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I left NYC after 50 years following 9/11. My work schedule at AON Insurance included frequent Tue & Thurdsay visits (10 a.m. to 6 p.m.) to admin their Mac Computers. I was on my way to Twin Towers that morning but I was early and standing on 57th st with a coffee & bagel. I was studio manager of a 120 person facility uptown and by 2 p.m. we had about 500-600 employees packed in. I worked till New Years, resigned and planned my move to Australia where I bought in to a small regional Mac Shop and learned to drive RHD Mercs. I had owned five BMW's in the US but they were very overpriced here so switched to MBs and owned three till two months ago. They're going one-by-one as i need to return to USA. So i'm contemplating my next Ride for Phoenix. I'm considering everything from a 2014 CPO E550 Coupé to a circa 1995 E320 Coupé or Convertible. ALso like the 2009 era CLK240's but need to see what MBUSA imported. So i'll be asking heaps of questions. And being a DIY mechanic for fifty years, i'm concerned about the real or perceived drop in quality from ALL German Mfr's starting in the mid-late 1990's.
Two good friends in US, one a builder of M3 track cars and the other, a wrench with a mega-MB dealership both tell the same story of the new German Car reality- that the days of relatively 'trouble-free' 200K mi. Mercs and Bimmers is over...
My current rides:
"The Banker" 1990 300E 221,000 very trouble-free KM. Oyster Metallic w/grey perf. leather interior. Best $8K car i ever owned. Third owner- Daily driver. Mods include Bilsteins with H&R progressive springs, +1 rubber, Akebono pads, Philips H-4 100W-130W headlights & custom harness and Bosch non-resistor plugs.
"The Red Lady" 1982 280CE in Signal Red & beige interior. Third owner. Bought from an eccentric lady Art Professor in 2004 so I inherited its name. 180,000 km and as near to W123 perfection as it gets. Drives like new. Only mods are Bilsteins with H&R progressive springs, +1 rubber, original BBS air dam, Akebono pads, Philips 100W-130W headlights w/ custom harness, Hella vintage chrome '181-style' 100W driving lights w/Hella harness and Bosch non-resistor plugs.
"Benzodrine" 1990 500SL (British- Self Import to Au. by 1st owner) 33,000 Mi. Ice Blue Metallic w/Royal Blue Leather & Navy top. 3rd owner. Bought in London by original owner-shipped to Hong Kong then Au as he was transferred for work. Totally stock except dated, Orig. AMG 'dish' wheels were replaced with new MB '10-spoke' alloys. All broken and/or disintegrating plastic parts have been replaced with 'new-old stock' MB pieces.
1990 300E: The most reliable car I've ever owned...
1982 280CE: The pinnacle of W123 design
280CE Right hand drive interior-stalks and gear shift housing appear to be US Spec.
1990 500SL Super complex for its day... But "Something 'Magic' about the quad-cam 32V M119 motor...
See you're also into the 'cars of my youth! Camaro SS- nice...what motor? 396?
And gottta love the 2 dr. BelAir.
How you like your E350? This is one of the new rides i've been looking at... you think they're over-stuffed with technology? I drove my 300E yesterday after installing new front sway bushings and immediately went looking to see the US availability of E320 Coupes... not one listed on line... I also really like the E320 Convertibles and could easily live with a 1995 fitted w/suspension upgrade. they're cheaper this year than last and a great future classic.
12-07-2016, 04:02 AM
