Mercedes 129 titivation
Discussion
A short update.
This week I have fitted four new Continental Sport Contact 5 tyres. I can't say I notice any big difference between them and the Michelin PS3s which were on previously. They do seem very smooth but then they are brand new tyres manufactured about four weeks ago.
I also had the car serviced by MB Newcastle. After a bit of a debacle with my 190, they were on best behaviour. A 'B' service and MOT came to £272 with me supplying my own oil (Shell Helix Ultra 5W 40 for 8 litres of which they wanted £100 and 10 litres of which cost me £32). It needs an air con condensor, front brake pads, a prop shaft carrier bearing and new anti-roll bar bushes, most of which I expected. I booked it in for next Monday but this morning I was greeted by an email asking to move the booking to Thursday due to the unavailability of the condensor other than from Germany. This prompted be to shop around: I found a Behr Hella condensor (guess who makes them for Merc) for £248 a mere two miles away from me. Mercedes wanted £470 for the same part. Their loss: as a result of pathetic parts support and over-pricing, the latter on both the oil and the condensor, they lose the sale. By seeking a big profit rather than a modest profit, they make no profit. There is a lesson for them here but I don't suppose they will learn it.
This week I have fitted four new Continental Sport Contact 5 tyres. I can't say I notice any big difference between them and the Michelin PS3s which were on previously. They do seem very smooth but then they are brand new tyres manufactured about four weeks ago.
I also had the car serviced by MB Newcastle. After a bit of a debacle with my 190, they were on best behaviour. A 'B' service and MOT came to £272 with me supplying my own oil (Shell Helix Ultra 5W 40 for 8 litres of which they wanted £100 and 10 litres of which cost me £32). It needs an air con condensor, front brake pads, a prop shaft carrier bearing and new anti-roll bar bushes, most of which I expected. I booked it in for next Monday but this morning I was greeted by an email asking to move the booking to Thursday due to the unavailability of the condensor other than from Germany. This prompted be to shop around: I found a Behr Hella condensor (guess who makes them for Merc) for £248 a mere two miles away from me. Mercedes wanted £470 for the same part. Their loss: as a result of pathetic parts support and over-pricing, the latter on both the oil and the condensor, they lose the sale. By seeking a big profit rather than a modest profit, they make no profit. There is a lesson for them here but I don't suppose they will learn it.
Edited by r129sl on Friday 22 April 10:18
r129sl said:
A short update.
This week I have fitted four new Continental Sport Contact 5 tyres.
By coincidence after considerable debate I have this very morning had five squeaky-new (week 14) Conti Premium Contact 5 for my own SL, Sport Contacts not being available in the requisite 16" size and speed rating. Those too are notably quiet and smooth on the 70 miles I've put on them so far. Interestingly I had no on-centre steering feel at all for the first 10 miles until they scrubbed in a bit, which was disconcerting, but it's fine now.This week I have fitted four new Continental Sport Contact 5 tyres.
Had them put on at Tam Tyres in Gateshead who have the only Hunter road force balancer in the North and were the only people able to get the wheel balance spot on with my Porsche last time I put new tyres on it. So all my stuff gets that treatment now. It costs a few quid more but doing anything else with old cars which one wishes to keep indefinitely seems a false economy.
Lowtimer said:
r129sl said:
A short update.
This week I have fitted four new Continental Sport Contact 5 tyres.
By coincidence after considerable debate I have this very morning had five squeaky-new (week 14) Conti Premium Contact 5 for my own SL, Sport Contacts not being available in the requisite 16" size and speed rating. Those too are notably quiet and smooth on the 70 miles I've put on them so far. Interestingly I had no on-centre steering feel at all for the first 10 miles until they scrubbed in a bit, which was disconcerting, but it's fine now.This week I have fitted four new Continental Sport Contact 5 tyres.
Had them put on at Tam Tyres in Gateshead who have the only Hunter road force balancer in the North and were the only people able to get the wheel balance spot on with my Porsche last time I put new tyres on it. So all my stuff gets that treatment now. It costs a few quid more but doing anything else with old cars which one wishes to keep indefinitely seems a false economy.
Semi-local... When I'm not in London or Cambridgeshire I'm in Northallerton, which is where most of the cars live. Definitely tea some time.
I've not had a Mercedes before this one so didn't have a support network in place, unlike with BMW and Porsche. I've been having straightforward work to general satisfaction by Prestige Servicing on the Preston Farm industrial estate: they are easily accessed both by road and on the train, with Eaglescliffe station only 15 mins on Grand Central from Northallerton. However, I note that his Lordship is also handy for the train so that could be a possibility in future.
I've not had a Mercedes before this one so didn't have a support network in place, unlike with BMW and Porsche. I've been having straightforward work to general satisfaction by Prestige Servicing on the Preston Farm industrial estate: they are easily accessed both by road and on the train, with Eaglescliffe station only 15 mins on Grand Central from Northallerton. However, I note that his Lordship is also handy for the train so that could be a possibility in future.
Edited by Lowtimer on Friday 22 April 13:24
The 129 has been much in use in the fine weather.
Last night my wife and I had a run up to Glasgow to see the Boss. This morning we ran back down the M74 as far as Moffat (what a stunning road, I can see how people get busted at high speed along there), then back up the A701 as far as Tweedsmuir, past Megget Reservoir and on to Hawick where we had a quick lunch before bombing back down the A68 and A696. The car was in its element on all those roads, running fast but never much more than 100mph, with great reserves of strength and handling. We also had the happy opportunity to help two ladies struggling to change a flat tyre on their Volvo, in the absolute middle of nowhere, to boot. A fine start to my fifth decade.
Last night my wife and I had a run up to Glasgow to see the Boss. This morning we ran back down the M74 as far as Moffat (what a stunning road, I can see how people get busted at high speed along there), then back up the A701 as far as Tweedsmuir, past Megget Reservoir and on to Hawick where we had a quick lunch before bombing back down the A68 and A696. The car was in its element on all those roads, running fast but never much more than 100mph, with great reserves of strength and handling. We also had the happy opportunity to help two ladies struggling to change a flat tyre on their Volvo, in the absolute middle of nowhere, to boot. A fine start to my fifth decade.
r129sl said:
£137.50. Each. Outrageous, especially him being the champion of the working man and all that.
But he was better than ever, really, really good. 34 songs, predominantly the popular classics, but he ended with a solo of This Hard Land. Blown away.
But he was better than ever, really, really good. 34 songs, predominantly the popular classics, but he ended with a solo of This Hard Land. Blown away.
And the expensive Wembley seats.....
It is a year since I started monitoring costs and usage using the Road Trip App.
8,826miles
22.43mpg
Fuel £2,008.44 (22.5p per mile, £5.67 per day)
Service/maintenance.expenses £2,946.35
Total £4,954.79 (57p per mile, £14 per day)
Fairly horrifying given the mileage, but it includes £1,000 on bodywork, four new tyres and a bug service at the main dealer, as well as road tax and insurance.
8,826miles
22.43mpg
Fuel £2,008.44 (22.5p per mile, £5.67 per day)
Service/maintenance.expenses £2,946.35
Total £4,954.79 (57p per mile, £14 per day)
Fairly horrifying given the mileage, but it includes £1,000 on bodywork, four new tyres and a bug service at the main dealer, as well as road tax and insurance.
r129sl said:
It is a year since I started monitoring costs and usage using the Road Trip App.
8,826miles
22.43mpg
Fuel £2,008.44 (22.5p per mile, £5.67 per day)
Service/maintenance.expenses £2,946.35
Total £4,954.79 (57p per mile, £14 per day)
Fairly horrifying given the mileage, but it includes £1,000 on bodywork, four new tyres and a bug service at the main dealer, as well as road tax and insurance.
That is pretty horrendous. To give a comparison with something mundane and efficient my 2008 Volvo C70 D5 has averaged 26p a mile including fuel (43mpg), servicing, repairs, insurance, and road tax over 2 years and 50k miles. It's had a remap, clutch, all new dampers, front wishbones, AC condenser, 10 tyres, and a timing belt change in that.8,826miles
22.43mpg
Fuel £2,008.44 (22.5p per mile, £5.67 per day)
Service/maintenance.expenses £2,946.35
Total £4,954.79 (57p per mile, £14 per day)
Fairly horrifying given the mileage, but it includes £1,000 on bodywork, four new tyres and a bug service at the main dealer, as well as road tax and insurance.
dme123 said:
r129sl said:
It is a year since I started monitoring costs and usage using the Road Trip App.
8,826miles
22.43mpg
Fuel £2,008.44 (22.5p per mile, £5.67 per day)
Service/maintenance.expenses £2,946.35
Total £4,954.79 (57p per mile, £14 per day)
Fairly horrifying given the mileage, but it includes £1,000 on bodywork, four new tyres and a bug service at the main dealer, as well as road tax and insurance.
That is pretty horrendous. To give a comparison with something mundane and efficient my 2008 Volvo C70 D5 has averaged 26p a mile including fuel (43mpg), servicing, repairs, insurance, and road tax over 2 years and 50k miles. It's had a remap, clutch, all new dampers, front wishbones, AC condenser, 10 tyres, and a timing belt change in that.8,826miles
22.43mpg
Fuel £2,008.44 (22.5p per mile, £5.67 per day)
Service/maintenance.expenses £2,946.35
Total £4,954.79 (57p per mile, £14 per day)
Fairly horrifying given the mileage, but it includes £1,000 on bodywork, four new tyres and a bug service at the main dealer, as well as road tax and insurance.
Gassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff