merc190e23_16

Hi all.

Recently, I had to do some exhaust fixes and fuel drainage on my 1986 Mercedes Benz 190E 2.3-16. Since the service stations around my area were all closed on Sunday, and I had no other time to do this, I decided to do it myself.

I used a standard hydraulic floor jack to lift the left rear corner of my car and some jack stands to support the vehicle; I lifted the left rear wheel around 7 inches above the ground. Overall it was a quick 5-10 minute operation of welding in the new muffler and the fuel replacement (fuel was stale at around 1 1/2 years old). I know this isn't the best method of doing it but I needed it done quickly and I had no chassis lift available.

While I was lifting the car up, I could hear some audible creaking throughout. It was worrying, but I had no other way around this. Might I have accidentally bent the frame of my car? People tell me this car has an extremely rigid chassis so I shouldn't worry, but I have my doubts. The car still pulls straight and all of the doors fit flush with the frame, but I'm still curious.

DocWalla

Saying the doors all fit flush and it is a unibody id say no. What you may have heard was the strut mounts flexing as when you lift the car with a floor jack it moves the car to the side a couple inches (which is why when you use a floor jack the wheels on it move across the floor as its lifted). The shift in the weight distribution on the suspension is what you heard creaking imo. Lifting the car would not bend the frame unless the car had previously been in an accident and was not repaired correctly.

RPB

Prob just hearing the springs and shocks...no worries and your car is a tank!

Hopefully you did jack it up in the correct place though.

merc190e23_16

I did my best and avoided damaging the side skirts. Thanks RPB and DocWalla! Now this can leave the back of my mind I can't wait to drive this more often once winter passes. Such a sweet ride and the best $8,750 spent on a car. This will be in my garage for as long as I can maintain it.

DocWalla

8750? I only paid 1200off for mine (mines a '91 190E 2.3l 8v 5-speed w/ 194k miles and minor body damage)

merc190e23_16

Mine was a low-mileage car with 62k miles. There are only some 2,000 16V 190E's in the U.S, maybe less so I anticipated higher prices. I bought it from a Korean electronics executive (he had several Mercs already) and he originally wanted around $9,500-$10,000 for it. It was the best example I could get around the Phoenix area at the time; the next offering I saw was all the way in Virginia for $7,500 and had three times as many miles. This was the first time I bought a used car so I'm not an expert with haggling hahah.

You got one heck of a deal with your ride.

DocWalla

only damage is a crease in the hood from being backed into by a truck in a parking lot =] i really wouldnt worry about the chassis damage since its such a low mile car. no rust anywhere correct?