I reckon the reason the Mercedes Benz dealership wanted to charge you so much was because of your accent. They assumed you were related to British Royalty and therefore were traveling with hefty amounts of Spanish doubloons.
Thanks Joe, yes we thought about this. Because the boot of one has gone and the other is completely seized, we think we might just replace the calipers now and have peace of mind. Still waiting to hear how much they are so... we'll have to wait and see 😂
Definitely do the slider kit! Wayyyyy cheaper than a whole new caliper, if you can knock the pin out and sand it to get rid of the corrosion, you should be all good 😊
We’ll done getting the refund - what a hassle. Hope to see you in Mexico next week. Oh, and good on for Ben getting his hands dirty. Hope things go a little smoother now.
Hi guys, another great episode. Glad your issues got sorted. It’s a bit scary that a main dealer missed the issue with the brakes. I’ve had an issue with Mercedes although its not a huge problem it should normally be fixed under the three year warranty. But guess what. The USA Mercedes don’t honour the European warranty. 😢😢 Why. It’s still Mercedes!! All the best, Happy travels.
It's not modern, but it is creepy, read Jamaica Inn, expecially because of where you guys are from and it being set down that way. I went to Jamaica Inn after reading it this summer and loved it 😊
I love Daphne du Maurier! I think that’s a great recommendation. I’ve been to Jamaica Inn and all I remember is that a pint and a packet of crisps was something like £12 😂😳
Sounds like. Tread the globe they couldn’t find someone to change the oil and filter because it was a fiat. Seriously pathetic So glad you got something from Mercedes. Good on you for complaining and good on you Ben for doing the work yourself Take care thank you for such great videos
Dealership=Stealership !!! Having said, San Diego is by far one of America's most expensive city in the most expensive state. However, it's only a stone's throw away where you have a chance to escape USA's outrageous inflation and rip offs and cross the border south. Now, you will not escape all the rip offs, but at least they will be smaller at a time. Also, Tread the Globe touted a lot about have serviced Trudy, their van at a garage in Tijuana. You know them well, why not go by their reference and pay him a visit (unless of course something did not go well behind the scenes). Nevertheless, love your vlogs have been watching you since Turkey and wishing you a safe journey south. You by passed us, else I could help you out around Northern Oregon, S. Wa state.
Chris and Marianne gave us Ricardo's details a while ago but because we are stuck in the US until our parcels arrived, we didn't want to wait until Mexico to get the brakes sorted. We never imagined it would be such a headache, and thought they could just tell us if something is wrong! And yep, San Diego has literally just been named the most expensive city in the US to live! Of course we were going to get charged more there 😂
50 years as a mechanic, I seldom trust anyone else who calls themselves a mechanic. I bought a brand new 2021 Ford E350 cutaway van just so I hope to not have to work on another vehicle 😉
Glad to hear about the refunds. Yeah, we're a letter writing, complaining country so we agree with giving feedback. If it makes yall feel better your friends Naick and Kim has had similar problems with their European Ford van. 🤷♂(prolly wouldn't make u feel better if they're ur friends ... never mind. 😁Tell Ben 'Smile 2022' and 'No One Will Save You 2023' 😱
They are our dear friends so it doesn’t make us feel better 😂 They’ve had some really rough times with their engine recently, so good to see them on the road again 💛🫶
That’s great news guys. Make sure it’s silicone grease. Normal grease can’t take the temperatures the brakes get up to and will just bake on and seize it up again. Look forward to seeing your trip south. 👍🏻
They are trying to nickle and dime you to death, it was like that when I had a GM type car then I got rid of it. Then I switched to a Japanese car (Toyota), never had a problem. Just get the oil change every 3,000 miles as reccommended, etc. :)
Stealerships are the worst! I returned my Jaguar at one day old for a software update. Their inspection reported tyre wear was down to 3mm and should be replaced. Firstly the car had less than 100 miles on. Secondly, the legal limit in the UK is 1.6mm so plenty of life left. I complained and instantly the report was updated to 8mm tread on all tyres 🤦🏻♂️
I'm not a mechanic. For the life of me I cannot figure out why you would replace brake fluid. I do know it's a tedious job to get air bubbles out of the lines though. Make sure there is plenty of fluid in the well under the hood. (Shrug) Great vids !
Yeah it’s absolute pain in the ass! When we crossed the Sonora pass we smoked the brakes and there’s a very high chance we boiled the brake fluid too. That’s why we were going to change it, for the same reason we changed the pads. If we don’t have to do it we won’t 😅
Ben! You can buy only the rubberboot on brakecaliper as sparepart, cean with wd40 first then keep glidepin greased and it´ill be fine🙂 be caefull not to get any on brakedisk, use brakekleen to clean up brakedisk.
Thanks! We’re thinking of either replacing full calipers or just trying to get the seized slide pin to move. Few people have said not to worry too much about the rubber boot?
You can’t beat a good old fashioned rant to get things off your chest. If you receive poor or absent service from a company or organisation, then absolutely call it out. 💪
Youre very brave atrempting any trip in a Merc.... Travelled round Australia in 2007 in a 2002 Transit camper van, the rear brakes failed "leaking" and the Ford dealers wanted $2100 to replace one near side brake cylinder. I bought a seal kit for $70 and did both sides & noticed the brake shoes were low.. Ford wanted $670 just for the shoes & we drove 70 miles to a 're liners & had them relined for $110.. We bought the van with 185k miles and sold it 18 months later with 310k miles, still running nicely..
Sounds like an amazing trip! There's nothing wrong with a Mercedes to be honest, we've travelled from Eastern Turkey to the north of Alaska over the past 4 years and this is the first time we've had any kind of issue. It's less the van itself and more the extortionate cost the dealership wanted to charge us and even then, for a job they couldn't do properly.
I love you guys, but you bought a Mercedes and are getting frustrated because you're getting * Mercedesed." It's literally all over the internet that these things cost way more to maintain than literally any other vehicle. There's a joke that driving by the Mercedes dealership and looking at it will cause them to invoice you at least $500. You know what the most produced cargo van in the world is. People don't think that economies of scale be like it is, but it do. I'm almost four years into ownership of our AWD Transit, and our maintenance cost is roughly $1000, TOTAL. Oil changes, tires and brakes. No other repairs.
Hey Andrew! Actually disagree with much of this. We’ve had the van for 4 years now and maintaining her hasn’t been expensive or stressful or any different to any other vehicle we’ve had. In fact, in Turkey the Mercedes dealership welded our exhaust back on for free, even let the dogs inside and fed us snacks and coffee! We would prefer not to go to the main dealership but here, many local mechanics don’t want to look at a RHD, European van and as we only needed them looked at, didn’t think it was going to be an issue. Long story short, the van isn’t the issue and never has been. The dealership we went to has caused us the headache! We live and learn.
Loved this episode! Well done Ben for tackling the brakes! We love your self sufficient attitude. Looking forward to watching you guys continue your journey into Mexico, take care.
