Lucky's build thread, my '82 500SE
#1
Lucky's build thread, my '82 500SE
My name is Lucky, the car is Rosalie.
As I started working on her, I wanted to start up my own thread to add to as I progress. Questions and comments are welcome, for good or ill. Please understand that I am building this car for me and my style, not anyone elses, I am not concerned with period correct upgrades and I am definitely not doing a restoration.
I bought her back in Feb of this year, it was turn-key, with 126k original miles, only one previous owner, and a short stack of the last decades maintenance receipts.
I did the usual "I am not sure when the last time it was done, so lets do it again" mainenance right away, new tires, plugs and wires, oil change, air and fuel filter, ect. I am fairly new to Mercedes, but coming from a BMW background and always doing my own work, I didn't have any issues with finding my way about.
First mod I did was the ol' 560 dual snorkel air filter
And I found a spray can of paint that somewhat matched the Anthracite Grey, to touch up the front air dam before I had a chance to repair and repaint it correctly.
I Changed out the horrible US headlamps with some Depo Bi-Xenon. It was a pain to re-wire everything, but after an hour, I had them in! I also removed the front air dam to get me motivated into getting started on it.
And with the front done, I turned to the rear. I painted a candy apple red over the amber turn signal to give a good base coat before laying the transparent black and finally a clear. Everything still lights up and the turn signals even glow amber when lit. This will not be for everyone taste, and may not even keep it like this, we'll see.
I gave in to my procrastination of cleaning up the engine bay, and began work on polishing the air cleaner. Here is a comparison.
Well, thats all I have so far. As I continue to work, I will continue to add.
Cheers.
As I started working on her, I wanted to start up my own thread to add to as I progress. Questions and comments are welcome, for good or ill. Please understand that I am building this car for me and my style, not anyone elses, I am not concerned with period correct upgrades and I am definitely not doing a restoration.
I bought her back in Feb of this year, it was turn-key, with 126k original miles, only one previous owner, and a short stack of the last decades maintenance receipts.
I did the usual "I am not sure when the last time it was done, so lets do it again" mainenance right away, new tires, plugs and wires, oil change, air and fuel filter, ect. I am fairly new to Mercedes, but coming from a BMW background and always doing my own work, I didn't have any issues with finding my way about.
First mod I did was the ol' 560 dual snorkel air filter
And I found a spray can of paint that somewhat matched the Anthracite Grey, to touch up the front air dam before I had a chance to repair and repaint it correctly.
I Changed out the horrible US headlamps with some Depo Bi-Xenon. It was a pain to re-wire everything, but after an hour, I had them in! I also removed the front air dam to get me motivated into getting started on it.
And with the front done, I turned to the rear. I painted a candy apple red over the amber turn signal to give a good base coat before laying the transparent black and finally a clear. Everything still lights up and the turn signals even glow amber when lit. This will not be for everyone taste, and may not even keep it like this, we'll see.
I gave in to my procrastination of cleaning up the engine bay, and began work on polishing the air cleaner. Here is a comparison.
Well, thats all I have so far. As I continue to work, I will continue to add.
Cheers.
#2
Did an engine cleansing today, and picked up some paint for touching up where the origional car color is showing through on the fire wall. Will start with paint this week sometime.
#3
Another day, another small progression. Front Euro plate.
Forgive my somewhat small updates, this forum seems fairly dead these days, so Im hoping any kind of addition may provoke some interest in this or another thread. Where is everybody?
Forgive my somewhat small updates, this forum seems fairly dead these days, so Im hoping any kind of addition may provoke some interest in this or another thread. Where is everybody?
#6
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Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Mercerville New Jersey
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1991 560SEC Teal 1989 420SEL Ice Blue 1984 500SEC White
Us w126 owners are few in the numbers here. Try benzworld.org
And welcome to the 126 world!
Any questions don't hesitate to ask.
Bruce
And welcome to the 126 world!
Any questions don't hesitate to ask.
Bruce
#7
Thank you
I am very anxious as well. My girlfriend thinks I daydream about her when Im smiling at nothing...
Thank you.
and, I am a member of Benzworld.
I am very anxious as well. My girlfriend thinks I daydream about her when Im smiling at nothing...
and, I am a member of Benzworld.
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#10
Thank you for the kind words, I couldn't think of a better color combo for this car, I am very happy with it. The wheels that are on it now are BBS Mahle, came with the car. As soon as I put on the 3-piece AMG's, these will get refinished and either placed up for sale or added to my ever growing collection of spares
#12
Thank you sir.
Got my wheels mounted today. Now, I'm not sure how I feel about the full polished look. I know I am going to change out the spring pads for smaller ones, I have #4's up front and #3's in the rear now. Def need 20mm spacers in the rear with rolled fenders, and I am thinking that color matched centers will look better than the polished. Oh, and tails are going to be changed again soon, don't like the black out.
Any thoughts?
Got my wheels mounted today. Now, I'm not sure how I feel about the full polished look. I know I am going to change out the spring pads for smaller ones, I have #4's up front and #3's in the rear now. Def need 20mm spacers in the rear with rolled fenders, and I am thinking that color matched centers will look better than the polished. Oh, and tails are going to be changed again soon, don't like the black out.
Any thoughts?
#15
Still under construction, half of the bolts that hold the thing on were rusted and broken, so I am on the look for suitable replacment bolts that will work.
I have had many people call the car ganster, pimp, and mafia style on other forums, so I took a fun pic for that.
Last edited by BADwayz; 06-14-2009 at 02:28 PM.
#16
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Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Seattle, WA - USA
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1985 380SE and 2007 GL 450
Not chrome, would never put on chrome wheels. These are fully polished forged aluminum. But, I feel ya on the look of them, I thought they would look a little better, I am changing the centers to body color asap.
Still under construction, half of the bolts that hold the thing on were rusted and broken, so I am on the look for suitable replacment bolts that will work.
I have had many people call the car ganster, pimp, and mafia style on other forums, so I took a fun pic for that.
Still under construction, half of the bolts that hold the thing on were rusted and broken, so I am on the look for suitable replacment bolts that will work.
I have had many people call the car ganster, pimp, and mafia style on other forums, so I took a fun pic for that.
Last edited by eloc206; 06-15-2009 at 05:06 PM. Reason: added more text
#19
Spent a few hours tonight taking the AMG's apart and started prepping for paint. The front lip has also been repaired and is waiting for paint..... and the tails are being changed as well.