PWNER - gerryvz

[gerryvz]

:smile:Here are a few photos of me and my 1994 E500.

These photos are courtesy of Allen Stephens and ZorroAMG as well as some of my own photos.

I first was aware of the 500E back in the mid-1990s about the time that MB stopped making them. Around 2000, as an owner of a 300SEL 6.3 and 450SEL 6.9, I got very interested in these cars as well as the AMG Hammer (W124) as a possible acquisition. Due to extreme disenchantment with the M-100 Group in the 2001-2002 time frame, my interest in the E500E was hastened as I resolved to sell both of my M-100 cars and replace them with classic MBs with higher levels of both performance and refinement. To that end, the 560SEC and the 500E fit that bill.

I sold my M-100s in the 2003-2004 time frame, purchasing my 1994 E500 in fall 2003 with around 58K miles on the clock. My good friend and MB mentor Robert Fenton in the San Francisco Bay Area brokered the deal for me; I never met the owner/seller of my car other than hearing that he was "a very wealthy and eccentric individual who lives in Marin County" who did not want to meet me personally. A cash deal was completed and I drove the car from San Francisco to Portland.

The car has received a moderate amount of tweaks and mods, but nothing too tasteless. I have two sets of wheels for the car (18" AMG Monoblock IIs and 18" factory-pattern 8-hole wheels). It has a BergWerks first-gear-start system installed, 100-HP BergWerks nitrous-oxide system, as well as a Walker DynoMax-based custom exhaust, ASR defeat (using factory dash switch & wood), Euro fire extinguisher and warning triangle, Euro headlights, custom iPod mount.

The car has always been garaged and Griot's Garage products are used to care for the car. Best 1/4 mile time on the drag strip was 12.89 seconds (with NOS), with a 14.02 (without NOS). Mechanically, the car has been pretty stellar, needing only the occasional caps and rotors and general maintenance routine. I converted the car to full-synthetic Mobil 1 5W-50 motor oil at the time of purchase. It has truly been a nice ride the whole time I've had it, and I will never tire nor get rid of this car. In fact, my wife loves it so much that I eventually plan to purchase one for her.

Cheers,
Gerry



==================================

Sweet ride, Gerry.

Postby need2speed on Tue Dec 02, 2008 4:53 pm

I see lots of extra goodies. How has your experience with NOS been? Any issues related to ambient temps?

need2speed
500E500 owners motto: "Lead, follow, or better yet, get out of the way."

==================================

Postby gerryvz on Tue Dec 02, 2008 5:14 pm

The bottle has an electrically heated wraparound "bottle blanket" that keeps the bottle at the optimal temperature which IIRC is around 70F for best gas flow & physical characteristics.

If you've ever felt N2O coming out of a bottle you'll notice that it is quite cold, even to the point of freezing. At our E500E owners gathering at Portland International Raceway in February 2008, I removed the bottle from my trunk and opened the valve to let out about a 1/2 tank of "old" (a year old) N2O. As A-Man and Mike Spicer can attest, it let out quite a cloud for a minute or so while the gas evaporated, and at the end the upper half of the bottle and the valve area had a full layer of frost on it.

Ambient temperatures aren't quite as important with nitrous-oxide-based racing as they are with normally aspirated racing, because the injected gas is quite cold (per above) and thus has a "cooling" effect to the air charge going through the intake and into the combustion chambers. However, as the gas is mixing with normal outside air, obviously the cooler/denser the air, the better -- so yes there is some effect.

This is in contrast with normally aspirated temps. The coldest drag-racing days I did at Portland International Raceway were around 35-40 degrees F in late October. I found that in general, as a rule of thumb, each 10-degree decrease in ambient temperature meant a 1/10-second decrease in drag-race times.

So thus translated, summer racing at 80F and late-fall racing at 40F will result in ~4/10 of a second difference in ET, all other things being equal. I'd say that for N2O-based racing, this perhaps would be ~1/10 second difference in ET all things being the same.

Hope this helps.

Cheers,
Gerry

==================================

Postby szvook on Wed Dec 03, 2008 8:55 pm

The true sleeper and much more, looks great Gerry!

Steve
1992 Pearl Black 500E (build 6/92)

==================================

Postby J. M. van Swaay on Thu Dec 04, 2008 8:20 pm

Gerry,

Looks like a nice ride.

I see an S/E switch next to the shift lever. Is that part of the first gear start mod? I thought the US spec cars did not have electronic transmissions and therefore did not have the S/E switch.......

J. M. van Swaay

==================================

Postby gerryvz on Thu Dec 04, 2008 8:51 pm

Yes, you are correct. That is a special-order (non-US) part that is part of the FGS modification that switches the system between sport and normal modes (i.e. holds the gear longer before upshifting). I have another small round switch on the console that switches FGS on and off. I believe talbir purchased those for BergWerks in the UK to assemble for the FGS kits.

I will get a similar E/S switch for my 560SEC when I'm there this year.

Cheers,
Gerry

==================================

Postby J. M. van Swaay on Thu Dec 04, 2008 11:19 pm

Does it delay the upshift on all shifts or just 2-3?

I recently installed the FGSwitch made by the guys in Ireland. I'm still trying to understand the exact function of the "B" switch. Based on my experimentation, when the "B" switch contacts are made and the selector is in Drive, first gear is engaged when the car is (almost) stopped, and upshift from 1 to 2 occurs based on the normal kickdown profile. Upshift from 2 - 3 is inhibited with the the "B" switch contacts made. If the "B" switch contacts are open, the 2-3 and 3-4 shifts occur per the normal profile. I believe the only output of both the Bergwerks system and the FGSwitch system is the making or breaking of the "B" switch contacts. Both systems use a speed input as the trigger to close or open the contacts. If my understanding is correct, it would be possible for the Bergwerks system to delay only the 2-3 shift.

Anybody have an exact explanation of the "B" switch function?

J. M. van Swaay

==================================

Postby gerryvz on Thu Dec 04, 2008 11:34 pm

J. M. van Swaay wroteoes it delay the upshift on all shifts or just 2-3?



It enables the first gear, and delays the 1-2 upshift ony, actually.

The E/S switch (at least, I have it installed) just toggles between two separate (and adjustable) speed pre-sets to trigger the upshift.

Cheers,
Gerry

==================================

Postby J. M. van Swaay on Fri Dec 05, 2008 2:25 am

Thats the part I can't figure out. The FGSswitch is programmable, but I can't notice any difference with the shift point set at 2 mph or 11 mph. With the selector in Drive, the 1-2 upshift occurs based on load only. Can you notice a difference with your Bergwerks setup?

J. M. van Swaay

==================================

Postby 2phast on Fri Dec 05, 2008 5:27 am

J. M. van Swaay wrote:Thats the part I can't figure out. The FGSswitch is programmable, but I can't notice any difference with the shift point set at 2 mph or 11 mph. With the selector in Drive, the 1-2 upshift occurs based on load only. Can you notice a difference with your Bergwerks setup?



There may be something wrong with your FGS or the configuration of it. My FGS is set to upshift from 1st to 2nd around 20 mph or so.

If you set yours to something similar, it would be very obivous, as after your 1st to 2nd shift, your 2nd to 3rd will happen quickly after.

2000 CLK32k & 1993 500E

==================================

Postby michigane500 on Fri Dec 05, 2008 9:51 pm

Gerry,

Can you tell me where you purchased the 18" factory look 8 spoke wheels?

Thanks,
Eric

1994 E500, Silver/Black
1991 Porsche 928 S4, White/Cashmere
1997 Porsche 993 Cab, Ocean Blue/Gray

==================================

Postby gerryvz on Sat Dec 06, 2008 3:29 am

I purchased them from the Netherlands. The member here Robin500E brokered the deal for the wheels and shipped them to me. I believe I paid around $1,200 + shipping for the full set.

Robin has been on the lookout for other wheels of this type over the years. They are VERY rare to find here in the States but are much more common in Europe. Perhaps an enquiry to Robin would help with finding some at a reasonable price.

Cheers,
Gerry

==================================

Postby maggot on Sat Dec 06, 2008 8:29 am

gerryvz wrote:I purchased them from the Netherlands. The member here Robin500E brokered the deal for the wheels and shipped them to me. I believe I paid around $1,200 + shipping for the full set.

Robin has been on the lookout for other wheels of this type over the years. They are VERY rare to find here in the States but are much more common in Europe. Perhaps an enquiry to Robin would help with finding some at a reasonable price.

Cheers,
Gerry




Wheels are Rial and are also VERY rare in Europe........

maggot

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Postby 195910 on Sat Dec 06, 2008 10:58 am

One of the 500E owners over here has two sets. but both are pretty missed up !
You can't make a decent set out of both of them. some A-hole who tried to 'fix" them carved off a significant amount of material from the ends. so they some leak, the others have bents/cracks

I think these wheels are not very strong maybe.

regards

195910

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Postby W124 V8 on Sun Dec 07, 2008 11:09 am

Those 8 Spoke 18" Wheels looking very good from which model does they come from ?! I guess W140 ?

W124 V8

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Postby 195910 on Sun Dec 07, 2008 11:27 am

W124 V8 wrote:Those 8 Spoke 18" Wheels looking very good from which model does they come from ?! I guess W140 ?



No. they are not original MB parts. they are "Replikas"

195910

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Postby gerryvz on Sun Dec 07, 2008 12:41 pm

Yes, they are aftermarket wheels but patterned pretty closely on the stock 16" 500E/E500 wheels. M-B only produced these wheels in 15" and 16" sizes, but they were also made on the aftermarket in 17" and 18" sizes. :schater:

Cheers,
Gerry

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Postby J. M. van Swaay on Sun Dec 07, 2008 4:19 pm

Is it possible that "Rial" is an Italian Manufacturer?

It's hard to tell from the pictures, but it looks like these wheels have a slightly thicker and less sharp outer lip than the stock MB wheels. I have 16's on my car--I'm pretty sure they are not stock and they are very very similar in appearance to the wheels on Gerry's car. My wheels have a "made in Italy" stamp on the back. I've wondered who the manufacturer might be, perhaps this thread just solved the mystery........

J. M. van Swaay

==================================

Postby gerryvz on Sun Dec 07, 2008 5:58 pm

Rial to my knowledge are German wheels, and my wheels don't have a direct manufacturer stamp/molding on them, but they do say "Made in Germany" on them.

Cheers,
Gerry

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Postby jafores on Sun Dec 07, 2008 6:39 pm

Hello Gerry, Great wheels, would love a set for my ride. BTW just wondering if your tires are unidirectional, as the front and rear tread patterns seems to be reversed.
thanks

Jorge
02 G500
97 E50
92 500E
70 300SEL 6.3
63 220SEB Conv.

==================================

Postby gerryvz on Mon Dec 08, 2008 5:02 am

The tires are unidirectional. As far as I know they were installed correctly. I haven't run those specific wheels on the car for about the past 3 years, as I've been doing the AMG Mono IIs, but I'm thinking of changing back over in the next 5-7K miles as my Monos' tires are close to hitting the tread-wear bars and will need to be replaced.

