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I think I should have started my membership here with a more general assessment question. I posted that I picked up a 20 year old (1998) W210 e430 a few weeks back. 90k miles. I'm starting to do some maintenance that I assume needs done. I"m now wondering just what really should be done.
I know brake fluid should be done. And engine and tranny fluid and filters.
Assuming (safe assumption) that the following stuff has not yet been done... -- Should I change the power steering fluid and coolant? Are the shocks surely shot? Springs? Rear differential fluid? Anything else that W210s at this age should have done?
I'm just wondering if age really doesn't matter to some of this stuff, and thus perhaps if milage is really the factor, and 90k isn't perhaps that bad?
Thanks for your advice and insights in advance MBWorlders!
MB applies what they call Schedule A, Schedule B... maintenance service. The owner's manual
packet may have these defined more but here is a good start
At 20 years of age in a car I recommend replacing: shocks, front ball joints, front control arm bushings. Check the camber on the rear wheels, if more negative than -1.2 degrees, replace the upper link of the multi-link rear suspension with a new OEM part or an adjustable link to bring the camber back into spec (you will need to reset toe afterwards). Spark plugs and wires if not done in the past few years. All coolant hoses. Serpentine belt and pulleys.
It is well worth the $75 for a year's access to the Electronic Parts Catalog so you can look up part numbers yourself and then search online or take the list in to the dealer.
I had couple of W210 with close to 300k miles and per my knowledge still on factory suspension parts.
20 years of age might add aging factor, but this car has solid bushing on suspension, so just check it. Don't overlook driveshaft disks and center bearing holder.
If you have records, just follow the manuals Raymond posted.
If you think car might be neglected - check it carefully especially under the hood.
Kinked hoses and poorly torqued clamps can bite you long way from home. Ask me how I know.
I had couple of W210 with close to 300k miles and per my knowledge still on factory suspension parts.
20 years of age might add aging factor, but this car has solid bushing on suspension, so just check it. Don't overlook driveshaft disks and center bearing holder.
.
Thanks You! My local MB dealer offers "free" inspection for new customers (obviously to sell lots of services I thought), so I took them up on it. They noted some weeping oil seals on some engine pans/parts, but very minor and they did not advise replacement. They thought the suspension all looked ok. Even the shocks which I thought might best be replaced. He said it didn't show signs of leaking. I still may do it, as I'm sure I can do that myself, and then it's done. And I need tires and then an alignment, so maybe best to do shocks first so the alignment is all done and right.
He noted I'd need a flex disc soon. I'll probably let them do that as the labor was less than $100 based on the OEM part cost online.
Do all W210s have a drain bolt in the torque converter?
I found a reasonable Mercedes mechanic in The Bronx and his prices were reasonable. He put the car up on a lift and allowed me and my brother under the car while he pointed the parts that need to be replaced. In addition to the engine and trans mounts, which I already knew I needed to replace, he's recommending replacing the front ball joint on the passenger side. Should I have them replace both sides? I should have asked him this but maybe I didn't hear him say I needed both.
I also need front control arm bushings. Are these the same as the "Suspension Stabilizer Bar Bushing Front"?
Could someone please explain and also please post the part numbers for these? I already have the part numbers for the engine & trans mounts. But need help sorting out the others.
Last edited by CarlitoE430; 10-09-2018 at 12:31 PM.
Here's is a rule of thumb for suspension components: if there is one on each side and one side goes bad, the other is not far behind. Replace in pairs.
I found a reasonable Mercedes mechanic in The Bronx and his prices were reasonable. He put the car up on a lift and allowed me and my brother under the car while he pointed the parts that need to be replaced. In addition to the engine and trans mounts, which I already knew I needed to replace, he's recommending replacing the front ball joint on the passenger side. Should I have them replace both sides? I should have asked him this but maybe I didn't hear him say I needed both.
I also need front control arm bushings. Are these the same as the "Suspension Stabilizer Bar Bushing Front"?
Could someone please explain and also please post the part numbers for these? I already have the part numbers for the engine & trans mounts. But need help sorting out the others.
Control arm bushings are NOT the same as your Suspension stabilizer bar bushings (Sway bar bushings).
Do a search on these two onlin so you can understand the differences.
Front ball joint - upper or lower or both? You didnt specify.
If you are going to replace one ball joint replace them all and be done with it for another 90K miles. If you replace one lower front ball joint, you have to re-align the front end. If, six months later you have to replace the other lower front ball joint, you'll have to re-align the front end again. Replace the front lower ball joints, replace the control arm bushings, replace the tie rod ends, and perform the alignment one time. Note that replacing the upper ball joints requires replacing the entire control arm.
BBirdwell, I plan to replace as many parts as I can while the mechanic is down there. When I search "Tie Rod End" I get hundreds of parts. Could you please help me find the specific part number for my 2002 E430 4Matic Sedan?
So far, I have this on my list:
Last edited by CarlitoE430; 10-11-2018 at 09:56 AM.
Thanks You! My local MB dealer offers "free" inspection for new customers (obviously to sell lots of services I thought), so I took them up on it. They noted some weeping oil seals on some engine pans/parts, but very minor and they did not advise replacement. They thought the suspension all looked ok. Even the shocks which I thought might best be replaced. He said it didn't show signs of leaking. I still may do it, as I'm sure I can do that myself, and then it's done. And I need tires and then an alignment, so maybe best to do shocks first so the alignment is all done and right.
He noted I'd need a flex disc soon. I'll probably let them do that as the labor was less than $100 based on the OEM part cost online.
Do all W210s have a drain bolt in the torque converter?
From your first post, aside from the engine transmission and converter fluids I would definitely do the coolant and power steering while probably not the highest in the priority list, is relatively easy to exchange. Brake fluid I took to the dealer so they could flutter the ABS properly. After all that you have a new baseline.
After 20 years and no true recommendations for new suspension bits? Surprising. Mine at 80K had leaking lower control arm bushings and loose lower ball joints. I opted to replace both upper and lower arms at once since it was a savings in labor overall in the long run. Next my sway bar bushings were diminished so I replaced them and the drop links as well. I even had to tighten my front wheel bearings eventually. Should have seen my tie rod ends limp noodles.
Any suspension work betters the car. Tightens the car right up and gives a smoother ride.
Be sure to check the bushings on the shock absorbers. One of mine literally disintegrated and I had metal on metal between the shock and the mounting bolt.
Upper Spring Insulator - Mercedes-Benz (210-325-02-84) @ $6.00 per unit.
Do I need four (4) of those? Or just the two for the front? Is it a big job to replace these or something the mechanic can easily do while he changes the rest of the parts on my list? Something tells me that dealing with the springs is heavy work, but if I need them or I'm going to need them and if they significantly improve the ride, then I'll do it now, with this Suspension Overhaul.
i'm not sure what you're trying to fix, but the part number you just posted is not for shock absorber bushing.
it is for a spring pad / spacer of which there are varying thicknesses (about 5 in front and 4 in rear). as an
aside, there are also spring seat spacers (thin metal sheet) which fits between spring and lower control arm
shock absorber bushing is specific to a shock model being used so that varies quite a bit
07-11-2018, 06:47 AM
