Just added a W140 S320 to the stable

[C180 Chris]

Hi All,

I have just bought an 'N' plated Mercedes W140 S Class 320, seems like a decent solid car, although like all old cars it does have some "issues" that i hope to resolve soon. Lookout for the cries of help

Here's an easy one to start with.....

If i want to check and top up autobox fluid do i just select each gear twice then with engine still running check the dipstick level like the old fords or do Merc have a different sequence of events??

All the very best,

 

[television]

Hi All,

I have just bought an 'N' plated Mercedes W140 S Class 320, seems like a decent solid car, although like all old cars it does have some "issues" that i hope to resolve soon. Lookout for the cries of help

Here's an easy one to start with.....

If i want to check and top up autobox fluid do i just select each gear twice then with engine still running check the dipstick level like the old fords or do Merc have a different sequence of events??

All the very best,

Just take for a drive and warm it up,leave it in D and check with the parking brake on.

You may not have a dip stick

 

[shayes]

No dipstick - sealed unit I believe. Look out for oil leaks and keep praying.

Lovely car. Hope no serious issues.

 

[C180 Chris]

Thanks for your replies,

Where would i top up fluid as i think it does have a small leak. I think the old fords were topped up from the dipstick tube?

I hope that does not mean that it can only be topped up at a dealer???

All the best,

 

[television]

You can make a dip stick and you fill from the tube at the rear with the cap on, and buy a new seal for a few P

 

[C180 Chris]

Thats great thanks for that Malcolm, it looks similar to the old scorpio with a filler tube at the back of the engine bay.
That, i suspect is as similar as the two cars get

Also, sorted an irratic idle problem....
It was what looks like a vacuum pipe that had come off the unit in the front left hand side of the engine bay (looks like heater or cooling related which may point to the problem with the blower only blowing out cold air)

All the best,

 

[C180 Chris]

Many thanks to Malcolm and Stuart,

Mine has a small "snap on type" lockable cap on top of the filler tube with a dipstick attached to it, so it made light work of checking it and refilling.
With the car in 'D' and the parking brake on it now reads full, and seems to have sorted the gearchange issues straight away! Now all i need is to pray long and hard that it was not low because of a massive leak or anything nasty down there.

All the very best,

 

[shayes]

Many thanks to Malcolm and Stuart,

Mine has a small "snap on type" lockable cap on top of the filler tube with a dipstick attached to it, so it made light work of checking it and refilling.
With the car in 'D' and the parking brake on it now reads full, and seems to have sorted the gearchange issues straight away! Now all i need is to pray long and hard that it was not low because of a massive leak or anything nasty down there.

All the very best,

The engine was up to temperature first I assume? Didn't think my N reg had a visible tube and dipstick. By the way, if you thought you had gearchange issues did you know that the car will not change from second until the engine has sufficiently warmed up? This is mentioned in the handbook. Did alarm me at first having had a Safrane which went into limp home mode., although the previous owner said it does not always change gear too quickly I don't think he new there was a reason for this as he didn't have handbook.

 

[C180 Chris]

Hi Stuart,

Malcolm had advised to run up to temp first, so it was nice and warm when i topped it up.
I didn't realize that the 'S' waited to change until it was at a preset temp, the problem i had was that it would momentarily loose drive if cornering and it would sometimes loose it in mid change (i think as the level was low it was not high enough in a corner or under acceleration where it might slosh to the back of the sump) Hope it has not damaged anything driving it from Glasgow to Newcastle after buying it! (motorway drive was great just roundabouts or corners that it slipped out a couple of times.)
Now i need to wait and see if it was low due to neglect or if it has a leak.


Mittens firmly crossed!

