Daniel1223

Few service items were found with my Son's 06 E350 at 42,000 Miles, we are good with following directions to save $$. I'm somehow familiar with most of the recommendations below, and my question is: which of these (besides the tires) require special tools or dealers programming and will be hard to DIY?

1. Replace steering angle sensor (Found faulty steering angle sensor) - -$699.55
2. Replace right centrifuge cover (Found engine oil leak) Fail -- $238.00
3. Replace all four tires (Right front tire tread measures 3/32" or less) Fail -- $988.00
4. Replace both engine mounts and transmission mount (Found both engine mounts excessively worn/loose) Fail -- $1,194.22
5. Replace both banks cylinder head camshaft plugs (Found engine oil leak) Fail -- $160.00
6. Replace torque strut bushings (Found control arm bushing(s) worn/loose) -- $545.17
7. Perform SBC Fluid Exchange (Brake Fluid) (Brake Flush due every 2 years or 20,000 miles) -- $149.95
8. Perform four wheel alignment (Based on individually noted tread depts) -- $149.95
9. Perform transmission fluid exchange service and change filter (Transmission service due every 4 years or 40,000 miles) -- $399.95

Any advice and suggestions will be greatly appreciated

kajtek1

Just wait for Plutoe to come here and explain to you that you can't pump your tires without DAS in Florida.
When your list has some items not doable for DIY, why don't you split it on what you can and are confident to do and something what is way over DIY level.

Daniel1223

Thanks kajtek1, may I Ask how to fix the car WITHOUT DAS Xentry in Tampa-Orlando Area?

Also, do you think I can get better prices outside or these are reasonable prices?

kajtek1

You need to read some older replies by Plutoe to understand irony in my footnote.
Don't worry about it too much as trolls are everywhere.
In last 20 years I send about $200 for car service that I could not perform at home, so I am the last person to ask for shop recommendation.
Don't we have special section on this forum? If not benzworld does.

RCPDesigns

1,2 easy
3 use tire shop you like
4 fairly easy if you have real jack stands. By real jack stand I mean ones that are fusion welded and not spot welded thin gauge death traps. You need to car up pretty high to work underneath it. You need to drop the exhaust so don't forget to buy the exhaust slip rings and nuts. Get the special wrench as well, makes getting the top bolt off much easier. Couple of good forum posts on this.
5 easy
6 haven't done this
7 you need a STAR system to do this but $150 is reasonable. My indy wants $200 for this
8 usually have the tire shop do this, but if you choose to have MB do the tires, then have them do the alignment
9 that's kind of pricey but i believe that car has the 7 speed transmission and the DIY is pretty difficult. I have my indy do this.

Daniel1223

Thank RCPDesigns for taking the time to respond.. I've checked a youtube about changing the steering angle sensor and I think we can do it - not problem

Is there a better way to find the correct part numbers for the part(s) we need?

RCPDesigns

Yes, sign up for http://epc.startekinfo.com/epc/
As a Mercedes owner you get one year free. Just need a CC number to get started. You can enter your VIN and then select parts.
RMEuropean.com has a good website and good prices. MBPartsWorld.com is a Mercedes dealer in South Atlanta that does great online sales and regularly sells parts for way, way less than a normal Mercedes dealer. You do need to check multiple sites however because it isn't uncommon to find the same part on different sites for a substantial price difference. Both RMEuropean and MBPartsWorld are easy to call on the phone and quiet knowledgeable.
The motor mounts are not as hard as they seem. At a estimated price of more than $1K, you can certainly get a good set (4 total) jack stand, jack and other tools you would need. You can buy 6 or 12 ton jack stands and take them to welder and have them re-welded. When you look at the jack stand you'll see what I mean. The jack stand is two pieces of stamped sheet metal and the weld between the two is pathetic. I had mine re-welded and the sides cut off the post such that it fits directly in the jack holes on the side of the car. I've replaced the mounts on all 4 of my cars with the first one taking a whole day and the last one taking a little over an hour.