Mercedes B Class 1.8 CDI

[sparkie]

So further to my VW Bora 1.9 TDI being rear ended by some moron. I got paid out for it, as it was a write off. I put some money down and got myself a car i've liked for ages. The Mercedes B Class W246 shape. They have the Renault 1.5 dci engine in some of them running 109bhp, so I obviously didn't want that one. I opted for a manual 109bhp 1.8 diesel instead, which is just a detuned version of the 134bhp engine, which can be remapped to 165-180bhp in one sitting. However after a little test drive , this car certainly has more punt than 109bhp. I'll need to get it rolling roaded to see I think.
I have to admit the ride is a bit... wobbley, whether this is warn bushes or the run flat tyres, im not sure yet. As an added bonus polybushes don't seem to be available for this or the W176 A class sister car either. Bugger.

 

[sparkie]

Fitted a DAB receiver, although annoyingly Smooth Chill is a bit crackley occasionally.
A pillar covering off, paint scratched off to ensure ground connection.


Stick in place.



Antenna on window.
Sorted. (After running wire though to the centre console.)

 

[Big Steve - Raider]

Nice looking car that @sparkie !! Look forwards to reading the updates!!

 

[sparkie]

Nice looking car that @sparkie !! Look forwards to reading the updates!!

Cheers Steve, there's not alot being done to the Merc's it seems when it comes to modifying. Just basic stuff.

 

[sparkie]

So I decided to visit Dynodaze this morning to see what power figure the Merc was putting out. Turns out it is 170bhp, which is 61bhp more than its supposed to. Looks like I won't need the stage 2 remap as someone has beaten me to it. Bonus!

 

[Adey]

thats some solid gains for a little engine, good going whats next?

 

[sparkie]

thats some solid gains for a little engine, good going whats next?

I really need to see why the front seems so wobbley. I'm tempted to take it to a merc specialist for a once over and see what they say. Standard front shocks for these are £200 each, but a set of cheap coilovers is £280 ish....

 

[sparkie]

So.... after stating that my front end seemed a bit wobbly, it started getting wobbly when braking, and knocking when braking hard. So I bought wishbones. Then it rained constantly for 3 weeks. Then this happened.

The wishbone completely snapped.

 

[sparkie]

Turns out you can't get a car with a snapped wishbone onto a flatbed without destroying the wing and/or the bumper. So the recovery guy dropped me off home minus the car, so I drove back out to the car and changed the wishbone at the side of the road. I got got in the car and discovered the inner cv of the driveshaft was fucked, as I had no drive. So I got the car recovered home, as it could roll now.
I bought a 2nd hand driveshaft off a 1.5 dci auto... it fitted my 1.8 diesel manual, so now it's kind of fixed. Needs two new front tyres and tracking again...

 

[Adey]

holy feck, hope everyone is safe. what a thing to fail!

 

[sparkie]

holy feck, hope everyone is safe. what a thing to fail!

Cheers, I pulled out of a side road and gave it the beans, wheel span up, then bang, tyre smoke and steering fucked. Luckily i got it partially on the pavement.
The rear bush is held onto the wishbone with a thick bolt, which had sheared through. I suspect it was like this when I bought the car, as fitting the new wishbone has certainly reduced some of the interesting noises I was getting from the front end.