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Just when I start feeling better I find another horrible sign of what that hack shop did. I was cleaning the metal shields, guess they are called 'screening plates, and noticed one of the bolt holes is torn all around, looking closer I can tell they must have used a screwdriver on it to hammer it off without removing the bolt holding it on. Its fresh since I can see clean metal at the marks so it wasnt done previously at some point. Now i'm worried whatever it was bolted to may be damaged, is it bolted to the front diff probably?
They must have unbolted the first two bolts which I was able to see when under the car, they couldnt get to the last bolt so they hammered it off.
Least I got the air box squared away. With the missing clip like i was saying earlier the air box wasnt lining up with the maf, id have to reach down and pull up on the maf to get it to seat. Installed the clip and its installing perfectly again. I put a little bit of Sil-Glyde on the mounts and around the seal so it slides in nicely.
Well today went about as expected, drove my car to this new shop and was told they dont install customer supplied parts. So I then asked how much for a new exhaust manifold and he said "I dont know". I kind of expected him to say "hold on let me check". It started off odd anyways, he asked why am I there and I said I need the passenger side exhaust manifold replaced to which he made an odd facial expression asking "why?".
Ok they dont install customer supplied parts. I know Mercedes charges over $400 for the exhaust manifold, I spent over $75 for all the hardware plus I bought the new O2 sensor for $140. I would have even gone for them getting hard ware i guess but i have a perfectly good manifold already. He mentioned that he cant warranty the parts where I even said I dont need a warranty. I'm very reasonable and totally understand they cant possibly warranty parts that someone else brings in, I wouldnt if it were me.
Oddly enough the car runs and drives great still, even the leaking exhaust leak isnt that loud. Check engine light is on which annoys me since im not used to seeing it on. I'm worried driving around with the O2 sensors switched is going to screw up the cat? I really have to try and replace it on my own, I can get the O2 socket on it but then I cant seem to get the ratchet on the socket. I'm trying with the extra-long harbor freight 3/8 drive ratchet, seems it may just be long enough but it may be too flimsy, the area I have to swing the ratchet is tight. I just thought now if i can get my regular ratchet on then slide a piece of long pipe over the handle.
Wonder if they have special O2 sensor tools I dont know about? I'll have to search around.
I finally gave in and stopped at my local MB dealer to make an appointment to drop the car off and have the work done. Surprisingly I asked if they can install all the parts I already had and was told no problem. I was not expecting that at all, I thought for sure they would say no way. Plus they are giving me a loaner which makes it very convenient. Dropping it off this coming Monday morning so hopefully it goes well.
I forgot to update on the O2 sensors. I was able to fairly easily remove and replace them. I had to buy a new upstream o2 sensor due to the one in the car being badly damaged. I re-installed the down stream sensor where if belongs since it looked fine. I erased all the faults and nothing has come back since.
i did buy an O2 sensor tool that I found extremely helpful in removing the top upstream sensor. For the bottom sensor i just used an adjustable wrench.
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Slideshow: A one-of-one U.S.-spec Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster became even rarer after a factory-backed transformation at McLaren's headquarters.
