What Have You Done To Your Merc Today?

[JBell]

Well... that's bowloxed the good weather!!!

Probably

 

[LostKiwi]

The money pit strikes again Seriously I don't think I have owned a car as bad as this since the Missus's Ford Escort Turbo diesel!
Decided to risk another drive out in the money pit after my hose clip mod seems to have worked. Well yes that did but the radiator hose on the other side blew out and lost my 5th fill of antifreeze Luckily I was only a few yards from a service station. I pushed the hose back in and filled up with water and carried on our way. A mile down the road and the low coolant warning comes back on Drove to Halfords and purchased another hose clip and fitted it. Then noticed the overflow pipe to the thermostat was wet, on investigating it it came away from the header tank. %*^#! Back into the store and purchase some water prove type of tape and bound it up. Jumped back into the money pit and continued on to my destination. At a set of traffic lights I saw a car wash, so decided to call in and get some water for the radiator. As it happened there was a mechanic's garage there too so got the radiator topped up and on leaving I decided to go through the car wash seeing we were here.
This is the result of the car wash machine

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I didn't notice it until I got home, I emailed the company, still waiting for a reply
They won't be able to wriggle out of this as I have dash cam of the Bonnet when I was working on the radiator minutes before the car was washed.
Not impressed with this car or car wash today.

Did they wash it with grinding paste???

 

[davidsl500]

Male pheasant on the white line between lane 1 and lane 2.
View attachment 66945
View attachment 66946

Any recommendations for replacement gratefully received

Mirror or pheasant?...

 

[Blobcat]

Well Rus, I was pretty shocked when I saw this, it's been through the car wash before without any issues. I went through the wash I thought something odd about the hanging wool type straps as they swissed back and forth. Not the same as the usual ones at my regular wash place. I use Never gave it another thought. I bought the car off a Mercedes Indy that had serviced the car for many years, wouldn't have thought it was a cover up on it to sell? But thinking about all the issues I have had with the car from the next day after purchase there could be something in what you say




It certainly looks like it Gaz.



Looks like I am not the only one having a bad day



Glad it was only the mirror Rus, could have been worse



At least someone had a good day

My friend didn’t get off as lightly as I did with his pheasant...

 

[00slk]

Did they wash it with grinding paste???

Or they are trying new scouring brushes......I am going to go back there today and see if there has been any one else with a problem.
I still haven't heard back from them and a phone call today was a waste of time because they wont answer the phone. After waiting ages it'll tell you to use their website

 

[flowrider]

Today the SL has had a engine oil (Mobil1) and filter change and the ABC fluid and filter have been changed. The ABC fluid was still clear even after 4 years (low mileage car) but there was some sediment in the filter.

 

[Avnt]

Fitted the summers back on and washed it so i apologise now when it snows


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[Blobcat]

Fitted the summers back on and washed it so i apologise now when it snows


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I was thinking the same whilst driving home at +21.5’ with the top down. My weather app says 1’ and snow on the weekend and since my winters didn’t melt today I’ll leave them on for awhile longer.
They did “chirp” a bit when “pressing on“ though

 

[davidsl500]

Bit of top down stay local driving today to have a walk at a few favourite locations. A very pleasant 22.5' at times..

 

[sl500amgsport]

Mirror or pheasant?...

Pheasant looking in the mirror here, probably sizing it up for an onslaught .

Mercedes SL500 R231

 

[daveenty]

Washed and cleaned both outside and in, then swept and washed the garage floor.

Wheels off the Merc today for the lesser seen bits if I feel up to it later.

 

[Rotorhead500]

Washed and cleaned both outside and in, then swept and washed the garage floor.

Wheels off the Merc today for the lesser seen bits if I feel up to it later.

View attachment 66978

Is the number plate on the Lexus straight Dave? Or is it just the angle of the photo?

 

[sl500amgsport]

Washed and cleaned both outside and in, then swept and washed the garage floor.

Wheels off the Merc today for the lesser seen bits if I feel up to it later.

View attachment 66978

Did you feel self conscious of the neighbours when taking that pic?

Before we moved wife used to moan that the neighbours "would think I'm nuts" if she ever caught me taking pics of the car after it had been washed...;-).

Mercedes SL500 R231

 

[daveenty]

Is the number plate on the Lexus straigh Dave? Or is it just the angle of the photo?