Thanks for the observation though !

Cheers,
Gerry

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Postby Aki on Tue Dec 09, 2008 4:26 pm

ET of those replica 8-hole rims? Need any spacers?
I try to find one set. Very rare to find.
1992|199|124.036|500E

User avatar
Aki


==================================

Postby gerryvz on Mon May 11, 2009 9:57 pm

I am cleaning my 18" Rial 8-hole wheels now and will be putting them back on my car very soon. They are all the same size and ET35 ... so no spacers required.

Cheers,
Gerry


==================================

Postby Brodie on Mon May 11, 2009 10:28 pm

gerryvz wrote:I am cleaning my 18" Rial 8-hole wheels now and will be putting them back on my car very soon.



I don't normally get jealous, but....

Brodie

 

[gerryvz]

More of the garage....

 

[KarlC]

Nice cars Gerry !

What are you doing with those 18" Rial wheels, are you thinking about selling them ? If so let me know.

 

[gerryvz]

I just put them back on my E500 last week after about 5 years off the car in storage. I plan to get both them and my Monoblock IIs refinished and at that point I'll figure out what I'm going to do with them. The problem is that I like both the Monos and the Rials equally well, and both are 18s (if one pair was 17" I'd sell them now), and both are equally fitting for the car.

I paid $1200 + shipping from the Netherlands for them about 6 years ago...

Cheers,
Gerry

 

[gerryvz]

Just got the AMG Mono IIs refinished - new center silver paint, polished lip and everything clear-coated.

Then I installed brand-new Hankook Ventus V12 evo tires. Staggered configuration: 245-40-18 on the front, 275-35-18 on the rear.

Here are a few photos immediately after refinishing and then after the tires installed.

Before I put these on the car, I potentially COULD (for the right price) be persuaded to part with them. For now I'll continue to run my Rial 18-inch 8-hole wheels (as in the photos above). However is someone wants a set of pristine, fresh-from-the-shop wheels with brand-new tyres on them, guaranteed to work on the E500E (ET31 and ET35), let me know and make me an offer.

You really can't get a more appropriate nor classic wheel for the E500E than these, and the staggered look is sexy on the car. A bit conservative, but oh so and always so proper for the car.

Cheers,
Gerry

 

[tanger]

So tempted but on the hunt for the unicorn- 19s of the AMG Monos. At some point may tire of looking and send you an offer

 

[S500E]

Just got the AMG Mono IIs refinished - new center silver paint, polished lip and everything clear-coated.

Then I installed brand-new Hankook Ventus V12 evo tires. Staggered configuration: 245-40-18 on the front, 275-35-18 on the rear.

Here are a few photos immediately after refinishing and then after the tires installed.

Before I put these on the car, I potentially COULD (for the right price) be persuaded to part with them. For now I'll continue to run my Rial 18-inch 8-hole wheels (as in the photos above). However is someone wants a set of pristine, fresh-from-the-shop wheels with brand-new tyres on them, guaranteed to work on the E500E (ET31 and ET35), let me know and make me an offer.

You really can't get a more appropriate nor classic wheel for the E500E than these, and the staggered look is sexy on the car. A bit conservative, but oh so and always so proper for the car.

Cheers,
Gerry

Your refinished AMG monos look fantastic. So you had the lip polished to high shine and then also had clear-coated? Do you know if there will be any problem with the clear coat peeling off since it is now applied on high shine, polished surface? Does anyone have any issues with clear coat peeling off refinished/polished lips?

I am getting my AMG wheels refinished by a local expert, and he told me that clear coats can and will peel off since polished lips no longer have the factory "machined" surface. So he suggested painting the entire wheel silver including the lip and then clear coat. I would like to keep the lip area NOT painted and just clear-coated as in your refinished monos if clear-coating polished lip is typically not an issue over time. Thanks.

 

[gerryvz]

The same thing was done before (circa 2005) and I never had one iota of peeling of clear-coat. Others may have stories, but I've had no issues.

I say go with what you want to do.

Cheers,
Gerry

 

[gsxr]

Another option is to leave the lip polished and NOT clearcoated at all, i.e. bare metal. Then you can keep it shiny with metal polish. A bit more work, and not practical for wheels that see snow, but in warm/dry climates this may be an alternative to consider. My iForged wheels have powder-coated (clear) centers but the barrels are plain aluminum, not painted or clear coated.

 

[S500E]

Another option is to leave the lip polished and NOT clearcoated at all, i.e. bare metal. Then you can keep it shiny with metal polish. A bit more work, and not practical for wheels that see snow, but in warm/dry climates this may be an alternative to consider. My iForged wheels have powder-coated (clear) centers but the barrels are plain aluminum, not painted or clear coated.

Yes, that is the other option - bare, polished metal with NO clear coat. That may be a bit too much work for me though. I'll go with painted center, polished lip, and clear coat everything. Is that speedshine that you are using to clean your wheels? Good stuff...

 

[T-500]

I just had my AMG wheels refinished and specified that the lips be polished. Unlike Gerry's, the lips are not clear coated.
They recommended AutoGlym metal polish to take care of them.
Machined lips, on the other hand, are typically protected with clear coat.

 

[gerryvz]

Giving a technical session on the M117 at last weekend's Sixth Annual MBCA Texas Get-Together.

 

[gerryvz]

560SEC on a warm Houston summer night....

 

[Jelmer]

Now that's class. Wow.

 

[gerryvz]

Thanks. My daily driver. She has 196,000 miles on her (314,000 km) and 13,000 miles on the rebuilt top end

 

[mistermiata]

Gerry,

Any reason you use the 560 instead of the E500 as your daily driver?

