Edmunds Members - Cars and Conversations (Archived)

oldfarmer50

Nice viewing.

https://youtu.be/mpwW4m8JiUo

explorerx4

@oldfarmer50,
Not sure what I will do. There is a lot of stuff (good) going on over the next few months.
At age 63, got a raise this year, first one in several years, so I guess my boss still thinks I add value to the company.
Related, our company is in process of being sold and being PE, existing stock needs to be cashed out.
This is the second time I bought stock due to some being made available to employees.
First time, basically made almost 15 times my investment in less than 2 years, although number of shares I could buy was limited.
Last round, put in more dollars, but it was about 5 years ago.
Will have to see how it turns out.
Then there is the whole farm thing.

jmonroe1

@explorer4, I have an update on the Brewthru. Coming back from dinner tonight, passed a Brewthru at around mile marker 5.5 on route 158 heading North. Yep, it looked like an old converted 2 bay gas station. Business must be good in this warm weather (high 80's today). There was a car in each bay and 3 cars/pick-ups waiting to get in. FWIW, our condo is half a block off of route 12 at mile marker 4.5, so we're just steps away from the ocean.

Geography lesson: route 158 and route 12 run parallel to each other about 3 blocks apart where we are. With route 12 about fifty yards from the water at the point where we enter the steps and walkway that go over a dune.

Believe it or not, life is better at the beach.

jmonroe

explorerx4

@jmonroe1,
I think that Brew Thru location is where my kids annually buy their tee shirts.
We stay down around MM 70 on Route 12.
If you are looking for a day trip, drive down there and take the free ferry over to Okracoke Island.
If weather is good kids will love the ferry.

driver100

thebean said:

driver100 said:

thebean said:

What I would like to see, and this is probably going to be unpopular, is a sedan raised up so I don’t have to stoop down to get into it. I like to have a lockable trunk, so I really don’t need a SUV. Anyone else want this as a more comfortable option as we get older? I guess most people will say just give me a SUV for the versatility.

BMW X4 model;

Mercedes GLC AMG

or a 2010 to 2019 Honda Crosstour:


I know what you mean though Thebean, when I had my 1995 Jeep Grand Cherokee I thought this would make a great car........just make a car roof and put a trunk on it. You have to picture the roof ending after rear side window and a trunk;

@driver100, isn’t that MB and BMW both hatchbacks? Same with the Crosstour? I like trunks, plus I’m just not a luxury German car type of guy, as far as the first two go. But, thanks for the suggestions.

I think they are hatches...but, I imagine there is a shelf to close them off. I am like you though....I want my trunk separated from my car. I don't like driving with my junk in the same cabin.

driver100

thebean said:

@Michaell, that’s a good representation of something I would like. Too bad they are no longer made.

Thebean....try to find a used one!

jmonroe1

explorerx4 said:

@jmonroe1,
I think that Brew Thru location is where my kids annually buy their tee shirts.
We stay down around MM 70 on Route 12.
If you are looking for a day trip, drive down there and take the free ferry over to Okracoke Island.
If weather is good kids will love the ferry.

Thanks for that suggestion but this vacation is already planned out.Tomorrow is day-trip day and we are going about 40 miles north to see the wild horses that live on the island up there. By the time we get back after stopping to eat dinner, the only water we'll be getting in will be at this condo village's pool. Nice pool, we went there last night but it ain't no ocean. :@

jmonroe

suydam

You can climb the lighthouse too. Great way to see the wild horses. Did not work for me with my fear of heights thing, but the kids loved it. OTOH I loved the small plane ride out over the water. Beautiful!

abacomike

My S450’s odometer now reads 14,001 miles after 19 months. I never knew odometers displayed over 12,000 miles - you learn something new every day in ones lifetime. I wonder how high it will go before displaying 00000 again? 🤪😜

abacomike

I inquired at my MB dealership’s parts department how much a pair of wipers cost to replace the OEM wiper blades. The response was $181.00+ which included my discount (MBCA Membership) and included 7% sales tax. They offered to have them put on at no charge!

I excreted a brick! They told me it was due to the fact that the washer fluid for the windshield is applied directly through many holes in the wiper blades - in other words directly applied without “spritzer” nozzles. I told them I would wait until the wiper blades were hopelessly incapable of removing water from the windshield.

