- Joined
- Nov 27, 2004
- Messages
- 4,800
- Location
- Southampton
- Car
- 65 Plate E350 CDI Convertible, 2006 CLS 55 AMG, 1997 C230K, 1999 C43/55 AMG
Hi,
As some may know I have two W202's, a "P" reg. C230K Sport, and a "T" reg. C43/55 AMG.
I bought the C43 knowing it had some dreaded rust worm around the normal places namely all four wheel arches, and when it went in for a gearbox oil change at PCS in Horndean Ollie commented that there was some rust around the floor pan on the passenger side front and that the jack pad was missing that would need attention.
Well I did,nt give it much thought to be honest especially since it passed its MOT a few weeks later. Since the car when I bought it had just had a "B" Service at MB Southampton, and was running well, it was 2 years till Assyst told me that a "A" Service was due, so keen to maintain the MB full history It was duly booked in. Result no pick ups other than they said the MAF needed to be replaced, more importantly no mention of rust and the fact the car had passed another MOT, I was starting to think the rust was only superficial and would wire brush it off and treat it at some point.
First time I thought something might be amiss was when I would use the standard MB jack to change the front passenger side wheel, there would be a lot of creaking and cracking noises, and it would seem that the side skirt of the bodykit was bending as the bar of the jack was hitting it under the weight of the car.
I would then avoid using the MB jack, and use a trolley jack on this wheel.
Another 2 years went by and now a "B" Service was due and being told on the last service that MB would not stamp my book unless I had the "extras" done, even if I had showed that they were done by a VAT registered garage by means of a reciept, I decided to use an Independant that had not long opened very close to me called Pentangle, when I picked the car up he said I would need to get some welding done as the floor was holed through rust very close to the jacking point.
I was,nt very surprised to be honest at this point, so I actively decided to find someone to carry out the work.
After a recommendation from the other forum I decided to use Colin Baker Custom Metalwork.
Car Welding Hampshire, Classic Car Welding, Classic Car Restoration by Paul Baker Custom Metalwork, Hampshire UK
Have a look at the web site and the pics of the work he has done in the past, I think like me you will find it impressive, he even gives you a disc of detailled photographs of the work done.
Here are some of them.
The Car on the ramps.
What could be seen under the car notice how the jack pad has been driven into the car by continued use of two post ramps. (Passenger side front).
Here are pics of the other three,
first front drivers side.
Then the rear,
Drivers side.
Passenger side.
And this was before we removed the side skirts!!!!!
As some may know I have two W202's, a "P" reg. C230K Sport, and a "T" reg. C43/55 AMG.
I bought the C43 knowing it had some dreaded rust worm around the normal places namely all four wheel arches, and when it went in for a gearbox oil change at PCS in Horndean Ollie commented that there was some rust around the floor pan on the passenger side front and that the jack pad was missing that would need attention.
Well I did,nt give it much thought to be honest especially since it passed its MOT a few weeks later. Since the car when I bought it had just had a "B" Service at MB Southampton, and was running well, it was 2 years till Assyst told me that a "A" Service was due, so keen to maintain the MB full history It was duly booked in. Result no pick ups other than they said the MAF needed to be replaced, more importantly no mention of rust and the fact the car had passed another MOT, I was starting to think the rust was only superficial and would wire brush it off and treat it at some point.
First time I thought something might be amiss was when I would use the standard MB jack to change the front passenger side wheel, there would be a lot of creaking and cracking noises, and it would seem that the side skirt of the bodykit was bending as the bar of the jack was hitting it under the weight of the car.
I would then avoid using the MB jack, and use a trolley jack on this wheel.
Another 2 years went by and now a "B" Service was due and being told on the last service that MB would not stamp my book unless I had the "extras" done, even if I had showed that they were done by a VAT registered garage by means of a reciept, I decided to use an Independant that had not long opened very close to me called Pentangle, when I picked the car up he said I would need to get some welding done as the floor was holed through rust very close to the jacking point.
I was,nt very surprised to be honest at this point, so I actively decided to find someone to carry out the work.
After a recommendation from the other forum I decided to use Colin Baker Custom Metalwork.
Car Welding Hampshire, Classic Car Welding, Classic Car Restoration by Paul Baker Custom Metalwork, Hampshire UK
Have a look at the web site and the pics of the work he has done in the past, I think like me you will find it impressive, he even gives you a disc of detailled photographs of the work done.
Here are some of them.
The Car on the ramps.
What could be seen under the car notice how the jack pad has been driven into the car by continued use of two post ramps. (Passenger side front).
Here are pics of the other three,
first front drivers side.
Then the rear,
Drivers side.
Passenger side.
And this was before we removed the side skirts!!!!!