Titivating my Mercedes 124
Discussion
r129sl said:
The wheel bearing is due to bad workmanship but still worries me. A new car would never suffer that failure. The spring was actually less than three years old and was a genuine MB part. New cars, especially new MBs, suffer broken springs; in fact they seem quite notorious for it and there is nothing you can do to anticipate it. Bizarrely, it failed when the car was parked. I say bizarrely, but this seems to be how they fail. (Isn't there a post on here somewhere about a guy with a new CLS which has had seven springs?)
I have asked MB Newcastle to go over it with a fine-tooth comb but that is a bit like asking a blindfolded three-year old to pin a tail on a donkey.
But... I have also expressed an interest in a new C or E with a straight six petrol (which apparently will be coming in the next 18 months or so). Even then, I don't think I could live with one. They are so hideously vulgar. The dealer principal offer me his S-Class hybrid to tool around in but I didn't have the heart to tell him I just couldn't bear the thought of being seen in it. It's like Elton John offering to lend you his wardrobe. Maybe a 5-series touring in SE or "luxury" spec, dark blue or brown or something with tan upholstery. Except the very word "luxury" make me want to puke.
So we'll be keeping the faith.
Only five! But yes, snapped springs are not only an "old car" phenomenon. The first went at 3 years and 2 months, with that replacement spring lasting 4 years. None of the original springs lasted longer than 6.5 years - and this on a car with 17" wheels and relatively soft 45 section tyres, and driven to avoid potholes whenever possible. I have asked MB Newcastle to go over it with a fine-tooth comb but that is a bit like asking a blindfolded three-year old to pin a tail on a donkey.
But... I have also expressed an interest in a new C or E with a straight six petrol (which apparently will be coming in the next 18 months or so). Even then, I don't think I could live with one. They are so hideously vulgar. The dealer principal offer me his S-Class hybrid to tool around in but I didn't have the heart to tell him I just couldn't bear the thought of being seen in it. It's like Elton John offering to lend you his wardrobe. Maybe a 5-series touring in SE or "luxury" spec, dark blue or brown or something with tan upholstery. Except the very word "luxury" make me want to puke.
So we'll be keeping the faith.
Edited by Stegel on Monday 16th March 17:34
I read through this from start to finish last night and what a good thread it is. I must have missed some of the 'after' photos at the time; the car looks great, with such a good paint finish. It is proper reward for your efforts.
It was a wonderful gesture by Mercedes to show the car at their heritage centre.
It was a wonderful gesture by Mercedes to show the car at their heritage centre.
I put the car in last week to have the bashed up front and rear bumpers repaired and painted. The Man as he is enigmatically described in the 300 CE-24 thread noted with a somewhat aggrieved tone that 30,000miles had not been entirely kind to his 2014 paint job and suggested tackling the various chips and nicks that such use has inflicted. This seems to have turned into an almost full-on repaint although he insists otherwise. Goodness knows what the finally tab will be. The bumpers were only supposed to run me £300.
We also noticed that there is an oil leak from the oil cooler and oil level sender. The 'O' rings are being changed tonight. It was good of MB Newcastle to pick that up when they serviced it precisely 4 miles ago. What? you mean you're surprised they didn't notice? even though it is blindingly obvious and even though they charged to remove the engine under trays and even though I noticed without removing those trays and even though I have the mechanical ability of my four year old? Still, I had two "free" cappuccinos from the in-house espresso bar while waiting 20 minutes for any of their employees to make eye contact with me and acknowledge my presence in their day spa, sorry, retail experience, take my money and give me my car keys.
We also noticed that there is an oil leak from the oil cooler and oil level sender. The 'O' rings are being changed tonight. It was good of MB Newcastle to pick that up when they serviced it precisely 4 miles ago. What? you mean you're surprised they didn't notice? even though it is blindingly obvious and even though they charged to remove the engine under trays and even though I noticed without removing those trays and even though I have the mechanical ability of my four year old? Still, I had two "free" cappuccinos from the in-house espresso bar while waiting 20 minutes for any of their employees to make eye contact with me and acknowledge my presence in their day spa, sorry, retail experience, take my money and give me my car keys.
Edited by r129sl on Wednesday 25th March 15:18
There has been a bit more progress. Various bits are in primer. The Sacco panels are coming off and it will be painted tonight.
The bumpers are done:
However, in the meantime there are two little problems to tackle. It is up-a-height at the moment and I clocked the nearside rear wheel arch has a bit of rot in it; then I noticed a bit more rot under the nearside rear wing, just a above the vent.
