Tyro Part Mart - Item 1 Headlight Lens

Following the rebuild of my headlights, I now have a spare H4 Hella lens for sale.

This is the flat, series II lens, not the earlier bevelled type.
Suitable for all W114 & W115 RHD vehicles: 220, 250 & 280.
Fits both headlight units on left and right side
Quantity - 1 only
Part number 002-115096

In used condition with a few very minor stone chips but has no cracks and is very usable.

Open to offers around AUD $45 excluding postage.

My first Benz: The German Lady

Following the interest I received following the posting of the picture of my first Benz on my Facebook page and Instagram account, I thought I would share with you the story of my beloved W116, known by my friends as "The German Lady".

About tyrobenz refers to how I came to buy my first Mercedes-Benz, but it glosses over how good "The German Lady" actually was.

After paying very little money for her, I got home and I couldn't believe my luck.  A 1976, W116 280SE which had only one previous owner who had obviously loved it.  I bought the car from the son of the previous owner, who was selling it on behalf of his father who had become too frail to drive it. Luckily for me the son had no interest in keeping it.

Externally "The German Lady" was growing old gracefully and sported a few battle scars including a cracked windscreen and some minor scratches to the rear passenger side wheel arch, where the lack of a door mirror had obviously caused some issues with reversing.  Thankfully a tow bar had protected the rear end from any damage reversing may have otherwise caused.

The front number plate showed some signs of "character" which I believed was caused by parking the car in a small garage where the nose needed to touch the front wall to allow the garage door to close.  We have to remember this was not a small car, at almost 5 metres in length, it later became know as the first Mercedes-Benz S-class.

At almost 5m long, no one would say she was small

"The German Lady" came with a fully documented MB service history, and looking back through the service book I could see that the she had been driven across Australia and back to WA. A service stamp by garages on both sides of the country is an insight into how this car was cared for.

For six months I drove her exactly as I had bought her before saving up some money to take her for a service and health check up.  Just by chance, I came across a local garage called Precision Auto Care, where another W116 was parked outside.  I made a few enquires and found out that the garage owner's family had previously been a Mercedes-Benz specialist, so they knew exactly what to look for when servicing the car.

After a full check up, no major issues were found other than the odd oil leak.

During the time "The German Lady" and I were together I had no idea that the MBCCWA existed, and it wasn't until a few years later that I found out Precision Auto Care was a supporter of the club!

As you can perhaps tell already, the "The German Lady" holds a very special place in my heart.  I recall picking up my girlfriend at the time, now wife, in this car and the look of bewilderment on her face.  I suppose you never think the guy picking you up on a first date might be driving a car older than him, haha. (Editor's note: I was actually bewildered by the fact that Simon looked so small! I later realised it was because his car was so friggin' big!)

It didn't take long for the "The German Lady" to become the third wheel in our relationship, but she was lovingly accepted and eventually we both ended up driving her, even taking her on our first holiday to Dunsborough in Western Australia which was a 500km round trip.  We had never taken her that far but she did us proud and didn't skip a beat.

If my friends thought I looked small driving such a large car, 

my wife at 5'3" looked positively hilarious!

"The German Lady", Whalers Cove, Dunsborough 2009

"The German Lady" became so much a part of the family that when my now wife made a gingerbread house for our first Christmas together, the car featured alongside the rest of the family, including the dog, in gingerbread form complete with a marshmallow badge and skittles for lights.  It was brilliant, and tasty too!

Over the months the crack in the windscreen started to spread towards the edges, it was getting dangerous so I had to get it replaced.  I called my Insurance company and they organised the replacement for me.  I agreed to leave the car in the driveway while I went to work. To my horror, this is what I found when I got home:

What you are looking at is the work of someone who had no idea what they were doing!  

