1998 Mercedes-Benz CL420 (C140)
Discussion
Fair play to the garage, they finished it yesterday and I collected it this morning. The rivets had come away from the metal so they carried out some welding and fixed it. A new regulator is back-ordered from Germany with 10 days quoted. It's also £285 without the motor.
Downside is the close feature doesn't work anymore. I held the up button for 10 secs but it makes no difference. Their chap thinks it's related to the rear window being stuck up so it can't "learn". I don't know
Hopefully my bonus is paid next month and I'll take it back for both to be looked at.
£192.00 today.
Downside is the close feature doesn't work anymore. I held the up button for 10 secs but it makes no difference. Their chap thinks it's related to the rear window being stuck up so it can't "learn". I don't know
Hopefully my bonus is paid next month and I'll take it back for both to be looked at.
£192.00 today.
New weatherseal ordered. The kind chap at MB Newbury knocked 15% off if I stock ordered it from Germany (about a week) but even then it's £213.18
I hope it's a DIY job to fit.
I had a very decent cup of coffee while I waited and there were three (one very) attractive girls eager to see I was attended to.
The only downside to their showroom environment is the music playing over the PA. A bit too loud and unnecessary.
I hope it's a DIY job to fit.
I had a very decent cup of coffee while I waited and there were three (one very) attractive girls eager to see I was attended to.
The only downside to their showroom environment is the music playing over the PA. A bit too loud and unnecessary.
I dropped the car off at the garage for the OS quarter window stuck. Unfortunately no repair possible this time so a new regulator and motor assembly ordered from Ze Fatherland - £350 plus fitting, total £579 which I thought was about right considering.
It should be around a week from MB so the garage is keeping the car.
It should be around a week from MB so the garage is keeping the car.
I collected the car on Friday and all good. The windows now sync correctly and the new weatherseal is in place. They said it was a pig of a job so to charge me two hours is very reasonable. They are a good bunch and enthusiastic so I have found my go-to garage and very close to me.
The old regulator:
The old regulator:
Driver's door mirror has stopped heating which is a pain now it's colder. MB want £344 for a self-dimming one (blue tint) or £56 for a clear one. The left side has a blue tint but I'm not convinced it dims automatically.
Anyone know if the later R129 uses the same glass as a facelift 140?
Anyone know if the later R129 uses the same glass as a facelift 140?
BAS/EPC light came on recently, which I put down to low(er) battery voltage rather than a proper fault. I did a 45 mile each-way trip on Saturday and the light went out after 15 miles or so. However, this morning it's back on so perhaps there is a fault. Turning the steering lock-to-lock did not work either.
It's coming up to 100,000 miles and a regroup of the current list of jobs is:
Heated rear window not working
RH door mirror not heating
LH door mirror not folding in
Oil pressure gauge intermittent
Light on as above
Outside temperature display bulb out
Alarm interior sensors require refitting
Pre-2001 font number plates desirable but not essential
Rust bubbles starting to grow on the wings.
New tyres should be due late summertime based on current wear rates
It's coming up to 100,000 miles and a regroup of the current list of jobs is:
Heated rear window not working
RH door mirror not heating
LH door mirror not folding in
Oil pressure gauge intermittent
Light on as above
Outside temperature display bulb out
Alarm interior sensors require refitting
Pre-2001 font number plates desirable but not essential
Rust bubbles starting to grow on the wings.
New tyres should be due late summertime based on current wear rates
BAS light eventually went out after a long run so as I suspected, the battery voltage had dropped.
Just check everything works really. Soft close, all the electrics, especially the HRW which might be due to rear screen delamination (they all do that sir). Front suspension arms work hard, if you can check all those bushes inner and outer. Rust will also be a factor given how old these are now. Engines and boxes are pretty sturdy though, as long as they've had proper servicing.
Just check everything works really. Soft close, all the electrics, especially the HRW which might be due to rear screen delamination (they all do that sir). Front suspension arms work hard, if you can check all those bushes inner and outer. Rust will also be a factor given how old these are now. Engines and boxes are pretty sturdy though, as long as they've had proper servicing.
Oil pressure gauge now fixed with a new sender. BAS/ESP light still on despite a new brake light switch. The garage diagnostic software won't drill in further to locate the fault so I will book in with an MB specialist with STAR. The error message is along the lines of "B1042 CAN communication fault to brake assist module". He cleared the codes but this one came back.
They also sorted the catching of the seat belt extender which was left over from when they replaced the OSR window regulator.
NSF fog lamp bulb replaced.
Bill today was £252.48
They also sorted the catching of the seat belt extender which was left over from when they replaced the OSR window regulator.
NSF fog lamp bulb replaced.
Bill today was £252.48
I took it over to an MB specialist in Caversham for the BAS warning light as they have STAR. Cleared the codes and rechecked but the light comes back on a second after starting. He's pretty sure it's not the steering angle sensor so it's booked in next week for a more thorough check.
It's also started to run a bit lumpy and with the fault codes printed off today it looks like no.8 cylinder has a misfire, code P0300
I've overlooked the fact that the MoT runs out on Wednesday but I am 99% certain the BAS warning light is a fail in any case, so I'll have to risk a few days without one.
In the meantime, I will check the fuses for any corrosion or decay.
It's also started to run a bit lumpy and with the fault codes printed off today it looks like no.8 cylinder has a misfire, code P0300
I've overlooked the fact that the MoT runs out on Wednesday but I am 99% certain the BAS warning light is a fail in any case, so I'll have to risk a few days without one.
In the meantime, I will check the fuses for any corrosion or decay.
Took it back over to SMS yesterday and they are pretty sure the BAS module has had it. It's located under the servo and can be subject to water ingress apparently. Rather than order a new one from MB, they've found a 2nd hand one from a breaker and assure me it's a very uncommon fault so I should be OK. I will bow to their superior knowledge.
They wouldn't keep the car on their premises unfortunately due to lack of space (they are rammed and flat-out) so I drove it back home 20 miles and will have to return on Tuesday or Wednesday. I hate driving a car with no tax or MoT but no choice really.
The misfire seems to come and go so I will put up with it for MoT testing purposes.I suspect it will fail again on emissions due to missing the LH catalytic converter but I will cross that bridge when it comes
They wouldn't keep the car on their premises unfortunately due to lack of space (they are rammed and flat-out) so I drove it back home 20 miles and will have to return on Tuesday or Wednesday. I hate driving a car with no tax or MoT but no choice really.
The misfire seems to come and go so I will put up with it for MoT testing purposes.I suspect it will fail again on emissions due to missing the LH catalytic converter but I will cross that bridge when it comes
BAS module replaced for the sum of £180 inc VAT. Apparently a new module is over £300 so SMS sourced a second-hand one for £96. No more warning light and the MoT is booked tomorrow. I'm quite sure it will fail on emissions and the misfire still comes and goes. There may even be another surprise waiting...
Further searching reveals it's likely to be a lot worse. Drain corroded and separated away from the hose. Not good.
https://youtu.be/55cCZ2P2aNE
https://youtu.be/55cCZ2P2aNE
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