1997 Mercedes e55 estate - a bit crashed, but super cheap!
Discussion
Thanks for the comments... I was expecting universal flaming!
One of my best mates lives in Eindhoven, so not far from you. He rents a barn in Bladel with a few other lads. Some interesting old tat always being worked on in there. They are always happy for a visit. I gate-crash every other weekend.
So, playing again, taking peoples comments on board. I've also let some paint out, and the lighter colour is not as light as I envisaged. It is more sand colour, less taxi beige. Looks really nice on the small trim bits I painted this evening. So, some updated "artists" views...
This is more realistic colours now. Made the bonnet light. Yeah, makes sense...
Orange wheels
Err, no!
Black wheels
Hmm, quite like that
Damnit, I know it is pretty unpopular, but I do like the darker bonnet...
Comments?
kapiteinlangzaam said:
Brilliant!
If your luck ever runs out and you become stranded in NL, let me know.... I live just below the A67 which I guess is the route you take across NL between Eindhoven and Venlo...?
Cup of tea, a tow car etc if you need it!
(ps. im also a fan of ebay.de - the bargains can be fantastic).... quite surprised you scream across BE at 120ish though. I used to do the same but have had some colleagues attract some huuuge fines lately for doing similar.
Cool username. Thanks for the offer... I've been told I need to slow in Belgium, but generally just keeping up with the traffic. I'm know I'm due a ticket soon though...If your luck ever runs out and you become stranded in NL, let me know.... I live just below the A67 which I guess is the route you take across NL between Eindhoven and Venlo...?
Cup of tea, a tow car etc if you need it!
(ps. im also a fan of ebay.de - the bargains can be fantastic).... quite surprised you scream across BE at 120ish though. I used to do the same but have had some colleagues attract some huuuge fines lately for doing similar.
One of my best mates lives in Eindhoven, so not far from you. He rents a barn in Bladel with a few other lads. Some interesting old tat always being worked on in there. They are always happy for a visit. I gate-crash every other weekend.
brt900 said:
What ecu do you use for the lpg?
It's just an old Romano RISN unit. Had it for years. It's seen 4 cars so far, and never misses a beat. I think the KING is the modern equivalent with better mapping ability, but this suits me fine. B'stard Child said:
I like the pillars and roof - not so much the bonnet
Not thought about the USA station wagon style two tone - dark lower light upper?
A dark bottom crossed my mind (not the first time...) but I've been told dark lower/light upper is a no-no by rMad, and to be fair, he's in the right trade to know. Dark top makes car look lower apparently. I photoshopped it just now, and he's right. It looks wrong, somehow.Not thought about the USA station wagon style two tone - dark lower light upper?
So, playing again, taking peoples comments on board. I've also let some paint out, and the lighter colour is not as light as I envisaged. It is more sand colour, less taxi beige. Looks really nice on the small trim bits I painted this evening. So, some updated "artists" views...
This is more realistic colours now. Made the bonnet light. Yeah, makes sense...
Orange wheels
Err, no!
Black wheels
Hmm, quite like that
Damnit, I know it is pretty unpopular, but I do like the darker bonnet...
Comments?
About time I updated this thread...
When I rebuilt the front of the car it had 87500 miles on the clock, it now has around 112000. 25k totally trouble free miles in just over a year, mostly going back and forth between the UK(home) and Germany(work).
I average around 19 mpg on LPG, which is a little low, but it's still running a flat map (i.e. it squirts the same amount of fuel in whatever the revs/load). Really need to find some time and play with the LPG mapping. Sure I could get as high as mid 20's if I get involved. It's not bothered me particularly, because the car runs so well on the current set-up - and also LPG is currently 39c a litre in Belgium - so the car is cheaper to run than my old Passat TDi.
Other stuff... Well, it now sits a bit lower at the front with Lorinser springs all round, but left the rear in the end as it often gets quite a bit of weight thrown in there
New genuine AMG brake discs all round (that wasn't cheap!), yellow stuff pads and braided hoses made a massive difference!
I had a stainless exhaust made. Turns out that a car running on LPG doesn't need cats to be legal, so all four of those went in the bin! Resonators binned too. Now runs straight pipes from the manifold to the original stainless AMG rear box.
I think it sounds ace! I put some audio on my Instagram feed:
Instagram
Needed winter tyres (legal requirement in Germany), so found a second set of staggered AMG wheels. They were in really good condition and cheap, so they will be the summer wheels next year. This meant I could paint the old ones.
Now fitted with Continental TS830 WinterContact tyres that are amazing in the snow, and even on cold wet mornings make so much difference. They are noisy though!
Haven't got too far with the body yet, but the evenings will start to draw out soon...
My son being useful and scraping the ice off:
Oh yeah, and had an interesting blowout at 70mph on Friday. Not overly impressed as the tyre was only 4 months old. Although the car weaved and slapped across three lanes of M20, it was quite entertaining bringing it to a stop. Quite grateful it happened then, as a few hours earlier I was cruising at 130mph across Germany.
That's about it for now. I know the car looks a bit crap half painted, but bare with me. If it comes out similar to the photoshop renders, I think it should look rather good when finished. Or not.
When I rebuilt the front of the car it had 87500 miles on the clock, it now has around 112000. 25k totally trouble free miles in just over a year, mostly going back and forth between the UK(home) and Germany(work).
I average around 19 mpg on LPG, which is a little low, but it's still running a flat map (i.e. it squirts the same amount of fuel in whatever the revs/load). Really need to find some time and play with the LPG mapping. Sure I could get as high as mid 20's if I get involved. It's not bothered me particularly, because the car runs so well on the current set-up - and also LPG is currently 39c a litre in Belgium - so the car is cheaper to run than my old Passat TDi.
Other stuff... Well, it now sits a bit lower at the front with Lorinser springs all round, but left the rear in the end as it often gets quite a bit of weight thrown in there
New genuine AMG brake discs all round (that wasn't cheap!), yellow stuff pads and braided hoses made a massive difference!
I had a stainless exhaust made. Turns out that a car running on LPG doesn't need cats to be legal, so all four of those went in the bin! Resonators binned too. Now runs straight pipes from the manifold to the original stainless AMG rear box.
I think it sounds ace! I put some audio on my Instagram feed:
Needed winter tyres (legal requirement in Germany), so found a second set of staggered AMG wheels. They were in really good condition and cheap, so they will be the summer wheels next year. This meant I could paint the old ones.
Now fitted with Continental TS830 WinterContact tyres that are amazing in the snow, and even on cold wet mornings make so much difference. They are noisy though!
Haven't got too far with the body yet, but the evenings will start to draw out soon...
My son being useful and scraping the ice off:
Oh yeah, and had an interesting blowout at 70mph on Friday. Not overly impressed as the tyre was only 4 months old. Although the car weaved and slapped across three lanes of M20, it was quite entertaining bringing it to a stop. Quite grateful it happened then, as a few hours earlier I was cruising at 130mph across Germany.
That's about it for now. I know the car looks a bit crap half painted, but bare with me. If it comes out similar to the photoshop renders, I think it should look rather good when finished. Or not.
Edited by Utterpiffle on Thursday 12th February 11:58
Thanks for the comments guys - was expecting the usual PH flaming 
Rears are 265/35/R18 97V
V is 149mph. I hit 140 quite often approaching the Dutch boarder before Venlo and going back the other way, but am aware I can't vmax the car with these tyres (the car restricts go at 160mph indicated anyway, so not much difference really).
19mpg = 15 litre per 100km, so that's 380km per tank = 235 miles. Probably an easier way to work that out, but in reality about 200 miles... Anyway, at 30 pence a litre in Belgium at the moment, it is a pleasure to fill up
Actually, the main petrol tank is only 70 litres, it used to only do about 300 miles/tank on petrol. I had to fill the petrol tank up last week. I'm now looking at the logs on my phone (yes, anal I know!) Time before that was the beginning of September at 101520 miles - Cool, approx 10500 miles between petrol fill ups!
kapiteinlangzaam said:
Max speed rating for the Winter tyres?
I know mine are only around the 120mph mark.
Fronts are 235/40/R18 95VI know mine are only around the 120mph mark.
Rears are 265/35/R18 97V
V is 149mph. I hit 140 quite often approaching the Dutch boarder before Venlo and going back the other way, but am aware I can't vmax the car with these tyres (the car restricts go at 160mph indicated anyway, so not much difference really).
leglessAlex said:
Holy crap that sounds good. Whats the tank range when running on LPG? I always thought that LPG tanks look a bit small and would only get you about 250 miles or so, but I've never actually asked anyone.
I think the beige and brown will look ace!
Thanks! Range is terrible! 71 litre tank, can only fill to 80%, so 57 litres. I think the beige and brown will look ace!
