Random Thought Thread

Grenock said:
Oh, this just came to mind, and it may help some of you when ordering options for the Shiv2 with Jo…….

“I want nicer wood scales on mine than you are putting on Marc’s”

……..is not a valid option to ask for. Never was, never has been.

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I hope you don’t lose much sleep in the next six months worrying that it is really going to happen that way. 😎

On your behalf, I will send Nathan some sticky sour grape flavored popsicle sticks to use on your Shivs. You just have to let Jo know if prefer them buffed or unbuffed. That is the least I can do to make your Shivs the rarest of variations. Casinostocks Casinostocks will be so jealous…or maybe he will laugh his ass off at my successful strategery. 😈

And the wait begins…

Phil
 
It shouldn't take an hour to change a headlight bulb, should it? 🤔

Could have done it quicker if I had a rack but I don't; only a floor jack. Why do you need a rack or floor jack to replace a headlight bulb? You'll have to ask Mercedes Benz that question.

But on my ML350, in order to change the low beam headlight bulb, you have to lift the front wheel (the left one in my case) to have more clearance to open up a flap in the fender liner to gain access to a porthole which then allows you access to the light bulb holder. "Quality" German engineering. 😲

Didn't help that the flap was a b*tch to open (w/o fear of damaging it) and then getting it closed again (with the help of a vice grip) or that the light bulb holder refused to release the lightbulb w/o the help of a screwdriver as a lever (which shouldn't be necessary for a simple lighbulb swap).

I thought about taking it to my shop to do it before I started the job because it looked like too much trouble and, after getting it done, I'm convinced that that is what I should have done in the 1st place. LOL! ;)
 
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Friggin M-Class, be it ML350, ML550, ML63, specially if early model W164 chassis. Nothing but POS money pit which will eventually put itself in limp mode when the Check Eng light comes on and stays on (if unaddressed) for many various reasons. I am going to make a very rude and controversial statement: the fracking thing is assembled in AL, so don't but the early MBZ-AL assemblies! I much rather have the older body on frame W163 chassis than the POS unibody W164 chassis.
 
sgt1372 said:
It shouldn't take an hour to change a headlight bulb, should it? 🤔

Could have done it quicker if I had a rack but I don't'; only a floor jack. Why do you need a rack or floor jack to replace a headlight bulb? You'll have to ask Mercedes Benz that question.

But on my ML350, in order to change the low beam headlight bulb, you have to lift the front wheel (the left one in my case) to have more clearance to open up a flap in the fender liner to gain access to a porthole which then allows you access to the light bulb holder. "Quality" German engineering. 😲

Didn't help that the flap was a b*tch to open (w/o fear of damaging it) and then getting it closed again (without the help of a vice grip) or that the light bulb holder refused to release the lightbulb w/o the help of a screwdriver as a lever (which shouldn't be necessary for a simple lighbulb swap).

I thought about taking it to my shop to do it before I started the job because it looked like too much trouble and, after getting it done, I'm convinced that that is what I should have done in the 1st place. LOL! ;)
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Some manufacturers appear to be deliberately making it harder for DIY'ers.

Fewer and fewer vehicles with 60 second toolless bulb replacement.

Really glad I sprang for the all-LED on the Toyota. Headlights are nice and bright, and hopefully, I'll never have to change a single bulb.
 
Casinostocks said:
Friggin M-Class, be it ML350, ML550, ML63, specially if early model W164 chassis. Nothing but POS money pit which will eventually put itself in limp mode when the Check Eng light comes on and stays on (if unaddressed) for many various reasons. I am going to make a very rude and controversial statement: the fracking thing is assembled in AL, so don't but the early MBZ-AL assemblies! I much rather have the older body on frame W163 chassis than the POS unibody W164 chassis.
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It's nicer than any car that I've ever owned. The people who buy these don't care about these "shortcomings". If they forget where they parked it they just go buy another one. If the headlight is out it is not intended for the owner to replace it (the headlight). They'll spoil their manicure. The driver should take it to the dealership and they should drive their Bentley instead.
 
bluemax_1 said:
Some manufacturers appear to be deliberately making it harder for DIY'ers.

Fewer and fewer vehicles with 60 second toolless bulb replacement.

Really glad I sprang for the all-LED on the Toyota. Headlights are nice and bright, and hopefully, I'll never have to change a single bulb.
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LOL….my Denali has LED taillights. Apparently the brake lights in every full-size GMC SUV and pickup have a design flaw where vibration causes the solder to the LEDs to crack causing them to stop working. And because it’s LEDs it’s not as simple as changing the bulb, you have to change the whole $800 (each side!) assembly. Fortunately my dealership was kind enough to good faith cover it after I spent a month driving around with no brake lights this summer waiting for the parts to come in.
 
Nathan the Machinist said:
It's nicer than any car that I've ever owned. The people who buy these don't care about these "shortcomings". If they forget where they parked it they just go buy another one. If the headlight is out it is not intended for the owner to replace it (the headlight). They'll spoil their manicure. The driver should take it to the dealership and they should drive their Bentley instead.
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We have a rule Nathan: veiled sarcasm must be in green color font! That said, here is how to buy a used, second hand ML, say model year 2008 ML350: the original owner, one little ol' lady from Pasadena bought it back in 2008 for like $52K and during her ownership for almost 15 years, she sinks another $30K in regular maintenances and out of warranty repairs at the MB dealership ($150-$200 per hour nowadays?). When she dies, he state sells the ML for today's fair market value of around $6K, or trade it in for $3K. Well done Mercedes-Benz!
 
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