Just the angle I think Guy, I do tend to be obsessive about stuff like that...

Did you feel self conscious of the neighbours when taking that pic?

Before we moved wife used to moan that the neighbours "would think I'm nuts" if she ever caught me taking pics of the car after it had been washed...;-).

Mercedes SL500 R231

Not in the slightest though, as it was mid afternoon nap time and they're mostly pensioners by here, there was nobody about anyway...

Cleaned the rear wheels and hubs this morning. Just waiting for the wheels to dry off completely before putting them back on and straining myself to get to the required 150 Nm on the wheel bolts.

The fronts may (or may not) get done tomorrow.

 

[Blobcat]

Cleaned the rear wheels and hubs this morning. Just waiting for the wheels to dry off completely before putting them back on and straining myself to get to the required 150 Nm on the wheel bolts.

No issues getting to 150nm...

 

[daveenty]

No issues getting to 150nm...

I have this rascal but tend to only use it for loosening and not tightening (Stock pic, mine's a lot shabbier): -



I'm off to Mercedes later in the week to get 4 wheel bolts to replace the locking ones with as they're now feeling a little temperamental, probably due to overuse, as the wheels seem to be on and off every other week. I know that they should have been supplied with the car in the little box but probably an oversight and I forgot to chase when I first realised.

 

[00slk]

After much studying of the scratches on the
E Class bonnet including dash cam footage and the expert advice from Blobcat, I now believe that these scratches were there prior to me taking the car through the car wash. More than likely the car had some type of magic polish applied before me purchasing the car, and now each time I walk by the car I'm seeing more scratches that i hadn't seen before.
So I have to eat humble pie. I also had a reply from the car wash company who told me how to make a claim, which now will be unnecessary.
I will continue to use the car wash but not until they reintroduce pre-washing, not paying for pre wash and not getting it.

 

[LostKiwi]

Don't you just hate how one job can become 5?
Managed to get the bonnet open.
The reason I went to open the bonnet is the 210 was giving random ESP/BAS etc errors when you turned the headlights on. That (as expected) was the earth behind the drivers headlight. I touched the stud and it came away from the body....
Fixed by drilling through the steel nearby and putting a bolt through with spring washers etc. Tested and all good.
Bonnet still iffy as requires a new cable but have bodged a temporary repair and at least I know how to do it from underneath now.
Found the rear undertray was in a poor way so going to just leave it off and see how it goes.
The big nasty was when jacking on the jacking point there were some nasty noises like crunching cornflakes and it disappeared up into the sill. So now there is a decision to make. Has the old bus finally gone to the point of uneconomic to repair?
Finally noticed damage to a front tyre so that needs replacing. As it's pretty worn any that'll be two tyres.
@Wighty I've ordered Nexen tyres since you recommend them. Far cheaper than the Rainsports I'd normally go with so we shall see. If they're rubbish it's your fault!
The good thing is if we decide to retire the 210 I can use them on the 129 if I want so that's useful.

 

[Wighty]

Don't you just hate how one job can become 5?
Managed to get the bonnet open.
The reason I went to open the bonnet is the 210 was giving random ESP/BAS etc errors when you turned the headlights on. That (as expected) was the earth behind the drivers headlight. I touched the stud and it came away from the body....
Fixed by drilling through the steel nearby and putting a bolt through with spring washers etc. Tested and all good.
Bonnet still iffy as requires a new cable but have bodged a temporary repair and at least I know how to do it from underneath now.
Found the rear undertray was in a poor way so going to just leave it off and see how it goes.
The big nasty was when jacking on the jacking point there were some nasty noises like crunching cornflakes and it disappeared up into the sill. So now there is a decision to make. Has the old bus finally gone to the point of uneconomic to repair?
Finally noticed damage to a front tyre so that needs replacing. As it's pretty worn any that'll be two tyres.
@Wighty I've ordered Nexen tyres since you recommend them. Far cheaper than the Rainsports I'd normally go with so we shall see. If they're rubbish it's your fault!
The good thing is if we decide to retire the 210 I can use them on the 129 if I want so that's useful.

The Wighty guarantee is still in operation for long term forum members , if they are no good I’ll refer you to @V6Matty who recommended them to me and on and on the blame gets passed .

 

[Rotorhead500]

Don't you just hate how one job can become 5?

Yes. That's why I steer clear of DIY as far as I can!