Toobad

OK, this is a follow-on from my post in the "Official New Car Picture Thread" which you can check out here: Red Ken Photos

Greg was asking about my brake caliper painting so I've brought the conversation over here to expand on it a little further. Firstly, you lucky people who plumped for the AMG trim are blessed with some branding on your calipers. Sadly, us poor relations in Sport trim just get plain calipers. In many ways that makes them a lot easier to paint as there is no need to mask off an area to preserve the writing.

The painting process is as straightforward as painting anything but I would discourage the use of the brake caliper paints available from the high street multiples like "Halfrauds". The paint kit I bought cost £39 delivered and is epoxy resin based so therefore requires mixing with hardener. The kit is extremely comprehensive and contains all you will need. Also remember the unwritten rule - the more prestige the car, the darker the shade of red. I plumped for Brembo Alfa Romeo Red, the third darkest of the 4 shades as I think the darkest is the preserve of Bentleys and Ferraris. The paint came from a company called Brake Caliper Specialists who supply their unique formulation of paint to F1 teams amongst others. UK owners can order here:
Brake Caliper Painting Kits

I found their 4-caliper kit contained enough paint to do 8 calipers. I'd advise to only mix enough paint to do 2 calipers at a time (try 50ml paint + 25ml hardener) as the mixing sets off a chemical process which means the paint will start thickening after about an hour and won't level as nicely when applied to the calipers. This is what mine looked like after painting.








Of course all this assumes you have the means to get the wheels off in the first place. The underside of the GLC is extensively clad with hard plastic and the 4 jacking points appear to tailored to accommodate the arms from 2-column lifts found in the dealer's workshop. Here's a photo of a GLC jacking point.




I made up 2 plates from 1/4" thick steel the same size as the plastic area to which I attached location blocks that centred the plates using the recess. With the aid of 2 bottle jacks I could now raise one side of the car into the air allowing me to remove a pair of wheels at a time. I chose one fixed and one telescopic bottle jack thereby ensuring at least one had extra lift should I ever need it. Again, for UK owners, here is where I sourced the jacks:

5-ton High Lift Telescopic Jack

10-ton Fixed Jack

Remember, it is not about rating (the GLC only weighs 1.85 tonnes), it is about effective lift height. At £73 delivered, I didn't think it was an unreasonable solution. The wheelnuts need a 17mm hex socket . I prefer a traditional cross wheelbrace as it allows you to apply torque centrally thus keeping the locking wheelnut key square. Here's the bottle jacks in action (there would also be axle stands present if I was going under the car):





So there you have it, car-lifting and caliper-painting Toobad style.
Thanks for stopping by,
Trevor.

Mikeyking

Fantastic - got a feeling you'll have a load of GLCs queuing up down your street in Hereford now you've got all the gear that's needed

Toobad

Haha, I wonder if Waterlooville to Hereford will be your first Linguatronic navigation request after July 12th. The GLC is my "bucket list" car and having spent the last 13 years in a pickup truck, I'm definitely trying to live a champagne lifestyle on a homebrew budget. I suspect the typical Mercedes owner would simply drive to Brake Caliper Services and pay for painting on a While-U-Wait basis.

Greg Meier

Cheers Toobad for this excellent write up.
Truly an excellent job from someone who knows their stuff.
I think I will refrain from painting our calipers due to the Mercedes in scripting.
Looks great though!

Teckno

Hi Brits,
With all this huballu re departing the EU, will the GLC be more expensive ?
Any discussion on impact on importing ?

Toobad

Just like in Australia an import tariff is levied on cars coming from different parts of the world. Currently this has been set by Brussels at 10% for all cars coming from outside the EU. Theoretically when we eventually severe our trade agreements with the EU, the cost of the GLC will go up by 10%. However, 30% of all cars on UK roads are currently German so a punitive hike in prices will lead more Brits to consider alternative cars either home produced or from other parts of the work. This loss in sales would destabilise the German car industry so I would expect the Germans to lower their UK prices accordingly to remain competitive.

MaxFactor

Hi, I've ordered (mid May) the 43 too, with a delivery date of early Sept. Black with black leather and black Ash trim and 21" rims. Most options except HUD, performance seats & towbar. Not been told of any delays, yet...

