Mercedes Benz C Class a Forgone Over Engineered Era

After the production of the much praised and legendary W201 and W124 ended, Benz decided to follow the then cost cutting measures trend widely adapted by most car makers in early 1990s: Leaving behind the famous “Over Engineered” marketing term and thus its heritage traditional production method. Certainly with the exception of Its bigger brother the G Class, for obvious reason look for past article on Mercedes Benz G Class Accessories.

Mercedes Benz C Class almost revolutionized Benz character to follow its rivalry’s dynamic driving machinery, the BMW. It helps the marketing sales target at the cost of Benz purist who puts reliability traits above all. The evidence is quite bewildering, a large number of newer Benz taxi has spent more time in the workshop than the W124 counterparts, it is a harsh reality that most German taxi drivers facing then.

When the heavy seasonal flood hampers most of Jakarta and into a parked W124 in a private garage, it only requires wiping off the excess water and moisture. As the ECU is kept in a water tight compartment the car starts off immediately with no problem at all.

It’s the classic consumer behavior dictated by Manufacturer in the long run strategy! Technology-wise the computer is now in charge for the most parts of driving functions; combustion process, the controlled stability and other enhanced driving comforts and conveniences. Including individual driving style, motorized trunk access and lastly perhaps rendering careful battery replacement; the buffer memory stored for ignition mapping. Replacing battery without caution may result the car to refuse to operate.

Imagine turning the ignition key with the new battery, but the car could not run whatsoever unless the “engineer” not the mechanic puts the memory back on! The automotive wiring now boasts a system called Bus system allowing digital signal and DC current flows in an efficient manner unlike the system it has replaced. 

Less wiring length is required as it used to be, but analyzing electrical glitches requires specialized know how and dedicated training for each model and car brand. You should literary never allow a monkey attitude mechanic to browse your engine bay, unless you have expected for the worst.

 

And here is one good example of allowing a monkey tinkering your car electrical, the whole wiring gets a remarkable burning state. Now this Mercedes Benz C Class is in comatose albeit worthless vegetable car; Mercedes Benz C Class a Forgone Over Engineered Era

The good news is other C Class owner gets excellent donor car for affordable cannibal part resources! Then surely there is ample of remaining universal Car Accessories such as Floor Mats, Audio player, speaker, sport wheels and any Performance Tires set that come with them.

LED Angel Eye

The OEM equipped LED Angel Eye on your Rare and exotic car seems outdated? The thought of relentless car modifications haunting the soul to distinguish yours to other “ordinary” looking cars; if the pursuit of aesthetic rather than high performances, the original HID lighting Applications is one of the best places to start off.

Such option offers fewer drawbacks than any other modifications at least it would be much more environmentally friendly. Though a HID lighting projector Headlamp might impose hazardous glare to the oncoming drivers, its surrounding LED Angel Eye would not, yet could provide significant aggressive look. The BMW 5 series has pioneered this unique style since the early 2000.

Its available from the most advanced technology of CCFL filament down to the cheapest around from the humble DIY stuff LED illuminated clear acrylic/plastic rod to the alternatively fiber optics cables. 

The trick to make it lights up like the true 'Angel Eye', the latter two options necessitates multiple cuts (scratches) along the designated length whereas each cut is ideally measuring about 2~3mm apart. The multiple cuts creates the light to visually 'escape' the ring..

Certainly only those individual with highly craftsmanship could make the difference fabricating unique customized 'Angel Eye' regardless of material and filament choices, but creativity would also play an important role. Average technical knowledge in conjunction with artistic approach might evolve from a mere widely available aftermarket product. Hence improving the aesthetic look is virtually boundless.

All the better for a HID OEM car equipped with no LED Angel Eye, such simple 'Angel Eye' or ‘Eyebrow’ upgrade would be a great enhancement; as some folks might regard ‘Eyebrow’ upgrade as better stylistic trend alternative. 

Who would have thought that interior illumination style of the early 1970s could inspire LED Angel Eye craze of 2011? It is actually a rotating thermostat knob on an Old Classic W114 Mercedes Benz!

DIY Tools

DIY Tools might come handy for that precious Leisure indulgence time, and it would especially be very handful during the emergency which unfortunately happens at the worst possible moment. There are times for most of us to spent quality week end on our own classic car, not that it needs the repair, but rather to make it in tip top shape, such Tender Loving Care is indeed quite important for the Classic.

 

And having the right tools would certainly strengthen the excitement. Most Classics have little electronic or micro processor controlled gadgets if not none at all; relying the old but simple technology. Contrary to the recent advanced and useful HID lighting Applications it is purely mechanical system application, we could literally watch the whole process with naked eyes, almost anyway as an argument sake to distinguish very close to four decades of technology advancement; Hence simple DIY Toolsfor the reliable old engineering technology. 

An essential engineering parameter particularly for the non injection fuel delivery system is Vacuum Pressure, the very soul resources to maintain healthy engine. For an engine to idle evenly regardless of cold or hot state as well as ignition timing adjustments during either cruising or hard sudden acceleration and many other numerous functions in order to have optimum combustion process.

One recurring imminent case on a 1975 Mercedes Benz W114 280 is clearly depicted on the Vacuum gauge reading, though the Classic never in a lumpy idle but it is always uneven, it raises rpm on every few seconds then falls momentarily in perfect cycle on and on. Whenever the car is driven hard the frequency as well as uneven amplitude of fluctuating rpm is greater, necessitating Carburetor adjustment.

The Equus Gaugerepresenting simple DIY Tools clearly indicates late ignition timing and worst the car refuses to get into the green normal Vacuum Pressure zone. Both exhaust and inlet Manifolds have been reinstalled with new set of gasket, and there is no apparent misalignment on each part. 

Vice versa on the Carburetor sides, the engine has also shown no telltale of compression loss, as the 35 year old veteran has no trouble at all getting into 160 kmh furious speed territory, and there is hardly any noticeable alarming smoke coming out. In fact nothing at all, perfectly colorless out at the back end.