Sunburst yellow Mercedes SLK 230K

[BorniteIdentity]

I was rather hoping to pick this up in about 3 weeks time. Your commitment is both heartwarming and irritating in equal measure. (!)

 

The good news is your doing all the graft which is commendable.

[Jim Bell]

I was rather hoping to pick this up in about 3 weeks time. Your commitment is both heartwarming and irritating in equal measure. (!)

 

The good news is your doing all the graft which is commendable.

As said earlier man, you're more than welcome to have a borrow of it at this end to run around in up this way. Everythings for sale but I don't for a minute think you'd want to pay what I'd need out of it. Doesn't mean you can't get a bit of enjoyment out of it though.

[loserone]

Get 'im hooked, Jim.

[Jim Bell]

I 'bum raped' an 1100 [*memory hazy] of a doohookie that spun on the speedo cable = it had two wire contacts and you ran 12V direct to your aftermarket reversing lamp.

 

Driving forward was NO light

Reversing made ON light

 

Demon forces at werk obviosly in 'maggik box'

Does Speedo cables actually 'unwind' in reverse? I never knew that.

[tooSavvy]

Most speedo/odometers are 'ratcheted' so the mileage only changes if the cable drive turns in forward motion [cannot 'power drill' 30k off @Quentin]

 

The widget I got must have had a friction block inside and it moved live contacts into contact when cable turned backwards/reverse car.

[BorniteIdentity]

As said earlier man, you're more than welcome to have a borrow of it at this end to run around in up this way. Everythings for sale but I don't for a minute think you'd want to pay what I'd need out of it. Doesn't mean you can't get a bit of enjoyment out of it though.

 

You're a gent.  It'll only end up in heartbreak though!  You know the old saying - "he who doesn't aim, doesn't miss".

 

!

[Jim Bell]

This is why I never aim for the toilet when pissing.

[mrbenn]

This is why I never aim for the toilet when pissing.

 

So that's where I'm going wrong....

[Guest Hooli]

This is why I never aim for the toilet when pissing.

 

Reminds me of the office toilet, you need wellies in there some days.

[Ohdearme]

Next I had a go at cleaning out the rear drains.

 

20181124_132003.jpg

 

 

Pokedy poke.

 

 

20181124_132006.jpg

 

 

 

Manky filth.

 

 

20181124_132106.jpg

 

 

Much improved now. After that I gave it a good wash and a blast around to dry off.

Rampant Slinky abuse, shame on you, Sir.

[Sir Snipes]

Most speedo/odometers are 'ratcheted' so the mileage only changes if the cable drive turns in forward motion [cannot 'power drill' 30k off @Quentin]

 

The widget I got must have had a friction block inside and it moved live contacts into contact when cable turned backwards/reverse car.

I suppose you'd have to "do a Ford" and just keep winding it untill it went all the way round back to zero (then keep going to make it plauseable)

[Fabergé Greggs]

WE WANT 0-60 TIMES

[Jim Bell]

WE WANT 0-60 TIMES

It's been pissing down for days and the rears are just lighting up in the wet on attempted hard launch. Still fucking drizzling now. It never used to so I'm guessing there IS more low down power available but will have to wait on for a dry day to actually prove it.

[chaseracer]

Last time I saw those calipers...

 

 

...they were on Richard's kitchen table next to a tin of bright red paint!

[Jim Bell]

Last time I saw those calipers...

 

 

...they were on Richard's kitchen table next to a tin of bright red paint!

Just before they were on his car in his shed in that pic I think. It's a historical snap from his thread.

[Jim Bell]

Ok. It was dry on the ground today and the privet* test track was quiet so I took the SLK out for a post-crank pulley upgrade comparison run.

 

The first thing I noticed was that it wants to break traction off the line now even in the dry. It's hard not to on launch actually. The rear tyres are just about on the wear markers so I'm hoping a new set of hoops will grip it up a bit.

 

For comparison I've stuck the stats together so we can see what's happening.

 

 

 

 

As you can see, the car is slower off the line and much slower at the low end. This is traction struggle related (blame driver) rather than an actual loss of power.

 

Time to 60mph is about the same so it MUST be pulling harder mid range.

 

It's picked up a whole second at the quarter mile which is decent. I think sorting the launch would give a clear indication that gains worth making have been achieved.

 

Sounds better, goes better.

 

No irrefutable scientific evidence as yet, but I still love the thing and I'm glad of the upgrade.

 

 

Still bonny.

 

Next: new rear tyres.

[BorniteIdentity]

Just delightful.

 

It’s hard enough to accept that it’s 20 years old - never mind from another time. New Labour, Milennium Dome, Good Friday, The all new Ford Focus, Tamagotchi.

 

Bonkers.

[mrbenn]

That is bloody lovely, and fair shifts itself! Didn't realise they were so quick, even without the pulley upgrade.

[Jim Bell]

Serial Mercedes owners may be familiar with this light.

 

 

Popped on they other day causing me a mild fear. I checked the coolant and washer fluid (both can throw the light) but both were fine and full pretty much. Thinking in the OC is that it's the sensor on the bottom of the header tank or holes float (which could be the same thing for all I know). It seems to be a case of TADTS really. The car doesn't get hot, the fan kicks in when it should and all fluids look great so filed away under "ignorable for now".

 

Noticed a couple of cool touches recently too. If you have cruise engaged and need to overtake, cruise automatically resets to your previous set speed once you lift off the foot throttle. Clever.

Also, if you have fast intermittent wipers on (anything past speed one) and you apply the brakes to a standstill, the wiper speed automatically changes to slow intermittent wipers. Then when you pull away again, it speeds the wipers back up.

 

Clever clever.

 

Everyone's probably already well versed in these kind of features but I was quite impressed discovering those kinds of touches in a car from the last century.

 

 

Sadly it may be that the car has to be sold. My little sister passed away suddenly at the weekend and the family are trying to get together enough money for a decent funeral and the SLK is the only thing of any value that I have to sell really. Unsure as yet but it's a possibility.

 

The world keeps turning.

[Fabergé Greggs]

Fuck, that’s awful. What a time you’ve had of it recently. Really sorry man.

[Steve79]

That's really crap news. Condolences to you and your family.

[BeEP]

Really sorry to hear that.

[SierraMikeHotel]

Jim, a couple of people mentioned a crowdfunder in the other thread about your sister. I would certainly pop something in the pot if it saved you from having to sell this.

[Jim Bell]

Jim, a couple of people mentioned a crowdfunder in the other thread about your sister. I would certainly pop something in the pot if it saved you from having to sell this.

 

Thanks for the offer man. There is a fundraiser going but I wouldn't expect anyone that didn't really know her or me to be contributing. A couple of Shitters I know have, which is very kind but also quite embarrassing.

[SierraMikeHotel]

Don't be too embarrassed to share a link...

[John F]

Oh ffs... sorry to hear that, man. You're due some good luck. Really hope you don't have to sell this car as you clearly like it.

[greengartside]

Sorry to hear of your loss buddy.

[Kringle]

Sorry to hear about that Mr Jim, life throws these things to try us. If you can hang on to the car that'd be great, maybe someone on here will take it then give first refusal later on?

[SiC]

Thanks for the offer man. There is a fundraiser going but I wouldn't expect anyone that didn't really know her or me to be contributing. A couple of Shitters I know have, which is very kind but also quite embarrassing.

Share the link. Even if a few of us only spare a couple of quid, it all helps and can soon rack up to a reasonable sum.

[gadgetgricey]

Share the link. Even if a few of us only spare a couple of quid, it all helps and can soon rack up to a reasonable sum.

 

x2 on this.