THE CLUB FORUM ALL ELECTRIC R107 SL 100,000 MILES IN A PAGODA W114 250CE CRANKSHAFT OIL SEAL - THE OFFICIAL MERCEDES-BENZ CLUB FOUNDED1952
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Gazette
May 2020
THE CLUB FORUM
ALL ELECTRIC R107 SL
100,000 MILES IN A PAGODA
W114 250CE CRANKSHAFT OIL SEAL
THE OFFICIAL MERCEDES-BENZ CLUB FOUNDED 1952
What’s inside... Regulars
4 CLUBINFORMATION
4 CLUBPUBMEETINGS
5 DIARYDATES
7 FORTHCOMINGEVENTS
9 NEWS&VIEWS
35
13 ROSEMARIE’S
RAMBLINGS
FEATURES 48 From deep in the 15 YOURLETTERS
23 Rob writes... Archive 20 CLUBSHOP
24 Car of the month 49 North Coast 500
56 REGIONALREPORTS
25 Keeping in touch
TECHNICAL CORNER 71 SPECIALNOTICES
28 Back to the future
52 Spares register
32 BTCC 73 NEWMEMBERS
53 W114 250CE crankshaft
35 Retro Classics
oil seal 73 BACKNUMBERS
41 F1 news
42 100 up 79 CARSFORSALE
32 42
25
Gazette
Published by The Mercedes-Benz Club
Membership benefits
First ever Mercedes-Benz Club
– founded 1952
Members’ website forum
Free subscription to Mercedes-Benz
Gazette copy dates Only UK club recognised by Classic magazine
July May 15 August June 12
Mercedes-Benz Discounts from parts suppliers
Monthly Gazette Discounts from hotels
Editorial Office: Chris Bass, Tel: 01483 481836. Technical support
30 Scotgate, Stamford PE9 2YQ
Unique archive of photos, brochures
E-mail: chris.bass@mercedes-benz-club.co.uk Discounted insurance and technical literature
Advertising, Design and Production: Hine Marketing, Club shop
Tel: 01452 730770 MercedesBenzClubUK
Hill Farm Studios, Wainlodes Lane, Bishops Norton
Local, national and international events
Gloucestershire GL2 9LN Discounts from many MB dealers themercedesbenzclub/
E-mail: ads@hinemarketing.co.uk
Gazette distribution queries: Catherine Barlow, For membership and general enquiries
Tel: 01780 482111 (9.00am to 5.00pm Monday to Friday)
30 Scotgate, Stamford PE9 2YQ
telephone 01780 482111, 0345 6032660 (9.00am to 5.00pm Monday to Friday)
E-mail: catherine.barlow@mercedes-benz-club.co.uk or see www.mercedes-benz-club.co.uk
NEWS&VIEWS
ARE YOUR CLUB MEMBERSHIP DETAILS
UP TO DATE?
In these difficult times, when we can’t be
sure of getting the Gazette out in its normal
form every month, it is vitally important that
the Club has your current contact details,
particularly your e-mail address. Please check
that Catherine Barlow, our Membership
Secretary, has your latest details on our
system. You can do this using the on-line
form on our website www.mercedes-benz-
club.co.uk/news or by contacting Catherine
directly (catherine.barlow@mercedes-benz-
club.co.uk 01780 482111 or 0345 6032660
(9.00am to 5.00pm Monday to Friday)). We
also have a direct link to the database: https://
mercedesbenzclub.wufoo.com/forms/update-
your-membership-records/
This is vitally important at the present
time.
The on-line form for updating your contact details.
John Wallis, Internet Services Director
NEW CLUB MARKETING
DIRECTOR
These badges can be supplied with either The Board of Directors is very pleased to announce the
provision for mounting on a bar or on a grille. appointment of Stephen Beresford as Marketing Director. Stephen
says: ‘Having been an absolute Mercedes-Benz fanatic from a
young boy, it was always my dream to own one. 20-plus years
back I achieved that dream and acquired my first C-Class. Nine
Mercedes-Benz cars later I am still as passionate about the brand
as I was then. In 2012 I joined the Club with my very good friend
CAR BADGES Keith Williams and we attended our first Midlands – North Region
Stephen Beresford.
Car badges are available from the Club meeting. The group soon began to grow and we made many
Office. They are approximately three friends, subsequently Keith was appointed Regional Officer and I was delighted when he invited
inches (76mm) wide and come with me to be a Pub Meeting Organiser. Being a Club Official has given me a really good insight into
fittings enabling them to be mounted all the hard work that our Officers put in every week to make the Club the success it is today.
on most radiator grilles. The cost is £25 Having been in marketing as a career for 25 years, when the Board advertised for volunteers
including post and packing. To order your last year I jumped at the chance to help the Club with its marketing. After a six-month period as
badge please contact Catherine Barlow Marketing Manager I felt very honoured when the Board invited me to be Marketing Director.
(catherine.barlow@mercedes-benz-club. We are certainly in challenging times right now, but I feel we have a strong Board of Directors
co.uk or 01780 482111). with a good range of skills and working with them I believe I can make a valuable contribution
and help steer the Club in the right direction through these exceptional times.’
Rosemarie Maslin, Chairman
GAZETTES NOW ON
THE WEBSITE CHANGE IN THE REGIONS IN SCOTLAND
Following on from the appointment of Paul Wilson as a new Regional Officer, the four
regions in Scotland have been merged into two. Scotland – North will cover the AB, HS, IV,
KW and ZE postcodes as before, with a vacancy for a Regional Officer there.
Scotland – South now takes in the rest of Scotland, ie postcodes DD, FK, PH (formerly
Scotland – Central), DG, G, KA and PA (formerly Scotland – South) and EH, KY, ML and
TD (formerly Scotland – East) with Martyn Lennon and Paul Wilson as Regional Officers.
At least one additional Regional Officer is required for this new, expanded region. To find
out what is involved in this role please speak initially to Martyn or Paul.
Trevor Mitchell, Regional Development Director
ADDITIONAL REGIONAL OFFICER FOR
Gazettes on the Club website. HERTS, BEDS AND BUCKS
Paul Jobling, formerly a Regional Officer in Anglia – North, has recently moved house and
All club Gazettes, from 1952 to 2020, are is now living in the Herts, Beds and Bucks Region. He has been appointed as an additional
available as low resolution PDFs on the Regional Officer there, working alongside Colin Skyrme and Kim Stopher. We wish Paul
Archive website https://archive.mercedes- success with his recent house move and as an RO. Check out the Herts, Beds and Bucks
benz-club.co.uk/ Additionally some are Regional Report in this Gazette.
now available for Members on the main Trevor Mitchell, Regional Development Director
website in the ‘Resource Library’ https://
mercedes-benz-club.co.uk/resource-library.
