A new (sort of sensible) daily... a Merc CLS Shooting Brake

[MrC986]

Update....due the annual service plus brake fluid change and given it’s 10 yrs old next month, I think probably a gearbox fluid change too.

It properly blotted it’s reliability record a week or so ago....I’m mainly driving in the dark at this time of year & do nearly 2 hrs each way to work on the motorway, I started it up in the daylight (day off) to see a full dashboard of warning lights that weren’t ready to go off A very short drive (300m) to my new techie for the daily stuff and he cleared the codes but it included Canbus error messages and all the lights came back on again after being cleared (#ohbugger). A good auto electrician identified a low voltage issue & reset everything and the car now sits on a trickle charger to make sure it doesn’t happen again

It still awaits a wheel refurb but I think it needs some better weather before I get them sorted....

[MrC986]

Update....so the Canbus issue definitely looks as if it will need a new battery to cure it as without a regular connection to my battery conditioner it throws its dolly out of the pram but once you get the car up to a sensible speed the alternator must be chucking enough power in as you can clear the lights using the OK button - I'm just ordering a new AGM one which will go on when it has its annual service in the next week or so as I don't trust myself to change it as it is tucked away under the bonnet in an inconvenient place.

Strangely, not long after the recall being done for the bolts for the steering rack it developed a clonking noise on the front so it's also likely to need some anti roll bar/sway bar links as it's a big old lump of an engine so that'll also be sorted at the service as well.

I was tempted to change it but as MrsC reminded me it is a lovely place to sit & waft along & has no finance on it so it's staying (& I think it still looks such a stonking car, especially from certain angles).
|https://thumbsnap.com/PmuGE4vv[/url]
Using my local service guy will also save me some £s compared to the Merc specialist I was using who'd properly blotted their copy book with the misdiagnosis on the rear suspension fault & their lack of interest in quoting (fortunately!!)

PS the wheel refurb hasn't happened yet & in the meantime I must stop idly browsing the Internet looking at aftermarket replacement 19 wheels [url]

[MrC986]

Robertb said:

I bought a new b pillar cover for mine… was the drivers side so annoyed me every time I opened the door! Wasn’t too expensive and took minutes to fit.

You could have the existing ones wrapped in gloss black, depending on relative cost…

I did look at the covers when I got the car detailed but it's not triggering my OCD as much as the need for a full wheel refurb in all honesty

[MrC986]

Mine’s having its 10th birthday and just clocked 100k (about 37k in my hands in just under 3yrs).

Whilst my man maths feels the strong pull of a new set of aftermarket 19s (easy/quick), keeping the original wheels does appeal but with a powder coated finish in a similar silver. I’ve a set of 18s (matching width front/back with new winter tyres) but they’re very much meant just for winter but I agree the mahoosive 285 rears do seem a bit unnecessary with 265 bhp! I also keep a close eye on tyre wear & have a 4 wheel alignment check every 18 months or so (the recent safety recall for the steering bolts also included a 4 wheel alignment). My motoring currently is mainly dual carriageways/motorways & some limited well known A roads so I hope to reduce the likelihood of pot holes but I keep a keen eye out as they’re pretty teeth chattering with the 19s & such low profile tyres.

I need to get on & sort the battery, service & anti roll bar links as I’ve a weekend trip to Falmouth very soon & the CLS is the preferred choice of our cars

[MrC986]

I've had the oil and all filters changed this week plus the new battery. The filters weren't too bad but the battery was clearly the cause of the warning messages as it was just startimg to show signs of a leak (cleaned/checked battery tray). The battery prices are ridiculous....the online guys were about £100 less so I bought the battery for less than my mechanic could from his motor factors and he fitted it as it isn't a easy position almost under the edge of the windscreen and being so heavy.

It might be the placebo effect but it drives better now but they didn't have time for the gearbox fluid change so that'll be done in the next few weeks with the replacement of the front droplinks.