By the time I got home the windscreen replacement company had closed for the day and hadn't even bothered to try to call me.  The next day, after hardly any sleep, I called the company to find out what had gone wrong. I was furious but tried not to show it.  The man I spoke to told me the installer they had sent had put the new glass in put had no experience in re-fitment of the chrome trim, so he had decided to just leave the bits in the car and go to the next job!  I was asked to bring the car into their workshop so that their "experienced installer" could complete the work in a controlled environment.  With little option I agreed and dropped "The German Lady" off later that morning.

By the afternoon I was told the car was finished and to come and get her.  I left work and headed over to the workshop. When I got there, what i saw stunned me.

My car was still in the workshop with the chrome trim still inside, the only evidence that someone had touched the car was the massive blobs of black mastic stuck on the bonnet and even on the rear quarter panel!

Needless to say, I lost it!  I stormed into the office and demanded my keys.  The receptionist seemed confused as to why I was so upset.  I took her out to the car and pointed.  I told them to give me all the trim and to do nothing further.  I check all the parts were there and took "The German Lady" home, gutted at the sight of her with her trim missing and the rain water seeping around the side of the windscreen.

I called my insurance company and told them what had happened and they were fantastic.  They told me to take the car anywhere I wanted to, and that they would pick up the bill.  I found a reputable company who evaluated the problem and by the end of the week she was home, as good as new.

To be honest, this was the only real issue I had during our two years together and it was hardly the fault of the car.  Sure, she was big, thirsty and underpowered (especially when the air-conditioning was running), but she was so comfortable and reliable.

I had to have the exhaust manifold repaired and wheel bearing replaced but other than that she didn't really need much else.

In 2010 my wife and I bought a derelict inner city house to call home.  The house had been empty for years and was in a terrible state, but we could see the potential and loved the location.  The downside was that I now had no garage to keep "The German Lady" off the street and out of the weather so with a heavy heart I put her up for sale, and I have regretted it ever since!

Writing this post has brought back a lot of happy memories, but has also made me very sad.  So much so, that I have just checked the Western Australian Department of Transport website and found that "The German Lady" is still registered.  I can only hope she is in good health and still on the road.  I wonder who owns her now, what state she is in, and if the owner would sell her back to me?

Department of Transport online rego check

The German Lady loaded and ready to take me kayaking

If anyone knows where "The German Lady" is, can they please let me know?  Her registration plate is XNN 247. I sold her to a man in Lesmurdie WA, who unfortunately I no longer have the name, address or phone number of.

This is the last photo I have of her at our house under renovation, it would be great to bring her home as a companion for UGU.

Tail lights: too hot to handle

The W114/W115 hit the market in 1968 as the first mid-sided Benz, later becoming the E Class we all know today. It was the year of manufacture that gave the model its other common references of Strich-Acht, /8 and Stroke 8.   

Originally only available as a sedan, a coupé variant was added to the range in 1969 which was the year UGU was built.  Her VIN# ends with the numbers 002510, so perhaps this means she was the 2,510th coupe made?

In 1973 the /8 underwent a face lift creating the series 2 which, to the untrained eye may not appear that different to the series 1.

Externally the changes included a lower and wider grille to match the styling of the larger W116 (S Class) with was introduced to the market in 1972. The /8's front double bumper was discontinued, retaining only a single bumper, and the front door quarter windows were deleted.  New mouldings were fitted to the A pillars to prevent water and dirt from the windscreen flowing around onto the side windows, and finally, with the same consideration for safety, new ribbed tail light lenses were introduced. As with the new front grille these tail lights were similar to those on the W116.

Mercedes-Benz display circa mid 1970's. Note W114 series 2 in the foreground with W116 beyond.  If you look hard, right at the back you will see a crash test W116, presumably to show the cars superior safety features.  You will also see a Citroen sign, making me believe this is a motor show display rather than a Mercedes-Benz showroom.

Image source unknown.

The idea behind this type of lens was that the ribs would prevent the entire lens from becoming obscured by road dirt and therefore making the car more visible to following traffic in poor weather.

Whilst I appreciate the advancement in safety, I personally prefer the original flat lenses with their chrome surround.  The ribbed lens is bigger than it's predecessor which meant the chrome surround was deleted.  In doing this, an element of visual bulk was added to the rear of the car which can be seen in these pictures:

 

Series 1 tail lights. Note the flat lens and chrome surround.

Image source: Mercedes-Benz W114 & W115 International forum

Series 2 tail lights. Note the new ribbed lens with no chrome.

 Image source: www.autoevolution.com

It's not often that you get to see what the tail lights of the car you drive look like at night unless someone has stolen your car and you are in hot pursuit haha.

To overcome this, I often find it useful to reverse up to a reflective surface such as a glazed shop front, so that I can do a quick check to make sure the reversing, tail and brake lights are all working. Indicators are an easy one to identify as the "clicker" and dash light flash speed increases once a bulb blows.

Not long after purchasing UGU I did a check of all the lights and everything was working, so no further inspection was done. It wasn't until my wife followed me home one evening in her car that she noticed that the drivers side light looked "weird" and different to the passenger one.  Once home I turned the lights back on and got down on my knees to look at the lights at eye level. It wasn't until I did this that it became obvious there was something wrong. The drivers side reversing light, located below the tail light, was being illuminated by the tail light above.

The next morning I opened the boot and unwound the two plastic caps that hold the lens in place allowing it to be removed exposing the inners of the lights. The problem was immediately apparent - the inside of the unit was melted and completely destroyed.

I pulled all the bulbs out and checked their wattage against the helpful stamped markings Mercedes-Benz included on the light reflector. This should stop someone installing the wrong bulb, but alas this was not the case with UGU.  All of the bulbs I removed were the correct wattage indicating that the damage had been caused by a previously installed and later removed bulb that had too high a wattage.

Warning: the following images may cause distress!

I apologise in advance and am aware it may be confusing, but the photographs below are a mixture of the left over parts which is why the melted area has no electrical component behind it.

As you can see in the pictures the reflector is extensively damaged and the division between the tail light and reversing light below is very distorted allowing the light to be emitted in both chambers.  You can also see the numbers indicating that a 5W bulb was the correct size to have been installed.

The heat from the incorrect bulb was so intense that the damage was not limited to the reflector but also melted the light lens.

There was further damage to the light reflector too, but not caused by the bulb.  Somehow someone had broken the end of the reflector off, perhaps by standing on it, but regardless of how it happened, I now had a melted and broken reflector that was destined for the bin.

I got online and started looking for a new rear light.  I sourced what I needed in Germany via Ebay, and the new light arrived a week later.  It was in great condition, the coloured lens was bright and un-faded, the chrome surround was in "as new" condition and it even came complete with bulbs!! It was like Christmas.

Removing the damaged tail light from the car is very straight forward and all done from inside the boot.  First unplug the electrical connection, then undo the four small nuts (one in each corner) remembering to keep a hand on the light as you don't want it to fall out of the car and smash on the ground.

With all the nuts removed and the electrical connection unplugged, the light will pull out from the outside.

Time for a cup of tea.

The simplest thing to have done would have been to install the new fitting in its entirety, however I noticed on the back there was a stamp stating it was produced in 1973.  To be true to UGU I decided to dismantle the 1973 light and rebuild it within the original casing.  This could not have been easier and only took an hour including cleaning of each part.

With the fitting complete it was time to reinstall it and check everything was working, which thankfully it was.  The only thing I would say to be careful of when doing this is to check you install the rubber seal carefully as you do not want water getting inside the boot through the light.

With everything working I fitted the new lens and the job was done. Easy.

I now have a few pieces left over that may be useful to someone else, such as the chrome surround and plastic housing.  I will list these in the Tyro Part Mart should anyone want to get in touch.

If you think professionals are expensive, wait until you see what an amateur will cost you!

The title of this post was the wording of a meme that I saw on Facebook several months ago.

