Sensible family daily wagon - Mercedes Benz S211 E500
Discussion
Well. I did report previously that the hose popped off on the brake fluid reservoir when it was nudged as he went to remove the n/s tube that feeds air into the engine. It transpires that it was the power steering fluid reservoir. It was brittle.
Thank you for your blind optimism. It helps to keep me deluded.
Thank you for your blind optimism. It helps to keep me deluded.
bolidemichael said:
Well. I did report previously that the hose popped off on the brake fluid reservoir when it was nudged as he went to remove the n/s tube that feeds air into the engine. It transpires that it was the power steering fluid reservoir. It was brittle.
Thank you for your blind optimism. It helps to keep me deluded.
You're in good company.Thank you for your blind optimism. It helps to keep me deluded.
bolidemichael said:
Good point Ross. That's the first thing I asked -- there is a smattering of fluid around the pump, there was a little too much back pressure as a result of the weaker pump and something something brittle hose something something.
In short, yes, it is being monitored and it isn't an item that needs to be replaced immediately. I'll ask him again about it in more detail again, I spoke to him this morning and I should've'ad a coffee first.
Cool. To be fair I had to top up the E38 728i once, and not again so you never know. In short, yes, it is being monitored and it isn't an item that needs to be replaced immediately. I'll ask him again about it in more detail again, I spoke to him this morning and I should've'ad a coffee first.
Magnus collected -- no random PDC alerts as of yet, the washer jets are unblocked, the brakes brake without juddering under braking, the nsf door lock locks and the os wing mirror unfolds when the door opens.
The power steering hose has been replaced. The man says that the pump pulley is degrading as a result isn't generating enough pressure to clear the return line under load, so the excess pas fluid goes into the overflow. We'll have to monitor it -- the E500 goes to France mid-August and the earliest I can renew the MOT is 1st August which is probably a good time to evaluate it.
The replacement bumper insert does the job and the inner pdc sits nicely now, which is satisfying.
Behold, a shiny replacement hose, which was brittle and snapped all too easily.
Sitting in and driving it -- it really is quite well put together and drives tightly. There always seemed to be a little hesitation on the throttle after it has been unused for a period of time. I understood that the throttle management continually refreshes/adjusts over a rolling period of c. eight hundred miles, but I suspect that it's running time or just time-related, too. It's initially lethargic but after a little normal driving, perks up soon enough.
The power steering hose has been replaced. The man says that the pump pulley is degrading as a result isn't generating enough pressure to clear the return line under load, so the excess pas fluid goes into the overflow. We'll have to monitor it -- the E500 goes to France mid-August and the earliest I can renew the MOT is 1st August which is probably a good time to evaluate it.
The replacement bumper insert does the job and the inner pdc sits nicely now, which is satisfying.
Behold, a shiny replacement hose, which was brittle and snapped all too easily.
Sitting in and driving it -- it really is quite well put together and drives tightly. There always seemed to be a little hesitation on the throttle after it has been unused for a period of time. I understood that the throttle management continually refreshes/adjusts over a rolling period of c. eight hundred miles, but I suspect that it's running time or just time-related, too. It's initially lethargic but after a little normal driving, perks up soon enough.
MOT due on 31 August and in a repeat of last year, am getting it in early so as to be ready for a drive to Provence in a couple of weeks. Ofc, things didn’t quite go to plan last year as the rust of the inner arches was discovered and I had to take the FFRR instead.
I’ve covered just shy of ten thousand miles in eleven months — not bad considering the amount of time it’s spent in the garage.
I’ve covered just shy of ten thousand miles in eleven months — not bad considering the amount of time it’s spent in the garage.
Good luck for the MOT!
I have new shocks, arms and engine mounts to go on my S211 (a visual twin of yours except its a 2009 facelift and E280 diesel..)
