Mercedes 129 titivation
Discussion
Thanks for the helpful advice about the B12 kit. My suspension is all brand new, certainly less than 25k miles old. I am inclined to leave it be for the moment, maybe get a good alignment done.
No news from Baister about availability of a 55 engine, somewhat irritatingly.
In the meantime, I have dispatched 5 Sador wheels to Lepsons for refurbishing, factory spec diamond cut. I look forward to their return. I also replaced a broken roll bar switch. This was quite involved. I had to remove the wood console trim. While I had that out I polished it to try to get rid of little scratches. I also removed the Becker iPod Remote Kit and replaced it with a Bluetooth dongle. This mean re-wiring the microphone which in turn meant purchasing a little release tool to enable me to dismantle the mini-ISO terminal block belonging to the iPod kit into which the mic was wired. What else while I was in there? Changed the bulb in the climate control unit. Just now I notice someone has been in here before and drawn a little sad face on some unit or other. It was all easily enough done and it is beautifully made, though it looks a right old mess:
No news from Baister about availability of a 55 engine, somewhat irritatingly.
In the meantime, I have dispatched 5 Sador wheels to Lepsons for refurbishing, factory spec diamond cut. I look forward to their return. I also replaced a broken roll bar switch. This was quite involved. I had to remove the wood console trim. While I had that out I polished it to try to get rid of little scratches. I also removed the Becker iPod Remote Kit and replaced it with a Bluetooth dongle. This mean re-wiring the microphone which in turn meant purchasing a little release tool to enable me to dismantle the mini-ISO terminal block belonging to the iPod kit into which the mic was wired. What else while I was in there? Changed the bulb in the climate control unit. Just now I notice someone has been in here before and drawn a little sad face on some unit or other. It was all easily enough done and it is beautifully made, though it looks a right old mess:
Zonergem said:
It would. I'd have to change the sump pan, oil pump pick up, inlet manifold and throttle body though none of that is the end of the world when the engine is out of the car. But the ball ache of buying a whole car then either disposing of it without an engine or parting it out is just too much, low miles or not. Unless Baister would be interested in it for parts. The unscrupulous would put the old engine in it...I had my car out for a nocturnal blast last night, roof down, music up, in the dark. There's nothing wrong with the suspension. Come to think of it, there's not much wrong with the power. At least, nothing that a bit more wouldn't cure!
I fear the engine is a bit worn out. Twice (ok, ok, twice in three years) it has blown horrendous amounts of smoke after being ran hard which is consistent with worn piston rings. Also, a while back I cocked up changing the oil filter housing seals and it ran low on oil, probably only for a few seconds but maybe long enough to do harm. Finally, sometimes it just seems to lack strength, particularly accelerating through 130mph: there is a stretch of (private, obvs) road on which my E430 (slightly less weight, slightly faster rear end, 30bhp less power) could just about hit 140mph but on which the SL500 struggles to pass 135, The truth is, I just don't know whether it is worn or not. Maybe I should get a compression test done.
The McLaren is just too fast.
It goes from 70 to 150 in the blink of an eye. Anywhere, any time. I've never been much faster than that in it, he has always backed off. But you feel like at 150 it is only just starting to get into its stride, that the acceleration is only just starting to come on full strength. It is completely pointless.
It goes from 70 to 150 in the blink of an eye. Anywhere, any time. I've never been much faster than that in it, he has always backed off. But you feel like at 150 it is only just starting to get into its stride, that the acceleration is only just starting to come on full strength. It is completely pointless.
It has been a while but I finally got round to having the spare wheels refurbished by Lepsons. On the whole I was pleased. The service was excellent and the wheels look great. They are not perfect, but I am happy.
Newly refurbished, front and back. Note how they correctly leave the mating face unpainted. Most places just clag over this with paint.
However, very close, anally retentive examination reveals some remaining defects. A little bit of staining where the corrosion has not been entirely removed. A big dust nib. And a trace line on the leading edge of the spoke where the diamond cutting has been done aggressively, presumably to speed up the process.
Boy One and I coated the wheels inside and out with two layers of Auto Finesse's "Mint Rims". This smells very minty. It is also quite amazing. A month in and brake dust just rinses off, even off the inside of the rim. The wheels remain amazingly bright and glossy, in and out, with terrific beading.