When time permits I will add more. You
DAVID BELLAMY
Long-standing Club Member David Bellamy has died following a long illness. He had been
will have to be logged into the website as a suffering from Parkinson’s disease but unfortunately contracted coronavirus recently. An
Member to view them. appreciation of David will appear in a future Gazette.
John Wallis, Internet Services Director Tony De Frates
www.mercedes-benz-club.co.uk • MAY 2020 • 9
The opinions expressed are those of the individual writers and do not necessarily reflect Club policy. The Editor reserves the right to edit letters if necessary.
They should be sent to the editorial office at 30 Scotgate, Stamford PE9 2YQ or chris.bass@mercedes-benz-club.co.uk YOURLETTERS
In years gone by the Mercedes buying
Letter of the Month experience was a joy, nothing was too much
trouble, one even received a small thank
As a thank you (and as an incentive for even greater efforts) we like to choose you gift – which stopped years ago. Today
a letter of the month. Meguiar’s have kindly agreed to sponsor this and the it seems to be a case of ‘You ring me if you
Member whose letter is selected receives a Wash & Wax car care kit. want to buy a car – and we’ve got your
money so clear off’.
A VALUER’S TALE A week last Saturday I went with my
son to collect a new MG HS Exclusive
Dear Geoff [D’Cruze, Membership Services Director], (less than half the price of my GLE) – an
One valuation I won’t forget in a hurry was when a Member, who came over to my all-singing, all-dancing SUV, including
house with his car for me to carry out the valuation, arrived in the afternoon and I Autoglym life-time shine and a spare wheel!
checked over his very nice car. When it came round to looking at the paperwork he How absolutely refreshing, nothing was
went to retrieve his files which he had stored in the boot. As he rummaged through it too much trouble for Louise, the sales
he pulled out a laundry bag and started to open it, at which point the contents spilled girl. The HS was spotless inside and out, a
out onto the road – just as my neighbours were arriving home. Bearing in mind that credit to them, and just before leaving the
the bag contained mainly women’s clothes and underwear, the look I got from my dealer’s managing director made a point of
neighbours was priceless. coming out of his office to thank us for the
Needless to say, I had some explaining to do to my wife – about why I was with business, a very nice touch. No, you cannot
a man who was putting women’s clothes and underwear into the boot of a car. Later compare a Mercedes to an MG, the MG
that evening the Member called me and explained that the clothes were supposed to be stands head and shoulders above Mercedes
hung up in his garage where there was an indoor washing line. No doubt there were a for customer service, added to which the
few questions asked in that household too. MG has a seven-year warranty!
Regards, Regards,
Andy Sababady, Club Valuer – London and South East Rod Goodier, via e-mail
Editor’s note: I have asked Rod to let me
BUYING they had a demo GLE I could test drive. I know which dealers he is referring to and
EXPERIENCE was delighted when one, (65 miles away)
in Lancashire, phoned me back, so we
will try to get a response from them.
arranged to visit. I was very pleased with
the GLE test drive after which salesman
BLACK UPHOLSTERY
Sam located a new GLE Premium Plus in Dear Sir,
Hampshire. We made a deal and I paid a The letter from Mr Rayner about
deposit. upholstery colour (February Gazette)
We picked up our new car the following has sparked quite a bit of interest from
Wednesday, sadly it was raining so we Members which has tended to focus on the
couldn’t see a great deal of the bodywork. restricted colour choice from Mercedes-
However, once on the M65 the sun came Benz, however I postulate another
out for a few minutes which revealed reason for his niece’s rejection of black
rubber sucker marks on the front and rear upholstery that is unconnected with the
window glass plus lots of finger marks. colour per se.
Label adhesive on the paintwork of Rod On arrival home the rain had stopped so Upon rereading Mr Rayner’s letter,
Goodier’s GLE. we had a close look at the paintwork and it will be observed that he initially refers
Dear Chris, glass, at which point it became obvious that to his niece as having control of the
Last year I called at my local dealer to have the Autoglym ‘life-time shine’ the dealer car selection process, but in the middle
winter wheels fitted to my ML350 Bluetec charged a fortune for had not been applied. he is referring to himself and his niece
which I purchased new in 2015 from them. The rear window inside was filthy as were jointly, and by the end he refers only
Indeed I purchased my first Mercedes, other windows. I tried phoning the dealer to himself. Now, we know that the car
a W123, from them over 30 years ago but was cut off, so resorted to e-mailing purchase is being funded by an employer
and have mostly stayed with them ever Sam. He replied the following day, saying and Mr Rayner’s close interest could
since. Whilst waiting I looked at the new he had passed my e-mail to the general be understood if he were the employer,
GLE, but no sales people were available sales manager who would be in touch. No however if he is not, we might empathise
so Andy, the service representative, said contact that day so I e-mailed again – no with the niece if she was becoming
he would get someone to call me. Last response from the general sales manager. increasingly unhappy with Mr Rayner
month the ML was in for recall work and I e-mailed Sam requesting they collect the exerting undue influence in the process.
whilst chatting to Andy he asked about GLE within 24 hours. A little later Shaun, Of course the niece would wish to
the new GLE we spoke about last year. the general sales manager, called me. No avoid causing offence and thus when it
I told him nobody had called. He then apology but he said he would see what he became clear that black was the only option
kindly got salesman Adam over and we could do, at which point I told him what she had a ‘eureka’ moment and saw the way
spent 40 minutes or so going round the to do – collect the GLE the following out of her dilemma – by suddenly deciding
showroom GLE after which he assessed morning, otherwise I would e-mail Gary that she wanted any colour other than back.
my car and gave me a price to change. No Savage (Mercedes-Benz UK CEO) and the Mr Rayner’s determination to get his
demonstrator GLE was available so it was dealership’s owner. niece into a Mercedes is laudable but I
agreed he would borrow one from another The GLE was picked up the following am left suspecting that she did not really
dealer within the group and call me when morning and a GLA left in its place. The want one and has gone on to select another
he had it. After waiting 10 days with no call GLE was returned looking shiny. After the make of car – with black upholstery.
I visited another Mercedes dealer where driver drove away I had a good look round I implore Mr Rayner to let us know.
I met salesman Simon. It was a Saturday – the inside rear window had not been Yours faithfully,
afternoon so Simon said he would organise touched, the carpets under the floor mats
a demo car for the following week and were dirty and where a sticker had been on Ian Old, via e-mail
call me to arrange a test drive. No call the nearside paint I found label adhesive.
was forthcoming, so after a week I started I e-mailed Sam but have not heard a word Chris Rayner responds: Thanks for giving
contacting dealers further away asking if since, there again I didn’t really expect to. me the opportunity to reply and perhaps
www.mercedes-benz-club.co.uk • MAY 2020 • 15
ClubShop
More detailed clothing descriptions, sizes and colours shown on the website
Available from the Club website. Post and packing is not included in the prices shown.
Club fleece in Red trim jacket in various colours Reversible coat in red
various colours £32.00 Softshell jacket in various £40.00 £58.00
colours £35.00
Cufflinks £18.00 Pin badges £7.00
Keyrings from
£5.00 Holdall in
various
colours
£25.00
Tee Jay jacket in deep navy Jacket in various colours £20.00 Beanie hats in various
or hunter green £85.00 colours £12.00
Buy on the Club website
Visit our Club website shop where all items can be viewed. Orders can now be made via the site with payment by credit card or cheque.
Log onto the Club website and start shopping the easy way. Please make cheques payable to Donna Butter.
All orders will be despatched within 14 days, if there is a problem we will contact you. Post and packing is not included in the prices given above.
Goods found to be faulty through design flaws or postage damage will be replaced free of charge.
Contact details Donna Butter To order please ring 01278 652340
If we are unable to answer the phone, please leave a message on the answer-phone and we will call you back.
The e-mail address is sales@mercedes-benz-club-shop.co.uk
Sorry, but due to bank charges, we have had to introduce a minimum order value of £5.00.
20 • MAY 2020 • www.mercedes-benz-club.co.uk
FEATURE
Please keep them parked, for now.
Rob writes...
fragrance of the leather seats as you phlump
down into them. The pungent tang of oil
under the bonnet, or the slightly damp whiff
from a boot that needs a leak repaired (now
might be the perfect time to do those little
niggly jobs if you can).
by Rob Halloway
Stationery
Stationary the time you read this we may be living – The fact that this column is coming to you
This column was supposed to be about wherever you are based – within even more at all during the pandemic is, I think, quite
product simplification. In it, I was stringent rules. special. It’s testament to the efforts of Editor
planning to explain the current product I’ve not driven my car for over a Chris Bass, designer Tony Ruddy and his
offering of Mercedes-Benz Cars UK, week, and even then it was only for some colleagues at publishers Hine Marketing,
as part of a wider and future-focused emergency root canal surgery. And that’s in particular Nick Hine, proof readers
initiative that includes the excellent exactly how it should be. Following the Angela Chapman and Emma Ventham,
new on-line showroom we launched in rules. As strange and as perverse as it acting Editor-in-Chief Jeremy Stevens, the
February. It’s all designed to make buying may seem, now isn’t the time to enjoy our printer PCP, Cumbria Mailing and the Royal
a well-specified, thoroughly enjoyable and Mercedes-Benz cars on the road. Even Mail. I think it’s brilliant that this Gazette
eminently resellable car very easy. It’s got though it’s spring, they should remain is still being sent out – and I send my
all the best offers on it, and every new and undriven and stationary, unless you’re using sincere thanks and appreciation to everyone
used car in stock in the country is listed. them for the approved journeys. involved in keeping this Club alive and well.
It’s not a cynical scheme calculated to But that doesn’t mean you can’t still I’m confident that the Club is in a
enrage those of us who delight in speccing enjoy them whilst they’re parked. Cars are tremendous position to rebound from this
super-personalised bespoke builds. a calmingly comfortable place in which to weird, worrying time, and I very much look
But plans change, and so have my sit and enjoy the quiet, to read a book, or to forward to once again being out and about
thoughts on this column’s contents. sip a refreshing cup of tea. You can listen in and meeting fellow Members and admiring
The Covid-19 pandemic that is peace to the radio or your favourite album, their cars, shaking hands and once again
currently careening grimly through the podcast or audio-book. Classics still need handing out trophies and awards. Our Club
world has put a stop to pretty much a bit of tinkering; and I’ve never met a car can continue to thrive.
everything we enjoyed, took for granted or that would be harmed by a buff or a bit of Until then, please don’t drive unless it’s
grumbled about, at least for the time being. wax here or there. absolutely necessary. I sincerely hope that
I’m writing this on April 1, midway through So please continue to enjoy your cars, you and your loved ones remain safe and
my third week of working from home but enjoy their stillness, their calmness, well, and that we get through this as well
and in the middle of an unprecedented their cabins. Enjoy their aroma – whether as possible. And I promise I will explain
lock-down in most parts of the world. By that’s a bit of warm MB-Tex inside or the simplification next time.
www.mercedes-benz-club.co.uk • MAY 2020 • 23
Car of the month
James Gould’s C350 CDI
J
ames writes: ‘I bought my first wanted a petrol C350 again but after colour that wasn’t black. So I bought it,
Mercedes-Benz back in February months of looking I simply couldn’t find sight unseen, and drove up from Surrey to
2016 on the eve of my 40th birthday a face-lifted example. In desperation a Nottingham to collect it in February 2017;
– to see whether they were the kind of chance browse for diesel examples turned my first diesel. In the first two years I had it
cars for me, following a succession of up a beautiful 2011 C350 CDI in magnetite I did 20,000 miles and it’s been the perfect
BMWs. That was a silver W203 C350 black, but unfortunately it was being sold commuting companion. In that time all it’s
in Elegance specification, which was a 150 miles away, ironically by a BMW needed is a B service, two rear tyres and a
superb car and notable for being powered dealer. However it was a lovely example new set of discs and pads, which I sourced
by a super-smooth petrol V6. I ran it for with just 29,000 miles and crucially for me from my local dealer using the Club discount
10,000 trouble-free miles before deciding had the rare combination of Comand sat-nav, and fitted myself at home. Quick, quiet and
to upgrade to a newer W204. I really xenon lights, heated seats and an interior comfortable, it really is a great all-rounder.’
If you would like your car to be a Car of the month, please send a good photo (conventional or digital) and a few details to the
Gazette Editorial Office: Chris Bass, 30 Scotgate, Stamford PE9 2YQ or chris.bass@mercedes-benz-club.co.uk
24 • MAY 2020 • www.mercedes-benz-club.co.uk
FEATURE
Keeping in touch
with one another… by Stuart Mathieson
A
s I write this the nation is in the to mute any discussions which don’t interest you know the answer click ‘Reply’ and type
most peculiar situation I have you. So there really isn’t any excuse for not in your response. Both the original entry
known and we are under a sort of using it because you are not interested in any and your reply are called ‘posts’. If anyone
house arrest, due to the need to limit the jokes or opinions shared. else adds any replies the Forum will send
spread of the coronavirus, covid -19. If you are not a current user it’s time to you an e-mail to tell you, so you are kept
The programme of car shows and events give it a try. up to date, but you can turn this feature
having been cancelled for the time being, off. Topics which have had something new
Mercedes-Benz lovers are having to turn to How does a forum work? added are moved to the top of a ‘Latest
all sorts of domestic chores to fill time, and activity’ list so you can see what is new.
once completed, are turning to the internet. You can also search all the content
Fortunately the Club has the answer to using a search word just like using Google
your MB withdrawal problems – its Forum and you can browse through categories of
and website. If you have not used them information like an encyclopaedia. There are
before, or not recently for any reason, here categories for different car models, general
is a brief guide to get you going again and technical help, events locally and nationally
staying in touch with others. and a chit-chat section if that is your thing.