It is very important that the caliper slides are freely moving... The usual culprit is the corrosion between the rubber boot and the casting... The boot must be removed, corrosion cleaned and reinstalled with a new one or clean and reuse the old one if in good shape.
Dealerships are almost always the most expensive place to get work done; as we all know. Doing the work yourself is an admirable task, and as you say being self sufficient is your best choice. When buying a van, we quickly eliminated Mercedes because it is always the most expensive, even for a do-it-yourselfer. We chose the Ford Transit instead. If needed there are dealerships everywhere; unlike Mercedes and many more independent garages/mechanics can work on them. Hang in there, and you will learn a great deal more about your vehicle and yourself.
To be honest we haven’t had a single problem with a garage or getting work done on the van in 4 years, despite the reputation of Mercedes. The last time we went to a dealership was in Turkey, where they welded our exhaust back on for free, and fed us coffee and snacks! Every other time local mechanics have been fine to work on the van and source parts. Saying that, Ben has absolutely loved getting his hands dirty. His highlight from the past month hasn’t been the hot springs or mountains, but changing the brakes. What will I do with him 😅
And that is in the US! Can you imagine how much it would have been in Canada! I bet it would have been $2500! If it is not on warranty, I do it myself. Though they are expensive, they usually do a good job. Too bad your experience was bad.
I guarantee it would be cheaper in Canada! When we wanted our windshield replaced, we looked at places in Alaska and Washington, both charging $1600CAD. We did it in Vancouver for $600 CAD😳 Also what Mercedes’ wanted to charge us for two hours of work is what we paid for a full brake replacement, new handbrake, parts included and 2 days labour in Vancouver. Madness.
Sorry that you where trying to being fleeced from these American dealerships. Lately they are very hungry for money on service to make a profit due to people are starting to not buy new vehicles cause of 10 to 15 percent mark ups on vehicles.And my guess is they see you as a tourist who is from the UK 🇬🇧 traveling around North America, assuming that you have lots of money to fork over and charge you whatever price they want.
That’s their standard rate! Which is even more shocking. And we didn’t even want them to do work, just diagnostics. And they still didn’t do it properly 😂
Hey .......u are young.......mom would say u are paying a tax to carma.....like a ticket......school of knocks....my friend used auto model t ingnation coil .....to frame.......I leave junk around that looks good.....get a game camera.....all the best....
The US is the worst place to get work done. Get over the border and work will be a lot cheaper (but the quality can be questionable 😬) We hate people working on Ruby and always choose to do the work ourselves. Fixing your camper yourselves as you go further south will be your best option in the future 👍
My suggestion for avid readers: get an e-book, not a bookshelf. Not only are the books cheaper & don't take up space, you also don't need a light when reading in bed at night. In terms of booksuggestions: Joe Abercrombie's first law world. Start with the blade itself & enjoy very real characters & the moral grey
Welcome to the world of Mercedes. If you want to park “up” (not down?), if I’m being honest, ( would I lie?), I’m glad I’m driving the local version of a Ducato. See you on the road. TTFN.
Main dealerships are the same here in the U.K. , we own a Range Rover velar and prices are ridiculous but kind of stuck as it’s a new car and still under warranty .personally I couldn’t cope with that heat in the desert, I love the colder weather .nice one for having a go yourself to do your van .
@OverlandingSophia Unfortunately Mercedes dealers are notorious for what they charge in the US . The Sprinter is looked at as a high end vehicle rather than just a van as in Europe . You will find independent garages that will work on them usually they are owned/ run by German mechanics . Do a Google search for an Independent garage that specializes in German cars .
Just watching now, and I agree with Chesca, you're bloody brilliant Ben!!! 🎉 Love the "can do" attitude, and that you're giving it a better go than the useless 💩's at Merc! You're awesome!
Hi Guys... a tie rod end for a sprinter is under £20 back here in the UK... Mercedes should be ashamed of themselves. good on ya Ben for doing the pads on the van, especially as it's not something you've done before. Stay safe guys.
Hi guys, no need to smoochs with the U.S. I know, its not what everyone cracks it up to be.i know I'm a van dweller ,and I live here in the U.S.well if you want to call it living.Ugh! Anyways Be really safe out there ok guys. I hope to see you on the flip side someday,by that I mean your turf.❤❤❤❤❤
My Dad always told me…you never buy a Merc if you can’t afford the horrendous mechanic’s charges. I stick with Japanese brands and have never had an issue.
I don't understand for the life of me why you dont get an ereader instead of carrying so many books with you in a van🤣 Saves you tired arms when reading too. And really good job on the van repairs, Ben!
I wouldn't not bleed the brakes...as you'll only need to bleed the one caliper when replaced. Safer to get the old fluid out sooner than later. Stay away from the Stealerships. Plus it's a Mercedes...trade it for a Transvan.
Good for you for taking the time to complain. Also very much impressed with Bens mechanical skills. How awesome are you both. What a great team! Looking forward to seeing your merch so have everything crossed for it’s speedy arrival.
Thanks Michele. Don't think I've ever sent a complaint letter before but I was really disgusted by their service to be honest. Spoiler: the merch arrived yesterday just as the video finished uploading! So we should be on track for Mexico baby! 💛
Fair play to Ben for getting stuck in with the repairs. I imagine by now you've sorted the brakes, but you can get the slider pin to move with a G clamp and winding in.Then pull pin out, clean up with abrasive cloth/scotchbrite and a bit of lithium grease. You can also buy a kit for sliders with boots etc included. Check condition of caliper pistons, may just be a good time to replace caliper. Safe travels guys.
Thanks so much for the tips, Ben managed to get the pin out with some brute force and used sandpaper/grease to get it moving again. Thankfully no need to replace the calipers. That was one blessing at least 😂
Clean down the caliper sliders with wire wool. Clean inside the bit where the slider goes, using brake cleaner and a rag or strong tissue. Then grease the sides (not the end) with high boiling point (HBP) grease. They'll move smoothly afterwards.
I did notice the tan . What do you normally do burn . I’d buy a bottle of aloe just in case . I’m sure you’ve got the sunscreen . The shorts hear in the United States are two inches shorter . The two piece swimsuits are very expensive and there’s no material in the back . But they make the girlfriend happy so I spend the money . Kudos to Mercedes for making you happy . I’m glad he decided to dig in himself and now he knows it’s right .
Good on you for doing your own repairs. Since cars are more reliable now a days, most Car Dealer Repair shops will take advantage of customers and rack up charges for both necessary and unnecessary repairs.
Welcome to Mercedes Tax. We have a smart car and the servicing prices are outrageous. The running gear, engine and gearbox are Renault. Gave it to a Renault garage and our servicing costs have more than halved.
Glad to hear that you got refunded for work that wasn't done correctly. Not many places will do that. If you ever make it back to Maine and need help on your vehicle I know of a very reliable person who has worked for mersadies for years and now he runs his own garage. Have a safe trip in Mexico
I'd bet Mercedes US learned of the event and ordered it refunded. There are companies that scan media for comments about companies. That's the power of UA-cam and the power of subscribers. Even Mercedes can't afford getting a reputation of being a fraud shop that jacks up prices. Hooray for the good guys.
