Supgee

Hey everyone.
Just got done replacing my leaky valve covers, with fresh oem gaskets. As well as finally changing out the original spark plugs, wires, and air filters.
Check out the pictures, the valve covers were completely soaked.. and the spark plugs were rusty as hell.. shame whoever owned this car before me.
I replaced everything with Bosch OEM wires, bosch oem iridium plugs, gaskets from the dealer, and genuine mann air filters.

Yes, the car ran 10 years with the same plugs, and air filters.
The difference is very apparent.. the car was sluggish, didn't want to accelerate, and was getting poor fuel economy at best. Now the fuel economy has picked up significantly, and throttle response is much crisper.
I have only owned the car for about 8 months and have put a fair share of work into it.

So far I have changed the:
intercooler pump
alternator
valve cover gaskets
spark plugs
spark plug wires
air filters
engine oil
coolant
power steering fluid
brake fluid


I love this car but it was definitely neglected in its previous life. Driven hard and put away wet. About the only issues I have now are my right headlamp is out, and replacing the bulb doesn't do anything. I believe the electronic ballast is bad, and they are expensive. Anyone have any alternatives without changing the OEM headlamps? (they are too nice to change)
Valve train looks good for almost 90k miles as well!

tw2

Looking great, its a messy job that one. Im sure it appreciates the new plugs! Im definitely not looking forward to doing that on the V8.

ghiaguy

Great to see you taking good care of her! That car deserves it!!

rorf

Valve train looks amazingly clean - wonder what oil was used as Mobil 1 usually leaves a brown colour on the engine insides.

C_DirtyTwo

Looks good, I think you should buy my 185mm pulley kit to open that beast up

lkfoster

I was wondering that too. I've had a couple 100k+ Mobil 1 engines and they've always had a light brown patina.

Supgee

Hi guys, thanks for the kind words.
I was also very surprised at the clean condition of the valve train.

I have been using Liqui Molly 0W-40, it is a good synthetic oil also made in Germany and meets MB specs... a bit cheaper than Mobil 1 and has never done me wrong.
My Porsche friends use it, and I've switched to it as well.

Supgee

I am a little strapped for cash, if you still have it in a little bit I will definitely buy it. The car had some mechanical issues when I got it, that I am in the process of correcting before I add any performance modifications.

Saaboteur

Hey man, where are you getting Liqui Moly locally for less than Mobil1? I'd love to try it, but the only time I saw it was at PartSource and they wanted stupid money for it.

BTW, those plugs you pulled out look like crap! Good job you replaced them.

Supgee

I work at a shop mind you so I get all my parts for cost.
I have access to lots of european wholesalers that retail customers don't.

Shoot me a text vince ill get you a deal. I paid less than 50 bucks for my oil filter and 8 liters of liqui moly

MarcusCameron

Hey, I just recently got an '02 C32 with 130,000mile. I have changed the oil, transmission fluid, Coolant, cleaned fuel system. What do you think I should next?
I also have the same problem with my headlight but it is my left one.
I took it to Mercedes and they said i need a new HID Control Unit & Head Light Unit. ($3,342)
Have you found a way to fix this cheaper?

BobC32AMG

Nice to see somebody giving it the attention and care that car deserves. Who in earth did you buy it from?? I can't comprehend somebody buying this car brand new, for 60-70k and never doing any maintenance, then after 10 years selling it? You spend that much money on a car and then are too cheap to give it some TLC, those people should not be allowed driving these kind of cars...

MarcusCameron

I live in Venice, Ca and drove to Fontana, Ca which is almost 2h, especially with traffic, to buy it from a girl, who seemed like it might have been to much for her to maintain. Paid 6k, and had MB do a full check of the car and got all green marks. Little things need to be fixed but it will be well worth it. MB recommended replacing: Valve cover gaskets, all engine mounts, rear main seal, and spark plugs. Any idea of what i should tackle first?

Saaboteur

Maj I'll lye you know when I need oil again. Canadian Tire had a sale on Mobil1 a few weeks back, just in time when I had to do the oil on the C55 so it worked out nice. BTW, did your coil pack clips come apart easily or did they break? About half of mine broke very easily when I did my plugs. I did a DIY thread on replacing the clips a while back.

Marcus, of those items on your list, the valve cover gaskets and spark plugs will be the easiest. Probably should do plug wires at the same time too. You may need the special spark plug removal tool, otherwise, cut open a 17mm angled box end wrench and good to go.

The engine mounts and trans mount will be next most difficult, and the rear main seal the most difficult. For the rear main seal, it's probably just a $10-20 part, but to get at it you need the transmission out (or the engine out, I guess).

Supgee

Hey vince.
Yeah one of my coil pack clips did in fact break. I was very careful. They dont like to be taken on and off.
I saw your DIY, and actually when it broke that's the first thing I thought about. Its on my to do list.

@Marcus.. leaky rear main? Bad news man. The labour to perform this job is immensive and not something that can be done easily DIY. As saab mentioned the engine and transmission need to be seperated in order to perform this repair.

MarcusCameron

Thanks you guys! You have been super helpful. I Just replaced the valve cover gaskets and spark plugs today. A few things of my check list. Need to add rear tires and brakes to that list now. But loving the car!

Duncan64

i'm about to do a mass maintenance on my car as well. how hard was the coolant flush? Is there a DIY here? I'm mostly concerned about bleeding the air out afterwards to make sure the new coolant flows through without restriction.

MarcusCameron

I like to have Mercedes service mine.

Does anyone know why the passenger seat adjustment button would drain the battery? Anyone know how to fix?

Saaboteur

The seat thing is pretty common for C32s. I remember reading threads about it, do. Search and you should find a cheap and easy fix or the problem too.

rorf

Usually a fault in the memory control module which resides under the seat.

ScottW911

Cheapest and easiest fix: Reach under the front of the seat and unplug the unit from the seat. Done.

MarcusCameron

Thanks Yall! Super helpful.
I'm saving up for my next repair; Which is more important to get done?
Engine Mounts or Rear main Seal?
Thanks

tw2

Engine mounts unless the leak is bad. Much easier.

MarcusCameron

I havent seen any leaking. MB just recommended getting it done.

Supgee

If there isn't any visible leaking (you know where and what to look for?) of the rear main seal then I would replace the engine mounts and not worry about the rear main seal. Sounds like MB wants to hose you for some cash, which they are known to do.

Keep an eye on it yourself!