That’s it really, you can send other
Why should I use the Club Forum users messages but you don’t
Forum? need to use or see anything which doesn’t
• It’s a way of keeping in touch, interest you. You can even hide particular
instantly, with other Mercedes-Benz owners categories and how they appear.
• Getting solutions to any vehicle
related problems you may have, or jobs How to have a look
you are doing on your car whilst we are On your computer, tablet or smart-phone,
hindered by the ‘lock-down’ open your internet browser and in the
• Enjoying pictures and recollections of address bar at the top type http://Forum.
the great events the Club has held previously mercedes-benz-club.co.uk If this is your
– and will hold again in the future first time, you will be asked to complete a
• A social connection with Club registration form. Once it is completed you
Members you may have met in person will be added to the Forum users.
or on-line. In the current context, this is List of topics on the Forum.
Your e-mail address is really important
perhaps the most important aspect for some as this will let you log-in in the future. Do
– keeping in touch with others. You log-on to the Forum and you see a have a think about the name you wish to be
• But what about those who are not ‘Topic’ which someone has added such as known by on the Forum. We recommend
interested in ‘chat’? The Forum allows you ‘What tyre size can I fit on my W124?’ If you simply use your own name.
www.mercedes-benz-club.co.uk • MAY 2020 • 25
FEATURE
The 350SL
has outwardly
been restored
to its original
specification.
Back to uprated, modern suspension to an R107
300SL. This was subsequently developed
into a 450SL racing version (see the
January 2020 Gazette ‘Racing icons’).
the future
With all the current interest in electric
power the SL Shop’s minds turned to
applying it to one of their cars. This
350SL had terminal engine failure and
was destined to become a source of parts
and scrap metal. Instead its body was
restored to the SL Shop’s usual standard
and it has been fitted with the uprated
SportLine suspension in preparation for the
by Chris Bass, photos by Paul Kelly installation of 10 Tesla batteries and two
electric motors. This electric kit adds about
100kg to the 350SL’s overall weight and
The SL Shop’s SportLine Zero Benz hybrid. So there was some irony that it was thought that the revised, adjustable
I think the last electric car I drove would the first time I have really experienced suspension might be necessary to cope with
have been either a converted milk float I had modern electric power was in a 1978 350SL. this and its possible uneven distribution. In
use of for a summer holiday job when I was This followed a kind invitation from fact positioning the batteries in the bonnet,
in the sixth form at school or a dodgem at the SL Shop’s Sam Bailey to try their latest where the fuel tank was and under the boot
a funfair – it was certainly a long time ago. ‘concept car’. The SL Shop will be familiar floor has resulted in an almost perfect 50:50
Somehow the new wave of electric cars to many Members, but there is more weight distribution and standard settings for
has passed me by – apart from a few feet of about it on page 30. Their first concept car the suspension are entirely acceptable.
electric propulsion in an early Mercedes- was the 300SL SportLine – which added Outwardly the car appears to be just
like any other well presented early R107
SL. Only if you look very closely might
you spot the rear valence with no indent for
an exhaust and the ‘SportLine’ and ‘Zero’
badges on the boot. The story is similar
inside, with just a battery monitor gauge
and possibly the five-speed manual gear
change lever to set this car apart from its
petrol powered siblings. Here as well, the
SL Shop has restored it to as-new condition.
Dig a little deeper though and you discover
some added modern conveniences, such
as Apple Car Play, Bluetooth and a sat-
nav system, plus parking sensors and a
reversing camera.
Under the bonnet things are very
different – just one or two familiar
ancillaries, such as a windscreen washer
Classic SL driving with zero emissions.
28 • MAY 2020 • www.mercedes-benz-club.co.uk
BTCC
A
fter the long winter break, the
British Touring Car Championship
teams arrived at Silverstone for the
first official test. We were located in the
Wing as one of the two race days in the
calendar for Silverstone is to be based there
and run on the Stowe circuit. It was the first
time the 29 cars were on track together.
There were some team changes. Subaru
were no longer involved. Team BMR, who
ran the Subarus, has merged with the Laser
Tools team, ex-Mercedes driver Aiden
Moffatt again running an Infiniti alongside
former champion Ash Sutton (Team BMR
Subaru). Motorbase had been busy over
the winter and had three brand new Ford
Focuses, along with a new sponsor to
replace Shredded Wheat, which ended its
support at the close of last season.
Current champion Colin Turkington’s
BMW team had changed the livery from
white to a ‘stealth’ black and looked
Adam Morgan leaves the pits, with race engineer Steve Farrell behind in conversation with his driver! the part. It reminded me of the 1970s
BTCC 2020 launch,
Silverstone by Paul Kelly
All the cars lined up on the grid.
32 • MAY 2020 • www.mercedes-benz-club.co.ukFEATURE
A
n invitation to the Mercedes-
Benz Classic Club Management’s
meeting for European editors of
their recognised club magazines meant
I was able to attend the Retro Classics
show in Stuttgart at the end of February.
As things have turned out, this might be
the last classic car show we’ll see for a
little while. Visitor numbers seemed to
be down as concern about coronavirus
grew. Although this event is not as long-
established as Techno-Classica in Essen
(subsequently postponed), it now claims
to occupy even more floor space than that
enormous show. As I think is usually the
case, there were not as many pre-war cars
as at Essen and this year there seemed to be
noticeably fewer commercial vehicles than
in the recent past.
Although it is on the company’s ‘home
patch’ Mercedes-Benz appears not to put
so much effort and expenditure into this
The SLS club stand. The transporter in the background was that used to deliver these cars in Germany
show as it does the Techno-Classica. In fact when they were new.
none of the manufacturers do – and it is
Retro Classics
– as the lights went out by Chris Bass
The Mercedes-Benz Classic stand at the show featured a Benz
Patent Motorwagen replica, a 1903 Mercedes Simplex 40hp
and the EQA electric concept vehicle – representing Mercedes-
Benz’s leadership of the industry in the past and now.
www.mercedes-benz-club.co.uk • MAY 2020 • 35FEATURE
as possible involved, including Hamilton,
Vettel and Verstappen, who may ‘guest’ in
some of the remaining races.