I am quite impressed by Auto Finesse. There is a lot of expensive snake oil in the car polish game but this product works for us. I use the Iron Out as wheel cleaner on the other cars and it is a case of spray on, leave, hose off, wipe. Very easy and very effective. About two months ago I did the 129 properly, polishing the paint and then waxing with Auto Finesse Desire wax. I noticed this morning that it is beading beautifully. The year old Fabsil is doing a great job, too.
I am enjoying the car greatly at the moment. The only thing up is the air con is not working. It still has some pressure so maybe just needs a regas. No stored fault codes.
Newly refurbished, front and back. Note how they correctly leave the mating face unpainted. Most places just clag over this with paint.
However, very close, anally retentive examination reveals some remaining defects. A little bit of staining where the corrosion has not been entirely removed. A big dust nib. And a trace line on the leading edge of the spoke where the diamond cutting has been done aggressively, presumably to speed up the process.
Boy One and I coated the wheels inside and out with two layers of Auto Finesse's "Mint Rims". This smells very minty. It is also quite amazing. A month in and brake dust just rinses off, even off the inside of the rim. The wheels remain amazingly bright and glossy, in and out, with terrific beading.
I am quite impressed by Auto Finesse. There is a lot of expensive snake oil in the car polish game but this product works for us. I use the Iron Out as wheel cleaner on the other cars and it is a case of spray on, leave, hose off, wipe. Very easy and very effective. About two months ago I did the 129 properly, polishing the paint and then waxing with Auto Finesse Desire wax. I noticed this morning that it is beading beautifully. The year old Fabsil is doing a great job, too.
I am enjoying the car greatly at the moment. The only thing up is the air con is not working. It still has some pressure so maybe just needs a regas. No stored fault codes.
alec.e said:
How much did Lepsons charge for that job? I have heard mixed reviews of them. It does look like a decent job.
I have a local chap who does a perfect job at a bargain price I can recommend if you ever need them doing in the future.
£604 including carriage there and back, insurance and boxes for the return journey. And including VAT, of course: £100 of that price was tax, which everyone seems to forget and which is hardly the fault of the supplier. That was for five wheels.I have a local chap who does a perfect job at a bargain price I can recommend if you ever need them doing in the future.
A bit more action here. The alignment of the bonnet, offside front wing, driver's door and 'A' pillar has always bothered me. The wing is not correctly aligned with the bonnet, but if brought into line it would then by out of alignment with the leading edge of the door, which would then need to be rehung. However, the 'A' pillar I suspected just was not affixed correctly.
Removal of the 'A' pillar trim is easy enough. Unscrew and remove the capping trim at the top then simply pull the 'A' pillar trim off from the windscreen side. It is held on by the big rubber seal that runs between it and the windscreen and a series of fixings.
I ordered new fixings from MB Newcastle, all available from Milton Keynes, pennies each.
Sure enough, the wrong fixing (red) had been used in the lower mounting hole (should be a green one) and it had failed. The black splodges are Built Hamber Dynax UB underseal, intended to prevent corrosion resulting from any rubbing of the fixings.
The result still is not perfect but it is much better, much less obvious:
Removal of the 'A' pillar trim is easy enough. Unscrew and remove the capping trim at the top then simply pull the 'A' pillar trim off from the windscreen side. It is held on by the big rubber seal that runs between it and the windscreen and a series of fixings.
I ordered new fixings from MB Newcastle, all available from Milton Keynes, pennies each.
Sure enough, the wrong fixing (red) had been used in the lower mounting hole (should be a green one) and it had failed. The black splodges are Built Hamber Dynax UB underseal, intended to prevent corrosion resulting from any rubbing of the fixings.
The result still is not perfect but it is much better, much less obvious:
Well it doesn't seem to be leaking oil anymore and it is running strong; that and a change in financial circumstances for the worse means an engine swap is on the back burner.
I took it to Baister's lair today for a proper service including all 16 plugs and the transmission. It also needed front pads which he had in stock. He is getting expensive but nobody does it better. I do like Baister's. He hasn't heard of the smoking ban let alone lockdown. Ran it up to 130 on the test track on the way home. What a great car, 289,000 miles and it just gets better.
I took it to Baister's lair today for a proper service including all 16 plugs and the transmission. It also needed front pads which he had in stock. He is getting expensive but nobody does it better. I do like Baister's. He hasn't heard of the smoking ban let alone lockdown. Ran it up to 130 on the test track on the way home. What a great car, 289,000 miles and it just gets better.
A bit of fiddling around today and the usual one step forwards, two steps backwards.
I went to start it up. Flat battery. Charged the battery. Roof light and roll bar light came on so did the window reset. Driver's door window wouldn't go back up. It's so blooming tedious running an old car. I check the fuse (no. 2 in the boot), not that. I figure it is either the motor or the switch; I could hear a little click from the motor when I pressed the down side of the switch but nothing when I pressed the up side, so I figured it was unlikely to be the switch. I stripped the door card. Some bodger has been in here before, I suspect MB Newcastle when they did the bodywork under warranty back in 2008, all the clips were broken and the vapour barrier was a mess. I couldn't figure out anything much at all about the motor so thought I'd have a look at the switch. This means stripping the wooden dash panel which is a time consuming job. It was the switch, or rather, the wire connection to the switch.
I have decided to take the opportunity to tidy up the door. I have ordered a new vapour barrier and also a new electric seat switch (the number 1 memory button is broken on mine). It is all such a bore.
Here is the stripped door:
And here the broken switch. You can see how the number 1 button has collapsed. I pulled it all apart and various little plastic tabs had broken.
I went to start it up. Flat battery. Charged the battery. Roof light and roll bar light came on so did the window reset. Driver's door window wouldn't go back up. It's so blooming tedious running an old car. I check the fuse (no. 2 in the boot), not that. I figure it is either the motor or the switch; I could hear a little click from the motor when I pressed the down side of the switch but nothing when I pressed the up side, so I figured it was unlikely to be the switch. I stripped the door card. Some bodger has been in here before, I suspect MB Newcastle when they did the bodywork under warranty back in 2008, all the clips were broken and the vapour barrier was a mess. I couldn't figure out anything much at all about the motor so thought I'd have a look at the switch. This means stripping the wooden dash panel which is a time consuming job. It was the switch, or rather, the wire connection to the switch.
I have decided to take the opportunity to tidy up the door. I have ordered a new vapour barrier and also a new electric seat switch (the number 1 memory button is broken on mine). It is all such a bore.
Here is the stripped door:
And here the broken switch. You can see how the number 1 button has collapsed. I pulled it all apart and various little plastic tabs had broken.
I have ordered some new acoustic cloth and I am going to have a go at refurbishing the (frankly revolting) speaker covers on each door trim. The big lower cover detaches easily but the smaller upper cover looks more difficult.
For some bizarre reason it seems quite difficult to get acoustic cloth at short notice: it all comes form China and takes about 21 days. The best stuff seems to be from German (surprise) supplier Akoustikstoff but they do not supply the UK. They do 42 colours and I identified three that might be right but unfortunately no supply. Hey ho. A shame because it is water, oil, stain and fire resistant. https://www.akustikstoff.com/Acoustic-Cloth-2-0-li...
Anyway, I have ordered some "sand yellow" and some "beige" coloured generic acoustic cloth but I think the former will be too dark and the latter too light.
I have also ordered a used right seat backrest from a LHD car to replace my tired and worn backrest.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/114620121060
This cost a fair bit of cash but I am hoping it will significantly improve the interior. My seat base is less than perfect but the cushion is new (ish) and I think it cleans up OK. Later in the spring I will have to give the interior a thorough clean.
For some bizarre reason it seems quite difficult to get acoustic cloth at short notice: it all comes form China and takes about 21 days. The best stuff seems to be from German (surprise) supplier Akoustikstoff but they do not supply the UK. They do 42 colours and I identified three that might be right but unfortunately no supply. Hey ho. A shame because it is water, oil, stain and fire resistant. https://www.akustikstoff.com/Acoustic-Cloth-2-0-li...
Anyway, I have ordered some "sand yellow" and some "beige" coloured generic acoustic cloth but I think the former will be too dark and the latter too light.
I have also ordered a used right seat backrest from a LHD car to replace my tired and worn backrest.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/114620121060
This cost a fair bit of cash but I am hoping it will significantly improve the interior. My seat base is less than perfect but the cushion is new (ish) and I think it cleans up OK. Later in the spring I will have to give the interior a thorough clean.
It probably is possible to dye the cloth but then I'd have to find the right dye. I suspect it is the German stuff that I can't readily get.
Anyone, one of the joys of Amazon is you can order stuff at about 9pm on a Saturday and it will be delivered on Sunday afternoon. So it proved with my new polythene sheeting (I have ordered far too much), mounting tape and wiring harness tape. And also a wonderful Casio F-91W that cost less than £10 (not being able to afford fancy watches, I kid myself that I like cheap ones).
It didn't take too long to fit the vapour barrier. The super-sticky mounting tape wasn't, so having tacked it to the door, I went over it with a heat gun. Funny things heat guns. Nothing... nothing... nothing... s
t, it's about to catch alight. I am not really sure what the point of the vapour barrier is. It has so many holes for wires and such like. And for the loudspeaker assembly. I am quite pleased with the job I have done.
I cannot figure out how to remove this upper speaker cover (having removed the worn out tan cloth already). It seems to be affixed with one-time-only plastic rivets. I am not sure what I am going to do about this. I have kept the old cloth and will use it as a pattern. Then I will stuff the new cloth around the back of the trim (hopefully) and glue it on the reverse side.
While I was at it, I repaired the wiring harness tape on the loom to the washer bottle. Even I couldn't screw that up, though my back has not thanked me for ten minutes' stooping over it. Some nasty rust on the slam panel, I see.
Anyone, one of the joys of Amazon is you can order stuff at about 9pm on a Saturday and it will be delivered on Sunday afternoon. So it proved with my new polythene sheeting (I have ordered far too much), mounting tape and wiring harness tape. And also a wonderful Casio F-91W that cost less than £10 (not being able to afford fancy watches, I kid myself that I like cheap ones).
It didn't take too long to fit the vapour barrier. The super-sticky mounting tape wasn't, so having tacked it to the door, I went over it with a heat gun. Funny things heat guns. Nothing... nothing... nothing... s
t, it's about to catch alight. I am not really sure what the point of the vapour barrier is. It has so many holes for wires and such like. And for the loudspeaker assembly. I am quite pleased with the job I have done.I cannot figure out how to remove this upper speaker cover (having removed the worn out tan cloth already). It seems to be affixed with one-time-only plastic rivets. I am not sure what I am going to do about this. I have kept the old cloth and will use it as a pattern. Then I will stuff the new cloth around the back of the trim (hopefully) and glue it on the reverse side.
While I was at it, I repaired the wiring harness tape on the loom to the washer bottle. Even I couldn't screw that up, though my back has not thanked me for ten minutes' stooping over it. Some nasty rust on the slam panel, I see.
The inference could be drawn from the fact that I had bought one that I was saying mdmay's watch is very classy indeed.
Thanks mwstewart and captain_morgan. I found this useful thread here: https://www.benzworld.org/threads/speaker-grill-re... which suggests the mwstewart route. I did look for some threaded fixings, but the smallest external thread was M6 which I think will be too big.
The Yellow Sand cloth came from Amazon today. It is far too dark, slightly metallic and the holes are too big. I have some beige coming from an outfit called Comtec which I am hoping might be a better match. Hopefully it will arrive tomorrow.
https://www.comtecdirect.co.uk/product/acoustic-sp...
If not it will be a matter of getting the Akoustikstoff from Germany. Here is the Yellow Sand (it would match the 190's interior, I suppose):
Thanks mwstewart and captain_morgan. I found this useful thread here: https://www.benzworld.org/threads/speaker-grill-re... which suggests the mwstewart route. I did look for some threaded fixings, but the smallest external thread was M6 which I think will be too big.
The Yellow Sand cloth came from Amazon today. It is far too dark, slightly metallic and the holes are too big. I have some beige coming from an outfit called Comtec which I am hoping might be a better match. Hopefully it will arrive tomorrow.
https://www.comtecdirect.co.uk/product/acoustic-sp...
If not it will be a matter of getting the Akoustikstoff from Germany. Here is the Yellow Sand (it would match the 190's interior, I suppose):
Edited by r129sl on Monday 25th January 20:54
Blimey BM and Stegel, that is very helpful. I will order some Barley. I don't know whether to order Almond as well. Might as well. Barley looks like the one, though. I'm going to have speaker cloth coming out of my ears. What glue? I have ordered the super duper strong brush on stuff. I'll get some ¼ inch brushes from Amazon. Thanks for this, hopefully one of these two will work. £70 down the toilet! Maybe I will be able to use the glue to refix the speaker cover itself.
I don't think ze German supplier was put off by Brexit. Rather they have some exclusive distribution agreement with an English company which did not list the product on their website.
Depressingly, I knackered my back fiddling with the car last night. Earlier in the day I over-exerted myself repeatedly yanking my boys' new Quadzilla Wolf Junior out of various muddy puddles (a irresponsible purchase which has already resulted in one hospital trip). Then a combination of stooping down by the car door, bending crooked over the washer bottle wiring harness and lying on the freezing cold concrete floor really did it in. I lay on the sofa at 9.15pm last night and at 10.15, to my wife's hilarity, I could not get up for love nor money. I had to roll onto the floor, crawl in agony to the piano and then haul myself up the piano to get upright. Getting horizontal in the sack was no barrel of laughs, either. I'm really going to have to be careful when working on cars. I think I am justified in springing for a lift now.
Here's the Quadzilla: https://vimeo.com/504571313
I don't think ze German supplier was put off by Brexit. Rather they have some exclusive distribution agreement with an English company which did not list the product on their website.
Depressingly, I knackered my back fiddling with the car last night. Earlier in the day I over-exerted myself repeatedly yanking my boys' new Quadzilla Wolf Junior out of various muddy puddles (a irresponsible purchase which has already resulted in one hospital trip). Then a combination of stooping down by the car door, bending crooked over the washer bottle wiring harness and lying on the freezing cold concrete floor really did it in. I lay on the sofa at 9.15pm last night and at 10.15, to my wife's hilarity, I could not get up for love nor money. I had to roll onto the floor, crawl in agony to the piano and then haul myself up the piano to get upright. Getting horizontal in the sack was no barrel of laughs, either. I'm really going to have to be careful when working on cars. I think I am justified in springing for a lift now.
Here's the Quadzilla: https://vimeo.com/504571313
This is from Comtec. It is a little too dark but will suffice if the AS Trim stuff, which arrives tomorrow, is worse. I see there is already a stain on it.
Also new (used) seat switch from Carl at 129.co. It needs a little cleaning. H must have kept it in his toolbox with all of those washers and bits of wire that serve the fine purpose of gathering dust and accumulating dirt.
Also new (used) seat switch from Carl at 129.co. It needs a little cleaning. H must have kept it in his toolbox with all of those washers and bits of wire that serve the fine purpose of gathering dust and accumulating dirt.
The AS Trims stuff came today and is no go. Seen below: the Comtec beige, closest match, then the AS Trims Barley and Almond. The weave on the AS Trims stuff is too fine as well. Stegel, do you want these? You can have them for free if you PM me your address. A photo of the glue and the cheap brushes from Amazon. I will tackle this at the weekend.
f1ten: you probably know this but those wheels are worth a fortune these days.
f1ten: you probably know this but those wheels are worth a fortune these days.
Stegel said:
My AS samples have still to arrive, but those colours look nothing like they did on their website! Thanks for the kind offer, but my 95 SL’s interior is the same colour as yours so it looks like Comtec for me too - just placed an order but they’re currently out of stock so it will be delayed, not that it matters. Apologies for the AS diversion!
Let me see how much I have left. I think I bought 70cm x 140cm. I'll be surprised if I use half of that, even allowing for cocking it up first time round and doing everything twice.f1ten said:
Off topic: but for the pre face-lift cars to maintain correct period status... There is no better wheel than the 3 piece split rim! Yes they are almost impossible to replace.
Will be trying to tackle some bits and bobs on my 93 car like probably respraying the hard top (I did the loom and asr and throttle bodies in 2017!)
