Mercedes 129 titivation
Discussion
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.
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.
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.
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. 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?
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
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 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).
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
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