Thanks Branden, I think sending them the photos of the slide pins definitely helped! One of the downsides of travelling is not knowing those great local mechanics!
We never actually mentioned the channel! Sent the email from our personal email and they refunded it immediately. We sent photos of the caliper pins so I think that helped. Nightmare experience for sure 😢
Only use the stealer ships for part numbers and part diagrams unless you are a millionaire and don’t care about wasting money get the parts from other auto parts stores get the work done by a cheap affordable shop and do it yourself love you family ❤
Quite hefty philosophical judgements placed on the preference for screen over paper. Personally, we have a Kindle but prefer real books when we can get them.
👍👍👍👍. Well done Ben. You are a rock star for attempting this. Will help make you feel more confident if you have van issues further down the road. Great job 😊
Well done Ben, you deserve all the books you can read ! Some recommendations : Pure by Andrew Miller, Moloka'i by Andrew Brenant, The Vintner's Luck by Elizabeth Knox, Angelology by Danielle Trussoni. In my top 10 of fav books. And well done on the complaint letter Ches. xx
In some towns in the US there are free book exchanges. It looks like a small house sitting on the edge of the road (like a mailbox) and its filled with books. You can take a book to read and give a book. It allows you to always find /exchange new books. 19:29
Fingers and toes crossed in hopes that your merch arrives before your visas expire. Hats off to Ben for his ability to get his hands dirty, and do the car repairs himself. He is such a clever guy. Thanks for the fun and informative video. I loved the sculptures in the dessert. You just never know what little surprised life will throw your way. Have a great week guys.
Thanks so much Kathy! Yeah the sculptures were so cool, they actually looked so at home in all that desert! This trip is full of life’s surprises - dinosaurs in the desert, rip off mechanics, free cookies! 😆 xx
I am really sorry for all the troubles with your brakes but thank you for showing the bad with the good. I think it is really important to show if someone is going to set off on a similar adventure with a van or rv. Ben is amazing for all he is willing to tackle so well done to him and well done to you for cheering him on. It might seem schmaltzy to some but having your partners back is very important and letting them know you are thankful. Yay Chesca for firing off a letter to Mercedes and getting results. Well done! Have done that a few times over the years with one time escalating to the State Attorney General and got results. I don't like my money taken and wanted to protect others from it as well from shysters. Sure hope your merchandise samples arrive before you have to leave. What a fantastic venture for the both of you and I really look forward to seeing what you guys have come up with. Those book shelves are perfect now that you have rebuilt them like they should have been done in the first place. lol So glad that Ben has found his genre. I wonder if other countries have the little homemade library boxes like the Vancouver area has. I know some areas in the US have them as well and they are so handy to drop off books to so you don't end up with too many. Two books I loved were written by Kelly Faunce and the titles are "A City of Wood" and the second in the series "A City of Stone". Might not be horrorish enough for Ben but should be yours with some supernatural elements in the storyline. A group of us read them at the same time and we were all riveted to both books.
Escalated to the State Attorney General! Wow! I'll come to you next time I need a complaint letter 😂 I think actually it was the first time I've ever written one but like you said, I was just so angry at them for not doing a job properly, when they charge triple for it! There are a few book boxes dotted around the LA area but not many. We love collecting the books we've read though and want a huuuge wall of books when we eventually find a bricks and mortar home. Will give those books a go, thank you! 💛 xx
Sorry to hear about your troubles guys, but you are dealing with it like CHAMPS! Great job, Ben, working on those brakes! Delays like that really are the worst on a trip like this, but you'll be happily road tripping again before you know it! ❤❤
as someone else said you might be able to force the pin out using a gclamp once out clean and polish it with some metal polish grease it and it should be good
Main dealers can be such rip off merchants. Especially when your on the road and can't use a local trusted one you know. Haha Ben's like me. I never read at all until friends were off on European adventures and gave me Into the Wild, which is probably one of the only books I would read. Now I'm quite happy sitting down with a book in hand haha. Well done on working on the van Ben. Hats off to you 👏. Keep Loving the Adventure Both. Safe Travels and Love & Big Hugs ❤
Into the Wild is one of my favourite books ever! And film, and soundtrack 🥹 Totally agree about good garages, they’re hard to find at the best of times. Hope you’re keeping well, love and hugs xx ❤️
Top man Ben!! Both for reading and for diy motor repair skills! Well done Chesca for your patience and persistance - 4 years is a looooong wait for a bookshelf!! One to add Ben - Chris Ryan's 'Zero Option'. (Just get a copy!)
Yep. As a Brit living in California I am astounded at the rip-offs attempted by mechanic "shops" here. When a wheel hub bearing got noisy on my Toyota Yaris, I was feeling lazy so I phoned around mechanics to get quotes for them to do it. One guy quoted $300. I said, "No, I'll supply the part, I just want a quote for labour". "Yeah", he said, "That's just the labour". I laughed and then put the phone down. So I did it myself - it took me 40 minutes to replace the hub and the new part cost me $45. Home boy thought changing a wheel hub was worth the equivalent of $450/hour, lol.
Hi Ben, the squeak you’ve been getting is more than likely the seized slider pin not letting the pad return when you take your foot off the brake. If it stops when you touch the brake pedal then that’s it. It will also make the noise when cornering one way rather than the other. Very common. We have a same age VW crafter which has the same parts and does the same thing when a slider seizes. We now carry a pair of spare calipers with new pins and swap them over and replace the sliders when we change the pads so we don’t get to that point anymore as the sliders are cheap £12 both sides. Be careful you don’t leave it too long before you fix the slider as the new pads will get worn unevenly as the pistons in the caliper can’t push the pad against the disc squarely while one slider is seized which means re-bedding them when you fix the slider. The calipers in the UK are around £65 each decent quality but not main-dealer. And yes I am a time served commercial mechanic. Keep the old caliper and bash the old slider out when you have access to a vice and drift or heat and replace. Hey presto you have a spare caliper as it is a common problem. They are sided though so can only be used on the side removed. Hope this helps. Currently in our van in Italy doing a house-sit. Then getting ferry from Venice to Patras in Greece. Following your footsteps a bit 😉. Safe journeys
Thanks so much for this. Yeah you’re exactly right, the squeak stopped when braking and sometimes got worse turning the wheel left slightly. Took some elbow grease and brute force to it the other day and pleased to say it came out! Sanded it down and greased it up and it seems to be working like new. Will check in a week or so and see how it’s holding up 😀 Enjoy Greece! One of our favourite countries ever 👍
OOOOO MERCH!!! never bought any before but this is the exception!! As for books- Im like you ches- so many books, and my hubby only reads auto/biographys and not many but now i have hope. Circe is one of my fav books loved it. Have you read The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern ... a beautifully mysterious, fantasy story.? Everything croseed here for you.. Mexico is calling xx
Eee we are so excited about it! It’s been a long time coming 😍 Don’t know if you noticed it but Circe was on the table and I can’t wait to read it, so many people have said they loved it! Will check out The Night Circus, think I’ve heard of it but never read it xx
sorry for being absent guys but here I am!!😄🥰 First of all, put me first in-line for some merch PLEASE I've been waiting for this for so long ahha! 😍 Can't wait to see what you put out, I'll be keeping an eye out👀. Loved this video, really crap about the brake stuff though, I never trust mechanics for these reasons🙄. Hope you're both doing great, sending all the love!💕✨xx
Haha yes!! Merch coming soon, just in time for Christmas 😉 yeah it's hard to find a good mechanic at home, nevermind when 2000 miles away 😂 Hope all is well with you lovely xx 💕
For books for horror it has to be stephen king and james herbert. Also check out dean koontz books but first look at "the taking" by dean koontz. for modern day scifi check out the sleeping giants trilogy and arthur c clarke series RAMA & 2001-3001 SPACE ODESSY. lastly for easy ready fantasy check out terry pratchet books. Also worth looking at the ereaders with backlights like a kindle but a cheaper version they hold thousands of books
Hi Ben, l know your concerned about diesel quality in SA, just to let you know I drove a 2011 sprinter probably same engine etc as yours and my particulate filter got totally blocked and stopped mt engine in Tibet, yes, I drove my sprinter from U.K. to Malaysia in 2014, I didn’t know anything about low sulphur diesel, I thought my DPF blockage was caused by water contamination as the diesel looked like milk, but may have been a combination of both, anyway ,got the exhaust pipe disconnected at the turbo and started like an old tractor, once the contaminated diesel through high pressure system ran ok but we were at 4000+ metres, drove 4 days with exhaust disconnected to Lasha where the DPF and catalytic were emptied and drove an 5000 kms?
