1998 Mercedes-Benz CL420 (C140)

1998 Mercedes-Benz CL420 (C140)

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tobinen

Original Poster:

9,442 posts

151 months

Friday 4th August 2017
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Not sure yet. I am deciding on the next step and to which garage to take it or maybe sell it for another barge. If it's corroded and not blocked, then it looks like a big job, headlining out, etc. Hoping for less rain in the meantime.

tobinen

Original Poster:

9,442 posts

151 months

Friday 18th August 2017
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If you have a horrid metallic sound coming from the NS door, check that the NS sunvisor lid is not rattling. It's a very similar noise. Also an easy fix.

tobinen

Original Poster:

9,442 posts

151 months

Wednesday 23rd August 2017
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NSF bumper scraped by a grey-haired old dear in a C class whose lane discipline left a lot to be desired.


tobinen

Original Poster:

9,442 posts

151 months

Saturday 4th November 2017
quotequote all
Misfire now sorted, as suspected no.8 coil pack was shot. Eight new plugs fitted too as they've not been changed in my ownership and looked past their best.

Sunroof/'A' pillar leak is now confirmed as the corroded metal piece coming off the sunroof assembly. Balls. The man at the garage did not rule out bonding a new piece on but he didn't fancy welding as the space is so confined. Meditate on this I will.

That will be £253 please today sir.

tobinen

Original Poster:

9,442 posts

151 months

Saturday 18th November 2017
quotequote all
The idle speed is now too high when it is warm. It used to tick over at 600-700 RPM but now idles at 1,100-1,400 RPM,

A quick internet search points to the idle control valve and/or split vacuum hose(s)

Back to the garage and to have a further chat on the sunroof leak.

tobinen

Original Poster:

9,442 posts

151 months

Saturday 10th February 2018
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The garage found no fault with the idle and sure enough, on the way back it was perfect. Ho hum. At least he didn't charge me so that was welcome.

tobinen

Original Poster:

9,442 posts

151 months

Saturday 17th February 2018
quotequote all
Choice of three sunroof frames. I have no idea what is a non-magnetic roof with autopilot system. I am still undecided if this is economically viable given the low value of the car.


tobinen

Original Poster:

9,442 posts

151 months

Saturday 17th February 2018
quotequote all
My man has reported the corrosion is on the frame not the outlet tubes. Both fronts are affected. The metal tubes are not there any longer to connect to the drain pipes at the front. He says it's not repairable (unless one has silly money to throw at it, which I do not) and I trust his judgement.

We discussed blocking it up as best we (he) could but he's not certain the water would not overflow rather than using the rear outlets. The way I feel at the moment this is now a run-in-to-the-ground car with minimal expenditure.

Parking nose-up might work but I do not have that option. I'll call the local MB dealer to narrow down which frame is correct but it will be the expensive one.

Perhaps I'll feel better when summer comes. Or sell it for spares. I don't know.

tobinen

Original Poster:

9,442 posts

151 months

Saturday 17th February 2018
quotequote all
A quick 300m wander over to MB Newbury to be greeted by a bottle blonde and bottle tan girl under Ariana Grande music at too loud volume in the showroom. Annoying and unnecessary.

I want the first frame at £210 inc VAT according to the young parts lad. This is not too bad (if correct), at least less than expected. It is back-ordered with no date of delivery, in my experience this could mean it will become no longer serviced.




tobinen

Original Poster:

9,442 posts

151 months

Saturday 17th February 2018
quotequote all
I've just checked the master price file and the part number is no longer listed. This certainly points to it being NLA. I think the young lad may have made a mistake. The other frames are for satnav equipped cars.

A Russian vendor has a second hand one for £252. I will contact 140 Spares. One never knows.

Edited by tobinen on Saturday 17th February 13:43

tobinen

Original Poster:

9,442 posts

151 months

Sunday 18th February 2018
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nullogik said:
That sounds handy, where did you get a copy from?
My work gives me access but not something I can share I'm afraid.

Hereward said:
Or you can buy it new from these guys that I use. Not cheap:
https://www.online-teile.com/mercedes-ersatzteile/...
Yes, I used that after reading your thread update, thanks.

I think I need to re-check with the dealer this part price and if it is definitely NLA. Then speak to the man to see if he fancies taking it on.

tobinen

Original Poster:

9,442 posts

151 months

Monday 25th June 2018
quotequote all
106,818 miles. MoT day today and it was a pass with a few advisories but nothing over which worth losing any sleep. Rather annoyingly the headlamp wipers have stopped self-parking as I noticed they were not parked correctly when I picked it up. Pretty certain they were OK this morning.

The parking sensors are also intermittant and today they are not working but were working the last time I drove it. I've sourced some 16" alloys for winter from Slovenia and ordered new caps from MB.

Engine and gearbox both operating spot-on.

tobinen

Original Poster:

9,442 posts

151 months

Saturday 18th August 2018
quotequote all
107,691 miles.

A small service today (though I asked for a B service), fitted new number plates and they sorted the boot not closing flushly, however the soft close has stopped working on the driver's door and boot lid. This is why the boot lid isn't pulled in by the latch now, so I have to give it a proper close. Very un140-like. They spent a couple of hours searching but could not find a leak yet. THe LH door is fine.

Also reported: both nearside springs are broken and the OSR looking as it may break soon. A standard Mercedes-Benz feature.

That will be £218.11 today please sir. (I complained at the price of oil and they knocked off 10%). It will be going back soon for the rest of the service items and I will have to have the springs replaced. The soft close can go down the list of things to do.

tobinen

Original Poster:

9,442 posts

151 months

Friday 2nd November 2018
quotequote all
Now over 108,000 miles. Remaining service parts replaced, air filters x 2 and the fuel filter. Parking sensors still come and go as they please but at the moment they are working.

Rear tyres are just about done (2mm) so now to decide whether to put the 16s on or blow the budget and go all-season on the 18s. Limited choice though in the size.

tobinen

Original Poster:

9,442 posts

151 months

Saturday 3rd November 2018
quotequote all
Interesting you say it had to be towed as earlier in the thread I had a misfire on no.8 cylinder and it drove fine, just 'missing'. That was a failed coil pack.

Always happy to hear of another out there in good service.

tobinen

Original Poster:

9,442 posts

151 months

Friday 23rd November 2018
quotequote all
Gave the 16" wheels a quick rinse as the new tyres are in for fitting later today. I think they should look OK though they were never fitted to the coupé as far as I know. The 60 profile should be more comfortable







tobinen

Original Poster:

9,442 posts

151 months

Saturday 24th November 2018
quotequote all
I'm happy with the way they look and I think they suit it fine. Pity about the colour match on the moulding. Unfortunately 2 of 5 wheel bolts in the NSR hub will not tighten so the tyre place reckons the hub threads are shot. It's booked in to the garage on Wednesday. Hopefully the hub is separate and not part of the half shaft

Total cost of tyres (Vredestein Quatrac 5 all season), wheels and caps is about £850. I must be mad.




tobinen

Original Poster:

9,442 posts

151 months

Tuesday 4th December 2018
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As suspected the NSR hub threads are to blame and the garage isn't too happy with three bolts. I am offered two choices:

Replace the hub and bolts but this involes a lot of stripping down and the potential for more grief as it requires most of the suspension to be disassembled. £650

Leave the hub in-situ and they have a specialist third party re-thread they've used before, replace bolts. £330

I have opted for the latter and it should be ready at the end of the week.


tobinen

Original Poster:

9,442 posts

151 months

Saturday 8th December 2018
quotequote all
Good news, the hub repair and new bolts came in at £248. Car is back on the road.

tobinen

Original Poster:

9,442 posts

151 months

Saturday 16th March 2019
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If anyone else has a 140 coupé, the wiper is not 700mm (28" in old money) for the left side, despite what I thought I'd seen on the Bosch site.

600mm is correct for the right side and looks to be correct for the left side, or at least will fit.

Edit: Finally found a complete Bosch catalogue. I need AR65N x 2 (650mm) - these are the retrofit Aerotwins

Edited by tobinen on Saturday 16th March 15:40