1982 Mercedes 500se AMG, swing low sweet Kampfwagen.

[konigwheels]

A couple of months ago a buddy of mine, a home builder, was telling me about this older Mercedes he ended up with. I say "ended up with" because he was given it as partial payment from a customer he built a home addition for. I dismissed it for the most part because I wasnt very well versed in old Benzes, so I never went to check it out and I forgot about it.

Last week I'm at his brothers house for dinner and once again the Benz is brought up. Everyone keeps telling me how cool it is and that I really need to take a look at it. I'm not one to not want to look at a car, so off we went. I knew the first moment I laid eyes on it that I was in trouble. It was sitting low, really low, bathed in Anthracite with matching three-peice OZ AMGs. Everything looked good, not perfect, but you could definitely tell it was taken care of. I learn it's a 1982 500se AMG grey market import that a guy local to me used to own and did most of the work to. The suspension is tight, but rides smoother than a Town car. It shifts firm but not hard, power is.... ample, the steering is tight and heavy, but very slightly dead on center. It needs some things, but they're all small and very normal for a 30yr old 130,000 mile car.

Now it's mine, here it is, just some point and shoots at the moment.








Some of you from the Washington area might have seen the car before, or if you frequent MB forums a lot. There aren't many of these in the states, I've found 3 so far. It's been to a few of the euro meets/shows in the PNW and there's video of it from the 2010 Leavenworth cruise.

It's here at about 2:00.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8UFgN7P1wQ

I've found a little bit about it on the innernet, a build thread on Stanceworks, as well as similar threads on MB, BMW and VW sites:
http://www.stanceworks.com/forums/showthread.php?t=283

It was owned by a guy I only know of as "Lucky" and I he was a member here on the 'tex as well under the user name Badways.

Anyways, I've got some Easter cleaning/cooking to do, but I thought I'd share my new favorite thing with everyone. If any W126 experts care to chime it it would be greatly appreciated. The car is a 4 speed and currently not going into 4th, I've heard that there is a valve/solenoid that could cause this as well as the bowden cable adjustment. Any ideas?

Thanks for looking.

[borapumpkin]

i'm green with envy. that is one nice looking car. those are tanks, solid, over-engineered machines. a total gem. reminds of a house i almost bought that had an 80's 500 sec in the garage. i was thinking of including that in the house if i were to offer asking price. the wife was like, no we'll try and get the price lower. it was pristine too.

[VadGTI]

Beautiful! Does it have AMG engine mods or just the appearance package?

[JorgenP]

That's gorgeous, loving the wheels.

[zaYG]

In for this.

One of my dream cars

[airman401]

I'm so seriously mother f'ing jealous.

[Lwize]

Cloth seats!

[71DubBugBug]

Cloth seats!

not uncommon in europe


these things just look gangsta

[302W]

That is really badass

[mikegilbert]

Yup, that's Lucky's car. He sold it, then it was neglected by the next owner who didn't respect it for what it was. I'm still kicking myself for not buying it. Glad to see it's going to a good home.

[mavric_ac]

You and that other guys with the sick oldschool AMG should get together for a photoshoot.

Gorgeous car

[Robski92]

Looks dope.

[wolfsburgfanatic]

Awesome find

[mac dre]

Beautiful! Does it have AMG engine mods or just the appearance package?

I'm gonna guess appearance package.

Gorgeous ride!

[Iroczgirl]

You're lucky!

[MVZOOM]

You're lucky!

No, no... Lucky was the owner of the car, about two owners ago.

[konigwheels]

Cloth seats!

Yeah. As soon as I saw it had cloth seats I knew it was something special.

Thanks for all the kind words guys, I really do appreciate it! It feels like I'm cheating buying a car that's 90% done, but it has really been fun driving this beast.

I believe it is just an appearance package, but it does seem to be a little more aggressive in regards to throttle and shift firmness compared to a regular w126. It's got plenty of power to be fun, but it needs a limited slip and a manual to be perfect. Converting it to a manual might be a challenge. The Getrag 265 from mid '80s BMW 5-6 series is adaptable, but it still requires cutting the bellhousing off of an automatic. I can rebuild this thing from the ground up, but I don't think I'm up for welding a bellhousing to a tranny. If that's the easiest route, then adapting a T56 would be nearly the same amount of work with much more benefit.

If I can get it to turn respectable RPMs I'd be happy. Right now with it not going into 4th gear I'm sitting at 2500rpm at 60mph. A LOT of power for passing and great sound, but not so fun with gas a $4.06 a gallon!

I plan on putting in a set of Recaro trophys, doing all of the regular maintenance items down to suspension bushings, do some paint work, and generally keep it looking as good as possible. It really is a special car, and it makes me feel good to take care of it.

I'll take some better pictures soon, and I'll definitely be at the Leavenworth cruise this year to show the PNW crowd their old friend.

[Chapel]

[konigwheels]

Any W126 guys here know anything about the transmission? Right now at 60mph it's turning 2500rpm... 5 liters and high rpms equal 10mpg. If I want to take it anywhere far I'm gonna have to cash out my 401k!

