HMC- 1979 escort 1.3GL is here!

[HMC]

First owner: THE FIRM

 

[HMC]

What does “MVO” mean? 

[egg]

manufacturer vehicle operations, he says, like he actually knows...lol

[HMC]

It’s not been an entirely trouble free start to gearless metro ownership. First was the saggy suspension, which I knew about and sorted myself. Some stuff the vendor omitted to say

1) car wouldn’t start in park, wouldn’t engage reverse unless held between park and reverse

2) No lights; the flasher function not side or dipped beam.

I had a hunch the column stalk was dodgy on the latter but changing it made no difference. All the relays seemed ok.  I then gave up and chucked it at my local garage who diagnosed problems in the soldering of the fuse box, which they couldn’t resolve. A quick e bay trawl provided a cheap known good replacement. They also tweaked the adjustment on the gear selector so now it behaves itself on gear selection too.

It’s been on daily duty and I have failed to convince anyone that it’s the thinking man’s mini. It most certainly is the poor mans mini though.

 

[HMC]

It’s 1997 and I’m a penniless student in Leeds. My mode of transport is a 1982 triumph 3 speed bicycle with rod brakes. Pushbike shite! On wasteland by where I lived (now comprehensively redeveloped beside the royal armouries) I find a sad cortina, 15 years old and a bit rusty, but with a mountney steering wheel and some snazzy aftermarket wheels. 2.0 ghia with beige interior/ wood door trims. It also had spot lamps and a boot mounted spoiler; Irresistable!

Turns out a guy living on a nearby canal boat owns it. £10 later and it’s mine. My first car. Alas ownership was brief as it was a lot worse than it looked. After that gradually sank in, it became very clear it was not going to make it back to the road. I reluctantly doubled my money by selling the mountney wheel and scrapping it. I’ve got the memories and a photo.....

[HMC]

Well the rover 45 ended up selling locally for someone who needed transport after their car died- I suspect bought to be used and discarded but still it was a sale.

In other news a vandalised Mercedes has been sourced as I’m a key worker and currently the metro is immobile with a leaking transmission oil cooler pipe. I abandoned it on a country lane last week. Rimmer bros has provided a replacement that is en route. Hopefully the metro will still be there when the part arrives.

[BorniteIdentity]

Oh hello, Sailor. 

[bigfella2]

Don't be shy, show us the Merc.

[Peter C]

More info on W124 please!

[HMC]

I’ll put up more about the golf clubbed w124 when I’ve had a proper look and drive of it, it mainly sits on the street and looks like an @RobT spot from south London; sort of used and abused and proud of it.

Meanwhile strange happenings with the Rover 100. 

It started smoking really badly and I pulled over, switched off and had a look under the bonnet where there was a rusty, fluid soaked and dripping automatic gearbox cooler pipe, which was then dripping off onto the exhaust manifold.

I left it there stranded and managed to source a new pipe from rimming bros for a very surprisingly reasonable £20. A week later and I have an e mail saying they have none in stock and can’t get hold of any.

I decided to cycle the 5 miles back to the stricken metro with a bit of rubber hose and some jubilee clips with the idea of sleeving the rust holed pipe and limping it back until I had a better idea.

The outward leg provided a spot 

 

And eventually I got there and did my roadside repair....

I fired it up and the pipe is now fine. The pipe had always been fine; it was the adjacent (everything is adjacent in a metro K engine bay) oil filter that had sprung a pinhole leak pointing exactly at the ATF cooler pipe.

I packed my bag and cycled back home and have ordered an oil filter, and cracked open a beer. I suppose it’s keeping me fit all this messing about!

[somewhatfoolish]

Unless it's a massive leak why not just top up and drive it home?

[HMC]

It’s a sort of constant squirt, more ends up on the road than burnt on the fannymold I recon I’d get back before the oil level became too critical but I’m worried about putting motorcyclists in danger as once on the B road it’s a fast fun road on a bike I would think; possibly a bit ott of me?

[bramz7]

That 245 is hideously grim. Passed its first computerised MOT last year too. 

 

I think I want to experience a Rover 100 soon. Always felt the idea of a 115 would be interesting. Hope the oil filter sorts out your one. 

[New POD]

8 hours ago, bramz7 said:

That 245 is hideously grim. Passed its first computerised MOT last year too. 

 

I think I want to experience a Rover 100 soon. Always felt the idea of a 115 would be interesting. Hope the oil filter sorts out your one. 

Was the 115 a 1500 cc PSA n/a diesel? 

[Steve79]

14 minutes ago, New POD said:

Was the 115 a 1500 cc PSA n/a diesel? 

Yep, as fitted in the phase2 106. Metro, Citroen AX and phase1 106 had the 1400 Diesel. 

MPG's aren't as good in the Metro as in the 106 and AX cos' comparatively heavy bastard but daily MPG's of late 50's are usual. 

Had a 1400d AX back in the day and was getting around mid 60's on a daily basis. 

[Steve79]

On 3/1/2020 at 9:46 PM, Fumbler said:

Brother Fumbler passed his test in a diesel Fusion. Basically a hatchback with the Transit engine in it. He hated it but liked the amount of torque it had.

These had the 1 4/1.6 TDCi fitted in them. I reckon the 1.4 in a Transit would have been an even more miserable experience than usual ?

[New POD]

13 minutes ago, Steve79 said:

Yep, as fitted in the phase2 106. Metro, Citroen AX and phase1 106 had the 1400 Diesel. 

MPG's aren't as good in the Metro as in the 106 and AX cos' comparatively heavy bastard but daily MPG's of late 50's are usual. 

Had a 1400d AX back in the day and was getting around mid 60's on a daily basis. 

I had a 1.4D echo. AX with GTI wheels. Ragged it from Liverpool to Burnley for a year every day.  That is the definition of motoring misery.

There are hills on the M65 and it couldn't hold 5th without slowing.  Was achieving 50.mpg due to always trying to be flat out. 

[HMC]

11 hours ago, bramz7 said:

That 245 is hideously grim. Passed its first computerised MOT last year too. 

 

I think I want to experience a Rover 100 soon. Always felt the idea of a 115 would be interesting. Hope the oil filter sorts out your one. 

Strangely enough that Volvo has been used regularly around Tavistock for at least 8 years* and On the same plate -  maybe an admin error or maybe someone invented mot exemption before it was a thing (!)
 

*at least 5 years ago someone may have left a message under the wiper about buying it 

[HMC]

I have done a buy from the next street,  without contact. It’s big and complicated and cheap and some parts don’t work. At the moment the engine, gearbox and airsuspension seem to be behaving themselves at least. Phew.

[gadgetgricey]

I really enjoyed the S430 I had a,while ago. Hopefully you have more luck with this.

I bet the mpg is not much better though

[wuvvum]

Nice idea, getting a V8 while pez is cheap.  If I wasn't skint I'd be looking for something similar myself.

[bunglebus]

Air suspension? Was always fun watching the diagnostic system make them "dance" after they had repairs when I was at Merc

[hairnet]

will it do 11s

bet it wafts nicely

[wuvvum]

Just now, hairnet said:

will it do 11s

No, because Mercedes traction control is boooooring.

[hairnet]

not turn off m12?

 

[wuvvum]

Even if you turn it off it doesn't actually turn off.  It's still there in the background waving a nagging finger.

[83C]

30 minutes ago, HMC said:

I have done a buy from the next street,  without contact. It’s big and complicated and cheap and some parts don’t work. At the moment the engine, gearbox and airsuspension seem to be behaving themselves at least. Phew.

That's mega. I've been looking at something similar. Interestingly that one has the updated COMAND unit fitted.

[bramz7]

Surely if it's got to 190k it must be reasonably okay? 

Are you two Merc man now? 

[Broadsword]

That is bravery of the sort that deserves a medal. Funnily enough I was just remarking to myself how cheap these now are. Big risk but what a machine. Do not let the battery go flat is my advice. It can leave you with no way back into the car I’ve read.

[HMC]

18 minutes ago, bramz7 said:

Surely if it's got to 190k it must be reasonably okay? 

Are you two Merc man now? 

Yes, still got the vandalised w124 (and the Rover 114 ) 

I saw through the mileage history it’s been steadily used year on year, I think they are the sort of car that throw a strop if they are left idle for long periods (my theory will probably be disproven soon)