If you happen to celebrate Christmas, I hope this year’s turns out to be your best one yet. May it be relaxing and full of love, laughter, and delicious food. Kick your feet back and enjoy it.
Just know that Mercedes-Benz is probably going to start a recall around the day after, Dec. 26. Should you happen to own a 2014 or 2015 E250 BlueTec, E250 BlueTec 4Matic, GLK250 4Matic BlueTec, or 2015 ML250 4Matic BlueTec, you stand a good chance of being affected by it. Automotive News reports that, according to Mercedes documents filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the German automaker is “recalling certain E-class cars and M-class and GLK-class SUVs … because oil may leak from around the chain tensioner gasket in the four-cylinder diesel engine, increasing the risk of a fire or a stalling engine.”
Of course, the three-pointed star will replace the gasket, on the house. You just have to come out of your holiday food coma and get off of the couch for it to do that.
Derek Shiekhi's father raised him on cars. As a boy, Derek accompanied his dad as he bought classics such as post-WWII GM trucks and early Ford Mustang convertibles.
After loving cars for years and getting a bachelor's degree in Business Management, Derek decided to get an associate degree in journalism. His networking put him in contact with the editor of the Austin-American Statesman newspaper, who hired him to write freelance about automotive culture and events in Austin, Texas in 2013. One particular story led to him getting a certificate for learning the foundations of road racing.
While watching TV with his parents one fateful evening, he saw a commercial that changed his life. In it, Jeep touted the Wrangler as the Texas Auto Writers Association's "SUV of Texas." Derek knew he had to join the organization if he was going to advance as an automotive writer. He joined the Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA) in 2014 and was fortunate to meet several nice people who connected him to the representatives of several automakers and the people who could give him access to press vehicles (the first one he ever got the keys to was a Lexus LX 570). He's now a regular at TAWA's two main events: the Texas Auto Roundup in the spring and the Texas Truck Rodeo in the fall.
Over the past several years, Derek has learned how to drive off-road in various four-wheel-drive SUVs (he even camped out for two nights in a Land Rover), and driven around various tracks in hot hatches, muscle cars, and exotics. Several of his pieces, including his article about the 2015 Ford F-150 being crowned TAWA's 2014 "Truck of Texas" and his review of the Alfa Romeo 4C Spider, have won awards in TAWA's annual Excellence in Craft Competition. Last year, his JK Forum profile of Wagonmaster, a business that restores Jeep Wagoneers, won prizes in TAWA’s signature writing contest and its pickup- and SUV-focused Texas Truck Invitational.
