I am the proud owner of an 1984 AMG '1000SEL' (no kidding!--the tag on the trunk lid, left side says it is so!) I bought the AMG after my 1985 500SEL lost its timing chain and I wanted a full-size car with even better open-road handling than the '85, which I consider an outstanding road car.

There are no obvious changes in the engine compartment, although I still fumble somewhat with the two-handed safety latch procedure required to open the hood. Those Euro-style lights are nice, and the inside headlight adjustment reminds me how bad road conditions can be in other climates.

I believe the AMG was purchased in Germany and shipped to the U.S. by the original owner.

I have several questions and hope you guys can give me some answers or clues on how to find the answers. A little while back, I happened to find this site and now I believe I have found a home.

I have a few minor problems with my '84, but I have learned more about maintaining Mercedes automobiles in the last few days on this site than I have learned in my eleven years as a Mercedes owner.

Also, I hope to retire within the next two years and I plan to spend a lot of time upgrading the AMG with the extras that are on what I now consider my 'parts car'. My questions concerning the AMG follow:

A) The car has a sliding roof that is tinted glass (moon-roof?). Is this an AMG extra or an aftermarket item?

B) Despite the extra 1/2" that 16" wheels provide, it still sits about three inches lower than my standard suspension W126 with 15" wheels. It definitely handles much better than my '85. Did AMG provide a lowering kit with their product or was the suspension mainly modified with stiffer springs and sway bars?

C) The front suspension definitely needs work, because the bushings tell me so. Could I expect the bushings, balljoints, and other normal-wear parts to be standard MB parts?

D) The AMG has an earlier climate-control system that has problems (it has large fan speed and vent selector switches, two temperature selection dials and a few rocker switches, all located on a panel above the radio). The climate control in my parts car (the standard pushbutton type) works fine. Would it be feasible for me to upgrade the climate control by removing and replacing the components and wiring?

E) How much trouble would it be to move the anti-lock brake system over to the AMG? I really like that feature. The first time I locked up at ninety on wet pavement, I couldn't believe it! My mother could have handled the situation!

F) It has the usual chrome wheel well trim moulding, AMG front and rear fairing, etc and what I consider a poor-taste chrome 'air foil' on the trunk lid. Was the 'air foil' part of the AMG package? To me, it seems out of place. Actually, when I first got the car, my nineteen-year-old grandson kidded me, naming it my 'pimp-mobile'--that is, until I showed him how to straighten out hairpin turns at speed.

F) Anyone know a ballpark price for importing a four or five speed manual transmission conversion kit from a european dismantler?

G) Does anyone know where I could obtain original specs for the 1984 AMG?

Any information at all, whether fact or rumor, would be greatly appreciated.

Like I stated before, I feel like I have found a home here and plan to be around for the long haul.

Also, my business is computer service, so I am also open to swapping parts, advice, whatever. My background consists of programming mainframes in assembler language until the mini revolution, then started a software house and spent the next twenty years developing business software. I then began a computer service business in the mid-eighties. We fix everything from mainframes to PCs, build custom systems, tweak software--mostly PCs, not much in the way of MACs, but if you want a flexible software package that you can easily learn to tailor to your own liking, I can knock out Filemaker Pro applications in no time flat.

Hi realneal,

I have some info for you. I have only ever been in one 1000SEL which was owned by someone who bought the car from a prince of saudia arabia. I will work on getting pics and specs for you as soon as I can, and post them for you.

In regards to your questions:

a) I don't ever recall seeing a mooroof on a W126 as a factory option. I'm not saying that it wasn't available though. Most options on the 1000s were custom anyway. Like I said, I will get you the info.

b) More than likely the suspesion is AMG... or sports.

c) I strongly believe all the suspension and normal-wear parts are standard MB.

d)I've enclosed a pic of a climate control setup in a W126. Does it look like this one?

e)I wanted to do the ABS conversion for my W201 and my mechanic said it wouldn't be a problem as long as I din't have to buy all the parts new

f)The 80s cars were well known for their chrome trim everywhere, bulky aero kits, and bulky and lots of everything. If you look at these cars in Germany you will know what I mean.

f) I know someone once put a 4spd in a W126 500 and it seemed to work fine for him. I even heard from someone that saw a W140 600 in France with a manual transmission. He swears he did. He looked in the car to see the interior and noticed that there was someone in the car....he couldn't see well through the tint (the car was black on black with tint). He had to step away as the passenger was not too pleased to see him.

