So, this is a bit of a long story but it might help some members as it relates to my woes with the 207 that I bought recently and eventually cured all of its issues.
Loving a road trip as we do, the wife and I have been continental a few times, three years ago we went through Italy in a newish Jag XF 2.2, what a great car and we still have it now. Cruising at 90 – 100 all the way and it didn’t break a sweat, but we did because it was so hot. So we decide to get a rag top for the next year.
Last year I bought a BM 630 3.0 petrol, Off we pop through France – Spain – Andorra – France – Le Mans – Isle of Re – and again it went without a hitch and again we still have that car, but the fuel was a bit spiteful, plus it doesn’t have Sat Nav.
So now we are looking for a 2.2 diesel with Sat Nav, auto and soft top.
I had a SLK a few years back and I only drove it once, I hated it, it reminded me of an old TR4A or “upholstered roller skate” as they were called because of the terrible ride, so the SLK had to go.
One of my sons has a 66 plate C220 and it is lovely, so let’s go with a Merc then. After looking I bought a new shape black E250 W207 AMG style, and it is lovely, but it has a few little bits that need doing.
I like new tires so we need a set of them, the wheels are 19 with a 35 profile, Hmmmmmm too low for comfort driving, and when I took the wheels off two of them had been welded and one had a crack, so they have to go. I bought a set of S class 18s so I could put 40 profiles on them and they fill out the arches great and it handles superb. That was the easy bit.
It has a few dents and marks but I don’t care, it might have a few more by the time we get back.
ABS light is on, Near side rear, OK a new sensor and were done, yeah right. The original sensor was missing, this was a bit odd, when I put a new one on it wouldn’t drive, that wheel kelp locking up on the brakes after 10mph. I put a new ABS ring on it – same, I bought another Delphi Sensor – same, I have a snap – on diagnostic kit and once the sensor was OK the ABS was showing the ABS ECU was faulty.
I bought one and it made no difference, I bought another and same, one of the codes were [the vin number in the ECU differs from the vin number of the car].
I called MB Peterborough to ask “can you reprogram the ABS ECU to the car” ? – Yeah, no problem, was the reply. Err no, two days later they said it can’t be done and it needs a new ECU at £2k plus, Grrrrrr.
I called MB Kings Lynn, and they said, and I quote, “what would make you think that we couldn’t do this, we are a main dealership” – Great, see you soon.
Two days later, Ermmm, sorry but we can’t do it, it needs a new ECU at £1150. This proves that it pays to shop about and not all MB dealers are the same.
A week later we are told, come and get the car it is done. We go, the car isn’t done and they give me a loan car for a week. The next week they call and tell me it is done.
£1625 later I pick it up. I don’t even get it out of the car park.
The engine light is on, it is in limp mode, it won’t go into manual and the dash is telling me the washer bottle is empty, you would think that for £1625 they might put some water in it, I am really not amused.
I get it home and find the soot content is high so I give it a forced regen and now it is out of limp mode and driving fine.
I'll tell you all about the injectors and the head light another time. Sheeeesh.
Loving a road trip as we do, the wife and I have been continental a few times, three years ago we went through Italy in a newish Jag XF 2.2, what a great car and we still have it now. Cruising at 90 – 100 all the way and it didn’t break a sweat, but we did because it was so hot. So we decide to get a rag top for the next year.
Last year I bought a BM 630 3.0 petrol, Off we pop through France – Spain – Andorra – France – Le Mans – Isle of Re – and again it went without a hitch and again we still have that car, but the fuel was a bit spiteful, plus it doesn’t have Sat Nav.
So now we are looking for a 2.2 diesel with Sat Nav, auto and soft top.
I had a SLK a few years back and I only drove it once, I hated it, it reminded me of an old TR4A or “upholstered roller skate” as they were called because of the terrible ride, so the SLK had to go.
One of my sons has a 66 plate C220 and it is lovely, so let’s go with a Merc then. After looking I bought a new shape black E250 W207 AMG style, and it is lovely, but it has a few little bits that need doing.
I like new tires so we need a set of them, the wheels are 19 with a 35 profile, Hmmmmmm too low for comfort driving, and when I took the wheels off two of them had been welded and one had a crack, so they have to go. I bought a set of S class 18s so I could put 40 profiles on them and they fill out the arches great and it handles superb. That was the easy bit.
It has a few dents and marks but I don’t care, it might have a few more by the time we get back.
ABS light is on, Near side rear, OK a new sensor and were done, yeah right. The original sensor was missing, this was a bit odd, when I put a new one on it wouldn’t drive, that wheel kelp locking up on the brakes after 10mph. I put a new ABS ring on it – same, I bought another Delphi Sensor – same, I have a snap – on diagnostic kit and once the sensor was OK the ABS was showing the ABS ECU was faulty.
I bought one and it made no difference, I bought another and same, one of the codes were [the vin number in the ECU differs from the vin number of the car].
I called MB Peterborough to ask “can you reprogram the ABS ECU to the car” ? – Yeah, no problem, was the reply. Err no, two days later they said it can’t be done and it needs a new ECU at £2k plus, Grrrrrr.
I called MB Kings Lynn, and they said, and I quote, “what would make you think that we couldn’t do this, we are a main dealership” – Great, see you soon.
Two days later, Ermmm, sorry but we can’t do it, it needs a new ECU at £1150. This proves that it pays to shop about and not all MB dealers are the same.
A week later we are told, come and get the car it is done. We go, the car isn’t done and they give me a loan car for a week. The next week they call and tell me it is done.
£1625 later I pick it up. I don’t even get it out of the car park.
The engine light is on, it is in limp mode, it won’t go into manual and the dash is telling me the washer bottle is empty, you would think that for £1625 they might put some water in it, I am really not amused.
I get it home and find the soot content is high so I give it a forced regen and now it is out of limp mode and driving fine.
I'll tell you all about the injectors and the head light another time. Sheeeesh.
