Hhmmm, hello!

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Tosh
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Joined: 14.09.2008

I may be about to buy a 2000 G400. The heads are currently off it and the top end being rebuilt so despite the mixed reviews on here I feel reasonably assured that the mechanicals will work. It needs some cosmetic work - the wheels look rough for example. It'll be a motorway trundler/Airstream hauler with the vast majority of it's use being in that there Europe.  But, some questions if I may...

The drivers door seal seems to have a gap in it (top rear corner - between seal and bodywork, the seal on the car, not the door). Is shrinkage an issue?

The headliner has water damage (sunroof car). it's been living in Spain and I've a feeling that the seals may all have shrunk. I am assured it'll be sold "watertight" but if I wanted to replace the headlining, what do my options look like?

Indeed, beyond MB, where's a good spot for parts/accessories (such as overmats, bootliner...)

The COMAND is from 2000. Is this upgradeable to a more up to date bit of kit: I've got used to my bluetooth streaming, USB MP3 playing, parking sensors/camera and the like.

What price the spare wheel cover? The disc on it has a few dings and management likes things looking shiny!

 

Obviously, not 100% sure it's mine but fingers crossed!

 

Thanks

from Sth London

Heavyoil
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Re: Hhmmm, hello!

Hello,

I have limited experience but here goes:

- on my other Mercedes the door seals were all damaged or mis-shapen after 15 years. I've replaced some.

- my G has a Designio headliner which is probably impossible to replace without an original MB part. Luckily all is well with the sunroof. Some people use interior specialists. Headliner failure was a common issue for Range Rover Classics - perhaps find a reputable company for Range Rovers and ask for their help?

- Lots of accessory vendors get mentions and comments on here.

- comand.co.uk are very friendly by phone, and seem to be the UK specialists for Mercedes Comand. 

- Rear spare wheel pasts are g-wagen specific and priced accordingly. For mine 2012 setup, nearly £2k for complete replacement. 

Others will be along to comment on the V8 diesel. 

Good Luck!

 

 

Arnie
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Re: Hhmmm, hello!

Tosh wrote:

 .....The drivers door seal seems to have a gap in it (top rear corner - between seal and bodywork, the seal on the car, not the door). Is shrinkage an issue?

The headliner has water damage (sunroof car). it's been living in Spain and I've a feeling that the seals may all have shrunk. I am assured it'll be sold "watertight" but if I wanted to replace the headlining, what do my options look like?

Indeed, beyond MB, where's a good spot for parts/accessories (such as overmats, bootliner...)

The COMAND is from 2000. Is this upgradeable to a more up to date bit of kit: I've got used to my bluetooth streaming, USB MP3 playing, parking sensors/camera and the like.

What price the spare wheel cover? The disc on it has a few dings and management likes things looking shiny!

 

Obviously, not 100% sure it's mine but fingers crossed!

 

Thanks

from Sth London

 

 

G400, great engine !

  • try ebay.de for parts. use Google translate to find your search words for headliner etc. Plenty of mats and accessories on sale there.
  • If the headliner backing is still solid, it may be cheaper to apply a new lining to it. any trimmer can do that.
  • It may be that your sun-roof drainage holes are blocked for water to have entered to that extent. The seals are never 100% and rely on the drainage holes to keep things dry. (anyway new main seal is about £40).
  • Look on ebay for one of the COMAND clone replacements at around £300. They do all you require on an Android platform and are designed to fit the existing fascia on the dash. If you do have telephone pre-wiring for a Nokia handset on your existing COMAND, then a ViseeO MB3000 will add bluetooth at a cost of £150. Parrot have system called Asteriod for the features you've mentioned, (most 2-Din units will fit), but not all have the required round edges for the MB dash). If you want an original COMAND one, you'll need to find an NTG 2.5,  3,  4,  4.5  or  5 version, but these use MOST fibre instead of D2B (for phone and CD) and you may require some re-wiring of the pins in the connectors and a converter for the speed-signal, which is analogue on the DX 2.0 version you have. It's also a major cost to add the required phone modules, and the NTG 4.5 and later, with built-in bluetooth will be costly.
  • Door seals, probably best to get new ones from MB dealer. As you are in S. London, Try MB Brentford, speak to Peter, and  and ask for 10% discount.
  • a number of sellers on ebay sell reasonable versions of the MB stainless-steel cover, but with plastic end  cover-disc (black or silver), all for about £55. They are  somewhat lighter-weight than the original, but still stainless steel and they fit well. Alternatively, the original cover disc is metal and can be taken to a body-shop for a fix and re-spray if not too damaged.

 

 

try these people for an alternative to COMAND:

https://www.dynamicsounds.co.uk/

 

COMAND 2.0

 

 

COMAND 2.0  style replacement

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tosh
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Re: Hhmmm, hello!

Wow - thanks so much

All I need now is a decision on the car! I will update when I hear. I figured seals wouldn't be major work but with 5 openings, I guess it tots up!

It's clearly the bells/whistles of the COMAND thing that are going to be costly but they are entirely optional

Tosh
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Joined: 14.09.2008
Re: Hhmmm, hello!

An update

I've paid for half the car. It's having some tarting up done, being made watertight etc as well as some cosmetic items.Once I have paid for the other half, I shall, of course, provide pictures.

Blue, 70,000m LWB, G400 with new top end...

 

Tosh
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Joined: 14.09.2008
Re: Hhmmm, hello!

Well, it's here and finally I had a chance to have a really good go over it. Spain seems to be kind on cars as regards rust. Less so in terms of paint. It's wearing 70,000m of paint chips, as well as numerous dings and chips on the inside. Thus the door card question.  The spare wheel cover was de-dinged by the seller and I went with an Alpine unit to replace the COMAND system. However, try as we might, a rear camera and the spare don't work well together.

Obligatory pictures with SOME bling. I think that's plenty but SWMBO would like a tad more...