Wow that sounds like an incredible trip!! Even with the blocked DPF! How long was that trip? We have our diagnostic reader which gives us DPF readings. Once we hit areas with high sulphur fuel we’re going to be monitoring the DPF readings to see what level of sulphur it can handle. Some vans can handle 1500ppm so that’s pretty damn high. Although in Bolivia that can reach 50000! If we see it getting blocked we should be able to drive to burn it off, we also have an additive which reduces the temp that soot can be burnt off which helps reduce DPF regens. We can also force a regen through the diagnostic tool if we need to and worse case, dump the fuel and find something else. From other travellers we think this would only be a problem in Bolivia. But time will tell. We know someone who drilled holes in the DPF! Then just replaced it when they came home 😂
They are not dealers, they are stealers. BMW wanted £1000 for a job that took my mechanic 30 minutes. the parts were £200 from BMW themselves. Whole job cost me £250. They have higher overheads but £750 labour for 30 mins 😅
Recently I needed an AC belt for my Camaro The Chev dealer wanted 120 bucks for a new belt,a minimum hour labour to install it plus shop supplies.I said, ya ill look around. Went to the local auto parts store, $26 for the exact same belt. Then I went to my usual mechanic he had it on in less than 15 mins. I asked him how much he said don't worry about it......bring me a coffee next time your in. Dealerships are SKUM.
This is exactly it! Honestly it should be a regulated industry. Dealerships are the worst. We only wanted Mercedes to do a diagnostic check but they couldn’t even do that without ripping us off. Your mechanic sounds awesome, we all need garages like that!
There is a series by Trisha O'Malley. Song of the Fae, Melody Flame (There are 4 books in this series) And then Nora Roberts, Please do not poo poo this before you look at them. Has a Trilogy With the titles , Dark witch, Shadow shadow spell and blood magic k And then Trish O'Malley has another series of books. Under the wild Irish Hope 1 of you will like some of these books I certainly enjoyed reading them.
Seeing all those books and I had to laugh. Not sure if you have ever watched the movie ‘The Long Long Trailer’ with Lucille Ball and Dezi Arner. If not, you have to check it out. And be careful how many books you pack into your van! 😄
I reckon the reason the Mercedes Benz dealership wanted to charge you so much was because of your accent. They assumed you were related to British Royalty and therefore were traveling with hefty amounts of Spanish doubloons.
Nailed it 😂 They knew we have the skeleton key!
You should be able to buy a caliper slider kit without having to purchase the whole caliper. You'll get sliders and new rubber boots and some grease.
Thanks Joe, yes we thought about this. Because the boot of one has gone and the other is completely seized, we think we might just replace the calipers now and have peace of mind. Still waiting to hear how much they are so... we'll have to wait and see 😂
Definitely do the slider kit! Wayyyyy cheaper than a whole new caliper, if you can knock the pin out and sand it to get rid of the corrosion, you should be all good 😊
Surprised the campsite allowed you to work on the van, usually banned and enforced. but agree on doing as much as you can yourself.
It was a state campground so pretty relaxed. People work on their cars everywhere here!
@@OverlandingSophia all good then, it just surprised me.
We’ll done getting the refund - what a hassle. Hope to see you in Mexico next week. Oh, and good on for Ben getting his hands dirty. Hope things go a little smoother now.
Thank you, hope the worst is behind us now!
Hi guys, another great episode. Glad your issues got sorted. It’s a bit scary that a main dealer missed the issue with the brakes. I’ve had an issue with Mercedes although its not a huge problem it should normally be fixed under the three year warranty. But guess what. The USA Mercedes don’t honour the European warranty. 😢😢 Why. It’s still Mercedes!! All the best, Happy travels.
Thanks Graham. Yep, it's one thing to overcharge for a job but another to not do something like a brake check properly 😢
It's not modern, but it is creepy, read Jamaica Inn, expecially because of where you guys are from and it being set down that way. I went to Jamaica Inn after reading it this summer and loved it 😊
I love Daphne du Maurier! I think that’s a great recommendation. I’ve been to Jamaica Inn and all I remember is that a pint and a packet of crisps was something like £12 😂😳
Sounds like. Tread the globe they couldn’t find someone to change the oil and filter because it was a fiat. Seriously pathetic So glad you got something from Mercedes. Good on you for complaining and good on you Ben for doing the work yourself
Take care thank you for such great videos
I know it’s madness! That was so ridiculous for them, it’s just an oil filter. Any mechanic worth his grease should have been able to do it!
Copper grease the sliders and back of pads
My rule of thumb is to go to a car dealer while the car is still under warranty, but, thereafter, only to private garages.
Yep, would be ideal to do that.
Apart from anything else, I just love how you love each other and have each others backs. Makes me feel nice. Nothing else to add, it just does.
This is honestly so lovely to hear, thank you 🤗
Dealership=Stealership !!! Having said, San Diego is by far one of America's most expensive city in the most expensive state. However, it's only a stone's throw away where you have a chance to escape USA's outrageous inflation and rip offs and cross the border south. Now, you will not escape all the rip offs, but at least they will be smaller at a time. Also, Tread the Globe touted a lot about have serviced Trudy, their van at a garage in Tijuana. You know them well, why not go by their reference and pay him a visit (unless of course something did not go well behind the scenes). Nevertheless, love your vlogs have been watching you since Turkey and wishing you a safe journey south. You by passed us, else I could help you out around Northern Oregon, S. Wa state.
