Mercedes W140 titivation
Discussion
I am beginning to regret calling my 124 mini-resto thread a "titivation".
I have acquired a 1996 Mercedes-Benz S420, what the saddos like me call a 140, for the princely sum of £0 from a friend. I have tried to give him some money but so far he won't take anything. I started at a grand but he says that is too much and I'll have to come down from there. Ostensibly, I am project managing its doing up and after six months he is going to lose interest and give it to me in recognition of the work I have put in. Thanks for that little white lie, Derin.
So it hasn't been used for at least six months. It stands at about 110,000 miles. Three owners, the last since 2009. Full service history down to the original bill of sale. The first owner knew what he was doing when he specified this car. It is a great specification. Green Black Metallic over Black leather with the following options: memory seats, heated seats front and rear, eight hole forged alloy wheels, wood and leather driving controls, rear sun blind, glass sunroof, parking sensors and (best of all) a Bose sound system with the Mercedes-Benz Exquisit head unit and CD-changer. There are some other knick-knacks, too, but I can't remember what they are. All told, the options add up to something daft like £12,000 on top of the £53,000 purchase price. The stereo is fabulous.
Last time I drove it, it was obvious that it needed a bit of work. Creaking front ball joints, warped discs and tired suspension. So it is presently at Baister's lair having all of this attended to. Four new shocks (Sachs), discs and pads at all corners, new front ball joints and anti-roll bar drop links. There are some other bits and bobs, too. A new offside rear tail lamp assembly (water had got into the old one and then gone mouldy), replacement air con controls (the current set up runs the condensor fans constantly). Needless to say, progress at Baister's is slow.
It needs a new cat, too. The previous owner had one side removed. It sounds just a bit wrong, so when funds allow I will fit a new one.
I am also going to conceal a Parrot kit, either a MKi9100 or MKi9200 (depending on whether the larger unit will fit) in the sunglasses compartment to give me Bluetooth telephony and iPod integration.
And then there is the rust. Really it is confined to the wheel arches, nothing major, but it will need two front wings, some metal work in the rear and a full respray. That, too is for the future. It needs a very thorough clean, inside and out. But watch this space. Not bad for free. Oh, that S600 grille is not much longer for this world, either.
This is how good these cars can look:
I have acquired a 1996 Mercedes-Benz S420, what the saddos like me call a 140, for the princely sum of £0 from a friend. I have tried to give him some money but so far he won't take anything. I started at a grand but he says that is too much and I'll have to come down from there. Ostensibly, I am project managing its doing up and after six months he is going to lose interest and give it to me in recognition of the work I have put in. Thanks for that little white lie, Derin.
So it hasn't been used for at least six months. It stands at about 110,000 miles. Three owners, the last since 2009. Full service history down to the original bill of sale. The first owner knew what he was doing when he specified this car. It is a great specification. Green Black Metallic over Black leather with the following options: memory seats, heated seats front and rear, eight hole forged alloy wheels, wood and leather driving controls, rear sun blind, glass sunroof, parking sensors and (best of all) a Bose sound system with the Mercedes-Benz Exquisit head unit and CD-changer. There are some other knick-knacks, too, but I can't remember what they are. All told, the options add up to something daft like £12,000 on top of the £53,000 purchase price. The stereo is fabulous.
Last time I drove it, it was obvious that it needed a bit of work. Creaking front ball joints, warped discs and tired suspension. So it is presently at Baister's lair having all of this attended to. Four new shocks (Sachs), discs and pads at all corners, new front ball joints and anti-roll bar drop links. There are some other bits and bobs, too. A new offside rear tail lamp assembly (water had got into the old one and then gone mouldy), replacement air con controls (the current set up runs the condensor fans constantly). Needless to say, progress at Baister's is slow.
It needs a new cat, too. The previous owner had one side removed. It sounds just a bit wrong, so when funds allow I will fit a new one.
I am also going to conceal a Parrot kit, either a MKi9100 or MKi9200 (depending on whether the larger unit will fit) in the sunglasses compartment to give me Bluetooth telephony and iPod integration.
And then there is the rust. Really it is confined to the wheel arches, nothing major, but it will need two front wings, some metal work in the rear and a full respray. That, too is for the future. It needs a very thorough clean, inside and out. But watch this space. Not bad for free. Oh, that S600 grille is not much longer for this world, either.
This is how good these cars can look:
jke11y said:
Same spec as mine (minus the table, and I don't have BOSE).
I'll swap you my grille for the S600 one?
