GazetteJanuary 2020
CLASSIC MOTOR SHOW 40 YEARS OF THE G-WAGEN B220d AMG LINE W124 DOOR MIRROR REMOVAL
THE OFFICIAL MERCEDES-BENZ CLUB FOUNDED 1952 What’s inside... Regulars 4 CLUBINFORMATION 4 CLUBPUBMEETINGS 5 DIARYDATES 5 FORTHCOMINGEVENTS 8 INVITATIONSRECEIVED 9 NEWS&VIEWS 24 YOURLETTERS 30 CLUBSHOP 63 REGIONALREPORTS 32 79 BACKNUMBERS FEATURES 51 B220d AMG Line 80 NEWMEMBERS 31 Rob writes... 57 F1 news 81 2019INDEX 32 A very busy weekend TECHNICAL CORNER 81 SPECIALNOTICES 39 40 years of the G-Wagen 58 Spares register 85 CARSFORSALE 42 Car of the month 59 Removal of a W124 43 Racing icons door mirror 49 From deep in the Archive 43
39 59 Gazette Membership benefits First ever Mercedes-Benz Club Members’ website forum Published by The Mercedes-Benz Club Ltd – founded 1952 Free subscription to Mercedes-Benz Gazette copy dates Only UK club recognised by Classic magazine March January 10 April February 14 Mercedes-Benz Discounts from parts suppliers Monthly Gazette Discounts from hotels Editorial Office: Chris Bass, Tel: 01483 481836. Technical support 30 Scotgate, Stamford PE9 2YQ Unique archive of photos, brochures E-mail: [email protected] Discounted insurance and technical literature
Advertising, Design and Production: Hine Marketing, Club shop Tel: 01452 730770 MercedesBenzClubUK Hill Farm Studios, Wainlodes Lane, Bishops Norton Local, national and international events Gloucestershire GL2 9LN Discounts from many MB dealers themercedesbenzclub/ E-mail: [email protected]
Gazette distribution queries: Catherine Barlow, For membership and general enquiries Tel: 01780 482111 (9.00am to 5.00pm Monday to Friday) telephone 01780 482111, 0345 6032660 (9.00am to 5.00pm Monday to Friday) 30 Scotgate, Stamford PE9 2YQ E-mail: [email protected] or see www.mercedes-benz-club.co.uk NEWS&VIEWS
NEW W126 MODEL REGISTER CAPTAIN APPEAL FOR ARCHIVE INPUT FROM THE FORUM Avid Club Forum users will have noticed a growing amount of photographic material being posted by Bryan Allman, the Club Archive’s photographic expert. Alongside its vast range of printed material, the Archive has hundreds of very old photographic negatives and prints which Bryan is in the process of restoring and Richard Mason’s 560SEC (right) with Ian Paice’s Neville Brown’s SGS 500 SEL – adding to the Club’s on-line library for the supercharged 500SEL AMG. complete with TV. benefit of Members. Unfortunately many of Now it’s my turn to take on the Model Register Captain baton for the W126 and these photos have little background detail indeed the V126, the long wheelbase version. I’m well acquainted with these and this is where the Forum can help. Bryan exquisite cars from articles I’ve written for various magazines. Some of you met would really like to hear from any Members me in 2017 when I was smoking around in the ex- George Harrison 500SEL AMG. who might be able to provide any additional The Beatle provenance really made that car for me, but it wasn’t a great drive, information about the images that he is although now, £10,000 later, I hear it’s in better shape. posting. Ian Paice, drummer in Deep Purple, heard of my SEL exploits and it wasn’t John Wallis, Archive Team and Internet long before I was hammering round the Oxfordshire lanes in his supercharged Services Director, comments, “The Archive 500SEL AMG. I took my 560SEC along to give me a benchmark of performance is committed to being the automatic, first against Ian’s blown five-litre. Ian, inspecting my SEC, said “Ah yes I remember port of call for Members requiring Mercedes- Ringo coming round in a black one of those.” Benz information. To do this it is working to My love affair with these great cars continues and recently I was sharing drinks build its profile across all Club media and the in the back of a 500SEL SGS with a red leather and suede interior belonging to Forum is an important point of contact for Club Member Neville Brown. Some of you will know this is no ordinary car, with a Members to be able to add to the knowledge massive make over inside and out, including a fridge and a TV. already held”. And the beat goes on. I think Paul McCartney still owns his 560SEL, with If you have not registered to use the 156,000 miles on the clock. Now if I could only get my hands on that. Don’t hold Archive, to access this material and the many your breath. thousands of other items in the Archive, I hope we can have a couple of the cars I’ve shared with you at next year’s please go to http://archive.mercedes- Club W126 event. I’m just planning it. Meanwhile I’ll give my all to be at your benz-club.co.uk and follow the on-screen service as MRC. instructions. Richard Mason The Archive Team MERCEDES-MAYBACH GLS600 AND MERCEDES-AMG GLS63 4-MATIC+
The body and technology of the GLS with Maybach luxury...... or Mercedes-AMG ‘serenity at the highest level’. The Mercedes-Maybach GLS600 4-Matic has been announced. The V8 four-litre engine develops maximums of 558hp and 730 It aims to combine ‘the body design and technical basis of the GLS Nm of torque and is a variant developed exclusively for Maybach. It with the luxury of a top-class saloon’. Its spacious interior with the incorporates the 48-volt EQ Boost system. highest-grade materials and extremely effective noise insulation The Mercedes-Benz star is mounted on the bonnet in the classic is said to create ‘a stylish, cocoon-like feel-good atmosphere’ way and there is further chrome trim and a choice of 22 or 23-inch and ‘from their pleasantly elevated seating position, thanks to wheels developed exclusively for this model. A Mercedes-Maybach electrically operated roller sun blinds on the two rear side windows, emblem is positioned at various points such as on the D-pillar and as the passengers can decide for themselves how much of their a special Maybach-specific feature, two-tone paintwork is available in surroundings they want to see’. eight colour combinations. Unlike Mercedes-Benz versions of the GLS Airmatic suspension is standard with fully-active E-Active Body which can be ordered with three rows of seats, the Mercedes-Maybach Control available as an option. For the first time there is a dedicated will only be available with two rows. The Mercedes-Maybach GLS 600 Maybach drive programme that ‘ensures even more comfort in the 4MATIC will be available in the second half of 2020. rear’. Access and egress are also highly convenient – when the doors If you don’t need quite as much luxury as the Maybach, the are opened the vehicle is lowered slightly and illuminated, anodised Mercedes-AMG GLS63 4-Matic+ offers 612hp and ‘serenity at the aluminium running boards quickly and silently emerge. highest level’.
www.mercedes-benz-club.co.uk • JANUARY 2020 • 9 NEWS&VIEWS
OFFICIALS’ CHRISTMAS PARTY
Clive Henderson receiving the Scott-Moncrieff Trophy from Rob Halloway. Rosemarie Maslin addressing the party. Mercedes-Benz UK once again generously hosted the Club’s Officials’ Christmas Party – on December 6. As usual the food was of the highest, Michelin star, quality, even though it is served in what is normally the staff restaurant – the chefs and their team were to be congratulated and were warmly thanked. Senior Press Officer Rachel Goodwin introduced the evening and Club Member Malcolm Franks then adeptly auctioned for charity some items Mercedes-Benz UK Marketing Director and Honorary Simon Harrison – Michael Daniels Trophy. Bob Coxshall – 50th Anniversary Trophy. Club President Rob Halloway had kindly donated. These raised £190 for the RNLI and the evening’s raffle contributed a further £625. Rob then gave his customary informal and entertaining review of Mercedes- Benz’s year, pointing out how successful the marque’s sales have been in the UK despite the depressed nature of the market – the A-Class is now the fifth best-selling car, on its own accounting for more registrations than Jaguar, Volvo or Citroen. Club Chairman Rosemarie Maslin then started the presentation of Club awards. Peter Grunert – 40th Anniversary Trophy. Naser Sharifi – Brooklands Trophy. The Scott-Moncrieff Trophy went to Clive Henderson in recognition of all the events model days for coupés, V-engined models he has organised, as both a Regional Officer and the R129 SL. and a Model Register Captain – including Rosemarie presented the Michael Mercedes on the Prom in Llandudno and Daniels Trophy to Simon Harrison for hosting the Surfleet Selection event at his home. The 40th Anniversary Trophy went to Peter Grunert for his 1975 280SE and the 50th Anniversary Bowl to Bob Coxshall for his 1958 220S Ponton. The Brooklands Trophy was awarded to Naser Sharifi for organising the Simply Mercedes event at Beaulieu and the Spirit of the Club award went to Mic Bennett for his support at so many Club events. Mic Bennett – Spirit of the Club Trophy. Gazette Editor Chris Bass presented the Gazette Trophy to Charles Murray for which went to Linda De Frates for all her his numerous well written and illustrated work on the Club stand at the Classic Motor regional reports, covering virtually the Show. Unfortunately Linda was unable whole of Scotland. to be present on the day, but this stunning Rob Halloway then announced a new new trophy was presented to her recently at award he has introduced – the President’s Mercedes-Benz World. Trophy for the Club Woman of the Year – Chris Bass, photos by Paul Kelly Charles Murray – Gazette Award.
