Spartan Mercedes 190 (w201)
Discussion
Yes, sequential plates from new, it's really awesome and I've always loved them from before I could drive.
The Dolphin Grey has a black leather interior and the Schwarz Mettalic has a great cloth interior, though I replaced the original lighter grey one years ago for a darker grey set purchased from BSSBMW of this forum. He is currently building an E39 M5 Touring and would be my preferred guy to address my cars.
The Dolphin Grey has a black leather interior and the Schwarz Mettalic has a great cloth interior, though I replaced the original lighter grey one years ago for a darker grey set purchased from BSSBMW of this forum. He is currently building an E39 M5 Touring and would be my preferred guy to address my cars.
bolidemichael said:
Here I am over ten years ago with both of them. Both are currently laid up awaiting funds to assess and either sell or repair. I'd much rather the latter as we have retention of the lineage from new within the extended family.
Amazing! They look great together,Hopefully we get to see their resurrection at some point.
Thanks guys. Thinking about them too much gets me down as I know that they're great cars that I love and also share a personal history, but I'm in a position where I don't have the funds to do much about it. Probably the money that I've chucked at maintaining my E500 hasn't helped matters, but as a daily that accomplishes everything required, that priority is warranted to a certain extent.
Ive just spent an hour dodging rain and changing the blower motor on mine. Not a bad job to do (if it was a VW they'd have hung the motor on a string and welded the rest of the car around it).
However, the false panel behind the engine (four bolts, bit of soundproofing) is crispier than a well done slice of Danish. Any idea what its called so I can source a replacement?
However, the false panel behind the engine (four bolts, bit of soundproofing) is crispier than a well done slice of Danish. Any idea what its called so I can source a replacement?
ShampooEfficient said:
Ive just spent an hour dodging rain and changing the blower motor on mine. Not a bad job to do (if it was a VW they'd have hung the motor on a string and welded the rest of the car around it).
However, the false panel behind the engine (four bolts, bit of soundproofing) is crispier than a well done slice of Danish. Any idea what its called so I can source a replacement?
Further to this - A2016208078 is the number for the "partition panel". And they're a very reasonable eight million pounds to replace...However, the false panel behind the engine (four bolts, bit of soundproofing) is crispier than a well done slice of Danish. Any idea what its called so I can source a replacement?
Owning a 190 myself I’m attuned to spotting them in the wild…. So today on the A1 in North Yorkshire (not in my 190, but a Discovery Sport) I spotted an immaculate custard cream 190 G355… could that really be Spartan? Absolutely! Apologies to the lady driver for the stares but the car did really look mint!
OEMster said:
Owning a 190 myself I’m attuned to spotting them in the wild…. So today on the A1 in North Yorkshire (not in my 190, but a Discovery Sport) I spotted an immaculate custard cream 190 G355… could that really be Spartan? Absolutely! Apologies to the lady driver for the stares but the car did really look mint!
That was indeed the boss en route to her sister in South Yorkshire. There's a bit of rot on one wing which I need to have attended to, so not quite immaculate. 
A bit of excitement in the Spartan today. Mrs r129 had not long left the grandparental abode and was negotiating a bend when her offside front tyre blew; the Spartan went careening into the path of an on-coming crusty wagon and there was contact. Mr Crusty was far more charming than he looked and shrugged his shoulders at the suggestion that he may want Mrs r129's details; after satisfying himself all was well, on he went.
The poor old Spartan looked a bit ropey, however. The mirror housing was smashed and there were black strakes all down the side. Mrs Arr drove on the flat back to the Rentals and Grandpapa r129 mounted the spare (the flat tyre is ruined). The wheel trim was found in the road. And fortunately, Mr Anally Retentive r129 had a spare wing mirror and the the black strakes rubbed off. All is again well. This is how we live in the countryside. It's high-octane stuff.
Smashed wing mirror housing:
Battle scars:
All cleaned up:
The sidewall must have been snagged on something. Odd hole, though.