Chris and Marianne gave us Ricardo's details a while ago but because we are stuck in the US until our parcels arrived, we didn't want to wait until Mexico to get the brakes sorted. We never imagined it would be such a headache, and thought they could just tell us if something is wrong! And yep, San Diego has literally just been named the most expensive city in the US to live! Of course we were going to get charged more there 😂
50 years as a mechanic, I seldom trust anyone else who calls themselves a mechanic.
I bought a brand new 2021 Ford E350 cutaway van just so I hope to not have to work on another vehicle 😉
Glad to hear about the refunds. Yeah, we're a letter writing, complaining country so we agree with giving feedback. If it makes yall feel better your friends Naick and Kim has had similar problems with their European Ford van. 🤷♂(prolly wouldn't make u feel better if they're ur friends ... never mind. 😁Tell Ben 'Smile 2022' and 'No One Will Save You 2023' 😱
They are our dear friends so it doesn’t make us feel better 😂 They’ve had some really rough times with their engine recently, so good to see them on the road again 💛🫶
That’s great news guys. Make sure it’s silicone grease. Normal grease can’t take the temperatures the brakes get up to and will just bake on and seize it up again. Look forward to seeing your trip south. 👍🏻
Of course ☺️
They are trying to nickle and dime you to death, it was like that when I had a GM type car then I got rid of it. Then I switched to a Japanese car (Toyota), never had a problem. Just get the oil change every 3,000 miles as reccommended, etc. :)
my kind of temperatures I should live in a desert greetings guys from mountain cold Bulgaria
Stealerships are the worst! I returned my Jaguar at one day old for a software update. Their inspection reported tyre wear was down to 3mm and should be replaced. Firstly the car had less than 100 miles on. Secondly, the legal limit in the UK is 1.6mm so plenty of life left. I complained and instantly the report was updated to 8mm tread on all tyres 🤦🏻♂️
That’s absolutely shocking!! Thank god for the power of complaining!
I'm not a mechanic. For the life of me I cannot figure out why you would replace brake fluid. I do know it's a tedious job to get air bubbles out of the lines though. Make sure there is plenty of fluid in the well under the hood. (Shrug) Great vids !
Yeah it’s absolute pain in the ass! When we crossed the Sonora pass we smoked the brakes and there’s a very high chance we boiled the brake fluid too. That’s why we were going to change it, for the same reason we changed the pads. If we don’t have to do it we won’t 😅
Brake fluid is hydroscopic, so it absorbs moisture from the air over time, which rusts metal pistons etc.
Ben! You can buy only the rubberboot on brakecaliper as sparepart, cean with wd40 first then keep glidepin greased and it´ill be fine🙂
be caefull not to get any on brakedisk, use brakekleen to clean up brakedisk.
Thanks! We’re thinking of either replacing full calipers or just trying to get the seized slide pin to move. Few people have said not to worry too much about the rubber boot?
You can’t beat a good old fashioned rant to get things off your chest. If you receive poor or absent service from a company or organisation, then absolutely call it out. 💪
Amen to that 🙏 And sometimes, calling them out works!
Youre very brave atrempting any trip in a Merc.... Travelled round Australia in 2007 in a 2002 Transit camper van, the rear brakes failed "leaking" and the Ford dealers wanted $2100 to replace one near side brake cylinder. I bought a seal kit for $70 and did both sides & noticed the brake shoes were low.. Ford wanted $670 just for the shoes & we drove 70 miles to a 're liners & had them relined for $110.. We bought the van with 185k miles and sold it 18 months later with 310k miles, still running nicely..
Sounds like an amazing trip! There's nothing wrong with a Mercedes to be honest, we've travelled from Eastern Turkey to the north of Alaska over the past 4 years and this is the first time we've had any kind of issue. It's less the van itself and more the extortionate cost the dealership wanted to charge us and even then, for a job they couldn't do properly.
I love you guys, but you bought a Mercedes and are getting frustrated because you're getting * Mercedesed." It's literally all over the internet that these things cost way more to maintain than literally any other vehicle. There's a joke that driving by the Mercedes dealership and looking at it will cause them to invoice you at least $500. You know what the most produced cargo van in the world is. People don't think that economies of scale be like it is, but it do. I'm almost four years into ownership of our AWD Transit, and our maintenance cost is roughly $1000, TOTAL. Oil changes, tires and brakes. No other repairs.
Hey Andrew! Actually disagree with much of this. We’ve had the van for 4 years now and maintaining her hasn’t been expensive or stressful or any different to any other vehicle we’ve had. In fact, in Turkey the Mercedes dealership welded our exhaust back on for free, even let the dogs inside and fed us snacks and coffee! We would prefer not to go to the main dealership but here, many local mechanics don’t want to look at a RHD, European van and as we only needed them looked at, didn’t think it was going to be an issue. Long story short, the van isn’t the issue and never has been. The dealership we went to has caused us the headache! We live and learn.
Loved this episode! Well done Ben for tackling the brakes! We love your self sufficient attitude. Looking forward to watching you guys continue your journey into Mexico, take care.
Thanks so much, he did a good job with them too! They still work 😃 😂 xx
Merc = expensive repairs! Lucky you know what you are doing and can sort it out yourself!
Only if you go to the dealership! In 4 years we've never had those kind of prices from normal mechanics 😂
Most official agents rip you off. Merc parts are always more expensive. I made similar mistakes!
We address why we had to go to Mercedes towards the end of the video 🙂
It is very important that the caliper slides are freely moving...
The usual culprit is the corrosion between the rubber boot and the casting...
The boot must be removed, corrosion cleaned and reinstalled with a new one or clean and reuse the old one if in good shape.
exactly
Dealerships are almost always the most expensive place to get work done; as we all know. Doing the work yourself is an admirable task, and as you say being self sufficient is your best choice. When buying a van, we quickly eliminated Mercedes because it is always the most expensive, even for a do-it-yourselfer. We chose the Ford Transit instead. If needed there are dealerships everywhere; unlike Mercedes and many more independent garages/mechanics can work on them. Hang in there, and you will learn a great deal more about your vehicle and yourself.
To be honest we haven’t had a single problem with a garage or getting work done on the van in 4 years, despite the reputation of Mercedes. The last time we went to a dealership was in Turkey, where they welded our exhaust back on for free, and fed us coffee and snacks! Every other time local mechanics have been fine to work on the van and source parts. Saying that, Ben has absolutely loved getting his hands dirty. His highlight from the past month hasn’t been the hot springs or mountains, but changing the brakes. What will I do with him 😅
And that is in the US! Can you imagine how much it would have been in Canada! I bet it would have been $2500! If it is not on warranty, I do it myself. Though they are expensive, they usually do a good job. Too bad your experience was bad.
I guarantee it would be cheaper in Canada! When we wanted our windshield replaced, we looked at places in Alaska and Washington, both charging $1600CAD. We did it in Vancouver for $600 CAD😳 Also what Mercedes’ wanted to charge us for two hours of work is what we paid for a full brake replacement, new handbrake, parts included and 2 days labour in Vancouver. Madness.
We really enjoy watching your journey. Your great personalities really come through.
Thank you so much 🥹 💛
Central America doesn't include Mexico.
Correct 🙂
Sorry that you where trying to being fleeced from these American dealerships. Lately they are very hungry for money on service to make a profit due to people are starting to not buy new vehicles cause of 10 to 15 percent mark ups on vehicles.And my guess is they see you as a tourist who is from the UK 🇬🇧 traveling around North America, assuming that you have lots of money to fork over and charge you whatever price they want.
That’s their standard rate! Which is even more shocking. And we didn’t even want them to do work, just diagnostics. And they still didn’t do it properly 😂
Finally caught up guys 🥰 well done for sorting out your brakes & for speaking up to Mercedes.
Also loving the new book shelves! 😍
Ben I want to steal all your shirts to wear, they are such a vibe
Haha thanks Court. Getting in those Baja vibes early 😃
wow very interesting experience friend
Hey .......u are young.......mom would say u are paying a tax to carma.....like a ticket......school of knocks....my friend used auto model t ingnation coil .....to frame.......I leave junk around that looks good.....get a game camera.....all the best....
I hear it on the grapevine that you are brother and sister escaping a life of solitude and persicution in the UK? Are you on onlee fams?
Daily Mail struggling for stories?
Well it was a nice thought while it lasted, maybe think of this comment next time she cooks your sock?
Always my concerns, dealing with mechanics on the road. Glad they stepped up and offered a solution for you.
Yep it can be hard enough finding them at home, nevermind constantly on the move! We've been really lucky so far but not this time 😆
The US is the worst place to get work done. Get over the border and work will be a lot cheaper (but the quality can be questionable 😬)
We hate people working on Ruby and always choose to do the work ourselves.
Fixing your camper yourselves as you go further south will be your best option in the future 👍
My suggestion for avid readers: get an e-book, not a bookshelf. Not only are the books cheaper & don't take up space, you also don't need a light when reading in bed at night. In terms of booksuggestions: Joe Abercrombie's first law world. Start with the blade itself & enjoy very real characters & the moral grey
We have a Kindle but love having real books while we can get them! Also love having the bookshelves, makes it feel so homely 🥰🙏
Excited for your merchandise. As for the complaint and refund, well done and deserved for sure. Terrible service and cost. Take care x
Welcome to the world of Mercedes. If you want to park “up” (not down?), if I’m being honest, ( would I lie?), I’m glad I’m driving the local version of a Ducato. See you on the road. TTFN.
Main dealerships are the same here in the U.K. , we own a Range Rover velar and prices are ridiculous but kind of stuck as it’s a new car and still under warranty .personally I couldn’t cope with that heat in the desert, I love the colder weather .nice one for having a go yourself to do your van .
You are so brave having to deal with Range Rover maintenance why did you not buy a Ford or Toyota ?
Honestly thought - what could go wrong with just a brake check? Turns out, plenty 😂
@OverlandingSophia Unfortunately Mercedes dealers are notorious for what they charge in the US . The Sprinter is looked at as a high end vehicle rather than just a van as in Europe . You will find independent garages that will work on them usually they are owned/ run by German mechanics . Do a Google search for an Independent garage that specializes in German cars .
Don't forget Mercedes is a LUXURY brand in the US. In Europe there's such a thing as a cheaper Mercedes car (e.g. taxi) but not in America
Just watching now, and I agree with Chesca, you're bloody brilliant Ben!!! 🎉 Love the "can do" attitude, and that you're giving it a better go than the useless 💩's at Merc! You're awesome!
Totally agree Kit! He’s a keeper 🥰🫶
Hi Guys... a tie rod end for a sprinter is under £20 back here in the UK... Mercedes should be ashamed of themselves. good on ya Ben for doing the pads on the van, especially as it's not something you've done before. Stay safe guys.
Hi guys, no need to smoochs with the U.S. I know, its not what everyone cracks it up to be.i know I'm a van dweller ,and I live here in the U.S.well if you want to call it living.Ugh! Anyways Be really safe out there ok guys. I hope to see you on the flip side someday,by that I mean your turf.❤❤❤❤❤
Digital reading weighs less😊
True but it’s not as fun 😅🫶
It's amazing one of the biggest car companies in world would rip off it's customers, disgraceful, but all dealerships are the same.
My Dad always told me…you never buy a Merc if you can’t afford the horrendous mechanic’s charges. I stick with Japanese brands and have never had an issue.
We just know to avoid US dealerships 😅
I don't understand for the life of me why you dont get an ereader instead of carrying so many books with you in a van🤣 Saves you tired arms when reading too. And really good job on the van repairs, Ben!
Briiliant news well done getting your money back. Nasty to be ripped off so badly.
I wouldn't not bleed the brakes...as you'll only need to bleed the one caliper when replaced. Safer to get the old fluid out sooner than later. Stay away from the Stealerships. Plus it's a Mercedes...trade it for a Transvan.
Good for you for taking the time to complain. Also very much impressed with Bens mechanical skills. How awesome are you both. What a great team! Looking forward to seeing your merch so have everything crossed for it’s speedy arrival.
Thanks Michele. Don't think I've ever sent a complaint letter before but I was really disgusted by their service to be honest. Spoiler: the merch arrived yesterday just as the video finished uploading! So we should be on track for Mexico baby! 💛
Fair play to Ben for getting stuck in with the repairs. I imagine by now you've sorted the brakes, but you can get the slider pin to move with a G clamp and winding in.Then pull pin out, clean up with abrasive cloth/scotchbrite and a bit of lithium grease. You can also buy a kit for sliders with boots etc included. Check condition of caliper pistons, may just be a good time to replace caliper.
Safe travels guys.
Thanks so much for the tips, Ben managed to get the pin out with some brute force and used sandpaper/grease to get it moving again. Thankfully no need to replace the calipers. That was one blessing at least 😂
Clean down the caliper sliders with wire wool. Clean inside the bit where the slider goes, using brake cleaner and a rag or strong tissue. Then grease the sides (not the end) with high boiling point (HBP) grease. They'll move smoothly afterwards.
Check out Snow and Curt they have a Mercedes van and they are currently in Brazil after having gone down Ushuaia.
Nice job! Tip: please wear breathing protection when working on brakes!
In North America a Dodge Spinter is/was a Mercedes van. might be a more cost effective option for repairs
I did notice the tan . What do you normally do burn . I’d buy a bottle of aloe just in case . I’m sure you’ve got the sunscreen . The shorts hear in the United States are two inches shorter . The two piece swimsuits are very expensive and there’s no material in the back . But they make the girlfriend happy so I spend the money . Kudos to Mercedes for making you happy . I’m glad he decided to dig in himself and now he knows it’s right .
Good on you for doing your own repairs. Since cars are more reliable now a days, most Car Dealer Repair shops will take advantage of customers and rack up charges for both necessary and unnecessary repairs.
*Come back to British Columbia mates* !!
