I went for my first drive in the dark tonight!

[carl888]

Well, today I collected my new battery.  Of course I couldn't wait to install it (More about that later) and since I have done a massive 182 kms since I bought the car in July I had to take it for a run.  I planned to take it to the servo and fill it, (Amazingly, I've never even put fuel in it ever), warm up the engine and begin cleaning the car for Sunday. 

Anyway, fired it up, used a pressure washer to remove most of the dust that's collected on it since November when I began all the interior work and drove to the servo.  That was about 7pm tonight, and as I pulled out of the servo, a wonderful Antonio Carlos Jobim song was heard as I turned on the Becker Mexico.  It was difficult to head back to the workshop, so I didn't, and I've just arrived home after a 4 hours on the road. 

The instrumentation is really easy to read at night, very clear and everything you need is within easy reach.  The headlights are excellent too.  I'm liking this very much. 


Regards,

Carl.

[arman]

Well Carl, congratulations with your project! And what a brave act to drive around at night after all this work, considering the fact that not all is always in working order after this thorough disassemble and reassemble. You seem to be a good mechanic who knows what he is doing!

I also like the yellowish glow of the instrumentation at night. Much softer and a little diffuse instead of modern times LED displays. However if a lightbulb fails it is not so funny to search and replace, but it's worth it!

Regards
Arman

[Martin 280s]

Carl, you could enjoy a Tom Jobim song on your Becker as you drive your W116, now imagine enjoying Brazil's fabulous scenery under a glorious sun as you drive a W116...there are some simple things in life which are priceless!

[carl888]

Hi Arman,

Yes, it was quite silly, but I just couldn't stop   Thank you for the good wishes.  After Sunday's show, I will give the car a big service, all the fluids, coolant, etc, along with a valve adjutment and ignition and FI points change.

Martin...you are correct, the only thing I would add would be Giselle Bündchen in the passenger seat (Or even the back seat

Regards,

Carl.

[John Hubertz]

If I ever sell a 116 on Ebay I'll experiment till I can capture the instruments at night.

That soft "analog" glow on my 107 is what sold me on the 1970s era Mercedes, and the sculptural 116 had to be part of my life.

Those instruments are alive with history and life - REAL oil to the gauge, REAL revolutions to the speedometer, and the only nod to the future is the electrical control of the tachometer, but even that is pre-digital.

(goes and lays a Pink Floyd vinyl (animals) on his vintage Marantz turntable and drifts into analog heaven)



(listens to the 116 homage.....  "It's too late... to lose the weight... you used to need... to throw around")

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh