What Have You Done To Your Merc Today?

[D2028]

I knew this would be a CLK even before the pictures had loaded

I did exactly the same and it was rubbish. I binned it, complained to eBay, got my money back and ordered one off Autodoc as the MB ones are unobtainium.

This one fits perfectly https://www.autodoc.co.uk/van-wezel/9500060

Thanks, I appreciate the suggestion, does that come complete with gasket etc?

 

[rich1068]

Thanks, I appreciate the suggestion, does that come complete with gasket etc?

Yes. Complete unit and the nearest to the MB part I could find.

Note that my CLK is an '03 so check it's the same.

 

[D2028]

Yes. Complete unit and the nearest to the MB part I could find.

Thanks, just ordered it, bit of a shame really because the "smoked" lens on the fleabay light looks good on a black car.... apart from the fitment issues of course.

 

[8bit]

"Fixed" my slow-retracting front seatbelts by soaking an old cloth in silicone lubricant and running it down the length of the belt to just short of where it sits on your clothes, then pulling them out and back in a number of times. Much better now.

 

[Londonscottish]

I drove mine to Leeds yesterday. Driving back to London today.

Getting my money's worth from the Android system + speakers.

Google Maps, Audible, Pocket Casts, Spotify and BBC sounds made the trip fly by.

And the Distronic. It's such a relaxing feature and removes the temptation to do pointless squirts in the outside lane. Despite doing most of the more open sections at an indicated 85, still got 30-odd mpg.

 

[T5R+]

Attracted to shiny things. Somehow bought some more wheels at the weekend.

 

[TeddyRuxpin]

What finish is that? Looks great

 

[SR3210]

Gave it a good wash!

 

[T5R+]

What finish is that? Looks great

"may I have as close to chrome finish, as possible. please" - this was the request. Will see what I end up with at the weekend when collect. If they look as good in the flesh as in the photo - will be pleased (£380 "all in" with MO road legal tyres, TPMS, balanced and powder coat plus usual ridicule from "SWMBO").

 

[ALFAitalia]

Collected the A Class W169 A170 from the mechanic last night.
A while ago I posted on here about the engine speed whining noise.....I was pretty convinced that it was the AC compressor......but due the the engine being pretty much under the car, even when I jacked it up and got under with my stethoscope it was quite difficult to tell where the noise was emanating from.....AC pump, alternator and the aux belt tensioner and pulleys are all side by side and difficult to access being between the engine and the body rail. So a few months have passed and the noise getting louder......but it was due an MOT so I took it to a different place to where I usually go (all the test centres seem so busy at the moment) and it flew through with no advises as usual....whilst it was on the ramp I asked them to check the noise. They said its DEFINITELY the alternator.....and quoted just under £400 to replace it......but warned that if the belt pulleys or tensioner need replacing it would be closer to a grand as the engine has to be dropped to gain access.....which is true. Anyway I got a better price from a customer at work (£300 if its just the alternator and belt (pointless not doing the belt whilst there).....£800 if its the alt, belt, pulleys and tensioner).
So I dropped it off yesterday morning and the tech was waiting with all the parts inc tensioners etc...just in case.
An hour later he called....."its not the alternator....its the AC pump"....great!....just as I had said months ago!! The test centre almost had me convinced that it was the alt as it made no difference to the sound whether the AC was on or off....but it would as they don't use a clutched system so the pump is always turning. Good news was that he could get a compressor by lunchtime (which was a surprise ....I was expecting to have to take it back another day) and have it fitted by end of play.....more good news was that there was nothing wrong with the pullies, tensioner or belt ....but I got him to fit the belt anyway.
So I collected the car after work......silence!.....just the minor matter of being £621.46 inc VAT poorer!....could have been worse I guess....especially if the rest had needed doing.

Now the the noise had started not long after the AC was re-gassed at Kwikfit.....yeah I know but Mrs ALFAitalia sorted that herself....and to be fair it been ice cold ever since......but when he emptied the system to do the repair it only contained 300g of gas.......should be 750.....apparently these AC systems are good and don't quit cooling until its gets down to about 200g......hmmm.....so did they under fill it at Kwikfit and that's what caused the eventual damage?....or did it leak away through the failing compressor?.....I guess we will never know. Bit of a coincidence though and I don't like those!!!

 

[TeddyRuxpin]

"may I have as close to chrome finish, as possible. please" - this was the request. Will see what I end up with at the weekend when collect. If they look as good in the flesh as in the photo - will be pleased (£380 "all in" with MO road legal tyres, TPMS, balanced and powder coat plus usual ridicule from "SWMBO").

Great, thanks. I went shadow chrome last time and although I really liked it, think I might just go for chrome next time, to get the brightness AND the shine. There are all sorts of variations!

 

[StMarks]

should be 750.....apparently these AC systems are good and don't quit cooling until its gets down to about 200g......hmmm.....so did they under fill it at Kwikfit and that's what caused the eventual damage?....or did it leak away through the failing compressor?.....I guess we will never know. Bit of a coincidence though and I don't like those!!!

I feel your pain Alfa', but that's the price you pay when you hand it over to someone to do the work for you isn't it.
On the positive, sounds like you've found a tech' with some integrity...: Imho a lot of numptys in that scenario would have fitted the parts they had, "just because", and then stung you again for the AC when the alternator didn't resolve your issue.

 

[ALFAitalia]

I usually do all my own with except paint and tyre balancing.....so I hate paying!...but I did not want to potentially have to drop the engine whilst lying on back on the drive to fit the pulleys, belt and tensioner along with the alternator. Just as well I took it in anyway as I don't have the gear for AC draining and recharging. It's only money!

 

[rich1068]

Off to Bicester Scramble tomorrow so it got a good scrub.

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

Took one for a drive around Detbyshire to stretch it’s legs as it hasn’t been used much this year at all. Stopped along the way for a coffee, and swung by the supermarket in the way home.

We buy all of our big, bulky and heavy items from Ocado, which means that we can very easily take a completely impractical car shopping, and put a weeks worth of food for four adults in the boot.

Also put one on the CTEK One to to give the battery a boost it’s a car we usually use a lot but haven’t really used it much this year at all, so I’ve hooked it up to make sure that it’s top top when we need it.

 

[Rubyred]

Just had to replace an almost new tyre on my AMG Line C Class.
I inadvertently hit the rising kerb off a drive way and burst the tyre and scratched the 19 inch turbine vane alloy wheel. New tyre was £196 all in, OUCH! I managed to wet sand the wheel damage out so you can’t really see it now, but I know it’s there. It’s a diamond cut finish on the wheel so expensive to refurbish.
All this expense and hassle for not looking where I was driving, I was only going about 15mph, so be careful all those with low profile tyres.

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

Took another one out for a drive to take Mrs D out for dinner at one of our favourite restaurants. Naturally we took the long way home to enjoy the lovely and unseasonably warm evening.

It’s quite new to us and I haven’t really had an opportunity to sample the performance. However honing a de-restricted dual carriageway with the briefest of brief slip roads carriageway required briskest acceleration so far.

 

[kendog91]

Gave her a well deserved wash and valet, after an 8 week horrendous stint in the garage.

 

[SpikyMikey]

Off to Bicester Scramble tomorrow so it got a good scrub.

View attachment 147880

Polishes up an absolute treat doesn't it?

 

[fabes]

Just a quick wash of mine after 400 or so miles this week.

The resin filtered final rinse really works well (no spots etc)

Then of course, one of our wonderful cats climbed up when I wasn't looking to sunbathe on the black, warm pano roof !!

Bleeping bleep bleep of a bleeper!!!!