An act of irresistible folly
Discussion
Magikarp said:
Last day with the blue horror today. Have had enough and ordered a normal car which I will pick up next Monday. I’ll put it in the trade today and then I won’t have to pay another months’ RFL.
I love the idea of this car, the actuality has been painful and expensive, but at least I’ve made my peace with it, and it will be someone else’s issue.
I ain’t going to add up what I have spent, because the value of knowing I don’t have to worry about it any more outweighs that!
For anyone who has contributed to or read this meandering and somewhat melodramatic thread, thanks.
Bizarrely, I think that adding it up will help. It at least gives you some closure, as well as a reminder the next time you consider an older car.I love the idea of this car, the actuality has been painful and expensive, but at least I’ve made my peace with it, and it will be someone else’s issue.
I ain’t going to add up what I have spent, because the value of knowing I don’t have to worry about it any more outweighs that!
For anyone who has contributed to or read this meandering and somewhat melodramatic thread, thanks.
A summary then, of the pitfalls of buying aged German snotters (i do not imply that all such vintage vehicle are appalling s
t-heaps, of course)
When test drove I determined the car needed:
New discs, and as a matter of course new pads.
(I legislated for this)
New tyres (of course)
Service (didn’t think about 16 spark plugs)
Two keys
Which was fine. We were well under budget even allowing for weird occurrences. I had one of the technicians at work do a health check and that revealed a track rod end needs replacing.
I duly went on ECP and ordered said items. When they arrived half way through, the discs turned out to be the wrong size (but about 5mm) so had to reorder and then wait. The technician who did the work then wasn’t available to finish for weeks.
When it eventually did get finished, in my haste to enjoy the car I hit something in the road which destroyed the undertray and the impact damaged both front inner wheel arch liners.
I’d booked the car in at the local specialist for a full fluid and transmission service. So asked them to add the wheel arch liner and undertray to it. Which were then on back order.
I’d also ordered four new Uniroyals which were fitted; and then I got a puncture on the A30 after less than a week. Limped into the nearest tyre fleecer, and had a Mohawk put on and then the next day put on another Uniroyal. Six tyres in a week.
Not long after this the NS rear air balloon started playing up - so had a friend who does diagnosis have a look - it had failed. Ordered a cheapy, which was put on by the specialist (having to wait several weeks for an appointment for each one of these mishaps) and that then exploded. I bought another balloon - but this time a decent one, and had it fitted at the specialist and had the levels set, as well as having the suspension geometry checked after all track and tie rod ends were replaced.
Next thing you know, the front end is jacked right up. Diagnosis revealed nothing. Suspension levels reset and it would be right for a couple of days and then go back.
I decided to try the other local specialist who found a horrendous bodged repair on the air suspension compressor resulting in a hideous tangle of pipes and tubes etc. Refurbished, warranteed one duly order from the main dealer next door and fitted.
The intermittent issue with the gearbox was deemed to be a valve block needing replacement at some point but was useable.
Next up, NSF air suspension balloon failed, but this time only the Arnott version was available, so in for a penny, in for many, many pounds, this was fitted and some irksome little issues resolved at the time - rattly rear heat shield, broken exhaust mount fixed.
The gearbox issue was gradually worsening so we took the decision to order a Dacia Jogger, after the car passed its MOT (6 weeks after it failed it - parts and lack of workshop time being the cause for that delay) to arrive in June - I thought we could probably nurse the Mercedes along for that time.
When the Jogger was put back to October we changed direction and ordered a new car the garage I work for had in stock available as there is no way the E500 would last from May to October without something going catastrophically wrong.
I did some research before buying the E500.
I didn’t do enough.
I also bought an absolute nail, and had some bad luck along the way. We are lucky in that we can afford to put it right but even my patience has limits and the blue has severely strained them.
A local trader offered me some money; and I accepted as I didn’t want the hassle of selling it privately.
t-heaps, of course)When test drove I determined the car needed:
New discs, and as a matter of course new pads.
(I legislated for this)
New tyres (of course)
Service (didn’t think about 16 spark plugs)
Two keys
Which was fine. We were well under budget even allowing for weird occurrences. I had one of the technicians at work do a health check and that revealed a track rod end needs replacing.
I duly went on ECP and ordered said items. When they arrived half way through, the discs turned out to be the wrong size (but about 5mm) so had to reorder and then wait. The technician who did the work then wasn’t available to finish for weeks.
When it eventually did get finished, in my haste to enjoy the car I hit something in the road which destroyed the undertray and the impact damaged both front inner wheel arch liners.
I’d booked the car in at the local specialist for a full fluid and transmission service. So asked them to add the wheel arch liner and undertray to it. Which were then on back order.
I’d also ordered four new Uniroyals which were fitted; and then I got a puncture on the A30 after less than a week. Limped into the nearest tyre fleecer, and had a Mohawk put on and then the next day put on another Uniroyal. Six tyres in a week.
Not long after this the NS rear air balloon started playing up - so had a friend who does diagnosis have a look - it had failed. Ordered a cheapy, which was put on by the specialist (having to wait several weeks for an appointment for each one of these mishaps) and that then exploded. I bought another balloon - but this time a decent one, and had it fitted at the specialist and had the levels set, as well as having the suspension geometry checked after all track and tie rod ends were replaced.
Next thing you know, the front end is jacked right up. Diagnosis revealed nothing. Suspension levels reset and it would be right for a couple of days and then go back.
I decided to try the other local specialist who found a horrendous bodged repair on the air suspension compressor resulting in a hideous tangle of pipes and tubes etc. Refurbished, warranteed one duly order from the main dealer next door and fitted.
The intermittent issue with the gearbox was deemed to be a valve block needing replacement at some point but was useable.