I should have known better - nothing is cheap to replace on an S Class Mercedes! 😩

sda

Wow, that is thorough German engineering! $181+ for wiper blade, ouch, ouch, ouch! I guess you are limited to OEM replacements or no washers. Perhaps someone makes an aftermarket replacement with the washer holes included in the blades?

fintail

You should post a part number here - I suspect you are being hosed.

I've had middling experience with OEM MB blades anyway. On a prior car I switched out the rubber part for rubber from Bosch Icons - I might do it again. Much smoother operation.

abacomike said:

I inquired at my MB dealership’s parts department how much a pair of wipers cost to replace the OEM wiper blades. The response was $181.00+ which included my discount (MBCA Membership) and included 7% sales tax. They offered to have them put on at no charge!

I excreted a brick! They told me it was due to the fact that the washer fluid for the windshield is applied directly through many holes in the wiper blades - in other words directly applied without “spritzer” nozzles. I told them I would wait until the wiper blades were hopelessly incapable of removing water from the windshield.

I should have known better - nothing is cheap to replace on an S Class Mercedes! 😩

dino001

abacomike said:

I inquired at my MB dealership’s parts department how much a pair of wipers cost to replace the OEM wiper blades. The response was $181.00+ which included my discount (MBCA Membership) and included 7% sales tax. They offered to have them put on at no charge!

I excreted a brick! They told me it was due to the fact that the washer fluid for the windshield is applied directly through many holes in the wiper blades - in other words directly applied without “spritzer” nozzles. I told them I would wait until the wiper blades were hopelessly incapable of removing water from the windshield.

I should have known better - nothing is cheap to replace on an S Class Mercedes! 😩

I think you should fall on your knees for the "no charge" installation, Mike. That's the reward for being a long-term customer. They could have charged you $150 more, but they must like you very much. LOL

Does this mean there are no after-market wipers available for your car? I looked up on Amazon an it returned something, but it's possible it's not correct. I'd at least ask people at Auto Zone or Advanced Auto Parts. If you can find something, you can replace them and keep your old ones to put them back at time of the lease return.

But besides that - if you buy sub $100K vehicle, you should expect to be taken to cleaners on anything that involves non-covered part or service. The three-prong star commands 100-200 percent premium. Something has to cover those leather sofas and fancy coffee machine in the waiting rooms.

tjc78

I'll assume Mike's car has the heated system... if so that price may not be far off

Here is the part # I looked up and a link to Amazon. For the few extra bucks, I think I'd let the dealer do it.

https://www.amazon.com/MERCEDES-BENZ-2228201145-GENUINE-WIPER-BLADE/dp/B073N9MZ37

dino001

tjc78 said:

I'll assume Mike's car has the heated system... if so that price may not be far off

Here is the part # I looked up and a link to Amazon. For the few extra bucks, I think I'd let the dealer do it.

https://www.amazon.com/MERCEDES-BENZ-2228201145-GENUINE-WIPER-BLADE/dp/B073N9MZ37

So I imagine living in Florida Mike does not need heated feature for the wiper. If he can find something that can be physically clipped into the receptacles, he'd be fine. Keep the originals and then put them back on the car at the lease return. Or pony up the dough. Had it for the car, should have it for the maintenance, that's the general rule in my book.

Driving until you can't see is probably worst idea of them all, especially in rainy summer months. If he still wants to do that, he should consider rubbing in Rain-X compound on the windshield. It does wonders in a heavy rain.

jmonroe1

sda said:

Wow, that is thorough German engineering! $181+ for wiper blade, ouch, ouch, ouch! I guess you are limited to OEM replacements or no washers. Perhaps someone makes an aftermarket replacement with the washer holes included in the blades?

Slight correction, if that ain't OVER THE TOP German engineering personified, I don't know what is. Why did they do it...because they could. WOW is right.

jmonroe

imidazol97

Rockauto.com doesn't even list wipers and washers as a category for the S450: they do on other models.
So that indicates there's something proprietary involved.

jmonroe1

imidazol97 said:

Rockauto.com doesn't even list wipers and washers as a category for the S450: they do on other models.
So that indicates there's something proprietary involved.

