Rightnider's past and present - Mercedes S211 action

[Rightnider]

Today I drove the Mk1 Granada to my parent’s home on the east side of Sweden where it will be spending the winter. 
 

It’s finally running smooth again, so it was a joy to drive, apart from the suspension needing an overhaul, but that’s understandable after almost 50 years. 
 

What’s more amazing was the consumption.  I brimmed it at home, drove 286 kilometres and brimmed it again. It needed 24,89 litres, which makes 32.4 mpg. Not too bad for a 3 litre!

And has larger wheels than original.

[Rightnider]

As mentioned in the collection thread, I’ve bought a Mk 4.5 Mondeo 1.6 TDCI on a whim. I was going to have a look at a 2-litre with diesel heater and giffer dings in the front wings. This felt a lot more well looked after, had a tow bar fitted, clutch, DMF and timing belt replaced 20,000 miles ago. At 60 % of the price. 

 

It is one step in the upcoming remodeling of our fleet. Mrs. Rightnider has been driving a Kia E-Niro on private lease for two and a half years, and it ends in May. Looking at the value of used ones, it seems like it was a good idea not to buy it. We’ve paid less for the lease, including service, than it has fallen in value during this time. Still, it’s not cheap to have a new car, but at least the fuel cost has been negligible when charged at home.

The car has worked well but is mind-numbingly soulless. She has been very pleased with the ability to turn on the heating via the app; other than that, she’s been missing her old trusty 250,000-mile W204 C220 diesel estate.

Hopefully, she’ll be changing jobs soon, not having to do a 45-mile commute, and switching to public transportation. If so, we’ll definitely get rid of the Kia.

Anyway, she had taken the Mondeo to the shops yesterday, and she was highly unimpressed with the performance. I tried to explain to her why a small diesel engine in a fairly large car needs a lot of work with the gearbox, using terms like power band and torque. She seemed not to care and replied that the other Mondeo (Mk3 2-litre petrol) can be driven through a roundabout in third gear, yet is still not quick.

I’m still hoping for sympathy from our 20-year-old son. He’s taking it to work today, and he’s more interested in frugality than speed.

[Nibbler]

Looks nice! I’m on your team when it comes to the 1,6 TDCI. I’d take fuel economy over power and flexibility every day of the week.

[Rightnider]

It’s time for winter tyres. I splashed out on a set of part worn Continental’s rather than new budgets. 
 

[Rightnider]

The 2.8 Granada has been modelling. 
 

[EspenO]

Is Ronny & Ragge getting a sequel? 😄 Seems like a fun shoot!

[Rightnider]

Lovely weather! An oil change and a new auxiliary belt along with tensioner.

 

 

The air con pump has started to sound strained, it needs to be replaced. 

 

[Rightnider]

I’ve finally raided the rusty donor Granada for the five speed gearbox which I intend to upgrade my 3-litre coupé with. 
 

 

I feel too old for crawling underneath a car in the cold. 

[Rightnider]

Time for a collection. Nothing fancy. Maybe a replacement for Mrs. Rightnider’s Kia E-niro which will return to the dealer after three years next month.

Austrailan Shepherd disguised as Golden Retriever 

 

[Rightnider]

Forgot to mention; pc1 no breakfast. 
 

Second leg of the journey, train from Helsingborg to Lund. 
 

For all train boffins, a Bombardier Contessa. Called X31K in Sweden, ET in Denmark (I had to google) as they’re connecting the south of Sweden and east of Denmark. 

 

I don’t know why some pictures are upside down. 

[Rightnider]

Second mk4 Mondeo in less than six months. The black one has been reliable, but the 1.6 TDCI has a painfully narrow power band and isn’t that frugal in reality compared to the 2-litre. This is for my wife, if she doesn’t like I’ll have it instead.
 

I went to look at this as well in November, but the seller wanted the equivalent of £4,500 then, with timing belt due to be replaced. Too expensive, I said (even though used car prices are a lot higher here than in the UK). Now he’s done that, as well as front shocks, battery, water pump and clutch cylinder.

I offered £ 2,800 which was accepted. It is a fairly decent car, one owner since new, an 82 year old gent, sold by son. 123,000 miles. Unfortunately the Sony head unit has given up recently, but it should be quite easy to track down another one.

 

[Rightnider]

I’ve decided to become my own boss, becoming a consultant in public procurement, which is my current day job.

