Mercedes 129 titivation

Mercedes 129 titivation

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r129sl

Original Poster:

9,518 posts

204 months

Saturday 23rd October 2021
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I’m part way through a great road trip with my eight year old son, Arthur. Last year, George and I went to Stuttgart to the Mercedes museum. I asked Arthur about a trip and he wondered whether there is a teddy bear museum. Well there is and it’s in Dorchester.

So last night the nanny dropped him at my work and we set off in the 129. We broke the journey at Worcester and we’re in Dorchester for 11 this morning. The 129 was perfect: the misfire has not reoccured, the brakes are once again smooth and I even sorted the suspension on Thursday morning. We did the teddy bear museum, the dinosaur museum and pizza express. Then a look around Poundbury. Finally we went to Cerne Abbas to see the giant and to have a drink in the pub of the same name. Dorchester and Cerne Abbas are very pretty,






I decided to overnight in Oxford before calling at the British Motor Museum at Gaydon on the way back. We passed Stonehenge on a very fast run up the A303 and A34 with a lovely, black, early Audi R8 V8 in tow which my SL kept honest. We ran at 95 to 125 most of the way.



A nice Chinese in Summertown capped off a super day. Best bit about touring with an eight year old is going to bed at 8.30pm!

r129sl

Original Poster:

9,518 posts

204 months

Sunday 24th October 2021
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We finished our trip with a visit to the British Motor Museum at Gaydon today. I was pretty impressed. It’s not too big, enough for a couple of hours which was all I could face with a horrible snotty cold (I was paranoid that people would think it was covid).

There was a meeting of Audi R8 owners out front. I do like these but only the original V8s, only bone stock and only in subtle colours. They seem beloved of well-heeled Geralds, unfortunately.



We left at 1pm and were home (245 miles) for just after 4.40pm with a stop at Trowell or some other disgrace-to-the-nation service area. Why do motorway services have to be so utterly awful? All low ceilings, plastic fascias, disgusting food, artificial light, oppressive seating areas. And rip off expensive.

r129sl

Original Poster:

9,518 posts

204 months

Sunday 24th October 2021
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DS129 said:
This thread is one of the best, very inspiring, I must do more trips like this.
I thank you sir ??
You're too kind but also right: you must do more trips. Before there are no more trips. Will my boys be able to enjoy the total freedom that these cars bring us? Or will they be reduced to punching in the destination and then doing yet more work while the "shared" car takes them by its route, at its speed, stopping at its service areas when it demands? Whatever people say about traffic, speed cameras, petrol prices, I felt pretty much free to drive as I saw fit this weekend and at speeds (in complete safety) which might raise eyebrows. Already Arthur wants to know where we can go next weekend.

All in all we covered about 850miles. I have not been to the south west very much and it is beautiful; rolling green country and wonderful honeyed eighteenth century towns. I think we will head back (not next weekend). I am also very tired: I think I might look for a more modern coupé, maybe a w209 CLK500 or a w140, w215 or w216 CL500, something long-legged that all four of us can enjoy, but also something easier on the ageing driver. A Quattroporte, even. I like a Daimler Double Six or XJ12 and I also love the Rover P5B but, realistically, I need a car whose natural gait is in the 95 to 125mph range.

r129sl

Original Poster:

9,518 posts

204 months

Sunday 24th October 2021
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bolidemichael said:
I don't think that anything will cover pace without irritating niggles quite like a proper Merc. A C216 would be proper proper.

My view is the same, we're relatively free to drive as we dare, save the proliferation of poor lane discipline.

I've been inspired too and asked my daughter where she'd like to go... she responded 'a zoo', so I'm looking at Longleat. My son wants to see Stonehenge in the rain as apparently the stones' hue is affected -- there's a possibility of that too. The overnight stay would make it an adventure (and give Mrs Bolide a brief, but welcome break).
fk me, the lane discipline. These new four lane motorways are the worst. Often times I find myself chugging along in lane one at 110mph, lane two completely empty, lanes three and four full of total morons asleep at the wheel doing 65 to 75mph. What is wrong with them? And then there are the wannabe policemen who could easily move over and let me past before the next overtake but because they are doing 72mph in their Nissan Qashqais don't see why they should. fkers. I think I'll get a train horn installed.

My only advice on the child rearing is: divide and conquer. It is much easier one-on-one. No arguments about who goes in the front. No arguments about who gets the Z-bed. In fact, no arguments at all.

r129sl

Original Poster:

9,518 posts

204 months

Tuesday 18th January 2022
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A quick snap from this morning's school run. Taken between Matfen and Belsay, you can see the Tyne valley full of mist.




What news from the 129 in the last few months? Quite a lot. I took it to Merc Newcastle and had them fix all of the engine oil leaks, mainly one from the timing case at the front and one from the main crank seal at the rear. These works necessitated the removal of the gearbox which in turn necessitated the removal of the exhaust. The rehanging of the latter was unsuccessful, leaving it resting on the chassis cross braces. New rubber hangers and the welding up of severely corroded brackets solved that problem. It has also had new prop shaft doughnuts and a new wiper motor and a new steering damper. The total cost was pretty horrific.

The poor thing still awaits installation of the new hood, which languishes in my garage. The latest need is a pair of front wheel bearings: they have started droning although there is zero play.



r129sl

Original Poster:

9,518 posts

204 months

Tuesday 18th January 2022
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Another picture. These were nice and crisp pictures but Thumbsnap really decimates the picture quality.




I was so busy last autumn that I really neglected the cars and my car threads. I did various other odd car jobs, I now recall, including changing the discs and pads all round. MB Newcastle also put a MOT on it and changed the air mass meter. Total cost was £2,655 including a lot of parts. While it was in, another customer dunched the front bumper. He paid for the repair, £600! Unfortunately it appears that MB Newcastle applied the paint with the workshop sweeping brush. If funds hold, later this year I'll get the whole car done properly.

r129sl

Original Poster:

9,518 posts

204 months

Tuesday 18th January 2022
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My The Man was the bodyshop man and he has stopped shopping bodies, unfortunately. And I have fallen out with Baister.

Besides, when you're up to your eyes in work, it is easier to ring Merc Newcastle and say, "This is what is wrong with it. Come and get it. Fix it. Bring it back when it's fixed. I don't care what it costs." Whereas with the Man there is the constant disappointment of it not being ready, of only half the jobs being done, of wasted trips to Dunston and so on and on. I just don't have time at the moment.

r129sl

Original Poster:

9,518 posts

204 months

Wednesday 19th January 2022
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killysprint said:
Northbrook said:
As long as MB Newcastle are doing decent work at the moment. I recall disappointment in the past.
Thankfully, we don't have a Merc anymore, and don't have the pleasure of going to the above. I'd have trouble giving them a 0 star rating.
Unfortunately, we have to put up with JLR Newcastle now, and its a toss up of who's worse!!

Thank god there's Lexus.......
They're not great. Not even close. They always cock something up.

r129sl

Original Poster:

9,518 posts

204 months

Monday 7th February 2022
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I did a stupid thing: I left the boot light on (broken catch), locked the car, left it for about ten days. The battery was completely dead and the locks would not open with the remote key; because the car has remote locking, the key locks are never used and had seized. Despite 48 hours' flooding with WD-40 penetrating fluid and much key wiggling, no joy. I was resigned to breaking a window when W00DY and Stegel on the Barge thread suggested that if I could get to a positive terminal on the alternator or starter, all was not lost.

The first tricky job was jacking the car up, it being on gravel, and getting it onto stands. That took about 20 minutes. Then the infernally tedious task of removing the undertray.




Immediately I scooted under the car, it was obvious this might work. The positive feed on the alternator is easily accessible. With the positive jump lead attached, I clipped the negative onto the (worryingly crusty) chassis.




I then hooked up a battery which I happened to have charged up last week. About thirty seconds later, the alarm went off. The locks opened with the remote key and the window wound itself down.




Next task is to figure out why the boot lid seems to be full of water. I can't see where it is getting in. Perhaps the third stop light? Or could it just be condensation?


Edited by r129sl on Monday 7th February 15:57

r129sl

Original Poster:

9,518 posts

204 months

Tuesday 8th February 2022
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Albert, thank you for this and the kind words. So far as I can tell, it is only the boot lid. When I open the boot, quite a lot of water runs out of the gaps in the boot lid interior trim around the boot hinges. It is quite weird as the water must either defy gravity or be stored up on top of the boot lid interior trim. But how it gets in there is a mystery as that is above the rear lights (new-ish) and also for the most part above the boot lid seal and the third brake light. I need to do some chin scratching.

r129sl

Original Poster:

9,518 posts

204 months

Tuesday 8th February 2022
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Albert Haddock said:
I think I know what your saying, are you saying that everything below the boot lid is dry? Spare wheel well and under all the carpets? But only the rear lid is soaked below the lid but above the lid lining cover which when opened runs away via the hinges towards the hardtop?
Exactamundo. It is like the water is gathering at the highest point. And there is quite a lot of it. I use a pressure washer to wash the car, so I wonder if that has got something to do with it. I will experiment with the seals and strip out the boot, just I case.

r129sl

Original Poster:

9,518 posts

204 months

Saturday 26th February 2022
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Thanks for the words of encouragement.

The water leak is caused by the failure of the central brake light seal. I noticed the lens was somewhat proud of the surrounding metalwork and moisture could enter easily and plentifully if forced on with the jet wash. It would be fair to say my exploratory investigations were a bit of a failure. New part ordered…




r129sl

Original Poster:

9,518 posts

204 months

Monday 16th May 2022
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The new boot lamp just clipped into place and has been perfectly water tight.

More to the point, I have the new hood on the car. I went to KHM in Stuttgart (https://cabrio.de/en) for the hood itself and all the ancillary bits, received wisdom years ago being that they are the best. They are certainly one of the most expensive at about a grand for everything, new cables, new spoiler rubber, everything they offer (not a new headlining, though). The KHM top uses 1.5mm plastic glass for the side windows and 1.25mm for the central window, just like the original. Most others use 1mm glass. My car had had the windows replaced (during my tenure) with 1mm Ultralite BUV and it was unsatisfactory, flapping and banging at high speed and also setting the alarm off in high winds. I paid Angus Kish of www.kishtrim.co.uk a straight £500 to fit it. He reckoned he had a bit of bother with the pre-marked holes not all being in the right place. I am delighted with the job. It is much, much quieter although the noise is slightly deeper at speed. I do not know whether this is down to the new fabric (sans holes) or the thicker glass or both but it really is a transformation. And it really lifts the exterior appearance of the car with the hood up. It is beautiful whereas the old one was worn ragged (like its owner).







Edited by r129sl on Monday 16th May 19:55

r129sl

Original Poster:

9,518 posts

204 months

Wednesday 18th May 2022
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The hood man reckoned it came ready treated but I am not so sure. If I put anything on it, it will be the Fabsil stuff that we're familiar with. Unless somebody wants to point me in the direction of some super-hi-tech st.






Got to get rid of the bloody climbing frames.