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The End of An Era
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Posted 1/23/2021 4:57 PM
DUTCH
Administrator Doppelgänger




Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: US, GA, Atlanta
Vehicle(s): 2015 Audi Q7 3.0 TDI,2018 Sprinter
Posts: 9963
5000
The End of An Era

36.5 yrs (07/1984 - 01/2021) of continuous Gwagen ownership ended today, as the new owner of my 2000 G500 NMLE pulled out of my driveway.

It started in 1984 with a new LWB 280GE ordered and purchased in Stuttgart I drove it for 18 years and 111,000 happy miles when I sold it in 2002.

I purchased a used 2000 G500 NMLE, "Deep Throat" with 22,000 miles in 2002. It left today with almost 93,000 miles on the clock.

Lots of great adventures, good friends and happy times during that Era.

Onward and upward to the next chapter in my life. Happy Trails!



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#242397
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Author
Posted 1/23/2021 5:45 PM
WEBIII
Extreme Veteran


Date registered: Oct 2010
Location: Inlet Beach, FL
Vehicle(s): 461.318, 463.241
Posts: 315
300
Re: The End of An Era

Congratulations. What are the specs on the van? Hot tub on the back?
#242398 - in reply to #242397
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Posted 1/23/2021 9:40 PM
AlanMcR
Expert




Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: US, CA, Los Altos
Vehicle(s): G300DT E300DT 230SL
Posts: 3500
2000
RE: The End of An Era

Those Sprinter campers are really appealing, but I still want the off-road exploring capability at this stage in life.
#242399 - in reply to #242397
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Posted 1/24/2021 11:58 AM
gbenzer
Extreme Veteran




Date registered: Dec 2006
Location: Georgia
Vehicle(s): 2007 G-500, 2017 Audi Q7
Posts: 418
300
RE: The End of An Era

Happy motoring and best wishes. We still value your input for us and especially thankful for admin. of the forum. The adventure you pictured in your new van is where we went on our last big adventure before COVID hit. We have been thinking of adding a similar van to our fleet.
#242400 - in reply to #242397
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Author
Posted 1/24/2021 12:21 PM
DUTCH
Administrator Doppelgänger




Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: US, GA, Atlanta
Vehicle(s): 2015 Audi Q7 3.0 TDI,2018 Sprinter
Posts: 9963
5000
RE: The End of An Era

gbenzer - 1/24/2021 11:58 AM

We have been thinking of adding a similar van to our fleet.


If you do and you want the build on a Sprinter chassis, check out the Coachmen Galleria. Excellent quality and superior customer service.

I'm on a first name basis and have the cell phone number for the Factory Manufacturing Manager. They listen and respond to their customers. You won't find that to be the case with other manufacturers.
#242401 - in reply to #242400
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Author
Posted 1/25/2021 7:00 PM
Desert Fox
Veteran


Date registered: May 2013
Location: Tucson, Arizona
Vehicle(s): G500 2002
Posts: 191
100
Re: The End of An Era

Enjoy your new ride!
#242405 - in reply to #242397
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Author
Posted 1/25/2021 7:46 PM
DUTCH
Administrator Doppelgänger




Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: US, GA, Atlanta
Vehicle(s): 2015 Audi Q7 3.0 TDI,2018 Sprinter
Posts: 9963
5000
Re: The End of An Era

Desert Fox - 1/25/2021 7:00 PM

Enjoy your new ride!


Thanks. It's already 2 yrs old; but a really great way to travel in these Covid times. Our own kitchen, bed and bathroom for easy social distancing.
#242406 - in reply to #242405
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Posted 1/26/2021 7:36 AM
Inkblotz
Expert




Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: Georgia
Vehicle(s): 90 300GD "Thundering Turtle II", w/ 603A turbo
Posts: 3185
2000
Re: The End of An Era

Haaapy Trails Dutch and enjoy the Sprinter.
#242408 - in reply to #242397
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Posted 1/27/2021 12:24 AM
Otiswesty
Administrator




Date registered: Jun 2007
Location: Portland, Oregon
Vehicle(s): 463.241, 461.213
Posts: 3003
2000
Re: The End of An Era

Good travels with the Sprinter, nice to have some comforts of home when camping.

Your old G500 is amazing.



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#242409 - in reply to #242398
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Posted 1/27/2021 2:21 PM
J.R.
Elite Veteran




Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: Southern Maryland
Vehicle(s): 00 G500, 09 911 4S, 11 Cayenne S, 86 280GE (sold)
Posts: 828
500
Re: The End of An Era

otiswesty - 1/27/2021 12:24 AM

Your old G500 is amazing.


You got an amazing G, BUT it is not OLD. It is "seasoned"
#242410 - in reply to #242409
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Posted 1/27/2021 4:19 PM
heinz
Veteran




Date registered: Dec 2006
Location: Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Vehicle(s): G500, MY 2000
Posts: 176
100
RE: The End of An Era

Hi Dutch,
your former G500 and my G500 met in Tuscaloosa last Sunday again for a short visit. Here we figured out that they both were born in Graz probably at the same day in October 1999. They are only 49 VIN # apart.



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#242411 - in reply to #242397
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Posted 1/27/2021 6:51 PM
DUTCH
Administrator Doppelgänger




Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: US, GA, Atlanta
Vehicle(s): 2015 Audi Q7 3.0 TDI,2018 Sprinter
Posts: 9963
5000
RE: The End of An Era

heinz - 1/27/2021 4:19 PM

Hi Dutch,
your former G500 and my G500 met in Tuscaloosa last Sunday again for a short visit. Here we figured out that they both were born in Graz probably at the same day in October 1999. They are only 49 VIN # apart. :lmao:


Ja. Shipment date on my G500 was 11 Nov 1999.
#242412 - in reply to #242411
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Posted 1/27/2021 8:48 PM
AGuess
Elite Veteran


Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: Holly Springs NC
Vehicle(s): 93 500GE, 93 500GE, 2002 G500
Posts: 717
500
Re: The End of An Era

Happy Trails Dutch and I hope you continue share your knowledge here.
#242413 - in reply to #242397
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Posted 1/27/2021 10:00 PM
WEBIII
Extreme Veteran


Date registered: Oct 2010
Location: Inlet Beach, FL
Vehicle(s): 461.318, 463.241
Posts: 315
300
Re: The End of An Era

Wait, how does the NMLE with a Nov 99 delivery date have the later steering wheel with controls when my G500 with a build date in Jan 2000 has the earlier steering wheel?
#242414 - in reply to #242413
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Posted 1/28/2021 7:14 AM
DUTCH
Administrator Doppelgänger




Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: US, GA, Atlanta
Vehicle(s): 2015 Audi Q7 3.0 TDI,2018 Sprinter
Posts: 9963
5000
Re: The End of An Era

WEBIII - 1/27/2021 10:00 PM

Wait, how does the NMLE with a Nov 99 delivery date have the later steering wheel with controls when my G500 with a build date in Jan 2000 has the earlier steering wheel?


Send me your VIN. I'll pull your Vehicle Data Card which will usually have the delivery date.

The NMLE is titled as a 2000 year model by Europa Int'l, as was marketed in the 2000 Neiman Marcus Christmas Catalog. They gave them the year model of when they Federalized them, not when they were built. The newer steering wheel came about in mid-1999.
#242416 - in reply to #242414
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Posted 1/28/2021 7:43 AM
WEBIII
Extreme Veteran


Date registered: Oct 2010
Location: Inlet Beach, FL
Vehicle(s): 461.318, 463.241
Posts: 315
300
RE: The End of An Era

Coincidentally the shipment date on mine was 21 years ago to this day.

My steering wheel got wrapped with Brabus stitching so perhaps the entire steering wheel was just swapped out for some old stock at that time.
#242417 - in reply to #242397
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Posted 1/28/2021 9:14 AM
DUTCH
Administrator Doppelgänger




Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: US, GA, Atlanta
Vehicle(s): 2015 Audi Q7 3.0 TDI,2018 Sprinter
Posts: 9963
5000
RE: The End of An Era

WEBIII - 1/28/2021 7:43 AM

Coincidentally the shipment date on mine was 21 years ago to this day.

My steering wheel got wrapped with Brabus stitching so perhaps the entire steering wheel was just swapped out for some old stock at that time.


Yes, your Shipment Date is later than the NMLE, but the VIN ending in 115909 is quite a bit earlier than the NMLE VIN ending in 118833. The last six digits of the VIN are sequential by date.
#242418 - in reply to #242417
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Posted 1/28/2021 9:26 AM
DUTCH
Administrator Doppelgänger




Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: US, GA, Atlanta
Vehicle(s): 2015 Audi Q7 3.0 TDI,2018 Sprinter
Posts: 9963
5000
RE: The End of An Era

DUTCH - 1/28/2021 9:14 AM

WEBIII - 1/28/2021 7:43 AM

Coincidentally the shipment date on mine was 21 years ago to this day.

My steering wheel got wrapped with Brabus stitching so perhaps the entire steering wheel was just swapped out for some old stock at that time.


Yes, your Shipment Date is later than the NMLE, but the VIN ending in 115909 is quite a bit earlier than the NMLE VIN ending in 118833. The last six digits of the VIN are sequential by date.


The steering wheel and instrument cluster were revised/upgraded starting with VIN ending in 116957.
#242420 - in reply to #242418
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Posted 1/28/2021 2:04 PM
WEBIII
Extreme Veteran


Date registered: Oct 2010
Location: Inlet Beach, FL
Vehicle(s): 461.318, 463.241
Posts: 315
300
RE: The End of An Era

DUTCH - 1/28/2021 8:14 AM

WEBIII - 1/28/2021 7:43 AM

Coincidentally the shipment date on mine was 21 years ago to this day.

My steering wheel got wrapped with Brabus stitching so perhaps the entire steering wheel was just swapped out for some old stock at that time.


Yes, your Shipment Date is later than the NMLE, but the VIN ending in 115909 is quite a bit earlier than the NMLE VIN ending in 118833. The last six digits of the VIN are sequential by date.

Interesting info. I wonder why mine took so long to be shipped.

Anyway, sorry for the hijack. Congratulations to Eric! Hope you had a safe trip home.
#242421 - in reply to #242418
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Posted 1/31/2021 11:03 PM
Otiswesty
Administrator




Date registered: Jun 2007
Location: Portland, Oregon
Vehicle(s): 463.241, 461.213
Posts: 3003
2000
Re: The End of An Era

Got home tonight, 3750 miles, 63 driving hours, and tons of fun.

There was a big accident on I-5 right on front of us, 30 miles away from home. I had slowed down seeing the reckless Fast and Furious scene going on. No one was hurt, but 2 cars wrecked.

Some small scratches in east Joshua Tree NP. What a cool area. Also got to drive on the beach in California which is an activity on its last gasp.

Edited by otiswesty 1/31/2021 11:08 PM




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#242427 - in reply to #242421
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