The poor old Spartan looked a bit ropey, however. The mirror housing was smashed and there were black strakes all down the side. Mrs Arr drove on the flat back to the Rentals and Grandpapa r129 mounted the spare (the flat tyre is ruined). The wheel trim was found in the road. And fortunately, Mr Anally Retentive r129 had a spare wing mirror and the the black strakes rubbed off. All is again well. This is how we live in the countryside. It's high-octane stuff.
Smashed wing mirror housing:
Battle scars:
All cleaned up:
The sidewall must have been snagged on something. Odd hole, though.
Wow, a lucky escape for your wife and more importantly the car, obviously. 
It’s still looking great.
I used to see you a fair bit when I lived in Whalton. I see you positively bloody everywhere now , as we have moved to the Longhirst/Ulgham area. I passed you last night in your R129 at about 4.30 between the bends before Longhirst. Just after the stretch where they’ve resurfaced the road by dumping a load of loose stones down. 
The SL is still looking grand too. I’m jealous. I need to get back to some car tinkering instead of house tinkering.
Anyway, it’s always good to see one of your cars cruising about.
It’s still looking great.
I used to see you a fair bit when I lived in Whalton. I see you positively bloody everywhere now
, as we have moved to the Longhirst/Ulgham area. I passed you last night in your R129 at about 4.30 between the bends before Longhirst. Just after the stretch where they’ve resurfaced the road by dumping a load of loose stones down. The SL is still looking grand too. I’m jealous. I need to get back to some car tinkering instead of house tinkering.
Anyway, it’s always good to see one of your cars cruising about.
marky911 said:
Wow, a lucky escape for your wife and more importantly the car, obviously.
It’s still looking great.
I used to see you a fair bit when I lived in Whalton. I see you positively bloody everywhere now , as we have moved to the Longhirst/Ulgham area. I passed you last night in your R129 at about 4.30 between the bends before Longhirst. Just after the stretch where they’ve resurfaced the road by dumping a load of loose stones down.
The SL is still looking grand too. I’m jealous. I need to get back to some car tinkering instead of house tinkering.
Anyway, it’s always good to see one of your cars cruising about.
I was on my way back from Morpeth. I think I was on the phone so probably not paying attention. If you fancy a car chat and a coffee sometime, give me a shout. My brother lives in Whalton and my parents live on the other side of Morpeth; I live up at Druridge, so you're very much in the middle of my stomping ground. I understand about the house tinkering: I am obsessed with gardening at the moment, to the detriment of the fleet. (Probably too much information here for the jigsaw stalkers.)It’s still looking great.
I used to see you a fair bit when I lived in Whalton. I see you positively bloody everywhere now
, as we have moved to the Longhirst/Ulgham area. I passed you last night in your R129 at about 4.30 between the bends before Longhirst. Just after the stretch where they’ve resurfaced the road by dumping a load of loose stones down. The SL is still looking grand too. I’m jealous. I need to get back to some car tinkering instead of house tinkering.
Anyway, it’s always good to see one of your cars cruising about.
r129sl said:
I was on my way back from Morpeth. I think I was on the phone so probably not paying attention. If you fancy a car chat and a coffee sometime, give me a shout. My brother lives in Whalton and my parents live on the other side of Morpeth; I live up at Druridge, so you're very much in the middle of my stomping ground. I understand about the house tinkering: I am obsessed with gardening at the moment, to the detriment of the fleet. (Probably too much information here for the jigsaw stalkers.)
Ah yes, I figured you must be a tad further north as I see you at Chevington crossroads sometimes (a good friend of mine lives in Acklington). I was keeping things vague for you as I’m also quite security conscious. We aren’t so anonymous once we move to small villages eh. Have to watch out for tea-leaves. 
I thought you had something to do with Whalton. I saw the 190 parked at the phone box (now defibrillator point) once or twice. Old phone-boxes always make for a good photo.
I love a nice garden but don’t like doing it. Needs must though. We are only on quarter of an acre here, but it’s still borderline too big to look after properly when both of us work all week. Roll on retirement, or a gardener.
Oh and Northbrook, I was going the other way.
Couldn’t she passed him any other way as I was in my old Volvo estate. Although I’m collecting a T5 version on Saturday so that should be an improvement.
Edited by marky911 on Thursday 19th August 17:06
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