I love these wheels. They were available on the facelift: they feature in the 1996 brochure. What I do not know for sure is whether they will fit over the big brakes on a post-06/98 car like mine. I have seen them on one such car (someone who used to post on another forum under the name sp!ke had them) but if they fit it must be very tight. I would love a set. Will be trying to tackle some bits and bobs on my 93 car like probably respraying the hard top (I did the loom and asr and throttle bodies in 2017!)
I often toy with the idea of custom split rims. I like the deep dish Euro look, I am afraid. I love some of the custom splits that are doing the rounds on Instagram these days, maybe a set based on the 16", 15 hole Evo wheel:
The other wheels I like are Rotiform. I see they do an AMG-style wheel:
OK, so I have done one side and it wasn't too tricky.
I cut the backs off the plastic rivets and removed the upper speaker cover. I think I will refit this using M3 screws with large washers.
I pulled the old cloth off the covers and set up my work station in the dining room. It's the obvious place to mess around with a litre of very strong glue, a sharp knife and car parts. I put the glue on the edges of the bits and left them for 30 minutes.
Then I cut the new cloth about an inch larger all round than the old. It was pretty difficult. We have no scissors in the house despite the fact that every fking time I go to the fking supermarket I buy three new pairs of fking scissors. I just put the covers in the middle of the new cloth then pulled it tight over the edges. The glue was really good, very sticky: I don't think it'll come loose.
My edges weren't very neat because all 600 fking pairs of fking scissors that I have bought in the last year have dematerialised and I had to use my knife. Even the knife which cuts my hands if I so much as look it in the tool kit didn't really cut the cloth. But no one can see the back side.
I wasn't very happy with this edge, not enough wrap around, so I started again. The corners of this piece I found quite difficult. I know it's a mess behind. You might think I should have gone to get some more scissors (again) but I think the excess cloth made it much easier to work with. Anyway, it's a bit like stuffing all the crap in the kitchen cupboards when you have guests coming round (remember that? remember?): no one knows it's there. A bit like my dinner guests that the neighbours don't know about.
After all that mess and struggle, it looks OK. Actually, I think it looks amazing and I am hoping my wife will notice and say something nice. Hoping. Not expecting.
I need to do the other door now but despite my boundless enthusiasm for auto upholstery I can't be chewed tonight. Hopefully the garage at the Station will have some little screws for fixing the upper cover back to the door card. Then I will take the other door card off which will remind me how to put this one back on.
I cut the backs off the plastic rivets and removed the upper speaker cover. I think I will refit this using M3 screws with large washers.
I pulled the old cloth off the covers and set up my work station in the dining room. It's the obvious place to mess around with a litre of very strong glue, a sharp knife and car parts. I put the glue on the edges of the bits and left them for 30 minutes.
Then I cut the new cloth about an inch larger all round than the old. It was pretty difficult. We have no scissors in the house despite the fact that every f
king time I go to the fking supermarket I buy three new pairs of fking scissors. I just put the covers in the middle of the new cloth then pulled it tight over the edges. The glue was really good, very sticky: I don't think it'll come loose.My edges weren't very neat because all 600 f
king pairs of fking scissors that I have bought in the last year have dematerialised and I had to use my knife. Even the knife which cuts my hands if I so much as look it in the tool kit didn't really cut the cloth. But no one can see the back side.I wasn't very happy with this edge, not enough wrap around, so I started again. The corners of this piece I found quite difficult. I know it's a mess behind. You might think I should have gone to get some more scissors (again) but I think the excess cloth made it much easier to work with. Anyway, it's a bit like stuffing all the crap in the kitchen cupboards when you have guests coming round (remember that? remember?): no one knows it's there. A bit like my dinner guests that the neighbours don't know about.
After all that mess and struggle, it looks OK. Actually, I think it looks amazing and I am hoping my wife will notice and say something nice. Hoping. Not expecting.
I need to do the other door now but despite my boundless enthusiasm for auto upholstery I can't be chewed tonight. Hopefully the garage at the Station will have some little screws for fixing the upper cover back to the door card. Then I will take the other door card off which will remind me how to put this one back on.
Edited by r129sl on Saturday 30th January 20:34
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