F1 will also be streaming a selection
of ‘classic’ races over the next few weeks,
shown free on a Wednesday evening and a
Saturday afternoon on the f1.com website and
the sport’s official YouTube channel. Whilst
the schedule has not as yet been released,
highlights are likely to include pivotal
championship winning races as well as others
chosen by fans voting on-line. Full access
to over 650 historic races is also available
to anyone subscribing to F1TV, though this
comes at a current cost of £2.29 per month,
but does include a wealth of other features
too – you pays your money, you takes your
choice.
TEAMS
With all race and factory activity in
hibernation, the teams have brought
their technical expertise together to build
vital ventilation equipment for the NHS.
The seven UK based teams are pooling
resources to deliver Project Pitlane, which
The newly developed CPAP device (James Tye/UCL). created a production-ready prototype
ventilator that entered clinical testing in
F1 NEWS
less than 100 hours. The device provides a
continuous positive-pressure oxygen supply
that patients can use on wards outside of the
critical care environment. Similar Constant
Positive Air Pressure devices (CPAP) have
been used effectively in China and Italy
but are in short supply in UK hospitals.
by Will Gardner The Mercedes F1 team led this part of the
Project Pitlane initiative.
CORONAVIRUS such as Jenson Button and Johnny Herbert
As the world locks down to defeat also on the grid, whilst Stoffel Vandoorne, SEASON
coronavirus, F1 has turned to the virtual currently racing for Mercedes in Formula E, Currently F1 has cancelled or postponed
arena, with the F1 Esports Virtual Grand and Esteban Gutierrez represented Mercedes the first eight races of the season, the
Prix Series. As we went to press, the lights and raced the Silver Arrows. earliest return to the track was pencilled-
were about to go out on the second race, Each postponed F1 race is to be in for the Monaco race, which has now
which was broadcast live on the evening of replaced with a virtual race, though as been cancelled due to the time and work
April 5 on F1’s official YouTube channel the new Vietnam track is not available involved in preparing the street circuit.
and across other social media. ‘Driving’ on the platform, it was replaced with the No current date is set for a season restart,
from their own homes were several current Melbourne circuit. So far none of the likely but one of the June races, possibly the
F1 drivers, including Charles Leclerc, Lando title contenders have raced in the series, but Canadian Grand Prix, seems to be the
Norris and George Russell, with past stars F1 is keen to get as many current drivers current target, though F1 CEO Chase Carey
has said that there is a significant chance of
further postponements, whilst reassuring
fans that F1 remains committed to
delivering a race programme at some point
this summer. F1 has brought the traditional
mid-season break forward from August to
April to allow racing through the summer
if this is deemed safe and confirmed that
the season may run into December, past the
current end date of November 29.
The 2021 season was to see a raft of
new technical regulations designed to make
to make the sport more cost-effective and
exciting for fans. F1, the FIA and all 10
current teams have agreed to postpone these
changes to the 2022 season and will carry
over their current chassis to next season,
a move designed to reduce the financial
pressure on teams as advertising revenue falls.
As we went to press news came in of the
death of Sir Stirling Moss, who drove for
Mercedes-Benz in Formula One as well as
winning the 1955 Mille Miglia. He was an
Professor Rebecca Shipley (UCL Mechanical Engineering) and Professor Mervyn Singer (UCL Medicine),
Honorary Member of the Club and a past
who helped develop the device (James Tye/UCL). holder of its Scott-Moncrieff Trophy.
www.mercedes-benz-club.co.uk • MAY 2020 • 41100 up
FEATURE
by David and Michael Smith
Michael and David Smith in their 280SL at Aggrigento Valley of the Temples (photo courtesy of Mercedes-Benz).
Y
es that’s right, we have completed stop. Incidentally, exactly 50 years earlier condition. The report was good, with a
100,000 miles in our Pagoda SL the inaugural meeting of the Mercedes- recommendation to have the old underseal
since we purchased XHA 100J Benz Club was held in the same hotel! The removed and the underside refurbished. In
in 2002. This is the story of our shared following morning we went on to John 2007 the underside was completely stripped
adventures together since we bought the car. Haynes to obtain his opinion of the car and with the engine removed and then the
Originally supplied by Carols of a full report. whole underside repainted in bronze-brown
Wolverhampton in 1970, it has a 2,778cc Bearing in mind the car had only metallic!
engine with four-speed automatic gearbox. covered 55,000 miles in its lifetime, and The suspension components and petrol
Its paint is bronze-brown metallic, code only 5,827 in the previous owner’s tenure tank were all finished in black enamel. All
DB461G, with the hard-top in the same of 14 years, naturally there were a few this work has stood the test of time and
colour and a brown soft-top. The upholstery issues to be resolved. A new exhaust was even now looks ‘just renovated’.
is cognac MB-Tex with brown (two colour needed and the seal on the differential In 2010, for our Pagoda’s 40th
weave) carpet. All this is shown on the needed replacing. The previous owner birthday, the bodywork was stripped to
original Build Card, with a pink copy offered a substantial contribution towards bare metal and repainted in its factory
showing the ignition key number. We have the cost of these. Other items were colour. Although the original soft-top did
the original ignition and ‘Chauffeur’s’ key highlighted in John Haynes’s report but not leak we had it replaced with a genuine
and the registration is displayed on the did not need immediate attention. These Mercedes top, again in its original factory
original Blumel Ace number plates. were attended to before the season began specification of brown and now also with
From the outset we decided to use the in 2003, including fitting a new ‘short the Mercedes star embossed in the corner
car to attend our Club and other Mercedes- engine’. of the window. Incidentally the roof
Benz events both at home and abroad. Cars In 2006 we visited the Mercedes-Benz was ordered through Mercedes-Benz of
are meant to be used on a regular basis – Classic Centre in Fellbach during the Wolverhampton, originally Carols, who had
standing unused for long periods is not to German Pagoda club’s rally in Stuttgart supplied the car in 1970! The soft top was
be recommended! and received a brief report on the car’s then fitted by Aldridges of Wolverhampton.
It is essential to have first-class
maintenance for this type of touring and
from the start of our ownership we decided
to use John Haynes Autotechnics in Goring-
by-Sea, West Sussex. This garage has
serviced the car (at least once, sometimes
twice, a year) and all maintenance and
renovation has also been carried out
exclusively at the Haynes garage.
Immediately after purchasing the car
from the previous owner, who resided
in Cheshire, we travelled down to the
Berystede Hotel in Ascot for an overnight
Under-body parts refurbished.
42 • MAY 2020 • www.mercedes-benz-club.co.ukFEATURE
of three petrol engines covering a 190hp to
326hp power band.
