The Joy of Running an Old Shed

[aaron_2000]

Jimmy Recard said:

I really do like the idea of an S320 CDI. From what I’ve read, they don’t seem as bad to run as you’d expect. I suppose structural rust is probably the most inevitable and worst thing they suffer?

Mine is bubbling on the arches but seems fine underneath. I had an S430 a while ago that was on borrowed time, it seems the facelift is the better buy for rust. None of the repairs have been triple digits yet so fingers crossed it stays that way. The glow plug light stays on when it's cold, it needs plug number 4 replacing which I doubt I'll do seeing as it doesn't struggle to start yet. I don't worry with a Merc like I did with BMW's, every BMW I've had has just been fault after fault from injectors to head gaskets to gearboxes. You really see the build quality difference when they get older. If you find one cheap enough then I'd seriously say go for it, rust wise they're usually pretty saveable unlike Jags.

[Oxford1971]

Davie said:

Pretty much hit the nail on the head.

I always ran a fairly sheddy car alongside something retro / quick / weekend... nothing dear, just 850R models and such like. When single life moved to family life, I bought the V50 diesel as the main car / wife's car as it was cheap, light to drive, economical and could fit all our crap in it. I then still had a weekend "toy" which was a P2 V70R and various V70 D5's. The D5's were fine as tools as I knew I had the R, which I had no problem spending on as it was worth it for the drive and the kudos if you like.

Now, expanding family and rural life (abuse) meant I sold the V70R at a good time and ran another sheddy V70 but this one I have now needs some TLC and I just can't face spending money on something that is pretty dull and uninteresting, more so when my wife's ever faithful old V50 is just the nicer all rounder to drive day in, day out. As has been said, two very similar estates is perhaps the issue as is the fact I've kind of done P2 V70's to death and I'm just not feeling the love and with no love, there's no desire to spend money I'll never get back.

So, as I type it looks like it's going tomorrow bar any unforeseen changes. I've found a pretty nice P3 XC70 and having been mulling it over for weeks, it's something that does tick many boxes for me / us as a main family car, ie for my wife to run around in. Granted, it's not a mega dear one and yes, the cost / complexity worries me a bit as it's less "disposable" than a shed spec V70 but it should hold its value and be more suited to life and also a bit less crap, thus I'll probably look after it more too.

I say more suited and yes, pretty much any car will handle rural life but we're off the beaten track and both cars catch the ground if you're not careful plus with miles of untreated, poorly maintained single track I spend most my time dodging holes, in the ditches to pass other vehicles or trying to get out the drive when it snows. Plus an XC70 is pretty soft and refined so good for new baby / toddler duties. A full fat 4x4 is maybe a bit overkill so hopefully an XC70 is a good compromise. Or... a crap one,

The V50 will stay and will rack up miles commuting... it's just too good at what it does and hopefully, long may that continue.

Edited by Davie on Saturday 23 May 17:02

I have a super sheddy, P2 XC70 as my daily driver, it cost £950. I've had it 14 months now, just sailed through its MOT in March. the only problem I have had so far is a seized rear brake Caliper. Pretty good really!

[STIfree]

aaron_2000 said:

I've also been messing with the £850 S320. The paintwork is horrific, it's like someone gave it a 3 stage machine polish with the finest mix of gravel and acid, I'm gonna attempt to improve it a bit with some heavy cutting compound. Wheels are curbed up which is a good thing because for the first time in my life, I curbed a wheel yesterday. At least the interior came up decently again after the previous owner filthied it up and ruined my hard work the first time. I attacked the air compressor job only to have each bracket bolt break off as soon as a spanner touched them, so now I'm another £50 down on a bracket which is a fiddly job. At least it was cheap to insure and it's pretty cheap to run so far, low 30's in 30-40mph town driving and low 50's on the motorway. Aren't those exhaust tips tasteful? I'm gonna keep it a few months as my daily, don't think I'm brave enough to run a 211k S Class any longer than that. Saved from the breaker for the time being though

Those tips Does it have a different exhaust or is it literally just clip on tips?

Sound's like you're onto a winner so far.


Plus it must be reassuring to know if it does go fatal, you can sell it for spares for £500.

[Jimmy Recard]

aaron_2000 said:

Mine is bubbling on the arches but seems fine underneath. I had an S430 a while ago that was on borrowed time, it seems the facelift is the better buy for rust. None of the repairs have been triple digits yet so fingers crossed it stays that way. The glow plug light stays on when it's cold, it needs plug number 4 replacing which I doubt I'll do seeing as it doesn't struggle to start yet. I don't worry with a Merc like I did with BMW's, every BMW I've had has just been fault after fault from injectors to head gaskets to gearboxes. You really see the build quality difference when they get older. If you find one cheap enough then I'd seriously say go for it, rust wise they're usually pretty saveable unlike Jags.

