What Have You Done To Your Merc Today?

[Bobby Dazzler]

Took a beautifully clean and shiny black car on a 450 mile 10h 30m round trip.

I’ve not used this one for a while so a long trip was an ideal opportunity to give it a good run. This car was perfect for the job too as it’s comfortable, waftable, and well suited to the mixed weather - we needed to have plenty of boot space too.

It’s comfortable too, and hopped out after 450 miles and 10h 30m as a fresh as a daisy.

It managed a remarkable 25 MPG on the way, and 23.6 MPG round trip thanks to traffic chaos on the M5 near Worcester where we ended up in stationary queues on single track country lanes! The highest I’ve managed in this car.

Despite muddy roads and spitting rain in and off all day, she still looks fairly clean but not so shiny!

 

[Smithy860]

Not a good few days for me, took the SLK for MoT knowing there was a slight "oil" leak that had been an advisory for 2 of 4 previous MoT's, this time it dripped on the tester's head and he failed her with a Major, Repair Immediately. The garage did a small investigation, said it could be the engine oil sump/gasket or the gearbox sump, so they could not go further. Found a "specialist" who could take the car today to investigate, told them I just wanted the leak located and fixed, they came back saying it needed a replacement transmission sump and associated parts and tried to upsell me an A service as Assyst reckons the service is well overdue. I knew that, the garage she was booked into for MoT (F1 Autocentres, who are excellent here) was also booked for a major service that is near as dammit identical to an MB B service - which is what she actually needs! Specialist wanted £700+ for GB and service, told them to forget the service, I'd have that done elswhere - F1, including the extra £25 for fully synth oil, are £260 for the major service, "specialist" charged me that for an A service on the S204 recently!! Specialist also insists on new ATF despite a full transmission service having been done less than 15k miles ago, so less than impressed again, which is a shame as they are close to us, next closest would be Aylesford or Paddock Wood (Steve Garlic or Alex Foti) both of which are an awkward drive away, and Alex Foti is currently booking 3 weeks ahead (but is excellent, need him to open a branch near here!!). Waiting for tomorrow's phone call for new price for just the leak fix I'd asked for and have told them to go ahead and do, as legally I can only drive the car to a garage for repair and then to a booked MoT test station.

Did you get sorted Chris?

 

[Chrishazle]

Got a call from Phoenix Monday afternoon saying I could take the car to them Tuesday morning. They found the gearbox sump and gasket was the cause of the leak, Fixing that is hurting the wallet - £500ish! - but should be completed before the weekend. cheeky sods also tried to upsell me an A service that they reckon was overdue - but their A service price was more than F1's B service price, so that's where she's going once I have her back.

 

[colinallcars]

Replaced the corroded wheel centre caps with some shiny new ones. Looks the the old ones were the originals... so not too bad for 14 years old. Not expecting the new ones to last that long.... not for six quid!

Old...
View attachment 163360

New...
View attachment 163361

I bought the 6 quid ones from eBay, the emblem fell off one of them after a couple of hundred miles. Got a refund, will buy another set from a different seller and have three spare!

 

[MrGreedy]

I bought the 6 quid ones from eBay, the emblem fell off one of them after a couple of hundred miles. Got a refund, will buy another set from a different seller and have three spare!

When you buy the cheap ones (or should I say, on all the sets of cheap ones I've bought), there are small tabs on the aluminium around the edge. Just get something metallic (e.g. screwdriver blade) and bend these tabs under the rim so they grip properly.

 

[ALFAitalia]

Exactly what I did......they seemed to be glued on pretty tight too.

 

[colinallcars]

Exactly what I did......they seemed to be glued on pretty tight too.

Mine have an adhesive pad.

 

[colinallcars]

When you buy the cheap ones (or should I say, on all the sets of cheap ones I've bought), there are small tabs on the aluminium around the edge. Just get something metallic (e.g. screwdriver blade) and bend these tabs under the rim so they grip properly.

Thanks, I’ll try that

 

[Smithy860]

Certainly seem solid , weigh a ton!
Good forecast . Set fair for a week or so , should get them on

 

[Mactech]

Adorned it with filth

View attachment 163313

That looks like an i3 group flocking....
Mine has been out to the woods with the dogs today, but remained in pristine condition here in 'semi arid' Norfolk

 

[HappytalkAgain]

Worked the van hard today. Multiple collections with a fully ladened trailer. Maxed out on weight most the day. It was effortless. Despite my moaning the last few years it does the very important things very well.

 

[OneForTheRoad]

lacquer them before fitting . Last ages

Thanks, I’ll try that

 

[tmwsccsh]

Dropped it at the local specialist to have the heater blower looked at. It's intermittent and makes a VM VM VM VM VM noise when trying to spin occasionally.

If it decides to work at all that is...

TMW

 

[OneForTheRoad]

One side step fitted. 2nd is WIP.

 

[OneForTheRoad]

Done.

 

[tmwsccsh]

Dropped it at the local specialist to have the heater blower looked at. It's intermittent and makes a VM VM VM VM VM noise when trying to spin occasionally.

If it decides to work at all that is...

TMW

£1,200 for a new one! £1,200!!!!

Getting the part numbers and going to see what I can find elsewhere parts wise...

TMW

 

[BTB 500]

£1,200 for a new one! £1,200!!!!

Getting the part numbers and going to see what I can find elsewhere parts wise...

TMW

On our 1996 Audi I just fitted new brushes to the blower motor, which was a relatively simple/cheap fix. Worth a quick Google to see if this can be an issue with yours.

 

[SpikyMikey]

On our 1996 Audi I just fitted new brushes to the blower motor, which was a relatively simple/cheap fix. Worth a quick Google to see if this can be an issue with yours.

Good shout...it's only an electric motor with a fan stuck on one end. Apart from maybe the shaft bearings, the brushes are the only thing to potentially wear out.

 

[tmwsccsh]

Good shout...it's only an electric motor with a fan stuck on one end. Apart from maybe the shaft bearings, the brushes are the only thing to potentially wear out.

I've had a look on eBay at motors and fans and they can be sourced much cheaper. Going back tomorrow to pick it up again (no point in leaving it there when no parts are in yet) and going to take to them about exact findings and post numbers and go from there.

TMW

 

[Chrishazle]

Got the SLK back yesterday afternoon, transmission sump and gasket, plus drain plug and washer all changed, new ATF put in, wallet lightened by just over £500 and she's booked in to F1 Monday for MoT (free) retest then their major service which mirrors an MB B service but including fully synth oil (extra £25) is £260, the other quote I had from a localish high end car specialist in January was £411!