Recent content by mikemoss

Pulling away from cold in my S211 estate produces a slight grumbling growling noise when shifting from first to second gear. It soon disappears as the engine and transmission warm up, and everything's fine thereafter. Any clues, please, anybody? The car has done 172,000 miles and recently...

Hi cls350doc I've no experience of any others, but good old Honest John lists a few (including the firm I used in Melksham) on his website here: Frequently Asked Questions | Honest John Hope it works out as well for you as it did for me.

Just had my rear bumper repaired pretty much on-the-spot, and in less time and at a lower cost than originally quoted. What could have been a £600-£700 bill from a dealer turned out to be a £50 job at Damage Undone in Melksham, Wiltshire and I couldn't be any happier with the result. Wayne is...

£1000 plus indeed if I have them change the springs - methinks that's now a job for the chap round the corner. I'm starting to realise that a B service is likely to cost more than the car is worth! Plan is to keep up the maintenance as well as I can until something really serious/expensive...

Just been told by good old MB Bath that one of my front springs has broken. This is the third time in 100,000 miles (on 1998 E320 petrol estate) so either I, or they, or Mercedes seem to be doing something wrong. Does this sound normal to anyone? And is there a better alternative spring I...

Hi all My 1999 320E estate has developed the unnerving habit of occasionally failing to start - the dash lights come on, the starter motor whirrs, but the engine stays dumb. Leave it alone for a while, keep trying, and eventually everything is fine. I've also noticed that while the central...

Just got mine back from the menders and I have to say the've made a superb job of it - looks as good as new (well, those parts that have been repaired do, anyway). So full marks to MB for finally coming good, and I have to say I have been very impressed by the quality of work and standard of...

This may be of some comfort to you. My 10-year-old E320 is currently having its rust attended to (both rear wings, rear tailgate, tops of both front doors) under the goodwill scheme. I'm paying £475 towards it but have to say I find this pretty fair considering the age of the car. It has full...

Oh now you'e got me! The vehicle is a W210 estate, the only other device linked to the head unit is the CD changer and I'm blowed if I can see how to remove the head unit to check further. Useful advice though DieselBenz, so thanks for that.

Puzzled by this one, so hope somebody may shed some light on it for me. Every since a new battery was fitted my Audio 20 has remained resolutely dead (nothing to do with entering the code, I can't even get that far). I've checked the two fuses, one under the rear seat the other in the engine...

You're got yourself a great tow car, and are on the way to a wonderful voyage of discovery with a caravan. We've towed for years with a variety of cars, and the Merc estates have been the best of the lot (had a 240TE, 300TE and currently an E320). Wise comments here about transmission oil...

It's all too hard isn't it? Yes, that '85%' bit is advice for caravanners (ie don't tow more than 85% of your towing vehicle's kerb weight) and I've always taken manufacturers' towing limits with a huge pinch of salt. I've no chapter and verse on how they arrive at this, but seem to remember...

Er, someone's missing the point here. The 'towing capacity' means just that - what the thing is physically capable of moving up a certain incline. The vital weight is the kerb weight, and that's 1765kg. Try and tow anything above that weight, and you're not only illegal but likely to end up...

Yes, German caravans are beautifully built but amazingly heavy. The Swift should be fine - our 9-year-old Sterling from the same stable is in tip-top shape. Just keep a keen eye out for damp, particularly in the corners. Might be worth investing in a damp meter just to check as repairs can be...

Kel, you'll fly along with that! Happy caravanning.