Max Bradley - A Good Used Car Dealer I've Found in Essex

A.J.

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UnMerc - 2020 VW Polo 2.0t GTi Plus, DSG. Flash Red, Traditional VW GTi Tartan seat trim.
Progress - my SLK is being delivered back to MTA today or tomorrow, and it seems a lot of Ben's list has been done, namely :
Replace 6 of the 8 control arms (which are about £100 each from MB!)
Replace rear discs and pads - found 1 caliper not working, not on Ben's list, replaced same!!
Relaced front NS shock absorber and top mount
Rust patch cleaned up, painted and waxoyled. Also found powder coat slight damage in the rear somewhere, cleaned and protected.
4 wheel tracking
The "missing bolt" on the rear right bank is actually a blind hole, part of the manufacturing process.
The "weeping" oil return line crimp was apparently oil from above, someone a bit careless adding oil, cleaned up, checked and not leaking.

No mention of the transmission seal weep requiring ATF out to change (I've told Ben to do this) or the slight oil leak from the back of the engine (Ben thinks possibly rocker cover, not a major problem).

So, Ben is getting in the parts for the service, will give the car a full inspection once it's back with him, and I'll hopefully get the car back Friday!!

And BOOM, his profit on the SLK out of the window :eek::D
 

malcolm E53 AMG

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Sounds like you have now got a very well sorted car and good to know the dealer honoured his warranty. Hope you enjoy the car!
 
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Chrishazle

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S204 2008 C220CDI Elegance Estate Auto, 2008 R171 Facelift SLK280
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Car is already back at MTA, Ben's had a good look, Max has replaced all 8 control arms on the rear, plus rear pads/discs and 1 caliper, had the tracking done. Has not done anything about the weeping propshaft seal on the transmission so Ben will be dropping the ATF and propshaft to replace the seal, then refilling with ATF - unless he finds anything untoward when he drains the ATF, in which case I'll have a full transmission service done. It had that at 33k miles by MB North Wales, so I hope just doing the seal and making sure she has the correct amount of ATF will be good for many more miles (currently 64k).

Ben reckons I've done really well, that Max has done more than he expected, which is good news. I'll get the car back either late tomorrow or Thursday, and she'll get a good run Monday when we're off to near Gatwick to meet friends for lunch.

This photo will have to do from now - with my 968 cab and Max in the background!
20191105_143931[1].jpg
 

ernieh

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Audi Q2 Sport, 2022, 1.5 Petrol
Car is already back at MTA, Ben's had a good look, Max has replaced all 8 control arms on the rear, plus rear pads/discs and 1 caliper, had the tracking done. Has not done anything about the weeping propshaft seal on the transmission so Ben will be dropping the ATF and propshaft to replace the seal, then refilling with ATF - unless he finds anything untoward when he drains the ATF, in which case I'll have a full transmission service done. It had that at 33k miles by MB North Wales, so I hope just doing the seal and making sure she has the correct amount of ATF will be good for many more miles (currently 64k).

Ben reckons I've done really well, that Max has done more than he expected, which is good news. I'll get the car back either late tomorrow or Thursday, and she'll get a good run Monday when we're off to near Gatwick to meet friends for lunch.

This photo will have to do from now - with my 968 cab and Max in the background!
View attachment 54198
Are these the standard wheels for your car? They look suspiciously like the winter wheels MB supplied for the 204!

Ernie
 
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Chrishazle

Chrishazle

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S204 2008 C220CDI Elegance Estate Auto, 2008 R171 Facelift SLK280
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According to the data sheet they're genuine MB 17" fitted from new, as delivered to first owner.
 

A.J.

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Are these the standard wheels for your car? They look suspiciously like the winter wheels MB supplied for the 204!

Ernie

They look to me like W205 SE wheels ? They do look later than the car.
 

ernieh

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They look to me like W205 SE wheels? They do look later than the car.
I have them on my 205 as winter wheels but they have a 204 part number. That's not to say they weren't used elsewhere in the range.

Ernie
 

ernieh

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According to the data sheet they're genuine MB 17" fitted from new, as delivered to first owner.
Following this thread and your problems with interest. Hope they all get sorted out and you are able to enjoy the car for many years. It does look good in that colour, though.

I had one as a loan car once, an SLK 200 I think, and although it went well enough, first of all, it was a manual and secondly, I had a problem folding myself into the car and a bigger problem unfolding getting out. I didn't think it looked great in black, but maybe that's why it was a loan car.

ERnie
 
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Chrishazle

Chrishazle

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I'm with you ERnie on two counts - 200 and black, plus herself outlawed any thoughts of a 55AMG (which is what I really wanted!). My spec specifically excluded 200, 220 or 250, black or silver, which is why I'd searched on and off for a year or more before finding this car, and is why I am keen to get it fixed and right. She's a 171 facelift so galvanised, lovely colour (my/our favourite), herself loves the ease of access/egress (as do I), the comfortable seats, heated and airscarf, the superb visibility, just a bit miffed about the lack of space behind the seats compared to the 968 cab - but we'll get over that! Pretty sure that after what Max has done and what Ben will be doing over the next day or so she will be superb, and everything will be back to MB service schedule despite what the last owner overlooked! Even Max agreed that she was not driving well, so I'm looking forward to my next decent drive in her!
 
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Chrishazle

Chrishazle

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I have them on my 205 as winter wheels but they have a 204 part number. That's not to say they weren't used elsewhere in the range.

Ernie
I have not had the wheels off to see a part number etc, but the build sheet shows them as a factory fit original, the RF is for a car registered with 17" wheels not 16" standard wheels (for which the RF is cheaper!) so as far as I can determine these were a factory fit option which the car was ordered with, not an after purchase modification. Costs me an additional £60pa RF, on 16's she's just under the 225 CO2 limit but on 17's she's just over - bugger!
 
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Chrishazle

Chrishazle

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S204 2008 C220CDI Elegance Estate Auto, 2008 R171 Facelift SLK280
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Collected the car from MTA about 5 this evening and must say she feels a lot better now - but I could only drive the 1 mile home in the dark in hissing rain, I'll get a 16 mile round trip for fuel tomorrow, maybe a better run Sunday then a decent run Monday to Gatwick area and back Monday. From all I've seen Max has indeed come good, and the thread title is apt. OK, he's not replaced the front control arms (MTA do say it's not urgent but would improve things, so I'll have it done in a year or so) but he replaced all 8 on the rear, and the fronts are OK for a while. He also found and replaced a failed rear brake caliper that MTA had not found, and had a 4 wheel tracking done.

Overall my comment so far would still be positive about Max, with the proviso that a good on ramp undertrays off inspection before starting negotiations would be a good move, as his "full service history" may not be all you think it means!! However, his actions following MTA's inspection report speaks for itself - collect and deliver car (Danbury Essex to Ashford Kent!), replace 8 rear control arms, replace rear brake pads and discs, replace rear NS brake caliper, 4 wheel tracking, replace front NS shock absorber and top mount, repair rust patch on front OS floor pan - quite a list!
 

SmartAmg

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Sounds like a good outcome, Chris, and the car does look great, especially in that colour, never saw a red one before, so enjoy! :D
 

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