freddy333

Having not worn this in awhile or expecting to be out amongst the proletariat, I decided to give my 2-tone GMT some wrist time today

I guess modern Merc reliability is hit-&-miss. Other than 2 small issues (non-dimming mirror & oil seepage around a sensor), both covered under warranty, I have had no problems with my '03 roadster.

Euno - good to see you back!

Ending the work week wearing my chocolaty Bond Sub

Unless you are prepared to buy another car, I think you are kind of stuck. Just out of curiosity, why did the dealer agree to eat half the repair cost if your car is out of warranty?

Interest rates do not need to skyrocket to create havoc for economies that are over-leveraged. If the rates inch up from 0% to 2% or from 1.5% to 3%, I think we have serious problems. Over the next several months, I think you will begin to see Germany's economy sag as well. Exactly.

I have not heard much about this from most economists, but I believe the real problem is going to occur (next year) when interest rates begin inching back up towards their natural/default levels (4-5%). Then, every government economy that is heavily leveraged will be in the same position as many US home owners were in '08 when they overbought homes with (artificially) low interest rate loans that began to reset. And it does not take a Ph.D in economics to figure out what happens then.

The only difference between the way leaders are chosen in the US & EU is that, in the US, this happens behind the scenes, in the EU, it is out in the open.

The reason for the computerizing of auto-systems is weight-savings. That old mechanical wiper relay weighed alot more than the microscopic sliver of silicone that hosts the wiper brain in your current 'Benz. I agree that computerization has a costly downside, but, if performance, increasingly good fuel economy & lower emissions are what the public wants (& most stats reflect this), then you get what you get. And, if you think we have car problems now, just wait till some wack-job sets off an EMP device in a western city.

But, for me, the ultimate cost-no-object car is the 2003-2007 SL (my next 'Benz). Probably, not the most reliable chariot, but it is the perfect all-around GT car

It is possible, as KB suggests, that you just got a lemon. I was under the impression that MB had put most of their reliability problems behind them a few years ago, but perhaps not. In any case, I guess I am fortunate not to have had any problems with my 'Benz.

The salient point, I believe, is that the United States is a country of laws. 1 of those laws, the 1st Amendment to the US Constitution, upholds its citizens' inalienable right to voice dissenting opinions. The Constitution was then amended a 2nd time to give citizens a way to uphold the 1st Amendment, should political winds change.

Good to see truly skilled artisans returning to Detroit. About time, too. Now if they can just rid the city of the progressive rot that has infested & destroyed what, 40 years ago, was 1 of the greatest cities in the world.

With steel Daytona waiting lists still in the 2 year range, where did you get that idea? Certainly, I prefer the 62xx series over the current range, but I think most would like to see a ceramic bezel as the next update to the Daytona. I doubt Rolex will be making any major design changes similar to your FC.

So you can replace the battery.

No. Just no.

Could be the individual spirals of the hairspring are stuck together, which reduces its moment of inertia & causes the movement to run fast. Magnetism, oil/grime or an impact can all cause this. As chris5264 said, if you remove the caseback, you may be able to see what the problem is. The spring should be more-or-less centered around the balance wheel when stopped & you should see evenly spaced spirals. Check, too, for spots where the spring may be coming into contact with adjacent wheels (the center/2nd wheel is a prime target if the case is impacted). As a reference, this is what a hairspring may look like when it is sticking or off-center. Compare the space between the spirals at 4 o'clock with those at 10 o'clock

The price is good, but the 7835 is a 19mm bracelet & Datejusts usually have 20mm lugs (requiring a 20mm 7836 bracelet). It will fit, but loosely (between the lugs).

Ditto that.

Saw it (in Imax) last night. A very loud, cartoonish caricature of the classic 007, but I am sure most will love it. They (apparently) killed off Judy Dench & brought back the DB, which, for me was this Bond's saving grace. Ending the work week wearing my '41

Yes, I saw all the debates, but watch this with an open mind & think again