My Story - 46567

What drew me to the wheels themselves was a picture I found somewhere many, many years ago with a blue 400 wearing them - which I posted in this thread when I opted for wheels larger than the minuscule (for my preference) 15 inchers that came from the factory. All too often, when individuals choose to change wheels on their cars, they go with the wrong wheel design (too modern), the wrong size (by many inches), and/or tires with a very small tire wall which again - based on perspective - lacks justifiable taste.

Image Wheels has many tasteful options, are completely custom made to order, and well built/manufactured. Mine are coming up to almost 10 years old and are looking fantastic after all this time! As to the spacers worn on my car, it is always better to go smaller (that can be made to fit) that too large, where they would become instant yard art. So, it certainly was nothing that Harry Nicklin at Image Wheels UK did wrong - and more on my end as to ensuring that fitment issues would not arise.

I highly recommend them - I think the wheels on my car define its aesthetics more than any other factor and, make the car be aggressive (as many Ferrari's are) but not overtly so.

PM directly if you want any more information on them and best of luck!

 

I know I cannot be the only one who: a) devalues their car by driving it; b) in the rain; c) because cars are meant to be used, enjoyed and can/should certainly get wet; but d) the more you use your car, the higher the chances something will happen to it, expected or otherwise.

I know I cannot the only one who: a) needs a good working, cold a/c in their car; b) whether one lives in Florida or not; c) has a dark colored vehicle or not; and/or d) whether its summertime or not.

So... whereas Michel is located in Dania Beach, a good hour (depending on traffic) each way from me in Palm Beach and my schedule only gets busier - if that is even possible - 46567 takes another scheduled pit stop to him via land ferry, in order to find the culprit of what has become a repeated problem with the car's electrics for any number of reasons. However, not having a working a/c or worse yet - one that works intermittently - does not allow me to drive the vehicle at all.

Michel has taken a few cracks at it, and I am posting pics of the not very appealing work. This last time at the shop just for the a/c appears to have been the definitive one and so far, so good. The dual a/c's in the car blow so cold now that even in the hot weather, the rear 3/4 windows fog up and for me, that is a really good problem to now have once again!
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Swung by yesterday for a worthwhile, charitable cause down the street from me to check out the Sculpture in Motion event at the Ann Norton Sculpture Gardens. Below is a pic with the Grand Marshal of the event, Donald Osborne and my son - after having run into him earlier this year at the Amelia Concours. He is ever so gracious, charismatic and a complete class act.

The event was not very big, but the quality of people and cars was outstanding... 46567 is still holding up remarkably well, despite being pressed for daily duty for over 8 months now, while my 500e gets redone by Michel and no complaints!

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You don't see this very often... the Florida turnpike was closed/blocked off on both directions a handful of weeks ago while my son and I were headed to Orlando to attend an event. The car behaved admirably well, even though we ended up parked on the interstate for a good 1.5 hours while 2 different helicopters took presumably injured drivers to the hospital...

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I haven't posted here in a while... but, the car does get driven regularly and even in the rain - which all cars are meant for!

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On another note, I purchased last year a pair of the air vent switches that are located next to the shifter - the ones that open/close them (or was it the cold/warm air?!?)... Doing this job is somewhat labor intensive and the ones in my car are original, which means that they have seen better years. The issue keeping me from having Michel do this job is already by now is that apparently, the other pair of switches - the ones for cold/warm air - are no longer available in stock and/or discontinued? Forgive me if I have the pairs confused - all I know is that all 4 on my car need replacing and I cannot source the missing pair!

Unsure if anyone ever sent Verell a set of the discontinued ones in order for him to replicate or not. But, I think I will order another set of the open/close ones that are available, and have Michel paint the respective markings, as the rest of the car's interior (and exterior) are holding up rather nicely and this is now an eye sore! Has anyone recently replaced both sets (all 4) of these on their car?

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I am now realizing I have not made any posts this year on 46567, although it continues to hold up rather well and gets exercised often! Work, other toys, and family - like everyone else - gets in the way so I posting some updated pics. I did manage to have Michel replace the air vent switches x4 of the same ones, paint over the blue/red dots, and make nice white arrows.

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I never really cared about how disheveled the oem rear seatbelts appear, so I had them swapped out for normal ones... Same thing with the rear armrest, where I had mine shaved down by the upholsterer so that I could take full use of the rear seats and have not looked back ever since.

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Hope you enjoy the pics!

 

Hello, Esben.

For the front coilovers, I used QA1's no. QA1DS402's and for the rears, QA1D602's. Hope this helps if you are considering improving the looks and handling of your car by retrofitting it with an improved suspension, DM me with any additional follow up.

Cheers!

Otto

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This is a picture taken after they were installed and adjusted (the cavallino in the rear has since been correctly replaced)!

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In March of last year, I was fortunate enough to participate for the first time at the events in and around Amelia Island when I completed a thorough transformation of my 1993 MB 500e. I was able to enter it at the Porsche-only show - Werks Reunion - taking place on the first day/Friday. And, on the following day, to show it at Radwood since it's a show for cars made from 1980's to the 1990s. I will reserve my personal opinion about the individuals who go out of their way to make a spectacle of themselves at those shows. But, glad I was able to participate at both shows and received a considerable amount of positive, great appreciation for the 500e.

For this year's event, I took a chance that the organizers would allow me to show 46567 at the inaugural Classic Motorsports Kickoff show that Friday afternoon, and Cars & Community on Saturday which is run parallel to Radwood. Once I was accepted, I was very happy to make it an adventure and did absolutely everything in my power to ensure that despite owning this car for 11 years and counting, that it would hold its own among very interesting and cool machinery.

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The plan was to depart with the PCA group that Thursday in order to tour the Brumos Porsche Museum in Jacksonville on our way to Amelia. And, I had booked an appointment weeks in advance to get the car detailed at 8am the following morning so it would look as good as possible after the 4.5-5 hour drive.

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Well... that was the plan anyway. About 1.5 hours into the trip, the car let me down and not only did I have to wait to get it towed back to WPB, but then rent a car on the fly and drive it to Amelia, thus a long day once I got to the hotel. This year's Amelia event? The weekend was amazing but for me, it's more fun to be showing a car than to attend as another spectator- although I did my fair share of going to the many different auctions, shows, presentations, etc.

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The culprit? The brittle, plastic fusebox panels that with time, simply cause electrical gremlins because the connections are not tight/flush. The solution? A many months' patient wait ordering a new/replacement one from Stefan at Red Bay Cars in Belgium.

Michel was able to get the car back on the mend and it has not been without some subsequent teething issues since, but I intend on commissioning a new mechanical rebuild next year (I have 2 other projects simultaneously going on) once those are completed. The plan is to re-wire the entire car once the new fuse panel is installed, replace all suspension/steering bushings as part of a comprehensive care package ordered from Eurospares, and re-paint the entire car to address some issues that are nothing major, but have added up over the years. Otherwise, the car is holding up nicely and gets driven 1-2 per week under the rotation I maintain with the others.

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Hope everyone has a nice Thanksgiving and be sure to drive your cars often, as life is short!