These words struck a cord with me and speak of a mindset that I wish more people would take into consideration when undertaking any project, be that a life event or in the working world. In the long run it will save you a lot of stress and a lot of money.

For this very reason, not long after buying UGU and joining the MBCCWA, I made enquires to find a qualified mechanic who could give UGU a thorough examination and tell me exactly what I had bought.  The mechanic recommended to me, from day one has been amazing, and whilst I am frustrated that I am not capable do the work myself, I take comfort in the fact a talented professional takes care of my car, and has always been knowledgeable, genuine and honest with me. Who else can say that about their mechanic?


When UGU's advertisement appeared on gumtree this is what it said:

Not a lot of information you will agree, and the photographs are not much better as they didn't even show the full car, but it was enough to get me excited and so I lifted the phone.

At this stage I didn't even know for sure that the car was a W114, but it was a coupe, it looked original and was in my price range.  Being a relative novice to buying cars, and in particular a classic car, I actually didn't know what to ask when the seller answered the phone.  I think I blurted out "why are you selling it" and "does it have its original number plates?"

The gentleman owner was selling it so he could get his wife a new car, and it did have it's original number plates.  The very next morning I was standing in the seller's driveway, which as those of you who have read previous posts will know, lead to my purchase of UGU.

This may be a ridiculous notion, but I believe if a car still has its original number plates some 43 years since they were first fitted, it means the car has always been in the ownership of someone who has at least considered it important to keep the car licensed and roadworthy, which likely means it has been used and therefore maintained. (I am aware this will not be relevant in other countries, but in Western Australia if the car becomes unregistered, when it is reregistered, new number plates are issued).

During my inspection of the car I tried to look like I knew what I was doing, so I opened the bonnet, yep, there was an engine and it looked clean and unmolested with no obvious leaks.  There were only a few oil stains on the garage floor where the car sat, I couldn't see any major rust in the body and the interior looked great. After further opening and closing of doors, bonnet, boot and tyre kicking I took it for a drive.

Straight away I was surprised how light the car was to drive and that it had power steering.  It accelerated strongly, changed gears well and stopped quickly and in a straight line under heavy braking.  I couldn't think of anything else to check so concentrated on trying to hide my excitement and smile while I negotiated the price with the owner. The deal was done.

My wife drove away in her car and I followed in UGU.  At the first service station we pulled in and I got out to put some fuel in.  My inexperience immediately became apparent as I wondered what fuel to use.  Thankfully the car had the original manuals so I quickly looked up "fuel" and saw 98 octane unleaded was required.  I got out of the car and wondered around it checking both sides for the fuel filler flap but couldn't find it.  By this stage I was getting flustered as other cars started queueing behind me so I got back into the car I drove away from the pump and once again referred to the manual.  How I missed the large rectangular flap next to the rear number plate I will never know!!

With the car filled up, a quick look underneath revealed no sign of leaks from the fuel tank, so I wound down the windows and headed for the freeway with a smile from ear to ear.

Three weeks after the initial purchase, and two weeks after my first contact with Walter Epple, I drove the short distance to his business, Auto Exclusive Perth located in East Perth.

   

UGU at Auto Exclusive Perth

I was so nervous leaving UGU there, not because of where we were, but because I was worried I may have bought trouble as I will admit my initial inspection was conducted with rose tinted glasses and excitement racing through my veins.

   

Walter Epple & UGU in the workshop at Auto Exclusive Perth

Contact Auto Exclusive Perth

Walter was friendly and told me he would give me a call when the car was ready so I left.  As with any car I had owned before, I assumed I would be picking UGU up the same day, but no phone call came so I waited. The next afternoon I called to see if I should come in, Walter advised me that he needed to replace a few bits and that the car would be ready the following day.  True to his word the next day UGU was ready to go home.  I went into the office and Walter went through the issues he had discovered, the most concerning was a fuel leak which was dangerously close to the manifold.  He politely asked where the car had been serviced before and I told him the previous owner had a "friend" i.e. an amateur working on it.  (refer to post title)

Once I told him this, he seemed relieved that what he was about to say was not going to insult me,  "that person had no clue what they were doing!"  Somehow the fuel filter had been put in back to front, starving the engine so the carburettors had all been messed about with to try and make the car run, the idle speed was wrong, the fuel lines were badly corroded, the fan was in back to front and the oil cap had no gasket.  Not a great start but it could have been worse.

