It's grim up north…tales from the Primate House

[NorthernMonkey]

I did.

Todays purchase isn’t one of them though…

 

[Dave_Q]

Beetle?

[Split_Pin]

Ah it's that TDi 140 Polo isn't it? I was very tempted by that as the Audi is fun to drive so this must be a hoot!

[NorthernMonkey]

Yep! The fifth one of these we’ve owned and the spec that’s been on my search lists for a while…

 

Convertible TDi in the rare ‘Dark Flint’ edition with burgundy roof and matching heated leather.

Best bit is it’s relatively low mileage at 108k and has been owned by a classic car restorer who’s owned it years and fully rebuilt it underneath a few years ago with the idea of keeping it forever until the Edinburgh ULEZ put paid to that idea as his wife was using it to commute into the city everyday so she’s had to get a petrol Honda to replace it. Apart from a minor rash on one bumper corner, it’s minty!

[NorthernMonkey]

6 minutes ago, Split_Pin said:

Ah it's that TDi 140 Polo isn't it? I was very tempted by that as the Audi is fun to drive so this must be a hoot!

Not quite. You’ll see it for yourself in 15 minutes! 😂

[NorthernMonkey]

Now back home after a perfect journey with no issues at all. Well happy with it!!
 

[SilverMachine]

nice looking rag top there! did they get the flower vase too or would said flower get blown away?

and you had a nice little adventure too! but you did miss the  centurion, big ol pub actually in the station in newcastle, although it gets very busy match days!

[NorthernMonkey]

Realised it’s nearly 10 years since Moxy was last on the road.

He (it) has done 800 miles since then and still starts on the key.

Could be this years daily, perhaps? 😂

[NorthernMonkey]

Relatively early night as we’ve been at my 6 year old nieces birthday party all afternoon and we’ve got an early start down to the midlands in the truck tomorrow on a collection jaunt so until then…

[NorthernMonkey]

It’s a bit early for this shit…

£120 to fill up at Costco and we’re on our way.

[NorthernMonkey]

Currently at Frankly for a Greggs bacon sarnie

[NorthernMonkey]

And collection has occurred.

How many bloody wipers?!

 

[NorthernMonkey]

I presume there’s been some racing on somewhere down the M5 today, @Mally?

[Mally]

7 minutes ago, NorthernMonkey said:

I presume there’s been some racing on somewhere down the M5 today, @Mally?

Penhow. But my lot are closer to home in Gainsborough.

Me, having more sense, am in sunny, Sunny Beach,

[NorthernMonkey]

The divine MrsNM has taken over driving duties for a while enabling me to relax, drink coffee and take pictures

[hairnet]

10/4 rubber duck

[NorthernMonkey]

Having inadvertently railroading the cholmondley thread with tails of the resurrection of ‘sex den’ (as it has been christened by the Mrs), I’ll pull my finger out, lead by example and use my own thread to share the experience of trying to fix an elderly MB on a ridiculously tight deadline to attend a car show.

This was a couple of days ago…

and this was at close of play last night…

Head is on and torqued down, exhaust manifold nuts and studs have been replaced and it’s now awaiting final reassembly having taken delivery of a few bits this morning…

notably a new pin for the chain guide, a replacement breather hose, correct rocker cover gasket as the one in the supplied set was for cars without self levelling suspension (go figure) and some oil filters for a couple of flushes.

Just finishing off a few garage jobs then the plan is to have it running before I go home.

The biggest issue is it needs testing and I’m out with the other job all day tomorrow which just leaves Friday to give it a thorough going over and in for a MOT to stand a chance of making it on Sunday.

I really should have sorted it weeks (or indeed months) ago but there’s nothing like a rapidly approaching deadline to focus one’s mind… 🤨

[NorthernMonkey]

As it currently sits, three and a half days before the show…

By the way, after seeing a recommendation from someone on here, I spent six quid or so on Amazon on this…

What a game changer! Used it to secure a repair to a sensor and within a hour, it’s set like concrete!!

[NorthernMonkey]

I mentioned the parts prices from the dealers.

These are your options online…

£23, or £35 for uk sourced stock…

or £11.80 (+vat) for next day delivery to your local Mercedes dealer!

[Dave_Q]

I had to buy a fan relay for my Vito, £60-100 on eBay, £54 from local dealer.

[jim89]

5 hours ago, NorthernMonkey said:

By the way, after seeing a recommendation from someone on here, I spent six quid or so on Amazon on this…

What a game changer! Used it to secure a repair to a sensor and within a hour, it’s set like concrete!!

If you ever wanted extra "body" in it (to fill small holes say) you can sprinkle baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) on it BUT BEWARE  it sets quick (even without the spray) & is extremely hard!

[NorthernMonkey]

Crazy, isn’t it? Mercedes are brilliant for their parts supply.

Anyway, in other news, she lives!

Put it all back together, tweaked the timing and away she goes, smooth as a baby’s arse.

Done a bit of a pre mot check and all that was found was a blown dipped beam fuse along with a failed stop light.

They’ve been replaced and everything seems to be working so the plan is to leave it with my mot man and get him to do it whilst I’m away in the West Midlands tomorrow valuing mobile vacuum extractors then, assuming it fails on something, I’ve got all day Friday to sort it and get it retested.

It may just make it on Sunday after all… (famous last words!)

[Brigsy]

Solid progress getting it back together and done in a short time.

Mitre bond ftw, its pulled me out of the shit loads of times. Baking soda makes it go off like them q bond kits that you can buy, absolutely solid.

[Split_Pin]

Mitre Bond, duly noted ✅️ 

Good luck on the MOT!

[jim89]

7 hours ago, Split_Pin said:

Mitre Bond*, duly noted ✅️ 

Good luck on the MOT!

*Other cyanoacrylates (super glues) are available possibly for cheapser.

There's nothing chemically special* about the mitre bond brand.

Also their activator spray (& other ones) work with any cyanoacrylate superglue 👍🏻

[NorthernMonkey]

Just checked on the app…

Looks like we might be on for Sunday, folks!! 🤨

[loserone]

Very good! 

[Tickman]

Good result, no extra hassle needed.

[NorthernMonkey]

A little too late for the show, unfortunately but I finally got to the bottom of the starting issue…

Basically, I’d got two bloody wires the wrong way around! 🤬

The two I weren’t 100% were reversed and it started immediately although the temp gauge shot to the top with the ignition on which is why I swapped them originally but it turns out there’s a third single wire within reach so once two and three were swapped too, normal service was resumed!

Just need to sort the interior out now and it’ll be ready to hit the road, although I’m not sure what I’m going to do with it long term.

Especially as I’ve just bought this that needs a gearbox… 🤨

[Matty]

If thats Manchester Road in Haslingden you were next to my work buying that. Brave man 😄