1998 Mercedes-Benz CL420 (C140)

[CharlesdeGaulle]

Good to see it back and great that you're pleased with it. Looking forward to better pics and a review-after-absence!

[Krikkit]

The before-and-after close-ups make that look like a very decent job. I suppose a good look at it in direct sunlight is the only way to really tell what the colour match is like.

[bolidemichael]

I like the warts and all pics... the keyhole needs a good detail!

Surely this re-birth calls for an obligatory forecourt shot?

[tobinen]

Rest assured I will be posting better pictures as soon as the time and weather allows.

After Monday when it fails the MoT I'll be in a better position to take stock

That said I'm booked on the ferry to Santander 26 November so it has to be ship-shape. I've received my hi-vis jacket and AA road atlas today.

One thing that I've noticed today is how spongy are the brakes. Really not good at all with no inspiring bite . I'll take a wheel off this weekend and have a nosey but I think I need decent pads and perhaps discs at the front. Possibly a brake fluid change too.

[E65Ross]

Some interior pics would be nice too ;D

[tobinen]

A quick stop on the way to the garage for the dreaded MoT. Pumped up the tyres - they were all at 26 PSI after 5½ months.

Phone picture probably isn't the best but it was very shiny. I have a dicky rear lamp bulb which worked as soon as I opened the flap in the boot. Also the boot lid soft-close has started working which was very pleasing.

[E65Ross]

Looking good. Hopefully the MOT will be absolutely fine! Let us know

[tobinen]

It's a fail, unsurpisingly, but not for any broken springs as I expected.

Brake pipes corroded and one flexi-hose, and the annual emissions fail. He says he'll give it a good run and immediately test afterwards. That worked last year so fingers crossed. Lots of labour so it will be over £500. Bugger.

I really want to change the front pads and discs as the pedal is very spongy, in no small part due to the rubbish Lucas pads. I think I will go genuine MB. The weather is not condusive to working outside though.

[anonymous-user]

I take corroded brake pipes very seriously after I had one burst on my X350. A V8 barge and almost non-existent brakes make for an exhilarating experience.

Good luck with the emissions, maybe chuck a can of cataclean through there for the thrashing?

[E65Ross]

Ouch, hopefully it's back on the road soon enough!!

[bolidemichael]

My corroded rear brake pipes were replaced around 5,000 miles (three months) ago.

- Check rear brake pipes for corrosion - remove pnels
- To gain access to brake pipes - cut out corroded
- Sections to both rear brake flexi hoses - make up
- New sections of pipe and join to original pipes
- Under the floor - bleed complete brake system

Total 6.2 hours - £558+VAT

Funnily enough, I don't see any line item for brake pipes under parts..?

Michael

[E65Ross]

bolidemichael said:

My corroded rear brake pipes were replaced around 5,000 miles (three months) ago.

- Check rear brake pipes for corrosion - remove pnels
- To gain access to brake pipes - cut out corroded
- Sections to both rear brake flexi hoses - make up
- New sections of pipe and join to original pipes
- Under the floor - bleed complete brake system

Total 6.2 hours - £558+VAT

Funnily enough, I don't see any line item for brake pipes under parts..?

Michael

Not TOO bad. Could be worse.... I had to have this done along with the delivery lines for the dynamic drive in the 745i..... While exhaust system and rear subframe down! £1600!

Paid for it on a Christmas eve

Seriously though, I hope the CL gets sorted. I remember seeing this at MB World a number of years ago and remember thinking just how special it looked in the flesh up front. Loved the thick doors with the chrome inlays. Bet it's a comfortable old bus! How quiet it is compared to modern cars? More comfortable at least, I'm sure!

[tobinen]

At least I'll have the brakes bled as part of the process so that might help with the pedal feel, but new pads definitely required

I have Friday off this week so I am going for an extended shakedown before Spain. I may go and see family in Cambridge for the weekend.

Othewise pre-touring shopping so far:

Hi-Vis jacket
GB sticker
AA Road Atlas Spain/Portugal 10th edition
USB Euro-plug
Topped up euro pre-paid card

In the boot already

Bulb kit
First aid kit
Warning Triangle

Edited by tobinen on Tuesday 12th November 09:02

[bolidemichael]

I think that you should add an emovis tag to your shopping list. No point wafting up to a toll booth to not waft imperiously through the barrier.

Additionally, I would heartily recommend the OEM pads. The Brembo items that I fitted to mine warped the discs as they heat up in a different way, as far as I understand it. I had to get them replaced at an MB dealership in Barcelona at a hefty cost of around €800.

[tobinen]

interesting that you mention the tolls. They seem to be only on the blue AP motorways as far as I can tell in the atlas, and even then, not all of them.

For example from Santander to Gijon (A8) I can see no toll booths on the map though it's a red road

On the blue AP-66 from Gijon to Leon, I can't see any toll booths

[bolidemichael]

That's a good point. I mainly encountered tolls north of Barcelona to Girona and also from France (Biarritz way) to San Sebastien. I don't seem to recall many south of Bilbao.

[tobinen]

European breakdown cover bought today - £155! At least it's for 12 months and covers the UK but even so.

[bolidemichael]

That doesn't seem too bad to me. I managed three Euro trips this year, all without breakdown cover and survived!

[tobinen]

I did a test route on the Michelin site and there are tolls not illustrated on my atlas so I have ordered one of those cards. I'm glad I checked.

Car not ready today so hopefully tomorrow

I may have the chance to stay at a friend-of-a-friend's flat in Sevilla so I think I'll have plenty of time to head south.

[bolidemichael]

It's not a card, it's a transponder that is affixed to the windscreen near the rvm. It beeps when operating, which is quite re-assuring.