I'm a bit behind but welcome to the East Coast!
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PWNER - gerryvz
- Thread starter gerryvz
- Start date
Thanks! Finally starting to feel like home and really get settled into the new house. Just started in earnest last weekend on getting my garage unpacked and set up. Looking forward to finishing that job soon, and seeing the Melville Gang in the coming weeks and months!!
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Well, it's not anything really special. Basically just getting my workbenches, tools, and parts set up. This is just Phase 1, the existing garage. Phase 2 will be the real deal -- that will be the construction expansion of the garage to a proper "shop" per se, but that is probably two years out. Right now it's all about just getting things set back up so that I can actually work on my cars again.....
Gerry: Just curious, are you running winter, all season or summer tires on the G wagon? We only got 4 inches here in Albany, NY but the Thruway was coated on my drive home. I'm running Hakkas ( non studded ) on the E320. Very good winter tire.
Regards,
Peter Weissman
Regards,
Peter Weissman
I have a brand new set of Yokohama Geolander tires on my G-wagen, installed last August. No intent to replace them with snow tires at this time -- if conditions get too bad during/after a snowstorm, I just won't drive.
The Maryland department of transportation folks did a good job of keeping the roads plowed and cleared from what I saw yesterday. Even in front of my own house. Although, we didn't get that much snow. But, they seemed to be on top of things quite well.
Cheers,
Gerry
The Maryland department of transportation folks did a good job of keeping the roads plowed and cleared from what I saw yesterday. Even in front of my own house. Although, we didn't get that much snow. But, they seemed to be on top of things quite well.
Cheers,
Gerry
I have found the following, compared to Texas, since moving to Maryland:Your exploited tax dollars hard at work it would seem....
- Property tax -- in Maryland, approximately 60% of property taxes paid in Texas (and on a newly built home in MD, on a full acre of land vs. 0.27 acre in Texas)
- Sales tax -- 6.0% in Anne Arundel County, MD compared to 8.25% in Montgomery County, TX
- Homeowner's insurance -- approximately 60% of that paid in Texas, with double the actual coverage amount
- Automobile insurance -- approximately 30% higher in MD than that paid in Texas (difference of approximately $1,000), though coverage is double the amount, and includes 5 vehicles
- Motorcycle insurance -- 50% less in MD than in TX, with same insurance company (Safeco) and despite double the coverage amount in Maryland
- Umbrella insurance -- Approximately 40% less in Maryland than in TX, despite double the coverage amount
- State income tax -- 6.46% of income in Maryland; zero income tax collected in Texas
- Excise tax for vehicles -- Maryland requires one-time, mandatory excise tax for all incoming vehicles. Each of my vehicles was $39; newer vehicles based on current book value of vehicle. Texas -- no excise tax for incoming vehicles. Excise tax included in below category of "Vehicle license registration".
- Vehicle license registration -- initial vehicle license (includes new MD title, excise tax paid, plates, registration, etc.) ~$300 in Maryland for 2 years ($250 for historic vehicles); ongoing MD registration renewal approximately $100/2 years regular plate, $50/2 years historic plate; Texas approximately $120 per vehicle regular plate per year including annual mandatory state inspection.
- State vehicle inspection -- MD requires extremely comprehensive, one-time $80 inspection for all incoming vehicles to get regular plates; no inspection required for vehicles getting historic plates. TX -- mandatory annual safety inspection approximately $35-40 per vehicle per year; $13 for motorcycles.
Hope this helps.
Cheers,
Gerry
I just finished changing the oil on my 560SEC. I hadn't done this since April, 2016, which was the month before I filed for divorce, and six months before the car got hit by the semi-truck in Houston. The car had only driven 4,700 miles during that time, which is MUCH less than is normal, of course.
Because of the Houston flood, my move to Maryland, and other circumstances, I delayed the normal ~3,000 mile oil change interval to ~4,700 miles. I will send the oil in to Blackstone Labs for an ongoing analysis. Will be interesting to see what the differences in the chemistry and mineral levels are, as compared to 3K mile oil.
