SL/R230: Update on the "machine"
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 2,604
Likes: 125
2026 Mercedes CLE53A4 AMG Cabriolet and 2025 MAYBACH EQS680V4
Update on the "machine"
My car has been built and has now entered a 6 day testing period upon which time it will be put on a plane and flown to California.
I am almost done with my driveway so I can get the car up to my house.
Here are some pictures. This is half of the driveway. Once we test it we will complete the other side.
Getting close now.
I am almost done with my driveway so I can get the car up to my house.
Here are some pictures. This is half of the driveway. Once we test it we will complete the other side.
Getting close now.
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 28,933
Likes: 12
Originally Posted by StephenK
You have to leave it to him, he thinks it all out, down to the driveway. I am excited for you, can't wait to see that new car.
I'm afraid he'll have so much fun that he'll stop posting here
Trending Topics
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 2,604
Likes: 125
2026 Mercedes CLE53A4 AMG Cabriolet and 2025 MAYBACH EQS680V4
Originally Posted by tiggerfink
Looks like the drive way has a steep entrance. I hope you do not scrape the bottom of your bumper.
MB World Stories
The Best of Mercedes & AMG
6 Mercedes Models That Did NOT Age Well (But Are Somehow Still Cool)
Verdad Gallardo
Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Verdad Gallardo
8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine
Verdad Gallardo
Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction
Verdad Gallardo
Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes 300D Has Pushed Well Past 1 Million Miles and It Ain't Stopping
Verdad Gallardo
Newbie
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
Don't you just hate curbs though?!
Is there some way to delete the curb? I suppose water may wash onto your driveway but at least it won't freeze over where you live. I have a gutter at the bottom of my driveway and I am reminded amply of it every time I drive over it.
BTW, I love the way you put so much thought into your passion. I'm looking forward to learning about your new Vanquish S ... and driveway.
BTW, I love the way you put so much thought into your passion. I'm looking forward to learning about your new Vanquish S ... and driveway.
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 2,604
Likes: 125
2026 Mercedes CLE53A4 AMG Cabriolet and 2025 MAYBACH EQS680V4
Test was a success...
Tested a Vanquish on the driveway today and it went up with ease and room to spare.
Started the other side and hope to be ready early next week for the final pour on both sides.
The curb is being redone as the angle of entry is now off. It will also be flattened a litte with additional drainage put in.
Started the other side and hope to be ready early next week for the final pour on both sides.
The curb is being redone as the angle of entry is now off. It will also be flattened a litte with additional drainage put in.
Newbie
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
Congratulations and keep us updated!
I am more than entertained by observing the progress on your "civil engineering" escapades ...maybe I should fix that gutter at the bottom of my driveway. I trust you have an appropriate itinerary planned for the "machine's" break-in period. 
Reno
Reno
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 2,604
Likes: 125
2026 Mercedes CLE53A4 AMG Cabriolet and 2025 MAYBACH EQS680V4
Break-in
Originally Posted by Reno
I trust you have an appropriate itinerary planned for the "machine's" break-in period.
Reno
The break-in consists of taking it easy by not going over 6,000 RPM or 135 MPH for the first 1000 miles.
After that you can do what you want.
During the break-in period you do have to make sure you "run" the car in an aggressive matter so it learns that you are going to push performance. The car will respond to your driving habits and ultimately your acceleration will be superior if broken in this way.
Newbie
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
Hmm, something for AM and MB to mull over?
Originally Posted by LovinSL600
The break-in on the Vanquish S is very different than Mercedes. These cars actually learn your driving style so the more you "baby" the car in the beginning the less it will perform later on.
The break-in consists of taking it easy by not going over 6,000 RPM or 135 MPH for the first 1000 miles.
After that you can do what you want.
During the break-in period you do have to make sure you "run" the car in an aggressive matter so it learns that you are going to push performance. The car will respond to your driving habits and ultimately your acceleration will be superior if broken in this way.
The break-in consists of taking it easy by not going over 6,000 RPM or 135 MPH for the first 1000 miles.
After that you can do what you want.
During the break-in period you do have to make sure you "run" the car in an aggressive matter so it learns that you are going to push performance. The car will respond to your driving habits and ultimately your acceleration will be superior if broken in this way.
Well, that *is* quite different.