Much like my ML then. It has panel rust but underneath it’s good and everything just works perfectly. Engine and gearbox are like new.

It’s still a pretty comfortable car and more useful (being an estate body and towing heavy stuff) so I’ll be keeping it for a while, but an S320 does seem like a great thing. Better the devil you know, at this stage!

As you say, I’d rather trust an aging Mercedes (as long as it’s not structurally rusty) than a BMW.

Oh, and my glow plug light stays on for a while after starting too. Number three glow plug is dead. Never bothered me and seems to cause no issues at all

[aaron_2000]

STIfree said:

aaron_2000 said:

I've also been messing with the £850 S320. The paintwork is horrific, it's like someone gave it a 3 stage machine polish with the finest mix of gravel and acid, I'm gonna attempt to improve it a bit with some heavy cutting compound. Wheels are curbed up which is a good thing because for the first time in my life, I curbed a wheel yesterday. At least the interior came up decently again after the previous owner filthied it up and ruined my hard work the first time. I attacked the air compressor job only to have each bracket bolt break off as soon as a spanner touched them, so now I'm another £50 down on a bracket which is a fiddly job. At least it was cheap to insure and it's pretty cheap to run so far, low 30's in 30-40mph town driving and low 50's on the motorway. Aren't those exhaust tips tasteful? I'm gonna keep it a few months as my daily, don't think I'm brave enough to run a 211k S Class any longer than that. Saved from the breaker for the time being though

Those tips Does it have a different exhaust or is it literally just clip on tips?

Sound's like you're onto a winner so far.


Plus it must be reassuring to know if it does go fatal, you can sell it for spares for £500.

I actually haven't bothered to look, I'd imagine it's just some welded on tin cans. I'd bet I could likely recoup what I paid for the car if I had to sell it for spares, although I can't see it needing anything that would total it to me. Only way I'm parting with it before September is if an L322 comes along like it did last time.

Jimmy Recard said:

aaron_2000 said:

Mine is bubbling on the arches but seems fine underneath. I had an S430 a while ago that was on borrowed time, it seems the facelift is the better buy for rust. None of the repairs have been triple digits yet so fingers crossed it stays that way. The glow plug light stays on when it's cold, it needs plug number 4 replacing which I doubt I'll do seeing as it doesn't struggle to start yet. I don't worry with a Merc like I did with BMW's, every BMW I've had has just been fault after fault from injectors to head gaskets to gearboxes. You really see the build quality difference when they get older. If you find one cheap enough then I'd seriously say go for it, rust wise they're usually pretty saveable unlike Jags.

Much like my ML then. It has panel rust but underneath it’s good and everything just works perfectly. Engine and gearbox are like new.

It’s still a pretty comfortable car and more useful (being an estate body and towing heavy stuff) so I’ll be keeping it for a while, but an S320 does seem like a great thing. Better the devil you know, at this stage!

As you say, I’d rather trust an aging Mercedes (as long as it’s not structurally rusty) than a BMW.

Oh, and my glow plug light stays on for a while after starting too. Number three glow plug is dead. Never bothered me and seems to cause no issues at all

Funny, I went to potentially get an ML270 the other day but the engine sounded like it was knocking pretty badly so I left it. It's a car I keep meaning to buy but never get round to it. They make great sheds, up there with the best, although I wouldn't wanna be the guy that bought one new. I had an A6 a while ago and it felt miles nicer than the ML I drove next to it, I don't think the interiors were up to Merc standards. That being said, they've held up much better than X5's have. I'll have one eventually, almost convinced someone to swap their ML55 for the S320

[V6todayEVmanana]

aaron_2000 said:

Funny, I went to potentially get an ML270 the other day but the engine sounded like it was knocking pretty badly so I left it. It's a car I keep meaning to buy but never get round to it. They make great sheds, up there with the best, although I wouldn't wanna be the guy that bought one new. I had an A6 a while ago and it felt miles nicer than the ML I drove next to it, I don't think the interiors were up to Merc standards. That being said, they've held up much better than X5's have. I'll have one eventually, almost convinced someone to swap their ML55 for the S320

How would you compare the A6 and your S-Class regarding, durability and refinement/noise?

What did you prefer about the Merc interior?

Cool that between a Focus and S-Class, the S is your daily

[tomble22]

The £500 A2 TDI is on it's way down to sunny Cornwall today......hopefully it's not a complete pig!!