Looking forward to it getting refreshed as its making some funny noises and getting a bit wibbly wobbly now it's done 118k. The roads around here (N Yorks) are abysmal too, so no doubt that speeds up suspension wear no end as it takes an absolute battering.
I have new shocks, arms and engine mounts to go on my S211 (a visual twin of yours except its a 2009 facelift and E280 diesel..)
Looking forward to it getting refreshed as its making some funny noises and getting a bit wibbly wobbly now it's done 118k. The roads around here (N Yorks) are abysmal too, so no doubt that speeds up suspension wear no end as it takes an absolute battering.
That’ll make no end of difference; these cars have quite a good suspension set up and the experience is overwhelmingly reliant on healthy components. The issue is that there are myriad elements for replacement at at 118k, yours is ripe for a refresh. If you read back to when I first got the car, one of the first jobs was to replace the gearbox and engine mounts.
The installation of those led to the issues with leaked oil from the rear crankshaft oil seal (it was an ignored MOT advisory inherited with the vehicle) scrambling the signal from the lambs sensors and leading to running issues. Ouch.
The installation of those led to the issues with leaked oil from the rear crankshaft oil seal (it was an ignored MOT advisory inherited with the vehicle) scrambling the signal from the lambs sensors and leading to running issues. Ouch.
Well I haven't really though about it, but they've just gone over the entire braking system and didn't mention that, so I'll likely leave it.
Next is addressing the loosened trim for the rear door and figuring out how to actually re-instate the soft close, which has so far failed dismally, despite lots of hours and cash spent at it -- that's possibly the most profligate part of my titivation and it drives me nuts.
More immediately -- the car will be detailed before appearing in the RC section of PH25 and I think that I'll get a QR code made up for the windows, so that PHers can scan and find this thread with ease. The car will be dropped off with Divine Detail on Sunday, but not after having driven to Silverstone on Saturday for the MotoGP qualifying and Sprint race. I could take the bike, but for an early start and late finish (as the Kaiser Chiefs are playing an hour's set in the evening) mainly on motorways, it just won't be worth it really since I'm taking the boy. It's a little annoying that last year when the car was sat outside the indy awaiting welding, a huge dollop of bird lime sat on the centre of the bonnet and eviscerated the lacquer, which can't be detailed away.
I've booked a visit from a mobile air con specialist that has been tried and tested by Spinnaker (scroll down a little). He'll be attending on the day that we leave for France and I'm intending to take the E500. However, if my Mum comes along, the family may rebel and insist that we take the FFRR for greater space on the rear bench.
I also should redo the headlight lenses, since they've clouded over a little since the last time I had them done four years ago and I suspect one of the techs in the indy placed fingers with brake fluid on the o/s one, given the fingerprints that remain on there!
Next is addressing the loosened trim for the rear door and figuring out how to actually re-instate the soft close, which has so far failed dismally, despite lots of hours and cash spent at it -- that's possibly the most profligate part of my titivation and it drives me nuts.
More immediately -- the car will be detailed before appearing in the RC section of PH25 and I think that I'll get a QR code made up for the windows, so that PHers can scan and find this thread with ease. The car will be dropped off with Divine Detail on Sunday, but not after having driven to Silverstone on Saturday for the MotoGP qualifying and Sprint race. I could take the bike, but for an early start and late finish (as the Kaiser Chiefs are playing an hour's set in the evening) mainly on motorways, it just won't be worth it really since I'm taking the boy. It's a little annoying that last year when the car was sat outside the indy awaiting welding, a huge dollop of bird lime sat on the centre of the bonnet and eviscerated the lacquer, which can't be detailed away.
I've booked a visit from a mobile air con specialist that has been tried and tested by Spinnaker (scroll down a little). He'll be attending on the day that we leave for France and I'm intending to take the E500. However, if my Mum comes along, the family may rebel and insist that we take the FFRR for greater space on the rear bench.