Get outttta there -- or you have and this is from weeks ago maybe
Welcome to Mercedes Tax. We have a smart car and the servicing prices are outrageous. The running gear, engine and gearbox are Renault. Gave it to a Renault garage and our servicing costs have more than halved.
I like Kathy Reichs not horror but crime and forensics
Glad to hear that you got refunded for work that wasn't done correctly. Not many places will do that. If you ever make it back to Maine and need help on your vehicle I know of a very reliable person who has worked for mersadies for years and now he runs his own garage. Have a safe trip in Mexico
I'd bet Mercedes US learned of the event and ordered it refunded. There are companies that scan media for comments about companies. That's the power of UA-cam and the power of subscribers. Even Mercedes can't afford getting a reputation of being a fraud shop that jacks up prices. Hooray for the good guys.
Thanks Branden, I think sending them the photos of the slide pins definitely helped! One of the downsides of travelling is not knowing those great local mechanics!
We never actually mentioned the channel! Sent the email from our personal email and they refunded it immediately. We sent photos of the caliper pins so I think that helped. Nightmare experience for sure 😢
never go to a dealership ,always go to private ran garages
We talk about this at the end of the video 🙂
@@OverlandingSophia I had seen that and I said DOH,sorry about that
Those mechanics could have put your lives at risk!
Get Ben to have a look at the Necroscope series by Brian Lumley. I was addicted to these books as soon as I read the first.
The problem is getting anyone to work on a Mercedes that isnt a dealer because they screw anyone else around for parts.
Only use the stealer ships for part numbers and part diagrams unless you are a millionaire and don’t care about wasting money get the parts from other auto parts stores get the work done by a cheap affordable shop and do it yourself love you family ❤
Kindle. Unlimited library, near zero weight. Dislike in this context is posing or ideology.
Quite hefty philosophical judgements placed on the preference for screen over paper. Personally, we have a Kindle but prefer real books when we can get them.
👍👍👍👍. Well done Ben. You are a rock star for attempting this. Will help make you feel more confident if you have van issues further down the road. Great job 😊
Exactly this, always nerve wracking doing it for the first time but feel much more confident if we have to do it again 😀
Well done Ben, you deserve all the books you can read ! Some recommendations : Pure by Andrew Miller, Moloka'i by Andrew Brenant, The Vintner's Luck by Elizabeth Knox, Angelology by Danielle Trussoni. In my top 10 of fav books. And well done on the complaint letter Ches. xx
Thanks Sharon, will check them out 😃
Next time you change the front pads, turn full opposite lock so the calipers are easier to access.
Chelsa Ben first class forman.... Dont afraid.....
In some towns in the US there are free book exchanges. It looks like a small house sitting on the edge of the road (like a mailbox) and its filled with books. You can take a book to read and give a book. It allows you to always find /exchange new books. 19:29
Fingers and toes crossed in hopes that your merch arrives before your visas expire. Hats off to Ben for his ability to get his hands dirty, and do the car repairs himself. He is such a clever guy. Thanks for the fun and informative video. I loved the sculptures in the dessert. You just never know what little surprised life will throw your way. Have a great week guys.
Thanks so much Kathy! Yeah the sculptures were so cool, they actually looked so at home in all that desert! This trip is full of life’s surprises - dinosaurs in the desert, rip off mechanics, free cookies! 😆 xx
I am really sorry for all the troubles with your brakes but thank you for showing the bad with the good. I think it is really important to show if someone is going to set off on a similar adventure with a van or rv. Ben is amazing for all he is willing to tackle so well done to him and well done to you for cheering him on. It might seem schmaltzy to some but having your partners back is very important and letting them know you are thankful. Yay Chesca for firing off a letter to Mercedes and getting results. Well done! Have done that a few times over the years with one time escalating to the State Attorney General and got results. I don't like my money taken and wanted to protect others from it as well from shysters. Sure hope your merchandise samples arrive before you have to leave. What a fantastic venture for the both of you and I really look forward to seeing what you guys have come up with. Those book shelves are perfect now that you have rebuilt them like they should have been done in the first place. lol So glad that Ben has found his genre. I wonder if other countries have the little homemade library boxes like the Vancouver area has. I know some areas in the US have them as well and they are so handy to drop off books to so you don't end up with too many. Two books I loved were written by Kelly Faunce and the titles are "A City of Wood" and the second in the series "A City of Stone". Might not be horrorish enough for Ben but should be yours with some supernatural elements in the storyline. A group of us read them at the same time and we were all riveted to both books.
Escalated to the State Attorney General! Wow! I'll come to you next time I need a complaint letter 😂 I think actually it was the first time I've ever written one but like you said, I was just so angry at them for not doing a job properly, when they charge triple for it! There are a few book boxes dotted around the LA area but not many. We love collecting the books we've read though and want a huuuge wall of books when we eventually find a bricks and mortar home. Will give those books a go, thank you! 💛 xx
Shame on you @mercedesbenz!! So sorry you had to endure that 😖
books stephen king / james herbert / dean koontz the taking
Sorry to hear about your troubles guys, but you are dealing with it like CHAMPS! Great job, Ben, working on those brakes! Delays like that really are the worst on a trip like this, but you'll be happily road tripping again before you know it! ❤❤
as someone else said you might be able to force the pin out using a gclamp once out clean and polish it with some metal polish grease it and it should be good
0:32 it's like he's never been to a mechanic before
You guys handled that stressful situation better than I would have !
Ben said his favourite thing from this past month wasn’t the hot springs or mountains but fixing the brakes 😂
Main dealers can be such rip off merchants. Especially when your on the road and can't use a local trusted one you know. Haha Ben's like me. I never read at all until friends were off on European adventures and gave me Into the Wild, which is probably one of the only books I would read. Now I'm quite happy sitting down with a book in hand haha. Well done on working on the van Ben. Hats off to you 👏. Keep Loving the Adventure Both. Safe Travels and Love & Big Hugs ❤
Into the Wild is one of my favourite books ever! And film, and soundtrack 🥹 Totally agree about good garages, they’re hard to find at the best of times. Hope you’re keeping well, love and hugs xx ❤️
Top man Ben!!
Both for reading and for diy motor repair skills!
Well done Chesca for your patience and persistance - 4 years is a looooong wait for a bookshelf!!
One to add Ben - Chris Ryan's 'Zero Option'. (Just get a copy!)
Haha cheers Craig! A week of firsts eh 😅 Thanks for the book rec!
@@OverlandingSophia It was the book that got me started on reading fiction novels - couldn't put it down until the end!
Yep. As a Brit living in California I am astounded at the rip-offs attempted by mechanic "shops" here. When a wheel hub bearing got noisy on my Toyota Yaris, I was feeling lazy so I phoned around mechanics to get quotes for them to do it. One guy quoted $300. I said, "No, I'll supply the part, I just want a quote for labour". "Yeah", he said, "That's just the labour". I laughed and then put the phone down. So I did it myself - it took me 40 minutes to replace the hub and the new part cost me $45. Home boy thought changing a wheel hub was worth the equivalent of $450/hour, lol.
Ffs! Sounds about right 🤦♀️
American author Cormac McCarthy. The Crossing. Set on the boarder between America and Mexico. :)
Cormac McCarthy is one of my favourites 🫶
Hi Ben, the squeak you’ve been getting is more than likely the seized slider pin not letting the pad return when you take your foot off the brake. If it stops when you touch the brake pedal then that’s it. It will also make the noise when cornering one way rather than the other. Very common. We have a same age VW crafter which has the same parts and does the same thing when a slider seizes. We now carry a pair of spare calipers with new pins and swap them over and replace the sliders when we change the pads so we don’t get to that point anymore as the sliders are cheap £12 both sides. Be careful you don’t leave it too long before you fix the slider as the new pads will get worn unevenly as the pistons in the caliper can’t push the pad against the disc squarely while one slider is seized which means re-bedding them when you fix the slider. The calipers in the UK are around £65 each decent quality but not main-dealer. And yes I am a time served commercial mechanic. Keep the old caliper and bash the old slider out when you have access to a vice and drift or heat and replace. Hey presto you have a spare caliper as it is a common problem. They are sided though so can only be used on the side removed. Hope this helps. Currently in our van in Italy doing a house-sit. Then getting ferry from Venice to Patras in Greece. Following your footsteps a bit 😉. Safe journeys
Thanks so much for this. Yeah you’re exactly right, the squeak stopped when braking and sometimes got worse turning the wheel left slightly. Took some elbow grease and brute force to it the other day and pleased to say it came out! Sanded it down and greased it up and it seems to be working like new. Will check in a week or so and see how it’s holding up 😀 Enjoy Greece! One of our favourite countries ever 👍
OOOOO MERCH!!! never bought any before but this is the exception!! As for books- Im like you ches- so many books, and my hubby only reads auto/biographys and not many but now i have hope. Circe is one of my fav books loved it. Have you read The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern ... a beautifully mysterious, fantasy story.? Everything croseed here for you.. Mexico is calling xx
Eee we are so excited about it! It’s been a long time coming 😍 Don’t know if you noticed it but Circe was on the table and I can’t wait to read it, so many people have said they loved it! Will check out The Night Circus, think I’ve heard of it but never read it xx
I am a voracious reader and carry a library of over a thousand books with me, and they weigh nothing. Thumbs up for the Amazon Kindle.
Yes! We love our Kindle too. But also love the feel of real books 🙌
sorry for being absent guys but here I am!!😄🥰 First of all, put me first in-line for some merch PLEASE I've been waiting for this for so long ahha! 😍 Can't wait to see what you put out, I'll be keeping an eye out👀. Loved this video, really crap about the brake stuff though, I never trust mechanics for these reasons🙄. Hope you're both doing great, sending all the love!💕✨xx
Haha yes!! Merch coming soon, just in time for Christmas 😉 yeah it's hard to find a good mechanic at home, nevermind when 2000 miles away 😂 Hope all is well with you lovely xx 💕
For books for horror it has to be stephen king and james herbert. Also check out dean koontz books but first look at "the taking" by dean koontz. for modern day scifi check out the sleeping giants trilogy and arthur c clarke series RAMA & 2001-3001 SPACE ODESSY. lastly for easy ready fantasy check out terry pratchet books. Also worth looking at the ereaders with backlights like a kindle but a cheaper version they hold thousands of books
Thanks for that, will check them out. Stephen King is on the list for sure. We do have a Kindle but much prefer real books while we can get them 😊
Hi Ben, l know your concerned about diesel quality in SA, just to let you know I drove a 2011 sprinter probably same engine etc as yours and my particulate filter got totally blocked and stopped mt engine in Tibet, yes, I drove my sprinter from U.K. to Malaysia in 2014, I didn’t know anything about low sulphur diesel, I thought my DPF blockage was caused by water contamination as the diesel looked like milk, but may have been a combination of both, anyway ,got the exhaust pipe disconnected at the turbo and started like an old tractor, once the contaminated diesel through high pressure system ran ok but we were at 4000+ metres, drove 4 days with exhaust disconnected to Lasha where the DPF and catalytic were emptied and drove an 5000 kms?
Wow that sounds like an incredible trip!! Even with the blocked DPF! How long was that trip? We have our diagnostic reader which gives us DPF readings. Once we hit areas with high sulphur fuel we’re going to be monitoring the DPF readings to see what level of sulphur it can handle. Some vans can handle 1500ppm so that’s pretty damn high. Although in Bolivia that can reach 50000! If we see it getting blocked we should be able to drive to burn it off, we also have an additive which reduces the temp that soot can be burnt off which helps reduce DPF regens. We can also force a regen through the diagnostic tool if we need to and worse case, dump the fuel and find something else. From other travellers we think this would only be a problem in Bolivia. But time will tell. We know someone who drilled holes in the DPF! Then just replaced it when they came home 😂
They are not dealers, they are stealers. BMW wanted £1000 for a job that took my mechanic 30 minutes. the parts were £200 from BMW themselves. Whole job cost me £250. They have higher overheads but £750 labour for 30 mins 😅
It's mad isn't it! We only wanted Mercedes to diagnose any issues but they shafted us with that too 😭
Awesome job, fixing it yourself
Recently I needed an AC belt for my Camaro The Chev dealer wanted 120 bucks for a new belt,a minimum hour labour to install it plus shop supplies.I said, ya ill look around.
Went to the local auto parts store, $26 for the exact same belt. Then I went to my usual mechanic he had it on in less than 15 mins. I asked him how much he said don't worry about it......bring me a coffee next time your in.
Dealerships are SKUM.
This is exactly it! Honestly it should be a regulated industry. Dealerships are the worst. We only wanted Mercedes to do a diagnostic check but they couldn’t even do that without ripping us off. Your mechanic sounds awesome, we all need garages like that!
I just had that same repair done (albeit my bus is a Ford), and the cost was just over $400 (including an alignment!). $1500 is outrageous!
No way! Now that's the kind of price we were expecting! 🙈
There is a series by Trisha O'Malley. Song of the Fae, Melody Flame (There are 4 books in this series)
And then Nora Roberts, Please do not poo poo this before you look at them. Has a Trilogy With the titles , Dark witch, Shadow shadow spell and blood magic k
And then Trish O'Malley has another series of books. Under the wild Irish
Hope 1 of you will like some of these books I certainly enjoyed reading them.
Some of them sound right up my street! Thanks so much Sherrie 🫶💛
Kudos to Ben on being a newly certified Mercedes Mechanic!!! And hell yes’ I would eat those cookies!!!
He would only need one job a year and it would fund our entire trip 😂
Seeing all those books and I had to laugh. Not sure if you have ever watched the movie ‘The Long Long Trailer’ with Lucille Ball and Dezi Arner. If not, you have to check it out. And be careful how many books you pack into your van! 😄
Haven’t seen it but just the name alone makes me think we’re going to need a long, long trailer if Ben keeps going the way he is with the books 😅