Car appreciation... the aesthetics, the engineering, etc

Will do, thanks, what I'm after doing is at the 3 minute stage here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQtroDoX8fc

I had to google it so I wouldn't know! #doesntknowaboutcars

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNu-pQdPWKY

I use plastacine as a mould.

That's clever, no doubt, I'd rather not pull the entire bumper off though - the "fold the plastic around the tab" thing looks much easier to do in-situ, and the tab is almost all there, it's just that the hole is slightly too large which enables the plastic-rivet to pull through. I'd like to add back some material then drill the hole again, shortly before riveting the whole thing back together.

Looking through the documents for the Volvo to find the radio code I discovered the Valet key - unlocks the drivers door but won't open the glovebox, creating an interesting mental image of valet parking in Gothenburg in the early 90's.

Valet keys were so that the valet could drive the car but not enter the glove box or the deadlocked boot.

How else, when having a well deserved night out in a swanky club, do Swedish villains keep the prying eyes of valets away from the body/swag/ incriminating evidence in the boot of their T5 saloon?
For more details see 'Arne Dahl'.

You mean one of these??
https://www.spraygunsdirect.co.uk/index.php/sprayguns-parts/cartridge-caulking-guns/3m-manual-gun-for-2-part-adhesive.html#sthash.PQPuNvNb.dpbs

@Dammit has one of them already. It's mine.

Matt posted that back to you, I thought, or I'd not be asking?!

Did he? Pretty sure I didn't get it. If Matt's still got it, you're welcome to use it!

It's possible it's at Chambers and I've forgotten about it. I'll have a look on Tuesday.

I've got a valet key for my w124. The guy I bought it off called it "the lady key". Though he couldn't really say why...

Can't let women see what you keep in the glovebox, obviously.

Hmm:

MOT history of this vehicle
Test date8 February 2017 Expiry date7 February 2018 Test ResultPass Odometer reading103,143 miles MOT test number1792 2327 7006 Advisory notice item(s)
surface corrosion under vehicle
corrosion on brake pipes
Nearside Front brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)
Offside Front brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)
Offside Front Inner Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)
Test date30 March 2012 Expiry date29 March 2013 Test ResultPass Odometer reading103,116 miles MOT test number7177 2069 2047

That'd be 27 miles done in five years, suggests that the vehicle has been sat somewhere feeling sorry for itself, untaxed/uninsured/un-MOT'd.

Also, "surface corrosion under vehicle", given the reputation of the W210 E55 to pretty much dissolve is something of a worry.

I should walk away, right?

I should walk away, right?

Rhetorical question, right?

Who hasn't wanted a Fred Flintstone-mobile?

@hugo7 Should be. Last question, I suppose, is how cheap would the car have to be in order to still make it viable? I suspect it would need basically everything that could be termed "consumable" changing, including all bushes etc, which is going to be £much.

Also, it's rusting. That's consistent with being stood somewhere for a long period I suppose, question is can it be treated or is this fit for nothing but the breakers yard?

Go and have a look and take someone with you to stop you being stoopid

I'd just drive it straight to the local Mercedes dealer and ask them for a PPI, then take that off the sellers asking price - I reckon he'd end up having to pay me.

Could be a laugh, just to see the list.

Don't walk away. Run.

There's just no way of knowing how much will need doing until you start driving it.

The big risk will be rubber bits gone hard, including engine and gearbox seals. I'd imagine a rebuild on an AMG V8 might make your Porsche bills look paltry.

Nothing a Haynes manual and Halfords socket set wouldn't sort I'm sure.

how cheap would the car have to be in order to still make it viable?

Depends how much money you have to spend I guess. Surely it's just what you want to spend in total on a car less the cost of doing the work.

Maybe I'm getting duller, but I don't really understand why you'd buy an old estate and drop loads of £s on it when there are plenty of semi-old estates you could just drive into the ground.