How to break a modern Mercedes?

[dozypillock]

After reading the forums regarding the TG special, I am intrigued by what the cars went through, and how likely a modern car would actually cope?
I just know mine would throw a wobbly at lots of what those cars achieved, which is maybe why all the challenges now involve them picking 10 year or older cars, as modern ones are so unreliable?
I am old enough to remember when all a car really needed was fuel, and a couple of wires to the engine.
I would like to see the TG presenters take a 1 year old car through marshes, terrible roads etc., and so how long even one of them would last.
Some of them would probably flag so many errors, limp modes etc, after 50 miles, and be useless?

Anybody else think like this?

Neil

 

[renault12ts]

What they did any car could do...when followed by an army of mechanics. Do you really think Clarkson fixed his shock absorber top mount?

 

[stwat]

How to break a modern Mercedes?

Leave it out in the rain,,,,,

 

[dozypillock]

What they did any car could do...when followed by an army of mechanics. Do you really think Clarkson fixed his shock absorber top mount?

Mechanical leading to electrical?. What would a modern Mercedes do?
Would/ do (if they took one) carry a Star system, a zillion spare parts, sam/ecu/ whatever computers with them, or has it reached a point whereby they can only do it in old cars, as new ones are crap in terms of doing anything reliable?
Is it just modern Mercs that seem to have systems that make them unusable at the slightest wisp of any problem, and cannot just soldier on?
That was the point I was trying to make.

Neil

 

[dozypillock]

What they did any car could do...when followed by an army of mechanics. Do you really think Clarkson fixed his shock absorber top mount?

If he sorted the damaged wiring loom (which I suspect he did not do all himself) then he could have at least still driven it, if computers had not taken over. It seemed his whole dash etc. did not work after.
What are the odds of anybody getting a Merc to continue, when every dial/instrumentation is not working?
How easy is it to bypass all the computers, and keep on going? or did they just fit some Carbs, and a fuel line, so it worked fine?

Neil

 

[boxbrownie]

Modern cars could easily do it......what do you think they used for the many support vehicles that followed (and preceded) the stars cars.

 

[Spin_bowler]

Modern cars could easily do it......what do you think they used for the many support vehicles that followed (and preceded) the stars cars.

Yes, LR Disco's though. To be comparable they'd have needed to have had 63 engined cars, perhaps a CLS, SLS and a ... OK can't think of anything to replicate the Mustang.

 

[renault12ts]

Yes, LR Disco's though. To be comparable they'd have needed to have had 63 engined cars, perhaps a CLS, SLS and a ... OK can't think of anything to replicate the Mustang.

Ermm...a Mustang?

 

[Spin_bowler]

Ermm...a Mustang?

Not made by Mercedes though is it?

 

[boxbrownie]

Not made by Mercedes though is it?

ML then.......

 

[grober]

In essence if you want to go off road- use an off road vehicle. The South American bit has been done before- If anyone remembers the Darien Gap expedition?? QUOTE:- Its estimated that the first vehicle ever seen by one third of the worlds population is the land rover!
Range Rover Darien Gap - Range Rover Classic

[YOUTUBE]BnsMqYFjJpw[/YOUTUBE]

 

[Spin_bowler]

ML then.......

Not remotely like a Mustang.

 

[John Jones Jr]

What they did any car could do...when followed by an army of mechanics. Do you really think Clarkson fixed his shock absorber top mount?

Spoil sport. I had presumed he serviced & repaired the car prior to the trip. Also, fitted new uprated suspension, fitted suitable tyres and personally hand fabricated the heavy duty sump & diff guards along with any other modifications.

 

[brucemillar]

Hammond's ability to repair power steering fluid using his own body fluids and trouser belt is nothing short of heroic. His ability to look across a bridge and see a dead end is maybe not so magnificent.

 

[boxbrownie]

Not remotely like a Mustang.

Well someone had better make their mind up......I thought the OP wanted a MB to do it.............

ML is at least faster than that Mustang

 

[boxbrownie]

Hammond's ability to repair power steering fluid using his own body fluids and trouser belt is nothing short of heroic. His ability to look across a bridge and see a dead end is maybe not so magnificent.

Yeah but there was two fat knob-ends blocking his vision!

 

[Meldrew2]

Yeah but there was two fat BE11-ends blocking his vision!

Fixed that for you





.

 

[219]

After reading the forums regarding the TG special, I am intrigued by what the cars went through, and how likely a modern car would actually cope?
I just know mine would throw a wobbly at lots of what those cars achieved, which is maybe why all the challenges now involve them picking 10 year or older cars, as modern ones are so unreliable?
I am old enough to remember when all a car really needed was fuel, and a couple of wires to the engine.
I would like to see the TG presenters take a 1 year old car through marshes, terrible roads etc., and so how long even one of them would last.
Some of them would probably flag so many errors, limp modes etc, after 50 miles, and be useless?

Anybody else think like this?

Neil

I did break a road spring in the C270 a year or so back when I drove through a pothole that was full of rainwater and looked like a puddle .

Some of the newer cars with traction control etc would probably just go into ' computer says no ' mode .

 

[219]

What they did any car could do...when followed by an army of mechanics. Do you really think Clarkson fixed his shock absorber top mount?

Much like Hammond welded his broken track rod

 

[219]

If he sorted the damaged wiring loom (which I suspect he did not do all himself) then he could have at least still driven it, if computers had not taken over. It seemed his whole dash etc. did not work after.
What are the odds of anybody getting a Merc to continue, when every dial/instrumentation is not working?
How easy is it to bypass all the computers, and keep on going? or did they just fit some Carbs, and a fuel line, so it worked fine?

Neil

With the faulty one of my two 'keys' , my C 270 sometimes starts and runs with no instrument panel , IIRC no wipers or indicators either - but who needs these things ?