The titanic has docked…

[Clio_fool]

And to think you had 20 clios parked there once. Not much room for anything else now 😂.

 

[Ant1]

Oh yes…………

It’s terminal.

Cut the long story short, I have given the specialist around my way the go ahead to go over the whole car and do what’s needed as I will be so deep into it with engine I don’t want to have to do anything else once I collect.

Will owe 11-12k total including buying the car.

Low mile replacement engine has just cost me £3300.

I still think that’s a good deal for a comfy low mile (now verified) 7 seater considering what else is around.

Still f**king hurts though as it’s not a bill bargain anymore 😂

 

[clio007]

Not worth selling it on as is?

 

[_Tom]

So I assume it's the bottom end rather than chain?

 

[Ant1]

Tbh I’m not sure but it now makes the noise from cold. Chain tensioner is fine and I found some bronze flake in the oil which suggests bottom end bearings.

I could sell it on but I don’t see a lot of point, there where two R350 CDI which were 2013 models with 65k on clock that sold for 15 and 16k last week.

I paid £5200 and if I end up putting 6-7k into it I’m still ok value wise.

I’m not going to find a quick, economical (for size) safe comfortable genuine 7 seater for that kind of money.

 

[Ant1]

Whilst the engine is out I will be having the torque converter refurbished, swirl flaps and motors done, oil cooler and seals done.

So with the above common expensive issues sorted it will do some serious trouble free milage.

 

[Krarl]

EGR, DPF removed and a map slapped on it? 🤷‍♂️

 

[Ant1]

Ok bills so far.

- 2x new Pirelli tyres £285.
- 1x new front genuine shock to match the other that has been changed recently, £205.
- 1x New genuine front spring £124.
- 2x Rear Dunlop airbags £210.
- 1x Engine £3370.

Bills to come….

- Engine fitting £1000
- Spring and shock fitting £150.
- Torque converter refurb whilst engines out.£350.
- Oil cooler and seals whilst engines out £3-400.
- Swirl flaps and motor £1000 maybe half that as engine will be apart to do oil cooler.
- Front Sam unit as a few glitches with daytime running lights and auxiliary battery error £400 setup and includes Sam.
- Reversing camera fix £? Don’t know yet.
Stiff power steering? £? Don’t know yet.

Good job the wife likes this car otherwise I would’ve set fire to it by now.

 

[KielT]

Ok bills so far.

- 2x new Pirelli tyres £285.
- 1x new front genuine shock to match the other that has been changed recently, £205.
- 1x New genuine front spring £124.
- 2x Rear Dunlop airbags £210.
- 1x Engine £3370.

Bills to come….

- Engine fitting £1000
- Spring and shock fitting £150.
- Torque converter refurb whilst engines out.£350.
- Oil cooler and seals whilst engines out £3-400.
- Swirl flaps and motor £1000 maybe half that as engine will be apart to do oil cooler.
- Front Sam unit as a few glitches with daytime running lights and auxiliary battery error £400 setup and includes Sam.
- Reversing camera fix £? Don’t know yet.
Stiff power steering? £? Don’t know yet.

Good job the wife likes this car otherwise I would’ve set fire to it by now.

The stiff power steering is more than likely the valve on the power steering rack, as its a similar design to the earlier W211's. the valves were around £240.00 + VAT plus fitting.
Had one years ago and it was the column rod with the UJ's on it, but I've only seen one of those fail, so very uncommon.

 

[Ant1]

The stiff power steering is more than likely the valve on the power steering rack, as its a similar design to the earlier W211's. the valves were around £240.00 + VAT plus fitting.
Had one years ago and it was the column rod with the UJ's on it, but I've only seen one of those fail, so very uncommon.

I’m hoping it’s the UJ itself as I have read that it causes the same issues. Fingers crossed 😅

 

[KielT]

A2514600210 Thats the number for the shaft with UJ's I done a few years ago. Was £150.00 back then.

 

[Ant1]

Fitted a Dunlop rear suspension airbag to the nsr last week as it was sagging when left a few days.

Well f**k me it went down overnight (fitted a week ago) and when I started the car I could hear a loud hissing noise coming from the air spring.

Whilst swearing and getting the tools ready to disassemble there was a f**k off great bang, drivers side had s**t itself.

So this was the cause of hissing from the new air spring.

Here is the original drivers side that s**t itself.

Not quiet sure what’s happened here.

So ordered a cheap set of eBay bags to get me going as engine swap next week.

Ill get the garage to check airlines before ordering a Arnott set.

Never owned a Merc that’s been such a c**t.

 

[Krarl]

 

[Ant1]

Something like that. Not quiet sure what’s happened. I’m assuming the new airbag just randomly failed whilst parked up and the drivers side decided to part ways.

 

[charltjr]

Ooosh.... maybe I won't bid on the AMG one on Collecting Cars after all

Some seriously bad luck there

 

[R3k1355]

Is there a sensor that cuts the air compressor when it reaches the right PSI?

If that fails would it just pump the bags up till they went pop?

 

[Craig]

That's some unlucky s**t your having with it. I'd burn it.

