Photoshoot: Youngtimer

[mbeige]

As I always say, this car is such a persistently lovable machine. Just like a loyal Yellow Labrador Retriever, it will want to keep going and chug at your leash when you're already exhausted after a thousand miles of driving, and will always reward you so long as you treat it right.

Outside






(Continued...)

[mbeige]

(Tsikot only allows 5 images per post...)



Close ups...

[mbeige]

Inside





Cheers! -

[drey]

1st one to post.

You pictures are getting popular here mbiege. She's a beauty!

will always reward you so long as you treat it right.

Your hard work (of restoration) will also be rewarded by a number of viewers who will enjoy watching these pictures and say good stuff about your car.

[mbeige]

Thanks Drey, in the words of our apartment manager, "She's come a long way" from what she originally looked. It's still a work in progress, and probably always will. No worries, I enjoy every bit of it, even down to cleaning the parts prior to reinstalling them. For me anyway, I always make it a point to do so, that way I slowly restore the car bit by bit. It's crazy to remove the rear seats, only to find out the original tag placed there in Germany 25 years ago when the car was built. It's a true survivor!

[niky]

Beautiful car, mbeige! Even more beautiful than it looked when you joined here a few years ago... Man... i envy your labor of love... I only wish I had the time to beautify my ride that well.

[mbeige]

Thanks for the kind words Niky! Yes, the car has been beautified from how it looked like two or three years ago. But I suppose my skills in taking better pics also developed, so I can capture the same details in a different perspective (literally).

Each car has its own set of "vantage points" from which nice shots can be taken from, but not all cars have similar vantage points. Guess that's what I've learned, after taking pics of mine, and my friends' cars.

[Memphis Raines]

I am left speechless MBeige

Are you sure these pictures are current? Because your baby looks so fresh it looks like she just rolled out of the showroom!

Your passengers should take a good shower before they take a ride in her.

Dang that baby is clean X100.

.

[Horsepower]

wow. how were you able to maintain it that immaculate despite its age?

[mbeige]

wow. how were you able to maintain it that immaculate despite its age?

In truth, I really have no idea. My grandparents took care of it for the first 21 years of its life, thereafter it was mine. I suppose if it's an addiction to clean, it helps?

I am left speechless MBeige

Are you sure these pictures are current? Because your baby looks so fresh it looks like she just rolled out of the showroom!

Your passengers should take a good shower before they take a ride in her.

Dang that baby is clean X100.

.

Thanks bro yes as far as I know, those pictures are only a few hours old

[iho250]

perfect!!! 'nuff said!

i hope i can maintain my ride like that when it gets as old as your ride, and ask tips from you on how to do it

[mbeige]

Thanks Iho250! If I remember how I did it, I'll gladly pass on the knowledge I've learned!

[mbeige]

The time has come to finally put new shoes on my car, this time I went with the rather rare 15" wheels that look like the factory 14" ones, but have very subtle design changes over them.




Here you can really tell these 15" wheels are somewhat different...



Than these factory 14" wheels:

[niky]

Very subtle change, but the car does sit better on the 15's... your handling should improve a bit, too. Nice find!

[mbeige]

Absolutely, it handles much better than the wallowy stock 14" tires. Really not just an aesthetic upgrade (albeit a bit subtle as you've observed) but also functional too. I'm still going for that understatement look. I never realized how bad the 14" tires were until I drove these the first time last Friday.

But man, that wheel lip is just a dead giveaway. The 300TE, on the other hand, also received new shoes that will come next.

Can't wait to receive the first random compliment about these 15" wheels. Once I do, I'll know he's an MB enthusiast. Perhaps it's also better to see these in person. Something about them that captures your attention that's not so evident in the photographs.

[niky]

Sidewalls are one of the biggest contributors to handling "feel" on any car... too tall, like with your stock tires, and it'll feel wallowy and unsure. Too short, like with "blings" (with sidewalls that are from 30-45% of the tread width) and grip will be good but transition will be unsure, and the ride will be choppy... get it just right (between 50-60%), and the car will drive wonderfully. ;)

[safeorigin]

really beautiful car. as the saying goes, "beauty conquers time"

[mbeige]

Thanks guys. Indeed, what I did was get the still new tires from the stock 300TE 15" wheels and swapped them over for these (195/65/15) so even if it's not much of an improvement from the 70 profile tire it originally had it still feels much better. I much wanted to get 205/60/15 but I felt I was just throwing away money by selling the old 15" tires for much less so I just used it for now. Baka mabigla rin ako from a 195/70/14 to 205/60/15 jump.

If you remember the Jazz we had in Manila that one had 35 profile tires! Every bump and rut on the road was felt so the stock 15" Michelins were better for comfy cruising. Not to mention the 35 profile tires were noisy! What's funny is that the suspension made the 15" tires feel bouncy so it's also a combination of nice damping and good profile tires I guess.

[safeorigin]

afaik, tire profile are designed to reduce road noise and increase traction of wet or slippery surfaces, hence the obvious advantages of slicks and rain tires from one another. on the suspension and tire combination, i guess it all depends on the springs for right amount of softness.

[larshell]

Nice shots great car