Titivating my Mercedes 124
Discussion
r129sl said:
Major faux pas just now.+
I went down the garage and we were fiddling with the catch for the bonnet. Anyway, I dropped the bonnet onto the catch without realising there was an indicator unit sitting on top of the engine. Broke the indicator (they're £80) and put a high point in the bonnet. Entirely my fault and i feel such a tit. One step forward... hopefully it can be knocked out.
I did that once with something on top of the engine. Realised that I didn't actually have a mental pre-close checklist, and now have it in mind to do a visual check that it's clear before dropping the bonnet, as I would in an aviation context. Simple but not obvious until you've done it wrong.I went down the garage and we were fiddling with the catch for the bonnet. Anyway, I dropped the bonnet onto the catch without realising there was an indicator unit sitting on top of the engine. Broke the indicator (they're £80) and put a high point in the bonnet. Entirely my fault and i feel such a tit. One step forward... hopefully it can be knocked out.
Another lesson I learned the hard way is the similar pre-opening check. Specifically from lifting a rear hinged bonnet while the wipers were stood off from the screen as a result of me having just cleaned the blades, and the metal arms scraping the paint off the rear edge of the bonnet.
Lowtimer said:
Another lesson I learned the hard way is the similar pre-opening check. Specifically from lifting a rear hinged bonnet while the wipers were stood off from the screen as a result of me having just cleaned the blades, and the metal arms scraping the paint off the rear edge of the bonnet.
I've also done this, much cursing followed. 
Almost there. The mechanicals are being seen to as I type this.
Shiny new water pump, thermostat, fan and fan clutch in situ. New poly-v belt, too. Dryer, condenser and radiator still to go in but should be done by now.
Unfortunately the ballast resistor for the the condenser fan is crumbling to pieces. Yet another new part required.
Shiny new water pump, thermostat, fan and fan clutch in situ. New poly-v belt, too. Dryer, condenser and radiator still to go in but should be done by now.
Unfortunately the ballast resistor for the the condenser fan is crumbling to pieces. Yet another new part required.
It was all going so well... and then we turned to the tiny little holes on the underside. Just ahead of the offside rear wheel a large plastic under tray is secured by rubber nuts to little threaded spurs. Well, the spurs had rusted away where they mount to the body leaving little holes about the size of five pence pieces. Except they're actually about the size of a fist.
[url]
|http://thumbsnap.com/y4WlbU3x[/url]
I'm not quite sure where this one is, but Paul has obviously discovered it.
None of this is the end of the world and I suppose it ought not to be surprising but I am still a bit disappointed. I'm sure it will be welded up, primed, painted and then sealed with Bilt Hamber Dynax UB so that it is good for a few years yet...
In other news, the ballast resistor was available from the main dealer next day for £19. Less than Euro Car Parts and much quicker, to boot. I have also ordered a new guard/cage for the condenser fan. For some reason this large, relatively complex plastic part is £6. Can somebody tell me why the infinitely simpler headlamp wiper arm is £90? I also ordered a new condenser fan, £78 for Hella from Amazon. Well, why not?
Gosh, I can't wait to get this car back.
[url]|http://thumbsnap.com/y4WlbU3x[/url]I'm not quite sure where this one is, but Paul has obviously discovered it.
None of this is the end of the world and I suppose it ought not to be surprising but I am still a bit disappointed. I'm sure it will be welded up, primed, painted and then sealed with Bilt Hamber Dynax UB so that it is good for a few years yet...
In other news, the ballast resistor was available from the main dealer next day for £19. Less than Euro Car Parts and much quicker, to boot. I have also ordered a new guard/cage for the condenser fan. For some reason this large, relatively complex plastic part is £6. Can somebody tell me why the infinitely simpler headlamp wiper arm is £90? I also ordered a new condenser fan, £78 for Hella from Amazon. Well, why not?
Gosh, I can't wait to get this car back.
Almost all done. The welding is complete and sealed up with Dynax UB. I have been very impressed with this stuff. It is all over the bottom of my SL and stays very fresh.
And the additional internal sound proofing. This is under the rear seat. Whether this makes any difference remains to be heard. It made a huge difference when I did the rear bulkhead of my SEC. It may be that I should supplement it with some barrier foam. I need to do the boot floor and the tailgate and the inside of the rear wings, too.
And the additional internal sound proofing. This is under the rear seat. Whether this makes any difference remains to be heard. It made a huge difference when I did the rear bulkhead of my SEC. It may be that I should supplement it with some barrier foam. I need to do the boot floor and the tailgate and the inside of the rear wings, too.
Which product is that, and what does it weigh? Axiomatically the most effective materials for deadening sound transmission have been the heaviest (one reason light aeroplanes are so noisy in the cabin, and that my Prius sounds somewhat tinnier than it really is ) but if modern cleverness has found lighter weight products for useful suppression of road niose in particular, I would certainly like to play around with it.
Silent Coat 2mm: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/161756476034?_trksid=p20...
It is not light at 3kg per square metre but in the scheme of things it is not going to make much difference. Under the seats I could have used the thicker 4mm product but I bought this batch primarily to do under the bonnet where I did not want to add too much weight, lest the bonnet ceased to spring up. Years ago I put Dynamat Ultralite in the doors and that made a noticeable if not huge difference.
I suspect that most noise comes through the bulkhead, especially the big hole where the heater box goes. When I had the dash out, I tried to put sound dampening stuff in, but it was impossible. There is already quite a lot there from the factory, anyway. Looking at the photos below (taken back in 2012, what fun replacing the evaporator was), I can see factory sound deadening everywhere except on the inside of the false firewall, ahead of where the heater box sits (the heater box is out of the car in these pictures). It is also all over the floor and transmission tunnel.
It is not light at 3kg per square metre but in the scheme of things it is not going to make much difference. Under the seats I could have used the thicker 4mm product but I bought this batch primarily to do under the bonnet where I did not want to add too much weight, lest the bonnet ceased to spring up. Years ago I put Dynamat Ultralite in the doors and that made a noticeable if not huge difference.
I suspect that most noise comes through the bulkhead, especially the big hole where the heater box goes. When I had the dash out, I tried to put sound dampening stuff in, but it was impossible. There is already quite a lot there from the factory, anyway. Looking at the photos below (taken back in 2012, what fun replacing the evaporator was), I can see factory sound deadening everywhere except on the inside of the false firewall, ahead of where the heater box sits (the heater box is out of the car in these pictures). It is also all over the floor and transmission tunnel.
r129sl said:
Silent Coat 2mm: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/161756476034?_trksid=p20...
It is not light at 3kg per square metre but in the scheme of things it is not going to make much difference. Under the seats I could have used the thicker 4mm product but I bought this batch primarily to do under the bonnet where I did not want to add too much weight, lest the bonnet ceased to spring up. Years ago I put Dynamat Ultralite in the doors and that made a noticeable if not huge difference.
I suspect that most noise comes through the bulkhead, especially the big hole where the heater box goes. When I had the dash out, I tried to put sound dampening stuff in, but it was impossible. There is already quite a lot there from the factory, anyway. Looking at the photos below (taken back in 2012, what fun replacing the evaporator was), I can see factory sound deadening everywhere except on the inside of the false firewall, ahead of where the heater box sits (the heater box is out of the car in these pictures). It is also all over the floor and transmission tunnel.
Great but 😲😰............ did this take a lot of preparation before taking apart on how to mark everything up ?It is not light at 3kg per square metre but in the scheme of things it is not going to make much difference. Under the seats I could have used the thicker 4mm product but I bought this batch primarily to do under the bonnet where I did not want to add too much weight, lest the bonnet ceased to spring up. Years ago I put Dynamat Ultralite in the doors and that made a noticeable if not huge difference.
I suspect that most noise comes through the bulkhead, especially the big hole where the heater box goes. When I had the dash out, I tried to put sound dampening stuff in, but it was impossible. There is already quite a lot there from the factory, anyway. Looking at the photos below (taken back in 2012, what fun replacing the evaporator was), I can see factory sound deadening everywhere except on the inside of the false firewall, ahead of where the heater box sits (the heater box is out of the car in these pictures). It is also all over the floor and transmission tunnel.
I admire your tenacity and your car, I have an e500 to start working on as soon as I am rid of the builders and my new garage is complete, end of November.
Very interesting thread and details for many many things that I'm sure I shall need.
I didn't take the dash out, my man did it. But... he assures me it is nothing like as difficult as people crack it up to be. He took the dash out, replaced the evaporator and then reinstalled the dash in less than a day. It is all relatively obvious, you will remember what fixings go where, and the wiring falls immediately to the place in which it has resided for the last 25 years.
My car just needs cleaning up and a bit of final adjustment now. I get it back tomorrow. It has cost a bit more than I'd hoped which leaves me a bit sore. I suspect the Man regards me as a soft touch. £1,700 plus the parts, which will probably amount to at least another £750 to £1,000.
The new Behr/Hella condenser I noticed is a parallel flow item. This should be more efficient and effective than the traditional tubular condenser it replaces (which is a Valeo-manufactured item sourced from MB two years ago). The first picture shows the old, tubular item; the second shows the new parallel flow job. I bought it from the absolutely excellent local company Advanced Radiators for £65. I really recommend Advanced Radiators, they were helpful, knowledgable, quick, cheap.
My car just needs cleaning up and a bit of final adjustment now. I get it back tomorrow. It has cost a bit more than I'd hoped which leaves me a bit sore. I suspect the Man regards me as a soft touch. £1,700 plus the parts, which will probably amount to at least another £750 to £1,000.
The new Behr/Hella condenser I noticed is a parallel flow item. This should be more efficient and effective than the traditional tubular condenser it replaces (which is a Valeo-manufactured item sourced from MB two years ago). The first picture shows the old, tubular item; the second shows the new parallel flow job. I bought it from the absolutely excellent local company Advanced Radiators for £65. I really recommend Advanced Radiators, they were helpful, knowledgable, quick, cheap.
r129sl said:
..... I bought it from the absolutely excellent local company Advanced Radiators for £65. I really recommend Advanced Radiators, they were helpful, knowledgable, quick, cheap.
Agreed, an excellent company.The car looks great, who did your paintwork if you don't mind me asking. I had a look back through the thread but couldn't find a name.
Cheers
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