What's wrong with my Merc?

12 October 2016 - 09:41 By Archie Henderson
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Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team's British driver Lewis Hamilton drives during the first practice session at the Monaco street circuit. File photo
Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team's British driver Lewis Hamilton drives during the first practice session at the Monaco street circuit. File photo
Image: JEAN CHRISTOPHE MAGNENET / AFP

Writing about the rugby was too depressing, so No Boundaries seized on this plea for help that was sent to our motoring guru:

'I have been driving a Mercedes since 2013 and it had given me little trouble until a few months ago, when I had a problem with a sixth turbo-charger and the gearbox while driving in Belgium.

So I took my car to Monza in Italy, which has better roads. The car ran brilliantly one day, but the next day it wouldn't start. It made a stuttering noise when I switched it on. Soon there were five cars in front of me.

I passed four of them, but there was this guy - in a car like mine - who wouldn't let me through. He was German.

There were also these kids in Renaults with big Red Bull stickers instead of giant tins on the rear wings.

I thought a change of scenery - and climate - might be good for me and for the car, so I took it to Singapore. It's so hot there I tried it out at night. I'm driving along and there is the German guy I told you about in front of me again - and one of those Red Bull kids.

I tried to escape them by jumping the lights into Malaysia. I'm going along smoothly with all the traffic in my rear mirror when - BANG! - my car's engine catches fire. I said it was sabotage and Mercedes were very unhappy because it looked like I was accusing them because of that guy who's always in front of me. He's German like they are.

At the weekend I had starter problems again, but no one cared. When I tried explaining my problem to the Mercedes people, they just laughed and carried on splashing themselves with champagne. Apparently they were celebrating something called "the constructors' championship".

Since they don't care, I am now asking you.' - LEWIS, Brackley, UK

Motoring Guru replies: Your question is vague about the type of Mercedes you drive, Lewis. By the sound of your problems, it is probably the Mercedes AMG Petronas.

It has an enormous power density with all those kilowatts it develops per litres of capacity. Every component in your engine is highly stressed (a bit like the driver) and the car needs to work hard and be perfectly designed to withstand such high stress levels.

If a certain calculation or machining wasn't done exactly right, or if there is a slight flaw in the metal, then there is no safety margin and that component will, sooner or later, break and - at the revs at which those cars run - that will cause a catastrophe. Like your fire.

But what do I know. I've only worked on Volksies and Datsun bakkies, but I've watched a lot of Top Gear. I've also watched a lot of medical dramas and I think the main problem with your car is the bloke behind the wheel.

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