MBNUT1

Under the heading of while you are at it, have you replaced the cam shaft and oil separator seals?

bmwpowere36m3

Neither are leaking... but I did see more oil in the line from the rear separator to the TB boot than I'd care for. Interestingly the Carfax mentioned a PVC replacement in 2019 at the dealer, so its possible the rear cover was replaced (maybe they failed to replace the rotating separator itself). The breather on the driver's side has a date code of 2010, so its original and the rubber hose from it to the TB has hardened a bit.

Long story, I'll likely replace that all as well $170 in parts.

Even the rubber seals for the MAF and TB boot have hardened. Weird, having two W212s both with ~100k miles and needing most of the same "maintenance". Made doing the motor mounts a second time much easier

S-Prihadi

I forgot to share this :
The blue ATF or FE version trans oil from MB is probably made by FUCH. It is called Titan ATF 7134FE , 236.15 MB approval. German company too.
https://www.fuchs.com/de/en/product/...n-atf-7134-fe/
In my country, this Fuch is only US$20 per liter while the MB original one is near double that.

bmwpowere36m3

Here's the P/S fluid, a nice dark amber... replaced with CHF11S.



What CHF11S look new


The color of the fluid can be deceiving when you have a larger quantity in a container... then it looks very dark.

pierrejoliat

Looks pretty green, the amber doesn't look to dirty, thats good.

S-Prihadi

I have not seen power steering fluid for sometime now . CHF11S is Pentosin = FUCH
The green looks nice.

bmwpowere36m3

Reinstalled the oil filter housing and cooler, with seals replaced. Installed a new thermostat as well, though it seems the "old" one was already replaced at some point after 2016 based on casting mark.... probably why the coolant isn't G-48 (blue/green) as well. Same OE/OEM story on the thermostat, the replacement BorgWarner unit (FCP sourced) has MB PN ground off, whereas the "original" is marked with BorgWarner and MB P/N.

bmwpowere36m3

Completed replacement of the accessory belt drive components. I ordered INA tensioner and pulleys... turns out the tensioner is a Gates, so just buy it (it was a bit cheaper). As far as the Gates tensioner, again same story of it being the OE/OEM as all the marks match the original besides ground off MB P/N.

Regarding wear, the top idler and tensioner pulleys were worn and noisy (think skateboard bearing, no grease). The lower pulley was okay and the tensioner itself was fine. The serpentine belts certainly had wear, but no major cracking... I've replaced much worse. All parts I believe are original, 10 years/100k.

bmwpowere36m3

Like I said regarding the tensioner... only the pulley was worn. I opened the tensioner up and within is just a spring mechanism. Some tensioners have elastomeric components, which will age from heat and wear. So there's that.

pierrejoliat

Never ceases to amaze me how many US suppliers there are for these cars.

Left Coast Geek

I think Mercedes got away from Elastomer serpentine belt tensioners circa 1997 or so. the M103 and M104 engines used on W124 300E/E320 had them, and yes, you nearly always need to change that $$$ tensioner when you change the belt, and that makes it a much bigger job. Oh, and aftermarket tensioners are JUNK. At some point when the M104 was still being used on the W210 E320 (and others, circa 97-ish?) they switched to a spring based tensioner, and did away with the external damper too. sadly, to retrofit this tensioner on the earlier M104s required changing the power steering pump mounting bracket which was an even more major job

juststeve

since the early 2000's, quality belts have been manufactured using EPDM. rather than exhibiting traditional cracks, the v groove material dissolves at the contact surfaces causing the belt to flatten and the v grooves to widen.
gates and others provide a gauge to measure this wear.

Left Coast Geek

color me curious, I had to google EDPM, its ethylene propylene diene monomer rubber

juststeve

I imagine being quite the life of a party with one of those gauges hanging from my key fob....

cetialpha5

Now you can be the life of the party for just $2.96 with free shipping if you order more than $49.

https://www.ecstuning.com/b-gates-pa...esweartool~ga/

I think they used to be free, you can contact Gates and see if they'll send it to you for free.

Left Coast Geek

I use this keychain dongle a lot more often ;-p

bmwpowere36m3

Yup, I have the gates tool... on the "outer" ribs it was just about at their tops and in the center a little more "meat". The edge of the belt had a bit of fraying as well. These belts will begin cracking (transversely) with time, but I agree they can be "worn" and not necessarily look it.

bmwpowere36m3

Feeling deja vu...

Replaced blower fan, cleaned evap and replaced filter.

bmwpowere36m3

Got the bulk of the repair work completed on the car... been driving it here and there. Cleaned it up and took it out for father's day.

S-Prihadi

I am drooling ............

Well done my man

MBNUT1

Looks great and the best part is the hidden bits are even better.

bmwpowere36m3

Thanks guys! The more I drive it, there's a certain character the V8 gives... its addicting.

S-Prihadi

Indeed. Imagine how a V12 will be yah... DROOOOLLLLLLLLLL.

I don't get to drive many German V8's but my first time was in 1983-1985, a Porsche 928S Mk1 funny-eyed-pop-out lamp with manual stick and it has a very sexy azz .
The first gear is our common 2nd gear ( by position ). The low torque was so beautiful.

2nd one was MB 500SEL auto , a W126 also in 1983-1985 and I can compare this to my family ownW126 280SE Manual. The 280SE was in line 6 and felt like SHI-ET engine wise if compared to the V8.
If you like whisky from Chivas Regal or its more refined Royal Salute line, if 280SE is a 12 years old blend, 500SEL is the 32 years old blend. World a part at 200+ KH/H or even at anything above 160 KM/H.

Fast forward today, your E550 with a whopping easy 100-120 horses and much more torque above the 2 cars I mentioned.... that is guaranteed MORE refinement and will be 38 years blend Royal Salute equivalent...yum yum.
By whisky rating, I put my E400 engine at best Royal Salute 21 to 25 years blend...

bmwpowere36m3

After completing the oil cooler and thermostat job, I drained and flushed the coolant... not sure what was in there, probably G-05 with residual G-48 (thermostat date 2016, so someone was in there before). First two bottles pictured (from left) are what was drained from the radiator and block. Subsequent bottles are flushing the system ~ 1 gallon at a time with distilled water as the radiator holds ~ 5 qts. Refilled with Zerex G-48.



Replaced differential fluid in both the front and rear units. While the fluid from the rear looked okay:



the front was definitely due:



Drained 16 oz, WIS called for 18.6 oz and its had a slight leak since the PO. Refilled with 18 oz of Liqui-Moly 75W-90 Synthetic gear oil.

MBNUT1

How many miles on the car? In the front differential, did you see any silver fluid or metal bits? The reason I ask is when they replaced my front differential because they said it was so loud they couldn't hear the transfer case whine (note when I test drove the car, it didn't sound any different to me after the differential was replaced and the transfer case needed replacing) they showed me the fluid in the differential which had silver color and metal bits in it. I always wondered if you drained the fluid on any 125k mile car would you see that. Does not appear to be the case with yours.

You do good work BTW.