19mpg = 15 litre per 100km, so that's 380km per tank = 235 miles. Probably an easier way to work that out, but in reality about 200 miles... Anyway, at 30 pence a litre in Belgium at the moment, it is a pleasure to fill up
Actually, the main petrol tank is only 70 litres, it used to only do about 300 miles/tank on petrol. I had to fill the petrol tank up last week. I'm now looking at the logs on my phone (yes, anal I know!) Time before that was the beginning of September at 101520 miles - Cool, approx 10500 miles between petrol fill ups!
kapiteinlangzaam said:
Cool, I thought you would have it under control 
The few times I go over the border in the XC I have to remind myself about the speed ratings on the tyres. Officially its only something like 5 mins max. at the rated speed?
ps. Dont be too concerned if someone in a XC90 / Mini / Alfa Spider furiously waves at you during one of your jaunts... itll just be me
Ooo I didn't know the rating was just for a few minutes. Will make mental note, thanks. Traffic rarely allows sustained speediness anyway in that area.The few times I go over the border in the XC I have to remind myself about the speed ratings on the tyres. Officially its only something like 5 mins max. at the rated speed?
ps. Dont be too concerned if someone in a XC90 / Mini / Alfa Spider furiously waves at you during one of your jaunts... itll just be me
Furious wave possibility also noted...
Yeah, watch out for that OP, the car will pass the emissions tests without cats running on LPG but they recently changed the rules to include a physical inspection of the exhaust system. Unless you have a friendly MoT tester that's going to be a fail next time round unless it at least looks like there are cats in the system.
MOT Test of Exhaust and Emissions
The exhaust system will fail the MOT if:
Part of the system missing or excessively deteriorated
(from February 2014 a missing diesel particulate filter, if originally fitted, will be a Reason for Rejection)
A catalytic converter is missing where one was fitted as standard (on vehicles subject to a full cat test only)
Mounting is missing or damaged so that the exhaust system is insecure
There is a major leak
The system emits appreciably more noise than a similar vehicle fitted with a standard system in good condition.
Class (v): Exhaust tailpipe positioned so that fumes are likely to enter the driver or passenger area.
MOT Test of Exhaust and Emissions
The exhaust system will fail the MOT if:
Part of the system missing or excessively deteriorated
(from February 2014 a missing diesel particulate filter, if originally fitted, will be a Reason for Rejection)
A catalytic converter is missing where one was fitted as standard (on vehicles subject to a full cat test only)
Mounting is missing or damaged so that the exhaust system is insecure
There is a major leak
The system emits appreciably more noise than a similar vehicle fitted with a standard system in good condition.
Class (v): Exhaust tailpipe positioned so that fumes are likely to enter the driver or passenger area.
charltjr said:
Yeah, watch out for that OP, the car will pass the emissions tests without cats running on LPG but they recently changed the rules to include a physical inspection of the exhaust system. Unless you have a friendly MoT tester that's going to be a fail next time round unless it at least looks like there are cats in the system.
MOT Test of Exhaust and Emissions
The exhaust system will fail the MOT if:
Part of the system missing or excessively deteriorated
(from February 2014 a missing diesel particulate filter, if originally fitted, will be a Reason for Rejection)
A catalytic converter is missing where one was fitted as standard (on vehicles subject to a full cat test only)
Mounting is missing or damaged so that the exhaust system is insecure
There is a major leak
The system emits appreciably more noise than a similar vehicle fitted with a standard system in good condition.
Class (v): Exhaust tailpipe positioned so that fumes are likely to enter the driver or passenger area.
A conversation that may or may not have happened at my local MOT station:MOT Test of Exhaust and Emissions
The exhaust system will fail the MOT if:
Part of the system missing or excessively deteriorated
(from February 2014 a missing diesel particulate filter, if originally fitted, will be a Reason for Rejection)
A catalytic converter is missing where one was fitted as standard (on vehicles subject to a full cat test only)
Mounting is missing or damaged so that the exhaust system is insecure
There is a major leak
The system emits appreciably more noise than a similar vehicle fitted with a standard system in good condition.
Class (v): Exhaust tailpipe positioned so that fumes are likely to enter the driver or passenger area.
Friendly MOT inspector: When did you have this exhaust fitted sir?
E55 with no cats owner: After this MOT test
Friendly MOT inspector: Correct answer, sir.
Gassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff