Snake Charmer

Horrible things to work on.

Tenuous link to Invacar and light bulbs.

Took a trip up to Chesham with @bobdisk as Co-pilot to look at another 2004 E320cdi estate in brienz blue as either a replacement or donor for my car. 5 faults on the dash and EML on, 61 stored codes. Best parts I could see for my car were two left-hand doors and a cup holder. The search continues........ Waiting for an SSD to arrive via the slowest USPS to Royal Mail service ever for my C4 diagnostic laptop, landed over a week ago at Heathrow. Harrumph with a capital H.

A small amount of water collected in our V40 spare wheel well whilst it stood 10 years or so, no visible signs of where it came from and none the last time I looked. I checked the cars for wipers, ours has holes where I removed them when the bumper was removed and the other two have none. I bought new wipers for ours to refit, there may be some in the spares that came with the S40 but where they would be I don't know, sorry.

If anyone would like a project, I have pretty much decided the Volvo's will be going. Preferably every Volvo part and scrap of paper involved in one hit.

I was on the Churchill theme!

In disguise with a Town Cap. More apt....

Quite a spectacle to behold, my Lord having his large knurled nut caressed gently in public.

Nice one, Autoshite does Downton Abbey!

I will have a look later, I know my car has them but not sure on the other two.

Where has that been stored all these years? Outstanding!

My Politoys Vignale Coupe with a Dinky kit FF. I had a plan to paint the Corgi transporter Jensen Motors Ltd colours and display with the four JOC owners Oxford Interceptors on board but the wheel track is not suitable for the transporter.

Yes, the question should have been to @MiniMinorMk3. You seem to have excellent knowledge of the Interceptor and FF. I have a Politoys FF, I was collecting Interceptor and FF related models as I had a MkIII J Series Interceptor. How to upset an FF owner, call it an Interceptor FF.

@flat4alfa Do you have a Politoys FF?

Some of the models were based on members cars from the Jensen Owners Club. They represent MkI, II and III models and are not dead correct but very good, I have a few of the early ones. The rear pillar vent changed through production. The bonnet vent length is a model difference, MkIII cars had the shorter rows and the SP vents were longer. The SP had the 440 Six Pack Dodge engine fitted.

Stayed on a bit at work tonight and took the drivers door card off. Speakers work so much better connected. Refreshingly, the door wires amount to six and are easily removed from the door to check out. All I could find fault with. Taped them up and marked the area. Quite looking forward to getting the software up and running to have a proper look at what's what. Nice having the other speaker running but the Android system definitely does not sound as good as the Clarion Mercedes system even when it had one speaker down.

Went past the old AC factory at Thames Ditton and they have cranes up, I bet it's a housing estate; Cobra Cul-de-sac, Ace Way, Daytona Drive, Aceca Avenue. I wonder if Model 70 will be a house name?

The newly fitted drivers door mirror decided not to unfold this morning so the problem is possibly on the wiring through the door shut as the speaker isn't working either. Unless I'm unlucky and the mirror has the same faults tge old one and the speaker is not plugged in. I can see me stripping the original mirror down to check the wiring. Did a bit of Googlefoo to see if the door shut loom can be removed and what's involved in fitting the spare door, looks quite easy. Just my luck, the bloody door glass is different so a full on strip down is needed! At least I have a spare IR sensor for the door handle now that may work better.

Bit the bullet and entered the world of Star diagnostic software, I will soon have a dedicated laptop and associated gubbins to trash any electronic components the S211 deems to throw at me. I did some digging and came up with a reliable solution recommended by other poor Mercedes owners. Not the cheapest route but has good support.

That has cheered me up no end and put a smile on my face, thank you. 😊 I enjoy driving the car, it is genuinely beat up and scruffy outside, there are times I get in after a few days of repairing someone's mid life chrisis and realise I'm not £50k+ to into a shiny poorly driving GRP monstrosity passed down through a series of owners. Some days it even pleases after a sunny drive through leafy lanes in £500k+ car as the air-conditioning works! If the insurance company ever cough up I will spend their money and some on paint then likely have to spend more on insurance for an agreed value and some performance modifications. It nearly went to Brands Hatch on a track day recently.

Fitted my new spare door mirror as the old one one is intermittent on folding. Pleased to see I have a dimming glass fitted, not so pleased it is bronze and boogernackered so I fitted my old glass. (Bottom lip still sticking out.) Clipped the door tweeter in correctly, checked the wiring as the main door speaker I noticed is not working since fitting this Android radio. Tried the old radio and must not have been working previously. Prefer the sound from the old wireless! Fitted some foam to the Android mounting frame as it doesn't locate properly on the tapered clamping system. Sits a little better now. Went for a drive to test the wireless and sat in a lay-by with the iCarsoft to check the codes. Bought beer in the late night garage. A more satisfying evening than the day at work, Lamborghini Gallardo roof not working. Apparently Lamborghini's need lubrication like mortal cars. Splashed out on a yellow Fido Dido sticker for the apprentices grey toolbox as he's skinny and keeps leaning on things. Started looking into Star/Xentry setups. 'Kin 'ell, £££, $$$ and €€€! Decided I'm not keen on the new Eibach front springs, I can sort the ride height but the spring rate is softer than the old Avantgarde springs and feels well overdamped now.

Was that meant for @purplebargeken and his CLK? 🙂

Despite two new tailgate gas struts the closure still seems a bit of a crash. I noticed this morning one of the number plate sticky pads has come adrift and most of the noise is that flipping and flapping, much quieter with a digit applied. 🙄 I will at some stage attempt to change the hydraulic cylinder oil and give the system a bleed so it has no excuse not to close properly other than the cylinder being worn out and letting by. Once I get a good look at the rear suspension arms the front springs may be getting part of a coil removed down to the old spring height, far too giffer for this old giffer.

Took a trip to Luton and collected a wing for my S211 in the correct colour, came back with a door and wing mirror too. Hoping the mirror is auto dimming! Easy 47mpg on the way back at 56mph.