2007 C55 Estate, laundry list

[Dammit]

I do actually have a set of fairly fancy-pants axle stands, I forget the name but they're the ones where you place a plate with either a pin (Porsche) or a slot (others, forget which) on your jack, pump it up to the jacking point, jack, then slide a sort of conical metal support underneath, then release the jack.

These things:

What does the C-Class need with regards to the jacking points- pin or slot? As I only have the pin...

 

[Codger49]

Jackpoint have 'block' pads and adapters (to convert existing standard 'pin' pads) for Mercs/BMWs, but you may need to check with them as they say the adapter blocks are not suitable for AMG models.

JackPoint Jackstands, LLC.

 

[Dammit]

I got this message from Jackpoint: "The Mercedes would use the block pad but you can use the pad you have on the car with or without an adapter. If you locate the aluminum pin inside the rectangular block on the AMG lift point (also using the rubber insulator) you should be OK. If your car doesn't have a rectangular plastic block at the lift point, please send a picture."

Which I will admit doesn't make sense to me at the moment, but that's because the car is with a friend at the moment and I can't go and look at it.

Does it make sense to you, more knowledgeable people?

 

[Petrol Pete]

I have had my C55 up on axle stands with all 4 wheels off. I have one 'hockey puck' type adapter for my trolley jack and it is the type with the rectangular protrusion from it that fits in the rectangular hole(s) in the sill off the car making jacking up the car safe (no slipping) . I simply jacked up each corner at a time and then placing the axle stand underneath. Having 4 of the jackpoint stands shown in the picture is a much better (safer) alternative as long as they each have the rectangular protrusion to fit into the sill.

NOTE: there is a jacking point underneath the engine that allows both front wheels to raise together, this is not a rectangular hole and will require a different approach.

 

[Dammit]

Ok, so presumably what the chap from Jackpoint means is that the pin on my pads will fit into the rectangular hole, and that in his opinion this would be fine.

I'd feel more comfortable with the correct plates, with the rectangular protrusion it must be said, but there you go.

 

[Petrol Pete]

I don't think its wise (although possible) to jack the car up on anything other than the slots in the sills (or the one under the engine)especially if you are fortunate enough to have 4 Jackpoint stands. having the car held off the ground this way gives you access to everything my method has the axle stands potentially getting in the way of removing suspension/arm components but is ok for wheel and brake work.

I saw a great DIY solution in the USA recently. Two independent scissor ramps/lifts that you lie between the front and rear wheels beneath the sills, they then plug in to a small hydraulic unit that links them together, push the button and hey presto ! your car lifts up.

Unfortunately too big to fit into my suitcase. can't for the life of me remember what they were called.

 

[Dammit]

Jackpoint make adapters for the pads that I have to make them Mercedes pattern, I’ve ordered two pairs/four in total.

 

[Dammit]

C55 had been running for maybe 2 minutes so stone cold, noticed the revs flaring when turning the wheel at idle. Then, stopped on a 14 degree slope turned the wheel at a standstill about to pull away, foot of brake but at close to idle revs and it stalled. My thinking is that the extra power demanded by the power steering pump stalled the engine - steering does periodically feel very heavy at parking speeds. Thoughts?

 

[Dammit]

Bit of Googling suggests that this might be a dirty throttle body/blocked breather pipes. Hmm. I just got it back from the garage where they checked these parts.

 

[MWCLS]

I found to my own expense dropping alot of money to me on a 13 year old car.. plenty of things that have been over looked or not mentioned... like most garages just want to do the basics and grab your cash.

I have had to go another indi closer to home.. They do have a very good rep.. hopefully they will resolve the issues the other garage could not be bothered to address.

I think they see a 13 year old car which back in the day was an expensive car, the parts are still expensive so they replace what looks like it's on its last legs and wait for a phone call x miles or months later for more work.

This particular indi left oil marks all around my door sills on the wood part of the steering wheel on the front wings. Wires not clipped back correctly where they should be they even lost two clips of the air box so that vibrating away like a tractor. I fixed it with help from the net.

I can't be bothered going back to excuses. Once bitten. I move on.

Current issue is headlights not self levelling even though I paid £95.00 for a full health check. Going over the car with a tooth comb his words . More fool me. Said he would do a deal paying cash.

Since researching what they did I paid over the odds!

Anyhow needed to get that off my chest. Garages I'm far from saying all would have some element of pride and customer satisfaction working on the cars they say they are specialists in.

Clearly not in my case. I won't name and shame. They even managed to crack the top of my engine cover at the rear, no doubt they could not be ****d to remove the 6 star bolts and a few clips to do what needed doing so bent it back.

Quality.

 

[MWCLS]

Sorry for the thread hijack just looking at your list of work.. choose your indi wisely.

If PCS were closer I wouldn't hesitate to use them. Very good rep.

 

[Dammit]

I don't think its wise (although possible) to jack the car up on anything other than the slots in the sills (or the one under the engine)especially if you are fortunate enough to have 4 Jackpoint stands. having the car held off the ground this way gives you access to everything my method has the axle stands potentially getting in the way of removing suspension/arm components but is ok for wheel and brake work.

I saw a great DIY solution in the USA recently. Two independent scissor ramps/lifts that you lie between the front and rear wheels beneath the sills, they then plug in to a small hydraulic unit that links them together, push the button and hey presto ! your car lifts up.

Unfortunately too big to fit into my suitcase. can't for the life of me remember what they were called.

Ta da:

 

[Dammit]

I’d like to get some winter wheels- are there any steel rims available for these cars? My concern is fitting over the brake calipers.

 

[Will]

I’d like to get some winter wheels- are there any steel rims available for these cars? My concern is fitting over the brake calipers.

AMG Type III 7.5jx17 ET37 alloy wheels & WINTER tyres (C, CLK, SLK, E)

 

[Dammit]

That looks absolutely ideal (as long as the C32 and the C55 have the same size brakes), but I lack the requisite number of posts to reply to that thread or PM a member- could someone please direct the seller to this thread? Thanks!

 

[AMGeed]

^ I have passed on a copy of the above post to the seller so hopefully you can arrange contact.

 

[Dammit]

Contact established, thanks!

 

[Dammit]

I pulled out into traffic from the petrol station yesterday, so on the throttle, then off the throttle as I applied lock. Car stalled, with the car across both lanes and blocking a bus, would not restart by turning the key, but when i pulled the key out/put it back in then it did restart.

This was not great, and I do very much want this fixed - I presume its the same thing that made the car stall before.

I'll to make time to get it to the garage this week.

What do people think is causing this?

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

I pulled out into traffic from the petrol station yesterday, so on the throttle, then off the throttle as I applied lock. Car stalled, with the car across both lanes and blocking a bus, would not restart by turning the key, but when i pulled the key out/put it back in then it did restart.

This was not great, and I do very much want this fixed - I presume its the same thing that made the car stall before.

I'll to make time to get it to the garage this week.

What do people think is causing this?

Sorry to hear that. Symptoms sound similar to when the Crank Position Sensor (CPS) failed on my C32 AMG. It was a bu99er to get to if I remember right, but the dealer replaced mine for me.

 

[Dammit]

Dropped the car off at DDR for them to get to the bottom of the stalling issue. One fault code stored that was related to the MAF, but they don't think that has anything to do with it. They're going to drive the car and hope that the fault presents itself so that they can then diagnose what just happened.

Given that it's happened to me twice in the past month I'm not entirely sold on this method of diagnosis - but with no codes stored maybe this is the best idea, IDK.