www.mercedes-benz-club.co.uk • JANUARY 2020 • 15 NEWS&VIEWS
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING, MILTON KEYNES – DECEMBER 7
The Club’s Board of Directors at the AGM, left to right: Geoff D’Cruze, Red Mackinnon, Phil Greaves, Jeremy Stevens, Rosemarie Maslin, Trevor Mitchell, John Wallis and Kenny Ooi. After apologies for absence and the other clubs have been experiencing and it approval of the minutes of last year’s just means we will have to work that little meeting Club Chairman Rosemarie Maslin bit harder to attract new Members. presented her report. Our Club remains financially secure, due in no small part to the fact that our CHAIRMAN’S REPORT many Officials have for many years been Rosemarie Maslin delivering her report. Ladies and Gentleman I would like to carrying out their roles on a voluntary welcome you to this our 61st Annual General basis. We have only two paid employees. renew their membership. Meeting of the Mercedes-Benz Club. This enables us to keep the cost of annual In this my second annual report since membership at a very competitive level, Magazine becoming Chairman, my aim is as before to in fact one of the lowest of any UK car The Gazette continues to be our key method provide you with an overview of the past 12 club. This is not to say that we are offering of communication with Members and the months together with some of your Board’s a restricted programme of activities. As change of the cover to show a picture, ideas on how we hope to make your Club always, the breadth of events our Officials normally from one of our Club events, plus an even better place for you to indulge your put together over the year just goes to the makeover of the inside has been well interest in everything Mercedes-Benz. confirm how active we are as a Club and I received. Last December we also included To ensure that every Club Member can urge you to continue to support them over a calendar with each month displaying a have access to this report an exact transcript the coming year. Member’s photograph. This will be repeated will be printed in the Gazette, therefore, as with another calendar included with the in the past, I am going to read it verbatim. Events January Gazette. We must not forget that I will begin by introducing your Board Our calendar started as it normally has our Gazette would not be the great success of Directors; Jeremy Stevens Vice-Chair with an April trip to Techno-Classica, with it is were it not for the contributions made and Technical, Kenny Ooi – Financial, 86 Members travelling to Essen. This was by you, our Members, so please keep them Phil Greaves – Company Secretary, Trevor closely followed in May by 88 Members coming. Also, a big thank our Editor, Chris Mitchell – Regional Development, John taking our European Tour to the Mille Bass, and the team at Hine Marketing plus Wallis – Internet Services, Red Mackinnon Miglia, returning via Stuttgart where they our volunteer proof readers for all their work – National Events and Geoff D’Cruze – participated in visits to the factory and on our publication. Membership Services. museum. The Financial Report covered in this There then followed a whole year The Club’s future AGM deals with the year ending March 31 of regional events, so numerous that it’s At the last AGM I spoke about our need to 2019, but as I said my report will review impossible to mention them all, but I would recognise that we are in a rapidly changing the last 12 months of Club activity. like to thank, on behalf of everyone who world and now was the time to review the Firstly I would like to let you know participated, the volunteers who spent future direction of our Club. The Board that our current membership stands so many hours organising these events. I felt our annual Officials Study Day (OSD) at approximately 11,000. Whilst our should also like to point out that these UK in February was an ideal opportunity to membership numbers are still quite healthy events are subsidised by the Club and this document the views of your Regional we have seen them drop by about 400 is how it should be – marquees, regalia, Officials and Model Register Captains. compared to the previous year. Whilst not volunteers’ expenses, trophies and in some Many will recall I reported the findings what we want to see, it is far less than many instances site fees are all covered. in the September Gazette. The Board Last year I told you that Dranes studied and discussed all the points your Marquees, who were responsible for our Officials raised and we are in the process of regalia logistics, would be retiring and I can implementing many of their ideas, some of now tell you that we have a new contract which I will mention here. with Able Marquees Ltd, which, it has been It was clear that our priority had to be reported, is providing us with excellent to provide you with a user-friendly website service. and John Wallis, our Internet Services The Classic Motor Show at the NEC is Director, has spent a lot of time researching a big event for us and once more we were the best way to completely restructure it. allocated a prime stand location in hall one, This has taken a little longer than planned directly adjacent to Meguiar’s, which is one because it was vitally important that we got of the show’s sponsors. Whilst this provides it right as it’s a complicated and expensive us with the opportunity to show visitors the process. I am, however, pleased to tell you best of Members’ cars it is also extremely that John has chosen a web developer who popular with our Members who welcome is now writing the necessary code and once the opportunity to visit the Members’ Café we have completed extensive testing we area where they can sit, rest and have a should be able to phase implementation, in complimentary cup of tea or coffee. This stages, over the coming six to nine months. show also enables us to attract some new As you will appreciate, this is a work Members and allows existing Members to in progress and some features may change, Phil Greaves leading the meeting.
16 • JANUARY 2020 • www.mercedes-benz-club.co.uk The opinions expressed are those of the individual writers and do not necessarily reflect Club policy. The Editor reserves the right to edit letters if necessary. YOURLETTERS They should be sent to the editorial office at 30 Scotgate, Stamford PE9 2YQ or [email protected]
Letter of the Month
As a thank you (and as an incentive for even greater efforts) we like to choose a letter of the month. Meguiar’s have kindly agreed to sponsor this and the Member whose letter is selected receives a Wash & Wax car care kit. PAINTING
Dear Chris, Here is my painting of ‘The Girl with Mercedes Logo’. It was inspired by a ‘Banksy’ painting. I thought it would be something different to put on the parcel shelf of my W124 220E when we go to shows – making it a talking point about the Club. My wife Sylvia and I enjoy our days out with other Club Members and like-minded car enthusiasts.
Kind regards, Dave Best, via e-mail Tex Crampin’s 280SL. ‘I SHOULD HAVE that this ‘dealer’ has been closed down. Dear Chris, KNOWN BETTER’ Please pass on my congratulations to Janet LOST IN NATURE? Turner for owning a rare five-speed manual Dear Chris, R107 SL – lovely colour combination With reference to ‘I should have known blue/cream. There are a few around but better’ the letter from Paul Duggins printed not many – maybe somebody in the Club in the December Gazette. knows exactly how many. It’s a very useable Paul contacted me as Regional Officer, gearbox and the car responds superbly with Ireland – Munster – North regarding the the roof down on a sunny winding country W123 he was purchasing. I carried out the road. The reason I bought mine is that I relevant enquiries regarding the ‘dealer’ think the R107 five-speed manuals will and the car. I discovered that this ‘dealer’ go the same way as the Pagoda SL five- was a fraudster and was very well known speed manuals in being very rare and very throughout the country and I duly rang back. desirable – time will tell. My car has covered The ‘dealer’ is in fact not from or living in Co Wooden Mercedes. 78,000 miles and has a fully stamped Clare and has been closed down by the police Dear Chris, Mercedes-Benz service book. I’ve just put here. His name was well-known throughout I made a visit last month to the Musée the original coloured steel wheels on which Ireland and the UK as a very shady character National des Beaux-Arts du Quebec, I prefer. Let me know if anyone wants five who was involved in serious illegal car located in Quebec City, and found almost new alloys. activities and ‘the trade’ would know to have the ‘BGL’ Mercedes shown in the absolutely nothing to do with him. accompanying photo. This life-size all- Tex Crampin, Chichester Paul was lucky to have got a car at all wood permanent exhibit is the creation of after, as he admitted, buying a car unseen and an artists’ collective with those initials and paying cash. We have nearly all made these is titled ‘Perdu dans la Nature (La Voiture)’ mistakes while buying and dealing in life but or Lost in Nature (the Car). we should learn from our mistakes. If Paul Somehow it reminds me of chocolate had used the Club and contacted me earlier teapots! I would have been very glad to assist him and advise him that under no circumstances Regards, should he have gone ahead with this deal, Brian A L Jones, via e-mail but he contacted me after the deal was done. Steve and Mandy Edmonds’ 280SL. As the ‘dogs in the street’ knew, there was FIVE-SPEED 280SLs no dealer at the address as given in Co Clare, Dear Chris, the car had been advertised on other sites We were delighted to see Janet Turner’s previously and was well known as a bad car. letter, until that time we thought we owned We have an amazing Club, with huge the only 280SL manual in the country! We resources and contacts throughout the length much prefer the manual box to the 300SL of Ireland, England, Scotland, Wales and autos we have owned in the past, more further afield. The lessons to remember here sprightly and longer legged for touring with are – do your research and use Club contacts the fifth gear. and resources when possible, especially if The story of our signal red beauty is buying abroad. There is certainly no group of Larry and Jackie Hawkins’ 280SL. one of love spurned. The tale recounted to fraudsters from Co Clare that I or my fellow us is that a love-struck gentlemen collected local Members know of dealing in classic cars Dear Chris, it new from the factory in 1984 and drove and this should not have been printed in the In response to Janet Turner’s letter in the it home from Stuttgart as a present for his Gazette. I and my Members would like this December Gazette where she wonders how wife, only for his dearly beloved to decide clarified please. many manual 280SLs are left, we are the that she didn’t like it. It was then stored proud owners of one of them. It’s a 1984 for many years until we purchased it in Patrick Slattery, Regional Officer, model with 78,000 miles on the clock. 2014 with 5,000 miles on the clock. We’re Ireland – Munster – North not sure whether the state of matrimony Regards, survived, but we would have thought such Editor’s note: I am very happy to publish Larry and Jackie Hawkins, a rebuttal at least represented borderline Patrick’s clarification and delighted to hear Anglia – South grounds for divorce!
24 • JANUARY 2020 • www.mercedes-benz-club.co.uk MoreClubShop detailed clothing descriptions, sizes and colours shown on the website Available from the Club website. Post and packing is not included in the prices shown.
Club fleece in Red trim jacket in various colours Reversible coat in red various colours £32.00 Softshell jacket in various £40.00 £58.00 colours £35.00
Cufflinks £18.00 Pin badges £7.00
Keyrings from £5.00 Holdall in various colours £25.00
Tee Jay jacket in deep navy Jacket in various colours £20.00 Beanie hats in various or hunter green £85.00 colours £12.00 Buy on the Club website Visit our Club website shop where all items can be viewed. Orders can now be made via the site with payment by credit card or cheque. Log onto the Club website and start shopping the easy way. Please make cheques payable to Donna Butter. All orders will be despatched within 14 days, if there is a problem we will contact you. Post and packing is not included in the prices given above. Goods found to be faulty through design flaws or postage damage will be replaced free of charge. Contact details Donna Butter To order please ring 01278 652340 If we are unable to answer the phone, please leave a message on the answer-phone and we will call you back. The e-mail address is [email protected] Sorry, but due to bank charges, we have had to introduce a minimum order value of £5.00.
30 • JANUARY 2020 • www.mercedes-benz-club.co.uk FEATURE
At St Pancras International Terrain Station.
Full attendance at the ‘Rob Halloway fan club’ AGM.
has a straight-six three-litre diesel engine Rob writes... that can also make it incredibly quick, by Rob Halloway should the mood take you. Overtaking on a bootful of torque makes passing cars very quick and easy – 700Nm is more than The Terrain Station (Wagon) enough for road use. You could say, ‘it goes There’s a difference between compromise are suspended by air springs to give an like a terrain’. Ha ha ha. Sorry. and balance. Compromise can be defined extraordinarily cosseting ride. The standard The All-Terrain is as robust and as solid as ‘the expedient acceptance of standards equipment list runs the Argos catalogue as an E-Class should be. Mine has done that are lower than is desirable’, whereas close for having oodles of stuff in it. The sterling service running stuff to the local balance is ‘different elements are equal or conditioned interior air is ionised and tip, sacks of donations to charity shops, it’s in the correct proportions’. It’s an important fragranced, it has 360-degree cameras for been five-up on holiday runs stuffed with distinction, because this month I am going parking, Burmester surround sound audio cases and on everyday long run trips it’s to talk about a car that I initially thought and headlights that turn the dingiest dell quiet, cosy, just wonderful. was a bit of a compromise, but transpires to into a brightly-lit landscape. It’s magic. This autumn I drove it from Mercedes- be the perfect balance of two things. Mrs H and I live in the countryside in Benz World in Surrey up into London to go I’m a recent and evangelical convert Northamptonshire, and most of the roads to a dinner with my wife and my parents, to the E-Class All-Terrain, an example of around our little house are barely more and it dealt with the enormous speed humps which I’ve been driving incessantly since than single-lane, badly pock-marked farm and width restrictions without complaint. the summer. Slightly taller than a standard tracks. From September to April they’re And because it’s only a little bit taller than E-Class estate, yet lower and smaller than usually smeared with greasy mud from the a regular estate car, multi-storey car park an equivalent SUV, the All-Terrain has fields or slippery slurry from the animals height restrictions didn’t worry me at all. quickly clambered to somewhere near the that graze round and about. The E-Class Despite my being six feet, six inches top of my ‘all-time best cars for the real All-Terrain takes all this mess in its stride. tall, and even with a big headroom-robbing world’ list. Higher ride-height means no grounding glass sunroof fitted, there’s lots of room for Because the All-Terrain is an E-Class+, over bumps, and its lower centre of gravity me up front, and for any passenger behind it has all the space and comfort and means it drives and corners like a regular me. The All-Terrain’s steering wheel is equipment and convenience and style car. It really is the perfect balance between a tactile wonder too – perfectly circular you’d expect from a benchmark Benz. It car and 4x4. and slim-rimmed, it’s a delight. ‘My’ car has an enormous boot, loads of room inside It can run for 600-miles on a single tank is painted in discreet selenite grey, which its cabin, an efficient engine, nine-speed of diesel, and on most enthusiastic runs I masks the rural sludge that clags its flanks, auto gearbox, and 4-Matic all-wheel- get better than 40mpg. A proper inside lane and when the people at the local Magic Car drive. The tyres are 20-inch run-flats and motorway trundle can creep into the 60s. It Wash pay it some attention it gleams like a new pin. As you’ve probably guessed by now, it’s rather wheedled its way into my affections. By the time this Gazette is printed, the car and I will have parted company. I’ve covered 9,000 happy miles in four months, and consumed a few dozen coffees, eaten a few Wispas and listened to a few hundred hours of podcasts along the way. So if you’re in the market for a rare treat, an All-Terrain might be worth a look. Maybe even this E400d All-Terrain. KW19 WNN will soon be featuring on our used car stock locator website, and if you buy it you’ll certainly be getting a car that is packed with kit and has been well and truly loved. One careful driver etc. Yes, it’s official. This beautifully-balanced best-of- both-worlds Benz joins my unofficial list of favourite drives.
