1998 Mercedes-Benz CL420 (C140)
Discussion
Max M4X WW said:
tobinen said:
On closer inspection there are no heating elements in the rear screen. I wonder what the switch is for? Time to RTFM
Are you sure? I think they are posh very fine ones!You are correct. They are very fine elements. Hopefully the fault isn't with the glass itself.
Some 2nd hand parts turned up from W140 Spares.
Door moulding in 744 brilliant silver £25
Outside air temp sensor £15
LH fog lamp £49
A new door speaker grille from MB (cheaper than W140 spares) £10.56
Some 2nd hand parts turned up from W140 Spares.
Door moulding in 744 brilliant silver £25
Outside air temp sensor £15
LH fog lamp £49
A new door speaker grille from MB (cheaper than W140 spares) £10.56
Geometry and steering wheel centred at last - £72. Took two attempts but as I was passing anyway, it wasn't too much of a diversion
Friday's first attempt took the steering wheel too far left from its previous position of too far right. Today's is much better and as close to central as can be expected.
Friday's first attempt took the steering wheel too far left from its previous position of too far right. Today's is much better and as close to central as can be expected.
Edited by tobinen on Monday 14th December 17:05
mudy said:
Is the Rev counter slightly sqiffy in those pictures; it looks off-centre?
Yes, quite common oddly enough. I am removing the cluster to change a bulb and try to remove the chrome rings added by the previous owner. I might have a look and see if it can be centred but I am not too concerned by it. Has been seen in 129s as well.tobinen said:
Yes, quite common oddly enough. I am removing the cluster to change a bulb and try to remove the chrome rings added by the previous owner. I might have a look and see if it can be centred but I am not too concerned by it. Has been seen in 129s as well.
I don't think they are aftermarket chrome rings - the final facelift 129s gained chrome trim around the dials, and this could well be the same. A few minor steps forward and one step back today.
Removed the instrument cluster to replace the bulb for the odometer. MB Newbury supplied me with the wrong bulb but as I can use that for this and the 210, I will keep it as a spare. Fortunately I had a bulb left over from doing this on the 210 and it fits OK and is the correct 1.5W bulb.
I wanted to remove the aftermarket chrome rings but the cluster has odd sized torx screws for which I have no tool. I will revisit this another time. At night the light from the pointers/needles reflects off the chrome rings and it's very annoying.
The cluster:
Reverse. The one I am replacing is the upper of the 2 central bulbs:
The hole left:
Swapped bulbs with the outside temperature to make sure:
Didn't take the final picture but they are both now illuminated correctly.
I also replaced a reversing light bulb as the offside had blown.
Next was to replace the broken door speaker grille:
Unfortunately this turned out to be fastened rather more securely than I had imagined, as the plastic pins on the reverse secure into captive nuts in the door trim. I had not realised this until I'd broken a lot of the old grille and cut my finger in the process.
Therefore I will leave the rest and when I have the wireless and speakers upgraded I will ask the professionals to do it.
Remaining jobs for which I have parts: outside air temperature sensor, nearside door moulding and nearside fog lamp. I will have these fitted by a local garage hopefully in time for the MB World meet.
Removed the instrument cluster to replace the bulb for the odometer. MB Newbury supplied me with the wrong bulb but as I can use that for this and the 210, I will keep it as a spare. Fortunately I had a bulb left over from doing this on the 210 and it fits OK and is the correct 1.5W bulb.
I wanted to remove the aftermarket chrome rings but the cluster has odd sized torx screws for which I have no tool. I will revisit this another time. At night the light from the pointers/needles reflects off the chrome rings and it's very annoying.
The cluster:
Reverse. The one I am replacing is the upper of the 2 central bulbs:
The hole left:
Swapped bulbs with the outside temperature to make sure:
Didn't take the final picture but they are both now illuminated correctly.
I also replaced a reversing light bulb as the offside had blown.
Next was to replace the broken door speaker grille:
Unfortunately this turned out to be fastened rather more securely than I had imagined, as the plastic pins on the reverse secure into captive nuts in the door trim. I had not realised this until I'd broken a lot of the old grille and cut my finger in the process.
Therefore I will leave the rest and when I have the wireless and speakers upgraded I will ask the professionals to do it.
Remaining jobs for which I have parts: outside air temperature sensor, nearside door moulding and nearside fog lamp. I will have these fitted by a local garage hopefully in time for the MB World meet.
Fog lamp and outside temperature sensor replaced this morning. They quoted me 1.6 hours as the breaker had snipped the sensor at the bumper end leaving not much harness. At point of collection he wanted to charge me 2 hours which I pointed out was not the same! So 1.6 hours it was at £111.36. I am happy to pay that as I have no inclination to poke around taking skin off my knuckles.
The rev counter I will attempt once I know what weird screwdriver size I need to open the cluster and remove the chrome rings.
I popped in to a local bodyshop for an estimate on the front bumper scrape and respray the rear bumper and was quoted £540 incl. Undecided so far but they seem to have decent reputation. I also noticed some small rust specks coming through under the OSR lamp but that was not included or quoted for as he said the whole rear quarter would need spraying. That can wait for now.
The rev counter I will attempt once I know what weird screwdriver size I need to open the cluster and remove the chrome rings.
I popped in to a local bodyshop for an estimate on the front bumper scrape and respray the rear bumper and was quoted £540 incl. Undecided so far but they seem to have decent reputation. I also noticed some small rust specks coming through under the OSR lamp but that was not included or quoted for as he said the whole rear quarter would need spraying. That can wait for now.
First gremlins coming to the fore:
Radio switches off/on willy-nilly. Went to open the car this morning and it was already on! It switches itself off randomly when driving which is quite annoying. Then when you want it off, it switches on! Very odd, but it's being replaced soon.
Front parking sensors gave an audible warning and the red lights came on the display and switch. Hopefully it's just one failing.
Otherwise, still enjoying it.
Radio switches off/on willy-nilly. Went to open the car this morning and it was already on! It switches itself off randomly when driving which is quite annoying. Then when you want it off, it switches on! Very odd, but it's being replaced soon.
Front parking sensors gave an audible warning and the red lights came on the display and switch. Hopefully it's just one failing.
Otherwise, still enjoying it.
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