What Have You Done To Your Merc Today?

[Submariner1]

No I think you were right to reject it out of principle. Why should you have to settle for something which clearly has been mishandled? I bet if you order an item and then return it in such a state they'd not process a refund.

I routed the wiring for my Nextbase dashcam today which was surprisingly easy to install and setup. Not sure whether to disable the audio recording option though as it may capture my awful singing and colourful language....

Well I checked with Norbar, who said the blow mould case is immensly strong and if its damaged to a point the wrench could take the impact, then definitely reject it ; as it can throw the calibration way off!
Especially as it is a relativly high torque at 60- 340 Nm. You could have set 60 Nm and it exert 340 Nm enough to shear bolts or compromise threads. And being heavy has considerable kinetic energy ... not t mention you dont know if it was dropped 1 meter or of one of these 2 storey logistics conveyor belts.

I am quite intrigued by this dash cam craze, see it has some sound advantages.
Really like the idea of on, that turns on if someone bumps your parked car. But guess you need one at the front and one at the back.
I assume threading the wires on a CL would be a total pig.
But then I am not good at removing trim, have a tendancy to break those plastic claws lol.

 

[Submariner1]

Now, that's a proper masking!
I'm saving this pic as a reference

Well I assumed it would be enough last time, but with dam hammerite, still spend a whole day reclaying it to get every bit of overspray off. As Craig pointed out that crap floats in the wind.
But once I had a coat on I was commited ... as it could react with other enamel paint.
So I also sheeted the whole car!

Lesson learnt ... never again, you need a paint that can be overcoated with clearcoat within an hour.
Hammerite needs one week! So if its your daily ... re masking all over again .

 

[ZZZZ]

Lesson learnt ... never again, you need a paint that can be overcoated with clearcoat within an hour.
Hammerite needs one week! So if its your daily ... re masking all over again .

I'll keep that in mind for the next time, but my acceptance criterion is much more relaxed ...

 

[Lord_Lucan]

Well I checked with Norbar, who said the blow mould case is immensly strong and if its damaged to a point the wrench could take the impact, then definitely reject it ; as it can throw the calibration way off!
Especially as it is a relativly high torque at 60- 340 Nm. You could have set 60 Nm and it exert 340 Nm enough to shear bolts or compromise threads. And being heavy has considerable kinetic energy ... not t mention you dont know if it was dropped 1 meter or of one of these 2 storey logistics conveyor belts.

I am quite intrigued by this dash cam craze, see it has some sound advantages.
Really like the idea of on, that turns on if someone bumps your parked car. But guess you need one at the front and one at the back.
I assume threading the wires on a CL would be a total pig.
But then I am not good at removing trim, have a tendancy to break those plastic claws lol.

Regarding the dashcam I had an el cheapo unbranded one before rush gave up the ghost so it seemed like a good idea to invest. I've just got the one mounted at the front but my father has one front and back and he says it works well in getting tailgaters to back off when they spot it

 

[daibevan]

No I think you were right to reject it out of principle. Why should you have to settle for something which clearly has been mishandled? I bet if you order an item and then return it in such a state they'd not process a refund.

I routed the wiring for my Nextbase dashcam today which was surprisingly easy to install and setup. Not sure whether to disable the audio recording option though as it may capture my awful singing and colourful language....

I disabled the mic after listening to our colourful language after an eventful trip to Tavy.

 

[Submariner1]

I'll keep that in mind for the next time, but my acceptance criterion is much more relaxed ...

Probably not??
Painted Hammerite ... Left for 4 hours, and then sprayed clear coat ....
At first it was a beautiful glass smooth uber shiny finish: then these crinkles appeared .... and they stayed tacky for a week ... it took 3 weeks to set off, so one could sand it smooth.



Looking at the amazing work you have done to your car ... I dont think you would accept this :-/

 

[ZZZZ]

Oh, I see - I never thought it was that bad. Yes, you're right - that would've bothered me enough to re-do it ...
So what clear coat have you found to be compatible? - I need to make note of it, as I can't recall which one I used

 

[JBell]

Looking at the above makes me more happy to use Japlac paint and a 1/2" brush, dries quickly and no lacquer needed

 

[splitshift]

Today, reset flashing low range light on ml, worked out why my 12 volt ( cigar lighter) wasn't working on my clk, I had somehow knocked the plug of the back !!!! Washed and polished both cars and stood back!

 

[LostKiwi]

Ordered a rubber drive coupling and wheelbearing for 'the bus'.

 

[daveenty]

Changed diff oil on the 190.

The drain plug lurks behind the exhaust just to make it more awkward but it eventually came out OK. Letting it drain off overnight then filling it tomorrow. Transmission next, then engine.

I checked the fuel filter while I was underneath but it looks brand new, so leaving that alone.

 

[Rotorhead500]

About to drive mine for the first time in nearly 2 weeks!

Would've happened yesterday but had a Volvo S90 to play with briefly...

 

[John Laidlaw]

And drove mine for the first time in 15 days....you can't tire of that sound!

 

[00slk]

Not today, but yesterday got out the hoover and air and gave the interior a good going over, then decided to something about the crumbs and such like taking up residence under the seats





What the dealer and valet Guys miss Great getting money back
Lastly the wash bucket and towel

 

[Submariner1]

Oh, I see - I never thought it was that bad. Yes, you're right - that would've bothered me enough to re-do it ...
So what clear coat have you found to be compatible? - I need to make note of it, as I can't recall which one I used

I used a tip from Television ( Malcolm) and used Halfords Clear Coat. Its acrylic. And its tough!
But if you use Hammerite there Tech Dept,
Say you have to leave it for one week before overcoating with acrylic. The latter sets off quickly and traps the white spirit based solvent in hammerite ( note Hammerite changed the formula a few years ago ) hence you get misleading info on some forums.)

Thats a real pig for me as its my daily.
Drive it and it gets dirty, so its a complete clean, then remask.
Next time I will defo find an acrylic lacquer for the base colour. So I can put 3 coats of colour and then wait 1 or 2 hours and then clear coat it. So only one masking job. And can do 2 wheels per day.
And as Craig said this Hammerite blows in the air "staying Wet."
So its a sheet up job too! Takes for ever. One caliper per day. Hopefully as the Halfords clearcoat is normal stuff. I can do one side in a day.

Sadly the sheets only go 1/2 way down the window on the other side in the middle. ( but it seems to do the job)
But I did lash on a coat of AG Super gloss just in case.
The wife caught me using these sheets and went freaking ballistic!

I did not dare to risk changing basecoat, without completely rubbing off all the Hammerite or waiting one month! For fear of a reaction with a different basecoat.
Doing it all outside .. one month was too long so I was really trapped!

The igloo tunnel is just to stop crap blowing down the double driveway before it dries.
And also keeps it warm in their with the 500 w lamp.

 

[00slk]

Not telling the Missus, but had to fix this little mishap today







Loaded up the wife's car and spare lorry wheel, left it on the back of the lorry for 3 days before taking the lorry in for repairs, about 60miles over our lovely Fenland roads totally forgetting the wheel sitting on the back. Good call that the Missus didn't take her car to work today

 

[JBell]

View attachment 38500

I have never seen a simple job become so complicated, just use a heat resistant Acrylic paint and a 1/2" brush, no mess and fast drying without the need for lacquer

 

[Submariner1]

Looking at the above makes me more happy to use Japlac paint and a 1/2" brush, dries quickly and no lacquer needed

Absolutely ... lesson learnt the hard way.
Didnt realise Hammerite had moved technology to this weird varient of oil based paint.
That reacts with everything, so its sand it all off, ( very difficult on calipers in situ) or wait ages.

 

[Wighty]

Cleaned the Clk roof yesterday so it was dry this morning for Renovo black paint roof treatment . Washed the car with chemical guys Clean slate to clean the paintwork . Followed it up with Auto Finesse Tripple (3 in 1 polish and cleaner ) finished off with Chemical guys Butter wet wax .
I still have to waterproof the roof tonight when the wind drops .
And then just suctioned out 300ml of power steering fluid from the reservoir to replace with some new stuff . Here are a couple of pics .

 

[Wighty]

Just painted on the Fabsil proofer after the Renovo black roof paint had dried .