Roy
Member
Hi Everyone.
Whilst I have not posted many threads with the club, I have watched it most days (retired) and I would like to thank all the members who have helped me with technical information when I have asked for it.. A great club, great forums and good people.
I am now 73 and probably been running Mercs before many of you were born. I have sworn by them and had at least a dozen.
My past car for over 5 years (E300TD 1998 vintage) looked as if it had 'come straight out of the box' 59k miles and truly superb mechanically .. Been to most places in Europe with a German Tabbert on the back and never let me down ..However.
I noticed some water under the carpet piece of upholstery in the boot at the back of the rear seat.. I investigated further. I removed the side carpeted panels in the boot and the back piece and found a HORROR story.
The entire area on the off side was like a 'swamp'. Every seam was rusted beyond belief. and guess what I found a rubber tube.?
If you look in the fuel filler cap recess you will see a hole the diameter of a pencil and a rubber flange (with a hole) covering this hole. The rubber tube is the other end of this very poor design and takes rain water which enters the fuel filling recess (together with spillage of petrol or diesel) down to the ground. Months (maybe a year or more) of water/fuel ingress had poured into the very badly painted area behind the carpet covering...The rubber flange had corroded away almost completely.
I could handle this and repaired it with a solid brass tap fitting cut down in the thickness and sealed underneath with high quality marine mastic. The tube was then fitted from inside the boot and secured with a jubilee clip... Job done..
Forget it. This was just the start. The nasty plastic plug in the recess taking water away from the rear screen was leaking water into the same area . and yes you guesed it the rear screen was also leaking and water was getting into the boot behind the rear seat back..
I did not have the heart to sell the car Retail.
I sold it to a dealer (lost a packet ) and I was so gutted I left the rather expensive private plates on.. To be honest I was glad to get rid of it.
I collect my new car on the 1st June ... My first impressions from the test drives I have had and the service and attention I have received form 3 dealers I have contacted are something else.. Even though my son is a Merc
Dealer Principle I have never received help and service like this... You've already guessed I am sure... I have bought a LEXUS .
Will post info from time to time if this is OK on the Lexus. In the meantime have a look at your 'drain tubes' next to the filling cap.. On W210 models I would suggest you remove the side carpets and have a look for the dread 4 letter word RUST.
Roy
Whilst I have not posted many threads with the club, I have watched it most days (retired) and I would like to thank all the members who have helped me with technical information when I have asked for it.. A great club, great forums and good people.
I am now 73 and probably been running Mercs before many of you were born. I have sworn by them and had at least a dozen.
My past car for over 5 years (E300TD 1998 vintage) looked as if it had 'come straight out of the box' 59k miles and truly superb mechanically .. Been to most places in Europe with a German Tabbert on the back and never let me down ..However.
I noticed some water under the carpet piece of upholstery in the boot at the back of the rear seat.. I investigated further. I removed the side carpeted panels in the boot and the back piece and found a HORROR story.
The entire area on the off side was like a 'swamp'. Every seam was rusted beyond belief. and guess what I found a rubber tube.?
If you look in the fuel filler cap recess you will see a hole the diameter of a pencil and a rubber flange (with a hole) covering this hole. The rubber tube is the other end of this very poor design and takes rain water which enters the fuel filling recess (together with spillage of petrol or diesel) down to the ground. Months (maybe a year or more) of water/fuel ingress had poured into the very badly painted area behind the carpet covering...The rubber flange had corroded away almost completely.
I could handle this and repaired it with a solid brass tap fitting cut down in the thickness and sealed underneath with high quality marine mastic. The tube was then fitted from inside the boot and secured with a jubilee clip... Job done..
Forget it. This was just the start. The nasty plastic plug in the recess taking water away from the rear screen was leaking water into the same area . and yes you guesed it the rear screen was also leaking and water was getting into the boot behind the rear seat back..
I did not have the heart to sell the car Retail.
I sold it to a dealer (lost a packet ) and I was so gutted I left the rather expensive private plates on.. To be honest I was glad to get rid of it.
I collect my new car on the 1st June ... My first impressions from the test drives I have had and the service and attention I have received form 3 dealers I have contacted are something else.. Even though my son is a Merc
Dealer Principle I have never received help and service like this... You've already guessed I am sure... I have bought a LEXUS .
Will post info from time to time if this is OK on the Lexus. In the meantime have a look at your 'drain tubes' next to the filling cap.. On W210 models I would suggest you remove the side carpets and have a look for the dread 4 letter word RUST.
Roy
