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Re: Urgent:2004 E320 CDI Estate buying advice!
[Re: ]
#1511982
17/10/2014 12:59
17/10/2014 12:59
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Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 869 Germany
neil_r
Enjoying the ride
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Enjoying the ride
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 869
Germany
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"... has been to the edge of the galaxy and back." Probably because it is how the designers wanted it to be. Increase the load on components and they last less long. I'm a pessimist and so leave things standard. Also why I did not buy the 20VT all those years ago. The 20V has been pretty reliable and cost very little along the way. Hopefully the Merc will get to another edge of the galaxy and back too
1997 20V 2000 V6 manual S-Type and 2011 5.0 XKR 2016 Tucson 1.6T AWD 2018 Mazda2 GT
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Re: Urgent:2004 E320 CDI Estate buying advice!
[Re: Jim_Clennell]
#1513399
28/10/2014 15:51
28/10/2014 15:51
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 16,603 Corridor of Uncertainty
Jim_Clennell
OP
Forum veteran
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OP
Forum veteran
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 16,603
Corridor of Uncertainty
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It's now parked outside - taxed and insured...! I've had a quick look round and although it's obviously a vehicle with a LOT of miles on it (shiny surfaces, worn buttons on the steering wheel and vent thumbwheels), it seems to go, stop and steer as you'd hope. I still haven't been able to ascertain (even with a full VIN look-up) whether or not it has the dodgy Valeo radiator that is prone to leak coolant into the automatic transmission fluid. Part of me says that as it's done so many miles, if it was going to leak it would have done by now; the other part doesn't want the transmission to eat itself on a foggy sub-zero autoroute on New Year's Eve. The problem is that with this mileage, there are potentially dozens of (fairly costly) ways our journey could end, so why spend £300 trying to prevent just one of them? The phone adapter is the Viseeo MB-1000 as neil_r suspected. I'm going to try it out and see if I can pair my phone with it. I'm also wondering if it can be used to pair with an ipad and play music or possibly do so from the phone itself. This is because the stereo is the basic Audio 20, with no CD changer, no MP3 capability and no Aux. input. I have a Belkin tunecast, which could be pressed into service, but would prefer a solution that doesn't hog the charger socket (needed for the SatNav). It seems to have the heated/ventilated dynamic seats, but in my brief drive so far, I couldn't feel any refreshing cool air coming through the driver's seat or feel any relaxing massage! I don't think the parking sensors are worth a damn, but when were they ever on cars of this vintage? Our 530d had them, but they were hopeless. The not-so-good bits I've noticed so far in no particular order (and I appreciate that these are not deal-breakers!): - Driver's mirror does not fold without a helping hand to engage the gear at first
- Catch to open armrest storage compartment is broken and comes off
- Rear wiper blade knackered
- Aircon not very cool (bit of a problem here!)
- Headlights almost opaque
- Warning triangle and fire extinguisher missing
- Driver's seat bolster ripped
I would be out sitting in it playing with the various toys, but our house is south-facing and it's about 30 degrees out there. I'm off to try and find a Spanish version of Halfords in a minute for all the usual stuff. It seems that the Sylvania headlight restoration kit is the one to go for. Or does someone know better? I'll post a few pics eventually, but it's really not that exciting to anyone else I wouldn't think!
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Re: Urgent:2004 E320 CDI Estate buying advice!
[Re: Jim_Clennell]
#1513430
28/10/2014 19:00
28/10/2014 19:00
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patch234
Unregistered
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patch234
Unregistered
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Over here in Azerbaijan, there are Mercs with 350,000 and more miles on them. Still going! These guys don't worry about mileage at all...... Pics please
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Re: Urgent:2004 E320 CDI Estate buying advice!
[Re: Jim_Clennell]
#1513439
28/10/2014 19:57
28/10/2014 19:57
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 16,603 Corridor of Uncertainty
Jim_Clennell
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Forum veteran
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OP
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 16,603
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It seems that Merc is the high-mileage king, but it's not in my nature to be overly optimistic!
Does anyone have any headlight restoration recommendations? My search was fruitless...
Pics will follow, but I'd really like to wash it first and I won't have time for a while...
Last edited by Jim_Clennell; 28/10/2014 20:00. Reason: Added a bit
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Re: Urgent:2004 E320 CDI Estate buying advice!
[Re: Jim_Clennell]
#1513496
29/10/2014 01:24
29/10/2014 01:24
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 21,512 Aldershot
PeteP
Hon Club Member 005, Membership Secretary
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Hon Club Member 005, Membership Secretary
Forum Fossil
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 21,512
Aldershot
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They are plastic, Jim; I'd guess polycarbonate? A trawl around the internet reveals that increasingly fine wet and dry is what the kits do, but with a product to strip off the original lacquer (hard to remove evenly just using abrasives) and a finishing sealant. I'd imagine it's an issue in your neck of the woods too? Try meths to strip off the original coating. I've used it on 2 sets of coupe lights. Have a read of this thread too.
16VT and X1/9 1500
We must all do our part for the planet. I unplugged a row of electric cars that nobody was using.
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Re: Urgent:2004 E320 CDI Estate buying advice!
[Re: Jim_Clennell]
#1513512
29/10/2014 08:32
29/10/2014 08:32
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 5,895 2011 and 2015 FCCUK F1 Champ.
bezzer
Forum is my life
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Forum is my life
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 5,895
2011 and 2015 FCCUK F1 Champ.
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Ohhhhh goodie. A Jim Clennell restoration project Should keep us entertained over the winter months. And I noticed you slipped a bit in about the temperature again!
......My Boy...... (PB #7)
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Re: Urgent:2004 E320 CDI Estate buying advice!
[Re: Jim_Clennell]
#1513516
29/10/2014 09:16
29/10/2014 09:16
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 16,603 Corridor of Uncertainty
Jim_Clennell
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Forum veteran
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OP
Forum veteran
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 16,603
Corridor of Uncertainty
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Bezzer, I'm shortly going to be shivering along with the rest of you, so give me my (literal) moment in the sun! (About 22 degrees right now, looking like another scorcher!)
To be honest, I'm not going to do very much at all to the car, especially if it involves spending money (which I don't have!)
The headlights are hilariously hazy and with xenons, it must be infuriating for oncoming drivers, let alone hopeless for seeing where you're going! As I have some autosol, I think that's worth a shout. The phone gadget is annoying, but really not a problem in the grand scheme of things. I tried to find the fuse box this morning, but if it really is on the driver's side dash end, it's very securely locked in! I tried cleaning the contacts, but no dice. If the power supply is functioning then I'll leave it (for now).
I'll do my best to keep you entertained, of course!
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Re: Urgent:2004 E320 CDI Estate buying advice!
[Re: Jim_Clennell]
#1513526
29/10/2014 10:13
29/10/2014 10:13
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 5,895 2011 and 2015 FCCUK F1 Champ.
bezzer
Forum is my life
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Forum is my life
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 5,895
2011 and 2015 FCCUK F1 Champ.
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I have a Belkin tunecast, which could be pressed into service, but would prefer a solution that doesn't hog the charger socket (needed for the SatNav). One of these may overcome your power socket hogging problem.
......My Boy...... (PB #7)
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Re: Urgent:2004 E320 CDI Estate buying advice!
[Re: Jim_Clennell]
#1513570
29/10/2014 16:20
29/10/2014 16:20
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Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 869 Germany
neil_r
Enjoying the ride
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Enjoying the ride
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 869
Germany
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I'm guessing it was a UK supplied car. MB UK should know which recalls were done on every car. I would contact them directly.
1997 20V 2000 V6 manual S-Type and 2011 5.0 XKR 2016 Tucson 1.6T AWD 2018 Mazda2 GT
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Re: Urgent:2004 E320 CDI Estate buying advice!
[Re: Jim_Clennell]
#1513699
30/10/2014 16:12
30/10/2014 16:12
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 16,603 Corridor of Uncertainty
Jim_Clennell
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OP
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 16,603
Corridor of Uncertainty
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Had a go at the headlights today, with mixed success. Despite Petep's tip about meths, it didn't seem to soften the yellowed lacquer layer, so I went for the emery paper. I used 180 followed by 280, then 600, before several applications of Autosol, buffed with a lambswool wheel on my drill.
They are still slightly hazy, at least partly due to my sanding. I can see it will be necessary to revisit this, but at least they are better than before.
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