All the best and thanks again,

 

[television]

Even if you have a leak is normally easy to fix on that box, pilot bush usually

 

[C180 Chris]

Hi Malcolm,

That only sounds like good news to me!:-D:-D

All the best,

 

[shayes]

Hi Stuart,

Malcolm had advised to run up to temp first, so it was nice and warm when i topped it up.
I didn't realize that the 'S' waited to change until it was at a preset temp, the problem i had was that it would momentarily loose drive if cornering and it would sometimes loose it in mid change (i think as the level was low it was not high enough in a corner or under acceleration where it might slosh to the back of the sump) Hope it has not damaged anything driving it from Glasgow to Newcastle after buying it! (motorway drive was great just roundabouts or corners that it slipped out a couple of times.)
Now i need to wait and see if it was low due to neglect or if it has a leak.


Mittens firmly crossed!

All the best and thanks again,

Hi Chris,

Had a quick look at my level today (don't know why I hadn't noticed the gearbox dipstick, must be 'cos I am used to a red cap in my former SEC and SEL. Anyway, level looked ok but not as red the fluid as I would like. What colour was yours? Asked my mechanic about changing the fluid but he did not recommend, as it has to be fed down the tube and could result in minor ingress of dirt or air locks. So top up if needed, but seems to behave perfectly well at moment. Just not the colour I like to see.

 

[C180 Chris]

Hi Stuart,
Mine was a nice enough red, just not much of it! Now the game is on to see if it was a leak that caused the low level or if it was just good old neglect.

The autobox is now changing as it should and the gear changes are perfect
Mittens crossed it will stay that way!

All the best,

 

[shayes]

Don't think that C180 will get a look in now!

 

[C180 Chris]

Don't think that C180 will get a look in now!

Haha, poor old thing has been well and truly relegated to last on my list
That said, i do intend to do what is needed on her to get her into a state whereby i can use her for the "silly miles" by that i refer to shopping and the school and work runs. I can then spend my time polishing the 'S'

I do love this car, it's like a properley built Bentley

All the best,

 

[Alex M Grieve]

I do love this car, it's like a properley built Bentley

How cruel Chris - I would expect your reliability to be better than that.

First thing you will notice when you wash it is just how much bigger than the C180 it is!

Any pics?

 

[C180 Chris]

How cruel Chris - I would expect your reliability to be better than that.

First thing you will notice when you wash it is just how much bigger than the C180 it is!

Any pics?

Hi Alex,

I'm sure it will be! Amongst other cars i drive a Bentley Continental GT for work......Nasty car, faults galore and bad dealers.

Indeed the big 'S' is a shocker to wash and polish, as i found out on Thursday!

My Avatar has a small pic of the 'S' but i will try to attach more to this post.

*These pics were taken by the previous owner and it now sports a bonnet star*

Here goes.....






Hope you like them!

All the best,

 

[Alex M Grieve]

Indeed the big 'S' is a shocker to wash and polish, as i found out on Thursday!

Super car. The second thing you might notice is how small your garage has suddenly become!?

 

[C180 Chris]

Super car. The second thing you might notice is how small your garage has suddenly become!?

Thanks for your kind words Alex, indeed my garage has already went to Lilliput:wink:
I drove a '95 S420 for work when they were new and i just loved the drive and smiles per mile of the big Merc, always said i would have one someday!

I now drive a W220 S class S500LWB, a Range Rover Vogue and a Bentley Continental GT and i still prefer the old W140.
I have also driven many thousands of miles in .... an AMG CL600 and a BMW540i and it has to be said that the W140 is still top in my favs.

All the best,

 

[shayes]

Thanks for your kind words Alex, indeed my garage has already went to Lilliput:wink:
I drove a '95 S420 for work when they were new and i just loved the drive and smiles per mile of the big Merc, always said i would have one someday!

I now drive a W220 S class S500LWB, a Range Rover Vogue and a Bentley Continental GT and i still prefer the old W140.
I have also driven many thousands of miles in .... an AMG CL600 and a BMW540i and it has to be said that the W140 is still top in my favs.

All the best,

Some people have the worst of jobs. Still I guess you just have to get on with it !!

Like seeing the S in "The Transporter" and on youtube when young Clarkson introduced the marque in 93?

Interesting that my car is also an N reg but has no S320 on the boot. Did they de-badge that year? Was it the time of the VW badge pinching craze?