sanf

get them now , install and post pics ~!!~ haha

johnand

I am so close to pulling the trigger, but the wife would have my head

johnand

Wow, I haven't posted to this thread in over a year.

So, I have now owned the car just over 2 years. Current mileage is 49755. Even after 2 years, I still love this car. I still enjoy taking it out for a drive with nowhere in particular to go, just to drive it.

It have been mostly trouble-free, but is at the dealer as I type this. Around 20K miles the car started making a popping sound in the front end that could be felt through the steering wheel, at slow speed, when turning the wheel from right to left. But, didn't pop when turning from left to right. So, at ~36K I took it in to the dealer to address that issue and had the transmission service done. The dealer diagnosed the problem as the notorious caster bushings, and replaced them under warranty.

When I drove the car the next day, I noticed the popping again. I didn't bother taking it in, as I figured I would wait until the warranty was almost up and fix any other issues that popped up, and have them fix them all.

So, fast forward to Monday last week, and I took the car in to address the popping again. The car was given back to me and said the popping was normal and that they checked 2 W203's they had and they both made the same popping. I turned the wheel of the W204 on the showroom and no pop. Then later that day I drove my neighbors W203 and it didn't make the noise.

So Wednesday morning I took it back, and insisted they take another look, and it was not normal. Earlier that morning I put the car on ramps and had my wife rock the steering wheel back and forth and tracked it down to the drivers side inner tie-rod area. I pushed up on the tie-rod and my wife said she couldn't hear of feel the pop anymore, though I could still feel and hear it below, but it was much lighter. I could also grab the tie rod and feel up and down play.

Got a call on Thursday, that they tracked the problem down to the driver's side inner tie rod and lower ball joint. They said they would replace them on Friday.

This afternoon I got a call and the SA said the replacement of the inner tie rod and lower ball joint didn't fix it, so they are ordering a new steering rack. Once again, I am promised my car will be done tomorrow. We will see.

*PS- Glyn, your PM box is full

nickgailloux

Make sure they do an alignment after that, as replacing the steering rack will eliminate your alignment. It should be free since its required as part of warranty.

LILBENZ230

So what's the long term outlook for your W203? Do you want to keep it until it won't go anymore or get rid of it in two more years?

Glyn M Ruck

Sorry John - again! Will clear - New rack for likely one bush But be happy - You will have a nice new rack.

Glyn M Ruck

Done

johnand

Absolutely. The SA said they didn't do an alignment after the tie rod and ball joint replacement since the noise was still present. I will make sure they do. Seems my dealer always needs to be reminded to do things completely

My plan is still the same. I plan on keeping the car ~10 years, if all goes well. This is just a little bump in the road.

Glyn, do new bushings come with the rack, or are they separate?

Glyn M Ruck

They will already be in the rack housing. Rack comes complete to bolt in & connect up. Just make sure they bleed the PS system properly & watch your fluid level initially. We don't want your forgetful dealership to screw up a perfectly good PS pump. Ask them for a warranty extension on the rack! Nothing like being cheeky.

I'm pleased to see you intend keeping the Benz - They are long life cars & in RSA people get rid of them when the service contract is up. Loose a bucket of money - & leave a great pool of good, well maintained cars for wise used buyers. You can buy a shed load of spares & labor for the loss they incur.

johnand

Thanks for the advise Glyn. I'll grab a bottle of PS fluid to be safe when I pick up the car. Just hope they finish today. I am off of work tomorrow and am supposed to head down to CA Thursday morning, and I sure don't want to drive the loaner car.

iblaho

Look forward to more of your posts, johnand. I have 50k on a 07 C230 sport. I am interested in maintenance issues. That's why I joined mbworld.

iblaho

You're right about the nice ride at 77+ . Try $380 in Alameda County and $374 in Yolo.

johnand

So, they fixed my car barely in time for my trip down to CA. Though, the popping is completely gone and the steering feels more responsive. But, they broke my Xenon headlights. When I hit Sacramento about 9pm, the headlight turned on and I couldn't see more that about 5ft in front of the car. The highbeams work like the low beams. So, I am sure they forgot to connect the front level sensor back after removing the rack. I am going to crawl under the car today and take a look.

Glyn M Ruck

Had exactly the same issue when they changed my castor bushes. They left the front sensor loose on the RHS of the front sway. Man - you can see nothing with the cutoff shield right down. Then they told me that the sensor was damaged - BS. I took over - manually cycled the sensor from one extreme to the other to reset - Bolted on & adjusted on the Star with a lightbox.

johnand

Glyn, so can I just bolt is back on and the lights will work? Or do I need to take it back because they need to adjust the sensor via STAR?

Glyn M Ruck

John - You can bolt it back but if you don't know it's exact previous orientation the lights will work but could be out of whack. Then you need the Star to fine tune the cutoff. Depends how they disconnected.

johnand

Glyn,

Thanks. I crawled under the car and the sensor is bolted to the swaybar AND plugged in, so I guess they forgot to adjust it. I have an appointment on Wednesday to have them fix it.

Glyn M Ruck

Grr - I know how you feel. Another trip to the dealer! Before they tell you the sensor is blown - make them cycle it manually. There is only one Tech at my dealer that understands BiX.

carbonfiberwhor

Very nice and also mybe about time for a complete detail (buffed and everything) since in the debagde post I saw some major swirls on the trunk when the sun hit the car. Other than that your car is

johnand

Oh don't even get me started. I am one of the most **** people when it comes to car care, and I have spent a good amount of money and learned a lot of good techniques to get my detailing regimen down, so as to keep swirling and micro-marring of the paint to a minimum. Every damn time I take my car to the dealer, I reiterate "DO NOT WASH THE CAR", and they do anyway and swirl the hell out of the paint. This last visit was by far the worst. When I got it back, it looked like they washed it with a Brillo pad

A full detail is coming soon

johnand

Been a crazy last few weeks, so I haven't been able to get the car to the dealer until today to fix the Bi-xenon's. Dealer hooked up Star and "re-learned zero point calibration". "Headlamp range adjusters working properly after zero point calibration."

I had a co-worker verify that the headlamps moved up and down when turning the key on.

I did get another "clear coat swirl wash" from the dealer, so a complete detail and polish will be coming in the near future. I am just pleased I never have to take my car back to this dealer again

Glyn M Ruck

Good News and bad news. That's why my dealer is not allowed to wash my car unless I'm present.

carbonfiberwhor

I feel for you man. My SA is a family friend so I really have no problems with my Dealership but when he was out sick and I had a different SA, I ***** you not, the car was showroom when I turned it over to them. When I got it back, it looked like they ran the damn thing through a brillo pad machine. I was Long story short...I got them to pay for the detailing done by a professional here in Aventura. Now im a happy but the incident has not happened again. I also like to go on random drives with the car. Awesome build and plan on keeping the 230 for 10 more years as when I finish my school career, I will have the engine swapped, suspension setup all changed, stripped interior and replaced with authentic CF parts and have myself a new track baby. Car looks

lamesc230

Thanks for the help in my thread. I am just hoping my dealership does not end up being likes yours .

samaritrey

lol i am glad i am not the only one that goes on random drives for no reason at all. my car has 49,000 miles of my random drives for no reason at all and 86,000 of some guy in Mississippi. lol