In my meager research the B2 solenoid and bowden cable might be suspect. Otherwise the transmission is perfect, shifts responsively and its very adaptive to driving style it seems, but there's just no 4th!

[MrKevkevL]

I am jealous beyond words.

[mike02467]

Any W126 guys here know anything about the transmission? Right now at 60mph it's turning 2500rpm... 5 liters and high rpms equal 10mpg. If I want to take it anywhere far I'm gonna have to cash out my 401k!

In my meager research the B2 solenoid and bowden cable might be suspect. Otherwise the transmission is perfect, shifts responsively and its very adaptive to driving style it seems, but there's just no 4th!

from a google search:

There is a technical service bulletin out about no 4th gear engagement. The problem is the teflon sealing rings on the k2 support flange become worn. My advise is to call your local Mercedes dealer and talk to the guy in the parts dept that handles the back counter (the one the techs use) and ask him is he knows the part #s for that bulletin. Any more questions I can be reached @ bhowardfamilymotors@yahoo.com

Read more: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/On_1991_Me...#ixzz1rbAYEaAR

[konigwheels]

Thanks for looking, but I've found that same article as well. It specifically notes a 190 2.6, I dont believe its the same transmission.

[MagicBus]

Mmmmm...... yes.

[Rutledge]

Beautiful man! Great find!!!! It's so cool when it feels like a car finds you. Nice feeling. Good luck with it!

[QWKDTSN]

Hey, I know that car. I know Lucky (used to live in the same town) and hung out with him at his shop once or twice and at car meets. Cool car. I was sad when he sold it, so I'm very glad it's in good hands!

[Chipped B6]

I saw that car at Leavenworth last year... amazing looking car!

[konigwheels]

Hey, I know that car. I know Lucky (used to live in the same town) and hung out with him at his shop once or twice and at car meets. Cool car. I was sad when he sold it, so I'm very glad it's in good hands!

Awesome, I'm in Sequim. Where were you?

I think I've found that the tranny issue is the K2 seals, very cheap parts but I have to tear down the tranny to replace them. I didnt think I'd be this deep into this early, but I knew full well what buying a 30yr old grey market autobahn missile entails so I'm looking forward to learning the car inside and out.

In the meantime I nabbed a tranny from an '86 420SEL to throw in it while I repair the original.

I need to get more pics!

[QWKDTSN]

I lived in Port Angeles for 5.5 years.

[Vettes, Volvos and VWs]

Amazing pick up man, that thing looks super aggressive! Congrats, one day if you find it missing it wasn't me who took it

[fizay]

I'd just like to say this is probably the best thread title TCL has seen in some time.

[dumkopf]

You know Wagen doesn't = wagon right?

[konigwheels]

I lived in Port Angeles for 5.5 years.

Awesome, just right up the street. It's unfortunate that it looks like the city planners big idea is to let it die instead of bring in new business.

Amazing pick up man, that thing looks super aggressive! Congrats, one day if you find it missing it wasn't me who took it

Thanks. It is super aggressive, aggressive throttle tip in, aggressive shifts, aggressive sound. Its my big, soft muscle car.

I'd just like to say this is probably the best thread title TCL has seen in some time.

Thanks, right off the cuff!

Found that the trans. doesnt have any issues, its so aggressively geared that it rarely uses first, and even when it does it gone in a split second. I think eventually il gear it up when I get an LSD.

Took her to Seattle/Issaquah this weekend, about a 3hr trip, and she performed flawlessly. At 70mph its right above 3000rpm. Surprisingly it gets about 20mpg doing this and im happy with that because its much better than I thought it would be at those revs. The Benz had to put a hurting on a MK4 Jetta that was adhered to my rear bumper, but other than that there were tons of beautiful rides and many thumbs ups traded back and forth.

There were tons and tons of awesome cars out this weekend, top honors are a tie between a flat brown/gold wheeled Murcielago SV (at home depot no less) and the R8GT we saw at breakfast in Redmond. All in all, great weekend.

Ill have some nice pics for you guys soon, just have to spot correct some issues and find a locale.

Thanks for the kind words!

[speedworks1]

Great car, great find

[Chapel]

You know Wagen doesn't = wagon right?

I do. that's why it's Kampflastwagen.
wagon/truck/rig in german is 'lastwagen'

panzerwagen would probably be more accurate, but that means 'armored car'
there really is no proper translation for 'battle wagon' in German.
Krieglastwagon doesn't sound too good either.

Though, if you have any suggestions, please let me know.

Perhaps, Sonderwagen? Radpanzer? Sonderschutzfahrzeug?

the problem with those words is that it implies 'armor' and not 'battle'

German is a very literal language... though, in the same vein that I use 'Dreadnaught' for the 'UK' sticker... I guess Panzerwagen would be the best alternative... sometimes I just want to be a bit different.

[IronJoe]

Yup I recognize this car, I know I have pics of it somewhere.


Care to share how much you stole it for?