Well spring is round the corner and I have gotten to open the hood and start looking around "T-Rex" for the things to check out and jobs to do before getting the beast back on the road.

I lifted the vehicle on axle stands as I will be needing to get under and replace the cheap exhaust clamps with some decent SS stuff like in the link below. Reputable MB technicians say they are better quality than OE ones.
http://www.mikalor.com/eng/super-heavy-duty-clamp-eng

When I looked under the front left what was there??? A nice oil puddle after sitting two months idle
I mentioned that I had an oil leak in the front but nobody seems to know where it comes from. Certainly not the oil cooler gaskets as all around that item it's bone dry and clean. I have purchased an endoscope which I can plug into my laptop to see an enlarged picture. Hopefully I can find the source. It's not the power steering as that is also dry and clean. Wondering if the ATF cooler pipe which passes across the front of the oil pan and near the anti-sway bar is not at fault as there the oil is heavy.

Probably I'm going to pull the radiator out to enable an easier access to the thermostat which also needs to be changed (takes a long time heating up in the morning). Then with the radiator removed I can better see the front of the engine and perhaps see if the oil leak is not the crankshaft O ring. It does seem is pretty dry and clean, so we will see. At the same time I'll be changing the coolant as I have never done that since purchasing the 43, so it's probably also time for that job.

This afternoon I pulled out the 16 plugs blowing compressed air around each plug before removing to ensure no dirt or muck falls into the engine. Replacement plugs going in tomorrow will be Bosch Super Platinum ones.

Also I removed the MAF and intake elbow and I'm in the process of flowing that. I also cleaned up one or two edges in George's enlarged air-box. After a long debate regarding the MAF screens at the intake side, I will not touch them. The MAF body was perfectly clean and dry. The Green air-filters have been thoroughly cleaned and very lightly oiled.

More updates and progress reports soon. Keep tuned...

 

Fun times

I just cleaned up my trunk. Replaced all carpets that cover the sides of the trunk, vacuumed and washed the bottom of the trunk. Im gonna see if I can remake the big cover sheet that closes the trunk and folds in half. Mine is pretty rough.

I had the shaved elbow installed too btw, it made a noticeable difference. I am waiting for a box from George as well. Im super excited.

 

I don't let my car warm up much in the mornings. Maybe 30 seconds.

 

Just got mine going yesterday since we are selling wife's car.

the damn tunnel insulation is drooping an rubbing the forward flex disc. How big of a problem is this?

 

This is the metallic protection I imagine. Is it missing a clip(s) or screw(s) perhaps? Should be a simple fix if you can get the vehicle up on a lift easily...

 

No its the carpet insulation

 

A good quality contact glue perhaps?

 

Nice job on the elbow Daniel.
You should also port the maf housing.
But just the bottom part below the sensor.
And than go to the throttle body inlet and port that too. Than go for a drive!

With these mods you will notice increase power when you hit 2-3K rpm's.

 

Thanks George

 

New spark plugs going in very soon...

 

What made you choose the Bosch Super Platinum plugs? Just curious.

 

I have always used Bosch plugs on all my cars, with never a problem. The double platinums were highly recommended by another C43 owner in Germany.

 

I heard Mercedes stopped using Bosch plugs in their new cars. Is this correct?

 

No idea at all. When I changed mine the first time after I purchased the 43, there were NGKs which I replaced to Bosch and they are the ones on the McDo tray in the photo above

 

The shaving of the elbow is now finished and back on the engine. Cleaned the throttle body as it was rather mucky. I wonder if this is also found in the individual intake pipes. I recall having seen some photos of one dismantled and caked with black oily smudge everywhere inside. I'm not going to touch that as it seems to get the parts airtight is an VERY BIG PITA.

Anyway I assembled the throttle elbow with new seals front and rear. See pic for part #s

When I removed the MAF I saw that the clip which holds the MAF body to the engine was broken. I got a new one but I am having problems trying to clip the thing on. Any tips or special way on fixing this part properly??

New spark plugs installed and torqued down. Individual coil packs screwed back on the valve covers. Just need to connect the leads to the plugs tomorrow.

I still haven't found the oil leak from up front of the engine. Just a couple of drips coming from the A/C compressor bracket. Weird as the engine has not been switched on since December.... The mystery continues and I hope things become clear when I get the radiator out of the engine bay. Just waiting for the special tools (thin 36mm open ended spanner and special pulley holder) on order with the local dealer.

 

Could the leak be from the timing cover plug?

 

Hmm, good guess but can't see anything as long as the fan is still in place. I plan on removing that part on day after tomorrow when the tool should be here.
Is the timing chain cover independant to the crankshaft pulley, or does that need removing before. If so, I'm probably up the creek without a paddle

 

You shouldn't have to remove anything other than the plastic fan frame to remove the plug.

 

I think I have the same leak in my car. I noticed a drop of oil on the A/C bracket last time I was under the car. Didn't see it leaking from anywhere. I have had a lot of fill ups since the engine swap and the car hasn't been low on oil though. It was 3/4 of a quart low after every fill up before the swap.

I'm going to run out in a bit and just check the dipstick though. Curiosity is getting to me.

 

Here's a photo of the screw on the compressor bracket from which the oil dripped. OK nice and clean because I wiped it clean yesterday...

 

This thing.

You dont have to take this whole thing off to remove it.

Mine was leaking on both the m113 on the c43 and the m112 on my c280

 

Sh*t I hope it's only that. Fingers crossed till tomorrow...

 

That's the oil pressure test port. It's plugged in our cars since they have no oil pressure gauge, but often has a rubber seal that fails. Very easy fix.

 

Yeah, I hope so but the fan needs to be removed to get behind. And I can see it is very oily back there...

 

Its not that bad to remove, I did my own.