Mike T

Thanks!

I think the nuts I've been using are not 45 degree units....so the plan at the moment is to re-use original brake fitting nuts, after de-rusting and replating. Actually I'm feeling optimistic now....

Braking fiasco continues: I just put one of the new rear wheel cylinders in. I have come to the conclusion that - yet again (!) the type of brake unions I used in the lines I've made up are not correct, with insufficient taper that you see in the original one in this photo. I may have to redo all the lines again, if I can find the correct unions at last..... The type I used on the latest version of the lines has a taper but it's only about 33% as much and that has meant the union cinches up against the cylinder and the brake line is still loose!! (And the flare is destroyed in the process.)

here they are with a coat of Krylon.

New drop link cost $33 with taxes and I installed it Wednesday evening in 10 minutes. I also got the 17.5 mm 404 Coupé wheel cylinders Wednesday.

A friend got this 508 model for me in Edmonton and I got it today! 508 SW.

Couldn't get to the 404C today due to the B200 having a "boing" moment on Thursday when going over a bump - it turned out that the upper right rear drop link bolt sheared off and was rattling like hell. So I removed it and have to get new ones. New 17.5 mm rear wheel cylinders are on their way for the 404C, from France.

Good question. I usually am not a SUV kind of guy, but.... The GLC 350e: is comfortable quick (0-100 under 7s) easy to get in and out of has 120 km real-world EV range looks more wagon-y than SUV-y and does not look like it wants to eat your face, as most SUVs do stunning interior my wife likes the colour (light green metallic) has a decent 4WD system easy to load future grandchildren in and out of If Mercedes had offered a C or E Class wagon in PHEV we'd have considered that, but their interiors would be a lot more compromised by the battery and they're a tad low for older folks like us. The C and E PHEV wagons are available in Europe but they have smaller batteries to not overly impact the trunk size, so the EV range is less. Had considered a RAV4 Prime but strangely they do not offer leather seats at any price, so you get vinyl.....also my wife hates their interior (it is like a Corolla including hard HDPE door cappings on the rear doors, the cheap cost cutting showroom trick in cheap cars that I just can't take). Also looked at the Toyota Crown Signia, which is also wagon-y but it's not a PHEV. It does come with leather. Our experiment in Europe with the PHEV 508 SW in 2023 convinced me that if we needed to get a new car, it'd be a PHEV. The B Class is still going well but it's not a car to retire with, at 360K km. Options: 60kW fast charger sunroof ventilated front seats heated rear seats leather seats active Distronic cruise navigation Avoided the AMG kitted versions which are more common with their katana slashes on the bumper skins and grumpy grille...and those also come with the lane keeping and other self driving nannies, which I don't want.

I removed the (16 mm) rear wheel cylinders last weekend and one was recoverable but the other was not looking good. So I've just ordered 2 new 17.5 mm ones - original Lockheed DBA - from France and they should arrive soonish. I have to check the fronts shortly. The braking system was mostly empty for the past 4 years which did the cylinders no favours. I checked the master cylinder and it's OK - cleaned it out. The Hydrovac was rebuilt by White Post about 5 years ago so it too should be OK. If the fronts are scrappy, I'll need to find some OE ones if possible, as the replicas available these days are generally said to be crap and last like 2 years. OE will be face-meltingly expensive. NEw GLC 350e will be coming in late April or May so I don't want to spend a ton on the 404C right at this time!

Good stuff!

Just as well - the exhaust pipe was moved to the side to prevent fumes from getting into the cabin. My sedan had the exit there (but not the cutout) and at one point when the rear panel rubber (new!) was torn, the car filled up with fumes and I had to repair the seal!

A bakery owner in Fort Langley bought the car. It's got the low flexibility suspension and tightly wound coils, simplified anti-sway bar on the front, rectangular air vents with "Climatisation" heater control, protuberant rear reflectors, thick body side trim. Rear bumper with exhaust cutout in the central section.....body colour wheels...... The 1963 model I had, 4326224, had ball bearing strut swivels. They were reliable enough - when I replaced the shockers in mine in the eighties the only issue was the lower race was cut into the strut body and I had to do a little work with emery cloth to clean it up. Worked a treat for five years in the salt after that.

OK we jumped the gun, the order was placed today in Nanaimo. Options: ventilated leather seats, heated rear seats, Distronic self-braking cruise control, DC 60 kW fast charger port, panoramic sunroof (and it is, the whole roof is glass), light green metallic and navigation system. Should arrive by May 2025 if not a touch earlier.

Engine oil (break-in) in the sump plus anti freeze (green Prestone). Spare injection tubes flushed again and laid up with light oil coating inside plus end caps. Braking system hardware is now installed. Next is a cleaning out of the 6 wheel cylinders to remove the gunk from being empty for 3 years, then a bleed. Then valve adjustment and not long after, electrical tests and starting attempt.

Follow-up to the 508 SW PHEV we had a year ago: in January we will be ordering a new M-B GLC 350e PHEV. The EV only range is up to 130 km in international tests (87 km to EPA type tests) and that will mean we can drive mostly in electric mode except on trips. We did enjoy the tech of the Peugeot PHEV but some other aspects of the car were disappointing to me. Apart from that, we couldn't buy one if we wanted it anyway!