Attached Thumbnails

 

Hi realneal,

This is an advertisement from a Canadian Auto Trader.

www.autotrader.ca

Year: 1985
Make: MERCEDES-BENZ
Model: 1000
Model Detail: SPECIAL EDITION
Price: $16,000
Mileage: 50,000 km
Date Posted: 2/28/2002
Ad Type: Private

COLLECTER MUST BE SEEN
Comment: BENZ 1000 SPECIAL EDITION-1 of the 50 in the world, very low km, all orig..., metallic blue w/ grey int., fully loaded, auto., CD changer w/ each set of winter & summer rims & tires, exc. cond., fully cert. & E-tested, 50,000 km. 50,000 km. $16,000. (416)274-7299. (WBVCF)

Attached Thumbnails

 

Hi realneal, PART 1

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mblist Sunday, May 9 1999 Volume 01 : Number 1113
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: Sat, 08 May 1999 11:02:45 -0400
From: Jaime Kopchinski
Subject: Re: 1000 SEL

Gary Hurst wrote:
>
> >I saw a 1000 SEL today. Have never heard of this model. Anyone shed some
> >light on it? What size engine(and what would be the cost)? Nice looking
> >set of wheels.
> >
>
> There is no such vehicle, just a tag from some tuner who is favored by
> wealthy persons of a certain nameless ethnic persuasion (which I shall not
> mention lest I sully the good name and reputation they enjoy in our great
> land)
>
> Hurst
>
> This land is your land
> This land is my land
> >From California
> To the ......
> (oh, sorry, just overjoyed by diversity and happy I don't live in Canada
> where I could be charged with a hate crime for this post)

Hi there!
I've seen one of these cars also in north New Jersey. It was an very
early 80s W126 AMG special. I seem to remember talking to the owner and
he mentioned it was actually a 380SE(L). I was suprised to hear that, I
would have figured it to be a 500. I remember nice wheels and a wood
steering wheel too I believe. I also recall seeing a 1000SEC coupe at
some used car place on the side of the road. I showed some interest,
got the keys, and I found the battery to be as dead as a doornail! The
car was beat and abused, at first I figured it was the effect of the
"persuasion" Gary wrote about above. I'm thinking they were both gray
markey imports, but I can't really remember.

------------------------------
Date: Sat, 08 May 1999 11:16:08 -0400
From: Jaime Kopchinski
Subject: Re: 1000 SEL

Just a quick note:
I did a quick search on Yahoo for 1000SEL and I got this page: It
mentions a 1000 SEL limo, but I can't read the page, its not in english.

http://www.jl.cninfo.net/whyl/jicui/mingche/dgbc.html

------------------------------
Date: Sat, 8 May 1999 16:29:07 EDT
From: EMOHP@aol.com
Subject: (no subject)

I have white wall tires on my 67 200 which get very dirty on the front
because of the brake dust. This has occurred since the last time I had the
front brake pads replaced. This accumulation of brake dust on the white
walls occurs very rapidly, therefore, a short Sunday drive just about turns
the tires black. The rear have the drum brakes and there is no problem.

Does anyone know where I can get a set of pads that is either not so soft as
to produce the dust or is a clean wearing pad?

Thanks, Jim O'Brien

------------------------------
Date: Sat, 08 May 1999 21:06:05 -0600
From: Jay Shaffer aka ZENTENTEN
Subject: Re: 1000 SEL

Gary Hurst wrote:
>
> >I saw a 1000 SEL today. Have never heard of this model. Anyone shed some
> >light on it? What size engine(and what would be the cost)? Nice looking
> >set of wheels.
> >
>
> There is no such vehicle, just a tag from some tuner who is favored by
> wealthy persons of a certain nameless ethnic persuasion (which I shall not
> mention lest I sully the good name and reputation they enjoy in our great
> land)
>
> Hurst
>
> This land is your land
> This land is my land
> >From California
> To the ......
> (oh, sorry, just overjoyed by diversity and happy I don't live in Canada
> where I could be charged with a hate crime for this post)