Max

Greg Meier

21" rims?????????????????
Wasn't aware you could get these

Toobad

Congratulations Max on your new baby, I bet September can't come quick enough for you. It will make your X3 seem positively pedestrian. Mmmm, black on black, you're not a recreational pharmaceutical salesman by any chance? I think the black 21" rims will look totally boss and well worth the extra £1195 despite the lost fillings and spinal injuries incurred by driving around on rubber band tyres. Your ride is going to took totally "Gangsta". Well jealous. Enjoy, my friend.

MaxFactor

Yep so hoping I don't look like a dealer, but I've avoided the Night package for that reason. The 21" (glc 43 only) optioned as I regretted not getting largest available on the X3. The Air Body Control in comfort mode should help the ride.
I looked at the F-Pace, Macan, etc, and this GLC package just won me over on the luxury and performance and included options.

Max

Toobad

I'd have to guess your spec would put you around the £54k mark so you are comfortably within Macan and F-Pace territory. Perhaps the other 2 are more driver-focussed cars but in the congested reality of S.E. London I very much doubt the Merc will leave you wanting. ABC comes as standard in the 43 and I certainly wouldn't be without it having experienced the conventional suspension as well. The transition between Comfort and Sports modes is definitely more discernible with the multi-chambered air suspension option. The ride quality in Comfort mode has taken things to a new level for me but then my terms of reference have only been a 4WD pickup truck and a TVR over the last 20 years. The overall experience the GLC delivers I simply put down to witchcraft.

Toobad

So today's WTF moment took place on Page 300 of the Owner's Manual.

"Depending on your driving style, the vehicle consumes up to 0.8 litres of oil per 1000km. The oil consumption may be higher than this when the vehicle is new or if you frequently drive at high engine speeds."

I guess that explains why the launch parties in the Middle East were week-long events! Perhaps the official consumption figures of 56mpg refers to oil and not fuel. So I guess I'd better invest in some top-up oil PDQ and not just a 1-litre bottle. Whatever brand you choose is fairly academic as long as the industry specification is met. As we have the Ad-Blue exhaust treatment system make sure your oil is Low SAPS to prevent damage. Euro Car Parts, famous for their regular oil BOGOF deals, would be my natural first port of call but it turns out genuine Mercedes oil is not that expensive!!! There are plenty of oil change bundles in 7, 10 and 20 litre capacities available on eBay but for now I will just pick up a 5-litre can and hopefully it will last to the first service. This source seems pukka enough:

Genuine Mercedes Engine Oil to Spec. Sheet 229.51

The approved MB oil specs for diesel cars are on Page 363 of the Owners Manual and qualifying brands of oil from other manufacturers can be found online in what is referred to as the MB BeVo, the English version I've linked to here:

Mercedes Benz Specifications for Operating Fluids

Hope you find this useful,
Trev.

Mikeyking

You wait until you get to the last chapter!! A cliff hanger...

Teckno

Will it be made into a movie, or maybe a new book sequel ?

taylor1982

Just found this picture, first real life one I've seen other than the nyc motor show ones. Thought it would be of interest to you since its in your spec. I'll be calling my dealer tomorrow to change my spec from grey to black. After owning two black cars before I said never again but can't resist, black looks so mean on this car!

Toobad

Guys, can one of you do me a favour and have a look at the underside of you bonnet for me. I was surprised to see mine hadn't received any clearcoar over the Hyacinth Red basecoat in the central area towards the acoustic padding. It's like the clearcoat has only been sprayed around the edges so the middle area is matt red. I can't believe mine is a solitary instance given robots do the spraying but would just appreciate confirmation that yours is also just the matt basecoat in this area.

I did pose the question in its own thread about a week ago but got no replies. I think. in my naivety, I forgot Mercedes is considered a prestige brand and the majority of owners would not concern themselves with anything under the bonnet. I suspect, across the pond, this would normally be the responsibility of the English butler or Mexican handyman. I can only assume the 170 people who did stop by were perhaps hoping to see a photo of what actually lives under the "hood". So who am I to disappoint.





Gotta go, the wife is looking for her cigarette lighter and I've just sent him out to Waitrose to restock us with Bolinger and foie gras.

Mikeyking

Just checked under my bonnet and although the sun was in the wrong place the metal looks all the same colour (matt colour) and I ran my finger around the outside and it felt the same rough feeling... not sure if that helps - I can take a pic tomorrow when the sun is in the right area if you need

Toobad

Cheers Mikey, if nobody else confirms, perhaps you can have a closer look under better lighting conditions whenever time allows. As you have also noticed the rough matt of the basecoat, I suspect only the very edges are clearcoated perhaps as a cost saving measure.

decorily

Bolixger more like!


I'm not a Brit, but I'm not fussy who I hang around with......so I checked under my BONNET and mine seems matt as you describe.

Toobad

Thanks for the confirmation from the Emerald Isle, Dec. I'm surprised you could even see the colour through the moss and lichen that accumulates on everything within 24 hours of coming off the boat

On a side issue, when it rains heavily or I wash the car, I notice water drains very slowly from the black plastic & rubber moulding directly below the passenger side wiper blade. When parked on a level surface, I can get around half an inch of water accumulate in that area whilst the driver's side drains freely. One for the dealer at 1st service, methinks.

Teckno

To other GLC diesel owners.
Have any of you suffered engine light on dash and car stalling, or shuddering when trying to start ?
Road side Assist diagnosed as code P0087 – fuel rail / pressure system too low ?
2nd time in 10 days. First was reset, now it's on a flat bed back to dealer to undergo diagnostic and hopefully a fix. Just wondered if this might be a one off, or others in the GLC family suffering similar issue.
Thanks

Mikeyking

That doesn't sound good. I was coming back from the Theatre a couple of weeks ago, car in the car park. Went to start the engine and no doing so the engine warning light came on and stayed on. Turned the car off and turned it on again and the warning light had gone away. Very strange. Now issues since then (but only around 2k miles on the clock).

Just as an aside, a colleague has a Merc C class and said this morning all his warning lights were on. Pulled into a garage and used the road side assistance button in the car. The support team remotely reset all the sensors and it was fine since then.

Teckno

Thanks,
I think it might be an isolated issue !! Unfortunately in Oz we cannot do reset over phone or internet, must go to a Dealer.
On a positive note Dealer has been good, provided free loan car and apologised , will take till next week most likely. I'm in no hurry, need it sorted, but I miss the GLC features, the B200 is nice, but not the same. Top marks so far for MB support.

dejongj

Hello, just checking in Although I'm Dutch, been living in the UK for a couple of decades now. Just placed an order on a GLC43AMG yesterday as a downsize from our current GL.

As GMG Garage would call it; triple black Obsidian Black paint, Black Interior (obviously as there is no other choice) and 21" Black wheels. Didn't go for the night package as none of the wheels are fully black so thought it tied it in neatly.

Options; Premium Plus (is there anyone who doesn't order that?), the aforementioned wheels, remote online (I like my gadgets), and the Intelligent Light System. I have that on our GL and wouldn't want to be without it where we live.

Can't wait to get it.

I was in two minds whether to be sensible and go diesel or go the AMG route. I finally was able to test drive the 250d but felt a bit like Fred Flintstone in it. No surprising as our main driver is the 350 Bluetec, and a Golf R. But I just knew that we couldn't live with it and had to tune it. Therefore the GLC43 was an easy choice and within an hour I bought one . Now if they've done a GLC 350 Bluetec that could have been another story.

Also I found that when you add all the options (definitely had to have Air Body Control and ILS etc) the difference was so small it didn't make sense to ME not to go for the AMG option.

Teckno

Re carpet mats in GLC.
Noticed Oz AMG mats different to USA and Europe. The Oz driver side only has a "flap" that extends between left foot rest and right side accelerator pedal.
In USA, even though they are left hand drive they have two "flaps", one on the left foot rest. In Oz, this means no protection to stain and wear and tear to base carpet as no mat protection.
I think there is a UK Seller on EBay that sells modified mats for right hand drives.
Pity MB designers save cost, or did not think it important and altered design for our market.