A few W209 questions
12-13-2016, 11:32 PM
#1
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1999 E 320 (sold), 2015 AUdi S5 (sold) 2005 CLK55 Cab, 2016 Honda Pilot Elite, 2011 Jaguar XF
A few W209 questions
I have an '05 CLK55 cab I bought used in 2009 with about 48K miles. Dont' drive it much and has about 57K miles now.
I haven't changed the oil (synthetic) in over 2 years but have not driven even 3K miles. Is this OK?
When I got inspection sticker the fellow said the brake fluid was fouled because of the color of the fluid when he looked at it. What color should it be? How often should there be brake fluid service?
Wife has dinged up the front lower bumper that houses the fog lamps. Easy to do if there is curb when parking. What's the most economical way to repair/replace this? Car looks great other than this.
Shock absorber for trunk partition is bad and I'd like to know my best bet for replacing this? Right now I'm having to jam a plastic stick against the partition to be able to put top down.
Any preventative maintenance I should do proactively to avoid future costly repairs?
I haven't changed the oil (synthetic) in over 2 years but have not driven even 3K miles. Is this OK?
When I got inspection sticker the fellow said the brake fluid was fouled because of the color of the fluid when he looked at it. What color should it be? How often should there be brake fluid service?
Wife has dinged up the front lower bumper that houses the fog lamps. Easy to do if there is curb when parking. What's the most economical way to repair/replace this? Car looks great other than this.
Shock absorber for trunk partition is bad and I'd like to know my best bet for replacing this? Right now I'm having to jam a plastic stick against the partition to be able to put top down.
Any preventative maintenance I should do proactively to avoid future costly repairs?
12-13-2016, 11:57 PM
#2
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Oil should be changed once a year, even with ultra low mileage. Brake fluid is every two years, regardless of mileage. In SoCal mobile repair shops can touch up minor damage at your home or office. Usually in the $400 range. I took a ding out of my car and result it in the garage at home. So far no one has been able to tell me where it was - if you're DIY inclined. We covered that in The Southwest Star Magazine earlier this year .
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JYO (12-14-2016)
12-14-2016, 03:27 AM
#3
Brake fluid should be clear. If it's misty it's collected a lot of moisture and should be replaced. It's common advice to replace it in springtime, right after the more "moist" months, but that depends on your local climate.
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JYO (12-14-2016)
12-14-2016, 04:25 PM
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1999 E 320 (sold), 2015 AUdi S5 (sold) 2005 CLK55 Cab, 2016 Honda Pilot Elite, 2011 Jaguar XF
What's involved in changing brake fluid and is it Ok to do it at a generic oil change location?
Does entire brake system need flushing. Does brake fluid need to come from MB only?
Thanks
Does entire brake system need flushing. Does brake fluid need to come from MB only?
Thanks
12-14-2016, 04:44 PM
#5
Changing brake fluid consists basically of draining, filling and bleeding. I have zero trust in such places and I wouldn't let them anywhere near my car's vital bodily fluids :-)
If you can and it's not outrageously expensive, get the Benz fluid. If not, get a quality one anyway, like ATE and such.
If you can and it's not outrageously expensive, get the Benz fluid. If not, get a quality one anyway, like ATE and such.
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JYO (12-15-2016)
