What did you do to your W203 today?
#51
Super Member
Yup. I don't have 50 grand for new car, and I don't need someone else's used problem, that requires full coverage and a payment + maybe more problems than the car I might purchase to replace it. Nothing is guaranteed. All this in the last year. I'd write a book for everything I've done on this car. But no trans issues with regular service, no bearing failures, basic structure is good. And so far, the engine hasn't failed catastrophically. amazingly. It still runs and drive great...for now. And so, I drive it. Premium is getting damn expensive though.
But I am jonesin to get that 300 Kilometer award from Mercedes. After that...who knows. I'm curious how long it can keep going. Drive it til it just dies. Our sweet little 'Carly' LOL. She's a good girl. And I can't afford a new Benz, and nothing else drives like one.
But I am jonesin to get that 300 Kilometer award from Mercedes. After that...who knows. I'm curious how long it can keep going. Drive it til it just dies. Our sweet little 'Carly' LOL. She's a good girl. And I can't afford a new Benz, and nothing else drives like one.
As of this writing, the car is performing well, but there are always storm clouds on the horizon. For example, last year, my AC wasn't working well. I turned this job over to my mechanic. He couldn't find an obvious problem, so he recharged the system and added a UV dye that would facilitate leak detection. The AC functioned fine all summer. When my mechanic performed the annual state-required safety inspection for me in April, I asked him to check the AC. He told me that it was better to recharge the small amount that had leaked from the system in a year than to fix the leak. He has experience with Mercedes, and he said that replacing one component was likely to lead to a cascade of failed components. I'd rather fix the problem "permanently" than recharge the system every year, but I decided to follow his guidance for the time being.
The "elephant in the room" for owners of cars like mine with the M271 engine is that engine's reputation for timing chain failures. I scavenged parts from a car with a timing chain failure, so I know it happens. I found a good set of videos on replacing the timing chain,
I'm not sure whether I have the skills needed to take this on, but it may be necessary at some point.
As always, it's nice to see that a few people continue to decide that keeping an aging W203 on the road is a rationale decision. Or, alternatively, there are a few people making the same poor decisions that I make.
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TheRotaryFox (05-10-2024)
#52
MBWorld Fanatic!
Thread Starter
repairs on these vehicles, but actually are not skilled and will create a lot of extra work for you.
Once I determined the horrible noises I was hearing in the rear were just the bushings on the rear shocks (whew! thats all it was!)
I went to remove them, and according to dumasses on youtube you need to remove the SPRINGS! NO NO NO!!!!!
I almost did that, glad I didn't. A spring can KILL you! All you need to do is unbolt the top and bottom and give the shock a good push from below with the car on a jackstand, and it will pop out to the side and out! Thats it! Since I have this TEIN suspension, I replaced the bushings only. I was able to order from a place in Portland.
TEIN will supposedlly rebuild but the cost is prohibitive. Both shocks were basically shot, there are shocks for lowered vehicles out there,
but F it, I just did the bushings and put it back. My suspension is so stiff, the shocks dont do much anyway. As far as the front, if you get the struts out of the vehicle, and maybe find a shop with one of those wall mounted compressors, you might save some money. Pulling the whole strut isnt that hard. I did that, they charged me $50 each, which seemed a bit excessive for such a quick job but after wresting with a spring compressor and failing, it was worth it.
Last edited by C230 Sport Coup; 05-10-2024 at 05:58 PM.
#53
Junior Member
I removed the driveshaft heat shielding and full exhaust system and some other stuff to pull the trans and then twisted the hell out of the hydraulic line from the clutch slave to the master. As usual with our cars the replacement part has been elusive and I might have to make one.
#54
Junior Member
I have had to occasionally add more coolant but its not in the oil nor is it in the exhaust and there are no leaks to be found, it hasnt been much for me though so it well could have been air pockets escaping from when I flushed and refilled the system after my head gasket.
#55
MBWorld Fanatic!
Thread Starter
What did I do to my W203 today?
Oil & Filter Change with 6 quarts of oil.
I aways fill a quart or less than the 7.5 quarts called for to account
for oil left in the engine. Dyno mode says I have 6.5 quarts which is good enough
for now. 257160 miles and counting.
Bump!
Oil & Filter Change with 6 quarts of oil.
I aways fill a quart or less than the 7.5 quarts called for to account
for oil left in the engine. Dyno mode says I have 6.5 quarts which is good enough
for now. 257160 miles and counting.
Bump!