Since then, UGU has been back for much other work and maintenance, including a complete overhaul of the brake system including lines, hoses, discs and pads, further cleaning and adjustment to the carburettors, new tie-rod ends, new steering dampener, new subframe mounts, repair of dash cluster lights, new rear muffler, a rebuild of the gearbox (a bill not for the faint hearted), and most recently the installation of a replacement starter motor.

  

Rebuilt and reinstalled gearbox

Not long after the gearbox was rebuilt UGU went back to Auto Exclusive for a general service. I just happened to mention to Walter that sometimes when changing from 1st to 2nd gear the engine revs seemed to lift.  I can best describe this as someone driving a manual car and changing gear without lifting your foot from the accelerator.

Later in the day I went back to pick UGU up and Walter said to me "I am really unhappy with your car", my heart sank fearing he had found something else wrong.  He went on to tell me that the gearbox specialist he had outsourced the rebuild to had done another job for him and it had become problematic, and he feared the same would happen with me.  Whilst that work came with a one year warranty, Walter said he was not happy going back to the same place and asked if I would be happy for him to keep UGU so that he could take the gearbox back out and send it away to be rebuilt elsewhere at his expense.  I was so taken aback I didn't know what to say, I felt thankful and yet so guilty that he was going to be thousands of dollars out of pocket.

A week later Walter called to say UGU was now ready to go home. At Walter's workshop he showed me some of the pieces that had been taken out of the gearbox following the first rebuild. They included torn seals and pins that were too short as well as some other bits all meaning that the gearbox would definitely have failed again.

Six months on, every time I see Walter he always asks me how the gearbox is going, to which my response is always a positive,"very well."

All this work to UGU has come at considerable cost and many people would probably have just sold the car, but like most die hard enthusiasts, my car has become part of the family and even served as our wedding car in 2013.  Whilst it is not ideal I am happy to make sacrifices elsewhere so that I can keep her on the road and my passion alive. After all, the cheapest car you can have, is the car you currently own.

UGU in her wedding attire

A motoring enthusiasts weekend in heaven

Saturday 14th June was the Mercedes-Benz Car Club of WA's annual inspection day for club vehicles on concessional license.

Currently under review by the West Australian Department of Transport, concessional licensing offers car club members the option to put their vintage and classic vehicles on a restricted license, which entitles the vehicle to be used exclusively for club related events and necessary runs for maintenance etc. 

Whilst some may complain this is to restrictive especially the "only to be used during daylight" clause, it is a good way of significantly reducing the cost of keeping your vintage/classic vehicle registered and road legal in Western Australia.  

To find out more, below is a link to the Department of Transport Website:

Department of Transport concessional license information form

Whilst there is now no legal requirement for ongoing inspections, the MBCCWA continues to offer, to those members who want it, an annual inspection of their vehicles to help them identify any issues that should be addressed to ensure their vehicles are in good shape and ready to be used when called upon.  Just because a car doesn't get driven much doesn't mean it doesn't need maintenance, especially when you consider that fuel goes off, tyres go flat, brakes and clutches seize up and condensation can form within the engine and exhaust system.

This year I was one of the first to get to the inspection venue, not because UGU was to be inspected, but because it is a rare opportunity to see a lot of fantastic, vintage Benzes in one place.  

It was a bitterly cold morning as UGU and I set on the 30 minute drive, but only 50 metres down the road from home we stopped for a quick photo opportunity with another W114 we spotted at the side of the road, a lovely example of a W114 series 2 sedan in yellow.

As we arrived at our destination, UGU was immediately called upon to be a good Samaritan, as a W116 280SE had a flat battery and the 1951170S that was already there only had 6 volts so was unable to jump it.  

With the W116 restarted, UGU was parked at the entrance to the venue and the MBCCWA club flag erected adjacent so that together they would be a clear way finding device for other members.  Through-out the day other members who also came for a look at the cars being inspected parked next to UGU creating a striking roadside Mercedes-Benz display.

 

  Sunrise in the Swan Valley WA

  Coupé Sisters.  UGU and her beautifully restored 560SEC friend

As the cars started to arrive they did not disappoint, four W113 Pagoda SL's, three W111 finnies including a 300SE, one stunning 170S, two W116 280SE's, one 190SL, a 190 Ponton, a 1950's 220, a W108 280 SE 3.5, a R107 450 SLC and the most modern car a W123 230E which had just been brought back from the dead.

Here are some pictures to wet your appetite: 

   W113 Pagoda 250 SL

   W113 Pagoda 230 SL

   W116 280SE

   1951 170S which has been beautifully restored

   W108 280SE 3.5 (V8)

   

190SL. This car was imported from America in the early 2000's and is undergoing a restoration that will see it returned to its original colour of white, which can still be seen on the A-pillars

   W111 220SE coupé

   W113 Pagoda 250SL.  This car is a rare California model and therefore is a 2 +2. What this means is the car never came with the soft top roof so you need to check the weather before leaving home to decide if you want to take the hard top off or not.

   1950's W187 220

   W111 300SE having it's inspection

   This fantastic W116 280SE is in "as new" condition with only 186,000 km on the clock. It is still in the ownership of its original purchaser who flew to Germany to pick the car up. he is very proud of the car and rightly so

   W111 220 coupé.  This is another American import and remains original with the steering wheel on the left hand side.

   1958 190 Ponton.  The owner of this car has a fantastic sense of humour which is reflected in the number plate, "Flattery" as in "Flattery will get you nowhere"

   R107 450SLC

Now, if all these beautiful Benzes weren't enough to get you excited, let me talk about the place at which the inspections were conducted.

In Middle Swan, WA stands a simply stunning 1902 manor house with 10.95 acres of land, including its own orchard, manicured gardens, riverside jetty, outdoor swimming pool and a not so subtle 1,000m2 shed that houses 50 cars, yes that's right 50 cars!!!  I mentioned heaven in the title of this post, now you know why.

This was the home of the late Maurice Brockwell who was a very involved member of the West Australian motoring scene throughout his life. So much was Maurice's involvement that an annual motor rally is held each year in his memory.  UGU and I have attended this event each year that we have been together, perhaps we will see you there this year.

Brockwell Memorial Run Information

UGU taking part in the Brockwell Memorial Run 2012














Tragically, Maurice's wife also passed away in September last year and this beautiful house is now for sale.  This made this years concessional licensing inspection the last opportunity to see the house and more significantly the contents of the shed.

I am led to believe Maurice was a very enthusiastic car collector, and much of his collection lived within this shed.  As with the house, the collection is now for sale, although many of the cars have already found new homes.  In some respects it is sad that the collection is to be separated, but I strongly believe that each of these cars will go to a new owner who will love them like their previous owner.

Much of the collection was made up of exquisite cars such as Rolls-Royce, Bentley and Studebaker, but I am please to say that a Mercedes-Benz also made the grade, and what a Benz to have, the legendary 600 Grosser.  A few years ago the Grosser suffered a problem with it's ignition switch so unfortunately it has lain dormant for the past few years. On the positive side, this is one of the cars that has been snapped up and will be heading to Melbourne where the new owner is already hunting for the parts he needs to get her back on the road.

I am not going to bore you with any further commentary, instead I will share with you a feast of history and beauty.  To me this shed is not a shed, it was a gallery and these were the artworks: