richyba
Senior Member
- Joined
- Nov 13, 2009
- Messages
- 231
- Reaction score
- 2
- Location
- Ireland
- Website
- www.4tours.biz
- Your Mercedes
- 1978 T1 307D,2005 Slk200K,1982 300DSLC (honest!) & 1994 410d Camper
Hi all,
New to the forum and mercs although I have owned and operated a number of Merc minbuses over the years (still own a 1994 410d which has been brilliant 300,000 miles and still driving perfect!).
Anyhow, to make a long story boring, I have owned a 1999 Vauxhall Omega with the 2.5 BMW lump for 5 years and loved it but its slowly getting a bit of tin worm and although mechanically great I fancied a change.
I looked at a few Merc over here (Ireland) including a 2002 C220cdi manual which I hated for a number of reasons (loved the power though!) and also a few E classes in "interesting" condition at silly prices including one that was described as mint and came complete with a tow bar built by the local blacksmith and a huge dent in the boot where the 3 axle cattle box had no doubt jack knifed!
So onwards to UK where a few were viewed before I stumbled on an E220cdi Avantgard in mettalic black with leather and history which ticked all the boxes and a deal was done, it was driven over here and we fell in love (not as comfy as the omega mind!) but all in all highly impressed.
As you may have gathered I run a coach business and so we decided to use the new beast as a Limo mainly for tourist work so we though we might bling it up a bit.
Headlamp surrounds, rear light surrounds and Chrome mirror covers were fitted and they look great - brightened it up no end! Finally and this is where you all tut I know we decided chrome arches would finish it off, they arrived this week and the beast was put in the garage and work started on n/s front. They were the type that have little clips that fold onto the wing flange and no matter how hard we tried we couldn 't get them to seat, so off came the wheel and it was coaxed on ok, we stood back and admired the work and came to the conclusion that we had been warned about - that they look crap indeed funeral cars sprung to mind! and so were immediately removed (only one thankfully) and put it back safely in the box, look out for them on ebay they come with a free burberry cap and a Chrysler 300 brochure!
Anyway that is the start of Merc ownership - trust you approve!
New to the forum and mercs although I have owned and operated a number of Merc minbuses over the years (still own a 1994 410d which has been brilliant 300,000 miles and still driving perfect!).
Anyhow, to make a long story boring, I have owned a 1999 Vauxhall Omega with the 2.5 BMW lump for 5 years and loved it but its slowly getting a bit of tin worm and although mechanically great I fancied a change.
I looked at a few Merc over here (Ireland) including a 2002 C220cdi manual which I hated for a number of reasons (loved the power though!) and also a few E classes in "interesting" condition at silly prices including one that was described as mint and came complete with a tow bar built by the local blacksmith and a huge dent in the boot where the 3 axle cattle box had no doubt jack knifed!
So onwards to UK where a few were viewed before I stumbled on an E220cdi Avantgard in mettalic black with leather and history which ticked all the boxes and a deal was done, it was driven over here and we fell in love (not as comfy as the omega mind!) but all in all highly impressed.
As you may have gathered I run a coach business and so we decided to use the new beast as a Limo mainly for tourist work so we though we might bling it up a bit.
Headlamp surrounds, rear light surrounds and Chrome mirror covers were fitted and they look great - brightened it up no end! Finally and this is where you all tut I know we decided chrome arches would finish it off, they arrived this week and the beast was put in the garage and work started on n/s front. They were the type that have little clips that fold onto the wing flange and no matter how hard we tried we couldn 't get them to seat, so off came the wheel and it was coaxed on ok, we stood back and admired the work and came to the conclusion that we had been warned about - that they look crap indeed funeral cars sprung to mind! and so were immediately removed (only one thankfully) and put it back safely in the box, look out for them on ebay they come with a free burberry cap and a Chrysler 300 brochure!
Anyway that is the start of Merc ownership - trust you approve!