Maintaining your car on the cheap.

[ss201]

I save by buying OE parts from alternative suppliers - Euromerc for genuine branded parts at a discount, Wunderpartz (dear franey, who is brilliant and beats ECP and GSF hands down), Unipart for Fuchs lubricants. I refurb my alloys myself & buy quality brand tyres part worn but only those with a minimum of 7mm tread. My local tyre man fits and balances tyres (carefully) for me. I source spare parts from my local breakers and have built up a good stock of relays, wiper arms, mirrors, window regulators etc - all tested, cleaned and working. I fit what I can and leave all the technical repairs to my local trusty M-B specialist who's happy for me to source the parts and charge me labour only at £35 per hour + VAT. I look after him, have sent many customers his way, and he looks after me. Seems a sensible way to keep my cars going as all the Mercs I own are over 20 years old. If I had any sense at all I'd only run the one car, but I can't resist W201 2.6 autos, especially if they've been properly looked after for their entire life.

 

[wemorgan]

wanting to try to get back to the original reason for posting, and getting away from the used tyre issue, does anyone have any links/tips etc to saving a little bit on motoring?

I've recently learnt that some GM oil is also 229.51 compliant, but costs only £20/5L.

 

[corned]

I've recently learnt that some GM oil is also 229.51 compliant, but costs only £20/5L.

Genetically modified, eh? Is that the same as fully synthetic?

 

[wemorgan]

It's branded as fully synth but I don't know of its chemistry.

Meets and in many cases exceeds ACEA A3/B4/C3, API SM/CF. GM-LL-B-025

meets BMW Longlife-04, Mercedes-Benz MB229.51, Volkswagen 502.00/505.00/505.01 and was designed for Vauxhall Engines that meet the new Euro 5 Standard

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

GM = General Motors

Available from Vauxhall dealers in the UK

 

[wemorgan]

GM = General Motors

Available from Vauxhall dealers in the UK

I was being a bit slow as I didn't initially twig what Corned really meant. Yes, I meant Vauxhall oil

 

[corned]

I was trying to be funny.

 

[Dieselman]

I've recently learnt that some GM oil is also 229.51 compliant, but costs only £20/5L.

Plenty of oils meet the spec, it's just regular petrol engine oil.
As far as gaining the accreditation, that's just a matter of presenting the oil spec, paying and waiting...and waiting...

 

[wemorgan]

I thought 229.51 was for diesel engines?

I agree plenty of oils do meet that standard, though none as cheap as that, from what I've seen so far.

 

[Dieselman]

I thought 229.51 was for diesel engines?

I agree plenty of oils do meet that standard, though none as cheap as that, from what I've seen so far.

That is the spec for low ash oil for cars with DPF. Diesel specific oils have ash content to control acid build up, but the ash blocks the trap.

My preference would be no particulate trap and diesel specific oil.

 

[wemorgan]

Funny game this DPF and oils. That oil I mention also meets 505.01 which is suitable for my A2 which doesn't have an DPF. I plan to change at 9000 intervals, which I hope will suffice.

 

[johnsco]

I share the aim of DIY low-cost servicing of our aging E-class MBs.
I have an account with Millers Oils, so I buy MB spec oils at considerably less than main-dealer prices.
I buy service parts from ECP or from Acid at significant discounts.
My only extravagance is that I always buy new Continentals.
In my younger and poorer days, I used to run £100 bangers and buy second-hand tyres. However I had one or two bad experiences, and now wouldn't go there.
The problem is that you dont know the history of the tyres.
I have also bought parts such as drop-links from motor factors with welded joints which look like they were done in some Chinese bucket shop.
Some second-source parts are OK ... Some are dreadful and positively-dangerous.
You just need to have your eyes open and your wits about you.
There is a lot of money to be saved.

 

[SilverSaloon]

I got some MB-spec oil for £10 for 5 litres.

"ULTRATEC Q TEC F1".

locally (collected to save postage). Which i consider a great price. Double this for identical at a local motor factors (i think £17.99+VAT).

I got 2 engine-oil filters from ECP recently.... one was Bosch and one was Hengst. The Hengst one was identical in looks to the MB one i got before (i also used Hengst last time too), but the Bosch one looks similar but misses the metal outer holed casing/trim that the Hengst one has. I'm assuming as both are decent brands they will be fine..... i'd prefer the Hengst next time though

 

[Peter T]

I've found grip in the wet to be a big issue with cheap tyres!

I haven't had my SLK long enough to get a comparison but I've had used BM's and Jag's that came with cheap tyres and were practically undrivable in the wet.

Once I changed to better tyres, I prefer Bridgestones, everything was fine. IMHO cheap tyres on a car with any sort of performance are a mistake.

 

[wemorgan]

I got some MB-spec oil for £10 for 5 litres.

"ULTRATEC Q TEC F1".

Great price. There certainly is something to be said for running a car of sufficient age which allows these cheaper oils, doesn't have dual mass flywheels, DPF and the like. My only quibble is that MB just didn't make an especially efficient diesel car that fits the bill for me.

 

[SilverSaloon]

Castrol GTX 10w40 is now at asda for £10 for 5 litres. bargain.

 

[SilverSaloon]

cheap but excellent aero wiper blade:

Mercedes E-Class W124 '85-95 Single Flat Wiper Blade | eBay

 

[wemorgan]

Recently had a go with some second-hand tyres. They have 2/3 tread, cost 1/3 and are 5 years old. Still very decent grip performance from them. Must say I wouldn't have considered them before I read this thread. Cheers.

 

[Dieselman]

I recently bought a Michelin tyre with nearly new tread for £20 fitted... LOL..

This is for a low mileage car, so is unlikely to wear out tyres, so buying new is a waste of money, but buying the best is a good idea.

 

[sinewave]

My question is why do decent tyres (Michelin PS2-3, Conti-Sport etc) become available with most of their tread?

Yes you may get the odd newish car that's been written off etc, but I mean in general??

Wouldn't dream of using second hand personally, my Wife & Kids are worth more than saving a few quid on a tyre!