Quest for the Least Reliable Vehicle for MontuckyFried

[simple]

Um. I have a Toy Poodle. What's so weird about poodles?

That I joked about poodle owners and he actually has one.

[skaredshtles]

My sheepadoodle says hello, and that he's going to consume your soul when he wakes up.

Attachment 468311

Mutts are cool. Poodles are weird. Everybody knows that.

[4matic]

Luxury trim with classic grill is nice. Better ride too Looks like it has lighting package and wood leather steering wheel.

[riser4]

Mutts are cool. Poodles are weird. Everybody knows that.

You're weird. Everybody knows that.

[skaredshtles]

You're weird. Everybody knows that.

You're not wrong.

[basinbeater]

Nice pickup mf. I was impressed with my 14 merc I had. Was a very very nice car. Good luck with it.

[MontuckyFried]

Bummer. Well, I mean good on ya I would've come get it.

Dang. I would've hooked you up for sure if you were closer. Sorry, bud. Woulda loved to see it go to you.

[MontuckyFried]

Luxury trim with classic grill is nice. Better ride too Looks like it has lighting package and wood leather steering wheel.

You really know your stuff! Yup. Has the lighting package. Just found the original window sticker. Was about $70K optioned out the way it was. And you're right about the luxury trim. The hood ornament has surprisingly grown on me a bit. I kinda miss that classic MB look now, so glad I got one the last bastions of it outside of the S class. I actually WANTED the smaller 17" rims associated with that trim for the better ride and likely cheaper tire swaps. Kinda cool the sport trim was a no cost option so they really let you pick your preference at the time.

[MontuckyFried]

Nice pickup! I'm interested in hearing your post roadtrip thoughts after you've put some miles on it.

Thanks! I put 1200 miles on it already from that trip alone. I can now say with confidence that it's an absolutely brilliant vehicle. Some things are SO well executed. Some things Volvo did better (like window/lock switches and seats), but there's no comparison with the technology, suspension gee-wizzardry, and even the transmission is surprisingly impressive for an auto. It has a freaking butt ton of room all the way around, so now we have a vehicle that the kids should be comfortable in through high school. More thought to come, but I am being summoned to get out the door. Haha. GREAT vehicle, though.

[4matic]

Nice pickup mf. I was impressed with my 14 merc I had. Was a very very nice car. Good luck with it.

Why you get rid of the E550?

[4matic]

You really know your stuff! Yup. Has the lighting package. Just found the original window sticker. Was about $70K optioned out the way it was. And you're right about the luxury trim. The hood ornament has surprisingly grown on me a bit. I kinda miss that classic MB look now, so glad I got one the last bastions of it outside of the S class. I actually WANTED the smaller 17" rims associated with that trim for the better ride and likely cheaper tire swaps. Kinda cool the sport trim was a no cost option so they really let you pick your preference at the time.

If yours has the same safety feature as my W211 when you fold the rear seats flat it moves the front seats to a safe position. You can override that by clicking the seat latch on the folded down rear seat back. I use a pen or just my finger to roll it over (it will beep). you'll have plenty of seat room then if you remove the seat cushions and head rests.

[basinbeater]

Why you get rid of the E550?

The e550 was fast as shit, and indeed was extremely comfortable, but it was rather bland and boring to drive.
The 128i with a naturally aspirated motor, manual trans and rear wheel drive is way more engaging to hop in on a daily basis.

[MontuckyFried]

May the euro car gods smile on your kind gratuity and bless you with years of smooth motoring. Karma is real !

Appreciate that. Hopefully it'll prove a good car for a long time. But if not, I just learned that the hood has 2 positions which will come in handy for wrenching. Check out how mechanic friendly the hood is how it goes dang near vertical!...



Engine bay looks practically new!!! Beauty, eh?...

[riser4]

Hold ma beer an watch this!

[gravitylover]

Dang. I would've hooked you up for sure if you were closer. Sorry, bud. Woulda loved to see it go to you.

Meh, a 2.5 day drive past a bunch of farm stands. How bad could it be?

Nice car dude. Be careful under that hood

[fatnslow]

Meh, a 2.5 day drive past a bunch of farm stands. How bad could it be?

