One year on !

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Merc220cls

Active Member
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Joined
Feb 14, 2018
Messages
628
Location
Ayrshire
Car
220 CLS Shooting Brake & 350 SL
A year ago today I was standing outside the premises of Christopher Jackson in Alderley Edge to collect my 2004 350 SL
Me and the missus flew down from Glasgow via Flybe which has since gone into liquidation ( prior to Covid 19 )

My car choice had mainly been within the Austin Rover stable with a short dabbling with Jaguar and I also had a mounting collection of classics. I had always thought about a Triumph Stag but as I was getting too old to be working under classic cars I made the decision to cut back so four of the classics, my SD1 Vitesse, 2 x Rover 75 Connoisseurs and a Mini were sold.

I had been watching this lovely low mileage SL (7,600 miles) for some months and at one point thought I was going to lose out as I was sure it would sell. Perhaps the price was high for some but after a trip to Alderley Edge to view the car I was more than happy to go ahead.

My SL was waiting outside for me complete with personal plate and we were there before opening. After a nice coffee and paperwork completed it was a time for the journey home. I resisted temptation to drop the roof (just in case of failing) and on the way home got to know the car. I reckon there was sufficient fuel in the car for the trip but on reaching Carlisle and time for a break I decided to fuel up to be on the safe side.

Over the next six months the car the car has excelled itself and way over my own expectations. The only main item I had to address was to get the auto box serviced and new wiring seal fitted after it sprung a leak. The car has now covered just over 10,000 miles and I reckon most of the mileage was with the top down.
At the end of October 2019 I placed the car on SORN and purchased a tailored cover to keep it snug over the winter. I’ve also got a Cetek charger which I keep mainly on the rear battery which incidentally is a 2008 one and so far has not let me down. It’s still showing in the green and if still ok when I finally get back on the road must be a record for battery life. My main starter battery was replaced in late 2018. During the lay up I have serviced the car and the oil drained was the “cleanest oil” I’ve ever drained. Incidentally the car was dealer serviced, MOT’d and taxed for 12 months every year since new yet on pick up had only covered 7800 miles.
I had intended to tax it in April for 12 months but still SORN it over the winter months but with this virus situation all I can do is look at the car in my garage. I must find out how to post photos on here, perhaps someone can help. I used to use Photobucket but we all know what happened there with many topics ruined because they no longer show the photos.
 
Ha Ha! The gaffs not mine. The SL is pictured at the entrance to Sorn Castle, a favourite photo location for me.
The CLS is shown in the car park at Hetland Hall near Dumfries where we had a weekend break just before the lock down.

While I’m on a roll here’s another little shotE29C1E68-222C-4ED4-9756-A291E7DD07CE.jpeg
 
Lovely car but I am a bit biased.

Had my 2004 car 41/2 years now, same colour but grey leather. It currently sits in the garage sorn and on a trickle charger. Made the mistake of putting it on sorn at the beginning of April and have missed all this good weather.

It is currently on 54k miles and has only needed a starter battery and a crank position sensor during my ownership. It was a one owner car and had been driven but pampered by it's previous owner and has always been garaged, and I must say I am quite attached to it.

I also take a peek every now and then in the garage, ok every day :dk: Keeps me sane.
 
A year ago today I was standing outside the premises of Christopher Jackson in Alderley Edge to collect my 2004 350 SL
Me and the missus flew down from Glasgow via Flybe which has since gone into liquidation ( prior to Covid 19 )

My car choice had mainly been within the Austin Rover stable with a short dabbling with Jaguar and I also had a mounting collection of classics. I had always thought about a Triumph Stag but as I was getting too old to be working under classic cars I made the decision to cut back so four of the classics, my SD1 Vitesse, 2 x Rover 75 Connoisseurs and a Mini were sold.

I had been watching this lovely low mileage SL (7,600 miles) for some months and at one point thought I was going to lose out as I was sure it would sell. Perhaps the price was high for some but after a trip to Alderley Edge to view the car I was more than happy to go ahead.

My SL was waiting outside for me complete with personal plate and we were there before opening. After a nice coffee and paperwork completed it was a time for the journey home. I resisted temptation to drop the roof (just in case of failing) and on the way home got to know the car. I reckon there was sufficient fuel in the car for the trip but on reaching Carlisle and time for a break I decided to fuel up to be on the safe side.

Over the next six months the car the car has excelled itself and way over my own expectations. The only main item I had to address was to get the auto box serviced and new wiring seal fitted after it sprung a leak. The car has now covered just over 10,000 miles and I reckon most of the mileage was with the top down.
At the end of October 2019 I placed the car on SORN and purchased a tailored cover to keep it snug over the winter. I’ve also got a Cetek charger which I keep mainly on the rear battery which incidentally is a 2008 one and so far has not let me down. It’s still showing in the green and if still ok when I finally get back on the road must be a record for battery life. My main starter battery was replaced in late 2018. During the lay up I have serviced the car and the oil drained was the “cleanest oil” I’ve ever drained. Incidentally the car was dealer serviced, MOT’d and taxed for 12 months every year since new yet on pick up had only covered 7800 miles.
I had intended to tax it in April for 12 months but still SORN it over the winter months but with this virus situation all I can do is look at the car in my garage. I must find out how to post photos on here, perhaps someone can help. I used to use Photobucket but we all know what happened there with many topics ruined because they no longer show the photos.
Just in case you aren't already aware , and as if you aren't already fed up paying the extortionate costs of MB dealer service charges , one of the best MB independent specialists is on your doorstep .

Merparts , in Port Glasgow , both Paul and Stefano Mazzoni are MB Master Technicians ( the highest level ) and they will service your car properly , updating the MB ESS , and using only genuine MB parts . I , and other members on here cannot recommend them highly enough . Although I do mostly my own work , they are the only ones I would trust implicitly to work on my cars - in preference to main dealers !


 
A year ago today I was standing outside the premises of Christopher Jackson in Alderley Edge to collect my 2004 350 SL
Me and the missus flew down from Glasgow via Flybe which has since gone into liquidation ( prior to Covid 19 )

My car choice had mainly been within the Austin Rover stable with a short dabbling with Jaguar and I also had a mounting collection of classics. I had always thought about a Triumph Stag but as I was getting too old to be working under classic cars I made the decision to cut back so four of the classics, my SD1 Vitesse, 2 x Rover 75 Connoisseurs and a Mini were sold.

I had been watching this lovely low mileage SL (7,600 miles) for some months and at one point thought I was going to lose out as I was sure it would sell. Perhaps the price was high for some but after a trip to Alderley Edge to view the car I was more than happy to go ahead.

My SL was waiting outside for me complete with personal plate and we were there before opening. After a nice coffee and paperwork completed it was a time for the journey home. I resisted temptation to drop the roof (just in case of failing) and on the way home got to know the car. I reckon there was sufficient fuel in the car for the trip but on reaching Carlisle and time for a break I decided to fuel up to be on the safe side.

Over the next six months the car the car has excelled itself and way over my own expectations. The only main item I had to address was to get the auto box serviced and new wiring seal fitted after it sprung a leak. The car has now covered just over 10,000 miles and I reckon most of the mileage was with the top down.
At the end of October 2019 I placed the car on SORN and purchased a tailored cover to keep it snug over the winter. I’ve also got a Cetek charger which I keep mainly on the rear battery which incidentally is a 2008 one and so far has not let me down. It’s still showing in the green and if still ok when I finally get back on the road must be a record for battery life. My main starter battery was replaced in late 2018. During the lay up I have serviced the car and the oil drained was the “cleanest oil” I’ve ever drained. Incidentally the car was dealer serviced, MOT’d and taxed for 12 months every year since new yet on pick up had only covered 7800 miles.
I had intended to tax it in April for 12 months but still SORN it over the winter months but with this virus situation all I can do is look at the car in my garage. I must find out how to post photos on here, perhaps someone can help. I used to use Photobucket but we all know what happened there with many topics ruined because they no longer show the photos.
Nice to hear a "success" MB story here on the forum !!!!:):):) And the cars are lovely examples, long may you enjoy them !!! On a slightly different topic that you mentioned, you previously owned ( among others) 2 Rover 75 Connoisseur's...they are long a car that I have fancied !!! How did you find them ? As you have had 2, I guess that the experience must have been good? Some history from you would be most welcome, and not only to me, I'm pretty sure that there are some MB owners who have had them too.
 
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I’ve stopped using my local MB Dealer as one of their “mechanics” was the guy who worked at Parks Jaguar and failed my Jaguar XF at 42k requiring new rear upper arms. Totally unnecessary as I re fitted the old ones and got the car re tested and passed. Four other MoT testers agreed with me but hey ho Parks Jaguar lost out with several customers leaving them including me.
I now use local independent Automotive Solutions in Ayr who have been very good and not so expensive. I serviced the SL myself during the winter as I’m an old school mechanic 5 year apprentice back in my time and not just a fitter like they are now.

As for the Rover 75, one of the finest cars on the road. We purchased our first one, a 2.0 diesel Connoisseur back in 2002. Six years later we added a 2nd one this time a 2.5 V6 petrol Connoisseur which strangely enough was built just days apart from our diesel and delivered to the same main dealer in East Kilbride.

The diesel was sold and replaced by the Jaguar XF then about three years ago I purchased yet another V6 Connoisseur simply because it had a sunroof plus other extras my then current one had.

I can honestly say the seating comfort in the 75 is far better than both the XF and our CLS both which I need a rest after approx two hours. With the 75 I could drive to Birmingham non stop and arrive relaxed. My SL is certainly comfortable once your down in the seat but I haven’t done long distances in it other than the drive home last year.
The 75’s are getting old in the tooth now and most will now require suspension overhauls due to corrosion but mechanically may still be well up for the task.
The owner of my diesel still keeps in touch, the last time from Spain and also the owner of the last V6 with the sunroof gave me an email from Cornwall saying how much he is enjoying the car.
 
Back in 2014/15 I was abroad, and a 2005 Rover 75 Connoisseur SE came up for sale back here at home. Black in color, with perfect upholstery and all the whistles and bells. Beautiful car . So I contacted my son and asked him to buy it on my behalf......but, it was gone before he could do the deal. I was a really big fan of the '75 and I still think about that car, believe it or not. They were designed to challenge the big marques,,,BMW, MB etc. but when BMW ( fearing competition for their own builds?? ) pulled out, it was a bad blow to Rover. None the less, they were a fine well built car, and i can well believe you when you say that after 2,3 or more hours continuous driving, you would still feel nice and relaxed.
 
View attachment 95391

I’ve attempted to post photos before and failed but here goes with another try.
Lovely car and story. Love the models too. Enjoy them all!

I’m trying to find 1:43 models of our cars in the right colours but struggling. I’ve heard about model makers changing colours, 3D printing wheels, etc but I’ve yet to find one.
 
Thank you, I’ve got quite a model collection mainly Franklin Mint 1/24 scale models of Rolls Royce and the 1929 Bentley. The largest one I have is Maisto 1/12 scale model of the Jaguar XJ 220

The models shown are both 1/18 scale, the CLS is a Norev model and the SL is made by Maisto.
I purchased the SL model off Ebay just before I collected the real thing. Detail on both cars are very good but they’re both left hand drive and the grille and trim on the CLS are not exact to our own.

When I had my classic Rover SD1 at shows I had a two tier model showroom with around 20 1/43 scale models of cars from the BL, Austin Rover, Jaguar, MG and Triumph marques on display as a tribute to Rover cars over the years. The collection went along with the car when I sold it to a collector last year.

My SD1 Vitesse going off to a new home.

73A44988-D202-4A0E-A6A7-F9A89A1107CA.jpeg
 
Ha Ha! The gaffs not mine. The SL is pictured at the entrance to Sorn Castle, a favourite photo location for me.
The CLS is shown in the car park at Hetland Hall near Dumfries where we had a weekend break just before the lock down.

While I’m on a roll here’s another little shotView attachment 95400

That explains why I thought I had seen that Gatehouse before I come from Dalrymple!
 
Thank you, I’ve got quite a model collection mainly Franklin Mint 1/24 scale models of Rolls Royce and the 1929 Bentley. The largest one I have is Maisto 1/12 scale model of the Jaguar XJ 220

The models shown are both 1/18 scale, the CLS is a Norev model and the SL is made by Maisto.
I purchased the SL model off Ebay just before I collected the real thing. Detail on both cars are very good but they’re both left hand drive and the grille and trim on the CLS are not exact to our own.

When I had my classic Rover SD1 at shows I had a two tier model showroom with around 20 1/43 scale models of cars from the BL, Austin Rover, Jaguar, MG and Triumph marques on display as a tribute to Rover cars over the years. The collection went along with the car when I sold it to a collector last year.

My SD1 Vitesse going off to a new home.

View attachment 95433
That SD1 is something else, love it!
 
It was quite a wrench to part with the Vitesse as I had owned since 1989, purchased it with just 18k replacing a previous 2.0 SD1. It was a cracking tow car in its day. I carried out a full restoration rebuild over a three year period but it just sat in the garage under cover for over three years so I sold it to make way for my SL.

A former owner of Sorn castle was a director of local ford dealership Dalblair Motors and he owned a few classic cars and military stuff. He also had a brand new DeTomasa Pantera which I had the privilege to drive when I fitted it up with a radio.

Years later while thumbing through a book on exotic cars was the Panterra pictured on the same spot as my SL at the gatehouse to the castle.
 

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