Swap 1993 Mercedes 190e - MOT Win

[derskine]

I wouldn't say it was 4 figures certainly.

To be honest, it doesn't actually take that much longer to cut it out.

 

Perhaps take it somewhere else to get the repairs done?

It's not really worth patching it over, it'll just get worse.

[richardmorris]

sills may be a bit more time consuming, but wont need to take that much off to get at I expect. £100 a side wouldn't  be bad to cut out weld and make good. Just after I bought mine I had all the jacking points repaired for £200. You can get repair sections for the 190 too.

[danthecapriman]

Another vote for getting it done properly. I know the bodge patch over is cheaper but it won't last,after a couple of years the rust will come back through again and you'll be spending the money having it done again. Your better off spending more now and sorting it properly permanently.

I know it's easy to say, but buying a welder and teaching yourself to use it would be the best way. It's a great skill to have if you like old cars!

 

Well done for sticking with it though and getting it fixed. It's a really nice looking car.

[BorniteIdentity]

In a bit of a mucking fuddle with this again, as there are a few jobs that need doing - but in the right order.

 

1) Weldering.  This obviously needs to happen before the Ministry of Transport give me a ticket to ride.

2) Gearbox.  It's been quite noisy for a while when off the power.  Obviously little point in getting this done with no MOT - but obviously harder to get the box repaired/replaced with no MOT.  It's the bacon and the egg innit?

 

Anyway, spoke to HA Lock (Merc legend) and he seems to think it's more likely to be the axle than the box itself.

 

What do you think he means?  The differential whines a little bit at 70mph, but "they all do that sir".

 

Anyway, off to see him in the next few days and off to another welder today who works from home.

[michael1703]

Why can't you patch it for a year and do it properly next year?

 

You've then got a year to find some sills and then you can get them painted and stone chipped and cavity waxed.

 

Does also sound like diff from your description rather than gearbox

[BorniteIdentity]

Why can't you patch it for a year and do it properly next year?

 

You've then got a year to find some sills and then you can get them painted and stone chipped and cavity waxed.

 

Does also sound like diff from your description rather than gearbox

Apparently it's not really the sills... it's more the jacking points. However the advisory from last year days front lower sill so it's a bid confuddling.

 

Jacking points are readily available from merc for about £6 each but apparently will still need a bit of modification to fill the hole. May as well buy at that price.

 

 

 

Sent from my SM-G920F using Tapatalk

[trigger]

I had mine patched up on the rear both sides. It cost me £20 to repair, i removed the side trim first and had to rust treat it and underseal it myself afterwards but its all hidden by the side trim anyway.

[forddeliveryboy]

However you repair the rot, just be sure the old is cut out before any new steel is welded in and that it's well protected from future corrosion. Etch priming helps hugely.

[dugong]

15/10 for perseverance. 
 

[Guest Hooli]

Has it got oil in the diff? it goes missing in most older RWD cars.

[forddeliveryboy]

Yea, I was thinking that too. Even if the diff's full, it's in the schedule to replace every three or four years. I'm always surprised how hot the oil gets, even without driving at high speed. Manual boxes need fresh oil every year, according to Mercedes.

[michael1703]

You were advised last year

 

You might be advised again this year

 

I'd find out first before you commit anymore

 

I've mot'd cars and advised on the same bit every time but not failed it

[BorniteIdentity]

15/10 for masochism.

 

EFA

 

 

Has it got oil in the diff? it goes missing in most older RWD cars.

I've driven it about 4 miles now and it makes the noise with the clutch down and also the box in neutral. Verdict: axle.

 

 

Yea, I was thinking that too. Even if the diff's full, it's in the schedule to replace every three or four years. I'm always surprised how hot the oil gets, even without driving at high speed. Manual boxes need fresh oil every year, according to Mercedes.

Well I'm not sure it's been done in the last 10 years. The service history is quite comprehensive but I can't see any notes.

 

 

 

You were advised last year

 

You might be advised again this year

 

I'd find out first before you commit anymore

 

I've mot'd cars and advised on the same bit every time but not failed it

It's been seen now by 3 different garages and it's a definite fail. TBH it was probably a fail last year but got waved through when the garage had enough.

 

Thanks for your help.

 

In other news, I got a full set of CLK wheels given to me today. I was so hopefully that they'd look good on the 190 and freshen it up without being bling. Sadly, I failed. Trying to a buyer now.

 

[BorniteIdentity]

Had to pop out this evening to get bog roll. Rather than walk to the village shop 30 seconds away - I took the 190e on a 25 mile jolly.

 

The engine seems to be getting better and better. (Is that a thing after a rebuild?) The noise that I thought was the gearbox bearings is almost certainly not. Possible diff or maybe propshaft bearings?

 

Anyway was looking for a photo op when I saw this lovely longboat parked near the church.

 

 

Found a new welder who says £100 a side to remove and replace the metal at the front jacking points. He might have to get a replacement sill - but pattern parts are £55. Mercedes aren't galvanised so seems stupid to pay for them.

 

I think the next thing is to book an MOT to see 1)is there anything to stop me pouring more money into the car and 2) exactly what "Ken the Weld" needs to do.

[AndyW201]

The noise you describe is almost certainly the diff bearings, if it's on the overrun. I'm on my sixth 190 and five of them have had the noise. Don't fret about it, it'll run on forever although I've found a change of oil and a tube of differential treatment doesn't hurt.

 

Again, about half of the number I've owned have need attention around the jacking point area. On my old 2.0 sportline, I had to get the front and rear drain grommet holes seen to on one side of the car.(the smaller rubber bungs just behind the jacking point bungs. For this the sill cover had to come off, it's pretty simple once you know all the fixings that have to come off. With the age of 190s now, its regarded as good practice to spend a day removing the sacco boards and having a good clean and inspection. A good chance to clean up the bottoms of the doors and the sills. The amount (and weight) of the crud that collects in the sill covers alone is unreal!

If my experience is anything to go by, once the sill cover is off, you will be surprised just how localised the rot is, and how much good sill will be left.

 

As a guide me and my mate (mostly my mate) had the sacco off and the two rotten drain grommet holes cut out, welded (about a credit card sized patch on each area) , protected and the trim back on in about 8 hours.

 

Good to see the car back out again and running well. I love Malachite as a colour, although the majority of my 190s have been brown...

[BorniteIdentity]

The noise you describe is almost certainly the diff bearings, if it's on the overrun. I'm on my sixth 190 and five of them have had the noise. Don't fret about it, it'll run on forever although I've found a change of oil and a tube of differential treatment doesn't hurt.

 

Again, about half of the number I've owned have need attention around the jacking point area. On my old 2.0 sportline, I had to get the front and rear drain grommet holes seen to (the smaller rubber bungs just behind the jacking point bungs. For this the sill cover had to come off, it's pretty simple once you know all the fixings that have to come off. With the age of 190s now, its regarded as good practice to spend a day removing the sacco boards and having a good clean and inspection. A good chance to clean up the bottoms of the doors and the sills. The amount (and weight) of the crud that collects in the sill covers alone is unreal!

If my experience is anyyhing to go by, once the sill cover is off, you will be surprised just how localised therot is, and how much good sill will be left.

 

As a guide me and my mate (mostly my mate) had the sacco off and the two rotten drain grommet holes cut out, welded (about a credit card sized patch on each area) , protected and the trim back on in about 8 hours.

This is invaluable. Thanks so much. Really really grateful.

 

Sent from my SM-G920F using Tapatalk

[BorniteIdentity]

It's exactly one year since I left my sister's wedding early to go and pick this up. (Chod Bothering before Brothering innit) and I dropped it off tonight for its MOT  fail list.

 

 

I'll let y'all know how spectacular it is.

 

This PLACE is special though.

 

 

Wish me luck!

 

 

[fatharris]

Fingers crossed it's all minor stuff

[Magnificent Rustbucket]

Good luck!

[BorniteIdentity]

Can we do something collectively?

 

After three! 1...2...

 

"WTAF!!1!"

 

The first garage I went to were unsure as to what the result would be. The second said "we're fair but we ain't THAT fair" and this is the third garage. I did question whether it would be a fail because the grot is so far from the suspension mounting point. I'll have a chat with the tester and report back.

 

Plans now include treating the car to some new DMB plates and a pair of tyres.

 

Has the tide turned? Wait and see on another exciting installment of "Mercshite".

[Skizzer]

See?!  Mercedes, innit.

[RobT]

A fresh ticket is a thing of joy, nice one!

[fatharris]

See? Positive mental attitude helps

[Felly Magic]

Result!

[Magnificent Rustbucket]

The collective positive mental wave from Autoshite swept away all negativity and doubt! Or something like that! Good result!

[HillmanImp]

Well done but for your own sanity, I think you should just sell it and move on. You are full of beans now but next time something goes wrong it will weigh on you MUCH more than if something goes wrong with a different car. If you have something else that goes wrong you will be able to deal with it properly but with this, your mind will punish you for keeping it.

[BorniteIdentity]

Looks like HillmanImp's password has been compromised and someone else has assumed his identity.

 

Hello, wife xx

[Skizzer]

If you do sell it on, don't forget to include the phrases "sailed through" and "tester said it was the best he'd ever seen" in the ad. Also "celebrity owned", obviously.

[BorniteIdentity]

If you do sell it on, don't forget to include the phrases "sailed through" and "tester said it was the best he'd ever seen" in the ad. Also "celebrity owned", obviously.

There's only one 'C Word' people use around me...and it's not that one.

[DeeJay]

Don't forget "Bullet proof engine", "Merc innit".