Andy

 

[195910]

Now that's class. Wow.

+1, complete with 1980s US style side stripes and 040 paint

 

[sheward]

I didn't realize you owned an SEC, Gerry. Do both the SEC and your SL, (sorry, your wifes SL)... share the same motor (117) and which one did you document the top end rebuild on?

drew

....I suspect He cherishes the E500 more and like most of us He's concerned about the general populus and their driving skills.

 

[gerryvz]

Thanks for the interest and questions. The 560SEC is the daily driver because it has more miles on it (196,000) vs. the E500 with only 112K.

Yes my wife's 560SL has the same identical motor as the SEC. (Actually there are few minor differences between them, but they are MUCH closer than say the W124 and R129 versions of the LH-injected M119 are). A few key differences between the M117s in the R107 chassis and the C126 are:

• R107 only has one snorkel on the air cleaner housing; C126/W126 560SEC/SEL have dual snorkels
• R107 has an oil filter canister that you remove from under the car. The C126 oil filter is like the 036 -- a lid that you remove from above. Same filter between the R107 and C126 though; you just get at it differently
• R107 doesn't have the crossover pipe behind the motor (on top of the transmission bell-housing) whereas the US-spec 560SEL/SEC have the crossover pipe
• R107 only has 227 HP in US trim; C/W126 have 238 HP in US trim (and about the same difference in torque)
• MY SEC has a 3.06 rear end installed in it (I had a gearset custom made); the R107 560SL has a standard 2.47 gearset (which the SEC also came with stock). At 60-80 MPH, the SEC is running about 800-850 RPM higher than the SL does, and the hit on mileage is 1-2 MPG depending on the type of driving that is done. I've got about 40,000 miles on the adapted gearset in the rear end and it's holding up fine. Both cars came stock from the factory with limited slip.

The C126 SEC was the car I did the top end on last year. The R107 only has 50,800 original miles on it. It's unbelievable how smoothly the R107 idles, runs and shifts. The transmission (which is an earlier 722.3 variant than our 036s use, which is a bit less advanced) is very firm and really nice. The M117 is a totally different engine in the R107 chassis and the 126. 126 is much smoother, refined, solid feeling. The R107 is louder, and you sort of "feel" the motor more in that car. Not nearly as refined.

I really like the SEC and the E500 about equally. The E500 is funner to drive when you just want to go out and be naughty. The SEC is just a wonderful car for going out and driving and touring, for example the four-hour drive from Houston up to Dallas. SEC is much more luxurious, absorbs bumps better, and is just more refined. If I had to keep one car forever though, it would have to be the E500 because of the rarity and heritage, and power it has. Although the SEC is lowered (Eibach ProKit), the stock E500 handles much better. I've had the SEC since August of 2002, and the E500 since August of 2003 (right when Scott started 500Ecstasy).

Indeed the SEC is **very** 80s with the pinstripe and Lorinser deep-dish 16" ET11 RS90 wheels. It took me a while to really start to like the wheels (I paid $1,500 extra for the car including the wheels) but over time I've really come to enjoy them. Sort of like the Rials on the E500, not super common but entirely proper and correct for the car, not to mention classic The pinstripe was done by a very famous pinstriper in New Jersey - his signature trademark is a small pair of "Hang Ten" feet on the right rear corner of the decklid. This guy did A LOT of very high-end Benzes in the 1970s and 1980s on the East Coast. Paint on the SEC is all original except for the hood, which was replaced right before I got the car. The title is 100% clean. The leather is "mushroom / champignon" color

Cheers,
Gerry

 

[195910]

Hi GVZ,

How many owners did it have?

Classic status is coming up real soon for these cars. the W126 is starting to get H-plates in Germany.

 

[gerryvz]

I am the third owner of this SEC. The second owner (from 1994-2001) was a Dutch executive living in Silicon Valley. I have all paperwork on the car from 1994 onward, when it had about 45,000 miles. It was well-maintained during the second owner's tenure. I really need to get a VMI on the car for its first 5 years.

My car will become "smog exempt" in 2-3 years here in Texas and I plan to do some tweaking on it at that time. The inspection authorities earlier this year gave my 1998 560SL "smog exempt" status a bit early (a sympathetic inspector) because the car was actually BUILT in September of 1986, which was technically 25 years before 2011 despite the model year being only 24 years old

Cheers,
Gerry

 

[gerryvz]

I decided to do a "GSXR-style" summary of my E500 mods:

1994 Mercedes-Benz E500
Pearl Black Metallic (199) with black leather (271) interior
Car purchased: August 2003, Marin County, CA
Mileage: (purchase) 67K; (currently) 113K


Interior Modifications:

• Factory climate-control wood with extra cutout for ASR OFF switch
• Center console wood modified with additional switch for FGS on/off control
• Factory Euro fire extinguisher on driver's seat
• Factory Euro gear-lever plate with E/S switch for FGS mode control
• 2Phast® Inc. Gentex auto-dimming rear-view mirror with integrated HomeLink & compass
• Valentine One radar/laser detector hard-wired above rear-view mirror
• Kuda leather cell phone/iPod mount on edge of center console
• Factory SEC/Euro style door lock knobs
• Griot's Garage autobahn (blind spot) mirror
• Griot's Garage suit hanger on driver's side headrest

Stereo Modifications:

• Blitzsafe iPod connection cable mounted to rear of stock head-unit (CD changer plug)
• 80GB Generation 5 Apple iPod video
• Rainbow front dash replacement speakers (purchased at Rainbow factory in Germany)
• Rainbow rear deck replacement speakers (purchased at Rainbow factory in Germany)

