My Life: What's new with me
February 2010: Mounts and lights
Posted by Brian Clifton
Written February 28, 2010 at 17:55
Written February 28, 2010 at 17:55
Have done a few things this month...
1) Replaced motor and transmission mounts
2) Replaced broken button on dome light (part# 129-820-26-10)
3) Installed glass European-spec headlamps
1) Replaced motor and transmission mounts
2) Replaced broken button on dome light (part# 129-820-26-10)
3) Installed glass European-spec headlamps
December 2009: Engine work
Posted by Brian Clifton
Written December 31, 2009 at 17:29
Written December 31, 2009 at 17:29
I took the car into Patrick Barth of Die Werkstatt and had a lot of work done...
1) replace valve cover gaskets
2) replace bank1 (drivers-side) camshaft + exhaust valve cyl 7/8
3) Replaced all 16 sparkplugs / ignition coil wiring
4) Replaced steering damper
5) Oil change with 5w40 with motor protect (by Liqui Moly)
Here's a picture of some of the bad parts (i asked for them after the job was done):
(top left) Two of the cam followers had a huge scratch in the middle
(top middle) Bad steering damper, old valve cover gaskets
(top right) Old spark plugs, old ignition coil wiring
(bottom) The bad cam. Lots of scratches!
1) replace valve cover gaskets
2) replace bank1 (drivers-side) camshaft + exhaust valve cyl 7/8
3) Replaced all 16 sparkplugs / ignition coil wiring
4) Replaced steering damper
5) Oil change with 5w40 with motor protect (by Liqui Moly)
Here's a picture of some of the bad parts (i asked for them after the job was done):
(top left) Two of the cam followers had a huge scratch in the middle
(top middle) Bad steering damper, old valve cover gaskets
(top right) Old spark plugs, old ignition coil wiring
(bottom) The bad cam. Lots of scratches!
November 2009: Panoramic roof painted
Posted by Brian Clifton
Written November 9, 2009 at 00:22
Written November 9, 2009 at 00:22
The panoramic top needed a dent removed and needed to be painted to match. I met with Scott May at Phoenix Body Works and had them do the job. It turned out great!
Here is their contact info:
Phoenix Body Works
22012 N. 19th Ave.
Phoenix, AZ 85027
(623) 582-1434
www.phxbodyworks.com
October 2009: Panoramic roof
Posted by Brian Clifton
Written November 2, 2009 at 23:06
Written November 2, 2009 at 23:06
In July I was scoping out a panoramic roof and I found two...
The one I posted in my last update was first choice. It had the right colors and the right price, but it had to be shipped. I have a FedEx freight account so I got a shipping quote. The shipping came out to $900 and a crating it cost $250.
I searched around on eBay and found a guy selling a roof from a 1999 SL600 locally, in Queen Creek, AZ. I won the item, popped off my existing top, drove over and threw the new one on. It's Iridium silver on the outside and grey on the inside, so it needs paint / dye. The roof cost me $2000 but it's totally worth every cent it cost; it's amazing.
I love the lines of the panoramic roof. It has a much rounder and smoother look to it; in comparison I think the original top is boxy and 80's looking. It makes the car look different enough that two people at work thought that I got a new car. I ended up selling my original top to BenzWorld.org member DALE.M in Mesa, AZ. He's going to have to do a paint / dye on that top as well to match his car (his is red with tan interior).
Last Friday, Patrick Barth (owner of Die Werkstatt in Phoenix, AZ) gave me a call. He found this website from one of his customers and saw what happened to our W126. We talked and I ended up stopping by his shop on Saturday to show off the SL. Patrick took me over to a paint and body shop he highly recommended and I ended up dropping the top off to be painted.
The one I posted in my last update was first choice. It had the right colors and the right price, but it had to be shipped. I have a FedEx freight account so I got a shipping quote. The shipping came out to $900 and a crating it cost $250.
I searched around on eBay and found a guy selling a roof from a 1999 SL600 locally, in Queen Creek, AZ. I won the item, popped off my existing top, drove over and threw the new one on. It's Iridium silver on the outside and grey on the inside, so it needs paint / dye. The roof cost me $2000 but it's totally worth every cent it cost; it's amazing.
I love the lines of the panoramic roof. It has a much rounder and smoother look to it; in comparison I think the original top is boxy and 80's looking. It makes the car look different enough that two people at work thought that I got a new car. I ended up selling my original top to BenzWorld.org member DALE.M in Mesa, AZ. He's going to have to do a paint / dye on that top as well to match his car (his is red with tan interior).
Last Friday, Patrick Barth (owner of Die Werkstatt in Phoenix, AZ) gave me a call. He found this website from one of his customers and saw what happened to our W126. We talked and I ended up stopping by his shop on Saturday to show off the SL. Patrick took me over to a paint and body shop he highly recommended and I ended up dropping the top off to be painted.
June 2009: California Trip
Posted by Brian Clifton
Written July 12, 2009 at 17:13
Written July 12, 2009 at 17:13
In mid June I took a trip with my girlfriend and her family to Orange County California. We stayed in Dana Point and visited family in San Juan Capistrano.
While we were there, we tried to visit the Mercedes-Benz classic center. Unfortunately, it was closed on Saturday. We drove there anyways and I got this picture of the C300 out front.
The C300 is just over 3 months old and it already has over 11,000 miles on it. This is the coolest car I've ever owned, hands down. We were able to get around all over California with no problem, thanks to the GPS system. We got an average of 23 MPG also which is pretty decent. I love this car!
While we were there, we tried to visit the Mercedes-Benz classic center. Unfortunately, it was closed on Saturday. We drove there anyways and I got this picture of the C300 out front.
The C300 is just over 3 months old and it already has over 11,000 miles on it. This is the coolest car I've ever owned, hands down. We were able to get around all over California with no problem, thanks to the GPS system. We got an average of 23 MPG also which is pretty decent. I love this car!
July 2009: Road trip to Sedona, AZ
Posted by Brian Clifton
Written July 12, 2009 at 17:04
Written July 12, 2009 at 17:04
Over the weekend we took a trip to Sedona Arizona. The weather wasn't as cool as I had hoped but it was still fun. The scenery is great!
I was going to go to a local shop and have a Kleemann supercharger put in. I've thought about it over the past few months and decided against it. I'm going to keep this car stock. I am looking at buying a panoramic roof though!
I was going to go to a local shop and have a Kleemann supercharger put in. I've thought about it over the past few months and decided against it. I'm going to keep this car stock. I am looking at buying a panoramic roof though!
Last update on the SEL
Posted by Brian Clifton
Written July 12, 2009 at 16:54
Written July 12, 2009 at 16:54
It's been about 4 months since the accident. The lady who hit my girlfriend is named Delores Jones. We got a lawyer and filled out the victim impact forms. This lady failed appear to court and currently there's a warrant out for her arrest.
Her insurance company was able to compensate me for the car. They only offered $4300 total, which is a lot less than I had put into the car. I got a picture from the scene of the accident that my girlfriend took with her phone
Since the accident, I've bought a 1:43 scale model of the 560SEL that I keep on my desk
Her insurance company was able to compensate me for the car. They only offered $4300 total, which is a lot less than I had put into the car. I got a picture from the scene of the accident that my girlfriend took with her phone
Since the accident, I've bought a 1:43 scale model of the 560SEL that I keep on my desk
April 2009: Tires and rims
Posted by Brian Clifton
Written May 3, 2009 at 23:35
Written May 3, 2009 at 23:35
This month I got a few things done:
1) Got brand new Michelin Pilot Sport 2 tires
2) Refinished the AMG rims; looks brand new again
3) New center caps for the rims (grey with a chrome star, not pictured)
4) Fixed headlamp wiper motor (passenger side)
5) Replaced the center vent (lights were burned out)
I'm pretty happy with the work I got done. The car is in great shape! Just gotta start saving up for a supercharger.
1) Got brand new Michelin Pilot Sport 2 tires
2) Refinished the AMG rims; looks brand new again
3) New center caps for the rims (grey with a chrome star, not pictured)
4) Fixed headlamp wiper motor (passenger side)
5) Replaced the center vent (lights were burned out)
I'm pretty happy with the work I got done. The car is in great shape! Just gotta start saving up for a supercharger.
March 2009: Brand New
Posted by Brian Clifton
Written March 24, 2009 at 00:15
Written March 24, 2009 at 00:15
The 1986 560SEL was horribly damaged on March 14th. I drove a rental for a week and bought a replacement this last weekend. It's only got 40 miles on it and so far I love it!
RIP Banana Boat
Posted by Brian Clifton
Written March 24, 2009 at 00:11
Written March 24, 2009 at 00:11
On Saturday March 14th, my girlfriend was driving the W126 back home from work and was hit by a driver that was DUI with drugs. My girlfriend was doing about 40 MPH and the lady rear ended her doing around 65 MPH.
The ladies insurance company will be looking at it soon. They haven't seen it yet, but I know it will be considered totalled. We called the car the "Banana Boat" because of it's huge size. RIP banana boat.
The ladies insurance company will be looking at it soon. They haven't seen it yet, but I know it will be considered totalled. We called the car the "Banana Boat" because of it's huge size. RIP banana boat.