Sensible family daily wagon - Mercedes Benz S211 E500
Discussion
Good news... I received the car last Friday in time for being put into use on Saturday. Son's thirteenth birthday party, two barges, twelve seats and nine point four litres. The lads loved travelling in the rear pop up bench seat.
Magnus was very comfortable when loaded, as expected. Having popped the suspension onto the stiffest setting based on previous experience and with oodles of torque, it was great fun. I'd just observe that the speakers were a little s
t. I may yet be tempted by the morel speaker upgrade from Comand Online in Lightwater.
I couldn't feel any oscillation through the steering wheel, of course I couldn't -- it has an almost completely new braking system with front brake hoses, all four discs and pads in addition to the SBC unit changed. The SBC unit alone is £1,750+VAT and this was given to me at cost price by the Man!
As an observation, the car steers true but is prone to follow the camber of the road. From experience, this is due to the worn summers having been (finally) fitted -- but having been rotated. I imagine that after a few hundred motorway miles they'll wear themselves even once again.
On the downside, the outer offside washer jet was still blocked and the osf pdc was still giving false flags at low speed.
Another thing that I noticed was that as I was gathering speed from a standstill, a brief quick fire rattling sound would emit from the near side. It was a little puzzling, so when I approached the car on Sunday morning I noticed that the nsf door was unlocked. Surprised, I checked the rest of the car, which was locked. Having been parked on the road overnight, I was grateful that no one had decided to open the door and have a rummage around. So, I tried locking and unlocking -- the nsf door lock pin would pop up ans down three times in quick succession, in line with the sound that I had been hearing when surpassing the threshold of c.ten miles per hour and it would attempt to auto-lock.
Oh and one more thing (invoking Columbo), the os wing mirror wouldn't unfold once the door was opened. I'd have to retract and open them manually, which seemed to prompt it into action.
So... back to the Man on Monday morning.
The washer jet was blown clear with an airline, once the dedicated needles didn't do the job. It was a little comedic as at one stage each jet in turn was getting blocked, similar to what I experienced when attempting to clean them with a paper clip.
Next, after a little confusion (as he had replaced the the faulty pdc himself), he peeled a perfectly circular layer of paint off the inner os pdc. Hopefully, that'll've solved that issue, but what of the pdc that was changed and for which I was charged? Well, it transpires that STAR identified the outer ns front pdc was faulty, so that had been replaced! Whilst we were there, I was reminded the the ns inner pdc was sat quite deep within the bumper insert (in which the chrome strip is sat) and when he tried to remove it to inspect it, it put up a fight. The pdc should be attached to the bumper but the insert must've been damaged at some point, perhaps by the bodyshop.
As for the sticky wing mirror, I surmised that it was likely due to having sat for around two months waiting for the SBC and got a little sticky and he agreed, so drowned it in WD40.
So, I'd leave the car with him and we'd replace the door lock, which he identified as the source of the fault.
Just one more thing, I said to him invoking my inner Columbo. The belts that were replaced a few months ago seem to whine... is this normal? He popped the bonnet open and must've snatched at the hose into the brake fluid chamber which promptly snapped at the neck... it must've been brittle. Balls.
Magnus was very comfortable when loaded, as expected. Having popped the suspension onto the stiffest setting based on previous experience and with oodles of torque, it was great fun. I'd just observe that the speakers were a little s
t. I may yet be tempted by the morel speaker upgrade from Comand Online in Lightwater. I couldn't feel any oscillation through the steering wheel, of course I couldn't -- it has an almost completely new braking system with front brake hoses, all four discs and pads in addition to the SBC unit changed. The SBC unit alone is £1,750+VAT and this was given to me at cost price by the Man!
As an observation, the car steers true but is prone to follow the camber of the road. From experience, this is due to the worn summers having been (finally) fitted -- but having been rotated. I imagine that after a few hundred motorway miles they'll wear themselves even once again.
On the downside, the outer offside washer jet was still blocked and the osf pdc was still giving false flags at low speed.
Another thing that I noticed was that as I was gathering speed from a standstill, a brief quick fire rattling sound would emit from the near side. It was a little puzzling, so when I approached the car on Sunday morning I noticed that the nsf door was unlocked. Surprised, I checked the rest of the car, which was locked. Having been parked on the road overnight, I was grateful that no one had decided to open the door and have a rummage around. So, I tried locking and unlocking -- the nsf door lock pin would pop up ans down three times in quick succession, in line with the sound that I had been hearing when surpassing the threshold of c.ten miles per hour and it would attempt to auto-lock.
Oh and one more thing (invoking Columbo), the os wing mirror wouldn't unfold once the door was opened. I'd have to retract and open them manually, which seemed to prompt it into action.
So... back to the Man on Monday morning.
The washer jet was blown clear with an airline, once the dedicated needles didn't do the job. It was a little comedic as at one stage each jet in turn was getting blocked, similar to what I experienced when attempting to clean them with a paper clip.
Next, after a little confusion (as he had replaced the the faulty pdc himself), he peeled a perfectly circular layer of paint off the inner os pdc. Hopefully, that'll've solved that issue, but what of the pdc that was changed and for which I was charged? Well, it transpires that STAR identified the outer ns front pdc was faulty, so that had been replaced! Whilst we were there, I was reminded the the ns inner pdc was sat quite deep within the bumper insert (in which the chrome strip is sat) and when he tried to remove it to inspect it, it put up a fight. The pdc should be attached to the bumper but the insert must've been damaged at some point, perhaps by the bodyshop.
As for the sticky wing mirror, I surmised that it was likely due to having sat for around two months waiting for the SBC and got a little sticky and he agreed, so drowned it in WD40.
So, I'd leave the car with him and we'd replace the door lock, which he identified as the source of the fault.
Just one more thing, I said to him invoking my inner Columbo. The belts that were replaced a few months ago seem to whine... is this normal? He popped the bonnet open and must've snatched at the hose into the brake fluid chamber which promptly snapped at the neck... it must've been brittle. Balls.
bolidemichael said:
How many cars in your household?
Additionally, remind me of the latest issue? The brake issue has been resolved... is it a gearbox fault?
Sorry, I missed this questionAdditionally, remind me of the latest issue? The brake issue has been resolved... is it a gearbox fault?
I am having similar woes. The issue with sudden braking was the ignition module failing. As I slowed to a halt it would not recognise the key and jump into park as a default.
New module successfully fitted, but they also noted a leaking rear suspension and I had both sides replaced so it was a chunky bill.
When I got home I realised that my spare key wouldn’t work and it would need to be coded to the new ignition system so it has had to go back….
Additionally the Aircon has packed in. It didn’t respond to a regas so may need a new compressor? The spending continues…
Fortunately my wife has been away at conferences a lot recently and so I can borrow her MX-5, and youngest daughter is back from uni with her polo so I usually have transport. I walk to work so don’t need a daily commuter.
Biglips said:
bolidemichael said:
How many cars in your household?
Additionally, remind me of the latest issue? The brake issue has been resolved... is it a gearbox fault?
Sorry, I missed this questionAdditionally, remind me of the latest issue? The brake issue has been resolved... is it a gearbox fault?
I am having similar woes. The issue with sudden braking was the ignition module failing. As I slowed to a halt it would not recognise the key and jump into park as a default.
New module successfully fitted, but they also noted a leaking rear suspension and I had both sides replaced so it was a chunky bill.
When I got home I realised that my spare key wouldn’t work and it would need to be coded to the new ignition system so it has had to go back….
Additionally the Aircon has packed in. It didn’t respond to a regas so may need a new compressor? The spending continues…
Fortunately my wife has been away at conferences a lot recently and so I can borrow her MX-5, and youngest daughter is back from uni with her polo so I usually have transport. I walk to work so don’t need a daily commuter.
Being summer, I drive, motorcycle or walk. Can take a bicycle too if necessary.
C70R said:
Oof. That's not the update I was hoping for.
The path of true love never runs smoothly when it comes to older cars. Hopefully the remaining snags are fairly trivial to wrap up.
Obviously it goes without saying that it might be worth poking all of the brake pipes/hoses!
Snags is the right term for it. I actually retreived a good nsf bumper insert from home and dropped it off with them a little later -- hopefully that should be a decent bit of titivation (it just occurred to me as I typed this that it may be a different shade of obsidian).The path of true love never runs smoothly when it comes to older cars. Hopefully the remaining snags are fairly trivial to wrap up.
Obviously it goes without saying that it might be worth poking all of the brake pipes/hoses!
I also checked the invoice and all four brake hoses were replaced. So that's a replacement SBC, 4xbrake hoses, 4xbrake discs and 4xpads...
bolidemichael said:
E90_M3Ross said:
An electric mirror has packed up?
Possibly linked to the door lock?! Or does it not work with the interior button?
Just sticky, hopefully the WD40 will free it up -- when it eventually degrades, BH Ferrosol will endure for far longer.Possibly linked to the door lock?! Or does it not work with the interior button?
braddo said:
bolidemichael said:
Just sticky, hopefully the WD40 will free it up -- when it eventually degrades, BH Ferrosol will endure for far longer.
What is it? Mine also have sticky folding mirrors. I tried some WD40ish stuff (bicycle lube spray that smells the same) to no avail.
E90_M3Ross said:
braddo said:
bolidemichael said:
Just sticky, hopefully the WD40 will free it up -- when it eventually degrades, BH Ferrosol will endure for far longer.
What is it? Mine also have sticky folding mirrors. I tried some WD40ish stuff (bicycle lube spray that smells the same) to no avail.
(old AROC throwback)bolidemichael said:
E90_M3Ross said:
braddo said:
bolidemichael said:
Just sticky, hopefully the WD40 will free it up -- when it eventually degrades, BH Ferrosol will endure for far longer.
What is it? Mine also have sticky folding mirrors. I tried some WD40ish stuff (bicycle lube spray that smells the same) to no avail.
bolidemichael said:
Whining noise is due to low power steering fluid. Apparently, the pump is showing signs of age and commensurate wear.
Door lock is expected this afternoon.
Have they checked for PAS fluid leaks? It's a sealed system isn't it, so shouldn't be low unless there's a leak? Although I'm not sure! Door lock is expected this afternoon.
Good point Ross. That's the first thing I asked -- there is a smattering of fluid around the pump, there was a little too much back pressure as a result of the weaker pump and something something brittle hose something something.
In short, yes, it is being monitored and it isn't an item that needs to be replaced immediately. I'll ask him again about it in more detail again, I spoke to him this morning and I should've'ad a coffee first.
In short, yes, it is being monitored and it isn't an item that needs to be replaced immediately. I'll ask him again about it in more detail again, I spoke to him this morning and I should've'ad a coffee first.
Hopefully the PAS pump is made of sterner stuff, and was just grumbling at being low on fluid. I seem to recall that some pumps technically use the PAS fluid as cooling, so it might have just been getting a bit of a workout.
I'm sure it's just an old, brittle hose somewhere. Probably the inlet or outlet at the reservoir. As long as there are no signs of leaking at the rack, you should be grand.
It's important to stay (blindly) optimistic here!
I'm sure it's just an old, brittle hose somewhere. Probably the inlet or outlet at the reservoir. As long as there are no signs of leaking at the rack, you should be grand.
It's important to stay (blindly) optimistic here!
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