Will get my buddy to take pics of my car with a real camera when this latest round of little updates is done.

Just for fun, I called MBUSA about my high-mileage badge, since it's been 6 weeks. They confirmed that they received my request and approved it, but the badges themselves are on back order. I then told her that's ok, I'll take a BMW high mileage badge instead. Then, of course, I had to tell her that I was joking about that part, since she didn't get it at all. Oy.

So she said she'd call me back with a delivery estimate when they get a handle on things.

So if you're waiting on a badge as well, you may qualify for the next one before you get the one you've already applied for.

 

People in NJ that work for MB without a sense of humor?
Whats the world coming to.
How many miles now?
I just hit 191K.
I'm kinda pissed at E for not driving his into the ground, as promised.
It was like a Thelma and Louise thing...we're gonna both do it... ha.

Still only "Fanatic"? Whats a smurf to do?

 

I need to get mine ordered.as well, since I am over 175K now....Probably do that when I have my sunroof fixed. Damnit.

 

I'm only at 156.5 now; getting my crx back this week, so hoping to switch over to that til it's too cold to make that car practical, so I can rest the Benz for a while.

Next badge is at 312k; don't think the Smurfmobile will ever make that one.

Yeah, I think I've topped out at Fanatic. Since I don't sell 5 cent light bulbs, I can only dream of "guru" status, I guess.

MW - good to see others getting up there too.

 

Tommy= Blue Guru

 

Small update - got my car back today - area under the front part of the sunroof is all now pretty and rust-free, though you can't tell that anything was done, unless you look in that specific area. And the hit to my wallet of $1,200 of course.

Also, my 17" spare is done at the powdercoaters; will get it in two weekends, and get a tire mounted to it. It will give me a bit of confidence, since I'll be driving down to the Outer Banks for a week at my parents' condo. Yes, even at 46, it's still legal to sponge off your parents. (a third of it will be mine soon enough, I guess, anyway)

So I'll be down there a week and a half - with work being so crazy recently, haven't had much time to do stuff, so will take down some projects to dabble with - seeing how to mount a full-size spare in the hatch, finally put in my new MFD screen, and also play around with a used Nikon D200 I picked up so I can take real pics of everything, and a couple of other things I've got in the back of my brain.

Still no 155k mileage badge - guess that backlog is worse than expected.

 

So, with the hurricane finally over down here, I got around to hookung up the cluster with Trey's cluster. Didn't work. Then, of course, noted that my original screen is now cracked. It could be the screens, or where the ribbon attaches in the back - that little plastic bracket that keeps the ribbon in place came off in the prior install. I'm able to slip it back in, but that could be the problem as well
Very frustrating - shouldn't even have to worry about replacing the mfd, honestly, IMHO. And if you do replace it yourself, be careful - everything is so flimsy.
So, I'm back to square one, and looking forward to a fun 900-mile drive staring at a red mfd screen. Oy.

 

Oy indeed Tommy

 

Lol. At least it runs. That has to count for something.

 

Soon lad, all this will be yours!
What the curtains?

I just want to sing! Ah, red MFD how you annoy me! La la La!

Tommy, I Was reading the Asbury Park Press online today...
Looks like my old beach club in Seabright is gone.
Little Silver has Martial law. No one allowed on the streets between 9pm and 6am.
Not that anyone would be....median age is like 90.

Maybe you should take a boat rather than a car?

 

Well, I guess I'm lucky that I'm still in the outer banks instead of at home. Though tomorrow I start driving back. I'll arrive back home on Friday afternoon, and I'm hoping that power will be back by then.
I did get my 17" spare situated - now, I've got all of my spare tools, extra oil quarts, oem manual, etc down where the space saver spare used to be, and the full sized spare in the rear passenger side of the hatch. Don't think I'll have to worry about it moving around back there.
Anyway, this means that I've got a space-saver spare, lugs for that spare, and the little wheel mounting tool for the rims that I don't need any more. If anyone needs them, let me know. Will give away for the cost of reimbursing my shipping costs. Otherwise, I'll just dump them.

 

That full sized spare should have better flotation.

 

Ok, should be getting a nice new cluster tomorrow or Friday, then it's off to Toronto, then Quebec City. What I assumed would be my free time to devote to learning a bit of French turned into dealing with the storm's aftereffects and shuttling my cars around. Finally got my crx back today, needed a new alternator, and had to get a stock alt pulley, as the Unorthodox underdrive pulley was off a bit after the old alt pulley committed hara kari on me. Was really good to drive the crx at lunchtime today; wish the Benz felt a bit more like that car while behind the wheel.

Anyway, will have the car back, maybe will slip in the flocked cluster surround over the weekend, or may just leave well enough alone and not f*ck with things.

Be seeing jcnash in Toronto over the weekend to give him the hids I ordered for him months ago that have been sitting (rent-free, I might add) at my place. Also, someone did actually step up and grab the spare tire stuff from me - should be at his house right about now. I still have the space saver spare if anyone wants it - will be tossing it after Thanksgiving, so act quick - supplies are limited!

