A day of maintenance

[chessers]

Well a full day of maintenance finished a few hours ago.

My daily, reliable hack needed some loving so received the following today:

Oil change
Filter change - oil and pollen
Fixed non working fan (brushes replaced)
Cut out rusty, corroded bolts, replaced and tightened up exhaust manifold
Smashed front fog replaced and wiring resoldered on other fog light


So she's back on the road and happy again! Have done 13,000 miles in her this year and not missed a beat.

Many thanks to the forum for showing me the fix for the replacement carbon brushes.

 

[Dieselman]

A good days work there, especially in the cold temps at present.
This w/e has amongst other jobs seen me rebuilding a Renault Megane engine after the timing belt snapped.
Got to say it was cool today even inside.

 

[neilz]

My mechanic should (note should) be working on my car today:

All filters
Fuel pump
Central air vents
Few broken clips (mirror adjust switch keeps falling in, and seat switch panel on driver's door won't stay in)

He knows I'm abroad, as long as it's ready by my return...

 

[bpsorrel]

Pure coincidence, my Hungarian friend drives a black, 'R reg W140, very much like yours. I rode with him today in it and it was sublime. What a great car! You must enjoy it!

 

[neilz]

I do, £10 of fuel a day to drive just locally though! If I told you I basically paid £300 for it (sold my C124 for £950 then paid £1250 for the W140 from my garage the same day) with 65000 miles, S320 LWB with rare black birds eye maple trim and emerald black paintwork...

I know, I couldn't believe it either! The garage owner just happens to be incredibly rich and bought the car for its number plate

It is high maintenance, though I wait to see how demanding your CLS is!

 

[ringway]

Today, for the second time since I've owned the car I cleaned out the drain under the wipey assembly.
My fault for parking under/next to tall bushes which shed leaves etc to block things up nicely.

I'd see the leaves and pick out what I could, but didn't think it would block up again so soon (last clear out was was November 2009, pictures below).
You don't need to remove the wiper motor etc to clean out the drain. I was greasing the wiper mechanism as well on this day.


Vented Brabus Unblocker.

A good poke around and wiggle and jiggle followed by a sluice through cleared the way for the water.

I only discovered the blockage this time because I lifted the rear seat to access the battery, only to discover the great flood.
In one of their poorer design moments, MB placed the PSE unit housed in a water absorbing foam boot right where the water gathers.
Luckily I've escaped damage this time but last time I had to get a used PSE unit which I managed to get from Euromerc for £100 (£500 at the dealers).

Incidentally, the drain clearout was added to the schedule for the 'B' service some time ago, so if you get a blocked drain and consequently a goosed PSE unit soon after a service you should be able to claim for the price of the unit.

 

[chessers]

Yes, it was certainly cold but focuses the mind!

However, she's running smoothly and with 145,000 + on the clock you cannot complain.

She was a bit run down when I made the purchase both mechanically and body wise, so has had the following over the last 12 months:

New rear window regulator (offside)
New plugs and HT leads
All filters (Oil, Air and pollen)
Fluids changed (Oil, Gearbox, Brake, Anti-freeze and P/Steering)
Rust removed and paint touched up
Fan brushes replaced
Body kit fixed on properly (this was on it when I made the purchase)!
New Switch set
New temp switch
One fog light replaced and the other fixed

Far more reliable than my E46 M3 it has to be said!

My girlfriend thinks that I'm mad, but as we all know it's very satisfying when you do a bit of work and it all goes according to plan

 

[gaz_l]

A good days work there, especially in the cold temps at present.
This w/e has amongst other jobs seen me rebuilding a Renault Megane engine after the timing belt snapped.
Got to say it was cool today even inside.

Indeed, I remember doing a cambelt on our old Fiat Panda at this time of year a few years back, whilst my wife was out enjoying herself at her works Christmas do.

Fortunately (?) it had thrown the belt outside the house, less fortunately it was 1-2 degrees, not fun to be working on cars. At least the inevitable grazes seem to hurt less when your hands are freezing, at least until they warm up..

Cheers,

Gaz