My new Campaign

[Flip]

Having completed my  <img src="http://www.mbclub.co.uk/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/whatsthat.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':wotthat:'> &quot;Free the Dave Elcome 1&quot; Campaign   <img src="http://www.mbclub.co.uk/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/slayer.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=''>  I would like to put my efforts into supporting a well-regarded product...   ...The Retractable Merc Star!!!!

I have seen one in action, and I understand we have a member with one fitted. So, is there an A-Level Design &amp; Tech student out there with the time and energy to put together a kit???

Do modern Merc Central Locking systems work on electrical/pneumatic/hydraulic/clockwork? Is there someone who might be able to advise us where to start? (a rogue Stealership Parts Chap?&#33<img src="http://www.mbclub.co.uk/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=''>.

I am sure this really can't be too difficult.  <img src="http://www.mbclub.co.uk/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sly.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':sly:'>

Lets put those nice stickers on hold, in favour of a product folks actually want (in fact, need!!!!&#33<img src="http://www.mbclub.co.uk/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=''>.

<img src="http://www.mbclub.co.uk/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/banana.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':bannana:'>  <img src="http://www.mbclub.co.uk/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/banana.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':bannana:'>  <img src="http://www.mbclub.co.uk/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/banana.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':bannana:'>  <img src="http://www.mbclub.co.uk/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/banana.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':bannana:'>

Oh. Hang on. I have an SLK. No &quot;high&quot; star. LOL. <img src="http://www.mbclub.co.uk/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/happy.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':happy:'>

I am sure that there is a fortune to be made - come on folks, lets make this forum/internet thingy do something useful for once...!  <img src="http://www.mbclub.co.uk/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/thumbs-up.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':thumbs:'>

 

[Koolvin]

The retractable star would only look good on the mercedes that have the star on the grill and not on the bonnet.

The new mercedes use the vacum system as used in 1960 (probably before that)

 

[Shude]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (Flip @ Nov. 18 2002,00:00)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Oh. Hang on. I have an SLK. No &quot;high&quot; star. LOL. <img src="http://www.mbclub.co.uk/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/happy.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':happy:'></td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
So? &nbsp;Doesn't mean you can't pull that sticker off and fit a proper star to your bonnet instead! <img src="http://www.mbclub.co.uk/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=''>

 

[Simon]

<!--QuoteBegin--Flip+Nov. 18 2002,00<img src="http://www.mbclub.co.uk/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':0'></span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (Flip @ Nov. 18 2002,00<img src="http://www.mbclub.co.uk/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':0'>0)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">come on folks, lets make this forum/internet thingy do something useful for once...!  <img src="http://www.mbclub.co.uk/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/thumbs-up.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':thumbs:'></td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
That's not a very nice thing to say <img src="http://www.mbclub.co.uk/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mad.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':angry:'>

 

[Sp!ke]

I recon this could in fact be done.

I think that you could design a universal badge with a different fitting kit for the two different fittings (on bonnet or on grill).

As you may have guessed from my avatar, I already have such a badge. I plumbed mine into the central locking vacuum pump and it works a treat.

The grill type is easy, the bonnet type would require a colour coded plate to cover the slot required to be cut in the bonnet and may put a lot of people off because of the cutting required. I was terrified when I did mine and my cuts are invisable unless you look at the underside of the bonnet.

I believe V12 has a non working example (betcha I can fix it) which may be useful as a sample to take round engineering shops to get prices on the design and manufacture.

 

[Dave Elcome]

Spike.

Where did you get yours? and do you know who the manufacturers are, maybe that could be as good a place as any to start.

Black 180

I don't think Flip is being unkind in any of his comments, if we take his advice, then the MBCLUB could be the instigators in giving the MB world a really usefull gadget. Thus eliminating the mindless vandalism that many of the members have suffered recently.

 

[Shude]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (Dave Elcome @ Nov. 18 2002,12:30)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Thus eliminating the mindless vandalism that many of the members have suffered recently.</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
How about batmobile style shields operated off the vacuum too? &nbsp;That's what we need, esp with flyer's recent paint damage in mind. &nbsp;Failing that I want self-retracting valve stems to avoid the caps being stolen. &nbsp;Next time I get a set of new tyres I will have the flush-fitted &quot;racing valves&quot; that have no stem, but come with an adapter.

...just noticed they're £35 per set! <img src="http://www.mbclub.co.uk/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=''>

The things we have to do to stop our stuff being stolen or damaged <img src="http://www.mbclub.co.uk/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=''>

 

[Dave Elcome]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (Shude @ Nov. 18 2002,12:45)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">
The things we have to do to stop our stuff being stolen or damaged</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>

Do you find yourself getting paranoid about where you park??

 

[Sp!ke]

Urban legend dictates that they were originally made by a Dutch company some years ago that has now disappeared.

Mine was on ebay a while back but did have instructions etc...but the instructions were a bad photocopied translation listing a British company or distributor.

I did spend an hour or so trying to trace the company on the web but had no joy.

I will dig out all I have tonight and post it up here, maybe someone else will have more luck tracking down the makers.

 

[Shude]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (Dave Elcome @ Nov. 18 2002,12:57)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Do you find yourself getting paranoid about where you park??</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
I usually try to park next to other mercedes <img src="http://www.mbclub.co.uk/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=''>

 

[Flip]

OK....

Sp!ke (and perhaps V12?) would seem to be our starting point. Sp!ke - can you post any details for the distribution company or Dutch manufacturer? or perhaps even a technical drawing so that if it comes to re-manufacture, we might have some idea what parts might be required? <img src="http://www.mbclub.co.uk/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/thumbs-up.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':thumbs:'>

BTW - I don't anticipate putting one on the SLK, but I would buy one for my next Merc (and the one after that...) &nbsp;<img src="http://www.mbclub.co.uk/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/colgate.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':colgate:'>

Does anyone have any practical experience that might be of assistance in re-manufacturing one of these? &nbsp;<img src="http://www.mbclub.co.uk/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/whatsthat.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':wotthat:'> or is MBClub just IT Bods (and Cops &nbsp;<img src="http://www.mbclub.co.uk/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/blush.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':blush:'> &nbsp ?

<img src="http://www.mbclub.co.uk/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/whatsthat.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':wotthat:'> &nbsp;<img src="http://www.mbclub.co.uk/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/banana.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':bannana:'> &nbsp; <img src="http://www.mbclub.co.uk/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/whatsthat.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':wotthat:'> &nbsp;<img src="http://www.mbclub.co.uk/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/banana.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':bannana:'> &nbsp; <img src="http://www.mbclub.co.uk/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/whatsthat.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':wotthat:'> &nbsp;<img src="http://www.mbclub.co.uk/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/banana.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':bannana:'>

 

[V12]

I do indeed have a non-working example (the vacuum diaphrams are gone...) I tried to replace them with standard door lock diaphrams to no luck. It wouldnt take much for a fabricator to fix it up.

I did a bit of research a while back, and according to a good source (manager - mercedes-benz chelsea) they are made in the US, i'll have to see if i can dig up more information.

I did e-mail the company about shipping 100 or so to this country about a year ago with no responce.

<img src="http://www.mbclub.co.uk/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/confused.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt='???'>

Good plan anyway... <img src="http://www.mbclub.co.uk/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/banana.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':bannana:'>