Nice car dude. Be careful under that hood

Benz hood service position is legit.

[basinbeater]

Appreciate that. Hopefully it'll prove a good car for a long time. But if not, I just learned that the hood has 2 positions which will come in handy for wrenching. Check out how mechanic friendly the hood is how it goes dang near vertical!...



Engine bay looks practically new!!! Beauty, eh?...

Hey, just don't jack the car up while the hood is up...

I don't know if benz fixed the issue by your mfr date, but check the cam position sensors for oil seeping out through the wires in the connectors... if your connectors are wet, pull the main harness plug off the ECU and check for wetness there ... and if there is wetness there .... pop the ECU open and check for wetness there, eventually ECU will fail. Easy to check and prevent, major pita if problem metastasizes into a full on harness ecu replacement. I guess check if it is even an issue for your engine first. I know a variety of benzes around this period had the issue.

[MontuckyFried]

Benz hood service position is legit.

For real! I guess this has been a Benz thing for decades, but it's the first time I've had a vehicle with that. That feature sure would've been nice when doing my Volvo engine work!!!

Hey, just don't jack the car up while the hood is up...

Solid tip! I better remember that one! Haha. I'm guessing a few people out there have probably made that mistake.

I don't know if benz fixed the issue by your mfr date, but check the cam position sensors for oil seeping out through the wires in the connectors... if your connectors are wet, pull the main harness plug off the ECU and check for wetness there ... and if there is wetness there .... pop the ECU open and check for wetness there, eventually ECU will fail. Easy to check and prevent, major pita if problem metastasizes into a full on harness ecu replacement. I guess check if it is even an issue for your engine first. I know a variety of benzes around this period had the issue.

I was actually just reading about that on one of the forums. Will make sure and look out for that. Thanks for the heads up.

[gravitylover]

Rover does that service position hood too. Ya know why? Because you need to service stuff under the hood too often.

[MontuckyFried]

Rover does that service position hood too. Ya know why? Because you need to service stuff under the hood too often.

Hahaha. That's my fear, being a MB rookie and all, BUT from what I've heard, I at least have a bit more confidence in the post-refresh E-class/W212 platform than I would a Rover. Fingers crossed I don't get skunked and all remains well for a while.

[gravitylover]

Nah, you're good lol

Lemme know when you're done with the C30. It's nearly impossible to find a manual, facelift that isn't the same price it was 8 years ago with 80k less miles and 8 years less rust.

[MontuckyFried]

Lemme know when you're done with the C30. It's nearly impossible to find a manual, facelift that isn't the same price it was 8 years ago with 80k less miles and 8 years less rust.

You got it! You'll be first in line (if I ever sale it that is). Sucks about used C30 prices these days since we all remember when they were cheap. Also stinks how Volvo has abandoned the entry level lineup of fun, small, affordable vehicles that came with the P1 platform (C30/S40/V50). Their new entry level car is the EX30 CUV EV, but it's super lame compared to the C30 6MT or the real unicorn, the V50 6MT AWD R-Design. I'd give 'em more crap, but the entire industry has made the exact same product shift so there's not much we can do about it except buy overpriced used cars that are more interesting than what the market's apparently demanding.

[MontuckyFried]

I don't know if benz fixed the issue by your mfr date, but check the cam position sensors for oil seeping out through the wires in the connectors... if your connectors are wet, pull the main harness plug off the ECU and check for wetness there ... and if there is wetness there .... pop the ECU open and check for wetness there, eventually ECU will fail. Easy to check and prevent, major pita if problem metastasizes into a full on harness ecu replacement. I guess check if it is even an issue for your engine first. I know a variety of benzes around this period had the issue.

Looks like FCP Euro has a preventative fix for the issue!!! I better go ahead and do that sooner than later. I just checked under the beauty cover and while thankfully there's no oil seepage that I could detect, there were no pigtail connectors either so the preventative measure hasn't been applied yet. I'll order the kit:
https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/mer...-2761560790kt1

[El Chupacabra]

I found a new avatar for Montucky.

[Self Jupiter]

But for now: