Elbenzo // Bagged '92 190E Project

[Laef]

Dammit, much interesting things on here. Can't wait to see more man, keep it up!

[JDMexican]

Dammit, much interesting things on here. Can't wait to see more man, keep it up!

Thank you sir! I can't wait until I actually get to the part where the car gets interesting.

Mini-update: Today I'm leaving for Wuste (in Vegas) which is a pretty large euro show and the largest one within a reasonable distance from where I live (Utah). This is the show that I planned to have Elbenzo debuted at, but obviously that didn't pan out since my wheel builder didn't meet my deadline. Plus the whole issue with the bags I received from Bagriders being in shitty condition.

• Bags have been sent back for a full refund from Bagriders (after many many emails). I will then be buying some SS5 bags from anyone other than Bagriders.

• Wheel lips and barrels have been put on order. 2.5" lips, 7" barrel. Final spec will be 17x9.5+20 which should be just about perfect.

I'm going to be leaving the vehicle at a Mercedes specialist shop, actually the same mechanic that serviced this car for much of its life. I have a couple things I'm going to have him address while I'm out of town. (Some of these things I can do no problem but figure it may as well all be done at once)

• Recharge AC
• Inspect Rough Start
• Inspect Rough Idle
• Inspect Transmission (hard shifting)
• Lube Antannae
• Oil Change
• Replace Rotors and Pads

[190Evan]

• Recharge AC
• Inspect Rough Start
• Inspect Rough Idle
• Inspect Transmission (hard shifting)
• Lube Antannae
• Oil Change
• Replace Rotors and Pads

Rough start is probably your coolant temp sensor, describe the symptoms. Rough idle could be your OVP relay or your ICU (Idle control unit). Have you replaced either of those or checked if they are working properly? Also if your injectors haven't been cleaned I would give them a cleaning or replace them as a whole because that was a problem I had with my M102. Hard shifting culprit is most likely a vacuum leak on the trans or your shift linkage bushings. What's your cold start like?

[JDMexican]

Mini-update again:

• UAS bags were received by Bagriders and I received a full refund. Immediately purchased a set of Slam Specialties SS5 bags upon receipt of the refund. Hopefully they arrive soon, then I just need to sort out my fittings.

Got the car back from Dick the mechanic (his name is actually Dick) yesterday. He was able to handle some items for me and without breaking the bank!

• Recharge AC: ✓ Recharged
  
  
• Inspect Rough Start: Unresolved - He said he has a few different ideas (valves, sensors, etc.) but didn't want to do it just yet because it could mean my car was MIA for a while. It will be taken care of later on when I have a chance to do without my car.
  
  
• Inspect Rough Idle: ✓ Turns out it was just my engine mounts that had blown out, now she feels nice and smooth.
  
  
• Inspect Transmission (hard shifting): Same as with rough start, didn't want to start digging in to it without having all resources/parts in case something takes a long time.
  
  
• Lube Antannae: ✓ Lubed
  
  
• Oil Change: ✓ Changed (Mileage: 104,XXX)
  
  
• Replace Rotors and Pads: ✓ No more wobbly rotors

Will most likely be ordering some euro headlights and clear corners (because I **** amber) here soon. Still waiting on the wheels and I don't really want to bag it unless I have the wheels here as I see no point in it.

One day... one day this car will be cool and it'll be something worth looking at.

[190Evan]

^^ ask your mechanic to check the things I stated above!

[Rocambolesque]

Take a look under the car, on the driver's side of the transmission you'll see a green (or red or white, depending on the year) round thing. There should be a vacuum line on that. Sometimes it just gets unplugged and you'll see it hang there. If it's the case, just reconnect it. That is the vacuum modulator and it controls how hard the transmission shifts. It is also adjustable.

[JDMexican]

^^ ask your mechanic to check the things I stated above!

He did start checking those things. He listed off those exact items plus some before he told me it could get very labor intensive and asked if I was okay living with a slightly rough start (not really that bad anymore). I'll take care of it later down the road.

Take a look under the car, on the driver's side of the transmission you'll see a green (or red or white, depending on the year) round thing. There should be a vacuum line on that. Sometimes it just gets unplugged and you'll see it hang there. If it's the case, just reconnect it. That is the vacuum modulator and it controls how hard the transmission shifts. It is also adjustable.

That's some very helpful information! I'll have to tackle that with the help of one of my friends on a weekend. I just found out he was a certified Mercedes Mechanic not long ago and actually worked at the dealership and the first shop I took the car to to be inspected.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Another one of these annoying mini updates!


Received my SS-5 bags from AVS! Easy to order, prompt shipping and they arrived looking BRAND NEW! Weird... right?
Slam Specialties SS-5 by David Arellano, on Flickr

Slam Specialties SS-5 by David Arellano, on Flickr

Slam Specialties SS-5 by David Arellano, on Flickr

Slam Specialties SS-5 by David Arellano, on Flickr

Clean threads!?
Slam Specialties SS-5 by David Arellano, on Flickr



Additionally. I got in touch with the dude building my wheels. The supplier sent him the wrong parts so he's been trying to get the right ones. But they keep telling him it's going to be a week to two weeks out. I'm losing my patience. I just want my damn car to be cool already before the season is over.

[Respect Till Death]

pretty sure I'm also following you on IG alongside the 80s benzlord @190evan - been making heaps of notes about this for my own 190 build. Jealous that you guys don't have to pay AUD on everything haha!

[JDMexican]

So I ordered an Avant Garde / S600 style grill this week, from eBay (shoot myself in the foot). Unfortunately that's the only place I can find them and they all look really cheap, so I picked the best one. I really really like how it classes up and updates the car a bit.

