that many people use ATF fluid for powersteering since a long time.
I've read many time (forums) that Dextron II and Dextron III are OK for powersteering.
And i've heard that MB used ATF fluid for powersteering in the beginning of W124 build.

I'm sure that my original powersteering oil in my E250D was red since 1994.
The first owner of this E250D was my grandfather.
And i've change this oil for the first time in 2010.
It was red, as an ATF oil .

 

[Klink]

ATF won't damage it, but the proper MB power steering fluid is optimized for the steering system.

 

[Klink]

Love those FACOM tools!

 

[lowman]

well..each to their own...i have seen alot of powersteeringsystems in my time ,on MB"s that have ATF....but still it aint the proper fluid to put in there.
i would stick to what MB intended..as they have their reasons for writing so in the spec and fluid lists... so.

but anyways...looooks good.And glad your car didnt burn down..or "up"..or how you would put it

 

[ricsim]

Last maintenance actions:

Last week-end, i've changed front disks and brake pads (because of the slight braking vibrations)

Replacement of different parts (fake alpaca recovered) by originals one bought by Ebay.de

Some of them have been cleaned and renovated

 

[ricsim]

Today, i've just changed thermostat, little hose, and cleaned the heating valve.
Of course i've changed cooling fluid (mixed 50/50 with demineralized water)

 

[DerFuror]

...After 30mn, a grey smoke coming out from under the car, as i was in jams.
I notice that start a fire just under the car.
I stopped on the side of the road and try to stop fire with water and clothes.
Impossible !
The exhaust pipe was orange and rubbers that hold the exhaust pipe were on fire.
I decided to cut the rubbers to stop fire.
I finished my trip with 50km/h
My friend who was following me asking me to stop each time that flames were coming out from exhaust pipe.

Mon Dieu! Vous êtes très chanceux que la voiture n'a pas été détruite à cause du mauvais câblage électrique!

My God! You are very lucky that the car was not destroyed because of the bad wiring!

 

[ricsim]

Yes, of course !
I realize how lucky i had.
As the wiring was melted. I could have had problems with some electronic cards.

 

[TerryA]

I wonder when you had the fire if the overheating of the exhaust system may have damaged your CATs?
That's pretty hot if it caught the rubber hangers on fire.

You are a lucky man that you still have a car to work on.

Curious about something. Were you in a pit when you did the brakes? It really looks like a tight space.

 

[ricsim]

You are right, i'm lucky with this car.
My catalysts seem to be ok.
I've pass 2 pollution tests to homologate my car.
my rate CO is 0,5 !

It's Ok for homologation in France with a car built before 1993.
I must be under rate CO2 =3,5

For a car built after 1/1/1993, in France, my rate CO mustn't be more 0,5.

My car is a 1992 model, so it have pass CO test with success.

Regarding the limited place to work.
I use to work in the basement of my house.
And sometimes, i've to work between the car and the wall.
This picture was the first night at home for my car. (with the Japanese license plates)

You can see the car in the basement.

 

[ricsim]

During the last week-end
Pictures near "Forêt d'orient" lake, in France
just there: https://goo.gl/maps/eg4e3UX1cPQ2 , in Géraudot.

 

[ricsim]

165000 kms !
This car is just wonderful.

I'll need to change my rear shock absorbers soon, because i can ear a "bang", sometimes, when i ride over bumps.
As described here: http://www.500eboard.com/forums/showthread.php?t=4174

 

[lowman]

Last maintenance actions:
Last week-end, i've changed front disks and brake pads (because of the slight braking vibrations)

hehehe looks like your hydraulic jack has AMG Monoblock wheels

 

[ricsim]

Last pictures during "2ème festival Etoiles Passions"

http://www.etoilespassion.com/festival-etoiles-passion-2016-samedi-28-mai/

 

[ricsim]

Yes Lowman, you have good eyes.
It's because my hydraulic jack is made by "Michelin"