New arrival - W124 300-24v Sportline (update)

[Gollom]

Thought it would be interesting to update on what we (aka Ian Walker!) discovered on my bargain! The original mail is at http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=27561 and the "before" piccies are at http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=27600

Known problems:

• Water pump now replaced (Ian tells me that a repair had been attempted with rubber sealant!)
• Replacement wing on way to be sprayed and fitted
• Offside window mechanisms U/S so new bits sourced and being fitted
• Electric ariel knackered - to be sorted
• Leather being cleaned
• Stone chips to be sorted eventually
• 8-hole Alloys in a sorry state. Will eventually either get refurbished or may be cheaper to replace?

Discovered problems:

• Oil overfilled in engine and gearbox
• Wrong plugs fitted
• Leads wrong way round (was only firing on 4.5 cylinders!)
• Repair needed where pipe joins radiator
• Cruise Control not working (anybody know much about these?)
• Kickdown switch retrieved from under carpet!
• Radio/Cassette pretty much knackered (thinking of replacing with a bluetooth CD unit so it can double as hands-free for 'er indoors. Anybody got one of these?)

I'm sure Ian will add/correct as necessary. He says that the car now runs "sweet as a nut" and "does not hang around" To my mind all the discovered problems are not very drastic at all (touch large piece of wood!) So it looks like I'll still end up with a bargain - not far north of £1K plus any audio costs!

Thanks Ian!

 

[Vips]

Steve, Very nice car and the good thing is that the repair work is not major. 'er indoors is a lucky woman!

 

[fatherpierre]

I acquired one recently for not a lot of money.

Mine was a saudi import though and needed a new front section exhaust which has taken 2.5 months to get hold of

Apparently, the front section of Saudi cars has one exit pipe into the middle that's 3mm bigger than Europe/USA models and was a nightmare to source.

 

[Vips]

You could have easily ordered these parts from Dubai. The parts are so cheap, even with the import duty.

 

[andy_k]

it's worth taking out the cruise control module - under the dashboard and going over the solder joints on the PCB. There is a known "fault" that they develop dry joints or the soldr cracks due to a mixture of vibration and heat.

HTH

Andy

 

[fatherpierre]

You could have easily ordered these parts from Dubai. The parts are so cheap, even with the import duty.

That's where it came from.

Eventually.

Sorted out the miss, sorted the exhaust and it now pulls and pulls all the way to red line with ease

 

[Ian B Walker]

This is after the water pump was removed. Looks like the nations supply of barseal went into this engine followed by half the worlds supply of liquid rubber. Anyway have the new pump fitted and changed the plugs as it seemed hessitant with a kick back when starting. Further investigation resulted in a new set of plugs to match the engine not a set for a normal 3ltr. Noticed thet plug leads 1 and 2 had been crossed hense the kick back. I was a little concerned about this so did a compression test. no harm done so it seems. Talking of pulling to the red line 7000rpm and white knuckles. Found the kickdown hidden under the carpet and re fitted it, had to test it well it has to be done, just to make sure that the customer gets what he expects. Did an interesdting modification on the radiator with araldite. Where the return to the header tank comes from the rad, this plastic fitting had been blown out by heat and pressure. It wouldnt seal. left with the choice of new radiator or fix, I did the fix. Clean the plastic, score with sand paper, apply araldite and leave overnight. Works a treat. Now the door window mech to fix. The motor is well goosed as there are no teeth left on the gear wheel. the mech itself is missing a few teeth and has siezed solid. Both items from Dronsfields at £35 + vat. Beats (I am sad to say) The Garage who wanted to sell me a new one at £170 + vat.

 

[Shude]

Both items from Dronsfields at £35 + vat. Beats (I am sad to say) The Garage who wanted to sell me a new one at £170 + vat.

I have little faith in either of those establishments, but I have only been looking for clean shiny things, not oily bits

 

[219]

I have seen too many unfavourable reports about the first of those establishments on other forums so have avoided them thus far .

What I cannot source from local breakers , I have managed to get from Boss Parts near Leeds ( mercedesparts.co.uk ) or Mercman in Southampton .

 

[Ian B Walker]

I have seen too many unfavourable reports about the first of those establishments on other forums so have avoided them thus far .

What I cannot source from local breakers , I have managed to get from Boss Parts near Leeds ( mercedesparts.co.uk ) or Mercman in Southampton .

I know mate but needs must. Will just have to see what the condition is tomorrow. I hope they are ok as last time I dealt with them I had a VERY bad experience.

 

[Ian B Walker]

I received the mech and motor from Dronsfields this morning. Yep now you know why I dislike them so much. There were more teeth on the one I took off than the one they supplied. P****d off right now. Another day lost

 

[219]

How can they get away with selling sh**e like that ?!!!!!

It just bears out what I have read elsewhere and been told by friends who have called by personally .

 

[219]

In fact , I have questioned whether they deserve a place in the 'Motoring Hates' thread .

 

[Ian B Walker]

Derek, I support the motion

 

[Dieselman]

I received the mech and motor from Dronsfields this morning. Yep now you know why I dislike them so much. There were more teeth on the one I took off than the one they supplied. P****d off right now. Another day lost

I wonder if they reserve the cr*p stock for mail order supply and sell decent stuff over the counter. Maybe not.

Ian, why didn't you use Mercland or Mercman?

 

[Ian B Walker]

Ian, why didn't you use Mercland or Mercman?

Fear not they will be used next time.

 

[219]

I wonder if they reserve the cr*p stock for mail order supply and sell decent stuff over the counter. Maybe not.

Ian, why didn't you use Mercland or Mercman?

One of my mates went in for something or other , a lot of the stuff is kept through the back , and they won't even fetch items through , never mind let you examine them (we're talking about used parts here , remember) until you have paid up front

The only possible reason for this , by my reasoning , is that a lot of it must be c**p

 

[Ian B Walker]

Well motor arrived early this morning, checked out ok and fitted. Washed the car and this is now how it looks.

Have to wait till Wednesday for the wing to be fitted and sprayed

 

[agatward]

It's worth taking out the cruise control module - under the dashboard and going over the solder joints on the PCB. There is a known "fault" that they develop dry joints or the soldr cracks due to a mixture of vibration and heat.

If you'd like me to run any PCBs through our solder reflow oven then just drop me a PM and we can sort something out.

 

[Gollom]

If you'd like me to run any PCBs through our solder reflow oven then just drop me a PM and we can sort something out.

Very generous offer. Where are you?