 

[Bluebeard]

@Ant1 - have you had the compressor checked?
I’ve just ordered two chinesium air bags and rang my mate to book it in for them to be fitted.

He said that the compressor will be spazzing out because I’ve had leaky bags for ages (drops overnight) and before he fits the new bags, he wants to check the compressor first because if he doesn’t, it will f**k up the new bags.

Just a thought.

 

[Ant1]

No it's defo a issue with airbags plus the relay from what I could see.

Fitted the Chinese £60 bags today and a new relay from Mercedes.

Problem solved! Can't tell the difference between the £100 Dunlop bag vs the two Chinese specials for £66 delivered.

 

[Bluebeard]

No it's defo a issue with airbags plus the relay from what I could see.

Fitted the Chinese £60 bags today and a new relay from Mercedes.

Problem solved! Can't tell the difference between the £100 Dunlop bag vs the two Chinese specials for £66 delivered.

This fills me with glee!

 

[Ant1]

This fills me with glee!

Make sure you replace the compressor relay like I did. Mercedes have them on the shelf for £13.

 

[Jonnio]

Can't tell the difference between the £100 Dunlop bag vs the two Chinese specials for £66 delivered.

Need a second opinion, this thing's bummed you so hard you could have just put some bricks in and not felt a difference! 😬😆

 

[Ant1]

Well, I’m pretty sure the nsr shock is fucked as I could compress it by lifting the hub w air spring out with ease. Other side you can only raise by 1 cm or there abouts so quiet a difference.

For once Europarts are the cheapest place to source Bilstein shocks! Another £300 gone.

I could replace one for half the price but I always replace shocks in pairs for balance.

Triggers broom on steroids this car.

 

[Ant1]

Car is almost ready for road testing, hopefully by end of day. Might get it back in next week or sooner.

 

[Clart]

This must be up there with the biggest money pits on CS.

You've definitely got some patience (and deep pockets)

 

[HaveaCuppa]

There's one of these near the unit I rent and it looks like it's been dumped/abandoned.
I was tempted to find out who owns it, but after reading the last few posts here, I'll give it a miss

Top work though, some of those bills look hideous.

 

[RustyMojo]

This must be up there with the biggest money pits on CS.

You've definitely got some patience (and deep pockets)

Thing is, this was bought very cheap knowing that it needed money spending on it. So £4£ it’s probably not far off buying a sorted one money wise.

 

[Ant1]

I think all in I’m going to owe just under 12k.

There are a few for sale currently with 55-65k on clocks ranging from 14-22k so I think I won’t lose anything if I sell in 6 months.

Still, there aren’t any comfy, smooth reliable and safe 7 seaters plus a boot for under 12k.

 

[Bluebeard]

I think all in I’m going to owe just under 12k.

There are a few for sale currently with 55-65k on clocks ranging from 14-22k so I think I won’t lose anything if I sell in 6 months.

Still, there aren’t any comfy, smooth reliable and safe 7 seaters plus a boot for under 12k.

Once it’s fixed and all up together, it should give you a good few years of easy motoring.

 

[Ant1]

Ffs.

All going well and before they even managed to road test, there is a oil leak.

Now engine needs to come out to sort gasket. Another couple of grand just to fix this.

Approached the engine supplier as this should not be happening upon first start.

 

[Chocice]

So unlucky, what a shame I feel bad for you as I think we have all been down this path in the past. I swear by a nice cheap lease for our family car, although I always get a bit nervous handing it back knowing what we have done to it over the 3 years of neglect.

 

[Krarl]

Reading this thread puts my mind at ease when I stump up to plough money at my Megane

 

[Ant1]

Of all the things that could go wrong though, absolute c**t.

 

[imprezaworks]

Gutted

 

[R3k1355]

Feel for you chap, that's rotten luck.

 

[KielT]

Depending on the gasket, I wouldn'tbe blaming the engine supplier tbh. I would question the garage who have fitted the engine and ask why wasn't it changed before fitting or why they didn't speak to you about doing additional gaskets etc? When doing a big job like that its looking at the potential risk and then doing preventative jobs so not to be caught like you have..

 

[Ant1]

Depending on the gasket, I wouldn'tbe blaming the engine supplier tbh. I would question the garage who have fitted the engine and ask why wasn't it changed before fitting or why they didn't speak to you about doing additional gaskets etc? When doing a big job like that its looking at the potential risk and then doing preventative jobs so not to be caught like you have..

Engine supplier have confirmed they changed the head gaskets as precaution before shipping engine. Leak is from head gasket itself plus the my have checked head torque just incase.

Car is now going to engine supplier and they are going to remove engine and sort foc.

Sounds great but it’s 800 quid in transport costs round trip.

 

[RustyMojo]

£800, where the hell is it being transported from and to? Sounds a ridiculous amount of money

 

[Ray Gin]

£800, where the hell is it being transported from and to? Sounds a ridiculous amount of money

Pocket change for our Anthony though.

 

[Krarl]

Again, this just makes me feel better about my red shitheap 😂