Back in 1991 the Mercedes-Benz
range would have been considered
very comprehensive for a premium car
manufacturer. Those of us with a close
interest in Mercedes-Benz cars know that
there has been a recent proliferation of new
models bearing the three-pointed star – as
new product niches are found, often sub-
divided and exploited.
Let’s now look at how things stand
today. To do this the Archive scribe
was detailed to do the leg work on the
Mercedes-Benz website. And, even he,
who normally only rises to hyperbole by
new sorts of chocolate biscuits – waxed
lyrical. “It’s amazing. There’s so many
more Mercedes model ranges now, that I
cannot be sure that I have listed them all, so
there could be more”, he raved.
Steadier members of the Archive Team
re-checked and it would seem to be the
case that there are now no fewer than 35
different Mercedes-Benz passenger car
models in eight different categories:
Hatchbacks Saloons Estates Coupés
A-Class A-Class CLA CLA
B-Class C-Class C-Class C-Class
E-Class E-Class E-Class
S-Class S-Class
Maybach CLS
S-Class
AMG GT
Life was simpler in 1991. AMG G
From deep in
Cabriolets SUVs Electrics MPVs
C-Class GLA EQC V-Class
E-Class GLB EQV
S-Class GLC
S-Class GLC coupé
SLC GLE
the Archive
AMG GT GLE coupé
SL GLS
G-Wagen
By comparison, in 1991 there were no
Mercedes hatchbacks, just three saloon
by the Archive Team ranges, one estate car range, one roadster
T
range and one SUV range. Obviously
he subject of this month’s article coupés – saloons offered with a choice of today’s potential Mercedes-Benz buyer is
comes from a slim brochure entitled petrol and diesel engines covering 94hp to spoilt for choice, but the company’s ever
‘The Mercedes-Benz car range’. It 220hp, estates with a choice of petrol and rising success is a sure-fire indicator that
was published in 1991, which is only 29 diesel engines in a 113hp to 220hp power they are doing the right thing.
years ago but, in Mercedes-Benz car terms, band and coupés with a choice of petrol The Mercedes-Benz Club’s digital archive
is now ancient history. engines from 132hp to 220hp. is having new material added every month and
If Mercedes-Benz were to produce The S-Class – three standard wheelbase now includes thousands of items. If you haven’t
a full car range brochure today it would saloons with a choice of three petrol yet done so please take a look by registering.
require a publication almost as thick as engines from 231hp to 326hp and three It’s a simple process, just go to: http://archive.
a telephone directory to cover all the long wheelbase saloons with a choice of mercedes-benz-club.co.uk and follow the on-
available models. Back in 1991 it was so four petrol engines covering a 231hp to screen instructions – happy browsing!
much easier for the company to portray 408hp power band. If you would like to dispose of surplus
its full car range, as there were just seven The SEC coupés – offered with a Mercedes-Benz literature or photographs
Mercedes model ranges. And, to reach this choice of three petrol engines from 231hp please let us know. Whether it’s one brochure
lowly total, the company had to separately to 300hp. or a car-load your surplus material will
categorise SEC coupés and long wheelbase, The G-Wagen – offered in two-door benefit Club Members. Even early Gazettes
six-door limousines (which were derived short wheelbase and four-door long are welcome, although the Archive does
from the mid-size W124 series). wheelbase versions, with a choice of petrol have a full collection of the later A4-format
It is very easy to list the 1991 seven- and diesel engines covering a 113hp to editions. Please contact the Archive Team:
model Mercedes-Benz passenger car range: 170hp power band. Jon and Lynne Bell, Bryan Allman, Andy
The 190 saloons – six saloons offered The mid-series limousines – offered Holmes and Phil Reed (archive@mercedes-
with a choice of petrol and diesel engines with a choice of two diesel engines with benz-club.co.uk). If you do not use e-mail
covering a 75hp to 205hp power band. 94hp and 160hp. please telephone 01932 346981 and leave
The mid-series saloons, estate cars and The SL models – offered with a choice a message.
48 • MAY 2020 • www.mercedes-benz-club.co.ukFEATURE
H
aving attained a certain age, and Edinburgh en route and decided to go in
encouraged by a friend’s 1992 September for two weeks.
300SL, the search began for a As Jerry and Suzanne live in Salisbury,
suitable retirement chariot of similar we travelled there so that we could then
DNA. As Mel, the friend, is a genius with drive in convoy to Edinburgh with an
car repairs and has far more ability than overnight stop at Knutsford, which was a
me, it was decided to search for a later totally random choice and transpired to be
model, from the R230 series. After much a superb town in the heart of Footballers’
scouring of the internet and specialist ads Wives country with many enormous gin
in the various magazines, viewing many palaces on the outskirts and a huge array
cars and reading of the potential high of restaurants and pubs in the town centre,
repair costs, a suitable car was purchased which we should have forward booked as
with a full Mercedes-Benz and specialist they were all bustling with customers and The first day’s trip to Edinburgh, via Knutsford.
service history and a three-year warranty. very busy. We eventually got a table at an
It’s a 2004 350SL which had just 77,000 excellent Indian restaurant. similar or better standard (with one notable
miles on the clock. So far traffic conditions on the exception), but none provided any breakfast
Another very good friend, Jerry, had motorway were pretty benign and we provisions, which would not normally be a
also just bought a sports car – a very well managed to get the tops down on the cars problem, but when the nearest shop closes
preserved 2006 Mazda MX-5, and so we on the way to Edinburgh. The M6, once at 4.00pm and can be about 20 to 30 miles
began looking for ideal road trips on which the major conurbations of Liverpool, away in the Highlands, forward planning is
to use the cars’ true potential. Manchester etc had been passed, was very essential.
The North Coast 500 around northern clear and provided a very scenic backdrop
Scotland was chosen due to its relative through the Yorkshire Dales and the Lake Anti-clockwise
ease of access, although it is about 800 District. When we arrived in Edinburgh our We were advised to take the anti-clockwise
miles from where I live in Cornwall. The AirBnB was better than expected, located route on the NC500, so started in Inverness,
fabulous scenery in Scotland was a land I’d just a few minutes’ walk from the city centre after our two-night stop in Edinburgh.
not been to for over 55 years, and my wife and complete with parking for both cars. Inverness is about four hours’ drive from
Anne had never visited it. A cautionary note here – AirBnBs that Edinburgh up the A9, after crossing the
In January last year the planning began we’ve previously used in England have Forth Road Bridge, which on that day was
in earnest with many hours spent on the all been to a very high standard and have shrouded in cloud and mist!