Rob’s car’s more natural habitat.
www.mercedes-benz-club.co.uk • JANUARY 2020 • 31 FEATURE
he Classic Motor Show, this year The organisers reported that this year the three-pointed-star, and particularly if held for the 35th time according to there were 71,000 visitors, with 3,000 it includes now long-lost British marques Tits organisers, continues to be the vehicles on show and 300 motoring clubs – from AC to Wolseley – the NEC in biggest event of its kind in the UK. The taking part. They seemed to be a little coy November is the place to be. Club puts a lot of resources and voluntary in saying ‘figures show the attendees on a Those French and German events all effort into putting together its stand at this par with the past two years which is very enjoy substantial manufacturer support, event, but many Members seem to enjoy encouraging in the current climate.’ with the companies taking their own stands it and, if you are planning to see most of Techno-Classica in Essen, and possibly and supporting their recognised clubs. the many halls of displays and trade stalls, even Retro-Classics in Stuttgart, both in There is very little of that at this show. the ‘Members’ Café’ is a great boon – Germany, might have more floor space, The foreign-owned remnants of the British providing somewhere to rest your legs and and Retromobile in Paris might be more industry presumably don’t feel they can share a tea or coffee with fellow Members. stylish, but if your interest extends beyond justify the expense, especially with the A very busy weekend by Chris Bass, additional photos by Mike Venables, Catherine Barlow and Andy Bray
The Club stand, featuring from left to right Peter Maslin’s 280SE 3.5, Paul and Rosalind O’Keeffe’s 220SEb, Paul York’s CLK500, Michael Sugar’s 280SL and David Payne’s SLK55 AMG.
32 • JANUARY 2020 • www.mercedes-benz-club.co.uk The victorious 280GEL in the 1982 Cop Drive.
40 years of the G-Wagen by Ken Waddy
his year marks the 40th anniversary from civilian or military police forces. contact with the engine sump which of the introduction of the G-Wagen There was a 280GE short wheelbase, a eventually cracked and oil loss started. The Tinto the Mercedes-Benz car range. 280GE long wheelbase and a 230G long car made it back to base and we spent the It was initially designed with military wheelbase. The 280 models would compete evening fitting a new sump (provided by purposes in mind with the co-operation of in the rally and the 230 was to be one of Steyr-Daimler-Puch in Graz, Austria. 1979 the support vehicles. Additional support saw its release in Germany as a road car but came from MBUK in the form of a Unimog it was still very utilitarian, with rubber floor and a Trans-Europa service van (a sort of covering, cloth seats and manual levers for mini workshop for commercial vehicle the transfer gearbox and diff locks. It would breakdowns). After our exploits with the be 1981 before the model was available 450SLC rally project, Chris Quantrill and in the UK and I thought readers might I were invited to crew the 230 support be interested in photographs of the early vehicle. models in action, doing what they do best, The first group of photographs show off-roading. the cars in action. I am sorry but I cannot The marketing departments of remember the names of the rally crews; Mercedes-Benz UK and Daimler-Benz the 280GE short wheelbase was driven wanted to see how the cars compared by the military police and won several of against similar off-roaders, and the the special stages, finishing an excellent factory sent over three G-Wagens to fourth overall. The LWB model had a more compete in Cop Drive in 1980. This was eventful rally! One photograph shows the The GEL that suffered sump problems in the a rally exclusively for 4x4 vehicles set in car with all wheels off the ground; with 1980 Cop Drive... and around the army proving ground at long suspension travel and weakening Bovingdon. Competing crews were either engine mounts the front differential made
...and with all its wheels off the ground. 280GE being driven by the military police in the 1980 Cop Drive.
www.mercedes-benz-club.co.uk • JANUARY 2020 • 39 Car of the month If you would like your car to be a Car of the month, please send a good photo (conventional or digital) and a few details to the Gazette Editorial Office: Chris Bass, 30 Scotgate, Stamford PE9 2YQ or [email protected]
John Hinman’s E220
ohn writes: ‘It was a real pleasure to in the car and we made the deal at his home. classic and modern-classic Mercedes. attend the 2018 W124 Event at Tennants Rosewood became ‘Rosenkavalier’ and was The E220 is used throughout the year, Jin Leyburn. I did not expect to receive free from ‘dings’, scratches and the usual especially on fine dry days in the winter. In the award for best W124 saloon in the show. wear and tear of an 18-year-old car. Philip the next few weeks I should pass the 20,000 I was amazed at the quality and appearance kindly led me out of Alfriston and made sure I mile barrier, so I need to spend more time of so many high mileage W124s in pristine was on the right road to head north. driving the vehicle rather than the C-Class. condition. It could be argued that these were My first trip in Rosenkavalier was 330 I can understand why W124s are so popular more worthy winners than a W124 saloon effortless miles back to North Yorkshire. and it was impressive to see so many with just 19,500 miles in 25 years. It was I had purchased a W124 E200 from wonderful examples in Leyburn. It was also also a great pleasure to receive the award Bob Gascoigne (another friendly and great to see the way in which the team of from Rosemarie Maslin. straightforward transaction) and knew officials had worked so hard to make W124 I purchased the car from Gorgeous Cars what to expect – a journey in an armchair Event so memorable. As my brother Trevor on April 1 2009. I had travelled down from watching the silent scenery pass by, without and I headed along the Bedale by-pass on Darlington early morning with a single first- any creaks, rattles or similar irritations. the way home we saw large numbers of class ticket at a very cheap price. It occurred Rosenkavalier has been well looked W124s turning onto the A1 south and north to me on the journey that I may not like the after by Steve Megson and his team at SM slip roads. What an impressive sight for car. It was advertised with 11,000 miles on Autocare in Pickering. All of his mechanics other road users. the clock and in a beautiful metallic rosewood are Mercedes trained and he also looks after Owning a W124 is a great pleasure, finish. When I arrived at the station, Philip my 2013 C-Class. I can highly recommend made even more enjoyable by belonging to from Gorgeous Cars was there to greet me this garage. The team love working on the Mercedes Benz Club.’
42 • JANUARY 2020 • www.mercedes-benz-club.co.uk FEATURE
azette Editor Chris Bass sent both cars were his). It had been previously Lucky guests were Mercedes me an e-mail recently to ask raced by legends Desiré Wilson, Jochen Enthusiast journalist and Mercedes Classic if I could attend a track day at Mass, Jurgen Barth and Brian Redman. editor David Sutherland, D:Class trim Donington Park, as a guest of the All the drivers’ names were on the driver’s shop owner David Price and a few SL SLG Shop to drive their two racing cars. It door, along with some autographs. Stewart Shop customers. Also present was Sam’s took me a millisecond to respond. was selling the car after retiring from son Jake who is also a racer and SL Shop I arrived at Donington on a damp Friday racing, he also auctioned off his collection director Bruce Greetham. morning in November, excited and perhaps of Mercedes memorabilia, including The day started with signing on, a little nervous about what lay ahead. When workshop tools and many signs. The car followed by a drivers’ briefing – overtaking I saw the cars I would be driving, well my was a regular at the Goodwood Revival on the outside only and the drivers were heart started pounding! I knew one was and had Derek Redman as a co-driver on told that some journalists were present going to be an R107 450SL, but the other more than one occasion. I sent the photos and there would be some much slower one was quite a surprise. in and they were duly printed in the article, cars on the track and to be sensible. Every About three years ago I attended the the car was sold and that was that. Or so driver had to do two sighting laps either as Classic Motor Show at the NEC. I was I thought... a driver or passenger, so I jumped in the taking some photos be used in the event The other car at Donington was the passenger seat in the Ponton with David report for the Gazette and noticed some famous 1958 Ponton, which had been Price. As we were waiting in the pit-lane to interesting cars on Silverstone Auctions’ purchased by our host and SL Shop owner go out, smoke started to appear at the front stand. They were classic Mercedes racing Sam Bailey. It was sitting outside the of the Ponton. We both thought at first it cars. One a Fintail and one a Ponton with garage looking elegant in the morning was coming from the BMW M3 in front of a very interesting racing history. It was a gloom. Surely we wouldn’t be driving this us, but it was actually steam coming from 1958 220S owned by Stuart Imber (in fact racing icon would we? Yes we were! our car. Between the seats is a console including a switch to turn on the electric fan – which hadn’t been turned on, resulting in the car boiling over. I ran back up the pit-lane to tell the mechanics. No worries though, just a quick top up with water and we were on our way. After the two sighting laps we returned to the pits, at which time Sam asked me to have a drive. I thought we may be going as passengers at first to show us where the Racing lines were, but Sam just said “Go and enjoy!”
iconsby Paul Kelly
Unlikely racers?
www.mercedes-benz-club.co.uk • JANUARY 2020 • 43 FEATURE
hitherto regrettably been absent. R H Johnson now proposes to make good this omission by forming such a Register, covering all models, ancient and modern, From deep in Kleinkind to Grosser.” The aim and object in view is firstly to form a brudensschaft of past and present enthusiast Mercedes owners and secondly to compile a Register of existing examples, along with records of the Archive all available information and literature, by the Archive Team historical, technical and racing relevant to the lore of Mercedes.’ The article then went on to say that ‘if t’s the New Year and time for a new start Thus our new beginnings story for this there was an encouraging response it was on a personal level, so they say, but that New Year’s FDA is the start of the Club. intended to develop the social aspect by Iis too much like hard work. Especially Aspects of its inception have previously holding occasional rallies, convenient for the when you have the January Income Tax been comprehensively covered in the majority, from which beginnings it is hoped, demand to deal with, not to mention the Gazette and the Club’s 60th anniversary eventually, to establish a Mercedes Club’. rotten weather and the New Year’s Eve book, but this is newly discovered material Thus, in just a few words in Motor hangover that you cannot seem to shift… from the Archive’s Ronald Johnson Sport, Ronald Johnson clearly set out the So we’ll deal with another new Collection, which will be new to basis of the aims, objectives and activities beginning that’s easier to handle. In a most Members. of today’s Mercedes-Benz Club – and its number of recent ‘From deep in the Archive’ This newly discovered paper trail starts Archive. From February 1952 things then (FDA) instalments we have featured with the ‘Club Affairs’ page of Motor Sport moved fast. material from the vast Ronald Johnson magazine, dated February 1952. Amongst According to papers from the RJC, Collection (RJC), which was generously other items this page carried news that a Special Inaugural Committee meeting presented to the Club’s Archive by John Eton College had a motor club, to which was held, with R H Johnson in the Chair, Mack, his son-in-law. the Rootes Group had presented engines on July 4 1952. At this meeting a vast By profession Ronald was a marine and chassis for its workshop. Hopes were amount of business was covered. Ronald architect, but he had a near life-long passion expressed that this club might eventually had obviously prepared thoroughly for this for Mercedes-Benz cars – owning a number even build cars. meeting, as the Constitution, Rules and of the marque’s important models. He was Mention was given that Mr R J T Hewitt Regulations, governing the establishment also the driving force behind founding of the would like to hear from BMW owners and of a Club were adopted and the members Mercedes-Benz Club as we know it. This enthusiasts with a view to establishing a of the committee elected. last is well known, but our continuing work BMW Register. It also reported that the It was also agreed at the Special in cataloguing the RJC keeps throwing up Singer Owners’ Club now had a membership Inaugural Committee meeting that the next new material regarding the Club. of nearly 200, with centres in Manchester, meeting of the newly formed Mercedes- Leeds and Boston. This club was Benz Club would be at the end of August also actively seeking members 1952. This was the start of the first ever in the Midlands and the West Mercedes-Benz Club. Country. The Ronald Johnson Collection also But, as far as the nascent provided one other piece of information Mercedes-Benz Club was from the Club’s early days. This is the concerned, the most important ‘Certificate of Registration of a Motor part of this ‘Club Affairs’ Club recognised by the RAC’ during the page was the item beginning: year of 1954. ‘Amongst the many one-make The Mercedes-Benz Club’s digital Registers now functioning the archive is having new material added every name of Mercedes-Benz has month and now includes thousands of items. If you haven’t yet done so please take a look by registering. It’s a simple process, just go to: http://archive.mercedes-benz-club.co.uk and follow the on-screen instructions – happy browsing! If you would like to dispose of surplus Mercedes- Benz literature or photographs please let us know. Whether it’s one brochure or a car-load your surplus material will benefit Club Members. SLSHOP is your one-stop shop for Even early Gazettes are welcome, although the classic Mercedes-Benz SL parts. With a Archive does have a full large inventory of parts and accessories collection of the later A4- and a wealth of knowledge on all models. format editions. Please contact the Archive Team: Jon and Lynne Bell, SLSHOP is your first and only phone Bryan Allman, Andy Holmes and Phil Reed call. Call for next day delivery. ([email protected]). If you do not use e-mail please telephone 01932 346981 and leave a message. Minutes of the Club’s first ‘Club Affairs’ in Motor Sport from February 1952. meeting and its RAC Charter. www.mercedes-benz-club.co.uk • JANUARY 2020 • 49 FEATURE Gazette
B220d AMG Line You could imagine a Jane Austen novel in which the main character has an older sister. The main character might be better looking, or more attractive in other ways, than her older sister, but the older sister is more practical, more realistic. It shares the A-Class family grille styling... This new B-Class struck me as being rather like this. Her smaller sister, the new highly efficient and well informed MBUK Mercedes. This includes the ‘sandwich’ floor A-Class, is perhaps better looking and press fleet administrator Jane Holmes – for safety in the event of a frontal collision has all the latest technology. The B-Class suggested a B-Class for this road test she (the engine and transmission can pass might not have such striking looks, but it also virtually apologised for it. I suppose beneath the passenger safety cell). And this has more interior space. It has all the latest people expect elegance and sophistication space can accommodate batteries for hybrid equipment, including touch-screen ‘info- from Mercedes-Benz, not just sensible or all-electric versions. There has even been tainment’ but is just a little plainer. practicality. a fuel cell model, which needed this area People seem to feel they should The A-Class has gone all glam and for safe location of its hydrogen tanks. This apologise for the new B-Class. In the July funky but underneath its new clothes it is set up also brings a high driving position, Gazette the Club’s Honorary President and fairly conventional – transversely mounted closer to the ever more popular SUVs and Mercedes-Benz UK’s marketing director engine and transmission, distinctive but not markedly different to the later A-Class’s wrote about how much he had enjoyed radical styling. The B-Class has kept more low-slung stance. But now the B-Class has driving a B180d Sport – and seemed almost of the original, slightly less conventional all the latest A-Class’s gizmos – huge touch surprised, if not apologetic. When the thinking behind the earlier smaller screen display, driving aids etc. The plainer but practical big sister by Chris Bass
Understated styling.
www.mercedes-benz-club.co.uk • JANUARY 2020 • 51 FEATURE
F1 NEWS Lewis Hamilton battling to seventh in Brazil. by Will Gardner CARBON NEUTRAL F1 has announced that it intends to be winter break, with the 2020 campaign’s carbon neutral in 11 years, ensuring that traditional season opener in Melbourne on the sport has zero carbon impact by 2030. March 15. Mainstays of the approach will be the Lewis Hamilton qualified P1, with development of highly efficient synthetic team-mate Valtteri Bottas briefly in P2, fuel and an overhaul of the way teams are before being demoted to the back of the transported around the globe. Anything that grid following an engine change. Ahead Hamilton celebrating in Abu Dhabi cannot be eliminated will be offset. The of the race the Ferrari team made it known Green Party cited F1 as a benchmark for that as Hamilton is currently a free-agent other organisations and businesses to follow. in 2021, there could be a seat in the team for him. Hamilton countered by saying BRAZIL that was the first compliment Ferrari had In recent years the Brazilian race given him in 13 years! Mercedes Team has moved from season-closer to the Principal Toto Wolff admitted though that penultimate round, but this year at least it he assessed there was a 25 per cent chance didn’t disappoint in delivering drama. of Hamilton leaving the team to finish his Max Verstappen took the win in his Red career elsewhere, citing Ferrari as the only Bull, Hamilton was seventh across the line, credible home for the six-time champion. with Carlos Sainz taking an excellent third A technical issue left the DRS (Drag podium slot for McLaren and Pierre Gasly Reduction System) disabled until lap 18 – just missing out for Toro Rosso in P4. usually it becomes available on lap three, Ferrari though had a dismal weekend but it didn’t prevent Bottas from scything with its drivers crashing into each other, through the field to finish fourth. taking both cars out of contention. The Clearly not distracted by Ferrari’s balance of power is changing in the team, compliment, Hamilton took a commanding as four-time world champion Sebastian and clinical win – as strong as any this Vettel has been outshone by rookie Charles season – his 82nd career victory, leaving Leclerc, who in just his second season in him just nine wins behind Michael Toto Wolff, Valtteri Bottas and Lewis Hamilton at the sport has posted seven of the team’s Schumacher’s record of 91. the FIA prize giving. eight pole positions and taken two of its three wins. 2020 Other changes will see the chequered The well reported tensions finally The FIA World Council met on December flag reinstated as the official race-end came to a head five laps from the end of 4 and issued a number of rule changes and marker. This had been replaced by a the race when a tussle for fourth place tweaks for next season. Most interesting chequered flag logo visible on the start- saw Leclerc overtake Vettel, only for the was a relaxation on the strict rules around finish line, with the flag waving still German driver to attempt a re-pass and in engine component changes that have seen happening, albeit purely as a ceremonial doing so tag Leclerc and damage both cars. several drivers penalised this season. The gesture. The Japanese race this season The stewards saw it as a racing incident complex power-train of current cars is split saw the virtual and real flag delivered and didn’t apportion blame, but Ferrari into four sections, the MGU-K hybrid unit, out of synch with each other, much to the launched its own investigation. For Vettel at the internal combustion engine, the turbo confusion of drivers and teams. Screens least the old F1 saying ‘beware the enemy and the MGU-H, which recovers energy blocking the view into pit-garages during within’ appears to be ringing true. from the turbo. For the next campaign, race weekends are now also outlawed – drivers will be able to replace up to three of except when a car is being rebuilt following ABU DHABI each item before attracting a grid penalty. a crash. The sun came down on another season of Drivers will also be allowed two electronic Pre-season testing is scheduled at Mercedes dominance in the Persian Gulf on control boxes and two on-board batteries the Circuit de Barcelona Catalunya on December 1, heralding an ever-shortening for the season. February 19-21 and 26-28.
www.mercedes-benz-club.co.uk • JANUARY 2020 • 57 SPARESREGISTER A FREE Service For ALL MEMBERS
FOR SALE Breaking W123 280 coupé; 1998 C250 CDI estate; 2000 W208 CLK W201 190E Diavia Auto Air Conditioner User and Maintenance Manual. cabriolet; W124 300D multi-valve estate, good vented wing; W126 Roger 01792 281263 [email protected] 420SEL, good engine and box; W108 280SE. Parts off the shelf for Free to a good home Four Dunlop Super C49 tubeless cross-plies W111 coupés and Fintails, W108, W123, W201 190 series, W124, 6.40 x 15 with 7-9mm tread, no punctures or defects, looking W126, W202 C-Class and W210 E-Class. Please phone or text on for a good home in return for a reasonable donation to Cancer 07710 672986 or e-mail [email protected] Dave Research/Rays of Hope. The tyres are in Glasgow but happy West Yorkshire. to deliver or meet halfway. Bill 07871 228484 call or text, Workshop manuals, parts catalogues, special tools, owners’ [email protected] handbooks and sales literature too numerous to list. These are all R172 SLK250 CDI Four Pirelli P7 Cinturato tyres, two 225/45/R17 original (not reproductions), factory-printed books for all post-war (front), two 245/40/R17 (rear), all 6+mm tread remaining. £140 the models up to 1984. Contact me with your requirements. Geoff four, buyer collects. P7s were the only OE tyre on the Lamborghini Marshall 07414 538004 [email protected] Countach! 07710 068444 [email protected] Breaking W124 1989 300E Complete. 1989 W124 260E panels. 1995 W140 S500 coupé Glass sliding sunroof parts, part numbers 1985 W201 2.0 complete. 1990 W124 300D complete. Set of 140 780 11 12 and 140 780 11 14. Mike 07802 211875 michael. four wheels and tyres from SLK. Charlie 01787 461751 [email protected] 07909 171330 Essex. Spares or repair 2001 W210 E430 Elegance saloon in blue, mileage New old stock brake discs Sold as pairs, Mercedes-Benz part 134,500, in daily use. MoT to April 2020 but bodywork will be numbers 210 421 25 12, 202 421 09 12, 202 421 02 12, 210 423 needed and two advisories. Over £2,000 spent already. Serious 05 12. Please check correct part number £20 a pair. Collect or post cash offers only. [email protected] 01392 201622. and packing at cost. [email protected] Hertford. 1964 W110 Fintail Breaking due to a ruined floor. Imported from Sales brochures R107 1985-89 £35. R129 SL (hardback) £25. Israel, has a Nova certificate but is not UK registered. Very good Limited Edition covering Atlantic, Almandine and Silver Arrows £10. condition, runs well. 2,000cc petrol engine and auto box. All R230 SL (hardback) £20. R170 SLK (face-lift edition) £30. W201 panels, brightwork, running gear and interior are good. Factory 190E £10. W202 C-Class £5. All prices include post (within UK) sunroof. Mark Phillips 07831 654321 [email protected] and packing. Michael 01932 245711. W201, W124 or W210 Original equipment mud-flaps, various set Four 16-inch alloy wheels 7½ J 16 H2, part number 140 401 10 02 available, £15 per flap or £50 per set plus post and packing. to suit W140 S-Class. With tyres, two of which are good winter Eric 01516 390149 Wallasey. snow tyres £140 00. Set of Mercedes-Benz roof bars to fit W140 W113 Pagoda SL Locking petrol cap, camshaft for M127 (230SL) S-Class £50.00. Five Intra 6½J x 14-inch ‹Mexican hat› alloy wheels engine, factory hard-top, roof rack, hard-top chrome mouldings, £200.00. M189 complete engine and auto gearbox from 1966 exterior door handles, grille barrel and star, fuel gauge, speedo W112 300SEL, also front and rear axles £1,500.00. John 01304 head, viscous coupling and many other chrome mouldings and 274494 (evenings) 07711 327852 (any time) Kent. more. David 01773 835462 Derby. W113 SL (1965-1971) Hardback book by Brian Long, published by Mercedes SL – The Restorer’s Guide by Laurence Meredith, soft- Veloce. Brand new. Published price £35 will take £25 plus postage. back edition, 112 pages and many pictures, covers Gullwing to [email protected] 07939 071490. Pagoda £14 to include postage. [email protected] W221 S-Class roof bars Genuine Mercedes-Benz supplied with W112/W111 220SE/230SE/300SE Saloon front offside bumper half lockable ends and rubber support inserts, bolt into roof type, only section, good chrome, no dents £200. Also nearside and offside used a couple of times so like new, totally complete with instruction top sections, good condition £50 each. All plus post and packing. book £50. Steve 07889 486260 [email protected] [email protected] 01992 302238 Hertford. Nottinghamshire. R170 SLK AMG style front grille and perspex wind deflector – offers. Retirement sale Complete OM602 250TD engine and automatic Marcus Simmons 01543 251234 [email protected] gearbox £495. OM602 turbo-charger and manifold £100. 1993 W123 saloon front bumper From 1984 230, very good condition W124 silver bonnet and two front doors £100. W123/W124 with rubber and number plate backing £45. Also two headlights, four-speed gearboxes £40 each. W115/W123/W124 spares and complete but different lenses – any offers. Pete 07939 233614 parts for diesel engines and conversions. Alan 07973 481161 [email protected] [email protected] W124 Set of chrome wheel-arches with fitting. W126 two sets of WANTED chrome wheel-arches (used), one has a small dent on nearside R171 SLK55 AMG Mercedes-Benz perspex wind deflector required. wheel-arch, screw attachments. 01704 879295. Andrew 07557 923895 [email protected] W124 saloon New off-side (driver’s side) inner and outer replacement 1994 W124 cabriolet Desperately seeking roof ECU, part number sill. Bought new and still in original packaging, now surplus to A1248204526, top price paid. Dean Pearce 01787 378797 dean. requirements £50. Collection from Wiltshire. 07976 311292 [email protected] [email protected] 1993 R129 300SL-24 Windscreen wiper motor, part number 129 820 1993 R129 SL Front bumper, in primer, no damage, VGC £450. Mike 28 42 or Bosch 0390241416. Mike Steadman 07503 522035 the. Steadman 07503 522035 [email protected] Oswestry. [email protected] W166 ML250 Bluetec Genuine Brabus D4 PowerXtra Performance 1989 W201 190E Full Hirschmann aerial assembly. kit. Improves fuel consumption and gives an extra 35bhp. It also [email protected] 07472 684635 text or call. improves acceleration and increases torque. Purchased new from 1984 W123 280E Blue interior with headrests or facility to fit them. Mercedes-Benz Milton Keynes – yours for £275, an 85 per cent David 07770 817757 [email protected] saving. Rod [email protected] 07764 781657. W123 Driver’s seat base in moss green. Martin Clark W121 190SL and W180 220S Pair of rear lamps, complete and in [email protected] good condition £180. robertcoxshall{@outlook.com R107 Replacement door cards for 1979 350SL, good condition, covered 01992 302238. in black interior material or if new blank. Colin Muir 01461 403640 W124 OM603 diesel engine For spares, no IP, new vacuum pump [email protected] recently. Original Mercedes-Benz new old stock exhaust middle and back box for 300D. Tandem pump for SLS. W210 300 turbo estate lights, front bumper, radiator, inter-cooler, EDC pump. Chris 07771 361650 [email protected]
All Spares Register entries should be limited to 40 words maximum and sent to Bob Coxshall, 55 The Avenue, Bengeo, Hertford SG14 3DS to arrive by the 26th of the month preceding publication. All correspondence should be by post or e-mail to bob.coxshall@ mercedes-benz-club.co.uk In emergencies only, telephone 01992 302238.
58 • JANUARY 2020 • www.mercedes-benz-club.co.uk TECHNICALCORNER
1. Peter Maslin’s E280. Removal of a W124 door mirror by Peter Maslin o matter how well you look after removing the mirror? There was not much Behind this trim there is a piece of your classic or modern classic, on the internet so here is my description of loose foam padding (photo four) which Nit seems there will always be the procedure. when removed exposes the electrical something that needs attention. In my case, Firstly you must remove the inside trim connection (plug) that simply pulls off after recently replacing the front wings that covers the screws holding the mirror (photo five). This also exposes the three and refurbishing the alloy wheels on our to the door (photo two). It is very easy to Philips head screws that hold the mirror W124 estate, the bezel on the nearside break the tabs holding the trim in position assembly in position. Carefully undo them, wing mirror was starting to show signs of so, using a plastic trim removal tool, gently I found them originally very difficult to peeling paint and as a replacement is quite ease the trim away, starting at the top turn and on removal there were signs of red an expensive option I decided to remove because there are two tabs at the bottom sealant in the threads, so make sure you do it and repaint it. But how do you go about that clip behind the door panel and you not strip the heads when freeing them. After don’t want to break these off (photo three). you have completely removed two of the
2. Trim covering the screws retaining the mirror. 3. The trim removed.
www.mercedes-benz-club.co.uk • JANUARY 2020 • 59 REGIONALREPORTS ANGLIA – NORTH Happy New Year
Stody Gardens in the 2019 sunshine.
Classic Cars in Concert at Cromer Hall.
Ely Cathedral in 2017. If you think about eyesight for a moment, how can the year 2020 be anything other than a ‘perfect vision’, therefore the Regional Officers wish you and your family the very best of health, wealth, prosperity and motoring throughout the coming year. We will be reviewing events of previous years and putting together a programme for your delectation. Looking at the past few years, the events which spring to mind as being most successful were Ely Cathedral, Stody Gardens, Classic Cars in Concert at Cromer Hall and Sandringham House, as well as our ever popular Christmas party. Events we would also like to consider in the future are the Hunstanton Kite Festival, the Vicarage Garden and Norfolk Steam Museum, as well as some of the lovely gardens and stately homes we can visit accompanied by Sunday lunch. Watch this space for our 2020 vision! R107 SLs at the Hunstanton Kite Festival. Kett’s Rebellion Walk – Sunday October 6 the brave, hardy souls of Anglia – North endured on this October day. But we’re a resilient lot and the morning began at the Adam and Eve, the oldest pub in Norwich, for an introductory talk by our guide Sheree Leeds, while sipping hot coffee, tea or chocolate. We then braved the deluge outside to walk the paths taken by the rebels in the 16th century, which explained a lot of the street and area names in Norwich which were named after Ketts and his medieval activities. Hardy souls braving the elements in the Sadly things did not end well for Robert Sheree Leeds giving an introduction to Kett’s footsteps of Robert Kett. Kett, unlike us. Our day ended very well, Rebellion. The rebellion bore some resemblance to drying out in the Red Lion at Bishopbridge Richard Lee-Warder organised this very the ‘back-stop’ in Brexit and was about for a hearty carvery in another traditional interesting piece of Norfolk history, resisting the erection of barriers around Norfolk pub. retracing the steps of Kett’s Rebellion, land. The rebellion probably wouldn’t Watch out for future events in which was led by Robert Kett in 1549 and have happened at all if the rebels had forthcoming Gazettes and our monthly lasted approximately two troubled months. experienced the torrential driving rain that newsletter. Welcome to our new Pub meeting Our next pub meeting will be on Wednesday February 5 at the Marsh Members Harrier, Ipswich Road Norwich from 6.00pm onwards. Please get in touch We would like to offer a warm welcome to our new Members with Roger Hinton ([email protected] or 01603 in the region, who are Kassam Hassan, Thomas Lewing and 589899) if you would further details, or simply turn up on the night. Malcolm Stevens who all drive E-Classes. We hope to meet you at a future event. Richard Lee-Warder and Roger Hinton
www.mercedes-benz-club.co.uk • JANUARY 2020 • 63 Call for a quote today Approved Insurance provider to 01376 574000 CARSFORSALE e Mercedes-Benz Club www.classiccarinsurance.co.uk WANTED.....WANTED... VERY URGENTLY WANTED ALL MERCEDES MODELS CLASSIC TO MODERN. ESPECIALLY WITH 1998. 44,500 Miles. £19,950. W124 E320. Automatic coupe 1994. Met WANTED R129 320SL. LOW MILEAGE. Azurite Blue. Mushroom interior, separate hard green/tan leather. Good condition mechanically/ PLEASE PHONE NOW, ALL top. Concours winner. VGC. Brand new wheels bodywork/interior. 11 months MoT. 168,000 MERCEDES SPORTS, ANY All conditions wanted, from restoration miles. Well maintained. Ill health forces sale. projects to concours. Complete collections and tyres, serviced and MoT July 2020. YEAR ANY CONDITION & ALL purchased. Right and left-hand drive. Cash Straight six engine. Tel: 01536 712248 £3,950. Tel: 0161 3082152/07754 407000 CLASSICS, INSTANT SETTLEMENT buyer. Discretion assured. (Cheshire) (01/20/02) (Northants) (01/20/01) WE TRAVEL IMMEDIATELY Please do not hesitate to contact me if you are interested in selling your Mercedes and ANYWHERE, are looking for a prompt hassle-free cash TOP CASH TOP SERVICE, buyer! Please feel free to contact me for a no obligation friendly chat. PLEASE PHONE ANYTIME DAY I am especially interested in the following OR NIGHT PETER JARVIS models: AMG & ‘50s to ‘00 SL’s.
TEL: 01322 669081 CALL DIRECT ON: MOBILE: 07836 250222 250SE Saloon W108.014.22009007. White/red 07787 528131 EMAIL: [email protected] UK Based Buyer Tex. 48,000 miles. FSH with original service book and manuals, almost concours. June 1966. Maintained R107 14” 61/2J Mexican Hat Alloys for sale. no expense spared, original spare unused. 6 former Excellent condition. £65 each or £200 for 5. owners, original Blaupunkt. £24,950. Tel: 07818 420620 (Goodwood) (01/20/03) Tel: 07818 420620 (Goodwood) (01/20/04) HILTO N & M O SS
ACHIEVING PERFECTION
280 SL. Dark Green. Excellent condition. 2001. 74,000 MORE STOCK URGENTLY REQUIRED miles. Garaged. MoT As the demand for good quality W198 Coupe & Roadsters, W121 25/10/2019. DESIGNO trim. 190SL’s, W113 Pagoda’s & W107SL’s remains high, we are currently Beige leather. Matching hard looking for more low mileage vehicles to replenish our stock. top. Electric memory seats. Wind deflector. £11,500. Tel. 01929 426877 (Dorset) 01279 813907 www.hiltonandmoss.com (01/20/05) Email: [email protected] and [email protected] Raynham Road, Bishops Stortford, Hertfordshire CM23 5PJ
SPORTING CLASSIC MOTORS LTDH&M More stock neededWE ad Aug 2013.inddWOULD 1 LIKE TO06/09/2013 20:22 BUY YOUR MERCEDES SCM ANY MODEL MERCEDES-BENZ PORSCHE ANY CONDITION Fast Discreet Service. Highest Prices Paid. Tel: Peter 079430 96940
Specialists in Classic Cars engineering since 1965. • Restoration • General repair work MERCEDES WANTED • Servicing • Mechanical Engineering • Bodywork • Paint Refi nishing • Assessments and Valuations With expertise developed over more than 45 years, SCM provides a fully comprehensive facility for all aspects and associated requirements of classic cars and historic vehicles. • ANY MODEL • ANY MILEAGE For further information Tel: 01635 299184 • ANY CONDITION Email: [email protected] WE COLLECT ANYWHERE Web: www.sportingclassicmotors.co.uk TELEPHONE Peter Cecil 07903 822886 anytime EMAIL: [email protected]
www.mercedes-benz-club.co.uk • JANUARY 2020 • 85 SPECIALISTSERVICES
ACCIDENT & BODYWORK REPAIR New and Used TECHNICAL Mercedes Body SPECIALISTS P J Smith TWB Parts Available ANDY’S Classic and modern paint and bodywork Ltd Service & Repairs in S.W. London Unit 2, Manor Park, Windsor Rd, Bedford MK42 9HW AUTOBARN Engine Rebuilds • Servicing • Diagnostics Air Conditioning • MOT Preparation • Accident Repairs Tel: 01234 341410 Prestige Vehicle Body Repairs Accident repair and restoration specialists Trevor Brown Service Engineer Tel: 020 8675 8505 VANLEIGH COACH WORKS WWW.ANDYSAUTOBARN.COM Andy’s Autobarn Unit 7, Central Ave, West Molesey, tel/fax 01784 243426 Mobile: 07956 309767 Henry’s Yard Email: [email protected] Surrey KT8 2QH Tel 0208 783 1212 mob. 07956 360293 Challenge Road [email protected] Ashford, Middlesex Website: www.twb mercedes.com All aspects of repair & restoration undertaken email. [email protected] TW15 1AX 23-25 Oldridge Road, Balham, London SW12 8PL to the highest standard at competitive rates ALLOY WHEEL REFURBISHMENTwww.justwheelrepair.co.uk M’S AUTOMOT Redcastle Classics Limited JUST WHEEL DA IVE 19 Sir Alfred Owen Way, Pontygwindy Industrial A ENGINEERING Estate, Caerphilly, CF83 3HU REPAIR Tel: 029 20882110 Tel : 01603 880522 Fax: 01603 880058 10% off all services upon www.adamsautomotive.co.uk www.redcastleclassics.com presentation of current email: [email protected] [email protected] membership card. With over 40 years experience in restoration, we are Mercedes specialists Specialists in 190SL restoration, servicing & repairs London, Essex and Herts maintaining and restoring these cars to customer requirements with Historic www.justwheelrepair.co.uk event preperation and modifi cation as part of our services. Please remember Also Pagoda 113 series, Fintail, Ponton etc. 1950s-1980s please call 0333 2079971 we also cater for other main marques from 1900 to 1972 and that we are agents for Penrite oils. We look forward to your enquiry! quoting MBOC19 [email protected], Specialising in www.justwheelrepair.co.uk Mercedes-Benz Limited servicing & repairs CAR MATS Established 15 years Unit 1, 28 Send Road, Caversham, Reading, Berks RG4 8EH Tel: 0118 946 2750 Classic [email protected] Mercedes Mats www.starmotorservices.com
SilverStar Garages Limited Lazarus Court, Woodgate, Rothley, Leics, LE7 7NR Tel/Fax 0116 230 3801 From classic to modern all MERCEDES BENZ vehicles serviced & repaired, MERCEDES Trained Technician, full workshop facilities available, free quotations and friendly advice Discounts for club members. www.silverstargarages.co.uk PRESTIGE MERCEDES Mercedes Specialists run by a genuine enthusiast Charles Wells with over 40 years experience. 07919 885705 Specialising in the following models: R107, W123, 124, 116 and the superb www.classicmercedesmats.co.uk 126 coupés & saloon We would also like to introduce “Bezza.biz” a company dedicated to ecologically sound under CAR STORAGE body treatments far superior to current traditional under body treatments that are available Richard Thorne Please ring me for details 01732 763956, 07970 553071, 07773 583583 The Courtyard Garage, James Lane, Kemsing, Kent Grazeley Green, Reading RG7 1NB Tel: 0118 9831200 Fax: 0118 9831414 • Restores clarity by removing scuffs and opacities www.rtcc.co.uk “Hindsight miraculously • Lubricates & protects from frost Dehumidified, alarmed storage. Hindsight removes scratches Transport from anywhere, MOT. Restored Vision for Convertibles • Reduces risk of splitting and opacity, and is Treat your screen before it splits • Avoids replacing rear screen environmentally friendly” M4 J11 3 miles. • Particularly effective on SLs Mercedes Gazette • Restores milky acrylic head/tail lights • Renovo Fabric Hood restoration INTERIOR WOOD TRIM products also in stock “By far the best screen SPECIALISTS Tel: 01780 749449 cleaning product Nick Martin, www.morethanpolish.com/ I’ve tried” The Workshop at No 39, 39 Albert Street, hindsight.asp Editor - Classic & Sportscar Spalding, Lincolnshire, PE11 2LD Tel: 020 8361 6750 world-wide shipping Tel: 07977 741889 www.nicholas-martin.co.uk Email: [email protected] Merc-Care has been established since 1988 with fully equipped Mercedes workshops SERVICING SPECIALIST REPAIRS and fully trained technicians. We at Merc-Care offer a personal service to your vehicle with all the latest Star computer Steve Redfearn Motor Co Ltd diagnostics and Mercedes special tools. 169 Gladstone Rd, Wimbledon, SW19 1QS NO JOB IS TOO BIG OR SMALL. Tel: 0208 540 2311 Fax: 0208 5430812 All types of body repairs and insurance [email protected] work undertaken Specialising in Mercedes Benz repairs & servic- ONE CALL AND MERC-CARE DOES IT ALL! ing. Full test & report facility available before you purchase your new car
88 • JANUARY 2020 • www.mercedes-benz-club.co.uk