Body Modifications:

• Correct Euro E500 headlight assemblies (obtained new, for free in Europe)
• Jimbo™ brand cold-air intake slots added to wiper panels under headlights
• German-made aftermarket 600-style grill insert
• W140 toolkit fit inside spare tire
• MacNeil Products (WeatherTech) clear/covered rear license plate frame
• Factory front plate delete blank
• Euro trunk-mounted warning triangle

Chassis Modifications:

• AMG Mono II 18" staggered wheels (18x8 front, 18x9 rear)
• Rial 8-hole factory pattern 18" wheels (all 18x8)
• Factory R129 16" steel wheels (with BF Goodrich street-legal drag radials mounted)
• Wiechers front strut tower brace bar

Powertrain Modifications:

• 1992 LH fuel injection computer (obtained new in the UK from Mercman)
• Five different varieties of EPROMs (currently using stock 1992 LH EPROM)
• Walker DynoMax cat-back exhaust with oval tip (maintains separate main muffler + resonator)
• ASR (traction control) defeat switch
• BergWerks First Gear Start module ("Mack Daddy" version w/security, winter and sport modes)
• BergWerks +100HP nitrous-oxide system with custom in-trunk mounting bracket, bottle blanket, bottle heater
• NOS gas purge valve for nitrous system
• German-made, TüV-approved V-max removal box

Planned / Future Modifications:

• Test purchased RENNtech carbon-fiber airbox
• Silver Arrow brake upgrade w/new brake lines, performance rotors, pads
• RDMTek modified rear lower control arms

Best dragstrip times - uncorrected:

• Without nitrous-oxide activation: 14.02 sec @ 99.39 mph (sea level, 2.82 gears, no LSD, stock wheels @ 21 PSI, spare removed)
• With nitrous-oxide activation: 12.89 sec @ 111.83 mph (sea level, 2.82 gears, no LSD, drag radials, seat and spare removed)

Both runs performed on different dates at Portland International Raceway. No correction necessary as PIR elevation is ~40' above sea level.



Cheers,
Gerry

 

[gerryvz]

1989 Mercedes-Benz 560SEC
Black (040) with cream-beige mushroom leather (275) interior
Car purchased: August 2002, Marin County, CA
Mileage: (purchase) 143K; (currently) 199K


Interior Modifications:

• Center console coin tray modified with additional switch for FGS on/off control
• Factory Euro fire extinguisher on driver's seat
• 2Phast® Inc. Gentex auto-dimming rear-view mirror with integrated HomeLink & compass
• Valentine One radar/laser detector hard-wired above rear-view mirror
• Griot's Garage autobahn (blind spot) mirror
• Euro leather pillow cushion between rear seats

Stereo Modifications:

• Upgraded to Becker 1480 head-unit (used in later cars)
• 16GB Generation 5 Apple iPod Nano
• Becker iPod input modification to head-unit

Body Modifications:

• Correct Euro 560SEC headlight assemblies & turn signals
• Mercedes-Benz 250,000 km Award grill badge
• Euro trunk-mounted warning triangle

Chassis Modifications:

• Lorinser RS90 deep-dish 16" wheels (16 x 8.5 all around)
• Eibach Pro-Kit lowering springs (approx. 1.5" drop all around)

Powertrain Modifications:

• BergWerks First Gear Start module ("Mack Daddy" version w/security, winter and sport modes)
• Custom-modified 3.07 rear differential using MB gearset in a factory ABS 2.47 housing

Planned / Future Modifications:

• Install BergWerks one-touch window-lowering kit (ready to install)
• Install factory Euro gear-lever plate with E/S switch for FGS mode control (obtained in Europe)
• Install factory tri-Y headers (ready to install)
• Refinish all interior wood at Madeira Concepts
• Refurbish headliner with mushroom alcantara fabric
• Build high-performance (300HP) M117 motor

Best dragstrip times - uncorrected:

• 15.277 sec at 91.25 MPH
• 15.348 sec at 90.84 MPH

Performed on different dates at Portland International Raceway. No correction necessary as PIR elevation is ~40' above sea level.



Cheers,
Gerry

 

[gerryvz]

Added drag-strip times above. The times listed were with the stock 2.47 US-spec 560SEC rear-end. I would expect approximately 0.7-0.9 second lower times with the current 3.07 rear-end.

Cheers,
Gerry

 

[gerryvz]

Here are the emissions summaries for my 560SEC. I just had it in for its annual safety inspection / emissions test today. You can see that the December, 2009 test results were quite a bit worse than preceding and successive years because of the oil-burning through the valve guides in the 2009/2010 time period, which precipitated the top-end rebuild that I began on February 28, 2010.

In any case, for owners of SECs, I thought these results (historical, since I purchased the car in 2002) would be interesting. The car is still using its original catalytic converter, FYI.

The first four tests (2002-2008) were done in the State of Oregon. The last four tests were done in the Republic of Texas. Also, it is interesting to note that for the April 2008 test (my final test in Oregon), that state had changed its testing regimen and it became very consistent with the one used by Texas.

Also note that the state standard for that test is indicated in parenthesis, under my test result number. Both Oregon and Texas have tightened their emissions regulations over the past 10 years, as you can see from the figures in parenthesis from year to year.


1989 MERCEDES-BENZ 560SEC EMISSIONS TEST RESULTS

[TABLE="class: grid, width: 500"]
[TR]
[TD][/TD]
[TD]9/23/2002
[/TD]
[TD]5/5/2004
[/TD]
[TD]4/8/2006
[/TD]
[TD]4/26/2008
[/TD]
[TD]11/28/2008
[/TD]
[TD]12/5/2009
[/TD]
[TD]1/5/2011
[/TD]
[TD]1/7/2012
[/TD]
[TD]1/4/2013
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Mileage
[/TD]
[TD]143,000
[/TD]
[TD]150,000
[/TD]
[TD]159,000
[/TD]
[TD]169,000
[/TD]
[TD]174,630
[/TD]
[TD]181,791
[/TD]
[TD]190,098
[/TD]
[TD]199,539
[/TD]
[TD]205,741
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]THC (g/mi)
[/TD]
[TD]1.89
(2.00)
[/TD]
[TD]1.23
(2.00)
[/TD]
[TD]0.72
(1.20)
[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]HC (ppm)
[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD]2
(220)
[/TD]
[TD]16
(220)
[/TD]
[TD]40
(130)
[/TD]
[TD]5
(130)
[/TD]
[TD]18
(130)
[/TD]
[TD]10
(130)
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]CO (g/mi)
[/TD]
[TD]5.5
(32)
[/TD]
[TD]6.2
(32)
[/TD]
[TD]3.2
(30)
[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]CO (%)
[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD]0.04
(1)
[/TD]
[TD]0.09
(1.2)
[/TD]
[TD]0.29
(0.83)
[/TD]
[TD]0.05
(0.83)
[/TD]
[TD]0.11
(0.83)
[/TD]
[TD]0.11
(0.83)
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]CO2 (g/mi)
[/TD]
[TD]1121.8
(none)
[/TD]
[TD]939.6
(none)
[/TD]
[TD]904.1
(none)
[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]CO2 (%)
[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD]15.1
(none)
[/TD]
[TD]14.8
(none)
[/TD]
[TD]14.6
(none)
[/TD]
[TD]15.0
(none)
[/TD]
[TD]15.8
(none)
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]NOx (g/mi)
[/TD]
[TD]0.91
(3.70)
[/TD]
[TD]0.39
(3.70)
[/TD]
[TD]0.67
(3.00)
[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]NOx (ppm)
[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD]0.00
[/TD]
[TD]73
(905)
[/TD]
[TD]175
(905)
[/TD]
[TD]50
(905)
[/TD]
[TD]47
(905)
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]O2 (%)
[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD]0.1
(none)
[/TD]
[TD]0.1
(none)
[/TD]
[TD]0.0
(none)
[/TD]
[TD]0.0
(none)
[/TD]
[TD]0.0
(none)
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Dilution
CO+CO2 (%)
[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD]15.6
(>6)
[/TD]
[TD]15.2
(>6)
[/TD]
[TD]15.1
(>6)
[/TD]
[TD]14.7
(>6)
[/TD]
[TD]15.1
(>6)
[/TD]
[TD]15.9
(>6)
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]RESULT
[/TD]
[TD]PASS
[/TD]
[TD]PASS
[/TD]
[TD]PASS
[/TD]
[TD]PASS
[/TD]
[TD]PASS
[/TD]
[TD]PASS
[/TD]
[TD]PASS
[/TD]
[TD]PASS
[/TD]
[TD]PASS
[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

My theory at this point (looking at the test results) is that my catalytic converter, while original and keeping the car well within the Texas emissions specifications, is slowly starting to fail. I've no doubt that it will last the two more years required by Texas law until the car reaches 25 model years in age, at which time I will replace the exhaust system with the European factory MB Tri-Y headers I obtained this past summer in Belgium (which add ~25HP as a bolt-on) and a new, X-pipe dual exhaust system. Probably will eliminate the cat at that point.

Cheers,
Gerry

 

[gerryvz]

Passed a milestone today (321.000 km) in the 560SEC:

 

[J-Sauce]

Got that same pedigree in my E320 wagon a few weeks ago!

 

[gerryvz]

1994 E500 Emission Results (cumulative)

Hello all,

Here is a table of my cumulative emissions test results during my ownership of the 1994 E500.

The tests up to and including January 2008 were performed in Oregon (every other year).
The test including and after November 2008 were performed in Texas (every year, except 2009 when I did not have the car tested).

Hope this is useful for comparatives.

1994 MERCEDES-BENZ E500 EMISSIONS TEST RESULTS

[TABLE="class: grid, width: 500"] <tbody>[TR] [TD]
[/TD] [TD]12/10/2003
[/TD] [TD]1/21/2006
[/TD] [TD]1/12/2008
[/TD] [TD]11/4/2008
[/TD] [TD]12/6/2010
[/TD] [TD]1/4/2012
[/TD] [TD]1/26/2013
[/TD] [TD]2/1/2014
[/TD] [TD]4/25/2015[/TD] [TD]10/9/2015[/TD] [TD]10/22/2016
[/TD] [TD]
[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Mileage
[/TD] [TD]73,000[/TD] [TD]88,000[/TD] [TD]97,000[/TD] [TD]101,570[/TD] [TD]110,989[/TD] [TD]113,837[/TD] [TD]117,182[/TD] [TD]124,857[/TD] [TD]131,394[/TD] [TD]133,372[/TD] [TD]136,559[/TD] [TD]Mileage
[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]HC
(ppm)
[/TD] [TD]3[/TD] [TD]0 (idle)
21 (2500)[/TD] [TD]19[/TD] [TD]1[/TD] [TD]11 (idle)
9 (2500)[/TD] [TD]15 (idle)
12 (2500)[/TD] [TD]4 (idle)
2 (2500)[/TD] [TD]8 (idle)
11 (2500)[/TD] [TD]80 (idle)
13 (2500)[/TD] [TD]2 (idle)
11 (2500)[/TD] [TD]3 (idle)
6 (2500)[/TD] [TD]HC
(ppm)
[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]CO
(%)
[/TD] [TD]0.00 (idle)
0.01 (2500)[/TD] [TD]0.00 (idle)
0.07 (2500)[/TD] [TD]0.01[/TD] [TD]0[/TD] [TD]0.01[/TD] [TD]0[/TD] [TD]0[/TD] [TD]0[/TD] [TD]0.14 (idle)
0.03 (2500)[/TD] [TD]0.00 (idle)
0.02 (2500)[/TD] [TD]0.00 (idle)
0.01 (2500)[/TD] [TD]CO
(%)
[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]CO2
(%)
[/TD] [TD]
[/TD] [TD]
[/TD] [TD]
[/TD] [TD]15.0 (idle)
15.1 (2500)[/TD] [TD]14.7[/TD] [TD]14.8 (idle)
14.7 (2500)[/TD] [TD]15.1 (idle)
15.1 (2500)[/TD] [TD]14.7 (idle)
13.9 (2500)[/TD] [TD]14.1 (idle)
14.8 (2500)[/TD] [TD]14.6 (idle)
14.3 (2500)[/TD] [TD]14.7 (idle)
14.3 (2500)[/TD] [TD]CO2
(%)
[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]NOx
(ppm)
[/TD] [TD]
[/TD] [TD]
[/TD] [TD]
[/TD] [TD]0[/TD] [TD]0[/TD] [TD]0[/TD] [TD]0[/TD] [TD]0[/TD] [TD]0[/TD] [TD]0[/TD] [TD]0
[/TD] [TD]NOx
(ppm)
[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]O2
(%)
[/TD] [TD]
[/TD] [TD]
[/TD] [TD]
[/TD] [TD]0[/TD] [TD]0.6 (idle)
0 (2500)[/TD] [TD]0[/TD] [TD]0[/TD] [TD]0 (idle)
0.5 (2500)[/TD] [TD]1.4 (idle)
0 (2500)[/TD] [TD]0 (idle)
0.7 (2500)[/TD] [TD]0.0 (idle)
0.3 (2500)[/TD] [TD]O2
(%)
[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Dilution
CO+CO2
(%)
[/TD] [TD]15.2[/TD] [TD]14.8 (idle)
14.9 (2500)[/TD] [TD]15.5[/TD] [TD]15.0 (idle)
15.1 (2500)[/TD] [TD]14.7[/TD] [TD]14.8 (idle)
14.7 (2500)[/TD] [TD]15.1 (idle)
15.1 (2500)[/TD] [TD]14.7 (idle)
13.9 (2500)[/TD] [TD]14.2 (idle)
14.8 (2500)[/TD] [TD]14.6 (idle)
14.3 (2500)[/TD] [TD]14.7 (idle)
14.3 (2500)[/TD] [TD]Dilution
CO+CO2
(%)
[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]RESULT
[/TD] [TD]PASS
[/TD] [TD]PASS
[/TD] [TD]PASS
[/TD] [TD]PASS
[/TD] [TD]PASS
[/TD] [TD]PASS
[/TD] [TD]PASS
[/TD] [TD]PASS
[/TD] [TD]PASS[/TD] [TD]PASS[/TD] [TD]PASS
[/TD] [TD]RESULT
[/TD] [/TR] </tbody>[/TABLE] Cheers,
Gerry

 

[036]

Gerry, why don´t you drive your E500??

 

[gerryvz]

You can see that for quite a few years I did drive it "daily". Since I moved to Texas in August 2008, I made the decision to drive my 560SEC more because it has much higher mileage. When you have multiple cars, you have multiple options about what to drive every day

Cheers,
Gerry

 

[gsxr]

When you have multiple cars, you have multiple options about what to drive every day

+1.

In general, I prefer to rack up miles on my 300D (currently 313kmi) instead of the E500... and, the 300D gets ~28mpg. Our 500's get driven at least weekly except during winter, they pretty much get parked for 2-3 months during the snow & ice season, for obvious reasons. I'd be nervous driving an .036 daily just due to the enormous amount of distracted drivers on the road today, busier dinking with their phones than they are watching the road. It's getting harder to replace an squished .036 these days.

 

[gerryvz]

It's getting harder to replace an squished .036 these days.

Umm ... Some people have done this with W210 E60s.....

 

[036]

When you have multiple cars, you have multiple options about what to drive every day

Maybe in the US it makes sense to drive C126 and keep 036 in the garage....I don´t see any sence in this here =)

 

[gerryvz]

Maybe in the us it makes sence to drive C126 and keep 036 in the garage....I don´t see any sence in this here =)

Yes, an R107 560SL too (with 51,010 miles on it).

Choices .... choices.....

 

[gerryvz]

The GVZ SEC last (Sunday) night, 5:30 PM sunset, after a fresh washing ....

 

[Jelmer]

Lookin' good! (He said, while being blinded by the low sun, while it's -5C here).

 

[E500W124]

*BLING*

 

[gerryvz]

Lookin' good! (He said, while being blinded by the low sun, while it's -5C here).

I was outside in shorts and a t-shirt working up a sweat polishing and waxing that car !!

 

[Jelmer]

blahblahblah! Don't want to hear it.

Anyway, fancy posting some interior pics of the old girl?

 

[gerryvz]

Sure, I can take some. It's pretty dirty right now.

And mushroom(TM) leather is so light colored that it soils quite easily.....