AirBnB website booking suitable overnight either provided a breakfast or provisions to Another cautionary note here, most
and longer stops. We all wanted to explore make your own. Our Scottish ones were of A roads in Scotland are populated with
North Coast 500 by Mike Hobbs
Mike Hobbs’s 350SL at the Castle of Mey.
www.mercedes-benz-club.co.uk • MAY 2020 • 49SPARESREGISTER A FREE Service For ALL MEMBERS
FOR SALE
Breaking W123 280 coupé; 1998 C250 CDI estate; 2000 W208 CLK R107 350SL Runs – to restore or spares. £3,000 ono. Finbar 07961
cabriolet; W124 300D multi-valve estate, good vented wing; W126 584765. tintofinbar@yahoo.co.uk
420SEL, good engine and box; W108 280SE. Parts off the shelf for W126 bumper corners To fit series one pre-facelift SE, SEL and SEC
W111 coupés and Fintails, W108, W123, W201 190 series, W124, models. Complete set of two front and two rear corner chrome fittings.
W126, W202 C-Class and W210 E-Class. Please phone or text on All used, with some marks. Cost me over £300, for sale for £150.
07710 672986 or e-mail retrodave111@aol.com Dave West Yorkshire. charleslamdin@gmail.com 07966 104332.
Workshop manuals, parts catalogues, special tools, owners’ handbooks R129 SL hard-top stand With soft cover. Excellent condition £225.00
and sales literature too numerous to list. These are all original (not for both. Buyer collects in Birmingham. Paul Duggins 07958 518330
reproductions), factory-printed books for all post-war models up to pbduggins@yahoo.co.uk
1984. Contact me with your requirements. Geoff Marshall 07414 R171 SLK Driver’s offside headlamp assembly – good condition, offers.
538004 marshall.geoffrey@gmail.com R170 CKS high performance stainless steel exhaust headers/manifold,
Breaking W124 1989 300E Complete. 1989 W124 260E panels. 1985 suitable for right-hand-drive four-cylinder engines, brand new, not used
W201 2.0 complete. 1990 W124 300D complete. Set of four wheels (CKS-170MAN), cost £840 new, best offers. Ian 07834 132654 ian.
and tyres from SLK. Charlie 01787 461751 07909 171330 Essex. lindsay@zodiacconsulting.co.uk
Sales brochures R107 1985-89 £35. R129 SL (hardback) £25. Limited W212 E-Class Four 19-inch AMG seven-spoke alloy wheels with good
Edition covering Atlantic, Almandine and Silver Arrows £10. R230 SL Goodyear Eagle F1 tyres, 8½ front and 9½ rear. Can send photos. Will
(hardback) £20. R170 SLK (face-lift edition) £30. W201 190E £10. fit W212 E350 or similar. Very good condition £1,100 ono. Paul 07437
W202 C-Class £5. All prices include post (within UK) and packing. 300628 paulwbenson777@outlook.com
Michael 01932 245711. 2001 S320 diesel Breaking for parts. Also S430 petrol, all mechanical parts
W121 190SL and W180 220S Pair of rear lamps, complete and in good available and body panels. Enquire for prices. Breaking 1985 W126 380
condition £180. robertcoxshall{@outlook.com 01992 302238. coupé, body and mechanical, and a W126 SEL saloon – doors, bonnet,
W112/W111 220SE/230SE/300SE Saloon front offside bumper half grille, shell all going cheap. 01438 282830 Guildford.
section, good chrome, no dents £200. Also nearside and offside W126 S-Class New windscreen washer jet/nozzle assembly, part number
top sections, good condition £50 each. All plus post and packing. 126 860 0747, in original packing, cost £103.02 will accept £90.00,
robertcoxshall@outlook.com 01992 302238 Hertford. including post and packing. 07734 900727.
W111 220SEb Bosch two-element fuel injection pump. Bosch W110/W111 230S Pair of Zenith carburettors, both having had new kits.
reference number EP/ZEB 2 KL 75 R11. £ 100. Bob 01992 302238 They came off a 230S. Best offer secures. Chris Gray 07949281812
robertcoxshall@outlook.com chrisgray103@btinternet.com
Air filter Genuine part, number A003 094 58 04 £12 including postage. 1958 220S coupé Spares or repair, left-hand-drive, some restoration work
07472684635 wwddggtt@icloud.com done, excellent panels, bonnet, doors, boot lid, grille, window glass,
W169 A-Class Four 17-inch alloy wheels complete with very good Michelin exterior trim/chrome. Engine (dismantled) and gearbox. Exported from
215/45 ZR 17 tyres. One of the wheels is scuffed. £240. Stephen USA, no paperwork and no front wings. Original 220S driver’s manuals
07766 800015 stephen@murray-twinn.net Hampshire. and parts book, Becker manual radio manual. Serious offers invited,
R107 SL Spare wheel and tyre. Believed never used. Ideal as spare for can provide photos. Martyn Dewhurst 07831 654758 mjdew27@aol.
concours. W123 280CE new surplus parts – air, fuel and oil filters, pair com Norfolk.
of springs, cam roller chain and gasket, steering joints and control arm W123 coupé Right-hand-drive electric mirror passenger side (left-hand),
mount. Part numbers available. linton.connell@gmail.com 01590 622175. good condition, good chrome £150. New, in box, electric motor for the
AMG Aero One eight x 17 alloy rims Correct period, full set of five, mirror, part number 123 820 2542 £200. John Melville john.melville7@
marked 1987/88, with pre-merger AMG face engravings with German btinternet.com 01883 348187.
TUV certification. Refurbished through an eight-stage process to R129 300SL Outdoor canvas cover with side door zips, good condition,
excellent condition. Developed by AMG for the 560SEC/SE cars without in blue, with storage bag, £16 postage or collection, £50 ono. Richard
the need for wing modifications. Painted in the correct colour, Max 07768 566336 Wiltshire.
Meyer B0005 twin pack metallic silver and complete with the correct, G-Wagen Pair of original front seats from 1982 long wheelbase, not suitable
plain, screw-fitting centre caps. Best offer please. Chris 01460 271749 for SWB. They were replaced by Recaro seats and are therefore without
cjmfp@totalise.co.uk Somerset. wear, if a little dusty, after 38 years of storage. Offers please. Geoff
W208 New, boxed, unused steering lock and screw pin, Mercedes-Benz, Marshall 07414 538004 marshall.geoffrey@gmail.com
original price £273.86 in 2014, now £400. Part numbers A208 462 Four R170 alloy wheels With tyres, some still legal, wheels need
0430 and A208 462 0271. My price £175.00 ono plus post and refurbishment, £50, buyer collects. 07730 272437 ellisfreeman2003@
packing. Clinton 07958 247402 v8chg@sky.com yahoo.co.uk Ilford, Essex.
W124 Original Mercedes-Benz product data manual, detailing refinements Breaking W124 200E All parts available, pothole-damaged suspension.
for 200-300E 1990 model year. W113 Pagoda SL original chrome, re- Good engine, wheels, tyres, gearbox. Blue interior and exterior. Various
chromed, good condition, complete apart from centre star. Colin Jailler new old stock service parts. Paul 0794 907819 paul.thomas@staffs.
07717 133499 info@castellan.co.uk ac.uk Midlands.
1966 W110 FINTAIL 190C Front and rear two-part bumpers, no rust, good W113 Pagoda SL New, original windscreen (without the blue sunshade),
chrome, usable not perfect, over-riders present on front, rear over-riders part number A113 671 03 10. £250 or best offer. Collect only,
may also be available – subject to negotiation £550.00. 1963 W110 Manchester M28. Allan Mills 07976 575445 amp47@icloud.com
Fintail complete set of four door-cards in cream/ivory MB-Tex, good W121 190SL Bosch type 12V 30A voltage regulator, near-new condition,
usable condition, clips and door furniture also available by separate Auto Electrical Spares part number 130032, replaces Bosch
negotiation. £300.00. W115 saloon seats, original Mercedes-Benz (real) 0190300036 £45 including postage to a UK address. The money will
leather, ivory, excellent ‘patina’ condition, no rips or tears or bolster be donated to the Marie Curie charity. Richard James 07836 549553
wear – with runners, chrome, plastic trims present. Fronts adjustable, richardjamescheam@hotmail.co.uk
rear has arm rest £700.00. Matching front armrest and centre console W124 Pair of matching eight-hole, 15-inch, 6.5J alloy wheels. Part number A124
tray and seat cushion in cream/ivory MB-Tex (both VGC) by separate 401 1202, clean and fair condition with part-used 225 60 R15 tyres £95.
negotiation. Dean dean.pearce@live.co.uk 01787 378797. Centre console trim panel (section between front seats up to lower dash),
W124 cabriolet/coupé Nearside door, green with electric mirror, no mushroom leather, unmarked £85. Nearside rear side trim panel for CE
window regulator £95.00. New genuine Mercedes-Benz offside door coupé (between rear seat and window), also mushroom, good condition
skin £85.00. W208 MB wind-stop, as new, boxed £125 plus carriage. £50. Geoffrey Hunter 07766 953084 geoffrey_hunter@btinternet.com
07881 840822 nickgoode44@gmail.com Kent.
W115/123/124/201 diesel engines Three OM 617 910 240d 3.0, two WANTED
OM 617 for W123 and Hymer, one OM616 240d, one OM601 2.3d for 1995 W124 facelift estate Rear bumper insert (painted type) and headlight
190/124/308, one OM602 2.5d plus auto gearbox for 190/124. M115 wiper blade. Mike 07956122293 mikeynoy@hotmail.co.uk
920 six-cylinder 2.5 petrol engine for spares or rebuild. Lots of parts for Mercedes-Benz Club Gazettes Pale blue, most issues from 1957, 1958 and
these and conversions. Alan 07973 481161 alanbrooke3@sky.com 1959. Geoffrey Hunter 07766 953084 geoffrey_hunter@btinternet.com
W180 Ponton 220S Behr radiator, fully pressure and flow tested, in good 1989 W126 S-Class Bumper chrome corners for face-lifted 1989 560SEL.
order, Mercedes-Benz part number 180 500 03 03, with cap and drain charleslamdin@gmail.com 07966 104332.
tap £250. MB parts manual for W128 220SE Ponton, Edition B, in good W113 230SL Pagoda Electric fuel pump. W121 190SL ignition switch/
used condition, all pages clean and intact, covers saloon, cabriolet tumbler and oil temperature gauge. Used parts in good working
and coupé £85 plus post and packing. Chris Cloke 07925 348559 condition are acceptable. Bill qkchia@gmail.com
mercman@tinyonline.co.uk Bath. W208 CLK320 cabriolet Sony CDX-C580R FM/MW/LW radio/CD player in
W124 cabriolet Wind scarf (no bag). Very light use, as new condition. good working order. annarob15@gmail.com 07930 618858.
Simon Davies simonlegal19@gmail.com
All Spares Register entries should be limited to 40 words maximum and sent to Bob Coxshall, 55 The Avenue, Bengeo, Hertford SG14
3DS to arrive by the 26th of the month preceding publication. All correspondence should be by post or e-mail to bob.coxshall@
mercedes-benz-club.co.uk In emergencies only, telephone 01992 302238.
52 • MAY 2020 • www.mercedes-benz-club.co.ukTECHNICALCORNER
1. Phil Greaves’s 250CE.
Replacing the front
crankshaft oil seal on
a W114 250CE by Phil Greaves
T
he W114 and W115 series were internet search revealed a few possible Disconnect the pipes from top and bottom
launched in 1967 with the first sources. In the end I bought an Elring from of the oil cooler and the hoses from the
deliveries being made in 1968 for DoctorCarParts via Ebay at a cost of £12.81 top and bottom of the radiator. (photos
the saloons and 1969 for the coupés. A total including postage. The Elring part number two and three). Then disconnect the two
of 1,918,796 were produced prior to their is 284.785. oil pipes from the auto transmission to the
replacement by the W123 series in 1975, Having got the front of the car off the heat exchanger in the bottom of the radiator
with the coupés making up 67,048 of that ground onto axle stands, put the gearbox (photo four). Some oil will come out. Seal
total. in Park, apply the hand-brake and chock the end of the pipes with a food bag or
I acquired my 250CE, of 1972 vintage, the wheels. The engine should be warmed similar to prevent the ingress of dirt during
in 1983 and by that time it had already gone up and the oil drained from the sump, oil the rest of the job, remember – dirt is death
round the clock. A couple of years later, at cooler and filter container. The filter was to auto transmissions.
139,000 miles, it had a substantial engine replaced immediately but the oil not until Remove the three bolts holding the
rebuild and has now covered 191,000 miles. the job was completed. The ignition coil fan cowl to the back of the radiator and oil
There seems to have been a crankshaft primary terminal was disconnected but the cooler, lift it up a couple of inches and push
oil leak for many years, don’t they all you battery left connected. it back towards the engine block out of the
might say, but in the end it is a matter of Drain the radiator, don’t forget to open way (photo five). Now lift out the oil cooler
degree and this one had started to annoy the heater controls to full, and discard and radiator together (photo six) – if this is
me. The original oil seal is no longer the old anti-freeze mix. The next job is not possible remove the two bolts holding
available from Mercedes-Benz, but an to remove the radiator and oil cooler.
4. Disconnecting the two oil pipes from the
auto transmission to the heat exchanger in
2. Disconnecting an oil cooler pipe. 3. Disconnecting a radiator hose. the bottom of the radiator.
www.mercedes-benz-club.co.uk • MAY 2020 • 53You can also read
