First time smart owner and loving it.

[Stealth451]

Hi everyone, just a quick intro.

I am an auto locksmith by trade and had the opportunity buy a 2009 mhd on 40k miles for less than half the current market value, but it came with no key, so was bit of a gamble.
After making and coding a working key the car turned out to be ok, although it had been neglected for the last year.

I was planning on then selling it for a profit but fell in love with it, I was like a big kid whilst driving it.

So I decided to keep it, and have done a few mods to it.
I had all the silver (safety cell, mirrors, grill and wheels) all painted in matte black.
Fitted a keyless entry system with start/stop button and Android headunit.

I am planning on fitting a brabus style exhaust and body kit, I have already changed the air filter, plugs and tik pipe to performance ones.

In the 2 months of owning it, I have had to change the anti roll bar bushes and clutch actuator (it went bang whilst doing 50mph)

Anyway, I'm loving driving the car on a daily basis and hope to be some help on the forum, especially any key or alarm related issues.

[lalli_d1]

any more info about the keyless entry system and is the start button set up similar to the civic, as in you put the key in the ignition, switch on and then button to start? i am intrigued.

[Stealth451]

No, there is no physical key as such. I use the fob to unlock the car and press the start button.
This is the kit is used.

http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&id=331808648821&alt=web

I can go into further detail if needed.

[137699]

TBH, having an MHD the first/only thing you should be spending your time & money on is sorting out the belt - otherwise you could soon find yourself with a smart-sized paperweight with a lot of nice extras on it.

[ColSmart]

Glad to hear you fairly like the Fortwo, as most of us get hooked on Smart's. I have owned both 450, Roadster, and now have the 451 Cdi.

To expand on the MHD problem which is particular to this model only (not on the Petrol turbo or Cdi)........

Most of us tell prospective Fortwo owners not to buy the MHD model (MHD badge on back with start stop system/ECO button), as the belt and pully arrangement can become non-aligned after a while and the belt will wear quickly and could even snap. There has been many a damaged MHD engine due to this. So as said by the member above, check out your belt, and always keep an eye on it.

Smart has had (correct me if I am wrong) three attempts at fixes for this, but no such luck, it is a bad design and must be watched all the itme if you own a MHD.

[Thrumbleux]

The damage, if the belt fails, is caused by overheating as the belt also drives the water pump. Watch for the over temperature warning.

[tolsen]

It is like driving a time bomb! You never know when it will blow.

[Stealth451]

Thanks for the advice guys, I'll get it checked out asap.

I'm already considering part exchanging it for a turbo.

[Stealth451]

I've ended buying a 451 brabus and pick it up tomorrow, can't wait.

[EmilysDad]

.....
Most of us tell prospective Fortwo owners not to buy the MHD model (MHD badge on back with start stop system/ECO button), as the belt and pully arrangement can become non-aligned after a while and the belt will wear quickly and could even snap. There has been many a damaged MHD engine due to this. So as said by the member above, check out your belt, and always keep an eye on it.

Smart has had (correct me if I am wrong) three attempts at fixes for this, but no such luck, it is a bad design and must be watched all the itme if you own a MHD.

That's a coincidence. I've just had a spin up the road in one of these ... wondered what the mhd was ........ and come here to look for info in general on this flavour of Fourtwo
I was surprised at how heavy the steering was on such a small car with no PAS
.... and this was the second car this week I've test driven in which the interior/cabin fan didn't work (1st car wasn't a smart)

[ColSmart]

I was surprised at how heavy the steering was on such a small car with no PAS
.... and this was the second car this week I've test driven in which the interior/cabin fan didn't work (1st car wasn't a smart)

You get used to non-powered steering but slow right angle turns really builds up your arm muscles. There are only a small percentage of 451's with the optional cost power steering, but most did not pay for it and felt they did not need it.

As for 451's interior fan motor, well I had that problem at only 25k miles, and its down to the electric fan motors comutator segments which dirty up and you get dead spots. The motor is easily sorted by emery block on the comutator segments to clean it up, but getting motor in and out under the dash is a real bugbearer of a job. Better to get a car with fan actually working, but do expect this common fault to occur sometime, as fan motor is rather poorly built to create quick dirtying up.

INFO...
http://www.smartz.co.uk/showthread.p...ed-for-a-while

[EmilysDad]

You get used to non-powered steering but slow right angle turns really builds up your arm muscles. There are only a small percentage of 451's with the optional cost power steering, but most did not pay for it and felt they did not need it.

As for 451's interior fan motor, well I had that problem at only 25k miles, and its down to the electric fan motors comutator segments which dirty up and you get dead spots. The motor is easily sorted by emery block on the comutator segments to clean it up, but getting motor in and out under the dash is a real bugbearer of a job. Better to get a car with fan actually working, but do expect this common fault to occur sometime, as fan motor is rather poorly built to create quick dirtying up.

INFO...
http://www.smartz.co.uk/showthread.p...ed-for-a-while

Thanks for that Col

[JohnnyBoy]

I had a 2009 MHD, and it blew up one terrible stormy night at 2 am, coming across the Pennines. The only sign there was something wrong was the Eco light came on, but nothing about over temperature.
It was under warranty, but Mercedes tried to make out it was my fault, but caved in in the end, and admitted it was a known fault (I don't think they knew initially in fairness).
They lent me another Smart, not knowing that at the time I was doing 2,500 miles per month! :-) Then they seemed to forget about my car, and it was only after I reminded them after 3 months that the engine miraculously got replaced!
I never did ask them what they thought of the mileage I had put on their new loan car :-)