Sensible family daily wagon - Mercedes Benz S211 E500
Discussion
We then took time to take the 325i to a temporary home (until I get in into a garage). Christ almighty I love this car - I am unlikely to have been a petrolhead without this lighting the fire in my early teens.
Anyway, some more bits that seemed to be missing - perhaps pop rivets that secure the plastic surround to the windscreen...
Anyway, some more bits that seemed to be missing - perhaps pop rivets that secure the plastic surround to the windscreen...
Filling the tank is a regular occurrence. For the future reference of a potential buyer doing his homework, I almost always fill up with Shell V Power. My mate Stu, a Merc specialist, says that they're designed to run on 95 RON, so why spend the extra? I indulge my ignorance and so add the V as is feels so gooooood to pay a big bill.
Notice any tasty cars in the background? I work round the corner from Joe Macari and have the pleasure of driving past his ever-changing display almost every morning.
Jack Barclay, both Audi and Bentley are based nearby too - Kimber Road is a mecca for the occasional spot.
Joe Macari (this is where 2manycarz sourced his LFA and no doubt another few of his weekly procurements!)
Notice any tasty cars in the background? I work round the corner from Joe Macari and have the pleasure of driving past his ever-changing display almost every morning.
Jack Barclay, both Audi and Bentley are based nearby too - Kimber Road is a mecca for the occasional spot.
Joe Macari (this is where 2manycarz sourced his LFA and no doubt another few of his weekly procurements!)
So one Saturday, off to my Dad's garage and to replace the o/s rear cluster with an item off ebay. Watching Valeri remove interior panels was quite instructive as he seemed to intuitively know how to disassemble the interior, whereas I would have snapped mostly every panel with which I came into contact.
As for that floating sound proofing panel, I have searched on the EPC (electronic parts catalogue), but still can't figure out how it should fit:
The reason for the close up of the part number, is that the item didn't work. It had bulbs but erm... bugger, I must have LED lights on this as it is a flagship. Oh well, at least I know how to do it myself now!
Inspired by seeing how 'easy' it was to take the interior apart, I used some extra time to go into the front cabin (passenger seat) and tinker with some bits.
I have no idea what these two holes are for:
I also discovered an AUX socket whilst I was down in the footwell
As for that floating sound proofing panel, I have searched on the EPC (electronic parts catalogue), but still can't figure out how it should fit:
The reason for the close up of the part number, is that the item didn't work. It had bulbs but erm... bugger, I must have LED lights on this as it is a flagship. Oh well, at least I know how to do it myself now!
Inspired by seeing how 'easy' it was to take the interior apart, I used some extra time to go into the front cabin (passenger seat) and tinker with some bits.
I have no idea what these two holes are for:
I also discovered an AUX socket whilst I was down in the footwell
Back to March and I caught some spacially unaware (read 'knobber') operator of a 3.5tonner reversing into my vehicle.
The car was filthy and it looked like the numberplate surround was the only thing that had been kissed, so I asked him to pay me cash for the item. Unfortunately, I was to discover upon cleaning, that he had damaged the bodywork too...
The car was filthy and it looked like the numberplate surround was the only thing that had been kissed, so I asked him to pay me cash for the item. Unfortunately, I was to discover upon cleaning, that he had damaged the bodywork too...
Edited by bolidemichael on Thursday 11th April 23:56
I had a service counter pop up with a reminder of a wallet opener soon due. I had been mulling over this for a while and opted to keep servicing with Colin Ferns, an indy in Richmond that had serviced the vehicle under previous ownership. I felt that 'coming home' would offer a certain sense of continuity to the care of the vehicle...
Also, an unfortunate occurrence on my commute home. It was a busy Friday evening and some aggressive riders on sports bikes approach my nearside in a left hand filter lane. One squeezed by and the other made contact with my n/s wing trying to follow. I beeped and he got off the bike and started gesticulating at me. I too got out of my vehicle, as I certainly wasn't going anywhere in a hurry with this buffoon impeding my progress and as he started to walk towards me, another biker, a tall fella on an S1000RR pulled up, got off his bike and told the other chap where to go! Which he did, along with his mate, very loudly and aggressively through the traffic up ahead! The chap gave me his details but the police couldn't give a toss.
The damage to my vehicle was a few nicks:
The damage to my vehicle was a few nicks:
Well, the service was now due
and of course that meant that the car decided to throw a little spanner in the works by failing to lock/unlock with the remote key. I had to use the lowly concierge key which I like to detail and keep ready for the day in which I pull up at a fancy resort like a balding James Bond.
The fuse diagrams were a mystery to the completely uninitiated and there are basically two SAM units. One in the front, on the (near) side of the dash and the other in the boot. I don't know why SAM decided on this, but it is what it is.
Whilst messing around in the boot, unsuccessfully, I might add, I also clocked that the end 'cap' of the rail system for securing luggage in the boot had perished. This was essentially good news, as it meant that I could actually replace something for myself and my limited capacity for patience, diligence and mechanical competency.
and of course that meant that the car decided to throw a little spanner in the works by failing to lock/unlock with the remote key. I had to use the lowly concierge key which I like to detail and keep ready for the day in which I pull up at a fancy resort like a balding James Bond.
The fuse diagrams were a mystery to the completely uninitiated and there are basically two SAM units. One in the front, on the (near) side of the dash and the other in the boot. I don't know why SAM decided on this, but it is what it is.
Whilst messing around in the boot, unsuccessfully, I might add, I also clocked that the end 'cap' of the rail system for securing luggage in the boot had perished. This was essentially good news, as it meant that I could actually replace something for myself and my limited capacity for patience, diligence and mechanical competency.
Back to 'controlling the controllables', I popped into MB Brooklands to enquire after the cost of said bits and a free coffee. I was developing a relationship with the parts chap there, which is always a touch useful when in a bit of a predicament with various bits and bobs.
Then straight over to Jimmy in Teddington for a wheel alignment:
Damn, that dent is annoying:
Whilst on the ramp I had a nosy around and noticed some areas of 'water ingress' or rust
Job done:
Then straight over to Jimmy in Teddington for a wheel alignment:
Damn, that dent is annoying:
Whilst on the ramp I had a nosy around and noticed some areas of 'water ingress' or rust
Job done:
Edited by bolidemichael on Friday 12th April 00:33
However, as soon as I drove the car away, I noticed a rattling which was most disconcerting:
https://youtu.be/L3aWRzY87S4
Upon jacking up the car and removing the wheel, the source of the clattering was discovered:
https://youtu.be/NNIkLkvHQTg
It must have been knocked by Jimmy's vacant son whilst 'experimenting' on my car. Ho hum.
I also noticed this split gaitor whilst I was poking around:
https://youtu.be/L3aWRzY87S4
Upon jacking up the car and removing the wheel, the source of the clattering was discovered:
https://youtu.be/NNIkLkvHQTg
It must have been knocked by Jimmy's vacant son whilst 'experimenting' on my car. Ho hum.
I also noticed this split gaitor whilst I was poking around:
Since catching up continually from the past is quite tricky, I'll summarise below some of the key events from 2018...
Before a trip to Glasgow last Easter (2018), I thought that I'd follow up on some advisories from the service with an MB Specialist in Richmond. I figured that since the car had been serviced with them for the last three years with the previous owner, there would be some form of familiarity, open doors, red carpet etc. £618 for an A service and a few advisory items:
- Engine/gearbox mounts worn
- Engine oil cooler leak
- Rear brake disc worn (pads ok)
- o/s mirror indicator - damaged (I'm in London!)
- o/s rear lamp - damaged (my earlier reversing into a low bar in the car park at the local waitrose)
- rear crankshaft seal - slight oil leak
So I booked it in for ten days later figuring that I should address some items before a return trip to Glasgow. The engine mounts were replaced and the oil cooler seals at a cost of £776.
The intrigue began when I picked up the car and drive it home. It was running incredibly rough, sounded like a diesel and emitted smoke from the engine - of the blue variety. Sod's law, this was on a Friday afternoon and they closed on weekends. I was due to leave on Monday.
They couldn't address it in time for my Glasgow trip, so gave me their 300TE S124 - a straight six, four speed petrol. To be fair, it was a charming little car which turned a pace of speed, though exhibited a slight wobble over 120mph. We packed in a hurry, due to the fact that they couldn't sort my car in the morning.
It was quite a comfortable place to relax and keep safe from the giant next door lobbing fence panels at us...
I would say that this adequately summarises our experience:
Whilst I was away, I was receiving phone calls exhibiting a bit of head scratching, which I suspected was going to be costly when he started to question whether the V Power from the local Shell was contaminated. This led to a palaver of misdiagnosis and replaced lambda sensors. When I finally collected the car, it was running smoother (though not smoothyl) and a dreaded engine warning light was displayed after a few minutes idling.
The pleasure of this tomfoolery was a bill for £798 for diagnosis, replacing two O2 sensors, removing and testing fuel and replacement air filters (which were needed). I am satisfied that they tried to resolve the issue in earnest, but believe that their specialism is in cars pre-dating the STAR system. What rankled, was their apparent determination not to be held accountable for their failure to rectify the vehicle to my satisfaction, yet charge through the nose for their 'investigations'. Oh, and I was missing around 20L of fuel!
