The irregular irrigations of Semi-C.

[Schaefft]

Looking forward to seeing it's journey continue on here. As mentioned before, for the asking price buying a running and driving W140 WITH MOT is an absolute no brainer. If I was closer I would have jumped on it despite already having one in the drive!

[Semi-C]

Whilst it might not look like it, this trip odometer reading indicates a significant mille-stone, 1048.1 miles achieved in my first month aboard the ex @HMC w140. 
It has been a 1st klasse experience for me, never have I enjoyed so much leg room in a car (After a liberal dose of contact cleaner was applied to the electric seat controls!). 
I have been busy attending to some of the car’s faults but not in photographing all of the processes...
The viscous fan coupling and the thermostat were changed promptly which was an improvement but not the complete solution. The radiator didn’t feel like it was getting evenly hot, suggesting impeded flow so citric acid was introduced to the coolant and left to work it’s magic. 
After a week in the system, the radiator was now warming evenly so the citric-coolant-cocktail was drained and the system flushed and refilled. 

The cause of the radiator clogging was diagnosed as a leaky transmission oil cooler, which passes through the radiator, so bypassing it was the preferred/cost effective option.

Since the bypass, radiator clogging has reduced wholesale and transmission expiration has yet to manifest. A filter and oil change are in the immediate future of the gearbox as a reward for its compliance.

Not all of the improvements* have been mechanical ones, the o/s/r door had two holes drilled in it and it’s handle had been forced, these issues were resolved with silicon, a 2p piece and a 10€ cent.

The reinstatement of the wooden trim from the front of the ashtray was not as easy as I assumed but with an assistant, anything is possible...

Also on the list of repairs was to put an end to the petrol smell that would infrequently overwhelm the cabin, the seals around the fuel gauge sender were found to be harder than Fedor Emelianenko, swapping those for some freshies banished the stink.

And that is where we are up to in the story so far, tune in some other time folks.

[beko1987]

Nice, some nice easy* jobs ticked off there! 

You don't want to be overheating in the last few hours of summer we have left now

[Semi-C]

  On 23/07/2023 at 20:25, beko1987 said:

Nice, some nice easy* jobs ticked off there! 

You don't want to be overheating in the last few hours of summer we have left now

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Thanks, I’m fairly sure the ashtray trim was the hardest job yet, not only tightening the screw that holds it on to the ashtray module but achieving the sort of even shutlines that a car of this calibre deserves...

Ahem!

[Semi-C]

Owing to the w140’s arrival, my s210 has had a fairly relaxed time of late, it’s still getting used but mainly when the roads are dry. So, practically never then! 
I have managed to achieve a full (picture free obviously...) service of it though, and to replace the fractured expansion tank:

You can just about see the pink residue of crack evident in this picture.

Crack free tank installed, nice.

All was confirmed as grand following an extended test drive to Brighton. I truly love this car, comfortable, capable, cool as you like and capable of both irresponsibility and economy, RATED!

[Semi-C]

Warning: Hardcore ANNUAL content.

Where to start? A redundancy impacted the fleet with the w140 leaving, thankfully my e320 has blessed me with precious little to report other than a couple of oil changes, a puncture and a failed injector. 

Here it is enhancing the views of Wales earlier this year.

Mrs-C's Corolla was involved in a dispute with a van leading to its shunted up front and passing resemblance to Sam Dingle

several minutes spent coaxing some alignment back into it and...

This was considered fixed enough to be taken in part exchange against a fine Mercedes CLK320, an instant Mrs-C favourite with its heated seats and half wood steering wheel!

With a household total of merely two roadgoing cars something had to put an end to this madness...

[Semi-C]

...yes, that's correct, more madness is the answer.

Not that it's particularly mad at all actually, I mean, how can you go wrong with a cheap* blue mk2 Granada?

Thanks to the super fab @rob88h, I was able to arrange a viewing and collection of the car upon returning from a trip to Prague, maybe my best "last day of holiday" ever!

All I can report so far is it's ace, I've been using it more than I've been photographing it. Here it is lifting the mood in the works carpark.

Rated.

*adjusted for 2024 expectations of affordability. I bought a cheap blue 2.8 ghia x granada for £150 in 2004.

[Semi-C]

ICE Installation episode.

This has been a very pleasant sight to behold, the 18+ years since my last daily driven Granada have meant that the experience of owning one again is reassuringly surprising. A heater that warms up quicker than the one in the Mercedes and seats soft enough to drown in have seen it getting more commuting duties than the w210 at the moment, it's loftier ride height also being a factor as some of the roads on my route to work are best described as derelict. Driving wise it couldn't be described as either fast or frugal but it could be described as adequately competent and smart as fuck.

I wanted to broaden the music options so fitted a different head unit (pioneer deh p77mp) as I have more CDs than cassette tapes and I also fitted the other speaker that @rob88h had supplied.

Apart from that it's mostly been just driving and revelling, I'm almost 900 miles in and it's been glorious. 

In the interest of fairness and context, I have been using the w210 as well, it's tardy heating tendencies require yet another thermostat to rectify, the rear brakes are nearing replacement and if I was being fussy, some Yokohamas would be nice.

[BorniteIdentity]

Hay!

I wish you'd offered up the Corolla!  It's precisely the car I need atm.  Not to worry!

I had no idea you'd taken on the Granada.  You got eyeballed yesterday on Facebook.

The terrible photos do it - perversely - justice!

 

[HMC]

Brilliant! looks like screen shots from a 1990s Bill episode.

[3VOM]

  On 01/12/2024 at 17:00, Semi-C said:

I wanted to broaden the music options so fitted a different head unit (pioneer deh p77mp) as I have more CDs than cassette tapes and I also fitted the other speaker that @rob88h had supplied.

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Quality head unit there, good choice.

[Semi-C]

  On 02/12/2024 at 08:34, BorniteIdentity said:

Hay!

I wish you'd offered up the Corolla!  It's precisely the car I need atm.  Not to worry!

I had no idea you'd taken on the Granada.  You got eyeballed yesterday on Facebook.

The terrible photos do it - perversely - justice!

 

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Can't even outrun June Ackland without getting clocked these days!

Forgive me for not mentioning the Corolla to you, I was partly motivated by not wanting to share it's sad state with anybody and also the misaligned front end was fair out of square, I didn't want to pass that headache on to anybody I know.