Next up, NSF air suspension balloon failed, but this time only the Arnott version was available, so in for a penny, in for many, many pounds, this was fitted and some irksome little issues resolved at the time - rattly rear heat shield, broken exhaust mount fixed.
The gearbox issue was gradually worsening so we took the decision to order a Dacia Jogger, after the car passed its MOT (6 weeks after it failed it - parts and lack of workshop time being the cause for that delay) to arrive in June - I thought we could probably nurse the Mercedes along for that time.
When the Jogger was put back to October we changed direction and ordered a new car the garage I work for had in stock available as there is no way the E500 would last from May to October without something going catastrophically wrong.
I did some research before buying the E500.
I didn’t do enough.
I also bought an absolute nail, and had some bad luck along the way. We are lucky in that we can afford to put it right but even my patience has limits and the blue has severely strained them.
A local trader offered me some money; and I accepted as I didn’t want the hassle of selling it privately.
Reading that makes me wince and validates my decision to stick with mainly OEM parts without letting issues perpetuate for too long (in my benign ignorance and aversion to secondary damage). My indy also gives me the red carpet treatment due to the guarantee of many thousands for each and every booking.
The upshot? Mrs Bolide drove herself and Miss Bolide to Glasgow from London without hesitation*, such is the confidence in the magnificent E500.
I hope that someone confident with mechanicals (or C70R) buys this one next, as it seems to have had a 'story' (as had mine, given that the interior seems to have been taken apart at some stage).
The upshot? Mrs Bolide drove herself and Miss Bolide to Glasgow from London without hesitation*, such is the confidence in the magnificent E500.
I hope that someone confident with mechanicals (or C70R) buys this one next, as it seems to have had a 'story' (as had mine, given that the interior seems to have been taken apart at some stage).
*whilst the mechanical reliability of the car caused her little anxiety, the thought of driving herself for more than forty five minutes caused her lots of sleepless nights leading to departure date.
The biggest problem I had was the lack of easily available workshop time - both specialists were looking at six - eight week to get enough workshop time, and were trying to hire more staff to cope with the demand. I ended up using three specialists, one of whom was a diagnosis guy just so I could save time when I eventually got an appointment.
As I say, I love the idea of the car, but it’s terribly over complicated. And this car had previously had a replacement gearbox at 121,000, and a replacement SBC system not long after; so maintenance had been done, but just not enough.
A diesel is a better fit for that type of car, although I did manage a couple of 25mpg trips, most of the time it was between 10 and 16mpg, due to the extended warning up needed to help the gearbox work (which started of as a couple of minutes and ended up half an hour).
The valve block replacement for the gearbox was quoted as £1145+VAT, plus fitting plus transmission oil change, and seals.
Never worth it. I did manage the better part of three months without fault, so that’s something I guess.
Also I messaged and emailed several reputable specialists (out of Cornwall) throughout my ownership of the blue embarrassment, and didn’t get a single reply. Pretty poor.
As I say, I love the idea of the car, but it’s terribly over complicated. And this car had previously had a replacement gearbox at 121,000, and a replacement SBC system not long after; so maintenance had been done, but just not enough.
A diesel is a better fit for that type of car, although I did manage a couple of 25mpg trips, most of the time it was between 10 and 16mpg, due to the extended warning up needed to help the gearbox work (which started of as a couple of minutes and ended up half an hour).
The valve block replacement for the gearbox was quoted as £1145+VAT, plus fitting plus transmission oil change, and seals.
Never worth it. I did manage the better part of three months without fault, so that’s something I guess.
Also I messaged and emailed several reputable specialists (out of Cornwall) throughout my ownership of the blue embarrassment, and didn’t get a single reply. Pretty poor.
So a deadly confluence of over-complicated components, costly replacement parts and the wrong area of the UK for specialist workshop availability. You'll be grateful for the Dacia.
Also, Mrs Bolide managed to squeeze over 30mpg from the car! I've never got anywhere near that close to it!
Also, Mrs Bolide managed to squeeze over 30mpg from the car! I've never got anywhere near that close to it!
Thanks for filling us in, so it was the gearbox that did for it. ISTR Merc boxes of this era being flaky when they were new, not sure Mercedes are as good as they think they are at making gearboxes.
Definitely hear what you're saying about the combination of failures and being hard to find somewhere to get a car fixed anytime soon. Ah well, at least you've had the experience of a big V8.
bolidemichael said:
So a deadly confluence of over-complicated components, costly replacement parts and the wrong area of the UK for specialist workshop availability. You'll be grateful for the Dacia.
Also, Mrs Bolide managed to squeeze over 30mpg from the car! I've never got anywhere near that close to it!
Mrs Bolide clearly has a gentle right foot. I'm not sure that anyone has accused you of that recently 🤔😉Also, Mrs Bolide managed to squeeze over 30mpg from the car! I've never got anywhere near that close to it!
bolidemichael said:
C70R said:
C70R said:
bolidemichael said:
bolidemichael 1 : 0 C70
A surprise lead, but I feel an equaliser won't be long. 
The Rotrex Kid said:
C70R said:
Magikarp said:
A sad tale.
on a budget,I’ve even been mulling buying it myself but I don’t have the
*this points system is intangible
The Rotrex Kid said:
C70R said:
Magikarp said:
A sad tale.
on a budget,I’ve even been mulling buying it myself but I don’t have the money to burn!
bolidemichael said:
The Rotrex Kid said:
C70R said:
Magikarp said:
A sad tale.
on a budget,I’ve even been mulling buying it myself but I don’t have the
*this points system is intangible
C70R said:
bolidemichael said:
The Rotrex Kid said:
C70R said:
Magikarp said:
A sad tale.
on a budget,I’ve even been mulling buying it myself but I don’t have the
*this points system is intangible
*pleas for help
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