Jeeez, Hurst

I don't buy into most knee jerk political correctness crap. But I think
yer over the line here,

good buddy. Bad form IMHO.
- --

Jay "almost as american as Ben "switchhorse" Campbell" Shaffer aka ZENTENTEN

Technical Director
CleverMedia
http://www.clevermedia.com/
shaf@clevermedia.com

http://www.zenten.com/zenten/
shaf@zenten.com

MBCA Mile High section
'71 280SE
'72 280SE 4.5

"We were only pretending to be pretentious." Brian Eno

------------------------------
Date: Sat, 08 May 1999 23:51:22 -0700
From: Frank Mallory
Subject: Re: Motor books ebay#100102417

thargrav@ro.com wrote:
>
> Ditto: Don't bid any higher then you think the product is worth.
>
Good advice!

Somebody told me that a M189 parts catalog recently went for slightly
more than $100. Is it worth it? Depends how you value the time & trouble
spent in trying to get the right part for the rare 300SE engine, when
you don't know its name or number and _chances are your MB dealer
doesn't have a parts catalog, either_.

Frank M.

------------------------------
Date: Sun, 09 May 1999 00:00:33 -0700
From: Frank Mallory
Subject: Re: Generic part numbers

walter_wiebach@baxter.com wrote:
>
> Is there a cross reference available for the off-the-shelf generic items
> such as screws, nuts, bolts, O-rings etc. For example, the part number 000
> XXX XXXX is a Buna N shore 70 9 x 1.5 x 12 O-ring. I have one item you
> can add to this reference, if one exists. A standard 040 O-ring works very
> nicely for the bottom cover on the older Bosch Electric Fuel Pump. I am
> sure that the original was metric and "square" but there wasn't much left
> of it to measure.
>
The number 000 XXX XX XX is not a valid number. What is the real number?

I recently got a couple seals for the cover of the small-design electric
pump as used un the /8 series SE/SEL/SL cars (and retrofitted to many
earlier ones. That seal has a round section, which changes to square
after it has been in place awhile.

I don't know of any cross-reference for MB parts numbers; however, you
can get a DIN and standard parts catalog from MBUSA that will give you
the dimensions of those parts.

Frank M.

------------------------------
Date: Sat, 08 May 1999 23:01:49 -0700
From: Russ Maki
Subject: Re: brake pads

EMOHP@aol.com wrote:
>
> I have white wall tires on my 67 200 which get very dirty on the front
> because of the brake dust. This has occurred since the last time I had the
> front brake pads replaced. This accumulation of brake dust on the white
> walls occurs very rapidly, therefore, a short Sunday drive just about turns
> the tires black. The rear have the drum brakes and there is no problem.
>
> Does anyone know where I can get a set of pads that is either not so soft as
> to produce the dust or is a clean wearing pad?
>
> Thanks, Jim O'Brien

Axxis Metalmasters are available for some MBs...I'm not sure if they
make 'em for pre-1980 cars, though. They're very clean, although they
tend to give up a little stopping power when cold. They're fine after
that first stop.
Axxis ( known in some venues as PBR) also makes a Deluxe pad that sheds
less brake dust than those German originals.
Russ

------------------------------
Date: Sun, 09 May 1999 17:15:09 +1000
From: John Green
Subject: Re: brake pads

At 23:01 8/05/99 -0700, you wrote:
>EMOHP@aol.com wrote:
>>
>> I have white wall tires on my 67 200 which get very dirty on the front
>> because of the brake dust. This has occurred since the last time I had the
>> front brake pads replaced. This accumulation of brake dust on the white
>> walls occurs very rapidly, therefore, a short Sunday drive just about turns
>> the tires black. The rear have the drum brakes and there is no problem.
>>
>> Does anyone know where I can get a set of pads that is either not so
soft as
>> to produce the dust or is a clean wearing pad?
>>
>> Thanks, Jim O'Brien
>
>Axxis Metalmasters are available for some MBs...I'm not sure if they
>make 'em for pre-1980 cars, though. They're very clean, although they
>tend to give up a little stopping power when cold. They're fine after
>that first stop.
> Axxis ( known in some venues as PBR) also makes a Deluxe pad that sheds
>less brake dust than those German originals.
>Russ
>

Yes but these pads are very hard and tend to distroy your discs. The match
between the compound of the pad and the material used in the discs is
important.