I also should redo the headlight lenses, since they've clouded over a little since the last time I had them done four years ago and I suspect one of the techs in the indy placed fingers with brake fluid on the o/s one, given the fingerprints that remain on there!
Edited by bolidemichael on Tuesday 1st August 17:55
Today was a day of activity on track for MotoGP at Silverstone. We left early in the morning (reluctantly but happily) and enjoyed free flowing, though, very wet roads. The car flies along very well indeed… I’ve missed it, actually, and always feel the same after feeling rather ambivalent about it then driving it over distance.
It was pretty wet, but we managed to blag our way into one of the covered stands.
It was sodden, the car inviting, so we hit the road early and endured a drive home in appalling conditions. The visibility was almost nil at times and I don’t ever recall having seen the channel between opposing carriageways flowing like a turbulent stream!
It’s one of the first times that I’ve experienced aquaplaning in the Merc; I do recall when returning from Bath a couple of years ago there was extremely heavy rain, but the then new Pilot Sport weren’t fazed… today I had the traction warning light flashing away and they have around 5mm tread remaining all around.
Heavy but flowing traffic ensured that we were home in time to watch the (largely dry) Sprint Race, but we were both content.
It was pretty wet, but we managed to blag our way into one of the covered stands.
It was sodden, the car inviting, so we hit the road early and endured a drive home in appalling conditions. The visibility was almost nil at times and I don’t ever recall having seen the channel between opposing carriageways flowing like a turbulent stream!
It’s one of the first times that I’ve experienced aquaplaning in the Merc; I do recall when returning from Bath a couple of years ago there was extremely heavy rain, but the then new Pilot Sport weren’t fazed… today I had the traction warning light flashing away and they have around 5mm tread remaining all around.
Heavy but flowing traffic ensured that we were home in time to watch the (largely dry) Sprint Race, but we were both content.
EdmondDantes said:
Great news on the Mot! I’m looking forward to seeing it at PH25!
Likewise will be keen to see the car (and the driver!) at PH25. Perhaps we can aim for a 'wagon/estate' area...Good to hear it behaves well in the wet weather. One of those moments where you reassure yourself that getting decent has mazimised your chances of getting through things unscathed.
I can’t be certain without checking WIS, but I expect you would need to loosen the roof bars to replace the rubber seals they sit upon, and that would involve removing the headliner. As it’s neither an old Jag or Range Rover, suffering from the Bedouin tent effect, it’s probably not worthwhile unless it leaks.
Spinakerr said:
EdmondDantes said:
Great news on the Mot! I’m looking forward to seeing it at PH25!
Likewise will be keen to see the car (and the driver!) at PH25. Perhaps we can aim for a 'wagon/estate' area...Good to hear it behaves well in the wet weather. One of those moments where you reassure yourself that getting decent has mazimised your chances of getting through things unscathed.
Stegel said:
I can’t be certain without checking WIS, but I expect you would need to loosen the roof bars to replace the rubber seals they sit upon, and that would involve removing the headliner. As it’s neither an old Jag or Range Rover, suffering from the Bedouin tent effect, it’s probably not worthwhile unless it leaks.
C70R said:
Do the rubbers seal against water ingress? If not, I'd be leaving them and trying not to look at them...
Won’t I find out too late, if they leak?
Magnus dropped off at the detailer’s today; sand in the interior from the boy’s party in June and the exterior suitably grubby.
He’s also said that he’d attempt to glue various loose rubbers, including the roof rack shrouds; apply some rust inhibitor to the engine bulkhead under the coolant bottle where it appears rusty and to re-seat the panel of the rear door where he suspect the holes may have widened over time, exacerbating the unwanted interruption to my serene wafting.
I’ve also realised that I should change the oil in the differential… it may have to wait until I return from France.
bolidemichael said:
C70R said:
Do the rubbers seal against water ingress? If not, I'd be leaving them and trying not to look at them...
Won’t I find out too late, if they leak?Gassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff