Project e320 cdi

[merc85]

I like the tail pipes.That arm is an easy one but if the other ball joint fails its the hub off jobby,done a few of those so far.I might consider an e320 when I get to yr age Gav or buy yrs when you upgrade to a free bus pass lol

The next upgrade will be a e55k

[merc85]

Well not much has been happening on the Project side of stuff, I've done around 7,500 miles now and the Merc hasnt put a foot wrong..... up until now. Had a error message flag up on the dash not so long ago after a full day valeting her (doors left open" saying the "brake effort was low" this went immediatly after starting the car and pedol was normal, turned out the Aux battery was getting tired as these cars run two Batteries due to the "Sensotronic Brake Control" SBC requiring this.

The aux battery is there as a saftey back up if the main battery ever gave up the ghost completely as the brake assistance run off it. Anyway all was good until the weather got colder then i had this message: Convenience features disabled, which again is the car shutting down non essential stuff like SBC Hold "sort of launch control" again once started the car would be fine as the alternater charged the batteries.

So i did just that changing out the AUx battery which is located under the pollen filter, Turns out its the orignal battery from 2003. quite a easy job no reprograming required to anything "thank god lol" and the test drive after all went well. here's the pic's even managed to give it a little clean under there.



Finger's crossed all will keep good, its been a absolute pleasure driving this car and im still totally smitten by it.

[Kingsford G]

R u sure u don`t want another Volvo?Mercs r boring

[merc85]

R u sure u don`t want another Volvo?Mercs r boring

she's far from boring, true ocasion everytime i drive it. cruise at 56mph let the world go by, open it up 70+ she comes alive coupled with 7 seats modern interior and unbelivable mpg she suits exactly everything i need from a car atm.

[Kingsford G]

she's far from boring, true ocasion everytime i drive it. cruise at 56mph let the world go by, open it up 70+ she comes alive coupled with 7 seats modern interior and unbelivable mpg she suits exactly everything i need from a car atm.

Getting old mate,thats what it is.A nice retirement car lol I might join the club,u never know

[960kg]

Well Gav, i thought the Volvo battery was excellent but to still have an original one on the Mercedes from 2003 ...that has done very well.

I only have the one battery but is a Varta, what they use as standard as you know, and mine is still good at starting in the cold even after 4 or 5 days of standing.

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Well anyone that says Mercs are boring don`t really understand what they are missing..........if one wants quality with reliability and performance including mpg then the Merc is the way to go........

Mine drives and handles much better than my V70 did with the bilsteins and being lowered.......it must be the geometry. These older Volvo models are old hat now and so expensive on the fuel my V70 doing just 23mpg on Shell Nitro!.........as for the later models ...Ford comes to mind everytime i see one.......i just could not let myself spend all that money on a Ford!

[Kingsford G]

Well Gav, i thought the Volvo battery was excellent but to still have an original one on the Mercedes from 2003 ...that has done very well.

I only have the one battery but is a Varta, what they use as standard as you know, and mine is still good at starting in the cold even after 4 or 5 days of standing.

.................................................. .....................

Well anyone that says Mercs are boring don`t really understand what they are missing..........if one wants quality with reliability and performance including mpg then the Merc is the way to go........

Mine drives and handles much better than my V70 did with the bilsteins and being lowered.......it must be the geometry. These older Volvo models are old hat now and so expensive on the fuel my V70 doing just 23mpg on Shell Nitro!.........as for the later models ...Ford comes to mind everytime i see one.......i just could not let myself spend all that money on a Ford!

I know what mercs are like for some time now and just pulling Gavs leg and considering one myself but all depends on what comes for the right price.

[merc85]

Had some new Disc's and pads fitted to the rear yesturday as the old disc's were past there best and had got grooved some what.

Went for NAP Disc's with TRW pads as this is a couple of the Brands i supply to the Trade and public. Brakes feels good, will know more as they bed in, also once they are i can get the hubs painted like i did to the old ones.



The Disc's size on the back is 300mm vented With a Single piston Caliper, and 4 Piston Brembo's up front with Sensotronic Brake Control.

[V70 Graham]

I must admit I do like the look of these cars, anything special to look out for Gav should I take an interest in one ?
How would you say your running costs have compared to the Volvo, you've had the Merc long enough to compare now.

[merc85]

I must admit I do like the look of these cars, anything special to look out for Gav should I take an interest in one ?
How would you say your running costs have compared to the Volvo, you've had the Merc long enough to compare now.

Mine has only covered 85k and feels tight as a drum zero rattles or squeaks anywhere, Runing costs ermmm just put fuel in and drive lol. I really think they would suit your driving style well, they just cruise its a car which drives You, They are not a driver's car in repsect you never feel you have to get in and drive the nutts of it.

Its not slouch by any means its certainly quicker than my Mapped Auto R was, MPG wise if you drive the nutts of it it will drop to 36ish, normal mpg is around 48-50 on long easy drive ive seen upto 60mpg but 50 is the norm.

Things to look for are FSH, no SBC faults, Rear Air Suspension stays up if left over night, Some have Airmatic, (full air suspension) same applies. 211's dont tend to rust, Alloy Bonnet, wings and Boot sorts that lol, there is Zero rust on mine.

I think if you can get a Low owner car with FSH you cant go wrong, They do alot of different engines so it depends on how you would use the car to what model be best. Mileage wise doesnt really matter all the engines are bulliet proof chain driven, bigger the better as they are a heavy car.

Elegance has more comfort toys and light wood, Avantgarde (mine) sits lower and stiffer suspension, dark wood, even a basic model has loads of toys, all of which work on mine. electric wise there pritty reliable 2003 onwards i wouldnt buy a 2002 (52) early one as the electric have been known to give agro.

Its unfair to compare with the Volvo's as all of mine have been higher mileage, and older design and tbh a totally different sort of car.

[Harvey]

Had some new Disc's and pads fitted to the rear yesturday as the old disc's were past there best and had got grooved some what.

Went for NAP Disc's with TRW pads as this is a couple of the Brands i supply to the Trade and public. Brakes feels good, will know more as they bed in, also once they are i can get the hubs painted like i did to the old ones.





The Disc's size on the back is 300mm vented With a Single piston Caliper, and 4 Piston Brembo's up front with Sensotronic Brake Control.

Your wheels look mint,ok the rest of the cars not bad either keep up the good work.

[Kingsford G]

I must admit I do like the look of these cars, anything special to look out for Gav should I take an interest in one ?
How would you say your running costs have compared to the Volvo, you've had the Merc long enough to compare now.

As Gav said,get one with a low mileage and full dealer service and happy days.You have 220,270,320 cdi straight engine on earlier models and the 320 is straight 6 is a more reliable engine than the later 280 and 320cdi`s as they are a V6 and the manifold flap motor is known to fail and not an easy or cheap job.I`ve driven one for 4,5 dyas trip on some crappy roads and with a my bad back I didn`t feel a thing cos the drive is very smooth.Now I narrowed down to 2 cars I want to drive for some time which are a V70 D5 or an E 320cdi.A P`2 Volvo has a strong and simple suspention but a bit harsher than a Merc but still a nice drive but if you want more power and comfort than an E320 tickes the box and after a remap its a diff beast.There is a guy I use for remaps to my customers cars and he done Gavs merc too if you ever need one done at a sensible price while we having a cuppa.Just take one for a ride.I still love a P2`s tho.

[merc85]

Just a quick update, i had a brake issue after the new pads and disc's were fitted, incidently not by me! Perhaps i should have done anyway the Nsr wheel was getting very hot, so i booked it into Cowdray Car Centre in Colchester and told them about a brake binding on the nsr, also they have the correct tools to disable the SBC braking system.

I supplied a New Caliper and a Brake hose thought i may as well have that fitted as they were there this also intailed a brake bleeding session with a machine that bleeds through at a High pressure and took around 2 hrs!

All good in anycase problem solved, i then later the next day had a issue with the osr, So i inspected it and found the Caliper slider's didnt have one bit of grease on them. So i greased it all up and hey presto no more binding from that side either.

Just alittle anoyed at the 1st people who fitted the discs and pads, Surly it should be second nature to grease the slider's and make sure everything is nice and free, anyway all done now i gave her a polish and drive to make sure all was good which it was as i saw51mpg lol

[merc85]

The Mb was Mot'd last week, and she passed, it was pointed out to me that the dust cover on the ball joint though not split was drying out and looking perished, so i thought sod it may as well get the wishbone replaced on the nsf as id already had the osf one a few weeks backs and a good opportunity to have the alignment done to.

So had the above worked carried by a Local garage who really treated the car well keeping it in the workshop after they had finished due to it raining outside lol,

Had 2 new Goodyear's fitted up the front as again id had 2 new ones fitted on the back a couple of months ago. £180 from tyreleader 245/45/17's

The one thing thats bugged me since having the car was the poor state of the Chrome grille, it wasnt buckled or dented but had stone chips etc and seeing as i can get hold Panels at a good price i thought id treat it to a new one, also cleaning behind where it sits in the front of the bonnet.

Now looks sooo much fresher wish id have done it sooner.



Drove her hard over the last tank full to find out what sort of mpg she returned, and it was 36mpg over 670 miles, but driven sensibly she's still around the mid 50's

[V70 Graham]

Nice grille mate, really smart end the front up, must get round to replacing the one on the V70.

[Kingsford G]

Where is the picture of the new grill fitted?

[merc85]

Where is the picture of the new grill fitted?

hummmm not funny lol

[merc85]

Another update, after having the New tyres fitted i noticed 3 of the wheels had kick's to them, 2 worse than the other damm it

I was going to get these refurbed but knowing they would have to be straightened to rightly or wrongly i decided to buy a new set and going up a size to 18's

Not everyones cup of tea but wanted her to stand out abit more being Silver it does tend to get dismissed.

Anyway here's the result and im chuffed to bits and the ride quality is improved both smoothness and alot less roll into corner's since going down a profile.

[Kingsford G]

Some things look better in flesh than pics,not bad at all.

[jamesy12345]

They look good, AMG wheels?