1998 Mercedes-Benz CL420 (C140)
Discussion
The Alpine HU is in (CDE196DAB for anyone interested), along with the upgraded speakers that were once in the 210.
FM reception is still practically non-existant so the prime suspects are either the FM aerial amp in the NSR quarter and/or the aerial itself which is behind the rear bumper, I am told. When the aerial amp is unplugged then nothing is heard but connected it only picks up the strongest local FM station. A new one is £85 so I'm checking with 140 Spares to see if he has one.
Another thing not working is the centre parking sensor display. I am hopeful it is just the bulb gone. TBH I never even realised that it did anything.
FM reception is still practically non-existant so the prime suspects are either the FM aerial amp in the NSR quarter and/or the aerial itself which is behind the rear bumper, I am told. When the aerial amp is unplugged then nothing is heard but connected it only picks up the strongest local FM station. A new one is £85 so I'm checking with 140 Spares to see if he has one.
Another thing not working is the centre parking sensor display. I am hopeful it is just the bulb gone. TBH I never even realised that it did anything.
Finally booked in to the local bodyshop for the paint work and I've bought a second hand NS quarter moulding from 140 Spares for £33 in the correct silver. Thought about going to r129sl's 'Man' but decided to keep it local in case of any redress. It's quite expensive but I am assured they are very good.
In other news, what sounds like the horn has started to chirp when I open the driver's door. No idea on that one. Could be my ears playing tricks and it's something else.
I've treated all the weatherseals with Einszett Gummi Pflege and now the doors don't stick in frost and it allows the windows to drop slightly. Much better.
Otherwise nothing much to report. Last tank was 20 MPG on V-Power (90 litres / 415 miles) but that was nearly all my cold daily commute.
In other news, what sounds like the horn has started to chirp when I open the driver's door. No idea on that one. Could be my ears playing tricks and it's something else.
I've treated all the weatherseals with Einszett Gummi Pflege and now the doors don't stick in frost and it allows the windows to drop slightly. Much better.
Otherwise nothing much to report. Last tank was 20 MPG on V-Power (90 litres / 415 miles) but that was nearly all my cold daily commute.
Car goes in tomorrow for the paintwork.
First major fault has developed. The RH quarter glass no longer drops when opening the driver's door. I've tried the switch and I can hear the motor working but it's stuck or come adrift from the motor. At least it's up and not down. I bet it's a pig to to get to. Added to the list...
First major fault has developed. The RH quarter glass no longer drops when opening the driver's door. I've tried the switch and I can hear the motor working but it's stuck or come adrift from the motor. At least it's up and not down. I bet it's a pig to to get to. Added to the list...
Just back from the bodyshop and it's bittersweet/good news, bad news.
Bad news - the quarter and door mouldings from 140 Spares are both separately different shades and differ from the wing moulding! They polished them up well but they all need spraying to match - £216 when I feel ready. Some poor android pics taken in low light:
Good news - great job on the bumpers:
They're much better than than these pictures show. I've noticed a crease/dent where the boot lock barrel is as well. Where does it end?
I am pleased with their work so I'll book in a few months to have the mouldings done. I was chatting to the owner and he says all four arches will need attention soon (probably one more winter), which I was aware of; around £800-900 for those.
Appropriately I shall drink a few glasses of cheap Chianti this evening.
Bad news - the quarter and door mouldings from 140 Spares are both separately different shades and differ from the wing moulding! They polished them up well but they all need spraying to match - £216 when I feel ready. Some poor android pics taken in low light:
Good news - great job on the bumpers:
They're much better than than these pictures show. I've noticed a crease/dent where the boot lock barrel is as well. Where does it end?
I am pleased with their work so I'll book in a few months to have the mouldings done. I was chatting to the owner and he says all four arches will need attention soon (probably one more winter), which I was aware of; around £800-900 for those.
Appropriately I shall drink a few glasses of cheap Chianti this evening.
Nearly two weeks have passed but I just can't stand the paint mismatch anymore. The rear bumper is noticeably lighter and there are parts of paint which have filled in the recess of the bumper, plus I have noticed the ends of the corner tops have not been touched. Disappointing
He's agreed to discuss my findings after work this afternoon. He seems amiable and eager to please so I am hopeful.
He's agreed to discuss my findings after work this afternoon. He seems amiable and eager to please so I am hopeful.
He's agreed with me on the rear bumper paint not matching so is taking it back on 4 April. I know he had a pig of a job in flattening it down due to the previous bodged repair, which was pretty poor TBF.
I'm in a much better mood now.
There is a patch of rust just below the RH rear lamp. I inquired for a price on this but he says he'll have to blend in the quarter so it's a bigger job. He also said he wanted to remove the rear lamps to see if there's any nastiness behind, which is fair enough.
With all four arches starting to show signs of rust I asked for a complete job, i.e. both sides sorted and sprayed and it's £1,440 inc VAT. I am mulling this over seriously between now and 4 April while I still have some cash before moving house.
I'm in a much better mood now.
There is a patch of rust just below the RH rear lamp. I inquired for a price on this but he says he'll have to blend in the quarter so it's a bigger job. He also said he wanted to remove the rear lamps to see if there's any nastiness behind, which is fair enough.
With all four arches starting to show signs of rust I asked for a complete job, i.e. both sides sorted and sprayed and it's £1,440 inc VAT. I am mulling this over seriously between now and 4 April while I still have some cash before moving house.
Edited by tobinen on Thursday 24th March 16:51
Had the car back on Monday and it's a much better shade of 744. I am happier but I still think I've overpaid in the back of my mind. I've decided to put on hold having both sides sorted as funds are tight with the imminent house move.
