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[Cool1.3]

Hey,

I've had my forfour for a couple of weeks now, and I'm getting a good idea of what needs doing.
I liked Mr Singh's post so I thought I'd follow the same format.
Hopefully my work will help someone else down the line and maybe I can also get a few bits of information from everyone as I go along.

Service (last one was 12k ago, and it was just an oil change)
-Sparkplugs
-Clean ignition coils
-Air filter
-Cabin filter
-Oil change (+filter)
-Gearbox oil
-Clean and grease gearbox linkage (probably the lazy way)
-Replace brake discs and pads (the only MOT advisory)

Interior
-Aux cable
-Replace Interior light
-Lounge mod
-Figure out why the fuel gauge flashes (checked the resistors in the dash and they are fine)
-Find the cricket living in the back seat

Exterior
-Restore headlights
-Try to restore rear Plexiglas windows (same principle as headlights?)

Other issues
Figure out why the car jerks and revs wiggle about after changing gear, probably engine or gear box mounts...

[El Tel]

-Replace Interior light
...
-Figure out why the fuel gauge flashes (checked the resistors in the dash and they are fine)

On the point about changing the interior light, Search and read the posts about this carefully as this is one of those really apparently mundane jobs which can in fact cause permanent damage to the fusebox if done wrong!

Regarding the flashing fuel gauge, every single post I've ever seen on this issue found it was the resistors in the end, bear in mind that these issues can be intermittent and you might have simply tested it on a 'good day'.. if in doubt, re-solder the joints anyway and it might just go away... if not, then a) you've prevented that problem in the future, and b) you can be sure the problem is indeed somewhere else without having to take apart the fuel tank first.

[El Tel]

Also, regarding the air filter - take a look at smartmods.. they sell a pipercross lifetime filter which will save money in the long term and even make your engine sound a little bit better

https://www.smartmods.co.uk/shop/product/piper-cross-450-452-filter/

I bought one a year or two ago and it was a really nice little mod, good quality kit. Worth the money I spent on it, all day long.

[Ocracoke]

I rate the air filter as well. It helped make a subtle difference to my 1.3 S-A.

-Try to restore rear Plexiglas windows (same principle as headlights?)

Yes, I'd think so. I need to do that to mine (or cover them).

-Find the cricket living in the back seat

The what and the what now? A creak?

-Figure out why the fuel gauge flashes (checked the resistors in the dash and they are fine)

This is one where even if they look and rate good, I'd probably resolder them for peace of mind. Beyond that, guess it'd be a case of checking the sender unit and making sure that is all clean and moving freely.

[Cool1.3]

Hey,

On the air filter.
I'm afraid it is too late, I already bought a normal one.
But will definitely look into the pipercross lifetime filter for the next time

The cricket
The cricket is a creak coming from the back of the car, I need to find the culprit before I can do something about it.

The fuel gauge
I will take a look at the cluster again and re-solder, I thought that if it read 160-166 Ohms it was ok. And I was a bit apprehensive about re-soldering something that appeared to be working correctly.

[Ocracoke]

Even a good quality standard fit does help keep it going. As for the creak, memory serves that happens when the back bench isn't properly secured down at the back (it can flip forwards to make the back of the car quite commodious). As for the fuel gauge, as El Tel says for you its likely a preventative measure. For my car, its a definite need. Its been busted for several months now

[CrazyG]

.....-Replace interior light....

As for the interior lights....(front) I can't see why people want to change it as the
amount of light it 'chucks' out (it is a halogen bulb, not like a normal bulb) is more
than adequate and the novel functionality (twist n turn for different light patterns)
would be lost if anything else was somehow managed to fit into it.
LED's now are so common place and to be honest, how often do you ever have the
need for that much of an intense light ?  It might be wise just to pull the unit
out and give it a good clean as they normally are quite bright, though I've seen
a few that were a bit discoloured/dirty.
(and the rear)...careful..as the unit has a dual acting /'rocking' function that
switches the power, so a normal LED wont work on one setting...and I've yet
to find a 'bi-polar' (works whichever way the power is) festoon LED of the
same size that will fit straight in.

But apart from that...yes I do know and have seen 3 ForFours that have had
there fusebox 'fried' when their owner changed the interior bulbs to LED's
without first disconnecting the battery !
Why the battery, well it's far 'safer' than doing it with the doors closed as
it is so easy/simple to forget why you have it closed and just open it for
possibly more room or the freedom to move about for whatever reason.

Having LED's is a personal choice...

[brulaw]

But apart from that...yes I do know and have seen 3 ForFours that have had
there fusebox 'fried' when their owner changed the interior bulbs to LED's
without first disconnecting the battery !
Why the battery, well it's far 'safer' than doing it with the doors closed as
it is so easy/simple to forget why you have it closed and just open it for
possibly more room or the freedom to move about for whatever reason.

Having LED's is a personal choice...

I was one of those 3 unfortunate forfour owners who's fuse box got ' fried ' , all the advice given re LED's is worth taking note of , I wish I'd have known of the pitfalls before trying them ( and it was only out of curiosity ) ,  it's not only forfours that don't play well with LED'S  they can ( and do ) cause problems on some other makes .

[mr singh]

regarding the flashing fuel gauge, all you have to do is heat the existing solder. iv done this 3 times, twice on my SB3 and once on my red 1.1.

revs jerking, its possible that you are releasing the clutch too fast.

if you are in doubt about anything, you are more than welcome to come pay me a visit, im only 90 minuets up the M1

[Cool1.3]

A bit of progress this last week

Aux cable fitted (£8), bought the wrong cable, was confused for a bit and then bought the right cable.
In case it helps anyone, the right cable is CT29MM01 and has a blue connector (picture below). I bought a yellow one because it matched the pin out for the radio.

Replaced the blown interior light with a halogen one, following Problemchild's guide. Decided not to go for LED after reading the horror stories.

Re-soldered the gauge cluster, waiting to fill up to see if it worked.

Now I'm just waiting for the gearbox oil and hopefully I can do the service next weekened

[Ocracoke]

The AUX cable does change depending on which head unit you have fitted I thought?

[CrazyG]

A bit of progress this last week......

Well done that man.....

[mr singh]

Now I'm just waiting for the gearbox oil and hopefully I can do the service next weekened

where did you get the gear oil from. mercedes still stock it and its about £27 for 2 litres.

[Cool1.3]

where did you get the gear oil from. mercedes still stock it and its about £27 for 2 litres.

I got it from demon tweeks £7.14 per litre. I got Castrol Manual EP 80W Gear Oil, checked against the MB list below.
https://bevo.mercedes-benz.com/bevolisten/235.1_en.html

[Cool1.3]

Regarding the flashing fuel gauge, every single post I've ever seen on this issue found it was the resistors in the end, bear in mind that these issues can be intermittent and you might have simply tested it on a 'good day'.. if in doubt, re-solder the joints anyway and it might just go away... if not, then a) you've prevented that problem in the future, and b) you can be sure the problem is indeed somewhere else without having to take apart the fuel tank first.

This was 100% spot on !!
You guys just saved me from going through the ordeal of taking out the fuel pump !