Big Benz's Bosnian Badventures

[Lacquer Peel]

Part 1

During the COVID-19 pandemic my passport expired and I didn't re-apply for it, what would be the point? Last year I got a fresh Brexit tinged passport and have been on a couple of package holidays, they were good but didn't feel very adventurous. When I was in my 20s I used to take myself away on long road trips on my own and missed it.
I have been training to be a mental health nurse for the past 3 years, the training was done and I had a few weeks spare between finishing my final placement and my substantive post beginning. Why not drive to uhhh... Slovenia? It looks beautiful. If I make it to the... Mercedes-Benz museum in Stuttgart en route I'd be happy enough. 

I hoped I'd be able to take my A3 which is reasonably powerful and refined on some kind of Euro adventure but began replacing the cambelt and lost momentum, so why not take the 250D I bought from @Skcat in April? It lacks much spare power but it's what it was designed for. 
The front suspension sits too high, so the camber is iffy and it chews up front tyres, the back tyres were shit too, so it got a set of mixed part worns - aside from the tyres it got a new set of leak off pipes and a sad UK badge on the rear and 140l of veg in the passenger seat to balance out the suspension. Prep done. 

The Big Merc ate up the miles from central Scotland to Dover, the ferry to Calais was fairly empty and the sailing was quick. I used an app recommended by @juular to find a quiet place to sleep in the car in France.

/part 1

[Lacquer Peel]

Part 2

Me and the big Merc pootled through a little bit of France, Belgium and Luxembourg to start heading east and into Germany. I took some camping gear with me but wild camping is verboten in Germany, so Booking.com was my accommodation saviour.
I found a cheap room in Karlsruhe and @davehedgehog31 recommended the Speyer technical museum that isn't far from Karlsruhe. An amazing place with a diverse collection of wheeled, floating and flying shite. 

Benz buddy in Karlsruhe.

I have been a little obsessed with Magirus-Deutz vehicles since hearing and seeing the more modern 6x6 air cooled V8 snowploughs that used to clear the high roads near where I grew up.

Peeking into a railway carriage that was decrepit and locked up. 

I feel I could commute in this Lanz Bulldog.

\part 2

[Peter C]

More more more more more!!!!!!

[Lacquer Peel]

Part 3

After Speyer I intended to take my cherished classic Mercedes-Benz to the MB museum in Stuttgart but it's within the umweltzone or German ULEZ and my car is a smokey old diesel from the early 90s. I was flapping about this a bit, but found online that cars over 30 years old are exempt. I took myself to TUV, handed over the V5 and asked if I could buy an Umweltzone vignette. They deliberated over it and said no - the exemption is only for German registered cherished classics over 30 years old. I just winged it and drove there anyway, the big Merc with a slightly clogged fuel filter chugging and smoking at idle, polluting Stuttgart with unburnt veg oil. Later I realised I'd left the V5 at TUV. 
The MB museum was good but I wanted more shite and it didn't compare to Speyer technical museum - on reflection and looking at the photos it was very cool, I was just tired. 

/part 3

Dusty S124 in the car park. 

Rally SL.

Who needs a Maxus EV?

Nicolas Cage's 190E. I approve but would respect him more if he chose compression ignition honestly.

Would they miss this badge? 

Pferd ohne Pferd

[Peter C]

About 15 years ago I took my W123 230E across Europe to Poland and back. I went by myself and loved every minute of that journey. 

I posted my exploits on here. I tried to find the thread but I’m no good with the search feature.

[Lacquer Peel]

2 minutes ago, Peter C said:

About 15 years ago I took my W123 230E across Europe to Poland and back. I went by myself and loved every minute of that journey. 

I posted my exploits on here. I tried to find the thread but I’m no good with the search feature.

I hope you find it man, I'd like to see that thread.

[Dyslexic Viking]

Thanks for taking the time to share your trip and looking forward to hopefully more.

[Peter C]

38 minutes ago, Lacquer Peel said:

I hope you find it man, I'd like to see that thread.

I’ve tried and failed miserably.

[Lacquer Peel]

2 minutes ago, Peter C said:

I’ve tried and failed miserably.

Unfortunately the pics seem to be lost to Photobucket. 

[sutty2006]

This is awesome. Ideal road trip! 

[Split_Pin]

Brilliant trip, the museums look very interesting indeed.

Whenever I see a picture of an old GAZ 'Chaika', as I do not read Cyrillic, I read the script on the bonnet as something very rude (I am also an infantile fool).

How did the Merc perform other than a clogged fuel filter?

[Snipes]

1 hour ago, Lacquer Peel said:

I been a little obsessed with Magirus-Deutz vehicles since hearing and seeing the more modern 6x6 air cooled V8 snowploughs that used to clear the high roads near where I grew up

This is tbe correct and natural response. Unless you're some kind of weirdo.

[Lacquer Peel]

9 minutes ago, Split_Pin said:

How did the Merc perform other than a clogged fuel filter?

More on that later

[Volksy]

Looks an amazing trip!

