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

ECU from a breakers yard, keep the virgin one on the shelf and stick it to the man.

Mind you, they are probably face-meltingly expensive these days.

I like carburetors.

Congrats. How long is the list of things to do to it, so far?

Two silver cars now; surely one thing is a full respray?

Are they though?

VAG and BMW aren't, which means Mercedes definitely aren't, and by extension I'm going to assume Ford and GM aren't otherwise they wouldn't be able to keep up.

If it was that easy to keep up, then it wouldn't be worth the time and effort required to cheat the system.

Thank you - this is just the sort of checklist I need.
(or realistically, what @coldharbour needs when I rope him in to look over any prospective cars). I'm guessing of those things the suspension is liable to be the most expensive to sort out?

Well the wet tyre well will manifest in various electronic modules going wrong eventually but yeah the suspension could get quite spendy - the airbags are a few hundred each and if the compressor has gone as well it could be a grand in total. Probably double from BMW!
Basically what happens is every time you turn the engine on the compressor inflates the bags to set the rear ride height - you'll hear a whirring from the right rear (more noticeable with seats down). If either bag or the compressor is worn, after about a minute or so the relay that controls the compressor will time out and you get a text warning on the dash. My E61 is fine with up to 1 person in the back, any more (or a full tank/luggage for example) and I get the warning... Sometimes turning it off and on again will sort it. I did the bags when I bought it so it'll get a new compressor at the next service.

MPG thing is run on a dyno of sorts, all cars tested the same way so there is a comparison.

Y U change Y to I?

Not anymore :( engine ecus are 'locked' to the car part of the immobiliser.

I like a programmable engine management system.

Learning to pass a test.

So who knows what the defeat device was?

EDIT What is the difference between a defeat device and adaptive technology in an ECU

Also what magic is there in an ECU on a vehicle that can know what race track it is on and adjust the ECU for that track. With no GPS to help?

1. Sort wheel arches
   
2. Drive
   

1. Sort wheel arches
   
2. Drive
   

Quoted for future reference, when @Dammit decides he really needs another concours-level everyday car.

Erm

What did you do now...

I've driven it for fewer than 50 miles and based on that (a mix of country roads, A roads, the M25 and then into London) it's exactly what I was after - huge torque off idle, decent shove in the upper range of the revs, makes a great noise and changes gear itself. Bon.

^^I've not actually bought it a supercharger, that would be silly.

You'd need the whole AMG E55 engine, obviously. Strapping a supercharger on the standard engine would be fun, but only briefly. And why stop at an E55 engine transplant - after all, the engine in the Mercedes McLaren SLR is basically the same block...

I've got a C55 engine, it's close innit.

Comparable yes, relevant to the real world, no

Y? I? Don’t get it

Excellent!

Confession: I just bought a Bluetooth/UHI connector for it so I can connect my phone to the Command system.

What an ugly steering wheel. #justsayin

Regarding ULEZ/LEZ my understanding is that the north south circular extension in 2020 is LEZ not ULEZ and only applies to commercial vehicles. However the residents extensions have been denied.
Everything seems subject to change and I am not sure what the latest information is.

Ace kombiwagen. Any exterior shots?

Hi all,

I need a bigger family car and was looking at used diesel E Class' (220 or 250) or 5 Series (520d) I can afford something a few years old with around 40-50k miles on the clock. I'd like to go for the more reliable of the two, does anyone have any advice?... Should I look at an A6 too?

Ps. needs to be wide across the back seats, fitting 2 narrow car seats and a slim passenger (MiL)

Budget about 16k

Huge ugly steering wheels are a Mercedes signature feature.

Ace kombiwagen. Any exterior shots?

Thanks! Only this one:

And right now its filthy, I'll take a few pictures after the bodyshop have had it.

There's a lot of engine stuffed into the bay, which once I've given it a once over will make for a fun picture.