You might have a deal there. I bought one from Carl at w140.co.uk but, to be honest, it is very disappointing in condition. So if yours is any good, I'll gladly swap. My S600 grille is pretty mint.I'll swap you my grille for the S600 one?
I am sorry for the lack of updates. I am really busy at work and yet simultaneously short of cash, so the parts and accessories buying spree is on a temporary hold; and Baister is not exactly moving like lightening. I am told the rear end has been done but that he is waiting on a drop link for the from anti-roll bar. You have to remove the discs to change the drop link so it is pointless doing the brake work until the drop link is to hand; and changing the shocks no doubt will be easier with the brakes off. If I get a chance, I'll head over there today and hopefully take some pics of it on the ramp.
Here's a picture of the grille:
Baister has done the rear brakes and shocks. Quite a lot still outstanding, though. I also had a good look at the rust. It will need the Man's attention before much longer. Every wheel arch and a couple of blebs here and there plus quite bad front screen delamination. The vinyl on the internal windscreen pillars is peeling too, the result it seems of that rubbish alarm that MBUK insisted on fitting to all new cars in place of the factory system, presumably because someone there was on a kickback from the alarm manufacturer.
Baister has done the rear brakes and shocks. Quite a lot still outstanding, though. I also had a good look at the rust. It will need the Man's attention before much longer. Every wheel arch and a couple of blebs here and there plus quite bad front screen delamination. The vinyl on the internal windscreen pillars is peeling too, the result it seems of that rubbish alarm that MBUK insisted on fitting to all new cars in place of the factory system, presumably because someone there was on a kickback from the alarm manufacturer.
Some pictures of the bad news. The rust on this car is worse than I recalled. Every wheel arch is bad. New front wings required, although I may go second hand or aftermarket this time.
New metal in the rears, for sure. But look at that lovely new brake disc poking through.
Scuffs on every corner. Nice new rear lamp. And cancelled the new centre strip, thus saving 80-odd quid.
And damage to some of the window seals.
New metal in the rears, for sure. But look at that lovely new brake disc poking through.
Scuffs on every corner. Nice new rear lamp. And cancelled the new centre strip, thus saving 80-odd quid.
And damage to some of the window seals.
The major mechanical work is done and hopefully a new MOT certificate was obtained today.
But the best news is the insurance: £129.08 through Footman James. Just the road tax at £230 to add to that.
Should be back on the road (and in for a thorough detail) by the weekend. Champagne motoring for lemonade money. Or something.
But the best news is the insurance: £129.08 through Footman James. Just the road tax at £230 to add to that.
Should be back on the road (and in for a thorough detail) by the weekend. Champagne motoring for lemonade money. Or something.
I smartened up the replacement grille this evening. Such is married life on a Saturday night.
The 140 has an incorrect S600 grille which is not my cup of tea. I can see why others like it but it's not for me. So I bought a replacement from Carl at w140 Spares. When it arrived it was a little disappointing, being heavily tarnished and having two massive (well, prominent) dents in the chrome bars. So I polished up the frame with good old Autosol, stripped it down and washed the insert with Surfex HD, then fitted new bars, one vertical and one lateral. The vertical central bar is A1408882185 and the lateral bars are all A1408880385. Not expensive at £7 each.
Stripping the insert is easy enough. Simply remove these spring clips, four along the top and two along the bottom. Push them towards the centre of the grille with some pliers. The top clips are longer than the bottoms.
Then there is a screw hidden under a little piece of rubber in the bottom of the grille right in the middle.
The old bars simply slide off the grille insert. It is very easy and quite a neat bit of Merc over-engineering.
The new lateral bars have to be cut carefully to length with a hacksaw. This is not difficult. Then you simply slide them back on and reassemble. Here is the finished article, ready for installation next week. Happily the new bars do not stand out against the old ones, although I have a couple of spare ones and might go back and do the other five lateral bars just for the sake of it.
I still don't know whether the car passed its MOT test: the mechanic Baister was more interested in tracking his mentalist Westfield than earning a living. I was hoping to have it for Easter, but I might as well leave it until April and save—or postpone at least—a little road tax.
Edit: I used the online MOT checker to confirm it hasn't been tested yet. Bloody Baister.
The 140 has an incorrect S600 grille which is not my cup of tea. I can see why others like it but it's not for me. So I bought a replacement from Carl at w140 Spares. When it arrived it was a little disappointing, being heavily tarnished and having two massive (well, prominent) dents in the chrome bars. So I polished up the frame with good old Autosol, stripped it down and washed the insert with Surfex HD, then fitted new bars, one vertical and one lateral. The vertical central bar is A1408882185 and the lateral bars are all A1408880385. Not expensive at £7 each.