 

[gerryvz]

Some photos of the GVZ R107 1987 560SL .... just to round out what's sitting in the garage, MB-wise.

I purchased this car in the summer of 2006 as a 10th anniversary (wedding) present for my wife. Robert Fenton stored it for me for 3 years at his San Rafael, CA shop. The car was a Sacramento car for all of its life until I got it, sold new by Von Housen Motors in Sacto.

When I obtained the car, I installed Euro headlights, a new black soft-top (GAHH German material), new leather on both front seats, and a new rear folding "jump-seat." The car also got a brand new piece of shifter burlwood, to the tune of about $400.

You can see an extended collection of photos of this SL in a separate photo album by clicking the "Gallery" tab at the top of your screen. This is only a small sub-set of the photos.

 

[sheward]

Car looks pristine, Gerry. Very nice.

drew

 

[bing]

New soft top and new leather on such low mileage? California sun damage? Or is it GVZ being GVZ ?

 

[gerryvz]

Car looks pristine, Gerry. Very nice.

New soft top and new leather on such low mileage? California sun damage? Or is it GVZ being GVZ ?

A little bit of both.

The driver's and passenger's seats had popped cotton stitching along the pleats. This is evidence of California sun damage, because the stitching gives way when prolonged exposure to the sun happens. The leather was a bit sun-faded and hard (not cracked though). The popped stitching is a very common issue with SLs exposed to the sun.

The soft top had one very small hole in it about the size of a US quarter, at a point where it folded and thus received a lot of wear. This I didn't like and coupled with the fact that the top was original and nearly 20 years old, just decided to have it replaced. Unfortunately replacing an R107 or R113 soft top is not really a "DIY" job and is best accomplished (at considerable labour expense) by a professional. And tops are not cheap either, when purchased of good quality -- they tend to cost about USD $700-1000.

I deleted most of the photos and added them to a new dedicated photo album in the "Gallery" section here.

The US double sealed-beam headlights really blow chunks ! This car is now "exempt" from all Texas smog regulations. The next and only real modification I see it getting in the future is European (smaller) bumpers. Note that the M117 engine only has a single intake snorkel, as opposed to the M117 found in my 560SEC. The M117 as found in the 560SL only made 227 HP as opposed to the 238 HP in the SEC.

Cheers,
Gerry

 

[Jelmer]

That's one heck of a nice ride, Gerry. Very nice indeed.

So, does X0 LULU mean anything? I did notice the small 10, related to the 10 year anniversary? I wish we could get custom plates here ;(

 

[bing]

The next and only real modification I see it getting in the future is European (smaller) bumpers.

Yes, those bumpers don't do it justice.

I like these kind of presents to the Mrs, one's that make you look real good and one's that you can share .. also a perfect way to get more clearance on spending time in the garage tinkering and, more importantly, keeping this site informed and entertaining.



Cheers!
Bing

 

[gerryvz]

So, does X0 LULU mean anything?(

Lulu is my wife's nickname (from childhood and what she goes by with friends & family). XO is just like you put at the end of a letter "XOXO"

I did notice the small 10, related to the 10 year anniversary?(

The 10 sticker is the month that the registration year sticker (which you see on the other side of the license plate) expires. So in this case it was October. In Oregon & neighboring Washington State they give you a new "year" sticker when the car passes emissions testing, which is usually 2 years from the present expiration. There is no vehicle inspection in Oregon (other than emissions every two years) nor Washington that I know of (I haven't lived in Washington since early 1992 though).

In Texas they give you a large blue & white sticker for your windshield (no stickers on the license plate) that denotes the month and year of the expiration (which is every year). The other Texas sticker is to indicate that the car passed the annual vehicle inspection.

 

[gerryvz]

Re: '93 500E Väth V12

WARNING: OFF-TOPIC:

With all due respect, but I doubt that you can see *anything* negative under those circumstances.

When you live in one place for two weeks, you do start to see the negative, as well as the positive. Vladivostok is a city that was never opened to Westerners during the Iron Curtain days, so it's only in very recent years that folks have been able to go there. We only had her for part of the time toward the end of our stay there (until after the judge awarded custody to us).

 

[bing]

Re: '93 500E Väth V12

+1 off topic!

Gerry, tell them the story about those cops chasing you after taking pictures!

 

[gerryvz]

Re: '93 500E Väth V12

+1 off topic!

Gerry, tell them the story about those cops chasing you after taking pictures!

Not too much to the story. I had about 10 days to go out and wander around the Siberian city of Vladivostok while we were waiting for our adoption paperwork and court date to happen. So I walked around the city and took hundreds of photos of stuff I saw. The old railroad station was beautifully restored, inside and out. There was an elevated walkway over the tracks behind the station. There were two railroad police who were taking care of a drunk guy who was hanging around just a few feet from the edge of the platform, next to a busy track area. I was watching this from above, as they went and got a stretcher and snapped a couple of photos of the cops putting him on the stretcher. I was near the top of a stairway from the platform up to the walkway (which you can see in the edge of the photo). Literally about 3 seconds after I took the photo in question, the cops looked up, saw me snapping photos, and dropped the stretcher and took off the stairs up and after me. I sprinted across the walkway over the tracks and into the train station. Got lost in the crowd and walked out the front of the station onto the street, and continued that day's jaunt around the city.

A couple of photos attached - showing the drunk guy passed out on the platform with one of the cops standing next to him (the other was retrieving the stretcher), and the cops picking him up just before they spotted & came after me. Another photo shows the bridge I crossed to escape into the railroad station.

The last photo shows my baby Russian girl today