Spartan Mercedes 190 (w201)
Discussion
r129sl said:
In fairness to MB Newcastle, they did my SL's annual service today and couldn't have been better. But then I only dealt with the people I know, the tech who has been doing these cars since they were new and the young woman who has been booking me in and out for ten years now.
The 190 has such a perfect record that it would be a shame not to have it MB serviced once a year. And the SL is the same: this was the 42nd MB Newcastle stamp to go in the book.
Yes, I can see how that would be unfortunate. It's come this far with that record so it would be sad to abandon it nowThe 190 has such a perfect record that it would be a shame not to have it MB serviced once a year. And the SL is the same: this was the 42nd MB Newcastle stamp to go in the book.
I fitted a new thermostat today and at the same time upgraded the housing from the plastic one which reputedly (in the land of internet forum exaggeration) is prone to cracking with a later metal one. I had noticed that it was never really coming up to temperature, getting stuck at about 75 deg C on the open road, and taking a long time to get there. I have also noticed the fuel consumption has dropped from about 31mpg to 29mpg.
Using MB parts, including new fixings and stuff, the cost of the parts was £73. A bit of a swizz when Febi do the kit for less than £20. But what an easy job, possibly the easiest job I have ever done on a car. Took it out for a drive and it came up to 85 deg C straight away. Hopefully the fuel consumption will improve, too.
Using MB parts, including new fixings and stuff, the cost of the parts was £73. A bit of a swizz when Febi do the kit for less than £20. But what an easy job, possibly the easiest job I have ever done on a car. Took it out for a drive and it came up to 85 deg C straight away. Hopefully the fuel consumption will improve, too.
The genuine Mercedes-Benz battery, with which I replaced the perfectly serviceable Lucas item less than a year ago, mysteriously gave up the ghost this morning. Hopefully still under warranty, but tells a lot about MB quality.
I assume it is definitely the battery at fault. It was dead as a door nail but, once jump-started, the car ran fine over a 20 minute trip, suggesting no problem with the charging system. But make any demand of the battery, such as turning on the headlamps, and it died. The car has had a new alternator in my time.
The obligatory photo:
I assume it is definitely the battery at fault. It was dead as a door nail but, once jump-started, the car ran fine over a 20 minute trip, suggesting no problem with the charging system. But make any demand of the battery, such as turning on the headlamps, and it died. The car has had a new alternator in my time.
The obligatory photo:
When I bug my mechanic I have to sort a similar thing on the SL. I replaced the battery 6 months ago and it died a few weeks ago (I started it and it felt week so I went for a good 30 minute blast). It has been at Tommy's place (my mechanic) for over a month now... I'm slightly bored with it being a pain at the moment!
The 190 continues. The ignition barrel was getting sticky and we had two bad moments when the steering lock wouldn't release. I ordered two new keys and a new barrel. They came from Germany, cut to the car's original locks, in four days.
I used the instructions here: http://www.pelicanparts.com/techarticles/Mercedes-...
It's a good site with lots of very clear guides.
I used the instructions here: http://www.pelicanparts.com/techarticles/Mercedes-...
It's a good site with lots of very clear guides.
r129sl said:
Despite being Pistonheads' most anally retentive car enthusiast, I have lost the invoice.
The key was less than £30, however; and the ignition barrel was less than £120; both including VAT.
Both arrived within four working days, which is just extraordinary.
I'm consistently amazed at how quickly stuff comes from Deutschland. When I ordered 2x jacking points for my 190e the guy at MB Bedford actually apologised that he couldn't get them in time for the weekend. I rang him on a Thursday. They came Monday!The key was less than £30, however; and the ignition barrel was less than £120; both including VAT.
Both arrived within four working days, which is just extraordinary.
£30 is more than fair enough. I only have the one key, see. A sure recipe for disaster when you own six cars with ever key littered around the house!
This is my favourite thread anywhere online, keep the updates coming JR.
You've shamed me into some updates.
The 190 took a bash a month ago. Mrs r129sl decided to adopt a novel approach to roundabouts and was surprised to find the old ways are definitely the best. It needs a new bumper insert (the sensible, cheap black bit that is intended for bumping) and a tiny little bit of paint on the wing. Unlike the modern Astra, which needs a whole new side. Now that the 124 is back, the next car job is the differential re-build on the r129; once that is done the 190 will go to the Man for a day to have a new bumper insert fitted (£90 from Merc) and a local paint job.
It is giving more alternator trouble, unfortunately. There is high-pitched electrical interference which I think is down to a bad suppressor on the alternator. It was replaced earlier this year, that replacement in turn a replacement of an earlier new alternator. Both have been Lucas; the next one will be Bosch.
We are also still giving consideration to retro-fitting air conditioning. This would be a completely factory job done by Alpinair in London. The price would be £2,400 plus VAT. Now that the weather is a bit cooler, our appetite for this horrific expenditure is rather diminished.
I'm just about to take it out for a run but it continues to give sterling service and over 30 to the gallon, too.
The 190 took a bash a month ago. Mrs r129sl decided to adopt a novel approach to roundabouts and was surprised to find the old ways are definitely the best. It needs a new bumper insert (the sensible, cheap black bit that is intended for bumping) and a tiny little bit of paint on the wing. Unlike the modern Astra, which needs a whole new side. Now that the 124 is back, the next car job is the differential re-build on the r129; once that is done the 190 will go to the Man for a day to have a new bumper insert fitted (£90 from Merc) and a local paint job.
It is giving more alternator trouble, unfortunately. There is high-pitched electrical interference which I think is down to a bad suppressor on the alternator. It was replaced earlier this year, that replacement in turn a replacement of an earlier new alternator. Both have been Lucas; the next one will be Bosch.
We are also still giving consideration to retro-fitting air conditioning. This would be a completely factory job done by Alpinair in London. The price would be £2,400 plus VAT. Now that the weather is a bit cooler, our appetite for this horrific expenditure is rather diminished.
I'm just about to take it out for a run but it continues to give sterling service and over 30 to the gallon, too.
Now I'm a 190e owner myself I love this thread even more.
I've also noticed your key/barrel post - my keys are very worn and would like new but how do I know the 'code' (?) for the keys? Where can I get some? All the locks and ignition seem to work fine, but maybe they wont with new keys!
Thanks in advance.
I've also noticed your key/barrel post - my keys are very worn and would like new but how do I know the 'code' (?) for the keys? Where can I get some? All the locks and ignition seem to work fine, but maybe they wont with new keys!
Thanks in advance.
They will work better with new keys but if you're not having problems, I wouldn't bother. That said, as soon as you start getting problems with the ignition, you should replace the barrel.
I think the lock code is on the data card but I just tell the dealer the chassis number and they work it out. I don't know whether other manufacturers do this, but I think it is pretty impressive that you can get new keys and new locks suited to a 30 year old car for relatively little expense.
I think the lock code is on the data card but I just tell the dealer the chassis number and they work it out. I don't know whether other manufacturers do this, but I think it is pretty impressive that you can get new keys and new locks suited to a 30 year old car for relatively little expense.
r129sl said:
They will work better with new keys but if you're not having problems, I wouldn't bother. That said, as soon as you start getting problems with the ignition, you should replace the barrel.
I think the lock code is on the data card but I just tell the dealer the chassis number and they work it out. I don't know whether other manufacturers do this, but I think it is pretty impressive that you can get new keys and new locks suited to a 30 year old car for relatively little expense.
Thanks, I had a Fiesta with a 'tibbe' key which I locked in the car 200 miles from home - my parents dug the code out and I had one cut locally - very handy!I think the lock code is on the data card but I just tell the dealer the chassis number and they work it out. I don't know whether other manufacturers do this, but I think it is pretty impressive that you can get new keys and new locks suited to a 30 year old car for relatively little expense.
There is nothing obviously wrong, just both the keys I have are different and very worn - I'd like new ones. What do you mean by data card?
A new Mercedes used to come with four keys. Two master keys, which open every lock and start the ignition; a chauffeur (or valet) key, which opens the doors and the fires the ignition but will not open the glove box or boot; and a flat key which is to be kept in the owner's wallet for emergencies.
The master keys have a roughly rectangular black plastic handle on them; the chauffeur key has a black oval handle; and the flat key has no handle at all and is simply a blade with a little 'T' piece on the end.
The data card is the blue and white card found in the back of the service book with all of the build information on it; another copy is kept at the factory and is available electronically (it is publicly accessible on many websites) using the chassis number to find it.
The master keys have a roughly rectangular black plastic handle on them; the chauffeur key has a black oval handle; and the flat key has no handle at all and is simply a blade with a little 'T' piece on the end.
The data card is the blue and white card found in the back of the service book with all of the build information on it; another copy is kept at the factory and is available electronically (it is publicly accessible on many websites) using the chassis number to find it.
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