Spartan Mercedes 190 (w201)
Discussion
Strip down begins. The man thinks it's a good one. Certainly there is no rot on the inner wings and even the wings themselves don't look too bad. Obviously there is some way to go yet...
This was lurking under the Sacco panel on the nearside. Interestingly, I thought the nearside was in the best nick.
Offside is clean as a whistle under the Saccos although the arch lip is starting to go.
This was lurking under the Sacco panel on the nearside. Interestingly, I thought the nearside was in the best nick.
Offside is clean as a whistle under the Saccos although the arch lip is starting to go.
The Man has pronounced it "a minter".
Any advice on preservation? I'm thinking Dynax S50 inside the sills, inside the doors and underneath the Saccos. Is Dynax UB all that's required inside the wings? Or should there be stonechip underneath? What about a bead of seam sealer along the raw edge?
Any advice on preservation? I'm thinking Dynax S50 inside the sills, inside the doors and underneath the Saccos. Is Dynax UB all that's required inside the wings? Or should there be stonechip underneath? What about a bead of seam sealer along the raw edge?
Dynax S50 is for use inside box sections and doors etc.
Anything exterior should be UB. Not sure how to advise re the wheel arch lips. The rears on my 124 have a stone chip applied to the inner 2/3rds of the lip under the paint. I'm not sure how you'd go about recreating that.
The Bilt Hamber products are excellent though. I've used them for years without any issues.
Anything exterior should be UB. Not sure how to advise re the wheel arch lips. The rears on my 124 have a stone chip applied to the inner 2/3rds of the lip under the paint. I'm not sure how you'd go about recreating that.
The Bilt Hamber products are excellent though. I've used them for years without any issues.
Ha! This was one occasion on which my technique of leaving a desired car on the computer screen paid off. My wife saw it, liked it and made the decision to buy it (no doubt for my benefit) and paid half of the price. And now she drives it as her daily. So it had very little to do with me... 
There has been an amazing amount of progress over the last 24 hours. The car is completely stripped and there is no rot anywhere. I've posted up a bunch of photographs below which show the usual trouble spots: inner wings, jacking points, front bumper attachment points, sills, rear light apertures, windscreen surround, and there is absolutely nothing to see by way of trouble.
The wings have been off before (the little masking tape tags holding in the locking nut backs are a giveaway), but it is not clear when.
The front screen is coming out to be replaced with new as it is fairly chipped and scratched. The rear screen is coming out but will be put back in as it is in good order and the defrosters work. The theory is it will be done next week.
These pictures show the front end. This is usually a total mess. The bumper bracket here is hardly touched by corrosion, however.
The sills and jacking points likewise are just a bit dirty, no rust at all. Incidentally, I think the sill covers on the 190 offer far greater protection than those on the 124.
This wheel arch had had a poor filler repair but happily it all came out. There is no rust so it has been re-repaired and flash-primed. I watched this being made up and was quite impressed.
The offside door jamb has also come good with relative ease. Just the nearside to do now. At least the doors don't have to come off.
Finally, I love these little discoveries. The bumper plainly was manufactured on 18 January 1990 and I got the colour right for the Saccos.
The wings have been off before (the little masking tape tags holding in the locking nut backs are a giveaway), but it is not clear when.
The front screen is coming out to be replaced with new as it is fairly chipped and scratched. The rear screen is coming out but will be put back in as it is in good order and the defrosters work. The theory is it will be done next week.
These pictures show the front end. This is usually a total mess. The bumper bracket here is hardly touched by corrosion, however.
The sills and jacking points likewise are just a bit dirty, no rust at all. Incidentally, I think the sill covers on the 190 offer far greater protection than those on the 124.
This wheel arch had had a poor filler repair but happily it all came out. There is no rust so it has been re-repaired and flash-primed. I watched this being made up and was quite impressed.
The offside door jamb has also come good with relative ease. Just the nearside to do now. At least the doors don't have to come off.
Finally, I love these little discoveries. The bumper plainly was manufactured on 18 January 1990 and I got the colour right for the Saccos.
r129sl said:
The Man has pronounced it "a minter".
Any advice on preservation? I'm thinking Dynax S50 inside the sills, inside the doors and underneath the Saccos. Is Dynax UB all that's required inside the wings? Or should there be stonechip underneath? What about a bead of seam sealer along the raw edge?
I'd hate to see what he'd do to a rough one!Any advice on preservation? I'm thinking Dynax S50 inside the sills, inside the doors and underneath the Saccos. Is Dynax UB all that's required inside the wings? Or should there be stonechip underneath? What about a bead of seam sealer along the raw edge?
Looks great and good to see you're cracking on quickly. What's the next project?
I was very happy when I removed my 230's bumper to find it clean as a whistle, rather unlike my experience of my old CX.
r129sl said:
Finally, I love these little discoveries. The bumper plainly was manufactured on 18 January 1990 and I got the colour right for the Saccos.
I think I may have felt similar delight when breaking Audis of that era. I am better at taking cars apart than putting them back together sadly.Thanks for posting this here, I may have missed it otherwise.
I think I have that taxi brochure, I have a few. I love the colour! Taxi spec 190s are 623B: that means the Saccos are Light Ivory as well, not Safari Beige like my car. If I succumb to a modern (driving down to the Dordogne I started questioning the wisdom of relying on my 124, especially when the air con failed to show up for duty), I might see if I can special order a 212 in Light Ivory.
Anyway, more progress. Rust proofing the inside of the wings, trial fit, and rear screen out.
Anyway, more progress. Rust proofing the inside of the wings, trial fit, and rear screen out.
Finished and collected today. No chance to photograph it properly as I had to take it straight to MB Newcastle where it is having a big service. Oil and filter, air filter, coolant, automatic transmission fluid and filter, power steering fluid and filter, poly-vee belt and tensioner, new discs and pads all round. By my book, that will make it as close to a new car as it is possible to get.
I am going to fit summer tyres. It was supplied on Pirelli P6s; although I almost always go for Michelins or Continentals, I am thinking about putting Pirellis on it again, either Cinturato P1s or Cinturato P6s. But they're crap, aren't they? Here it is in the body man's yard. There is a bit of fiddling to be done yet. I have to fit a new model designation; the aerial grommet has a crack in it; and the GPS antenna needs re-siting (again).
I am going to fit summer tyres. It was supplied on Pirelli P6s; although I almost always go for Michelins or Continentals, I am thinking about putting Pirellis on it again, either Cinturato P1s or Cinturato P6s. But they're crap, aren't they? Here it is in the body man's yard. There is a bit of fiddling to be done yet. I have to fit a new model designation; the aerial grommet has a crack in it; and the GPS antenna needs re-siting (again).
Thanks, BI.
I have been a bit slack with updates. I have been busy and the weather has been less than ideal for photos.
It had a full service at MB Newcastle. All consumables replaced: oil and filter, transmission fluid and filter, coolant, power steering fluid and filter, brake fluid, poly-vee belt and tensioner, discs and pads all round. I need to do the plugs, but otherwise it has been base-lined. They were very complimentary about the car. As well they might, given the magnitude of the bill (£1,400 for the tally keeper). But given the unblemished supplying-dealer service history, I think it is right to keep it in the dealer network at least once a year.
We're just using it now. It gives 29mpg in ordinary commuting, some of it very heavily trafficked, some open road. I obtained some new-old-stock genuine rubber mats (£20) for the rear footwells to lessen the impact of small children back there. Otherwise, in the best possible way, there is nothing to report. It looks and feels like a brand new car. I have given the paint job the full Chemical Guys treatment so one sunny evening I will take it out and take some pictures of the finished article for you.
I have been a bit slack with updates. I have been busy and the weather has been less than ideal for photos.
It had a full service at MB Newcastle. All consumables replaced: oil and filter, transmission fluid and filter, coolant, power steering fluid and filter, brake fluid, poly-vee belt and tensioner, discs and pads all round. I need to do the plugs, but otherwise it has been base-lined. They were very complimentary about the car. As well they might, given the magnitude of the bill (£1,400 for the tally keeper). But given the unblemished supplying-dealer service history, I think it is right to keep it in the dealer network at least once a year.
We're just using it now. It gives 29mpg in ordinary commuting, some of it very heavily trafficked, some open road. I obtained some new-old-stock genuine rubber mats (£20) for the rear footwells to lessen the impact of small children back there. Otherwise, in the best possible way, there is nothing to report. It looks and feels like a brand new car. I have given the paint job the full Chemical Guys treatment so one sunny evening I will take it out and take some pictures of the finished article for you.
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