Swap 1993 Mercedes 190e - MOT Win

[BorniteIdentity]

PLOT TWIST.

 

Auction ended a fortnight ago now - and ended at a measly £460.  Whilst that's probably what it's worth, I was hoping to get £500+.

 

Anyway, made contact with the highest bidder.  Turns out it's my brother in law who thinks I'm being rash throwing in the towel, and has spoken to HA Lock in Rushden who are  (apparently) the holy grail when it comes to old Mercedes.  A quick check on google street view confirms this (you can actually see their piles of shite from space via Google Earth)

 

He has organised for the car to be recovered today, and they're going to give it a thorough going over next week.

I spoke to Albert Lock on the telephone, and he could explain in about 30 seconds what will have happened to cause the failure.  He says he's not willing to put an unknown engine in the car (been there before) but will have the parts lying around the yard to make it go again.  

 

All in all, feeling quite positive.

 

It's not been an easy few weeks.  The previous mechanic phoned to complain at 8:00 this morning that the car was still there, so I got dressed and proceeded to PUSH the car a mile home all by myself.  I think he felt a proper 'see you next tuesday' after that.

 

Anyway. I'm knackared, but feeling a bit more positive about it all.

 

Updates to follow.

[carlo]

Blimey!  More twists than a good novel.. Best of luck.

[billyboy406v6]

Love the grease monkeys attitude, I would have at least expected him to help push his shoddy workmanship off the premises ! Hope your new outfit can sort it out.

[BorniteIdentity]

Love the grease monkeys attitude, I would have at least expected him to help push his shoddy workmanship off the premises ! Hope your new outfit can sort it out.

 

He's all mouth no trousers.

 

I moved the car slightly yesterday afternoon from the place where he abandoned it to a more prominent position (so the recovery driver could get it on easily by himself).  Mechanic phoned at 8:00 this morning.  I went down there, and in front of him and his pal proceeded to push it all the way home.

 

Went back to recover my car, and confronted him about his frankly appalling attitude.  He was very sheepish.  I explained I was surprised to find him working on a Sunday, seeing as he's had 2 of my cars for 3 months and still hadn't managed to finish either of them.

 

Part of me wants to take him to court.  Part of me just wants to move on, chalk it up to experience, and warn everyone else.

[crapcarcollector]

Nail the bastards hat on and take him to court. Keep your car, rediscover your mojo and I promise you when it's sorted you will bond with it even more because of the hardships than you would have before.

 

 

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[NorfolkNWeigh]

Albert Lock is a legend , although not the quickest worker, some of those Mercs out the front might be customers cars . Come to think of it I dropped aW108 300 SEL off about 30 years ago........

 

One thing he won't do though is take the piss, I'd use him for my Merc stuff if we weren't spoiled for good specialists closer to home -Joeseph Joos in Sherington and Autoclass in Milton Keynes- both a bit pricey these days for major surgery though.

 

Have you named a shamed earlier in the thread? If not please do so we can avoid this joker.

[BorniteIdentity]

Albert Lock is a legend , although not the quickest worker, some of those Mercs out the front might be customers cars . Come to think of it I dropped aW108 300 SEL off about 30 years ago........

 

One thing he won't do though is take the piss, I'd use him for my Merc stuff if we weren't spoiled for good specialists closer to home -Joeseph Joos in Sherington and Autoclass in Milton Keynes- both a bit pricey these days for major surgery though.

 

Have you named a shamed earlier in the thread? If not please do so we can avoid this joker.

 

I read all the warnings about Albert, so just blew smoke up his arse on the telephone for 15 minutes and we got on like a house on fire.  His son seemed very pleasant as well.

 

No naming and shaming  yet - as if there's a chance I get my labour money back, then I'd rather like that.  (call me old fashioned)

[DeeJay]

Send the previous mechanic Alberts bill, (I know he's not a duck).

[richardmorris]

Sometimes it's less stressful to just move on. I hope you get the car fixed.

[Magnificent Rustbucket]

PLOT TWIST.

 

Auction ended a fortnight ago now - and ended at a measly £460.  Whilst that's probably what it's worth, I was hoping to get £500+.

 

Anyway, made contact with the highest bidder.  Turns out it's my brother in law who thinks I'm being rash throwing in the towel, and has spoken to HA Lock in Rushden who are  (apparently) the holy grail when it comes to old Mercedes.  A quick check on google street view confirms this (you can actually see their piles of shite from space via Google Earth)

 

He has organised for the car to be recovered today, and they're going to give it a thorough going over next week.

I spoke to Albert Lock on the telephone, and he could explain in about 30 seconds what will have happened to cause the failure.  He says he's not willing to put an unknown engine in the car (been there before) but will have the parts lying around the yard to make it go again.  

 

All in all, feeling quite positive.

 

It's not been an easy few weeks.  The previous mechanic phoned to complain at 8:00 this morning that the car was still there, so I got dressed and proceeded to PUSH the car a mile home all by myself.  I think he felt a proper 'see you next tuesday' after that.

 

Anyway. I'm knackared, but feeling a bit more positive about it all.

 

Updates to follow.

 

 

I am so glad to hear this - I have become peculiarly fond of your old Mercedes. I was genuinely sad when you decided to let it go, but did understand the reasoning behind your decision. After all your efforts and such an incredible run of bad luck, you deserve some positive news on the old beast!

 

 

I look forward to updates!

[BorniteIdentity]

It was just so fitting that the first step to getting it fixed HAD to be a ball-ache.  

 

Arrive at the mechanic at 8.30.  

Start pushing it off his land in front of him and his mate without saying a word.  

Realise it'll be impossible to push it a mile with the door open.

Attempt to lower window.

No power.

Get other car to use battery via leads.

No leads.

New leads in boot of mercedes in emergency bag from halfords.

Two zips cable tied together.

No tools.

Eventually hack cable tie with house key.

Start pushing.

Stop after 30 seconds because obesity.

Push for another 4 minutes.

Farm dogs decide to jump over me because obvious theft.

Push car along NSL road.

Many people drive past not offering assistance.

Near corinary.

Eventually succeed.

 

Recovery dude apparently collected the car at about Midday.

[Bren]

Tell your brother in law my SD1 needs painting.

[BorniteIdentity]

Just LOOK at this place.

 

 

I imagine the locals are thrilled to have such a well stocked, well resourced and knowledgable expert right on their doorstep.

 

 

[Felly Magic]

I hope you made that garage owner feel a right twunt for making you push your broken car home, which he could have possibly caused

[billyboy406v6]

I trust you were wearing a hi vis jacket, with " sponsored by grease monkey" on it during your epic car push ?

[rantingYoof]

Just LOOK at this place.

 

ha lock.png

 

I imagine the locals are thrilled to have such a well stocked, well resourced and knowledgable expert right on their doorstep.

Ah yes, the Irthlingborough Mercedes grave yard. I'll try to grab a few pics the next time I go that way.

 

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[alf892]

Ah yes, the Irthlingborough Mercedes grave yard. I'll try to grab a few pics the next time I go that way.

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It's in Rushden.........its the place specialists use when they run out of knowledge

[Guest Hooli]

Great plot twist there

[rantingYoof]

It's in Rushden.........its the place specialists use when they run out of knowledge

 

Oh yes, of course. Irthlingborough is just up t'road. I rarely venture north-eastish of the county.

[SiC]

Out of interest, what was the explained explanation he gave on the cause?

[BorniteIdentity]

Out of interest, what was the explained explanation he gave on the cause?

 

That the mechanic didn't fully reset the chain tensioner.  Even if he didn't just stick it back on again and expect it to work, and made some attempt to reset it, the thing must be taken right out - the plunger pushed right the way through and then back again.

 

This is all double dutch to me, but the full procedure is here

 

http://www.benzworld.org/forums/w202-c-class/1520233-how-reset-timing-chain-tensioner-after.html

 

I'm quietly confident that the guy didn't even break the chain, as he admitted he was struggling to find the correct tooling.  So I imagine it all just got reattached to the car and expected to work.

[gnorwebthgimi]

If I dropped a car there my expectation would be that I would get it back soon and in perfect working order or not hear anything for weeks and if I didn't take the car back after a few months bits might start to disappear. I hope the reputation of this guy is deservadely good and that you now know how to pick them and not 'you sure know how to pick 'em'. I would be seething about the other garage! Most of all I hope the merc makes it back on the road, best of luck!

[BorniteIdentity]

So, just 3 weeks left on the MOT, so I decided to roll it out of the garage yesterday afternoon and just drive for the sake of it.  Not quite enough battery for the starter to catch, so it was out with the trusty jump pack where it started up first time.

 

Decided to go to the local part worn specialist, as last year one of the advisories was a cracked tyre wall.  The guy informed me they no longer sell to the public, but would sell me one at £8 because local.  Decided I'd go back when I had more time on my hands.

 

Went around to the local welder to get an idea on the two front patches that were advised last year.  

 

 

He said there are two options:  1 is to do it properly and cut some metal actually in.  He seemed to think about a day and a half to do all of this.  Option 2 is to just patch it for the MOT.  The car's never going to win any awards, I just want to be able to use it - so it'll be a "bodge it and scarper".

 

Went over to another garage to get an opinion on welding, and he said £65 a corner would have it on the road.  That's more like it.

 

He also had some interesting stuff up there which I really wasn't expecting to see at a small rural garage.  A very nice Rover R8 convertible in the "showroom", and these beauties outside.

 

1985 Rover "SD1" 3500 Vitesse by Bornite Identity, on Flickr

 

Mercedes R129SL 500sl by Bornite Identity, on Flickr

 

I think my friendly 'fast fit' garage could probably weld up for a little bit cheaper, so I'm going to get it to them in the next few days.

 

As I also said on the News24 thread, the car continued to frustrate me with the gearbox bearings.  They've always been a bit noisy when you're off the throttle - but it appeared to be worse than ever yesterday.  On top of that, it's also developed a bit of hesitancy at times and holding back.  This is annoying, as it's had new leads, plugs, cap, rotor arm and OVP relay in the last 1000 miles along with a fuel filter in the last 3000 miles.  I suppose it COULD be the battery, but it's a genuine mercedes one that the specialist put on for me to help me out of a bind.  Irritating, but I'm getting used to the fact something will always annoy me about this thing.

[BorniteIdentity]

Grrr.  Frustrating that previous posts have been lost, because the context has also gone.

 

 

Copied and pasted below.

 

 

 

 

 

Well today was the day.

 

To be honest, Saturday should have been the day but for my son spending 3 days in the HDU of Bedford General Hospital. (Double pneumonia but making a phenomenal recovery)

Went and collected the car at 4.30. The place is everything I wanted it to be. Piles of old Mercedes (some very rare stuff in there too) and a single bay workshop that probably hasn't been cleaned since I've been alive.

This is the first sign that all is not as you'd expect.

Turning into the property is awesome.

The view from the office

Incredible.

 

I found Albert to be very friendly and generous. Some reviews online are a little scathing- but he was great. He's quite straightforward, but that's alright by me.

 

It's had quite a lot of work done (obviously more than the 9 hours he's charged) and now runs better than ever. I know that's often said, but it genuinely is a better steer than ever. When I called for a progress report after week 3, they were "getting the mixture right". From what I gather this involves quite a lot of witchcraft with inexplicable electronic adjustments. Every guide I found online says "don't even go here" when describing the method of adjustment. They really really know their stuff.

The typewritten invoice was just the icing on the cake.

 

Happy Dan is Happy.

[Bear]

Just LOOK at this place.

 

ha lock.png

 

I imagine the locals are thrilled to have such a well stocked, well resourced and knowledgable expert right on their doorstep.

 

 

I think I just saw my future. Except for the knowledge bit. Or expert. But a garden full of rotting Mercedes...

[oldcars]

I would get all the rot cut out and it done properly, seems a shame to bodge it once you have spent ££££ on the engine rebuild.

[BorniteIdentity]

Thing is, it's 2 days bloody work from what the local legend was saying.  Even by my maths you're heading to four figures.

 

I don't usually like bodges, but I've started making a few on here (using a "chock block" when wiring the stereo in / discreetly attaching things with a cable tie) and I finally started feeling like I was winning.  I even robbed a brand new battery off another car I was selling to try and claw back some money.

[Bear]

Thing is, it's 2 days bloody work from what the local legend was saying.  Even by my maths you're heading to four figures.

 

I don't usually like bodges, but I've started making a few on here (using a "chock block" when wiring the stereo in / discreetly attaching things with a cable tie) and I finally started feeling like I was winning.  I even robbed a brand new battery off another car I was selling to try and claw back some money.

 

 

Most of that labour time will be stripping and replacing bodywork/interior, surely? You can do a fair bit of that in advance.

[richardmorris]

Where's the rust? My inner front wings' rust in front of the wheels behind the headlamps on both sides took 5 hours a side start to finish ( bumper off, which was a pain as rusty bolts), then outer wings off etc. Cost me £100 a side.

[BorniteIdentity]

On the sill where one would place a trolley jack. It does spread behind the Sacco sill panels but not very far.

 

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