Changed the oil in my garage, and it was 28F outside (ambient temp). Interestingly, I went to pour the oil (20W-50) out of the bottle, and it poured MUCH more slowly than I was used to in Texas. Ambients have a big influence on viscosity. I believe that MB says not to use 20W-50 in temps below freezing (32F/0C), but I will continue to do so. I used 20W-50 when I lived in Portland, Oregon and never had any problems whatsoever.
These old M117 engines LOVE thick oil. I'm all out of Penn, so I need to find a source for it hopefully here in Maryland. If not, I'll just mail order it. I'm going to miss not having a muscle car shop a couple miles from my house that always has it in stock.
Cheers,
Gerry
Because of the Houston flood, my move to Maryland, and other circumstances, I delayed the normal ~3,000 mile oil change interval to ~4,700 miles. I will send the oil in to Blackstone Labs for an ongoing analysis. Will be interesting to see what the differences in the chemistry and mineral levels are, as compared to 3K mile oil.
Changed the oil in my garage, and it was 28F outside (ambient temp). Interestingly, I went to pour the oil (20W-50) out of the bottle, and it poured MUCH more slowly than I was used to in Texas. Ambients have a big influence on viscosity. I believe that MB says not to use 20W-50 in temps below freezing (32F/0C), but I will continue to do so. I used 20W-50 when I lived in Portland, Oregon and never had any problems whatsoever.
These old M117 engines LOVE thick oil. I'm all out of Penn, so I need to find a source for it hopefully here in Maryland. If not, I'll just mail order it. I'm going to miss not having a muscle car shop a couple miles from my house that always has it in stock.
Cheers,
Gerry
My car starts right up in the morning, no problem. However if the temp is below 35F, I'll let it idle for 5 minutes or so before I get in and go. Just to make sure everything is circulated.
Before I changed my oil, I ran a few errands and drive the car for about 20 miles up to Cape St. Claire, MD (an Annapolis suburb) and then over to Arnold, MD (neighboring town to the north) to put some gas in it, and get things good and warm. It's nice to see the thermostat operating properly again
I had my E500 out yesterday for about 10 miles on US-50, to the last exit before the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and then back to my house again. Most all of it was freeway. I got 'er up to 100 MPH at one point. It was ready for much more, but the drivers here in MD are very very slow. I guess it didn't help that US-50 is only a 55 MPH highway, either.....
One thing I'll say, that between the G320, E500 and 560SEC ... they LOVE the cold, thick, oxygen-rich Maryland air MUCH more than the thinner, humid, hot air of Texas. I noticed as much when I lived in Portland, OR as well. The E500 was MUCH happier temperature and running-wise in that more moderate climate.
And we have 93 octane Super gas here, too.
Before I changed my oil, I ran a few errands and drive the car for about 20 miles up to Cape St. Claire, MD (an Annapolis suburb) and then over to Arnold, MD (neighboring town to the north) to put some gas in it, and get things good and warm. It's nice to see the thermostat operating properly again
I had my E500 out yesterday for about 10 miles on US-50, to the last exit before the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and then back to my house again. Most all of it was freeway. I got 'er up to 100 MPH at one point. It was ready for much more, but the drivers here in MD are very very slow. I guess it didn't help that US-50 is only a 55 MPH highway, either.....
One thing I'll say, that between the G320, E500 and 560SEC ... they LOVE the cold, thick, oxygen-rich Maryland air MUCH more than the thinner, humid, hot air of Texas. I noticed as much when I lived in Portland, OR as well. The E500 was MUCH happier temperature and running-wise in that more moderate climate.
And we have 93 octane Super gas here, too.
The video review for last summer's Alpentour 2017 was just recently completed.
The Tour was mainly in the South Tirol and Trentino areas of northern Italy. One of the highlights was visiting the mountaintop World War I memorial at Monte Grappa. We also visited and had lunch at a farm that specializes in growing and harvesting very old/antiquated species of vegetables. A lot of stuff that you'd never see, ever.
Watch the video highlights here: http://www.500eboard.com/Alpentour_2017.mp4
Some amusing stuff too ... the 300SEL 6.3 pulling an overheated Jaguar XJ-S (12-cylinder) up to the top of a mountain pass.
Cheers,
Gerry
The Tour was mainly in the South Tirol and Trentino areas of northern Italy. One of the highlights was visiting the mountaintop World War I memorial at Monte Grappa. We also visited and had lunch at a farm that specializes in growing and harvesting very old/antiquated species of vegetables. A lot of stuff that you'd never see, ever.
Watch the video highlights here: http://www.500eboard.com/Alpentour_2017.mp4
Some amusing stuff too ... the 300SEL 6.3 pulling an overheated Jaguar XJ-S (12-cylinder) up to the top of a mountain pass.
Cheers,
Gerry
Just a heads up — I’m having a set of M119 valve covers powder coated red as we speak.
I’m paying $235 for this, so I will sell them for $300 for the pair, plus shipping which will probably be around $25-30. Given acquisition cost, I’m basically not making a dime on them.
Can’t list them in “PARTS FOR SALE” yet as I don’t have photos, but PM me if interested in a red pair of covers.
Otherwise I’ll use them myself.
I have a second set of stock color valve covers in case someone wants a custom powder coated pair. Again, cost would be ~$300 + shipping.
Cheers,
Gerry
Some nice scenery shots of the historic little 38,000 population town that has become my new home.
What happens when you have some Navy midshipmen who have a little free time on the weekend....
[video=youtube_share;HTt-XE0XYMM]https://youtu.be/HTt-XE0XYMM[/video]
What happens when you have some Navy midshipmen who have a little free time on the weekend....
[video=youtube_share;HTt-XE0XYMM]https://youtu.be/HTt-XE0XYMM[/video]
After a lot of planning and parts acquisition, I'm getting ready to commence on a major job on my E500. The winter weather here in Maryland has finally improved, making it much nicer to work out in the shop, as well.
The scope of the job I'll be doing (and documenting in HOW-TO(s)) is as follows:
The scope of the job I'll be doing (and documenting in HOW-TO(s)) is as follows:
- Replace leaking front crankshaft seal
- Replace water pump with rebuilt model (and thermostat, if needed)
- Replace smog pump rubber hoses
- Replace all rubber breather hoses on top of engine (last done ~2004), if needed
- Clean out carbon-blocked EGR tube (triggering regular CEL)
- Replace upper chain rails (if needed)
- Replace lower hose for transmission cooler
- Check and/replace ETA if needed (rebuild existing ETA)
- Replace lower wiring harness with new harness in parts stock
- Replace all vacuum hoses on top of engine
Gerry, have the upper chain rails ever been done on your car? If not... I'd replace them on principle, 24 year old plastic will be nearing the end of its useful life even if currently intact. And you'll already have everything off the front of the engine due to the water pump job.
Upper chain rails have not been done on my M119, no. That's why I put them on there. I have them already in my parts stock, though I have not purchased a new tensioner. If the SWAG thing checks out in the FEBI box, I may go that route. May just do the chain, too.
Definitely do all the upper rails - no question. Tensioner is optional, IMO. Chain is not required unless there is abnormal stretch measured, and IME chain replacement is by far the most miserable job of everything on your bucket list. Although, I would be curious to hear your first-hand report afterwards! And it would make a killer HOW-TO.
Still haven't found it yet - it's still packed somewhere in a box down in the basement. But yes, probably a good idea to replace it. I'll be in touch when the time comes
Yesterday we drove 3.5 hours down to Yorktown, VA and picked up the newest member of our family — a 14 month old yellow lab named Chase.
We stopped at the Yorktown area battlefields and sites, and saw the place where Gen. Charles Cornwallis surrendered his army to Gen. George Washington.
Pretty historic area both with Revolutionary War and Civil War sites.
The cannon I’m sitting next to was produced in Holland in the early 1700s. In the background behind the trees is the York River, where it flows into the Chesapeake Bay.
Meet Chase....
We stopped at the Yorktown area battlefields and sites, and saw the place where Gen. Charles Cornwallis surrendered his army to Gen. George Washington.
Pretty historic area both with Revolutionary War and Civil War sites.
The cannon I’m sitting next to was produced in Holland in the early 1700s. In the background behind the trees is the York River, where it flows into the Chesapeake Bay.
Meet Chase....
I just got back to my mom’s house from Griot’s Garage headquarters in Tacoma, Wash. I dropped by their weekly “cars and coffee” event. No MBs there that I could see, but was cool to finally visit when they were putting one on. My mom’s house (also my childhood home from 1973-1985 when I went to university) is about 20 minutes’ drive away.
Also stopped into their showroom and detailing garage.
Apologies for the crappy photos, which I snapped as I was leaving.
Also stopped into their showroom and detailing garage.
Apologies for the crappy photos, which I snapped as I was leaving.
Will have to see, Maui. I think it will be the third weekend of July. But I’ll also be in Portland that time frame too, and again in August. Preparing for the sale of the Van Zandt cabin in Washougal, WA. I will give you a heads up — likely I’ll be staying over one night.
Finally starting to make some order of the GVZ shop in Maryland.
A few photos of the maintenance parts shelves (note: this is not the same as the basement parts hoard/stash/archive; only maintenance parts) and the fluids cabinet.
Most of you should recognize the requisite GVZ maintenance parts & fluids....
A few photos of the maintenance parts shelves (note: this is not the same as the basement parts hoard/stash/archive; only maintenance parts) and the fluids cabinet.
Most of you should recognize the requisite GVZ maintenance parts & fluids....
Not to mention, a tub of Gleitpaste, a can of the NLA MB lock juice, and an NLA jar of the MB Silikonpaste !!!
That’s a work in process, but when it’s presentable I will definitely Italy post up photos.
Today’s “haul” (additions) harvested for my garage Wall Art project ....
Lots of old-skool aluminum badges today. Notice the difference between the metal 380SL and the plastic 560SL badges. Sad that MB started cheaping out in the mid-80s on this stuff.
Visited two LKQ yards in Edgewood, MD and Jessup, MD. Total of about 120 miles of driving. 90F outside and fortunately about 55-60% humidity. Better than Houston. Drove the E500; was good to exercise her out on the open road.
Thinking I might send GSXR a 300D and a TURBO DIESEL badge or perhaps a 300SDL as I know he loves 123 and 126 diesels....
Lots of old-skool aluminum badges today. Notice the difference between the metal 380SL and the plastic 560SL badges. Sad that MB started cheaping out in the mid-80s on this stuff.
Visited two LKQ yards in Edgewood, MD and Jessup, MD. Total of about 120 miles of driving. 90F outside and fortunately about 55-60% humidity. Better than Houston. Drove the E500; was good to exercise her out on the open road.
Thinking I might send GSXR a 300D and a TURBO DIESEL badge or perhaps a 300SDL as I know he loves 123 and 126 diesels....
It was one year ago today that the floodwaters caused by Hurricane Harvey rose and decimated much of the Houston area. It's hard to believe it's only been a year. And that only six weeks after this all happened, that I moved (having made my offer on my Maryland home about two weeks before Harvey came ashore).
This scene was literally from one year ago this past afternoon, wading through the waters with Laura's 15-year-old Yellow Lab, Griffin, who didn't know whether to swim or walk through the water as we evacuated our apartment building in the Houston suburbs. The rain was still beating down, and the water was rising at a few inches an hour.
The Houston area is still struggling to recover from Hurricane Harvey. I just read that one year on, >8% of residents displaced by the hurricane and flooding have yet to return to their former homes, and may never do so.
Give a moment to send some good thoughts down Houston way.....
Cheers,
Gerry
This scene was literally from one year ago this past afternoon, wading through the waters with Laura's 15-year-old Yellow Lab, Griffin, who didn't know whether to swim or walk through the water as we evacuated our apartment building in the Houston suburbs. The rain was still beating down, and the water was rising at a few inches an hour.
The Houston area is still struggling to recover from Hurricane Harvey. I just read that one year on, >8% of residents displaced by the hurricane and flooding have yet to return to their former homes, and may never do so.
Give a moment to send some good thoughts down Houston way.....
Cheers,
Gerry
Today I replaced the alternator on my 560SEC. One of the diodes in it failed, which caused an internal short and kept the battery light on even if the engine was off and the key removed. From what I tested it was still charging just fine.
The last time I replaced it was in August, 2008, just before I moved from Portland to Houston. It lasted about 75,000 miles (need to confirm this with my maintenance records).
HOW-TO is on the way soon.
When out test-driving the car after the alternator replacement, I noticed that the odometer and trip computer were not working.
Thus, I had to pull the instrument cluster and replace a few of the plastic wheels with new ones in my parts stock from Garagistic. I had two sets, now down to one set.
The culprit was the small, 12-tooth gear which was completely shredded and stripped out. One tooth was also missing from the second (Black) gear as well.
I didn’t do a HOW-TO on the odometer gear replacement; the HOW-TO on the Garagistic site is pretty decent (although it uses a BMW as an example).
There is also an excellent HOW-TO posted to this sites on the topic.
Every long-term owner here should get a spare set of odometer gears for their E500E or other car, because failure is not an “if” issue but rather “when” due to age.
Cheers,
Gerry
The last time I replaced it was in August, 2008, just before I moved from Portland to Houston. It lasted about 75,000 miles (need to confirm this with my maintenance records).
HOW-TO is on the way soon.
When out test-driving the car after the alternator replacement, I noticed that the odometer and trip computer were not working.
Thus, I had to pull the instrument cluster and replace a few of the plastic wheels with new ones in my parts stock from Garagistic. I had two sets, now down to one set.
The culprit was the small, 12-tooth gear which was completely shredded and stripped out. One tooth was also missing from the second (Black) gear as well.
I didn’t do a HOW-TO on the odometer gear replacement; the HOW-TO on the Garagistic site is pretty decent (although it uses a BMW as an example).
There is also an excellent HOW-TO posted to this sites on the topic.
Every long-term owner here should get a spare set of odometer gears for their E500E or other car, because failure is not an “if” issue but rather “when” due to age.
Cheers,
Gerry
I made an appointment today to get the new Michelin tires I got from jeff0093 mounted, balanced and a four-wheel alignment done at Silver Star Service center in Annapolis/Edgewater, MD on November 16th (Friday). Looking forward to getting the new shoes taken care of. Just in time for the winter season, sigh.
The previous tires I had on the car were installed in early 2014 (rears) and in early 2010 (fronts).
In 15+ years of owning the car, I have never had to replace the rear SLS accumulators. I am ordering new units and will do that job in the near future. HOW-TO will be forthcoming.
The previous tires I had on the car were installed in early 2014 (rears) and in early 2010 (fronts).
In 15+ years of owning the car, I have never had to replace the rear SLS accumulators. I am ordering new units and will do that job in the near future. HOW-TO will be forthcoming.
Today I replaced the "Kiekert" relay on my G-wagen, as the old one had a blown solder joint (it was the original relay from 1994), and now I have electric locks again on the truck.
I'll re-flow the solder joints on the old relay and it should be a good spare to have on hand.
Also replaced two of the three coils on the G-wagen's M104, as one of the original blue-label Bosch coils "gave up the ghost", and the truck was only running on four cylinders. The two new Bosch coils (which were the order I received from FCP Euro recently) did the trick, joining the other coil that I had replaced with a new Bosch coil back in 2015.
Truck is running again smooth and happy, with its usual zippy electric door locks.
You've not lived until you hear the perky "Zoosh!" sound of a G-wagen's electric door locks going up and down.
Much nicer than the subtle "Ploomp" of the E500E vacuum door locks.
I'll re-flow the solder joints on the old relay and it should be a good spare to have on hand.
Also replaced two of the three coils on the G-wagen's M104, as one of the original blue-label Bosch coils "gave up the ghost", and the truck was only running on four cylinders. The two new Bosch coils (which were the order I received from FCP Euro recently) did the trick, joining the other coil that I had replaced with a new Bosch coil back in 2015.
Truck is running again smooth and happy, with its usual zippy electric door locks.
You've not lived until you hear the perky "Zoosh!" sound of a G-wagen's electric door locks going up and down.
Much nicer than the subtle "Ploomp" of the E500E vacuum door locks.
