2004 Mercedes C180K: Winter/ULEZ Beater of Distinction

[wesacosa]

Well who'd have thought it. Buying a knackered Skoda Estelle in May wasn't a ULEZ expansion solution. Khan's BS was allowed to go ahead in August so I now have to be sensible and accept that owning 5 non compliant cars isn't really the way forward.  So today commences my first actual collection since the Spartacus Panda adventure in 2021

 

Despite how good fun that was, I hope this one will be much less of an adventure 

The last few cars I have bought have been delivered so getting back into practice!

The reason its a leisurely collection thread is that's part one into central London and part 2 , on to collect the car, will be broken up by a pre planned day out in That London

Just boarded first mode of transport

I will have a travelling companion but only for part one. Its been a while since he been on a train so he not quite sure what to make of it all

 

[PrinceRupert]

Chod speed! 

[SiC]

Is it something with a 3 pointed star?

[wesacosa]

That London achieved 

 

[GeordieInExile]

Chod speed. Hoping it's something wildly inappropriate, like a Crown Vic limo.

[wesacosa]

turns out the early train to London was so Ms Wesacosa could try and get my Christmas present. Mission achieved. Although as its not Christmas I can only look at the box

The boys are currently having some refreshment whilst Ms W is having her ears pierced

 

[EyesWeldedShut]

Is Mission to The Moon in some way alluding to the vehicle what you are en route to secure?

Ford Galaxy?

[wesacosa]

ha no, I'm not that cryptic 

[wesacosa]

no breakfast post as a slice of toast isnt that interesting, but lunch is rather nice

Im almost forgetting its a collection day

on a side note, so many nice pubs and restaurants in That London are mutt friendly 

[grizz]

If you saw my smile at the Mutt in transit…..

 

You would understand why, along with simple profit, these establishments make it easier for punters to come spend more than a penny. 
 

Looking forward to the rest of the trip.

 

Loads of pics already wins the day. 

[grizz]

PS. I am a Poodle guy.

Grew up with them and had a few over the years. 

[wesacosa]

1 minute ago, grizz said:

PS. I am a Poodle guy.

Grew up with them and had a few over the years. 

ours is a cockerpoo but he got more poo than cocker on the looks front

[wesacosa]

he's thinking its almost time for him to head home for his afternoon snooze

[wesacosa]

right, back to the task in hand 

 

[wesacosa]

last time i was here I went to collect my Sierra from the car park and some lass was having a slash alongside it. Hopefully less drama now. just awaiting a pickup for final few miles 

[wesacosa]

[wesacosa]

Finally home. As I think @SiCguessed about 8 hours ago (but I kept the jeopardy* going) it was the ex @Volksy and more recently @Pat Earrings's Brothers C180k

Fed up of searching gumtree/Facebook etc with their terrible ads and overpriced tat I saw this pop up last Saturday whilst I was been out drinking with my Irish in-laws and a few JD and cokes in I wired over a deposit, although an anxious wait this week to see if the V5 would arrive so I could tax it followed. It arrived yesterday so collection was quickly arranged for today

First impressions are generally positive. It looks great aside from the scabby rear arches but hopefully nothing a sand back and paint won't cure.  The poor idle didn't really show itself on my drive home and it was a lovely comfortable cruiser which drove well which is exactly what I'm looking for

Sadly the flickering abs light @Pat Earringsmentioned in his ad, although being off for the first 40 mins of the drive home, then came on fully and brought with it ABS/ESP and brake assist errors on the screen.  Hoping it might be related to the battery voltage not being in best health but even before the light came on the brake pedal did feel a little soft and long, so something to investigate

good to meet you @Pat Earrings and thanks for your flexibility on the collection and lift from the station 

[wesacosa]

some light reading. The owners manual is a mere 503 pages, and that's all English and not split into multiple languages 😳

I dread to think how big the S class one is

 

[wesacosa]

not sure my travel companion will be much help

 

[CaptainBoom]

Top work, sir!  That does look like an awesome barge for your commute, etc.  Did enjoy the photos of your four-legged travelling companion, he's very relaxed!

 

[wesacosa]

3 minutes ago, CaptainBoom said:

Top work, sir!  That does look like an awesome barge for your commute, etc.  Did enjoy the photos of your four-legged travelling companion, he's very relaxed!

 

I caught him at a good time on the pics. He not a great fan of the train but ok when he sits up with the Mrs. He great when he out and about in town though 

[Spiny Norman]

3 hours ago, wesacosa said:

not sure my travel companion will be much help

 

I can't tell where the dog stops and the blanket starts, what a wee cracker! ❤️

[Volksy]

I hope it does you as good service as it did me over the last few years. 

I recon the ABS issue is probably a tired battery (I suspect it might be the original). Whilst it was stood it did drain completely, which may have pushed it over the edge. 

My old XJ8 used to do the same when it had been stood for a couple of weeks. 

[wesacosa]

thanks, I'm hoping that's the case as I know they are sensitive, although reading on the forums it does look like it can be related to all sorts of things including brake light sensor and wheel speed sensor.  Mate has a code reader with MB software so he's going to probe it when I take it to work later this week 

[N Dentressangle]

Definitely worth having the codes read properly. My dad has one the same as yours, except in diesel estate flavour, and it threw the same lights a few months ago.

Turned out to be a weird connector fault covered by an MB TSB a few years later. Panic over. But correct diagnosis is king on these cars - no parts darts.

[Boycie]

Ah takes me back , we had a batch of new either 06 or 07 c classes that when we opened the boots we couldn't shut half of them as the boot struts were faulty , remember driving up the M8 to the dealer with a escort cosworth spoiler look going on ....

[wesacosa]

first drive of the car since collection today.

  I am still waiting for Thursday to probe the ABS issues but I did put my cheap scanner on to see what codes were driving the MILF light.  Just the one, related to MAF so nothing else seeming lurking in the background

I found out how to get the temperature display on and it didn't get above 70deg so I suspect it wants a 'Stat

electric folding rear headrests didn't seem to work

lumpy idle at cold wasn't too bad but did hunt a bit a couple of times when slowing to a stop then putting in idle. hoping all related to the MAF

read a few forum horror stories about chain/sprocket failure and wished I hadn't!

Found a cheeky 6 disc changer in the glove box

Figured out the funny lights that kept coming on in the dash are the front park assist. Also noticed one in the rear roof for reversing too!

 

[Pat Earrings]

7 minutes ago, wesacosa said:

first drive of the car since collection today.

  I am still waiting for Thursday to probe the ABS issues but I did put my cheap scanner on to see what codes were driving the MILF light.  Just the one, related to MAF so nothing else seeming lurking in the background

I found out how to get the temperature display on and it didn't get above 70deg so I suspect it wants a 'Stat

electric folding rear headrests didn't seem to work

lumpy idle at cold wasn't too bad but did hunt a bit a couple of times when slowing to a stop then putting in idle. hoping all related to the MAF

read a few forum horror stories about chain/sprocket failure and wished I hadn't!

Found a cheeky 6 disc changer in the glove box

Figured out the funny lights that kept coming on in the dash are the front park assist. Also noticed one in the rear roof for reversing too!

 

The folding headrests do work! They’re already in the folded position hence why nothing happened. If you raise them manually, then press the button they then flip down

[wesacosa]

5 minutes ago, Pat Earrings said:

The folding headrests do work! They’re already in the folded position hence why nothing happened. If you raise them manually, then press the button they then flip down

ah cool I did wonder about that. cheers 

[N Dentressangle]

Ignore all the horror stories about these cars. MB forums are full of real worriers.

It'll be fine.