Well we've had it just at a month now and loving it.

It had 109K miles on it so I've been going through doing maintenance.

The dealer did an oil change 10miles before we bought it so that didn't need to be done.

It came with a full printout of all off the service it has had since new (at least all done at the dealer).

Front brakes at 60K rear at 90K.
Ball Joint at 109K
Trans connector plug done at 12K

Had the Coolant flushed twice (don't remember the mileages but in the 60 and 90K rnages). But the temp never comes up to fill operating temp 90c. So I have a thermostat on order. Maybe they thought flushing it would fix that????

I replaced the motor mounts (all three) and the buzzing/grinding noise is gone

The trans was never serviced so I got the dipstick tool 12 qts of Shell 134 fluid and did a filter change and flush (from the cooler fitting). I forgot to check the level before I started the drain so I don't know if it was set right before. So since the engine doesn't get to full temp would the trans? I drove it yesterday for ~ 40 miles and then checked the level after the drive and it was half way up the tool (right between the cold and warm marks). So I'm assuming that it's a little low.

Question #1. How much trans fluid needs to be added? Is there some rule of thumb that say 1/2 inch on the tool is XXX ounces (or liters)?

While checking things out I had the top engine covers off and got a call while lifting the main one off and being an idiot I didn't stop what i was doing and turned it over to look at the bottom of it - heck I was holding it with one hand and was distracted by my dad asking what I was doing. Needless to say the 6 screws dropped onto the top of the motor. 2 were easy to find and 2 more took a little looking on the passenger side down low and a magnetic pickup tool to retrieve. But I spent a half hour looking for the other 2 and no luck. All of the bottom covers were off and I couldn't find them. I made sure they weren't in a pulley/belt and started the motor

Everything sounded fine. Question #2 where can I get replacement bolts?

Related to #2 while checking the air filter the clip halfway back on the motor side popped completely off when I sprung it (none of the others did) and it disappeared. I think it's on top of the heat shield under the air box but I couldn't see how to remove the air box.

Question #3 How do I remove the Air Box - Who knows maybe I have 2 bolts and a clip under there.

Since the air filter was disgusting I'm going to replace it. No record of the Fuel filter being replaced so I'm doing that also. Maybe the cabin filter too.

Do I need to do the rear diff?

Apart from that any advice on what else to check?

 

It sounds like you're on the right track. I might also suggest (along with changing the rear end juice), that you change the power steering fluid, & purge the brake hydraulics (use DOT-4, either MB or Super BG Dot-4). Also, if you didn't drop the trans pan & replace the filter, . . .this would be advisable on a 100K mile trans. There could be a build-up of crud in the pan and fresh fluid could dis-lodge deposits and circulate the contamination through the trans. Then consider clean & repack the ft wheel bearings and it should make another 100+K.

 

I don't remember the dipstick had cold and warm markings. Mine only has length in millimeter marks. I drain the fluid from the bottom pan, got 4 qts out. suck from the top, got 3 qts out. Not sure about flushing from cooler fitting.

 

#2 Bolts from dealer. I just lost 3 as well. Could only find one.
#3 Those clips come off quite easily, WHile at dealer pickingup bolts pick up some extra clips.

If you enjoy doing your own work, highly recommend getting the Official Service DVD, and free subscription to Electronic Parts Catalog, or at very least a paid subscription to Alldatadiy.com.

Join MBCA. I get 10% off at dealer and more % off at select online retailers. Has paid for itself many times over just at the parts counter.

I am just at 91k myself. Had to do one glow plug, rest of them on order. Make sure you get the correct ones, they should have a 5V on them. Had to have her towed to dealer last night, all differential fluid was on my garage floor. Not sure when it leaked, could have been there for a day or so. Post your location, always good to know if another CDI owner is close by.

 

Thanks for all of the quick responses.

As for the transmission tool mine looks like the one pictured here:
http://www.benzworld.org/forums/w210...ml#post3647178

As far as the transmission goes I did drop the pan and change the filter and clean the magnet/pan. Then I did a flush based on this: http://www.benzworld.org/forums/w210...my-tranny.html On the W211 CDI you still have to pull off the bottom covers as you don't have enough room to do it from the top but after the ~4qt from the pan drop and then flushing another 7 from here I was getting red fluid (not the nasty black it started at) out. I even kept the last half quart in cast i didn't have enough to fill it to the proper level (and I still had 1 qt of new left from the case I bought).


According to the service records when they did the brakes they flushed the brake fluid also.

I was considering the diff but hadn't thought about the power steering and wheel bearings.

I've already done the free parts catalog but not ordered the DVD (But probably will) as I do enjoy working on cars and hate paying dealer labor rates!

That and the fact that I really hate the local "stealership". Had a bad experience with them on a previous car. Not a Mercedes just a $45K GMC that they refused to do warranty work on then wouldn't own up to breaking something while it was in for a repair. I ended up having to spend almost $500 to fix what they broke. Maybe I'll have a friend go in there to get the bolts and clips The next closest dealership is 2 hours away.

 

I think these are part numbers for the intake clip 000-993-17-25 1.40 ea

The engine cover screws are 003-990-41-12 1.70 ea