Paul C

mmmmmmmm, tasteful :rolleyes: :D group buy anyone???? :D

you've got 2 options - 1, there is a "drop in" replacement gas for R12 (R413 iirc), which is more expensive than R134a which is the commonly used gas now days. or 2, convert to R134a. to do this you do need a conversion kit because a, the connectors are different & b, the oil used is synthetic compared to the older mineral oil used in R12. if you do not use a proper conversion kit the old oil will not dissolve in the new gas & will eventually knacker the compressor. I can get hold of conversion kits for anyone that wants them :)

LOL!! exactly - it wasnt real life

no, you've got 1 unreliable car & a zed!! ;) :D

Auto?!? ;) :D

if its a 230 then it aint a AMG! thats a little 4 pot engine. a little bit of badge engineering methinks :rolleyes:

the rating is purely a speed rating, nothing to do with grip ;) id say for your skipping: rear shocks (most people say this cures it) worn rear hicas links (which mine were & caused a problem) incorrect rear tracking crap tyres (as Matty said - tho ignore his z rating bit!) other worn/damaged components on the suspension

we use ours quite a lot actually - honest!!

well i own a zed, not a merc - you work it out :D

yes, on the whole, mechanically they are very good. even after very high milage when pullin cyl heads off there is very little wear. shame they cant make a head gasket that doesnt piss out oil after 5 miles of use tho :rolleyes:

LMAO!!! :D thats the Germans for you Timmy ;) they threw a towel on the sunbed of quality years ago & have been tanning on it ever since :D

you tell 'im Nelson :D

Mark, the 129 SL's are very nice, esp the later ones (about 97 - , got a few upgrades!) the 500 is the one to have (or an AMG60 if you can find one ;) ) although compared to a zed there not that quick really. very nice cruiser tho :) Trev - sounds like the electronic ignition switch, quite a common fault really :( which is one of the points i was trying to make, ALL cars are unreliable the windows may just need re-syncronising. get him to press the switch gently (1st position) & the window should come up. keep it held until it reaches the top & hold for a further 3-4 secs. that needs doing if the window module has lost its feed. sunroof will need doing too if he has one. & yes, i do get paid well ;) :D

yeah, we still get 124's 126's 123's & good ole G wagens :rolleyes: yes, some of the new 203 c classes are assembled in SA. v classes were made in Spain, ML's in USA they are still built well really IMO, but seemed to have suffered the cheap plastic look & feel. many problems are due to the ever increasing electronic complexity now :(

ok, after reading the thread over concerns of reliability of our cars, & a comparison to the "wonders" of the Mercedes range, it made me chuckle a bit. Merc always has this wonderful reputation of reliabilty. so just to put things int perspective heres some of todays jobs in my Merc workshop: 1st thing this morning C class turns up on transporter. non start, battery keeps going flat. owners fitted a new one let him down in the South of France collected A class for service (3 yrs old, 50k miles) needed front anti roll bar links, worn out. rear radius arms, bearings collapse on those. tyres deformed due to knackered radius arms. earth cable to engine connector broken off. C class in for A/C not working. condensor corroded & leaking. replaced the condensor & pipeline union to condensor had corroded on, so needed new pipe too. A class stalling, reqs Engine ECU (always go) AMG E55 in for faulty oil level sensor 1 yr old C class we delivered at the weekend stuck in park, wont shift out (bloody Autos!!) C class we had in decided not to recognise the key anymore while in for repairs - vehicle immobilised, had to pick up the owners key on the way home. and thats just the jobs today i can remember :rolleyes:

LMAO!!! :rolleyes: im saying nothing ;)

FWIW iv only ever had 1 breakdown on mine. the PTU. thats it. & mines a daily driver too :)

yes ;) in fact i think it is a very slight tint IIRC

check the bottom arm as jeff said. done the same to mine :(

pink Elephants?? :confused:

underwater goats with snorkels & flippers??............................ a buffalo with an aqualung?????? :D

asbestos hampsters??

a panel on your zed without rust?? :D

no, no, no!! the h/brake switch is there as a diagnostic aid the unit on top of the shock is not a potentiometer, its an actuator which adjusts the pressure of the shock from soft to hard.