KevinH2000

Every time I make an "investment" in my car, I have thoughts like these. This year, I replaced the shocks and struts and I'm wondering whether the car will persist long enough for me to determine that it was a good decision. (A word to the wise - the rear shocks are a fairly easy DIY job. Consider having a professional install the front struts for you unless you are skilled in the use of spring compressor.)

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.

C230 Sport Coup

Yes, the rear shocks ARE easy to remove unless you follow the instructions of some of the numnuts on Youtubee who claim to have knowledge of
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.

an6dk

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.

an6dk

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.

C230 Sport Coup

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!