Mercedes 129 titivation

Mercedes 129 titivation

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Discussion

f1ten

2,161 posts

152 months

Thursday 9th August 2018
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Not outrageous cost I guess. Does this remove the sort of husking noise on the car if you rev or hard accelerate ?

r129sl said:
MB Newcastle today fitted a new prop shaft carrier bearing and bush and that has cured the worn bearing-type noise from the driveline. Cost £348. Ouch. However, it is delightful to be free of the low howl. I think the new air filter has improved matters, too. Previously it felt breathless when accelerating at very high speeds, slower than the E430, but now it feels good again.

r129sl

Original Poster:

9,518 posts

202 months

Thursday 9th August 2018
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I replaced the diff but it made no difference. However, the replacement diff, although sold as a used part, appeared utterly unused and perfect, so I was pleased to make the change. The replacement of the propshaft carrier bearing has cured the the whirring, low-pitched howl. So all is well. Almost. The alignment is still slightly off: there is a drag to the left which is not at all uncommon on Mercs of this vintage but which irritates nonetheless. It is not severe by any stretch of the imagination.

What was obvious on my spirited drive last night is how much more immediate, linear and intuitive the handling is following the suspension refresh. Turn in is really immediate now and happens in a single movement whereas before it seemed to slop into bends through a series of stages as various parts of the suspension moved. I think I will do the front shocks and shock top mounts just for the sake of thoroughness. They are the only suspension components that weren't done in the spring.

f1ten

2,161 posts

152 months

Friday 10th August 2018
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I really do love the 129...
my trusty G reg 1990 500SL is in getting the power steering Reservoir and pipes replaced. likely £1500 but the problem has come and gone and then come back over 3 yrs.

r129sl

Original Poster:

9,518 posts

202 months

Friday 10th August 2018
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I took it for a really hard run yesterday, 250miles in 3 hours (chasing a Prius, CdeG) and it performed very well. In the cool night air it had serious overtaking heft between, say, 50 and 90. Unfortunately one of the front indicators fell out!

CharlesdeGaulle

26,088 posts

179 months

Friday 10th August 2018
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r129sl said:
I took it for a really hard run yesterday, 250miles in 3 hours (chasing a Prius, CdeG) and it performed very well. In the cool night air it had serious overtaking heft between, say, 50 and 90. Unfortunately one of the front indicators fell out!
Not getting past a Prius within 3 hours is a poor show old chum.

stewjohnst

2,442 posts

160 months

Friday 10th August 2018
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CharlesdeGaulle said:
Not getting past a Prius within 3 hours is a poor show old chum.
I used to have an LHD Barchetta and had occasion to go up the A1 to Edinburgh, it was nigh on impossible to pass anything without blind faith thanks to zero visibility.

Perhaps in 129s case, the justification was the prolapsed front indicator, meaning there was no surefire way to safely alert said Prius of his overtaking intentions?

r129sl

Original Poster:

9,518 posts

202 months

Saturday 6th October 2018
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While parked in Newcastle the other day, a lorry drove into it. Happily the driver left a note and his company are picking up the repair bill. Works start next week... Nothing is easy in this life. This morning the boys and I are heading up to Berwick to collect a new old stock "Sador" wheel I have bought for the car, too.



Edited by r129sl on Monday 8th October 12:09

tobinen

9,178 posts

144 months

Saturday 6th October 2018
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Rotten luck. Looks as the door is OK from the picture and at least he left details

Hereward

4,134 posts

229 months

Saturday 6th October 2018
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FFS, what a pisser. Still, could have been worse.

On the plus side it looks like your Fabsil-treated roof is doing a great job repelling the rain.

paulyv

1,017 posts

122 months

Saturday 6th October 2018
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CharlesdeGaulle said:
That's a real bummer, and I feel for you. At least the chap was honest about it.

If I may, and I suspect I'm not alone, I'd like to congratulate the HR/hiring manager-type-person for securing the services of that slightly austere but very attractive colleague of yours. I'm not sure I'd be hugely productive if she were knocking around in my office orbit (as it were).
After zooming in I am intrigued by the guy brushing his teeth in the street wink

CharlesdeGaulle

26,088 posts

179 months

Saturday 6th October 2018
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paulyv said:
After zooming in I am intrigued by the guy brushing his teeth in the street wink
Two people in shot and you focus on the tramp! Shame on you. wink

dandam

225 posts

151 months

Sunday 7th October 2018
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r129sl said:
Er, that's my wife.
I don’t think PHers are let out very often laugh

And I think the ‘tramp’ might be Vaping rather than cleaning his teeth.... of course if he is cleaning his teeth then it is good to see that he prioritises his personal health still.

r129sl

Original Poster:

9,518 posts

202 months

Sunday 7th October 2018
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In other news, I noticed the interior lights weren't coming on when I opened the doors. Fiddling with the switch caused it to drop to pieces. New switch (£30 new from the dealer, £64 used on eBay) installed yesterday. You have to remove the (grandly named) "dome light assembly" which is possibly the most over-complicated piece of car I have yet come across. Not having driven it for a couple of weeks, I decided to take a load of plasterboard to the tip in it and thrashed it across Northumberland. What a fine car. If you go to the tip two minutes before closing, the council men can't be arsed to charge you for depositing plasterboard.

Edited by r129sl on Monday 8th October 12:10

dandam

225 posts

151 months

Sunday 7th October 2018
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CharlesdeGaulle said:
dandam said:
r129sl said:
Er, that's my wife.
I don’t think PHers are let out very often laugh
It's worse than that, I've actually met his wife before so really should have known better!
drink

paulyv

1,017 posts

122 months

Sunday 7th October 2018
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CharlesdeGaulle said:
Two people in shot and you focus on the tramp! Shame on you. wink
Discretion old boy. As an SLC owner you should have bags of it!

Zonergem

1,368 posts

91 months

Sunday 7th October 2018
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Double breasted waistcoat and a proper collar (I suppose barristers are predisposed to detachables) - I didn't think it was possible for you to rise any higher in my estimation but, well.

Zonergem

1,368 posts

91 months

Sunday 7th October 2018
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The backdrop looks familiar... did you have the ceremony at Baister's place?

r129sl

Original Poster:

9,518 posts

202 months

Wednesday 24th October 2018
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Another early start. This car continues to give great service. A wobbly xenon light caused me to buy a new ballast but it seems to have fixed itself.


Zonergem

1,368 posts

91 months

Wednesday 24th October 2018
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Must have been the crack of half-eight at your latitude. Pano goes on when the clocks change?

r129sl

Original Poster:

9,518 posts

202 months

Wednesday 24th October 2018
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Half seven, I'll have you know.

I'm leaving the pano top off until I get the rear quarter fixed. it's easier to deal with that are without the hard top. The man has gone a bit quiet, irritatingly, he must be busy.