DtS

It's kinda simple. Here's the procedure:

1. Take your brilliant silver C-class to Sweden.
2. Spend 3 hours washing it.
3. When it's all clean, take it to the gas-station to fill it up.
4. After the (approx) 3 km ride, look at your car and be surprised.. It's now desert silver (again!).

There are times that I really hate this country and wish I lived in some warm and sunny place. It has been raining/snowing constantly for three weeks now. Ok, I really don't mind washing my car, but now I'm starting to feel really dejected... Times like this I really envy all of you who have your car painted in desert silver...

Ok, useless post, but I felt I needed some compassion

vadim

What do they put on the roads in Sweden in winter? Salt, sand or something more sophisticated?

DtS

They both put salt and sand on the roads. And they (the government) force us to drive around with winter-tires according to a new law. So now we have to drive around on winter-tires from first of December 'til end of March. They claimed they've already saved 30 (or something) lives this way.

Mike T.

They use salt now? I seem to remember that they did not use it in the past, which partly explained why the Volvos lasted 19,3 years in Sweden, just as they used to say in the 1970s TV ads, but they only lasted 5 years in Canada

Snow tires are OK. But maybe Stockholm doesn't get too much snow?

DtS

Yepp, they sure use salt on the roads. Anyway around "bigger" cities like Stockholm. This has made to my old car turn into a rustbucket after 10 winters even though I've tried to prevent it. It will be interesting to see how long the new C will survive.

The statistics that a Volvo would last for 19.3 years... Maybe way up north, where I don't think they use salt (or anything else for that matter ) on the roads.

mbtech208

DtS, California and Florida are looking awfully good around this time of year, aren't they?

Flashman

Volvo trivia... one of their largest single markets is Puerto Rico, where they outsell MB, BMW, and Saab combined. However, PR has its own ocean salt to deal with, so they rust there too...

Rick

Mike T.

Dts,

What car did you have that died after 10 years?

Although the C body is mostly galvanised, you had better get into that Mercedes-Benz Mobilo-Life program if you're keeping yours for a long time. For an annual rust inspection at the M-B dealer (which I'm sure has a certain cost attached to it), your car will be guaranteed for 30 years against rust-through. Now that sounds like a good guarantee.

For some reason, in North America the rust guarantee is far less than that, but in some cases, legislation makes up for what the manufacturer fails to provide.

Where do the Mercedes marketing guys come up with these nerdy names for things:
-mobilo-life
-designo
-thermotronic
-linguatronic (sounds like a kinky computer)
-tirefit
...etc?

DtS

Mike T:

My rust-bucket is a -91 Ford Escort. It's only problem during this ten years (my mom bought it new) is the rust. Started to rust five years ago, and when rust gets a grip, it sure won't let go! Besides that, it has run perfectly for over 200000 km (Feel I need to say something nice about it in case you feel like dissin' me for driving around in a Ford for such a long time )

Mobilo-life:
As far as I know, all MB-cars sold here -98 and later comes with the Mobilo-life thing. I didn't know that it was something you had to sign up for. Thought it was valid under all conditions. But it's well worth checking out, since I plan to keep this car for a long time. And yes, where do the mb-people get all their nerdy names? Hmm, maybe it's just the fact that they are germans


Flashman:
Volvo outsell BMW, MB and SAAB in Puerto Rico just because they come standard-equipped with bullet-proof windows and extra efficient fan to get the smoke from strong cigs out quickly:p


MB-Tech:
Kinda hard to get to Florida by car. By the time I'll get there it will be summer in Stockholm again.. . By the way, posted some additional questions for you about the ESP-hack you posted in the tech-forum.