In other news a lowlife in a E46 decided my right of way was not good enough and went for a pass by parked cars and we clipped door mirrors. It's not cracked or smashed but I can't clip it back in flush so it's slightly wobbling in the wind. I will take a closer look this weekend.
In other news a lowlife in a E46 decided my right of way was not good enough and went for a pass by parked cars and we clipped door mirrors. It's not cracked or smashed but I can't clip it back in flush so it's slightly wobbling in the wind. I will take a closer look this weekend.
I had an 'interesting' journey last night back from Taunton in the spray. The RH wiper mechanism has stuck in the extended position. I elected to not use the wipers in case I made things worse. The blade is banging against and over the A pillar and not clearing the screen on my side. Fortunately I had recently cleaned the glass so it dispersed eventually but passing trucks was a bit of a white knuckle ride.
Does any kind soul have any docs as to how this hangs together please? My WIS is temporarily out of action
Does any kind soul have any docs as to how this hangs together please? My WIS is temporarily out of action
I've ordered a new cog from an eBay seller for just over a tenner. If it isn't that (unlikely from my web research and r129sl's suggestion) then I'll always have it in stock. I'll start spannering when it arrives and do it in one hit. In the meantime here's hoping for mostly dry weather.
Unfortunately my back has been playing up (partial disc prolapse, resulting in sciatica down the left leg) so I have been unable to lean over cars or do pretty much anything useful. I'm booked in this Friday to my trusted indy for an A service and other things, so I've asked him to do it. That's unless my back worsens as he's a two hour drive and I struggle to exit it at the moment.
I haven't driven it for over a week and been taking the train where at least I can stand up. The forecast is dry so no wipers required this week all being well.
I haven't driven it for over a week and been taking the train where at least I can stand up. The forecast is dry so no wipers required this week all being well.
It's good news and bad. Dropped the car in to my indy (Newbury to Stowmarket) on Friday morning and awaited news. He ran out of time to finish on the Friday but I had an agreeable W220 CDi as a loan car so back to Newbury on Sunday via a stop in Cambridge to stay with mother.
Call today: service done, wiper repair done, oil pressure gauge fault not traced (sender and feed good), rear quarter window not attempted, HRW power feed good to fuse and relay but not attempted to strip out C pillar trims to investigate feed to screen.
He offered to take it to the MoT station; result fail. Broken front spring (was OK at service but broke soon after), brake hose twisted and headlamp bulb out. Emissions at the top end but a pass (no LH cat).
Spring ordered and should be fitted tomorrow for the re-test so I have driven tonight from Newbury to Cambridge and will collect tomorrow afternoon. He says he has sold the 220 and wants it back in any case.
Bittersweet overall, but once my WIS is back up I may attempt the quarter window myself. The rear screen will almost inevitably be the glass itself, I'll wager.
I am expecting a large-ish bill tomorrow. The joy of Mercedes-Benz barges.
Call today: service done, wiper repair done, oil pressure gauge fault not traced (sender and feed good), rear quarter window not attempted, HRW power feed good to fuse and relay but not attempted to strip out C pillar trims to investigate feed to screen.
He offered to take it to the MoT station; result fail. Broken front spring (was OK at service but broke soon after), brake hose twisted and headlamp bulb out. Emissions at the top end but a pass (no LH cat).
Spring ordered and should be fitted tomorrow for the re-test so I have driven tonight from Newbury to Cambridge and will collect tomorrow afternoon. He says he has sold the 220 and wants it back in any case.
Bittersweet overall, but once my WIS is back up I may attempt the quarter window myself. The rear screen will almost inevitably be the glass itself, I'll wager.
I am expecting a large-ish bill tomorrow. The joy of Mercedes-Benz barges.
Thread update. Now on roughly 95,700 miles and a visit to Alex Crow last week.
A service, plus V belt and coolant - done
RH wiper not working - fixed (£10 gear from an eBay seller in Turkey)
Oil pressure gauge not working - suspect gauge as feed to and resistance of sender is OK
OSR window stuck up - suspect cable broken
HRW window not working - feed to fuse and relay good but he ran out of time to remove the C pillar trims. Looking likely to be the glass I guess.
As the MoT was due at the end of the month he put it through the MoT for me which failed on headlamp bulb, OSF spring broken and a twisted brake hose. Just scraped through on emissions. Still, it's another year until I go through the MoT fun again.
£522
And to top it off all the speakers driven off the amp stopped working as soon as I drove it away. All I can hear is a click every second. Now booked in Friday to the ICE shop.
Next up: insurance quotations as that expires 6 July. Chris Knott has offered me a renewal price of £391 which is more than last year so a-hunting I will go.
A service, plus V belt and coolant - done
RH wiper not working - fixed (£10 gear from an eBay seller in Turkey)
Oil pressure gauge not working - suspect gauge as feed to and resistance of sender is OK
OSR window stuck up - suspect cable broken
HRW window not working - feed to fuse and relay good but he ran out of time to remove the C pillar trims. Looking likely to be the glass I guess.
As the MoT was due at the end of the month he put it through the MoT for me which failed on headlamp bulb, OSF spring broken and a twisted brake hose. Just scraped through on emissions. Still, it's another year until I go through the MoT fun again.
£522
And to top it off all the speakers driven off the amp stopped working as soon as I drove it away. All I can hear is a click every second. Now booked in Friday to the ICE shop.
Next up: insurance quotations as that expires 6 July. Chris Knott has offered me a renewal price of £391 which is more than last year so a-hunting I will go.
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