C180 Auto Sport (W202?) blog

[Spinal]

I'll be frank, I'm in a bit of a rush so didn't read everything... but the W202 C180 is truly bulletproof.

In the words of another forum member (which I actually intended to quote much earlier) "Some people say the W202 is tough... Others say Spinal is tougher.". Now I like the quote for obvious reasons... but the W202 is truly a great car.

Have a look at my previous posts about my W202 C180 Esprit, you'll notice it has survived:
- Being owned by a spotty 17-year old as his first car in the UK
- Being rammed off the road by a 14-tonne tipper lorry (and then driven me 3000 odd miles to a hospital... with a broken leg. The doors were held on by duct tape...)
- Driving to the Sahara Desert and back
- Driving multiple times a year to Italy, France, Switzerland and Austria
- Being rammed in by a Suzuki 600 bandit while at a traffic light
- Being driven through bushes and into a park by my best friend's ex the night before her driving test (she failed)
- Having the radiator explode violently due to me forgetting to check the temp on the dashboard... the viscous fan had died (a common issue).

Admittedly, I don't have anything too complex in my car. It's a manual, with only the front windows electric. The only things I've ever had to spend (other than annual servicing which I do myself for around 100£ in parts) were new tires, 2 new doors&hinges following a little incident with a lorry (the MOT guy didn't like my duct-tape doors. Something about getting in through the window didn't convince him), a radiator and a new viscous coupling...

Needless to say, I'm looking for another W202 C-class (probably with a bigger engine though... ) or a CLK with the M111 engine... oh, and I'm still driving her across the desert!

Given that I've typed this, rush be damned!

Servicing: Do it yourself, and get the indy to do the auto box. Fuel filter should cost around £9 in parts, and will take you about 30 minutes to fit if you've never done it before. (and a mouthful of petrol in my case).

Pads+sensors: around £30/£35 for all 4 wheels. No clue about the disks as I've never had to do these. You may be able to get the skimmed depending on what's "wrong".

Air filter: just buy an OEM filter and fit it yourself, should take about 1-2 minutes (lift bonnet, open 4 catches, pull out filter, vacumm a bit if you're retentive then put in new filter. Simples!)

M.

EDIT: Forgot to say, I also spend a pound or two getting a new, bling, custom made mirror in Morocco:
http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/bodywork/81623-howto-w202-wing-mirror-repair.html

 

[nebulaman]

I have thought about servicing myself but I not confident enough. When I had a Citroen Picasso I found the place I had got it from had nicked the o ring in the diesel filter. I took it apart and replaced the o ring. The car went into limp mode (I streteched the truth to the garage who fixed it under warranty). In the end they sent it to the main dealer who said the fuel leak had got into a wiring loom so not entirely my fault but knocked my confidence anyhow. Having said that I think I can stretch to changing the air filter! I am learning all the time but t the moment I am limited to changing bulbs and air filters.

 

[Grahamcol]

I have thought about servicing myself but I not confident enough. When I had a Citroen Picasso I found the place I had got it from had nicked the o ring in the diesel filter. I took it apart and replaced the o ring. The car went into limp mode (I streteched the truth to the garage who fixed it under warranty). In the end they sent it to the main dealer who said the fuel leak had got into a wiring loom so not entirely my fault but knocked my confidence anyhow. Having said that I think I can stretch to changing the air filter! I am learning all the time but t the moment I am limited to changing bulbs and air filters.

I tend to do minor servicing myself, things like oil & filter change, air filter, pollen filter etc but anything else I get my local Indy to do. It's not that these 202's are technically difficult, it's just that I don't really want to be crawling underneath etc any more. That said, I do crawl underneath from time to time to check underside for corrosion / renew waxoyl etc.

 

[Spinal]

I have thought about servicing myself but I not confident enough. When I had a Citroen Picasso I found the place I had got it from had nicked the o ring in the diesel filter. I took it apart and replaced the o ring. The car went into limp mode (I streteched the truth to the garage who fixed it under warranty). In the end they sent it to the main dealer who said the fuel leak had got into a wiring loom so not entirely my fault but knocked my confidence anyhow. Having said that I think I can stretch to changing the air filter! I am learning all the time but t the moment I am limited to changing bulbs and air filters.

You're in suffolk, so not the most convenient... but there may be a place like Pit Start near you. It's a DIY garage, you go there and for a tenner you can work on you car in a heated (sort of) warehouse. Also, they provide all the tools.

The advantage is that if you get into a spot of bother, they will also help you out, show you the ropes and generally lend a hand. VERY helpful people!

The alternative is find a forum member who lives near you; many are willing to lend a hand to show you how to do the simple things in return for a pint. I know I would be more than happy to help someone in my area with a W202 - the filters are a cinch to replace (except for the pollen filter, which usually involves putting your feet on the passenger headrest, lying down upside down with your head in the footwell to see wtf you are doing, and usually ends with the pollen filter coming out in a spectacular cloud of dust; all of which ends in your face As I changed it a few times while driving in the Sahara (or more accurately, dusted it out) I've gotten the hang of removing it without looking... but I still can't get it back in without shoving me head under the footwell! )

M.

 

[50pence]

i need a merc buddy in the cardiff area for my c180 niggles!!!

 

[nebulaman]

I know I would be more than happy to help someone in my area with a W202

I will give you a shout if I'm ever in Mauritania

 

[nebulaman]

Just starting to find a few niggles now as I get used to the car:

- Wiper doesn't park and there is no intermittant speed.
- SRS light stays on for 2 minutes after start-up
- New exhaust part rattles when warmed up.
- Brake wear light flashes when on bumpy roads and then stays on when braking. When I start the car the next day, no warning light.
- Temp guage gets near 120 when in traffic but drops to 80 when on a run.

I guess most of the above problems are cheap and easy to remedy... I hope! Appart from these niggles the car goes well! The car goes into an Indy next week so hopefully that will be the mechanics sorted!

So I am now planning on making the car look good. I looked through various threads on this forum and I was planning to have a good go washing, polishing, sealing and waxing the bodywork. I saw a stone chip the other day on the bonnet so I was recommended the kits from paints4u. I was told you get good results if you take your time. The sun came out today and I just happened to check the stone chip out for depth and size. Then I noticed another....and another... and another..... I think this car has followed Ken Block when he's on a flyer. So does anyone have any suggestions on what to do with these hundreds of stone chips. I can't sit there for a few days touching up each one as the finish will not be perfect with so many. Would a full respray be needed? There are a few nicks and scratches elsewhere on the car that I would like done too.

I noticed that the alloys are scraped too. I don't really like them that much. They are Dotz and to me they look like the kind that a young lad would buy from halfords for his Corsa when he only went in to get a chrome false double tailpipe kit. I would my alloys to be originals with the MB badge on them. But can't afford that at the moment so will stick with the Dotz.

I managed to get 3 kids and the wife in the car today! It was a squeeze but they were all securely in. The wife had the misfortune to sit in the middle rear seat but she said it was fairly comfortable!

Lets just see how the car does at the Indy. Just hope everything is pucka.

Time to get the camera out ready for the before shots incase I do anything to the car.

 

[BlackC55]

The wiper fault.

This could cost you a few quid. Try lubriacting the wiper gear head first. There is a how to here somewhere I think.

If this does not cure it it may need a mechanism or the motor. These aint cheap. £350 ish.

The SRS fault could be a number of things. When the light is on the airbags will not work.

You probably need some new brake pads too. Hence the light

 

[BlackC55]

It is overheating too. Probably caused by a faulty viscous fan. Get the indy to check it.

Be careful over heating it. The 111 engine is common for head gasket issues.

 

[nebulaman]

Thanks C55. I will certainly get the overheating checked out. With the wiper, it sometimes comes on when I indicate so I suspect an electrical fault with the stalk. I was planning on greasing the mechanism thanks to the "how to" on this forum. I think a good windscreen clean and a new blade won't hurt either. The brake pad wear light came on during a 5 mile run along country roads. A day later it did the same thing on the same road. Yesterday I did a 50 mile run and no light. I've given the indy the heads up on the problem. Been quoted £150 for front disks, pads and sensors. I gather the most likely explanation for the SRS light on for 2 mins is dirt in the seat belt sensor. Hopefully that's all it is and will just need a blow out with compressed air.

 

[grober]

Driving out and about today down some country roads when I loud rattling sound was coming from the rear of the car. I stopped to check as I thought I hadn't shut the boot properly. I found it was the exhaust rattling (new box as well) and I gave it a kick. Didn't rattle after that. I guess as adam230K said above it was a non-OEM part on the exhaust. Can I get it tightened or packed to stop it rattling or do you think an inferior part has been put on that will eventually rattle itself into oblivion? As an aside, I know Merc parts are expensive so what about the exhaust system.

Now to the full service and auto box service. After a trawl through the forum I have found a recommended Indy in Stowmarket, Suffolk (25 miles from me) who I have e-mailed for a quote. I might phone another in Loddon, near Norwich but I hear this one, although good, charges Merc dealer labour rates.

It will be the perforated metal heat shield above the exhaust. They corrode and then pull thro where the 3or4 8mm? screws attach it to the body. Solution is to make up some small metal plates bigger than the corroded holes and use them as "washers" on the screws to re attach the shield. Its such a tight fit above the exhaust rear box it doesn't usually fall off even when its detached from the car and hence the rattle.

 

[nebulaman]

It will be the perforated metal heat shield above the exhaust. They corrode and then pull thro where the 3or4 8mm? screws attach it to the body. Solution is to make up some small metal plates bigger than the corroded holes and use them as "washers" on the screws to re attach the shield. Its such a tight fit above the exhaust rear box it doesn't usually fall off even when its detached from the car and hence the rattle.

Cheers for that. That sounds about right. The garage I got the car from said they had replaced the rear section due to corrosion. Would also explain that it only rattles when the system is hot.

I opened up the windscreen wiper mechanism and found plenty of grease but it had started to look old. Cleaned it off and sprayed some white grease and silicone as a temporary measure until I can get some more gloopy grease (any recommendations?). I have also learned that I must put a towel under the wiper blade to avoid wiping grease off the windscreen afterwards! I put a new wiper blade on too. This has not cured the wiper problem so by the power of deduction I guess there is an electrical rather than mechanical problem somewhere.

 

[nebulaman]

Got the car back from the Indy today and this is what he done:

'B' service
Auto gear box service
Replace front disks and pads
Replace rear disks and pads
Replace drivers door check strap
Replace viscous fan hub
Re-align wiper parking position

He also commented on the following which he said don't need to be repaired but need keeping an eye on:

Wiper switch unrepairable (no intermittent speed)
Minor oil weeps at front of engine and differential
Excessive play in front propshaft coupling
Slight play OSF bottom ball joint
Catalytic converter loose inside chamber (That was the exhaust rattle)
Slight weep OSF shock absorber
Both rear and NSF wheel centre spacers missing
No bolts for spare wheel.

The damage......... £597.22! Pretty damn good if you ask me!
Really nice bloke and totally honest. He said he didn't need to charge me for the full service because some of the parts were recent and didn't need doing or he had cut the labour hours down because he was working on a part close to it anyway and so didn't need as much work. He talked me through all the jobs and stated what parts he recommended me to use in place of MB parts (for example Pagit brake pads) but gave me the final call on what to fit.

I would fully recommend Alex Crow at Stowmarket, Suffolk!

 

[Spinal]

I will give you a shout if I'm ever in Mauritania

I'm in Uxbridge, West London actually I'll be driving to Mauritannia in January as part of a rally