A Luta Continua - My Merc E class
Jul 24, 2017 11:58:32 GMT
Post by Deleted on Jul 24, 2017 11:58:32 GMT
Well, at least I haven't had too much hot weather to put up with on holiday. A few sunny hot days around 30C, but I had a cold and was in capable of moving. Hey ho. Anyway, the E Class has half disgraced itself.
Remember the lean? Yes, of course you do. The car used to lean 2cm to the rear offside. On arrival in Vendee on the 9th I got out of the car, and immediately noticed the offside was riding a bit higher now, at the rear, looked spot on. Odd. But. The nearside rear was way down, really noticeable. FFS. Switching the engine back on lifted the wonky side slightly, then I noticed it was dropping again and fluctuating back up. No warning lights or messages on the dash.
Took the car to the nearest indy garage, who advised nobody in the region has Star Diagnostics other then the franchise dealer. So visited the Merc dealer, who informed me they didn't have a workshop slot to even diagnose the fault for over two weeks. They telephoned around to other dealerships within reasonable distance, but none were able to assist before my return date. The mechanic on the spot did look at it, performed a Gallic shrug and said it would be fine to drive, until I get a message to stop on the dashboard. Great. I realised that the fluctuating was going to be making the compressor work harder than normal, which might result in an even more costly repair being required, but I had no choice but to leave it and risk the drive home. We did get back in one piece, but with the car laden with 4 people, luggage and 4 bikes I wasn't happy about doing it.
I've taken it to a local indie (Calcot Mercedes for the benefit of WDB, I've abandoned John Griffiths on the recommendation of a neighbour who is on his 3rd E at the moment) this morning, who have had a quick look and diagnosed a fault with the air bag component of the air suspension is the most likely culprit. This I find weird as that side of the car is the one which was fitted with new components shortly before I bought the car. Well, I've left it with them and await the verdict of closer inspections. In the meantime they kindly lent me a 51 reg C Class Coupe, a C200 auto. Which is old and leggy and grubby, but hey. I quite like it. Nifty little motor. Third of a tank of petrol in it, too.
Remember the lean? Yes, of course you do. The car used to lean 2cm to the rear offside. On arrival in Vendee on the 9th I got out of the car, and immediately noticed the offside was riding a bit higher now, at the rear, looked spot on. Odd. But. The nearside rear was way down, really noticeable. FFS. Switching the engine back on lifted the wonky side slightly, then I noticed it was dropping again and fluctuating back up. No warning lights or messages on the dash.
Took the car to the nearest indy garage, who advised nobody in the region has Star Diagnostics other then the franchise dealer. So visited the Merc dealer, who informed me they didn't have a workshop slot to even diagnose the fault for over two weeks. They telephoned around to other dealerships within reasonable distance, but none were able to assist before my return date. The mechanic on the spot did look at it, performed a Gallic shrug and said it would be fine to drive, until I get a message to stop on the dashboard. Great. I realised that the fluctuating was going to be making the compressor work harder than normal, which might result in an even more costly repair being required, but I had no choice but to leave it and risk the drive home. We did get back in one piece, but with the car laden with 4 people, luggage and 4 bikes I wasn't happy about doing it.
I've taken it to a local indie (Calcot Mercedes for the benefit of WDB, I've abandoned John Griffiths on the recommendation of a neighbour who is on his 3rd E at the moment) this morning, who have had a quick look and diagnosed a fault with the air bag component of the air suspension is the most likely culprit. This I find weird as that side of the car is the one which was fitted with new components shortly before I bought the car. Well, I've left it with them and await the verdict of closer inspections. In the meantime they kindly lent me a 51 reg C Class Coupe, a C200 auto. Which is old and leggy and grubby, but hey. I quite like it. Nifty little motor. Third of a tank of petrol in it, too.