Funny thing happend last weekend - my Renntech spoiler (the first one installed in the US) is in three pieces - the main one attached to the hatch, and the side pieces glued to the tail lights. Well, the passenger side one must have flown off last weekend, and I didn't notice until it was too late, I guess. So now there's this nasty residue on that tail light. Called Renntech a couple of days ago, and they haven't gotten back to me; they said that they don't have the molds anymore, and were going to look for any spoilers still in the warehouse. Guess there aren't any. So, I am now waiting on infected's pre-updated tail lights, which will soon be honoring my car with their presence. Until then, I guess I'm stuck with a weird looking lopsided spoiler treatment on the rear of my car.

And yes, I still haven't gotten my high-mileage grille badge yet. Bad MBUSA!

 

Got my car back last night; couple of things of interest. There must have been an update to the cluster after 02; things are slightly different:

1) MPH is written out as "Mph" - I think it was all lower case in my OEM one
2) The green turn signals are a bit brighter, I believe
3) When I removed my key from the ignition this morning, I got a "Close sunroof" warning, with a little pic of I have no idea what - never had that happen to me before
4) When I went to reset the lights back to "Constant On", there was an initial message about holding the right button for 3 seconds to reset everything - never had that before.

Overall, sucks to pay for all this, but the little easter egg bonuses above plus a MFD brighter than I remember it ever being before help with the pain. So, having said that, I'm going oot to Canada in the morning.

 

Glad you got your sunroof taken care of. I actually noticed a bit of rust on mine too recently but I haven't done anything about it yet! So many damn things to worry about during this time of year (renewals of everything, other car matters etc). Now I really have to take a closer look though because it looks like you paid a pretty penny to fix it!!!

 

Well, the wind deflector in front of the sunroof that pops up attaches to the part that was rusted. So they had to attach new metal there, as well as a new windshield, which was half of the cost; luckily, they were able to use the same seal, so it was a bit cheaper than it could have been.

Yes, you really should be expecting a fair amount of repairs and possibly rust fixes soon. The issues come in bunches - once you get past a bump, it should be good for a while, if that's any consolation.

 

So, small update. Car's been running like a champ up here in the great white north. Met a member of the forum in Toronto for drinks on Sunday. Has an Avic hu, which looks great.
That unnamed member (jcnash) forgot to mention that radar sectors are illegal in Ontario. So guess what I got pulled over for yesterday just outside Montreal? Yep I now owe Dudley Do-Right $170, and he confiscated my V1 and even the concealed display. He even wanted me to pull the hard coded wiring to the ciggy lighter, but finally gave up on that. Royal PITA, but at least no speeding ticket.

So I guess it could have been worse. And yes, Jacob, I do blame you. :-p. in all seriousness, good to meet you - hope that cel clears and stays gone - those emission-related ones are tricky.

 

Tommy... that's terrible news! I had no idea that radar detectors were illegal here, considering I've never used one myself! You said you got pulled over near Montreal which is in QC. Quebec cops tend to be d***s in general, especially to drivers with non-Quebec plates . I'm pretty sure you would've been let off with a warning if you were stopped in ON. That does suck though.

It was definitely great to meet you too...and don't let the POPO's stupidity ruin your trip.

Cleared the CEL last night, and its hasn't returned since, so keeping my fingers crossed. Also thanks for the headlights. Replaced the semi-burnt one last night, and it works perfectly! I now have 2 6000K headlights as opposed to one 6000K and one weird greenish-pink headlight.

 

BTW as I pulled away from outside the Green P lot, I heard your car rev and it sounds terrific!

 

How did they know you had one?

 

radar detector detector of course

 

Subscribing, your original posts show a bunch of red Xs. I'll check it out on my laptop.

 

Or the good ol'...
drive along the highway in an unmarked car and activate radar at regular intervals
see which car's brake lights come on
Repeat process to verify
Pull person over

 

That's what I figure - from what I could tell, it was a one-man operation.
Boy is the drone from Montreal to Quebec dullsville. I was woken up by going over the rumble strips towards the side of the road today, luckily. Am staying in the walled old town here, feels more like Europe than the land of Geddy Lee. Miolto nice!!

 

So a couple of things here. I just got infected's OEM tails in the mail today. Gracias, dude!

It's supposed to snow here tomorrow, so I'll wait a couple of days to throw them on, I guess. Then, as he said, I'll have the only ccoupe with a Renntech spoiler over the main hatch area only - a sad state of affairs indeed.

Interesting thing about my Sprintbooster; had it set to full most of the trip and got 26 mpg, then had it off for the ride back from QC, and it went up to 28, which was pretty interesting. Maybe my lead foot is affecting things after all.

If anyone finds out the part # for the "SRS" badges in the headliner, please let me know - looked at Mercedes Parts' schematics for about 20 minutes, and couldn't find the damn things. Need a couple at least, since I'll probably be getting my headliner redone in the spring, it's sagging all over the place, like a 60 year old hooker with D cups - not a pretty sight!

The car did run great throughout the trip; I did cross the 160k mile threshold on Sunday. 40k more and I'll be happy. And just in time - the Ford Fiesta ST was just announced, 197 hp and 200+ in torque; could be an interesting comparison to the Fiat Abarth/500T twins in the near future. But if my car keeps running ok, I'll have no other choice but to keep it running.

Guess the car's pretty much done until the spring thaw...