My Merc has the same issue with the front end sitting high. It also was chewing up front tyres. 

I've had it aligned, so it's no longer eating tyres, but the ride height seems to be due to worn guide rod bushes. I have some new ones, but they can be a pig to replace. 

They control the castor and when worn make the front end look a bit crosseyed. There is adjustment on the guide rods themselves, but it will need to be set up properly. 

A tell tale sign is a thunking from the footwell over bumps, which goes away if you're braking at the same time. Or, if yours have been replaced, it hasn't been set up properly afterwards.

 

They generally are not picked up on MOT's, as when jacked up they are under tension so wear/movement isn't apparent.

[Lacquer Peel]

2 hours ago, Volksy said:

Looks an amazing trip!

My Merc has the same issue with the front end sitting high. It also was chewing up front tyres. 

I've had it aligned, so it's no longer eating tyres, but the ride height seems to be due to worn guide rod bushes. I have some new ones, but they can be a pig to replace. 

They control the castor and when worn make the front end look a bit crosseyed. There is adjustment on the guide rods themselves, but it will need to be set up properly. 

A tell tale sign is a thunking from the footwell over bumps, which goes away if you're braking at the same time. Or, if yours have been replaced, it hasn't been set up properly afterwards.

 

They generally are not picked up on MOT's, as when jacked up they are under tension so wear/movement isn't apparent.

Thanks for sharing that knowledge, it drives fine but the stance is off. Not looking forward to that job

[2110]

4 hours ago, Lacquer Peel said:

I've had the dubious "pleasure" of driving one of these ESF concept cars during my time working at MBW. They are definitely better parked in a museum than behind the wheel 😂

Great to see an adventure unfolding, pre-Covid I was driving all over Europe with plans for further adventures onto different continents again as I was missing my adventures from years before but now family and no money has put those on the shelf again ! 

Have a great time and look forward to seeing more updates as they come! I will tell my friend in Banja Luka to keep his eyes open for your Merc when you pass through (going by the title of the thread!)

[Lacquer Peel]

4 minutes ago, 2110 said:

I've had the dubious "pleasure" of driving one of these ESF concept cars during my time working at MBW. They are definitely better parked in a museum than behind the wheel 😂

Great to see an adventure unfolding, pre-Covid I was driving all over Europe with plans for further adventures onto different continents again as I was missing my adventures from years before but now family and no money has put those on the shelf again ! 

Have a great time and look forward to seeing more updates as they come! I will tell my friend in Banja Luka to keep his eyes open for your Merc when you pass through (going by the title of the thread!)

Wow what's it like to drive? I guess a cobbled together prototype?

I am home now, finished the trip at the start of September. 

[2110]

1 minute ago, Lacquer Peel said:

Wow what's it like to drive? I guess a cobbled together prototype?

I am home now, finished the trip at the start of September. 

Exactly that, there was so much padding everywhere as it's a safety project, really comfy seats but yes they haven't stood the test of time, most of the glues were dried up and it was incredibly heavy with all the added bits fitted, it wouldn't go more than about 20mph anyway but just getting it to move was a lot of throttle input, probably not had any engine maintenance in 30 years 😂

Ah okay, well he didn't see you as he always sends me photos of any UK plated cars he sees!

[Peter C]

6 hours ago, Lacquer Peel said:

Unfortunately the pics seem to be lost to Photobucket. 

Thank you for looking but that's not the thread I was after. The one you found contains photos of cars I saw in Poland when I drove over there in a Renault Megane, not the old Benz.

[vtec-e]

For Peter C - Google found a thread on the Mercedes club forum - is this what you are thinking of ?

https://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/index.php?threads/w123-european-trip-full-report.87635/

[Peter C]

9 hours ago, vtec-e said:

For Peter C - Google found a thread on the Mercedes club forum - is this what you are thinking of ?

https://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/index.php?threads/w123-european-trip-full-report.87635/

You fucking beauty!!!!!

I copied and pasted this thread into Autoshite but the MB forum version will do nicely, thank you.

[Snipes]

22 hours ago, Lacquer Peel said:

Thanks for sharing that knowledge, it drives fine but the stance is off. Not looking forward to that job

I don't understand how worn suspension can force the weight of the car up, but Mercedes have always been a bit bizarre and (in an old life) I was use to seeing 210s and 211s slam on the negative camber as they wore put. 

Completely unrelated but it's always amused me a prestige brand was allowed to also produce commercial vehicles, agriculture vehicles etc. I can't imagine the Hoffman kink BMW bores or the 911 Purists accepting a Porsche crest or BMW roundel on a Crafter or a Sprinter variant!

[Lacquer Peel]

On 21/09/2025 at 10:21, Snipes said:

I don't understand how worn suspension can force the weight of the car up, but Mercedes have always been a bit bizarre and (in an old life) I was use to seeing 210s and 211s slam on the negative camber as they wore put. 

Completely unrelated but it's always amused me a prestige brand was allowed to also produce commercial vehicles, agriculture vehicles etc. I can't imagine the Hoffman kink BMW bores or the 911 Purists accepting a Porsche crest or BMW roundel on a Crafter or a Sprinter variant!

The suspension isn't actually worn out, it has been well looked after over the years I think.

It has new springs for a 250D at the front, and I think worn out or the wrong springs at the rear. It is getting the right springs for the rear end soon. Bizarrely it also has a limited slip differential fitted, no wonder it's so good off road.

A wee bump to revive this thread, I will start posting more of the adventure shortly.

[Lacquer Peel]

After Stuttgart me and the Big Merc headed towards Austria. 

I had to jerry rig the cigarette lighter to power a chiller, as the earth and live wires were barely attached. Not exactly my best work but it worked.

Roadside refreshments.

I might have needed the feuerwehr after that wiring job.

My first clear view of the Austrian Alps, stunning.

I had to find my way around local stewards who were in place to stop tourists driving on the mountain roads to bypass the motorway, it took a few goes but I told them a white lie about visiting a town en route for accommodation. 

It plodded along but struggled with the steep hills. I realise now that there is a little bit of fuel starvation at around half a tank - that's why it wasn't holding the revs and changing up a gear prematurely.

It was during that drive that the big Merc started making a horrible ticking and rattling noise, I was worried about being stranded in the mountains but  limped it to the accommodation.

This beauty was parked nearby.

There's your problem! It was squeaking before I left and I should have taken a spare, but I was winging it. Messy veg oil fuel filter changes degraded it even further.

I was worried about not being able to find a replacement on Saturday in a small Austrian town but thank fuck for Birner Autobedarf. I scribbled something in Google translate German about needing a serpentine belt for a 1992 W124 250D and looked up Autodoc for a parts number. No need as most Austrians I interacted with speak very good English.
It was the wrong part number for a previous version of the OM602 without a serpentine belt, the worker couldn't have been more helpful and efficient, finding the right belt for my car quickly. ECP should take some lessons from Birner Autobedarf. 

It was fixed quickly, not a bad job on this engine.

More to come later.

[DeanH]

Love the tool box rattling around on top of the air box in the last vid.

[Lacquer Peel]

Awake in the early hours with a rotten cold. 🤧

Since the initial posts in September there hasn't been as much engagement in the thread this time around. Not something I care about but just trying to make sense of it.
A lot of people seem to have disappeared, very strange and I hope they're alright genuinely.

I'm neurodiverse, it doesn't make me better than anyone else but I notice a lot of little things others don't. I remember noticing my dad's L200 had been broken into while he was working away as one of the rear windows was branded Autoglass as an example.

There is a place for neurodiverse people in the world, the only illness or disorder is how they are treated by others, which conditions neurodiverse people to think they have to be someone else to please others.
It has made me very good at my job, I notice little signs of stress/distress almost instantly but others don't expect a newly qualified nurse to be so effective and it makes them baulk. 

I realise I have often got into trouble for seeing through the bullshit and telling it like it is. 

Austria = small, but alright. I would like to see more of it in the future. 
I tried to upload some pics but got a server error, will try again later. 

The Big Merc is still thriving, I am swapping between the MG5 and the Benz just now. My return to work has been delayed further by a bad manager who made incorrect assumptions about me and I have fuck all to do - my RCN rep is good, willing to go to the director if he needs to, but he doesn't rush into things, just need to play the game and seek a resolution.

The Merc could use taller rear springs, I bought Kilen ones for a 4matic/TDT and I think it's doable at home, @Talbot gave me some good advice, it sounds like I don't even need to use spring compressors for it. 
The rear brakes are a bit sad, I've priced up replacement parts but cheap as they are I'm skint - that's a payday job.

 

[Lacquer Peel]

[Lacquer Peel]

The technical museum near the border with Slovenia is fantastic. That's the last of Austria for now - no Fritzl style basements found luckily.

 

[Lord Sterling]

On 07/12/2025 at 04:16, Lacquer Peel said:

Awake in the early hours with a rotten cold. 🤧

Since the initial posts in September there hasn't been as much engagement in the thread this time around. Not something I care about but just trying to make sense of it.
A lot of people seem to have disappeared, very strange and I hope they're alright genuinely.

Sounds a bit like me in terms of of noticing small changes. But for me, I'm quite "meh" about it. I don't really care. I'll wrote what I write and if anyone likes it, stick a like or reply. If not, don't.

I actually saw an exact same Merc as yours heading towards Hagley from Kidderminster. But it had (what looked to be) a Norn-Irn plate on it and black steelies likely out had on yours earlier. Couldn't get a pic as I was driving.

How long you out on the road trip for? Apologies if I missed it.

[N Dentressangle]

Looks a great trip - nice bit of ghetto mechanical work into the bargain!

I really want to see more of E Europe before that murderous bastard Putin flattens it. I think I could spend a LOT of time just pottering about, either in the car or with some kind of railcard. Although it might make for strained domestic relations if I did it right now... 😉