Stripping the insert is easy enough. Simply remove these spring clips, four along the top and two along the bottom. Push them towards the centre of the grille with some pliers. The top clips are longer than the bottoms.
Then there is a screw hidden under a little piece of rubber in the bottom of the grille right in the middle.
The old bars simply slide off the grille insert. It is very easy and quite a neat bit of Merc over-engineering.
The new lateral bars have to be cut carefully to length with a hacksaw. This is not difficult. Then you simply slide them back on and reassemble. Here is the finished article, ready for installation next week. Happily the new bars do not stand out against the old ones, although I have a couple of spare ones and might go back and do the other five lateral bars just for the sake of it.
I still don't know whether the car passed its MOT test: the mechanic Baister was more interested in tracking his mentalist Westfield than earning a living. I was hoping to have it for Easter, but I might as well leave it until April and save—or postpone at least—a little road tax.
Edit: I used the online MOT checker to confirm it hasn't been tested yet. Bloody Baister.
Edited by r129sl on Sunday 20th March 11:35
Finally some movement at Baister's lair. Terry the "master technician" moves it from its slumbers and onto the ramp to check out a problem with the offside rear ABS signal.
It wasn't the reluctor ring that yours truly had traipsed over there to deliver (why do I have a supply of reluctor rings in Chambers?), so back onto the diagnostic machine. Meanwhile, I fitted the new grille, to much muttering from Terry about doing him out of his supper and such like. Doesn't it look better? Anyway jkelly, the old S600 grille is a genuine Merc item.
The ABS sensor is on a cable about five miles long which terminates under the rear seat. It looks a bit grim under here but it's all solid. Ish.
More terrifying-looking "surface" rust. I am assured this is all OK.
I'm going to have to do the bodywork. I was going to leave it until next year but I don't think I can stand it. Viewing a car on a ramp really shows its imperfections and boy is the paint on this one imperfect. Still, we're getting there.
It wasn't the reluctor ring that yours truly had traipsed over there to deliver (why do I have a supply of reluctor rings in Chambers?), so back onto the diagnostic machine. Meanwhile, I fitted the new grille, to much muttering from Terry about doing him out of his supper and such like. Doesn't it look better? Anyway jkelly, the old S600 grille is a genuine Merc item.
The ABS sensor is on a cable about five miles long which terminates under the rear seat. It looks a bit grim under here but it's all solid. Ish.
More terrifying-looking "surface" rust. I am assured this is all OK.
I'm going to have to do the bodywork. I was going to leave it until next year but I don't think I can stand it. Viewing a car on a ramp really shows its imperfections and boy is the paint on this one imperfect. Still, we're getting there.
TooManySheds said:
Looking Fantastic, well apart from the Rusty Bits :-), but the correct Grille does set it off.
Can I ask where you get your number plates from ? all the sellers I have seen are insisting on the modern ones even if the car is old. Or do you get "show plates" and just hope not to get stopped ?
When I did my 129, the threadists debated numberplate fonts for about three pages. In the end I ordered them from www.gbshowplates.com. There's no danger with the fuzz: after all, they've been on the car since new. That's how come they're in the old font. With all your motors TMS, you'd be entitled to a substantial bulk discount, shirley?Can I ask where you get your number plates from ? all the sellers I have seen are insisting on the modern ones even if the car is old. Or do you get "show plates" and just hope not to get stopped ?
Parts were included, apart from the brakes which I supplied myself, making the bill even more horrific.
I'm feeling a smidgen of buyer's remorse, largely induced by yesterday's draining of the wallet and the subsequent realisation that that was but the start of the pain. Also, it's nice enough to drive but it's too big for my office car park and, frankly, what does it add to that which I have already other than cost?
I'm feeling a smidgen of buyer's remorse, largely induced by yesterday's draining of the wallet and the subsequent realisation that that was but the start of the pain. Also, it's nice enough to drive but it's too big for my office car park and, frankly, what does it add to that which I have already other than cost?
I feel better about the car today, largely a result of having cleaned the interior very thoroughly. It has come up well, although the driver's mat did not respond well to the washing machine. I figured out yesterday that the air con doesn't work. Maybe it just needs re-gassing. Ha ha ha: I'll eat my hat if it just needs re-gassing.