That definitely warrants planning the break-in with your "machine".This brings up some musings I've had. It might be be nice if carmakers provided an extra set of driver-modifiable performance settings (on EPROMs I presume). That way you can train the car to a customized performance profile and set aside another profile you may wish to set up differently. A lock-out feature might also be good for those occasions when you want to protect your settings from being "contaminated" by someone else's driving habits or prevent abuse of the car by toning down the performance when you have to hand your keys to a valet, mechanic or someone whom you'd only grudgingly allow to drive the car.
Another really neat feature might involve a lockable flash memory interface using compact flash or similar memory cards to exchange performance settings which can then be accessed on your Macintosh or Windows PC using proprietary software to ticker with the car's features. The more complex cars get, the less sense it makes to have to sit in your car in order to grapple with the features. I'd rather do that at leisure in my study or on my couch using my IBook.
Reno
Super Member
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 637
Likes: 0
SL55, ML500, GT3 RS, 997C2S
It looks like 6"+ of concrete ya got there. How much steel is going into it?
BTW, take that Bobcat for a spin. Those things are a hoot to play with, especially when you stand it on end with the bucket full. Ask me how I know.
BTW, take that Bobcat for a spin. Those things are a hoot to play with, especially when you stand it on end with the bucket full. Ask me how I know.
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 2,604
Likes: 125
2026 Mercedes CLE53A4 AMG Cabriolet and 2025 MAYBACH EQS680V4
Originally Posted by Scruffyone
It looks like 6"+ of concrete ya got there. How much steel is going into it?
BTW, take that Bobcat for a spin. Those things are a hoot to play with, especially when you stand it on end with the bucket full. Ask me how I know.
BTW, take that Bobcat for a spin. Those things are a hoot to play with, especially when you stand it on end with the bucket full. Ask me how I know.
6 - 7 inches of concrete with #4 steel 12 inches apart. You could land a plane on it.
OK...how do you know?
Member
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 93
Likes: 0
From: Bay Area, CA
'08 E63 - P 30, 66GT 350 (sold)
Third time the charm?
Lovin,
Did you tear out the old, pour/stamp half of the new, test drive on it and tear out the upper portion again? That's what the pictures make it seem like?
Well, you can't let the new one scrape, can you? Did the 600 make it no problem? It still looks beautiful.
I can't wait to see pics of the Jag, I think that will also be a sweet ride.
Cheers,
Vince
Did you tear out the old, pour/stamp half of the new, test drive on it and tear out the upper portion again? That's what the pictures make it seem like?
Well, you can't let the new one scrape, can you? Did the 600 make it no problem? It still looks beautiful.
I can't wait to see pics of the Jag, I think that will also be a sweet ride.
Cheers,
Vince
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 2,604
Likes: 125
2026 Mercedes CLE53A4 AMG Cabriolet and 2025 MAYBACH EQS680V4
Originally Posted by VinceB
Lovin,
Did you tear out the old, pour/stamp half of the new, test drive on it and tear out the upper portion again? That's what the pictures make it seem like?
Well, you can't let the new one scrape, can you? Did the 600 make it no problem? It still looks beautiful.
I can't wait to see pics of the Jag, I think that will also be a sweet ride.
Cheers,
Vince
Did you tear out the old, pour/stamp half of the new, test drive on it and tear out the upper portion again? That's what the pictures make it seem like?
Well, you can't let the new one scrape, can you? Did the 600 make it no problem? It still looks beautiful.
I can't wait to see pics of the Jag, I think that will also be a sweet ride.
Cheers,
Vince
The driveway entrance was only done once and has been tested with a Vanquish. It makes it no problem straight in.
The SL600 made it with the car raised the 1 inch. It would not make it if you didn't raise the car.
Hopefully the Jaguar will be here shortly. The dealer really doesn't know exactly when except that it is September/October.
Below is the finished driveway now undergoing landscaping.
Super Member
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 637
Likes: 0
SL55, ML500, GT3 RS, 997C2S
Originally Posted by ricky.agrawal
Try to line the driveway with soft stuff.
I learned it the hard way when we had all those beautiful flowers.. but I ran over them whenever I had to get out of the driveway in a flash.
I learned it the hard way when we had all those beautiful flowers.. but I ran over them whenever I had to get out of the driveway in a flash.
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 28,933
Likes: 12
Originally Posted by Scruffyone
I think Lovin is setting up his drive for full power exits, full drift entrances.
A few inches off, and it could be disastrous!