Like I said...because they could.

jmonroe

thebean

$181 for wiper blades?? Holy cow, that’s amazing. When I bought my Accord, the dealership made a big deal about giving new car customers free wiper blades as long as you own the car. Then, two years later when I had my oil changed and told them to change the blades, they said the program had been discontinued and it would be $28 for new blades. I declined, and sent an email to the dealership GM expressing my dismay at this change. I got back an email from the service manager grandfathering me into the program. So every time I need new blades (every 18 months or so), I have to pull up the email on my phone and show it to the ever-changing cast of service writers. I asked them to put it in my file, but they said “our system doesn’t support that”. Bullcorn!

This is why I would rather support my local Honda/Acura only indy shop, even though their oil changes are a lot higher. They are honest to a fault.

sda

The dealership that I bought the 13 Accord from does most of the basic service to that car. They recently sent a coupon for a $34.95 all synthetic oil change. I took it in this morning. They had me in and out in less than an hour and gave it a clean bill of health, total $41.12. At 88700 mi, 5mm thickness front, 7mm rear brake pads original to the car, 7/32 front, 8/32 rear tire tread depth, 29k on those, replaced Oems at 60k. I’m pleased.

thebean

I think my dealership is fairly honest when I go in, but I would not want to send my wife in to them. I’ve heard things told to women there while I was waiting for my car that, while not lies, are definitely stretches using borderline scare tactics. My indy dealer is the opposite. I normally wait for my car there (on the saggy couch or plastic chairs - no designer coffee or bagels there) and have heard the owner/service writer tell women that they don’t need to have a particular service done for six months more and things like that. I would not hesitate to send my wife there.

jmonroe1

thebean said:

$181 for wiper blades?? Holy cow, that’s amazing. When I bought my Accord, the dealership made a big deal about giving new car customers free wiper blades as long as you own the car. Then, two years later when I had my oil changed and told them to change the blades, they said the program had been discontinued and it would be $28 for new blades. I declined, and sent an email to the dealership GM expressing my dismay at this change. I got back an email from the service manager grandfathering me into the program. So every time I need new blades (every 18 months or so), I have to pull up the email on my phone and show it to the ever-changing cast of service writers. I asked them to put it in my file, but they said “our system doesn’t support that”. Bullcorn!

This is why I would rather support my local Honda/Acura only indy shop, even though their oil changes are a lot higher. They are honest to a fault.

Bullcorn? Is that native to Texas? I ain't seen any here in the Burgh area. If you step in it, is it messy like the other stuff?

jmonroe

thebean

It’s the normal bull****, with the bulls on a high corn diet. It is very messy, but at least you can spot it easier in a pasture.

sda

I did a quick wipe down of the engine bay of the TL and polished the haze off the headlights. Looks a tad better and not bad for a 13 you car with 156k. It does need to be washed, white is forgiving in pics. Drat, the new platform won't let me download pics from my smartphone.

jmonroe1

sda said:

I did a quick wipe down of the engine bay of the TL and polished the haze off the headlights. Looks a tad better and not bad for a 13 you car with 156k. It does need to be washed, white is forgiving in pics. Drat, the new platform won't let me download pics from my smartphone.

Drat? Is that the polite way of saying Bullcorn? Is that some kind of new SC lingo? FWIW, when I lived in SC for 5 years I never heard of that stuff.

jmonroe

abacomike

tjc78 said:

I'll assume Mike's car has the heated system... if so that price may not be far off

Here is the part # I looked up and a link to Amazon. For the few extra bucks, I think I'd let the dealer do it.

https://www.amazon.com/MERCEDES-BENZ-2228201145-GENUINE-WIPER-BLADE/dp/B073N9MZ37

I called several auto parts retailers and they all indicated that only Mercedes Parts Departments carry the replacement wiper blades made specifically for the 2018 S Class due to the specificity of the holes in the rubber blades for the direct transfer of washer fluid right onto the windshield. The part is made by Bosch, but not available for retail by non-MB sources.

driver100

abacomike said:

tjc78 said:

I'll assume Mike's car has the heated system... if so that price may not be far off

Here is the part # I looked up and a link to Amazon. For the few extra bucks, I think I'd let the dealer do it.

https://www.amazon.com/MERCEDES-BENZ-2228201145-GENUINE-WIPER-BLADE/dp/B073N9MZ37

I called several auto parts retailers and they all indicated that only Mercedes Parts Departments carry the replacement wiper blades made specifically for the 2018 S Class due to the specificity of the holes in the rubber blades for the direct transfer of washer fluid right onto the windshield. The part is made by Bosch, but not available for retail by non-MB sources.

