PLYMOUTH TO DAKAR IN A 100 QUID MERC

[HMK]

hello all, i am now the very proud owner of a 1982(i think)LHD 300D estate and i need advice....lots. i have bought the car to take part in the charity event the plymouth-dakar challenge,known also as the ultimate banger race. 3600 miles taking in plymouth!! france ,spain, morroco, mauritania (trans sahara) senagal, finishing in banjul capital of the gambia, where all surviving cars are auctioned and all monies donated to local charitys. the rules and there is not very many include all cars must be LHD and under 100GBP yes 100 pounds purchace price! please check out the official web site www.plymouth-dakar.co.uk as it explains the event much better than i can. the event is in its third year and people have taken all manner of vehicles in the past and this year is no different. however , there is only 1 make of car I would even think about taking on this hugely demanding jouney , a merc. and we all know why reliability, simplicity (old ones) , and there trillions in north/west africa so spares are readily available . what i would like advice and feed back on is any faults or weaknesses of the 300D especially regarding the suspension as the sahara part of the challenge is for about 4 hundred miles off road . from what i have learned from veterans of the event the terrain extremely hard on the vehicles and occupents, cars have to be relentlessly thrashed to maintain momentum in the soft drifting sand. also i hear it quite warm there. is there any (cheap)way of impoving/upgrading the suspension? does anybody have any idea how the self leveling rear suspension will handle the beating or is it possible to do away with it some how? apart from the obvious things like hoses, alternator, injectors maybe is there anything specific i should take? all advice is most gratefully accepted regards Dougal team HIGH MILEAGE KARMA

 

[guydewdney]

i dont have any advice - apart from good luck; you nutter...

i have a copy of the electronics parts catalogue, and can cross reference parts over from other models / look at alternatives... you are welcome to email me at guyATdewdneyDOTcoDOTuk

300D is one of the best, and I assume its a 124 series? list the first 6 digits of the chassis for our benift (or laughing)

I was hoping to have a go at staples to naples (same idea, just over a weekend, not 6 weeks)




nutter...

 

[Francois]

1. When driving on sand, use VERY low tire pressure.

2. When stuck and only one of the rear wheels are spinning, use the parking brake to to ensure even destribution of "grip" on both wheels so both will turn. (Albeit the "grip" is agains the brake, it still ensures that the non turning wheel will start turning. This will be the wheel with the most grip on the ground.)

 

[Spike]

Good luck on your venture... part of me envies you and part of me is chuckling away thinking you're a nutter.

I believe there were different springs and pads for MB's destined for places like Africa. Shouldnt be too expensive to replace the pads but the springs/shocks will set you back more than your £100 I feel

 

[guydewdney]

doing a bit of thinking - i would lock up the viscous fan for a bit of extra cooling... and add fans if it doesnt have one, with an override switch to force it on in case the sensor goes belly up. jury rig one off any car in the scrap yard if necessary.

i'd get rid of the self levelling and fit bog stock springs and dampers - less chance of stuff going wrong under that sort of hammering. as far as i can see the fittings are the same.

 

[mjtray]

Having driven from London to Kathmandu overland, some years go, I would make sure of the following;

1) Cooling system is in top order........at least take out the radiator and reverse flush it and get some of the years of crap out of the system. Check all hoses whilst you're at it and make sure the radiator fan is kicking in whilst hot. Take spare fan belts etc

2) Get somebody to make a cheap but heavy duty sump guard....your car will take a pounding...believe me!

3) Fit the hardest compound tyres you can find and take at least two spare wheels/tyres.

4) Foot pump

5) Sand mats......fix them to the roof or roofrack. Make sure your towing eyes are sound and take some very strong webbing to use as a tow rope when you get stuck in the sand.

6) Jerry Cans...on the roof

7) Lots of water....for you and the car

8) Change the shocks if you can afford it, for heavy duty items.

9) Lots and lots of bog paper.....you will need it, not the car!

10) Imodium.....see above.

11) Go vegetarian when you leave Morrocco and only eat cooked/hot food. Stay away from Salads....guaranteed to give you the S***s and drink bottled/boiled water and don't eat ice cream...."Nurse, Nurse......I can't stop S****ng" ......honestly, ice cream is a big cause of the trots!

12) If anybody tries to hold you up.....drive like a mad man and stop for nothing, even if that means going over the top of them....very un PC, but believe me there are deperate people out there! You may be in an old Merc that cost £100, but they don't know that!

13) Before you leave take a photocopy of your passport and stash it somewhere safe......cuts down on the hassle if you end up loosing it or getting it nicked.

14) Cigarettes....make border crossings easier.

15) Never get stroppy with border guards...try and have a laugh instead!

Above all enjoy, it may well be the best thing you ever do.....I know it was for me, even though the Iranian jail gave me plenty of need for items 9+10!

Good luck

 

[Lamin Sambou]

You have made a great choice, a few tips :-

A bash plate in case you nose dive into a dip
A couple of spare wheels
A jerry can or two for fuel- fill up in ceuta and dhakla
A cheap tyre inflator from halfords
Second hand sand ladder from army supplies - cut down int 2.
Take a lot of patience.
A roof rack increases your fuel use.

Most of the route Nouadhibou - Nouackhot is fairly easy. Run your tyres soft when the sand gets soft and keep up your MOMENTUM.

Now a question from me regarding the rear suspension.

Can anyone tell me the easiest way to get the rear springs out of a w123. I'm going to take a 300D on the same route and want to swap the knackered self level systems springs and shocks for standard (not self level) units.

Many thanks

 

[teky]

You have made a great choice, a few tips :-

A bash plate in case you nose dive into a dip
A couple of spare wheels
A jerry can or two for fuel- fill up in ceuta and dhakla
A cheap tyre inflator from halfords
Second hand sand ladder from army supplies - cut down int 2.
Take a lot of patience.
A roof rack increases your fuel use.

Most of the route Nouadhibou - Nouackhot is fairly easy. Run your tyres soft when the sand gets soft and keep up your MOMENTUM.

Now a question from me regarding the rear suspension.

Can anyone tell me the easiest way to get the rear springs out of a w123. I'm going to take a 300D on the same route and want to swap the knackered self level systems springs and shocks for standard (not self level) units.

Many thanks

undo the lower shocks and force the wheel down "doddle" and dont forget a sump protection plate as used on rallys/flask of tea/sandwiches/bottle of port, watch you dont run over my old merc i left it there many tears ago, enjoy

 

[willydog]

useful link about merc 190 sahara project

http://www.sahara-overland.com/merc/

 

[LNM]

HMK

What happened then? just found this post + had a right laugh reading the replies. I'm intrigued; its something I'd love to do but I doubt a coupe would be an adviseable unit to attempt such a mad escapade !!

 

[pascal]

Dakar

Think your 300ce is worth a lot more than £100 though. Jasus i'd love to do
it too. But I think the combination of 123(not too complex), Diesel(got to
be more reliable), and Estate(loads of room for spare wheels, parts, fuel
etc.) has got to be a good choice

GOOD LUCK BOYS......Really envy you

 

[Myros]

oh to be reckless again

Jerry cans from Machine mart, and filling spout as well. About 16 quid a can as I remember. Use metal for fuel and plastic for water.Salt tablets, a la "it ain't alf 'ot mum" or better still, rehydration salts from the chemist, and water purification tablets or a primus, pans and patience.
Boil any local water at a hard rolling boil for at least 5 mins to knock the bugs sideways if not kill them.
Take a litre of diesel or old engine oil and some rags to burn in can as a signal fire, if you get lost and off-piste. and get down to the camping store for a good compass with luminous hands. and matches and all that boy-scout kind of stuff.
A short-wave radio might be a good idea for picking up news if you do get stuck, and footie scores to keep you up to date.
a few choice phrases in arabic won't go amiss either. Shokran is thanks, if i haven't forgotten.