Car arrived....but

[bigfatjim]

Yes, my eagerly awaited first ever Mercedes has finally arrived after an epic marathon with the transport company.

Recap. It is a 1998, R-reg C250 TD Elegance Auto Estate. 165k.

My first impressions? A shed. I have had worse I think, but not for a long time. Front wings painted by Stevie wonder, inside looks like a stable. And as yet it won't start.

On the plus side I did get both keys and what looks like a key, but thinner? No idea??? Also got a stack of history and it is 3k lower mileage than I was expecting. The battery is a barsteward of a size! Ye gods, you could start a 40 tonner with that monster. And it seems to hold a charge, which is good news for me I think.

On the down side so far, obviously doesn't run yet but I knew that. Several scratches, dings, hedge marks, resr tyre flat, drivers seat is dirtier than a Reading Festival portaloo. Glove box catch not holding lid, Small chip in windscreen, drivers window won't go up unless you dance on the button (contacts I suspect).

But the worst news? It came with..... no, no I cannot bring myself to say it......







..... Aghhhhhhhh............... A haynes book of lies!

Yes, I need my sense of humour. Was it worth what I paid? I think so. If I get it running (and I will) it will be worth probably double what it owes me, so not bad really.

Will I keep it? If it runs and drives, then yes.

Photo's tomorrow. Be afraid. be VERY afraid!

 

[Howard]

Why did you buy it if it is such a ****box ?

 

[Dieselman]

Chicken coops are always good for a laugh..

 

[billywhiz]

few odd jobs, bit of paint and a good clean - all will then be good with the world ( well until you get it started... )

If you bought it as a cheapy it's going to have a few 'bits n bobs' with it.

x-fingers tho' all be well - look forward to seeing pics.

:O)

 

[bigfatjim]

Why did you buy it if it is such a ****box ?

Good question. I bought it blind. That is, I have never seen the car before it arrived with me today. But considering I paid £200 for the whole car and the engine alone is worth £550, I cannot lose. That is why. I could break the car in total for about a grand plus, so you see, I aint no fool!

Once given a bubble bath and a lot of TLC I will have this old barge back on the road and looking reasonable, although it will never be a minter.

It should be running within a few hours of me actually getting onto its case. First point to note is the diesel filter at teh front of the engine has damaged seals, so probably sucking air in anyway. We'll satrt there and work through the fuel system until I find that reason for it not starting. It does have compression, so worse case scenario, a dead injector pump in which case it gets broken up for parts galore. Elegance model, lots of shiny wood bits that all sell.

But, my ambition is to have it running and that is what I will do.

 

[bigfatjim]

There you go. I am a harsh critic. It isn't quite as bad as it sounds. It is worse!

 

[jonnyboy]

Time for a beer

 

[markjay]

Best of luck!

 

[billywhiz]

Well your right - for £200 it's a good buy - can't go wrong with that if you have the time and patience to break it. :O)

 

[jonnyboy]

If you do break it and its a 4 speed auto give Druk a buzz on here - he might want the engine and 'box.

 

[EDZ649]

The vultures are circling

 

[Dieselman]

£200 is about weigh in price, so that was an excellent buy.

The non starting won't be the injector pump, the in-line pumps never fail. It will be air leaking in.

How much did transport cost and how far?

 

[bigfatjim]

Gearbox will be 5 speed auto. Unlikely it will be broken. i want it running.

Transport was free as they owed me a favour. I just asked for a bigger favour than they realised. 206 mile round trip.

Car owes me total of £210 now as I put a tenner of diesel in. Uselful info about teh pump and I did doubt it on this mileage (165k).

 

[Dieselman]

You got any more transport favours to call in?

Now it's £210, I think you've been done...

Either refit the filter properly or fit a new one, but remember to fill it before cranking, otherwise it will flatten the battery before firing up.

 

[Sonny Burnett]

Why did you buy it if it is such a ****box ?

my cousin just got a mint white 1999 c230k for 1700 and as you all know my friend got a fully loaded mint c200 with near 70k on it for 1600..

but i suppose it doesent matter if your gonna break it??!

 

[Dieselman]

my cousin just got a mint white 1999 c230k for 1700 and as you all know my friend got a fully loaded mint c200 with near 70k on it for 1600..

but i suppose it doesent matter if your gonna break it??!

He isn't...and it's a diesel so worth more than petrol W202's...

 

[bigfatjim]

Yes, I will change the filter DM thanks. I popped the filter loose to fill with diesel. Was pretty full, but fully and the various seals are damaged, so new filter in thr morning. I am talking about the one at the top, front of the engine on this 250TD. I believe there is another somewhere also, perhaps you can enlighten me before I go searching tomorrow.

 

[Dieselman]

Just the two in the aluminium housing. The main cannister filter and the fine mesh pre-filter to the side of it, where the first pipe joins into the top.

Just watch for air bubbles and you will soon see where the leak is.

If the main filter has damaged seals it should still go as that engine has the main filter under pressure, instead of under vacuum as on most diesels.

 

[bigfatjim]

Much obliged DM. Very knowledgable chap you are!

I won't be beaten by any car as a rule. And I have had some right battles over the years. I do know more than it may seem, but when it is a new make/model it doesn't hurt to ask before you make a pigs ear of everything!

Thanks again!

 

[bigfatjim]

Just wondering, this has all the halmarks of the fuel cut-off solenoid activated. Compression, turnover, fuel at filter. Mmmmmmm. I wonder.....