MB does that really well, makes cars that are hard for a non-dealer to repair or get parts for. They want to own the franchise so to speak.......smart, but costly for the consumer.
The wiper blades sound like they would work really well, but, do we really need heated blades with little holes for the water to get through?
You would think someone could make a regular blade that just happens to fit an S450.

imidazol97

@abacomike
Obviously we're all thinking inside the box. We think in terms of replacing the wiper blades.

Instead, the acceptable solution is to just replace the car when it needs new wiper blades.

Michaell

driver100 said:

abacomike said:

tjc78 said:

I'll assume Mike's car has the heated system... if so that price may not be far off

Here is the part # I looked up and a link to Amazon. For the few extra bucks, I think I'd let the dealer do it.

https://www.amazon.com/MERCEDES-BENZ-2228201145-GENUINE-WIPER-BLADE/dp/B073N9MZ37

I called several auto parts retailers and they all indicated that only Mercedes Parts Departments carry the replacement wiper blades made specifically for the 2018 S Class due to the specificity of the holes in the rubber blades for the direct transfer of washer fluid right onto the windshield. The part is made by Bosch, but not available for retail by non-MB sources.

MB does that really well, makes cars that are hard for a non-dealer to repair or get parts for. They want to own the franchise so to speak.......smart, but costly for the consumer.
The wiper blades sound like they would work really well, but, do we really need heated blades with little holes for the water to get through?
You would think someone could make a regular blade that just happens to fit an S450.

Not without 3 doctorate level engineers and several million dollars of manufacturing equipment. The cost to design something like that for the 10,000 cars a year they sell or lease makes it a non-profitable venture.

explorerx4

Even if Mike bought the blades from Amazon to save money, he would then get charged for labor to install them.

dino001

imidazol97 said:

@abacomike
Obviously we're all thinking inside the box. We think in terms of replacing the wiper blades.

Instead, the acceptable solution is to just replace the car when it needs new wiper blades.

That will be much more acceptable solution. With all credit union discounts, probably cheaper.

dino001

driver100 said:

You would think someone could make a regular blade that just happens to fit an S450.

That's what I was proposing. One thing, though - if that's the only way sprinklers work on that car, it's no good, as you need those in working condition at all times (love bugs, dust, etc.).

dino001

abacomike said:

I called several auto parts retailers and they all indicated that only Mercedes Parts Departments carry the replacement wiper blades made specifically for the 2018 S Class due to the specificity of the holes in the rubber blades for the direct transfer of washer fluid right onto the windshield. The part is made by Bosch, but not available for retail by non-MB sources.

I know - buy regular ones and drill some holes Now I'm being cruel...

Can't have $180 wiper blades. Too much money. Imid already gave you an answer: new car :laughing:

abacomike

Just got a bottle of Glenfiddich single malt 12 year old scotch as a gift from the local casino. I don’t think I ever had a bottle. Thinking of opening it tonight for a nightcap.

explorerx4

@abacomike,
Looked up the Mercedes warranty policy it seems to me they should covered under the 4 year/50k miles warranty unless they are damaged.

abacomike

explorerx4 said:

@abacomike,
Looked up the Mercedes warranty policy it seems to me they should covered under the 4 year/50k miles warranty unless they are damaged.

Checked with service dept. - not covered under warranty because wiper “blades” are maintenance items. Wiper “arms” are covered if they are not functioning properly, i.e. spring(s) or wiper motor(s).

oldfarmer50

VNice viewing.

https://youtu.be/mpwW4m8JiUo

explorerx4 said:

@oldfarmer50,
Not sure what I will do. There is a lot of stuff (good) going on over the next few months.
At age 63, got a raise this year, first one in several years, so I guess my boss still thinks I add value to the company.
Related, our company is in process of being sold and being PE, existing stock needs to be cashed out.
This is the second time I bought stock due to some being made available to employees.
First time, basically made almost 15 times my investment in less than 2 years, although number of shares I could buy was limited.
Last round, put in more dollars, but it was about 5 years ago.
Will have to see how it turns out.
Then there is the whole farm thing.

So a Ferrari?

oldfarmer50

jmonroe1 said:

explorerx4 said:

@jmonroe1,
I think that Brew Thru location is where my kids annually buy their tee shirts.
We stay down around MM 70 on Route 12.
If you are looking for a day trip, drive down there and take the free ferry over to Okracoke Island.
If weather is good kids will love the ferry.

