Sensible family daily wagon - Mercedes Benz S211 E500
Discussion
baxb said:
Another one who looks out for updates on this thread, be sorry to see it end, but can't say i'd blame you if the likes of R129sl are being banned.
baxb said:
I sold these things new back at the time yours was coming out of the showroom in 04 so do have a soft spot for them. That V8 was never the last word in power, but such a lovely smooth thing & easy to see how you do the miles so effortlessly in Magnus.
The latest updates have me looking forward to my euro trip down to near Alicante in Sept on two wheels, good luck with your upcoming Euro spin with the lad BM!
Fascinating -- do you recall who or what profile of buyer purchased them. Were they high flying captains of industry, perchance? They are as you say -- just a good amount of indecent power for the road.The latest updates have me looking forward to my euro trip down to near Alicante in Sept on two wheels, good luck with your upcoming Euro spin with the lad BM!
What's the plan for Alicante then? Chunnel or ferry (and to where)?
Nervous for the trip with the boy! It'll be the first Euro trip on a bike since 2007 when I rode to Athens, via the MotoGP in Mugello!
Edited by bolidemichael on Thursday 16th June 17:35
bolidemichael said:
AC43 said:
BrettMRC said:
bolidemichael said:
JakeT said:
bolidemichael said:
I have actually met the man in the real world and he is as you'd hope him to be, the type of chap that leaves you with a spring in your step. We were both knackered on a Saturday night and almost bailed, but we made the effort and it was worthwhile.
To address your request of enlightenment, frankly, he got naffed off with the sensation of intolerance limiting the natural course of interaction between largely genteel members of Pistonheads (in particular on the effect of said decisions on the barge thread) and expressed his views in no uncertain terms (though gentle in delivery, really) on his own thread. Now, the emphasis on 'his own' isn't to say that it is excluded from forum rules, but that he was banned within a couple of hours of having aired his thoughts on a Sunday evening (comments made as part of a general commentary on things that naffed him off, including the anti-car policy of Northumberland County Council that is allegedly killing the high street), which strongly indicates that bargeistes are being closely watched by those in a position to make such instant decisions.
Doesn't that make the environment feel a little pernicious towards long-standing and valued contributors -- in contrast to the little known and seldom revealed people that 'push the button'? Also of a sudden, it feels as though we have the illusion of a community, rather than having earned one through long-term time investment and interactions. This is why long-time PHers that don't seem to regularly indulge or promote hysterical behaviour are upset by the decision making of those-who-shall-not-be-named-in-case-a-forum-rule-is-invoked-against-me.
Sounds like the moderation we’ve come to know and To address your request of enlightenment, frankly, he got naffed off with the sensation of intolerance limiting the natural course of interaction between largely genteel members of Pistonheads (in particular on the effect of said decisions on the barge thread) and expressed his views in no uncertain terms (though gentle in delivery, really) on his own thread. Now, the emphasis on 'his own' isn't to say that it is excluded from forum rules, but that he was banned within a couple of hours of having aired his thoughts on a Sunday evening (comments made as part of a general commentary on things that naffed him off, including the anti-car policy of Northumberland County Council that is allegedly killing the high street), which strongly indicates that bargeistes are being closely watched by those in a position to make such instant decisions.
Doesn't that make the environment feel a little pernicious towards long-standing and valued contributors -- in contrast to the little known and seldom revealed people that 'push the button'? Also of a sudden, it feels as though we have the illusion of a community, rather than having earned one through long-term time investment and interactions. This is why long-time PHers that don't seem to regularly indulge or promote hysterical behaviour are upset by the decision making of those-who-shall-not-be-named-in-case-a-forum-rule-is-invoked-against-me.
Edited by bolidemichael on Monday 13th June 23:12
I find some of it far too heavy handed with a condescending tone. The no name and shame is fair enough, but just remove that. Don’t wave the ban hammer and remove posters that really do add to the site. You can tell from the postings that JR is a good person, and makes reasonable points.
I think it’s reasons like these forms are on the wain and people take to twitter instead. Far less moderation, and just as much vitriol.
Random question: Do these E500 suffer with oil cooler issues at all?
Re oil coolers; I used to have a car like Mr Bolide's and am not aware of any issues with them.
bolidemichael said:
Fascinating -- do you recall who or what profile of buyer purchased them. Were they high flying captains of industry, perchance? They are as you say -- just a good amount of indecent power for the road.
What's the plan for Alicante then? Chunnel or ferry (and to where)?
Nervous for the trip with the boy! It'll be the first Euro trip on a bike since 2007 when I rode to Athens, via the MotoGP in Mugello!
I remember selling a couple of 500 saloons, one to a retired chap who had an immaculate 15-16 yr old 124 320E & the other to the owner of a local Kia dealer!! From memory I don’t think we got one unless we asked for it, we could sell as many 320cdi’s as we could get our hands on, but the V8 was maybe 4-5 a year for us in Ipswich. What's the plan for Alicante then? Chunnel or ferry (and to where)?
Nervous for the trip with the boy! It'll be the first Euro trip on a bike since 2007 when I rode to Athens, via the MotoGP in Mugello!
Edited by bolidemichael on Thursday 16th June 17:35
For the Euro trip me & a pal are riding down to Xabia north of Alicante, me on an R1200RS & him on an R1200RT. We’ll be heading from Essex to Portsmouth for the Thursday evening ferry arriving Bilbao on Saturday at 8am, a days ride to Cuenca, avoiding as much motorway as possible & then on to Xabia on Sunday via some cracking roads he knows that take us near to Callaspara. Our other halves fly out on the Saturday. After 6 days of lazing about we do the return trip leaving on the Friday & overnighting in Soria for the Sat afternoon Bilbao-Portsmouth ferry home, can’t wait till Sept, but hoping it’s not 35+ deg!!!
bolidemichael said:
Can you indulge us further with the story of your journey? It likes like you were on a mission...
Also, what is it like covering long distances in
that part of the works? Do they have slick and numerous service stations, or just outposts?
A PHer named RMcDG (or similar) regularly tows cars with his Cayenne from somewhere in Canada to Arizona and racks up huge mileages!
Of course! We took part in the Ha'il cross country rally - came second to Nasser Al Attiyah. Fantastic experience - i was grandly titled team manager! I have been involved with Team Saluki for around 15 years.Also, what is it like covering long distances in
that part of the works? Do they have slick and numerous service stations, or just outposts?
A PHer named RMcDG (or similar) regularly tows cars with his Cayenne from somewhere in Canada to Arizona and racks up huge mileages!
As to the trip, roads are generally really good, minimum of dual carriageways, once outside of the big cities of Dubai, Abu Dhabi and then Riyadh, roads pretty quiet, well sighted, and smooth, so could keep up a good average speed.
Service stations in the UAE are generally good, and frequent, while more spaced out and variable in KSA. But fuel was 25 fils or around 5pence...!!
Tow truck is awesome - Chevy Silverado - 6.6litre V8 turbo diesel.
James72911 said:
bolidemichael said:
Can you indulge us further with the story of your journey? It likes like you were on a mission...
Also, what is it like covering long distances in
that part of the works? Do they have slick and numerous service stations, or just outposts?
A PHer named RMcDG (or similar) regularly tows cars with his Cayenne from somewhere in Canada to Arizona and racks up huge mileages!
Of course! We took part in the Ha'il cross country rally - came second to Nasser Al Attiyah. Fantastic experience - i was grandly titled team manager! I have been involved with Team Saluki for around 15 years.Also, what is it like covering long distances in
that part of the works? Do they have slick and numerous service stations, or just outposts?
A PHer named RMcDG (or similar) regularly tows cars with his Cayenne from somewhere in Canada to Arizona and racks up huge mileages!
As to the trip, roads are generally really good, minimum of dual carriageways, once outside of the big cities of Dubai, Abu Dhabi and then Riyadh, roads pretty quiet, well sighted, and smooth, so could keep up a good average speed.
Service stations in the UAE are generally good, and frequent, while more spaced out and variable in KSA. But fuel was 25 fils or around 5pence...!!
Tow truck is awesome - Chevy Silverado - 6.6litre V8 turbo diesel.
bolidemichael said:
So much coolness going on in this post James. Setting the CC stuff to one side -- what are the speed limits and are they regularly enforced by the Dubai supercar police cars? What is the attitude to speeding and what are the avg speeds, generally? In the UK, I'd say that (perhaps before rocketing fuel prices) it would be 85ish.
Thanks! Dubai only made up around 100km of the total journey, but has the strictest speed limits - 120kph, but you can get away with 130/140 - largely monitored by cameras. The supercars are for events/showing off - the 'normal' police cars are Toyota Landcruisers/Nissan Patrols/Ford Explorers.
Abu Dhabi - around 300km - once past the city, roads become much quieter, mainly trucks, and again speed cameras. Limit 140kph.
Saudi - sections with little or no traffic, very few cameras, could make good progress.
We had a Garmin GPS and stuck to 140kph, which the tow truck seemed happy with, so not a similar average speed to you.
One of a small (ish) number of great threads on PH. I’m not great at posting my stuff but genuinely enjoy reading about the ups and downs of real car enthusiasts.
After recent travails I hope you continue (and if possible point me towards the new home of one of the other great Mercedes’ enthusiastic thread meisters who recently, and sadly, left these pages).
After recent travails I hope you continue (and if possible point me towards the new home of one of the other great Mercedes’ enthusiastic thread meisters who recently, and sadly, left these pages).
bolidemichael said:
idealstandard said:
bolidemichael said:
I admire your discipline. As has been repeated continuously throughout this thread, my default setting in this car is to squeeze the pedal until I reach the horizon -- it is to the credit of the E500 that I feel comfortable doing that repeatedly as it's so solid, competent and composed at high speed -- it's in its element as it were. It possesses the ground covering elegance that may be absent from the E55 AMG, which is in possession of a five, rather than seven 'G' gearbox -- thanks to prodigious torques.
Another great update OP, as ever. My method in France is much like the previous poster also. I was pulled at a tollbooth about 8 years ago, clocked at 155kph and given a slap and a couple of hundred euros "fine" which was only payable if I furnished them with folding notes, strangely enough.The policeman however did inform me that you want to be looking out for white estate cars (presumably french made - Citroen, peugeot, renault) or the access turnings on the autoroute in the 3-5km before a tollbooth as this is where they catch you and radio ahead. He also advised me that at all times stay below 180KPH because at that point a more severe member of the local constabulary may well want you to attend a face to face meeting at the local Bastille.
Since then I have been relatively careful and also quite lucky. However I was slapped with a "furious driving" charge in Spain (at a later date, by post - a courts summons actually) a few years ago after a particularly spirited one day Faro to London emergency run at Xmas. Ended up with a 2 year driving ban in Spain, which I of course made sure to adhere to in every which way.
Keep the updates coming
These days I tend to stick the cruise on at 90 or so when I'm the Land of the Brie. You can still cover huge distances in a day and it's actually a relaxing way to do it.
Hang on - I think I've turned into my Dad.
AC43 said:
These days I tend to stick the cruise on at 90 or so when I'm the Land of the Brie. You can still cover huge distances in a day and it's actually a relaxing way to do it.
Yeah as I’ve mentioned earlier in the thread that’s what I tend to do as well.French speed thresholds are 5%, so you’re safe up to 137kph (almost exactly 85mph) on GPS - in my car that’s an indicated 90mph on the speedo.
Assuming it’s quiet + Waze is clear I’ll add a few clicks above that on the cruise but generally pretty rare to have it above 95mph.
On a quiet Autoroute day you can maintain that pace for hours - so eminently possible to cover a lot of ground quite fast.
AC43 said:
These days I tend to stick the cruise on at 90 or so when I'm the Land of the Brie. You can still cover huge distances in a day and it's actually a relaxing way to do it.
Hang on - I think I've turned into my Dad.
Anything more than 30kmh over the limit opens up additional sanctions which I presume are at the discretion of the person who has caught you. Hang on - I think I've turned into my Dad.
https://www.service-public.fr/particuliers/vosdroi...
That still allows cruising speeds of 99mph where the risk is limited to 135 euros and 2 points. Like you say, big distances can be covered at that speed!
braddo said:
AC43 said:
These days I tend to stick the cruise on at 90 or so when I'm the Land of the Brie. You can still cover huge distances in a day and it's actually a relaxing way to do it.
Hang on - I think I've turned into my Dad.
Anything more than 30kmh over the limit opens up additional sanctions which I presume are at the discretion of the person who has caught you. Hang on - I think I've turned into my Dad.
https://www.service-public.fr/particuliers/vosdroi...
That still allows cruising speeds of 99mph where the risk is limited to 135 euros and 2 points. Like you say, big distances can be covered at that speed!
So a 160kph speed you get done for (and earn yourself €135 fine) equates to:
- 169kph/105mph actual GPS speed
- 177kph/110mph indicated (assuming 5% speedo error)
Those kinds of speeds in the UK would earn you a summons (and a decent chance of a ban) - so by those standards it’s still pretty lenient.
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