I've started polishing the paint but there's a lot of work required there.
The rear accommodation is massive:
I've started polishing the paint but there's a lot of work required there.
The rear accommodation is massive:
Damned fancy wiper doesn't work. A bit of googling suggests the plastic cogs will have smashed. This is a result of lack of use. The friend from who I took this car is a car enthusiast yet the neglect makes me want to cry. How can anyone let a car get like this? The outstanding defect list (excluding the bodywork) is as follows, at least as far as I can recall:
(1) air con does not work,
(2) wiper does not extend and retract,
(3) parking sensors are mad,
(4) rear sun blind extends but does not always retract,
(5) rear head rests do not fold,
(6) headlamp wipers do not work,
(7) transmission stutters when coming to a halt or on part-kickdown (bit of a worry, this one),
(8) left hand cat missing,
(9) shimmy at 55-60mph (possibly permanently flat-spotted tyres caused by lack of use),
(10) occasional miss at idle (I might change the plugs over the rest of the weekend).
Grrrr. Anyway, the wiper bits are available on eBay.
And the stereo sounds fantastic.
(1) air con does not work,
(2) wiper does not extend and retract,
(3) parking sensors are mad,
(4) rear sun blind extends but does not always retract,
(5) rear head rests do not fold,
(6) headlamp wipers do not work,
(7) transmission stutters when coming to a halt or on part-kickdown (bit of a worry, this one),
(8) left hand cat missing,
(9) shimmy at 55-60mph (possibly permanently flat-spotted tyres caused by lack of use),
(10) occasional miss at idle (I might change the plugs over the rest of the weekend).
Grrrr. Anyway, the wiper bits are available on eBay.
And the stereo sounds fantastic.
Or maybe just throw it in a skip?
I put a couple of hours into polishing it today, just an aggressive compound followed by good old Auto Glym Super Resin Polish and, with the windows cleaned inside and out and the hematite trim all buffed up, it is starting to look pretty good, even if every wheel arch is mottled. It can go back to Baister for round two of mechanical attention and then maybe next winter I'll do the bodywork.
I put a couple of hours into polishing it today, just an aggressive compound followed by good old Auto Glym Super Resin Polish and, with the windows cleaned inside and out and the hematite trim all buffed up, it is starting to look pretty good, even if every wheel arch is mottled. It can go back to Baister for round two of mechanical attention and then maybe next winter I'll do the bodywork.
It's lack of use that has done for it; that and owner neglect. This car has sat unused for most of the last year: it just kills everything, especially anything electrical. My 129 has been in constant use with 250,000miles on it, never had anything other than routine attention, and it is ten times better than this 140 car.
Poly, thank you for your kind words. You're right: the 201/124/129 combo is perfect for my life and that is the conclusion I have drawn, too. One very important factor: three cars can be accommodated in my yard with ease, with thoughtful parking, any of the three can be withdrawn without moving the others. Not so with four cars, especially when one of the four is the size of the others put together.
Lagerlout: I am one of those people who cannot afford the upkeep on a 140! The attraction of this one is that I know it, it was available to me very cheaply, and it has a superb spec.
It is growing on me. The mistake I made over the weekend was to use it for knocking about with the kids. It really is not that kind of car. But when I took my wife out for dinner in town, a 60mile round trip down and back up the A1, a little time pressure, her choice on the amazing stereo, it really shone. At 100mph it is rock solid, engine turning at 3,000rpm, conversation at ordinary volumes, one hand on the wheel one hand in hers, total comfort and control. Great lighting, too.
Lagerlout: I am one of those people who cannot afford the upkeep on a 140! The attraction of this one is that I know it, it was available to me very cheaply, and it has a superb spec.
It is growing on me. The mistake I made over the weekend was to use it for knocking about with the kids. It really is not that kind of car. But when I took my wife out for dinner in town, a 60mile round trip down and back up the A1, a little time pressure, her choice on the amazing stereo, it really shone. At 100mph it is rock solid, engine turning at 3,000rpm, conversation at ordinary volumes, one hand on the wheel one hand in hers, total comfort and control. Great lighting, too.
I'm persevering with it. Tonight I changed the plugs on the right bank. This was a surprisingly easy job: the hardest part was getting the air box back on. I would have done the left bank as well, but it had become dark by that time. I reckon I spent an hour on it tonight and it will take me at most 30 minutes to finish the job. The old plugs had been in there a while, I even wonder whether they weren't the originals. They were the right shade of brown, however.
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