Thanks for that suggestion but this vacation is already planned out.Tomorrow is day-trip day and we are going about 40 miles north to see the wild horses that live on the island up there. By the time we get back after stopping to eat dinner, the only water we'll be getting in will be at this condo village's pool. Nice pool, we went there last night but it ain't no ocean. :@

jmonroe

Why would you want to go in the ocean? Didn’t you hear a poor 21 yo girl got chewed to pieces by 3 sharks yesterday?

oldfarmer50

suydam said:

You can climb the lighthouse too. Great way to see the wild horses. Did not work for me with my fear of heights thing, but the kids loved it. OTOH I loved the small plane ride out over the water. Beautiful!

Nicely limited phobia. The much greater height of an airplane didn’t trigger it.

We have several drivers who have a fear of driving over bridges. That phobia was shared by my wife’s relative who was a millionaire telecom executive. Amazing how our brains work to compartmentalize our anxiety.

My son has a deathly fear of ice cubes and shirt buttons.

oldfarmer50

sda said:

I did a quick wipe down of the engine bay of the TL and polished the haze off the headlights. Looks a tad better and not bad for a 13 you car with 156k. It does need to be washed, white is forgiving in pics. Drat, the new platform won't let me download pics from my smartphone.

Did you ever have any problems with the transmission? I’m told that Honda/Acuras of that era had very delicate trannies. Unless, of course, it’s a standard, in which case never mind.

sda

By 06 I believe Honda worked out the issues with the 5 speed auto. The 02-03 were a mess. My SIL practically over maintained the car and transmission and all service was done regularly. It shifts smoothly and responsively, the car drives wonderfully. It even has almost new Michelin Pilot Sport tires on it, not cheapies.

jwm40517

MB parts have always been expensive compared to domestics. Back in late 70's I was buying tuneup parts for a 73 450, my favorite foreign parts shop said plug wires were about $22. I said " that's not bad, about the same as small block Chevy" He laughed and said that $22 is for each wire. A $30 Chevy water pump was $240 for the MB.

explorerx4

Sorry oldfermer50, no more Ferrari's for me.
Didn't really like the one I had, it was an accordion.

explorerx4

@jmonroe1,
Sounds like you are in the Avon area.
If you can, take a ride to the Hatteras lighthouse.
They moved it over 1/2 mile from it's original location.
Long walk to the top though, 268 steps.
Park might cost something to get in, too.
It would appeal to the engineer in you.

explorerx4

@oldfarmer50,
Now that I think of it, not a Ferrari, but I could get something Italian.
https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=goodwood+largest+car+engine&view=detail&mid=F6222538859A88C50968F6222538859A88C50968&FORM=VIRE

oldfarmer50

I’m watching a Barrett-Jackson auction and one that caught my eye was a 2002 Monte Carlo SS Dale Earnhardt signature edition with 300 miles. This means someone bought this car and never drove it.

What struck me was that the car was sold for only $15,000. I can’t imagine that it cost less than that in 2002. The seller stored this car for 17 years and never got to enjoy it....for what? To break even or lose money?



Oh oh, can’t post a pic.

stickguy

stickguy

there you go. I forgot about this vintage Monte. Yuck.

suydam

oldfarmer50 said:

suydam said:

You can climb the lighthouse too. Great way to see the wild horses. Did not work for me with my fear of heights thing, but the kids loved it. OTOH I loved the small plane ride out over the water. Beautiful!

Nicely limited phobia. The much greater height of an airplane didn’t trigger it.

We have several drivers who have a fear of driving over bridges. That phobia was shared by my wife’s relative who was a millionaire telecom executive. Amazing how our brains work to compartmentalize our anxiety.

My son has a deathly fear of ice cubes and shirt buttons.

My fear is Open space heights. Swaying bridges, need I mention lighthouses with open balconies . . . On the other hand put me in a small plane — or an enclosed elevator hat goes up 20 floors on the outside — I’m fine. Who said the brain is rational? I made it down the Outer Banks lighthouse steps on,y because I didn’t want my 3 year old to be afraid. No way I’d do that now!

oldfarmer50

stickguy said:

there you go. I forgot about this vintage Monte. Yuck.

Never liked the style either.