The bumpers are done:
However, in the meantime there are two little problems to tackle. It is up-a-height at the moment and I clocked the nearside rear wheel arch has a bit of rot in it; then I noticed a bit more rot under the nearside rear wing, just a above the vent.
slippery said:
Crikey, Jonathan, looks like you've nearly started again!
I thought the same! This is such an inspirational thread. Love it, loved seeing it at MB world. Love that it gets used so "normally"- as if it were a 2 year old one ('cept it's nicer, classier, nearer to sliced bread)
The wheels are just the crappy old ones I use in winter: they're in a terrible state, so I'm not in the least bothered about them. I've thought about getting them refurbished but I can't really see the point. It'll need new winter tyres next winter.
It has had a fairly minuscule amount of primer so far: just local repairs. I'll see what it is like later this morning when I pop over there. I'm happy with everything so far. It's a workhorse, remember.
It has had a fairly minuscule amount of primer so far: just local repairs. I'll see what it is like later this morning when I pop over there. I'm happy with everything so far. It's a workhorse, remember.
cheddar said:
Todzilla said:
Surely having the Trip Meter sitting on 124 can't be a coincidence… can it?????
Good point, not just 124124 point zero
CdeG, Paul is a good bodywork man. He cares about the job. It's never going to be concours or perfect or anything other than a compromise between price and quality, but I know what I am getting and I can live with the cost and the compromise. He has a London car in at the moment, an azurite blue E320 coupe. The only cars he does are Mercs of our vintage. His main line of work is other vehicle stuff.
r129sl said:
The only cars he does are Mercs of our vintage. His main line of work is other vehicle stuff.
If I can persuade Madame deG that the estate is a keeper, and after the collapsed spring incident I'm hearing ever more of the 'why do I have to drive round in an old shed' comments, but I'll probably consider a road trip north to your man to do my wings and leave the car with him for a bit. It's certainly worth the investment. The particular 'problem' we have is that we don't have a small runabout, and with daughter number 1 taking her test soon, we could do with a little manual box. With an imminent posting and house-move, the consequences of all that are that I'm coming under pressure to move-on the A124 or the 129. Selective deafness is my current tactic, but I'm not sure how long I'll get away with it!
CharlesdeGaulle said:
The particular 'problem' we have is that we don't have a small runabout, and with daughter number 1 taking her test soon, we could do with a little manual box. With an imminent posting and house-move, the consequences of all that are that I'm coming under pressure to move-on the A124 or the 129. Selective deafness is my current tactic, but I'm not sure how long I'll get away with it!
Snap, less the house move and posting. Daughter no. 1 is 17 in June, and reasonable to insure manual Euro-box required. My wife, not a fan of barges at the best of times, has voiced concern at the A124 being virtually unused since the 129 arrived. She's quite correct, and I do find myself having to justify its retention to myself. If I had to choose, I know which way I'd jump, without doubt the SL would stay. Stegel said:
...the A124 being virtually unused since the 129 arrived. She's quite correct, and I do find myself having to justify its retention to myself. If I had to choose, I know which way I'd jump, without doubt the SL would stay.
Same quandary here, although you sound more emphatic than I can be. My SL was bought as a bit of a project, and I love it, but the A124 is so very much nicer that I know I'll regret selling it much more than I would the SL. Prices are only going one way for the 124 cabrio too, so it's tempting to take a longer-term view. Self-justification only goes so far though when it meets the hard logic of a predominantly female household. Apols for going O/T on r129sl's marvellous thread.
CharlesdeGaulle said:
Same quandary here, although you sound more emphatic than I can be. My SL was bought as a bit of a project, and I love it, but the A124 is so very much nicer that I know I'll regret selling it much more than I would the SL. Prices are only going one way for the 124 cabrio too, so it's tempting to take a longer-term view. Self-justification only goes so far though when it meets the hard logic of a predominantly female household.
Apols for going O/T on r129sl's marvellous thread.
Again with apologies for going O/T, I'm emphatic only if my predominantly female household forced a choice right now - the SL is a better example of its species than my 124 is of its, with the latter a bit of a bargain, but needing some TLC - and I'm probably swayed by the novelty of the V8 in the SL. Agreed on cabrio prices, and it is a lovely drive, so for now they both stay!Apols for going O/T on r129sl's marvellous thread.
On the Golf, I think insurance would be an issue, and as much as I like VW TDI cars, looks like it will be in the 1-1.2 litre petrol bracket.
Gassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff