As is often the way with me buying cars, this one wasn't planned. Having recently taken back my Audi 80 in PX on my MX5 I noticed a comment from Brian on Facebook that he was finally selling his Merc. So out of curiosity I found the ad and was sat there thinking to myself how nice it looked and what a bargain it was. My wife then spotted I was daydreaming at the Mac again, but even she was impressed with it.
A few PMs later, a sale was agreed, the Audi sold, insurance swapped over and train ticket and most importantly a MOT booked 4pm on Friday.
So yesterday morning (at an unhealthy time) I found myself stood waiting for the 1st of 3 trains. And to my surprise, each one ran to time but looking out of the window I could see the rain lashing down. This could be a fun drive back
A couple of hours later and I arrive at Bromsgrove train station, it's pouring with rain but I can see a white BX waiting for me 
A quick divert via a petrol station to get a gallon of fresh juice for it, and we're back at damaged towers for a brew whilst the rain dies down.
So funds and paperwork sorted, it was time to raise the beast to life. With the jump leads on the BX, an interesting technique was required to stop the alarm going nutz and the 1st few attempts weren't very successful, it would start and then die. The fresh gallon of petrol sorted that out and we soon had it purring on the drive. After letting it idle for a bit, a quick spin round the block and a rundown of the controls and I was off.
1st stop was the petrol station, didn't look at all dodgy filling up a car without MOT or tax and the engine running And then onto to M5 to settle into the wafty cruise of it. drove through some horrific rain, but i was making good time so I decided to pull off at the Thornbury junction (to avoid the M4) and also to stop off at the tyre and exhaust place near the old lockup. The plan was simple, the C class alloys had 2 good tyres, but the fronts were pretty bad, and in the boot was the original spec alloys with 2 nearly new tyres (and 2 bald ones). So to ease the MOT stress (and to get it looking better) was to get 4 good tyres on the 'proper' rims. When I got there they had a car in, so I parked up and was called in.
So I open the door and the alarm goes off, and no matter what we did, as soon as you opened it, the alarm went off. A call to Brian and it was a new one on him, so he then hit the net for answers and I called out the AA. In the mean time, Harkness not only made me a brew, but also dragged the trolley jacks into the carpark and sorted the wheels out for me and were just bolting on the 4th wheel when the AA turn up. Within 5 mins the AA had found the switch to shut down the alarm, and I was good to go again
So on to M-tech and the MOT. A nervous time at the best of times, let alone on a car that's been sat for 10 months. But it went straight through, only 2 advisories on both front indicator bulbs showing some white (just needs new bulbs)
So this morning I went and stuck 6 months tax on it and a quick wash
It still needs a good polish (and the E320 badge removing) and I'll have a look at the couple of bits of grot its got, but other than that I shall be enjoying wafting around in luxury (and trying to work out were the back actually ends on it)
A few PMs later, a sale was agreed, the Audi sold, insurance swapped over and train ticket and most importantly a MOT booked 4pm on Friday.
So yesterday morning (at an unhealthy time) I found myself stood waiting for the 1st of 3 trains. And to my surprise, each one ran to time but looking out of the window I could see the rain lashing down. This could be a fun drive back
A couple of hours later and I arrive at Bromsgrove train station, it's pouring with rain but I can see a white BX waiting for me 
A quick divert via a petrol station to get a gallon of fresh juice for it, and we're back at damaged towers for a brew whilst the rain dies down.
So funds and paperwork sorted, it was time to raise the beast to life. With the jump leads on the BX, an interesting technique was required to stop the alarm going nutz and the 1st few attempts weren't very successful, it would start and then die. The fresh gallon of petrol sorted that out and we soon had it purring on the drive. After letting it idle for a bit, a quick spin round the block and a rundown of the controls and I was off.
1st stop was the petrol station, didn't look at all dodgy filling up a car without MOT or tax and the engine running
And then onto to M5 to settle into the wafty cruise of it. drove through some horrific rain, but i was making good time so I decided to pull off at the Thornbury junction (to avoid the M4) and also to stop off at the tyre and exhaust place near the old lockup. The plan was simple, the C class alloys had 2 good tyres, but the fronts were pretty bad, and in the boot was the original spec alloys with 2 nearly new tyres (and 2 bald ones). So to ease the MOT stress (and to get it looking better) was to get 4 good tyres on the 'proper' rims. When I got there they had a car in, so I parked up and was called in. So I open the door and the alarm goes off, and no matter what we did, as soon as you opened it, the alarm went off. A call to Brian and it was a new one on him, so he then hit the net for answers and I called out the AA. In the mean time, Harkness not only made me a brew, but also dragged the trolley jacks into the carpark and sorted the wheels out for me and were just bolting on the 4th wheel when the AA turn up. Within 5 mins the AA had found the switch to shut down the alarm, and I was good to go again
So on to M-tech and the MOT. A nervous time at the best of times, let alone on a car that's been sat for 10 months. But it went straight through, only 2 advisories on both front indicator bulbs showing some white (just needs new bulbs)
So this morning I went and stuck 6 months tax on it and a quick wash
It still needs a good polish (and the E320 badge removing) and I'll have a look at the couple of bits of grot its got, but other than that I shall be enjoying wafting around in luxury (and trying to work out were the back actually ends on it
)
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