Bravo10000

I was pretty excited at being reassigned to Germany, since I always wanted to own a Mercedes. Within a week of arriving here, my wife and I found a sweetheart of a W124 (230E, German specs). While I have been unimpressed with the power from this little 4-banger, it has been a reliable and nice-looking car for the last 2 years. I've alays been suspicious of the tranny, since it seems to top out (at a relatively high RPM) at 150 kph. It almost feels like it should have another gear.

Recently, though, she's been giving me issues (the car, not the wife). In the morning, the car sputters and coughs at startup, and I have to sit and coax her to run for the first 5 or 6 minutes...but once the car has reached operating temp, it gives me no further issues - even if making multiple stops. As Germany is very humid and oft rainy, my first suspect is the distributor cap (it is due a tune-up, which I intend to do in the next couple of days). I don't know if this is the 2.0 or 2.3 motor. Unfortunately, the manual is in German, so I can't glean much from it.

The second issue is a rythmic "ticking" from the rear while in gear and moving. I can hear it, but not "feel" it. It almost sounds like a CV joint, but it isn't always present. I know how to check for CV wear on front axles (the easy way - slow donuts in a parking lot). Any ideas on what might be causing this?

Last - anyone know of a good online parts resource for Euro-spec MBs?

overboostTSI

Probably injectors or cold start valve. I have seen a lot of injector failures on the Bosch CIS injection that had the same symptoms you describe. These injectors have a tendency to dribble fuel at idle with age. Does the car bog when accelerating?

Bravo10000

Sure does - until it is good and warm.

I did the tune-up yesterday...air filter, plugs/wires/cap/rotor, dumped in some injector cleaner. I had to back-order the fuel filter, though. It turned into an ordeal, since the parts store originally gave me the wrong cap and rotor...language barrier, and I don't know what size my 4-banger is.

I started it this morning, and she fired right up. When I backed 'er out of the driveway, she seemed to run much better. I guess we'll know for sure when I go for a drive a little later. She badly needed that tune-up either way, and was appreciative on my autobahn drive yesterday afternoon. The old cap had some oil residue from the lower distributor (there's a small shield there that wasn't well seated).

My next suspect is the cold start valve - I have zero experience with that. Any helpful hints on where to find this bugger? I've read that it can be cleaned or replaced?

Thanks!

mgw_300e

there should be a fuel line that goes to it, and it's in the intake path.

shadowgriffen

Try OVP. your Over Voltage Protector usually gets fried when jump starting a w124.

use our search engine and you will see many threads discussing this very common problem.