Did a clean this morning, the day after I got my Mercedes SL500 back from the independent MB shop where they had taken out the headlight wipers and motors.
Heart sank. There was evidence that one headlight had been dropped on my brand-newly painted bumper - there were scuff marks over it that went through the paint. Not big marks, but noticeable. And there are swirl marks where they had wiped the bumper down with an ordinary cloth, obviously dirty.
It was very out of character for the shop, but then it's a black car which shows every little mark. You don't have to do much to show some damage.
I then had the unpleasant task of driving it back to the shop - where I've been going for years and where I am on excellent terms with them - and try and sort it out.
One of my misgivings was that they might sack me as a customer because my standards were too picky, but they were very concerned and offered to take up the cost of a repaint.
Very nice, and I'm relieved. But it seems that everything I do with the SL incurs damage of some sort.
A stone chip here, a scuff there. Before you know it, my SL will look like every used banger on the road.
Unless - I don't take it out anywhere, just dust it and look at it.
I'm tempted.
However there was a good comment on another MB forum some years back which has stuck with me. It went along the lines of: Your car starts dying the day you drive it home from the seller and continues throughout your lifetime. All you can do is reduce the death rate with some TLC.
I agree, but the reality still stinks.
(Just wanted to vent my feelings, so I hope you can put up with my little rant).
Ken Silver
--------------
~1993 Mercedes SL500, glistening blue-black on black leather.
~1991 Daimler (Vanden Plas), shiny grey on grey leather, best in country!
~1991 Miata MX5, sparkling BRG on tan leather, wife's (but my polishing).
Heart sank. There was evidence that one headlight had been dropped on my brand-newly painted bumper - there were scuff marks over it that went through the paint. Not big marks, but noticeable. And there are swirl marks where they had wiped the bumper down with an ordinary cloth, obviously dirty.
It was very out of character for the shop, but then it's a black car which shows every little mark. You don't have to do much to show some damage.
I then had the unpleasant task of driving it back to the shop - where I've been going for years and where I am on excellent terms with them - and try and sort it out.
One of my misgivings was that they might sack me as a customer because my standards were too picky, but they were very concerned and offered to take up the cost of a repaint.
Very nice, and I'm relieved. But it seems that everything I do with the SL incurs damage of some sort.
A stone chip here, a scuff there. Before you know it, my SL will look like every used banger on the road.
Unless - I don't take it out anywhere, just dust it and look at it.
I'm tempted.
However there was a good comment on another MB forum some years back which has stuck with me. It went along the lines of: Your car starts dying the day you drive it home from the seller and continues throughout your lifetime. All you can do is reduce the death rate with some TLC.
I agree, but the reality still stinks.
(Just wanted to vent my feelings, so I hope you can put up with my little rant).
Ken Silver
--------------
~1993 Mercedes SL500, glistening blue-black on black leather.
~1991 Daimler (Vanden Plas), shiny grey on grey leather, best in country!
~1991 Miata MX5, sparkling BRG on tan leather, wife's (but my polishing).