This means that from September I will no longer get the monthly payments, called salary, that are so very addictive, and I will have to reduce the fleet. First up is the Mk2 Granada. I’ve had it for sale for some time with not a lot of luck. It seems the market is quite cold, even in Norway, where most Swedish Granadas go. To be honest I haven’t presented it very well, advertising it as a package with the Recaro interior still in the donor car. Not ideal, if you want punters from far away. 
 

Anyway, this weekend I bit the bullet, removed it from the donor and put it in the blue car. 
 

From this:

To this:

 

[Rightnider]

MOT time for the mk2 Granada. 
 

It passed. I got to adjust the CO-level during the test as well, it’s now 2 % rather than the registered 0,2. 
 

It’s starting to look rather decent. 

[Nibbler]

Finally an update! Granada is looking good!

[Rightnider]

And now it runs quite well too, with a less lean fuel mixture   

[Rightnider]

I’ve sold the Jaguar. 

After five years of ownership it was time to go separate ways. It’s been a constant battle with leaks, but my God, it is a beautiful thing. 

This one was early (350th LHD), but auto 2.8 with a bit of rust here and there, and a terrible 80s respray  

I want to have another one someday, but I’ll have to be rich enough to buy a manual series 1 in perfect condition. 

The new owner seems to be a nice chap with a collection of Alfas, Jags and other stuff. 

[High Jetter]

2 hours ago, Rightnider said:

a manual series 1 in perfect condition

Doesn't exist now, sorry to say. They were immense, when new.

[Rightnider]

20 hours ago, High Jetter said:

Doesn't exist now, sorry to say.

There are still some left here in Sweden, usually owned by old boys. Probably much because the were often a bit of an enthusiast’s car  from when they were new, as many British cars were here from the late 60s and onwards. 

[High Jetter]

3 hours ago, Rightnider said:

There are still some left here in Sweden, usually owned by old boys. Probably much because the were often a bit of an enthusiast’s car  from when they were new, as many British cars were here from the late 60s and onwards. 

I worked in a Jag Rover Triumph dealer, in parts, early 80s - several 2.8 manuals visited for servicing etc

[Rightnider]

No collection thread, because it was just 20 minutes of driving away. 

A high mileage E 200 CDI, with 504,000 kms  (313,000 miles). Has been used as a taxi from new until a week ago by a very mild mannered man in his mid 70s from Montenegro. He had to give the car up due to the taxi company’s age restrictions in certain contracts. Runs well, just serviced and new brake discs allround. Might need a new tie rod end.  Primarily bought for mrs R, she miss her C-class. 

[Rightnider]

The 200 CDI ex taxi has a fresh MOT.  One worn ball joint and a spring that broke on the way to the test.  A new lower ball joint, and new front struts later and it’s ready for 14 months of action.
 

And I like it, its lazy character and the fact that it’s got the combination of the OM646 engine and the 722.6 transmission, but without SBC-brakes and at least semi decent rust proofing which makes it quite usable and reliable. 
 

It’s in dire need of new engine mounts though, after 300 ,000 miles +. 

[Rightnider]

A bit of tinkering has been performed over the last few weeks. 
 

E200 Cdi estate has been blessed with new engine and transmission mounts, which was needed after 500,000 kms. I’ve also replaced the DPF pressure sensor, there’s a fault code for it, but it keeps popping up unfortunately. 

[Rightnider]

The 2012 Mondeo 1,6 TDCI has new front control arms and rear trailing arm bushings, and new rear discs and pads. I paid someone to do this. 

[Rightnider]

Today I finally got down to replacing the fuel filter on the 2013 Mondeo 2.0 TDCI. 
 

It’s been running a bit rough lately, despite me replacing engine mounts last year, and it was very black and dirty. 

Old…

New!

It actually made quite a difference! I hand no idea it could be that much better. 
 

Old one stamped 13, so probably the original… 

[Rightnider]

The E430 T 4matic was given a new heating fan resistor earlier this winter as the old one drained the battery. 
 

It’s such a lovely day today  

[Rightnider]

 Last Monday, Rightnider Jr. was home from university and I had him help me take the Mk2 Granada home from winter storage. 
 

It started nicely, but when I drove out of the farm machinery shed there was a quite high steel thing for the door in the threshold. One of the front exhaust silencers didn’t clear it… Ouch!

Of all things that could break, it was the left exhaust manifold that cracked into two, so I had to leave the car and trailer it to my Polish mechanic with a lift today.