Hi everyone!

Newbie here I finaly decided to get myself one of those pretty face. It turned out to be a 1971 500L, and of course my wife had to call it Hugo because of the plate "HGU xxxx".

I have been browsing many threads and found a bunch of useful information and tips. Got myself a user manual, a repair manual...again thanks to my wife for being sneaky: she spent a lot of times online looking for one and she had the PDF specially printed and binded as a present for my birthday.
Let's just say that she is happy and onboard with my new project.

We are in Fulham and we'll be happy to meet other passionate to talk and exchange.
Yesterday we went for a drive to Hever castle and on the way back "Hugo" started to make some loud 'clunk' noise when I would let go of the gas pedal
Any idea of what it could be? I was thinking engine / transmisson mounts.

Thanks in advance!!!

The engine mount / spring on the rear crossmember can clunk if the bushes are tired
Try grabbing hold of the engine and see if their is excessive movement or sounds.
Also check that exhaust is not fouling on the bodywork.

Hi, and welcome to a great forum :wave:

Like Andrew said there are lots of simple things that can cause a knock or two. Did your car lose power or drive any differently after the clunk started?

I'm imagining a fairly "interesting" drive from Fulham to Hever Brave man!

mine used to make a clonk mid drive sometimes, it was the driveshaft to outer hub splines wearing - with the handbrake on lie under the car at the back and give each driveshaft a twist, if there's rotational play between driveshaft and wheel there's the problem - driveshaft-flange spline or the rubber bushings (or both)

Greetings from Italy and welcome to the forum! Can I see a picture of Hugo?

P.S. All above answers actually make sense, it's hard to tell without actually hearing it, because there are so many parts that can actually clunk when you release the accelerator quickly!

Thanks all for your replies and warm welcome

I will definitely try all options hopefully before the weekend. To be on the safe side I ordered a set of the engine and transmission mounts....just because

The drive to Hever was fun only once we reached the country side, before that it is traffic, speed bumps and red lights :bang:
And of course the gear box is not on its prime: few grinds here and there.

I enlosed pics' of Hugo as attachments, trying to insert them in the txt. The dash has extra switches. I am still hoping they are for smoke, oil and rockets but the extra wiring seems to have been for a radio CB (found an antenna type cable under the carpet).

One of the critical items to change on it are the quarter window seals. They are dried and very damaged. I was wondering what is the best way to change them. The workshop manual is very succinct and sometimes a picture is worth a 1000 words.
Btw, is the Haynes manual different and is it worth getting it?
Some people say to drill the rivets of the pivot but I saw on the forum a picture of the entire quater metal frame assembled, off the door, with the window in and the seal around. So it has to be feasible.

Same color as both my 500's! <3
If you are having troubles with the gearbox... I just posted a "tutorial" video on the forum a couple of days ago! (It's in my signature too )

Great video Adriano!!!! I know the double clutch concept, I do it - with good and bad days. But your heel & toe is perfect :worship: ; hopefully I will be able to do it too soon :slayer:

Still I believe the gear box is a little flimsy. Unfortunately I dont have a garage or anything to do heavy maintenance: we are in London only for 2yrs then it is back either in France or the USA where all my stuff is waiting for me

As for a fun fact, Hugo was in the motherland until December of last year and was imported in January in the UK.

Thanks! I'm sure you'll do it better than me in no time, if you practice! About the grinding gears, it might be just a matter of adjusting the clutch! Keep us updated!