I took the vehicle to another specialist. I explained the issue to him in detail from the moment the engine mounts were replaced. I left the car with him and a few days later, he called me to the garage. He explained to me that the oil from the leaking crankshaft seal had worked its way into the loom and was dragged up to the ECU, which scrambled the diagnosis on the STAR machine. Apparently a 'thing' on the M111 engines and the first time he had come across it on the M113.
Diagnosis: £216
The reparation involved replacing the two remaining O2 sensors (at around £300 for the pair), the crankshaft oil seal and while we are at it, a gearbox oil replacement. This escapade set me back a couple of grand, very annoying but also and opportunity to find an excellent and honest local specialist. The bulk of the expense was for the lambda sensors and the labour to remove and refit the transmission (£420) and the transmission service labour (£200).
Total cost: £1230
From the service to the final repair, about five weeks had passed and an expensive period of around £2,850. I got quite a bit out of it though, with a few bits replaced and the peace of mind of an elimination of all known leaks and a healthy gearbox.
Before a trip to Glasgow last Easter (2018), I thought that I'd follow up on some advisories from the service with an MB Specialist in Richmond. I figured that since the car had been serviced with them for the last three years with the previous owner, there would be some form of familiarity, open doors, red carpet etc. £618 for an A service and a few advisory items:
- Engine/gearbox mounts worn
- Engine oil cooler leak
- Rear brake disc worn (pads ok)
- o/s mirror indicator - damaged (I'm in London!)
- o/s rear lamp - damaged (my earlier reversing into a low bar in the car park at the local waitrose)
- rear crankshaft seal - slight oil leak
So I booked it in for ten days later figuring that I should address some items before a return trip to Glasgow. The engine mounts were replaced and the oil cooler seals at a cost of £776.
The intrigue began when I picked up the car and drive it home. It was running incredibly rough, sounded like a diesel and emitted smoke from the engine - of the blue variety. Sod's law, this was on a Friday afternoon and they closed on weekends. I was due to leave on Monday.
They couldn't address it in time for my Glasgow trip, so gave me their 300TE S124 - a straight six, four speed petrol. To be fair, it was a charming little car which turned a pace of speed, though exhibited a slight wobble over 120mph. We packed in a hurry, due to the fact that they couldn't sort my car in the morning.
It was quite a comfortable place to relax and keep safe from the giant next door lobbing fence panels at us...
I would say that this adequately summarises our experience:
Whilst I was away, I was receiving phone calls exhibiting a bit of head scratching, which I suspected was going to be costly when he started to question whether the V Power from the local Shell was contaminated. This led to a palaver of misdiagnosis and replaced lambda sensors. When I finally collected the car, it was running smoother (though not smoothyl) and a dreaded engine warning light was displayed after a few minutes idling.
The pleasure of this tomfoolery was a bill for £798 for diagnosis, replacing two O2 sensors, removing and testing fuel and replacement air filters (which were needed). I am satisfied that they tried to resolve the issue in earnest, but believe that their specialism is in cars pre-dating the STAR system. What rankled, was their apparent determination not to be held accountable for their failure to rectify the vehicle to my satisfaction, yet charge through the nose for their 'investigations'. Oh, and I was missing around 20L of fuel!
I took the vehicle to another specialist. I explained the issue to him in detail from the moment the engine mounts were replaced. I left the car with him and a few days later, he called me to the garage. He explained to me that the oil from the leaking crankshaft seal had worked its way into the loom and was dragged up to the ECU, which scrambled the diagnosis on the STAR machine. Apparently a 'thing' on the M111 engines and the first time he had come across it on the M113.
Diagnosis: £216
The reparation involved replacing the two remaining O2 sensors (at around £300 for the pair), the crankshaft oil seal and while we are at it, a gearbox oil replacement. This escapade set me back a couple of grand, very annoying but also and opportunity to find an excellent and honest local specialist. The bulk of the expense was for the lambda sensors and the labour to remove and refit the transmission (£420) and the transmission service labour (£200).
Total cost: £1230
From the service to the final repair, about five weeks had passed and an expensive period of around £2,850. I got quite a bit out of it though, with a few bits replaced and the peace of mind of an elimination of all known leaks and a healthy gearbox.
Edited by bolidemichael on Thursday 23 May 01:43
Spain
In advance of a wee break, I thought that I'd update the nav DVD - around £80 from MB after having wasted money on a knock off one from a Scottish fella:
also, some important aerodynamic upgrades in replacing previously missing wiper arm bolt caps/shrouds:
The plan was to Spain via ferry. Proof that I like to pack my car properly:
though not before I realised at 5pm on the Friday that some bugger had broken the air intake. I had my suspicions and even if inaccurate, served to underline my characterisation of the Richmond specialist as an malicious and cack-handed proprietor
a call to my mate in the parts dept at MB Brooklands say one arrive by 9am the next morning, so I could pick it up and fit in on the drive to Plymouth.
Hose: £10
Overnight Shipping: £24
Result - much shininess and under-bonnet OCD satisfaction:
we took the car on the Brittany Ferries 'Pont Aven' to Santander from Plymouth - children love being driven whilst standing proud through the sunroof a la Pope John Paul II
There were loads of bikers on the ferry too which, as a biker myself, was awesome. God's own people are bikers.
WE ACTUALLY SAW WHALES AND DOLPHINS IN THE BAY OF BISCAY!!!!!
I couldn't help but observe, upon disembarkation, that she's a large vessel. I also couldn't help but observe that we were being accompanied by a clattering sound...
We headed to the Pyrenees in a town called Torla, within the bounds on the Monte Perdido National Park.
The hotel was on a pretty steep road!
We then drove to Barcelona and spent more money with MB Barcelona to replace the pads and discs. I had replaced the pads with non-OEM Brembo items and they created hot spots which warped the discs and resulted in a shimmer at speed and a strong vibration under braking (which wasn't funny with a car full or five occupants and luggage on a twisty downhill mountain road). Additionally, the shield for the brake disc managed to crack on the ferry and so I was accompanied by a clanking sound at low speed (which explains the clattering sound heard when off the ferry in Santander)... most annoying in a small cobbled stoned village! The service, though, was excellent and the technician was loving driving a right hooker and an E500 for the first time. My wife likes getting her hair cut when we're on holiday. I think that I quite like having my car serviced/repaired whilst on holiday! It makes me feel like a local!
Cost: £733
They even had the replaced parts for inspection:
It was quite a photogenic place really
Of course, I had also managed to rub my bumper off a pillar in the car park that I had booked, too. t
t. It was scant consolation that I wasn't the only one.France
My car is partial to French kissing, it seems
The Aires on Autoroutes are a fantastically picturesque place in which to take a leak. This is on the rather romantically named 'Autoroute de Soleil' northbound, just outside Beaune overlooking Burgundian vineyards.
It remains an excellent vehicle in which to cover ground, however. In the Jura mountains:
We were making pace on the return through France (minus family at this point):
One evening driving to Paris from Besancon - it was really an exercise in compressing the distance between us and the horizon!:
The entire journey stats with slow bits too
The 'Sanef Tolling' tag comes in very handy indeed. Just drive up to the barriers and straight through, unlike the previous year when I was doing a merry dance walking around the car in the pouring rain and negative temperatures
Finally returned home after a couple thousand miles and with enough insects to make a handy protein shake
Edited by bolidemichael on Thursday 23 May 01:50
In July... the replacement exhausts finally arrived after having been on order since October 2017...
Which were duly fitted
and replaced the awful Powerflow
The effect was, as expected, instantaneous and effective. No more drone from low revs and impressively, far better pick up - more torque - from low revs with a much tighter power delivery. The car was immediately a quiet and refined Mercedes top-of-the-range S211. Lovely.
Which were duly fitted
and replaced the awful Powerflow
The effect was, as expected, instantaneous and effective. No more drone from low revs and impressively, far better pick up - more torque - from low revs with a much tighter power delivery. The car was immediately a quiet and refined Mercedes top-of-the-range S211. Lovely.
Another trip to Glasgow and another 'tourist' service on the vehicle. This time, to remove the carp window tints that I inherited. I felt like re-instating the original look, but the wifey wanted the tints put back in, so I arranged for this brilliant wee outfit to collect and return the motor. They couldn't have offered a better service and they gave me much kudos for the five litre estate, too!
Cost: £300
Glasgow's a grand place when the sun is oot
I also found an impressive wee place that shampoo'd my car too, it cost all of a fiver for a top service
Not bad progress (or MPG!) on the return leg down the M6. I imagine that my wife drove for the M74 leg of the drive. She strokes the throttle and seems to make the same progress as me but without the baboon-like throttle jabbing that I employ.
Cost: £300
Glasgow's a grand place when the sun is oot
I also found an impressive wee place that shampoo'd my car too, it cost all of a fiver for a top service
Not bad progress (or MPG!) on the return leg down the M6. I imagine that my wife drove for the M74 leg of the drive. She strokes the throttle and seems to make the same progress as me but without the baboon-like throttle jabbing that I employ.
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