Yesterday, I had nothing better to do after delivering the E320 for the T?V inspection and testdriving the A160 CDI loaner car, so I drove to the garage where my old '85 300SE is parked. This car hasn't been started since December 2004. All I had to do was connect the - and+ wires to the battery and start the thing...or hope it started. Well, it came to life very slowly and after I pumped the accelerator a little bit to help. She sounded a little rough but the motor was cold and has racked up over 180,000 km (112,500 miles) (a friend of ours also has a 300SE with over 500,000 km (312,500 miles)!!!).
My intention was to bring her out in the open garage lot and let her run for a few minutes. The suspension groaned and creeked after months of just sitting in the garage when I put her in "R" and backed out. I drove her around in circles for awhile and then just let her idle for sometime to recharge the battery a little. Boy what a car. She feels old and "outdated" by todays standards. The extremely vague steering, floaty suspension etc. It's a great car though, a true classic and fun to cruise around with.
The car isn't used because having 3 cars run is very costly overhere, especially with my 140% insurance rating (when I am 23, it will go down by 10% every year provided I drive accident free). In 5 years time, the 300SE will have Oldtimer Status (classic car / youngtimer) and be exempt from emission laws etc.
Anyway, here are some recent pics. B)
(http://img82.imageshack.us/img82/364/a300se013th.jpg)
(http://img82.imageshack.us/img82/1918/a300se025ek.jpg)
(http://img82.imageshack.us/img82/6215/a300se039ap.jpg)
(http://img82.imageshack.us/img82/1906/a300se042di.jpg)
Driver's view. :rockon:
(http://img82.imageshack.us/img82/4295/a300se057sy.jpg)
dude, drive the thing regularly. don't let it deteriorate in a garage.
What car do you all have besides the E320 and 300se?
QuoteWhat car do you all have besides the E320 and 300se?
I know his dad has a 500SL.
Nice. What do you wax it with? MB makes some nice paint.
QuoteNice. What do you wax it with? MB makes some nice paint.
Deeeez nuuutz!
QuoteQuoteWhat car do you all have besides the E320 and 300se?
I know his dad has a 500SL.
That's right, I knew I should have known what it was.
Wims, did you buy all these cars new?
QuoteWims, did you buy all these cars new?
The 500SL was a rather recent acquisition.
I WATCH YOU, WIMMER
Quotedude, drive the thing regularly. don't let it deteriorate in a garage.
What he said.
Very nice. The only thing I don't like is the steering wheel...reminds me of a golf cart's steering wheel. :P :rockon:
Tell em like it is Chris.
the hubcaps look sorta nasty.
I like the wheels, very classic looking.
Stately is a good word to describe it.
QuoteI like the wheels, very classic looking.
Stately is a good word to describe it.
they just look flat and bland.
QuoteQuoteI like the wheels, very classic looking.
Stately is a good word to describe it.
they just look flat and bland.
Hardly! I like them, although I would prefer wheels. They certainly arent bland, IMO.
Speaking of wheels, has anyone else seen the new ones on the non C 300? They look much better than the originals imho.
QuoteSpeaking of wheels, has anyone else seen the new ones on the non C 300? They look much better than the originals imho.
Yes they do, IMO. I agree with you.
Put that thing on some 20s Wimmer, and pimp it all the way down to the red light district for some aciton. Woooooooo Hoooooooooo!
Wimmer needs these...
(http://www.tirerack.com/images/wheels/amg/swap/amg_129_bs_ci3_l.jpg)
Quotedude, drive the thing regularly. don't let it deteriorate in a garage.
I plan on doing just that. After I graduate from college (December), I need a car so my 300SE will used a lot. :rockon:
QuoteWhat car do you all have besides the E320 and 300se?
Just my dad's 1989 500SL. ;)
(http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid173/p2beb5290ffe51c217bddeeecc3bd4bdb/f3aa1485.jpg)
^That's the only picture I had on Imagestation at the moment. Overhauling the 500SL album.^
QuoteNice. What do you wax it with? MB makes some nice paint.
Thanks. The last time I waxed it was years ago. It's been in the garage for awhile now and I recall having it washed at the local car washing drive-thru. Once this car gets driven a lot, that's when I'll need advice on what wax to use. :D
Tell Claudia I'm coming for her loins. :P
QuoteWims, did you buy all these cars new?
Nope, the 300SE and 500SL were both second hand. My dad got a good deal on the 300SE back in '86. The 500SL he bought from his best friend and the AMG rims were bought at one of those car conventions where people sell stuff to get rid of it. :lol:
The E320 was the only Benz we ever bought new. ;)
QuoteQuoteWims, did you buy all these cars new?
The 500SL was a rather recent acquisition.
I WATCH YOU, WIMMER
:o
:D
QuoteI like the wheels, very classic looking.
Stately is a good word to describe it.
They're plastic hubcaps that were stock on lower end MB's in the 1980s and early '90s. The current C-Class and A and B-Class have plastic hubcaps as well on lower end models.
QuotePut that thing on some 20s Wimmer, and pimp it all the way down to the red light district for some aciton. Woooooooo Hoooooooooo!
Need to find the girls first. :lol:
QuoteWimmer needs these...
(http://www.tirerack.com/images/wheels/amg/swap/amg_129_bs_ci3_l.jpg)
I prefer these. :lol:
(http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid103/p78bf5f9233d422b055478d2a5fd72f9e/f9b11f7c.jpg)
or these...
(http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid110/p720e3dad6faad8e85cc3125d4b499d04/f924f6e9.jpg)
or these...
(http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid114/pb6cc898995fe479db7303083e8f15ab7/f8cff24b.jpg)