Love the S Class. Amazing what is available for shed money nowadays. Why would you go elsewhere!!

[rich12]

All these cheap barges has got me wanting this.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

Edit - Nevermind.
https://www.check-mot.service.gov.uk/?_ga=2.164494...

Edited by rich12 on Wednesday 27th May 15:02

[Jimmy Recard]

Hmm. Mileage discrepancies there are pretty odd! No odometer, mileage differences

[aaron_2000]

V6todayEVmanana said:

aaron_2000 said:

Funny, I went to potentially get an ML270 the other day but the engine sounded like it was knocking pretty badly so I left it. It's a car I keep meaning to buy but never get round to it. They make great sheds, up there with the best, although I wouldn't wanna be the guy that bought one new. I had an A6 a while ago and it felt miles nicer than the ML I drove next to it, I don't think the interiors were up to Merc standards. That being said, they've held up much better than X5's have. I'll have one eventually, almost convinced someone to swap their ML55 for the S320

How would you compare the A6 and your S-Class regarding, durability and refinement/noise?

What did you prefer about the Merc interior?

Cool that between a Focus and S-Class, the S is your daily

I remember I drove the A6 nearly 100 miles to collect the old S430 in Jan, then drove the Merc back. All I could think is how good the A6 was, it was 90% as good for a fraction of the price new. Honestly I think the A6 was the better car in terms of something viable to run day to day, it drove almost as well and was almost as nice inside. The Focus is getting prepped for long term storage until it's eligible for US export, then it'll hopefully move with me.

[Eyersey1234]

rich12 said:

All these cheap barges has got me wanting this.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

Edit - Nevermind.
https://www.check-mot.service.gov.uk/?_ga=2.164494...

Edited by rich12 on Wednesday 27th May 15:02

Odd about the mileage discrepancy

[tomble22]

tomble22 said:

The £500 A2 TDI is on it's way down to sunny Cornwall today......hopefully it's not a complete pig!!

It hath arrived, and looks pretty tidy actually. Made me laugh that it's on Toyo Proxes all round though!! Haven't driven it yet but will have a drive when i finish work.

[tomble22]

Here it is in all its, glory? Seems pretty tidy on first inspection, bodywork needs a good polish and needs a good interior valet but everything works and engine runs well etc.

Will need the cambelt doing as it was last done in 2013 and 100,000 miles ago.

Currently dumped in the work car park, not quite sure what to do with it yet as I still have the Accord on the road. I'll have a think over the next few days.

[anonymous-user]

Toyo Proxes are terrifying in the wet!

[tomble22]

mstrbkr said:

Toyo Proxes are terrifying in the wet!

The fronts will be coming off anyway, they're certainly malting if not completely bald!!

[Silenoz]

tomble22 said:

Here it is in all its, glory? Seems pretty tidy on first inspection, bodywork needs a good polish and needs a good interior valet but everything works and engine runs well etc.

Will need the cambelt doing as it was last done in 2013 and 100,000 miles ago.

Currently dumped in the work car park, not quite sure what to do with it yet as I still have the Accord on the road. I'll have a think over the next few days.

If you decide it's surplus to requirements then I'd be interested!

[mercedeslimos]

aaron_2000 said:

I've also been messing with the £850 S320. The paintwork is horrific, it's like someone gave it a 3 stage machine polish with the finest mix of gravel and acid, I'm gonna attempt to improve it a bit with some heavy cutting compound. Wheels are curbed up which is a good thing because for the first time in my life, I curbed a wheel yesterday. At least the interior came up decently again after the previous owner filthied it up and ruined my hard work the first time. I attacked the air compressor job only to have each bracket bolt break off as soon as a spanner touched them, so now I'm another £50 down on a bracket which is a fiddly job. At least it was cheap to insure and it's pretty cheap to run so far, low 30's in 30-40mph town driving and low 50's on the motorway. Aren't those exhaust tips tasteful? I'm gonna keep it a few months as my daily, don't think I'm brave enough to run a 211k S Class any longer than that. Saved from the breaker for the time being though

Just in case it helps you feel better, we have one at work bought new in 2004 (Limousine), which has over 500k on it so far. Miles, not kilometres. Apparently it hasn't had a single major failure, lots of preventative maintenance and servicing but breakdowns almost zero.

[Darkslider]

Bit of a left field entry here but with the purchase of my first house that's a bit of a doer upper I needed a temporary shed with a bit more carrying capacity than your average estate.

£1100 on eBay later and I'm the dubious owner of this







It was the heavy duty roof rack and Bluetooth headunit that swayed it for me!

It's a 2010 of 2.2 FWD flavour and has covered 180k, starts first time most of the time and is remarkably tight and comfortable to drive, bar a noisy clutch release bearing that didn't occur on the test drive I gave it a thorough service and replaced all the filters when I got it, the sump was holed and dripping so a new one of those set me back £25 and a couple of hours to change alongside cleaning the pickup strainer. Swapped one of the almost bald tyres for the brand new spare, fitted some wheel trims, seat covers and sorted a few other low cost niggles such as interior lights not coming on and radio not having any memory.

Various lights come on on the dash occasionally, but never in the first ten minutes of being started so they'll be getting ignored as they're not likely to impede an MOT. The crusty wheel arches are more likely to develop into its demise, but I might bring myself to grind the loose rust off before treating them with something and fitting some plastic arch covers.

Quite happy using it as a daily runaround, it's returning almost 40 mpg in mixed driving which isn't too shabby! The plan was always to get the house done and then move it on, but I'm not sure I'd get my money back due to all the undisclosed foibles, and it's proving so useful in other walks of life I might just hang on to it and run it into the ground.

[aaron_2000]

mercedeslimos said:

aaron_2000 said:

I've also been messing with the £850 S320. The paintwork is horrific, it's like someone gave it a 3 stage machine polish with the finest mix of gravel and acid, I'm gonna attempt to improve it a bit with some heavy cutting compound. Wheels are curbed up which is a good thing because for the first time in my life, I curbed a wheel yesterday. At least the interior came up decently again after the previous owner filthied it up and ruined my hard work the first time. I attacked the air compressor job only to have each bracket bolt break off as soon as a spanner touched them, so now I'm another £50 down on a bracket which is a fiddly job. At least it was cheap to insure and it's pretty cheap to run so far, low 30's in 30-40mph town driving and low 50's on the motorway. Aren't those exhaust tips tasteful? I'm gonna keep it a few months as my daily, don't think I'm brave enough to run a 211k S Class any longer than that. Saved from the breaker for the time being though

Just in case it helps you feel better, we have one at work bought new in 2004 (Limousine), which has over 500k on it so far. Miles, not kilometres. Apparently it hasn't had a single major failure, lots of preventative maintenance and servicing but breakdowns almost zero.

They really only seem to have issues in the US where they're built in Alabama. Mine is a 4 owner car, a couple in the first 3 years then one owner until 2017 who put the miles on commuting down to London in it. The guy I got it from originally looked after it well and serviced it properly, then I got it and did some work to it before trading it for the Range Rover. The guy who had it then did 70 miles in it, filthied it up inside and left it parked with the sunroof open in his lockup. When I got it back all my seat memory settings were still saved and my CD's in the changer Except my Original Pirate Material CD that came with my Subaru which I'm guessing he took. It's still all usable, the sat nav is updated to 2019 maps and it's still quick enough, it's got AUX and it's got handsfree. Unless I come across a deal I can't pass up, its going nowhere.

[greenarrow]

Darkslider said:

Bit of a left field entry here but with the purchase of my first house that's a bit of a doer upper I needed a temporary shed with a bit more carrying capacity than your average estate.

£1100 on eBay later and I'm the dubious owner of this







It was the heavy duty roof rack and Bluetooth headunit that swayed it for me!

It's a 2010 of 2.2 FWD flavour and has covered 180k, starts first time most of the time and is remarkably tight and comfortable to drive, bar a noisy clutch release bearing that didn't occur on the test drive I gave it a thorough service and replaced all the filters when I got it, the sump was holed and dripping so a new one of those set me back £25 and a couple of hours to change alongside cleaning the pickup strainer. Swapped one of the almost bald tyres for the brand new spare, fitted some wheel trims, seat covers and sorted a few other low cost niggles such as interior lights not coming on and radio not having any memory.

Various lights come on on the dash occasionally, but never in the first ten minutes of being started so they'll be getting ignored as they're not likely to impede an MOT. The crusty wheel arches are more likely to develop into its demise, but I might bring myself to grind the loose rust off before treating them with something and fitting some plastic arch covers.

Quite happy using it as a daily runaround, it's returning almost 40 mpg in mixed driving which isn't too shabby! The plan was always to get the house done and then move it on, but I'm not sure I'd get my money back due to all the undisclosed foibles, and it's proving so useful in other walks of life I might just hang on to it and run it into the ground.

I love a Transit van! They seem so wieldy as well, compared with rival vans. Yours is the same generation as the Transit famously thrashed around the Nurburgring by Sabine Schmidt. I've always had a respect for them since that programme!