I got it yesterday, and of course it has paint flaws and 4 of the small tabs were broken off before even opening it.

This really only bothers me because when I go to take pictures of my car I'm going to notice it every single time. Yay for cheap ass eBay parts. I really wish I could get a genuine or at least one that has some quality to it. But for now I'm going to ask for a replacement without the flaws and issues this one had. Good luck to me (fuck I despise cheap shit ).

Elbenzo - Avant Garde Grille - Broken by David Arellano, on Flickr

Elbenzo - Avant Garde Grille - Broken by David Arellano, on Flickr

Elbenzo - Avant Garde Grille - Broken by David Arellano, on Flickr

Elbenzo - Avant Garde Grille - Broken by David Arellano, on Flickr

Elbenzo - Avant Garde Grille - Broken by David Arellano, on Flickr

Elbenzo - Avant Garde Grille - Broken by David Arellano, on Flickr

BTW for all those wondering when all this is going down. I'm still waiting on my wheels. I don't see any reason to put the bags on unless I have cool wheels to go with it. No point in more wear and tear on the new suspension bits unless they're actually serving a real purpose (looking cool with the wheels).

[JDMexican]

Said fuck it and installed the grill anyway. Sharpie'd the spot that wasn't fully painted black.

Super easy to remove the OEM piece and install this one. Things didn't fit perfect, but honestly they were close enough. I figured the only way I'm going to get one better than this is to buy an actual S600 grill and chop it up. Which honestly I don't think is worth it.

Avant-Garde Grille by David Arellano, on Flickr

Really makes the car look much less dated and a bit classier overall in my opinion.




Also blew my fuse for my radio, map light/dome light and antannae when I was fiddling with what was left over from my broken visor mounts. Turns out the little metal pieces that hang out will short out when touched against the mounting screw. Who knew.

[loekaaz]

Also blew my fuse for my radio, map light/dome light and antannae when I was fiddling with what was left over from my broken visor mounts. Turns out the little metal pieces that hang out will short out when touched against the mounting screw. Who knew.

Lol. Had exactly the same thing when installing mine hahaha

[JDMexican]

Welp, another virtually useless update of more parts! Maybe one day this car will be cool, though probably not any time this year because of how heavily delayed my wheels have been.

Tooling is still being made to machine the lips and barrels that will be created for my SSR Crenshaw Classics.

But in other news. I got new headlights! USDM's ones are garbage and I opted for something a little different than what everybody else runs (Euro market). I was hesitant about ordering these at first but decided to just go for it. I'm really happy with how they look and feel after having opened them up. Everything feels sturdy and well made which is nice, and they weren't too expensive.

I'm going to have the housings painted black to reduce some the aftermarket rice factor. They'll be painted black to match the car better and make them look more at home. Until then, pictures!

Eagle Eye - Crystal Headlights by David Arellano, on Flickr

Eagle Eye - Crystal Headlights by David Arellano, on Flickr

Eagle Eye - Crystal Headlights by David Arellano, on Flickr

Eagle Eye - Crystal Headlights by David Arellano, on Flickr

Eagle Eye - Crystal Headlights by David Arellano, on Flickr

Eagle Eye - Crystal Headlights by David Arellano, on Flickr

Eagle Eye - Crystal Headlights by David Arellano, on Flickr

Eagle Eye - Crystal Headlights by David Arellano, on Flickr

Eagle Eye - Crystal Headlights by David Arellano, on Flickr

Eagle Eye - Crystal Headlights by David Arellano, on Flickr

[JDMexican]

So it's been a long-ass time since I've posted on here. Mainly because not shit has happened really, nothing worth mentioning at least. Aside from the following:

• I still have the Integra (please buy it)
• I've been maintaining the Benz rull good and put 11k miles on it in a year
• I bought a 4runner (it's bitchin')
• Got my wheels finally (they're bitchin')

So yeah. Here's the 4runner cause it's bitchin' // 2001, 1 owner, 153k miles, 4WD Sport model, no rust (which is a mircle) and I got it for a great deal. Gonna start a build thread over on 4runner.org for it if anybody wants to tune in.

[JDMexican]

Andddddd these wheels showed up at my door today. FINALLY!

• Manufacturer: SSR
• Model: Crenshaw Classic
• Diameter: 17"
• Width: 9"
• Offset: -3
• Style Bar: Maxed out eventually

Took a while, but they're finally here. Custom lips and barrels because of the shitty size of the face. Long story short, a ring has been machined and welded in to the edge of the face to fill the gap between the face edge and the lip. Long story short, the lips were machined to the wrong size face (leaving a gap between the face edge and the inner edge of the lip). Long story short, whatever, they're here, can't wait to get them coated, or plated, or chromed or plasti-dipped (jk that would be hilarious).

Some of those stories weren't short. So here's a short one, the valve stems are in the barrel because clean lips are life.

Custom SSR Crenshaw Classics by David Arellano, on Flickr

Custom SSR Crenshaw Classics by David Arellano, on Flickr

Custom SSR Crenshaw Classics by David Arellano, on Flickr

Custom SSR Crenshaw Classics by David Arellano, on Flickr

Custom SSR Crenshaw Classics by David Arellano, on Flickr

Custom SSR Crenshaw Classics by David Arellano, on Flickr

Custom SSR Crenshaw Classics by David Arellano, on Flickr

Custom SSR Crenshaw Classics by David Arellano, on Flickr

Custom SSR Crenshaw Classics by David Arellano, on Flickr

Custom SSR Crenshaw Classics by David Arellano, on Flickr

Custom SSR Crenshaw Classics by David Arellano, on Flickr

[djlowd]

Those wheels are gonna be pure sex on the car... Congratulations, I think the result will be awesome !!!