****************************************************JOHN GREEN 300b 1954
Apentice Mercedes guru? 300b 1955
http://www.mbspares.com.au 230 Binz Ambulance 1966
jhg@mbspares.com.au 250SEC 1967
ph 61 2 6299 8043 280E 1972
fax 61 2 6280 4596 300TE 1990
Canberra Australia 220D Stretch 1970
***********************************************************

Wow, I thought it was a joke! 1000SEL????? What does that mean? 10 Liters? Must be a gas guzzler but cool anyway.
Adam

__________________
Current Stable:
01 ML55 AMG
92 500E (a few mods)
87 300E (lots of mods)
00 Chevy 3500HD Diesel Box Truck
68 18' Donzi Marine
06 GT i-Drive7 1.0 Mountain Bike (with GPS!)

PREVIOUSLY OWNED:83 300SD, 87 420SEL, 88 420SEL, 90 420SEL, 86 560SEL, 86 190E 2.3-16V AMG, 94 E320

Here is an excerpt from an australian company that do work on the 6.3 and 6.9's. I emailed them to see if they could do a W126 560SEC conversion. They use a Getrag 5spd I believe.

Hi Matt
We have a 6.3 running with a 5-speed manual, we have the 6.9 and 6.3
material in stock fro a 5-speed conversion, and we had several enquiries for
126 and 107 Alu V8 conversions. The price tag would be about the same as for
the 6.9 which is about 10 to 14.000 Dollars.That includes all materials new
including a new (factory) manual 5-speed transmission. We do not plan at
this moment to cast a bell housing for these models till some more interest
arises, but I can offer a conversion-kit with an adaptor plate similar to
what you can see on our website
http://www.big-toys.net/cgi-bin/detail.cgi?1&5 for a 13B-turbo Mazda to bolt
up to a VW Transporter 1991 automatic. We will have photos soon from the
recent conversion similar to the VW for a Mitsubishi express 4WD with a
13B-turbo. If you like what you see and want us to go ahead, we would
require AU$5000.- deposit upfront and about 2-3 month manufacturing and
engineer all required parts. The money would include a pre-installation in a
car over here to insure everything is top quality and working order for your
installation
Let me know of your decision

Regards Franz

ADAM BOURASSA :

(Wow, I thought it was a joke! 1000SEL????? What does that mean? 10 Liters? Must be a gas guzzler but cool anyway.)

I believe the engine is out of a 500 or 560. I'm working on that info. There may have been both, and even possibly an AMG configuaration. Give me a few of days... But definitely not a 10 liter. That would be crazy ! About as crazy as this:


At the next but one Tokyo Motor Show in autumn 2001 a Maybach coupe study with a 24-cylinder engine is expected to be presented. Displacement will be anything between 12 and 15 litres, with supercharger (Kompressor) a power output of up to 1000 BHP are thinkable, the maximum torque being a four-digit figure.
It`s said that the power output in the beginning will be limited to around 500hp. Pre-series of the sedan shall start in March 2002, the first production cars to roll off the line in July 2002.




Mercedes-Benz Maybach (2004-concept car)


(Description From MB Enthusius Site)Charlie The Great With the luxury liner Maybach from DaimlerChrysler no any half measures are being taken: For the over six metres long and nearly half a million German Marks costing flagship even a 24-cylinder engine is in the planning "What he can do we can do all along". An engineer from the Mercedes development centre Sindelfingen gives clear hints, whom the marque with the hyper-car like the Maybach gets in its sights - Ferdinand Piech. The head of Volkswagen has given top priority to the arms race in the luxury class and let present huge sedans and sports cars: A roadster study with twelve-cylinder engines, the Bentley Hunaudieres with 16-cylinders and the 18-cylinder Bugatti EB 218. Mercedes - still the German noble-label per se - doesn't want to accept that without a strike back: In the line of the Maybach project chief Hermann Gaus one cooks up drives, which give a new dimension to the engine arms race. Because the V6, V8 and V12 of the marque are compatibly constructed, many varieties of gigantic engine construction from 14- to 24-cylinder engines are thinkable. Clear favourite with the hard-liners amongst the Mercedes technicians: Two coupled twelve-cylinders with central drive. Apart from vibration-related technical problems the Sindelfingen development crew would have no troubles to put the double-pack in the depths of the Maybach`s engine compartment. According to first calculations the unit very precisely fits in between radiator grille and the bulkhead. Incidentally the V24 at first shall be presented as a study, which shows a kind of coupe-variation of the Maybach sedan. Murat Günak, besides Advanced-chief Harald Leschke second man under the chief of design Peter Pfeiffer counts as fervent advocate of this model, which probably will be shown at the Tokyo Motor Show in autumn 2001. The performance figures? Between twelve and fifteen litres displacement anything is possible, with supercharger ((Kompressor)) up to 1.000hp power output is thinkable, the maximum torque would move to a clearly four-digit range. Which transmission shall tolerate this power, how strong the drive shafts have to be dimensioned and how the Motronic enables controlled acceleration still has to be Much more specific in the meantime the Maybach sedan has progressed. Chief developer Gaus has only one problem - too few staff. Therefore the timetable seems to be endangered which fixes the start of the pre-series to March 2002 and "Job One", the term for the manufacturing of the first serial model, to the following July. So the Gaus-team co-operates intensively with development companies outside the house ((of DaimlerChrysler)), like with IVM Engineering in ((the German city of)) Heilbronn or EDAG (Engineering and Design AG) from ((the German city of)) Fulda, which both keep offices in Sindelfingen. Under the development codes W240 and V240 in Sindelfingen a long version for the chauffeur on the wheel and a short Maybach for the owner-driver. The super-Mercedes bases on the platform of the W140 (predecessor of the current S-Class) in the so-called special protection version - reinforced for most heavy armouring. With that a car weight of up to 3.800 kilograms is possible, which the base version of the Maybach clearly remains under: It weighs roughly 2.200 kilograms. There will not be few who accuse DaimlerChrysler of a touch of gigantism. Because in comparison to the current upper-class of the house ((of Daimler Chrysler)) the Maybach, which will start at DM 435.000 (USD 229.000 assumed USD 1 = DM 1.90) ((An S-Class currently starts at DM 115.000 (USD 61.000) in Germany)), puts some more coal on the fire (see graphics left). The new super-luxury-liner even in the short version with a length of 5.73 metres surpasses the S-Class in its long version of more than half a meter. The Maybach long requires with 6.16 metres even one meter more parking space. With nearly two metres width for some of the future Maybach-owners it will become a compulsory exercise to muse about the enlargement of their garage entrance. Besides that pure luxury: Three bug-proof phones, a GPS satellite navigation system, facsimile machine and of course finest sound equipment. With that the Mercedes technicians stand are faced with the not easy task to integrate roughly 20 antenna systems. The Maybach, which will be built on a mini production line with a high share of manual work in the Sindelfingen Mercedes factory, for the moment gets the known V12, but this time with biturbo-supercharging. At the moment one doesn't want to go too far onto highest performance levels in favour of maximum torque and to restrict the power of the engine to 500hp. It still takes a fairly long time until the first Maybach prototypes start moving. But around Sindelfingen strangely widened S-Class sedans can be viewed - as ((so called)) mules they have Maybach technique under the body.

[Features]

Transperent Windows

Animated Driver

Great Preformance

Realistic Damage

Female Passenger

Cup of wine

Laptop (Montior lights up in the dark)

Main 29inch flat computer screen (Montior lights up in the dark)

Attached Thumbnails

 

Hi realneal, PART 2

-----------------------------
Date: Sun, 9 May 1999 09:41:53 -0400
From:
Subject: M116 & a manual transmission

After watching a 350slc parts car w/ manual transmission go past on
ebay, I have decided that I definitely want to switch one of my
automatics to a manual.

Does ANYBODY (anywhere, including Europe) have a manual transmission
they can sell me? I would want EVERYTHING aft of the the crank
(flywheel, clutch, etc.). Please email me privately.

- -CTH

PS. If anybody hasn't npticed, I'm cth350 on ebay; that unnamed (and
non-shill) top bidder on the M189+other engine manuals.

------------------------------
Date: Sun, 09 May 1999 08:53:31 -0700
From: Ruth Ann & Bill
Subject: Re: 1000 SEL

Yeah Gary! Was that some sorry attempt at humor at the expense of the
Jute-Frisian-Americans in the group?

Bill

> Gary Hurst wrote:
> >
> > >I saw a 1000 SEL today. Have never heard of this model. Anyone shed some
> > >light on it? What size engine(and what would be the cost)? Nice looking
> > >set of wheels.
> > >
> >
> > There is no such vehicle, just a tag from some tuner who is favored by
> > wealthy persons of a certain nameless ethnic persuasion (which I shall not
> > mention lest I sully the good name and reputation they enjoy in our great
> > land)
> >
> > Hurst
> >
> > This land is your land
> > This land is my land
> > >From California
> > To the ......
> > (oh, sorry, just overjoyed by diversity and happy I don't live in Canada
> > where I could be charged with a hate crime for this post)

------------------------------
End of mblist V1 #1113
**********************

the 1000sel was a special model 500SEL or 560SEL with a slightly longer wheelbase than a standard SEL. It has been discussed before on this site, but yes it was a special order model for specific markets.

do a search of this site for 1000SEL see what you come up with.

Alon

__________________
'92 300CE - Sold
2004 C240 - 744 - C7 Wheels - Android Radio
2002 C320 - 816 - Sport Wagon

philipminion,

Repeat, WOW!!! On this site, you ask and then you receive, receive, receive, etc...

I am going to have to print all this to a Adobe Distiller PDF and print a hardcopy to sort all this information out!

Thanks, thanks, and thanks again. My interior is identical to the interior photo you sent, even all the dash details I could spot in the photo.

Insofar as the photo of the W126 you included, as far as I can tell it is possibly the same, but the wheels are not. Mine are the early AMG unpolished alloy, with spokes that are painted in the centers, with in my case, white, which happens to be the original color of my car, including the AMG add-on body parts. I'll snap some photos tomorrow and forward them to you, but I haven't washed it in months, so it will look kinda tacky.

It also is not in concours condition, but the engine is healthy and what I have learned in the Tech Help Forum, the transmission may be suffering from a piston design fault allowing the engine to race while downshifting, when I decrease speed like coming to a normal stop or turning a corner.

In my case, since I also have an intermittent problem with a fast idle (1000 rpm stopped, in gear, 1300 rpm in park or neutral) the problem forces me to remember to manually downshift before the transmission decides to.

The idle problem probably is not the idle control module, because in addition to eliminating any cold-solder connections, I have swapped it with a known good spare and the problem remained.

Again, in the Tech Help Forum someone mentioned a blown over-voltage relay fuse. While I have inspected all the obvious fuses in the fuse box, I hope that I missed one. I'll know tomorrow.

Concerning the '1000SEL' plate--it does not appear to be one produced en-masse, rather, it looks like it was cut from brass stock, the edges rounded off then chrome plated and polished. I will include a close-up photo. Those digital cameras sure are handy!

Also, I bought my AMG from an Arab in Dallas, who has relatives in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. He definitely was not an oil sheik, but a dental technician who wanted to sell it to buy dining room furniture for his new home. He may have bought it overseas, I did not ask him where he bought it, the price was right, he had a clean title and and I really wanted the car, so I got it while the getting was good. I can email him if needed.

I forgot to mention before, but the car does have an AMG data tag on the driver's side door jamb. I will get a photo of that while I am at it.

The engine seems to be identical to the 5 liter in my parts car, including the fuel system components, alternator, water pump and GM style air conditioning compressor.

Again, I appreciate your efforts and look forward to exchanging more information as it is available. Please let me know when I can return the favor.

realneal:

Glad I can help. Like I mentioned in the earlier post, just give me a few days to make some calls to get you the rest of the info. Most people don't believe this model exists. I'm not sure if it is classified as an original model designation or not, but I do know that I have heard of many and usually have heard that they were made in Germany for rich Saudi shieks, princes, royal family, etc...It was never a North American model.

In regards to your climate control issue, I was under the impression that the one you have is supposed to be the more reliable one. The other style apparently fails due to a soldering issue. I'm really not sure if a swap is easy or not, but I hope the pic will help other members see what you are asking and maybe someone with prior experience can give you the proper advice, as I have never done this before.

RealNeal, Check these links out...

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?threadid=27489&highlight=1000SEL

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?threadid=26139

The search for 100SEL:
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/search.php?action=showresults&searchid=109850&sortby=lastpost&sortorder=descending

Hope those help.

Why not snap some pics ofr us of yoru baby? We'd love to see that up here.

Alon

__________________
'92 300CE - Sold
2004 C240 - 744 - C7 Wheels - Android Radio
2002 C320 - 816 - Sport Wagon

OK, the original photo was just below the maximum at 60k, so maybe a few bytes cropped out [down to 54k] will make a difference. Now, maybe I will get results...

Attached Thumbnails

 

The wheels are not AMG units. They are Ronal R9, and were popular when this car was made. I've seen a few AMG kitted cars wearing them.

__________________
John Shellenberg
1998 C230 "Black Betty" 240K

http://img31.exs.cx/img31/4050/tophat6.gif

philipminion, ADAM BOURASSA, Mattman, Ashman,

I appreciate you guys' assistance. Following Ashman's advice, I did a quick '1000SEL' search and found the SEL1000 stretch limo. That is definitely NOT the same as mine, even the design of the nameplate was different--their 'SEL1000' even looked more like a factory-made plate than mine. It must be one hell of a smooth cruiser. Just think what performance goodies you could buy with that capital investment! Maybe I will start a '1000SEL' club for any outside-the-box combinations that have come out of the MB factory.

Ashman, I will follow the links you were kind to furnish, and make sure I am not missing anything relating to my strange ('grey market'? machine).

philipminion, your advice concerning the climate control is right on. I believe in the KISS principle, where I am sure you know is 'Keep It Simple, Stupid').

The problem is, I am a mechanical kinda guy. I do not have a natural affinity for electrical circuitry, so in the past I just took my problem to a pro and paid the money. The problem is, I have no money to pay someone else, so I will have to fix the thing myself, hopefully with advice from my new-found friends.

I'll try to describe how the system malfunctioned and hope I can explain the problems well enough so you guys who understand the climate control system can direct me as to what to check.

The problem is, when I first bought my AMG and headed for home, while checking the engine over while gassing up, I noticed frost on the air conditioning hose metal bulkhead fittings at the firewall. I then realized that the compressor was constantly on. Having experience with the GM long style compressor, I knew the compressor could not hold up during the 4.5 hour trip, so I manually controlled the inside temperature by turning it on only when I got uncomfortable and off when it got comfortable again, until I got home.

Since I only drove the car five miles to and from work for about a month, I had no need to even monitor the temperature, but when I did have to take it on a trip, that day the temperature soared to 112 degrees and although I was still careful to not overtax the compressor, the fuse for the compressor blew and since then it immediately blows replacement fuses. Because I currently have a cash flow problem, I haven't been able to have it fixed, preferring instead to drive my '85 Volvo, because although the Volvo's air conditioning compressor is locked up, it is cheaper to drive a 2.3 liter turbo, four speed with overdrive and I really like to shift those gears.

Does anyone out there know what could be drawing the excessive current? I suspect the clutch, but do not understand the principle of operation for the compressor/clutch circuit. I have a spare clutch on my parts car but do not want to just start changing parts unless I have no other option.

Also, I still have the original climate control problem, where the climate control does not cycle depending on the temperature that is dialed in. Because I have never used the system when it worked properly, I have no idea how to set the controls for normal operation. The heater seems to also intermittently malfunction. For the last few weeks, I have not been able to control the heat temperature or even the fan sometimes. This morning I noticed that my coolant temperature was not registering and a quick check disclosed that the wire is not connected at the sensor, so that may be the answer to my heater problems. I sure hope so because I am confused enough already. I really am at a loss with the climate control with no knowledge of the principle of operation. I really need some help on this problem.

You guys really have a challenge here, but perhaps there are only a few problems that cause other symptoms to occur, like the heater/sensor connection.

As promised, here are a couple of photos I snapped today. As luck would have it, it rained last night and is still fairly cloudy, but I hope the lighting is good enough for you to catch any details I was concerned with, i.e. AMG wheels, chrome airfoil with red lens for extra lighting (not hooked up, but could be kinda cool for sequenced turn signals, etc ala the old Ford Thunderbird or Mercury Cougar), 'moon roof'--sorry, I forgot to get a good shot of the roof.

Now, if I can just get the hang of how my graphics program wants to do things, I can furnish some decent pictures. I had to make do with getting them on the screen, then capturing the image with a screen-grabber utility.

Again, I appreciate you guys. Please do not hesitate to let me know when I can return the favor.

(-Sorry, but I will have to edit after I figure out why the photo does not show up. I thought I did everything right, but who knows???-)