Howdy folks, just purchased a 1992 SE400 with 74,000 miles one it
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Howdy folks, just purchased a 1992 SE400 with 74,000 miles one it
Howdy,
Long time member of this board (W210) but now I have gone from a 190E to the 400 monster. Picked up the car in Dallas from a private seller, car had all of the records and it is in splendid shape and form.
There are a couple of little things that I might need help with if you guys do not mind.
The windshield wipers seem to "hit" the base of the windshield as they come down every time so they make a fairly loud "thump" noise. I think it is a matter of adjusting them, just wondering if this had happened to anybody here?
The other thing, and I have heard about this, is that the car vibrates a bit once you reach about 50MPH and up. Now the car does need new tires fairly soon, but I have heard that the front suspension,etc..........on these cars is very sensitive........any suggestions? I thought I had heard that there was some sort of damper of something like that to fix the problem??
Anyway, happy to be here and hope to have some good conversations in the future.
Andy
Long time member of this board (W210) but now I have gone from a 190E to the 400 monster. Picked up the car in Dallas from a private seller, car had all of the records and it is in splendid shape and form.
There are a couple of little things that I might need help with if you guys do not mind.
The windshield wipers seem to "hit" the base of the windshield as they come down every time so they make a fairly loud "thump" noise. I think it is a matter of adjusting them, just wondering if this had happened to anybody here?
The other thing, and I have heard about this, is that the car vibrates a bit once you reach about 50MPH and up. Now the car does need new tires fairly soon, but I have heard that the front suspension,etc..........on these cars is very sensitive........any suggestions? I thought I had heard that there was some sort of damper of something like that to fix the problem??
Anyway, happy to be here and hope to have some good conversations in the future.
Andy
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 393
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From: Mesa, AZ
2011 E350 Bluetec, 1996 S320 & 2006 E320 CDI Sold to my son & 2017 GMC 2500 Diesel Pick up
Fix it yourself
Andy- First congatulations - There is a steering damper that is inexpensive if you can do it yourself. I have found the biggest reason these cars have the rap for being expensive is do to shop labor cost. If you do the work they are not to bad. other than the damper , wait untill you get tires & an alignment. The if you still have a problem look a little deeper. No Idea on the whippers sorry
Drive On
Drive On
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Thank you
Do you know what kind of damper it is? Can I just get that on your typical websites like autohousaz, performanceproducts4benz, etc.........
Also, the person that i bought the car from, mentioned that the transmission pan needed to be replaced because it was leaking a little bit of transmission fluid.........well, I am not sure that it is the transmission pan that is leaking but more so one of the rubber tubes from the looks of it behind or towards the end of the pan. Any ideas, does this sound like it would be either the pan that needs a new seal or one of the rubber lines that has just cracked? I noticed that it leaked as much as what a car that has the a/c running leaves when it is parked. The only difference is that for some reason it leaks more when the car is going up the drive way then when sitting on a level placed??
I have no problems with the transmission itself, shifting is smooth,etc..........so I might just buy the kid that you can buy that replaces the pan, seal and filter.............along with the hoses that might be cracked? What do you all think?
THank you
Andy
Also, the person that i bought the car from, mentioned that the transmission pan needed to be replaced because it was leaking a little bit of transmission fluid.........well, I am not sure that it is the transmission pan that is leaking but more so one of the rubber tubes from the looks of it behind or towards the end of the pan. Any ideas, does this sound like it would be either the pan that needs a new seal or one of the rubber lines that has just cracked? I noticed that it leaked as much as what a car that has the a/c running leaves when it is parked. The only difference is that for some reason it leaks more when the car is going up the drive way then when sitting on a level placed??
I have no problems with the transmission itself, shifting is smooth,etc..........so I might just buy the kid that you can buy that replaces the pan, seal and filter.............along with the hoses that might be cracked? What do you all think?
THank you
Andy
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 393
Likes: 2
From: Mesa, AZ
2011 E350 Bluetec, 1996 S320 & 2006 E320 CDI Sold to my son & 2017 GMC 2500 Diesel Pick up
Andy - Go with Autohaus - they have much better pricing and free shipping with orders over $50. I have an account there and have always been treated well. Sometimes I have to add an oil filter or something to go over $50 but then its like getting it free. Heres a copy from there web sight for the damper.
Makes > 1992 Mercedes > 400SE > Steering System > Steering Damper
Part Number Brand / Description / Restrictions List Core Your Price Qty Select
1404630332
Stabilus-Boge
Steering Damper
1 per car. $65.17 $41.95
http://www.autohausaz.com/
As for the Tranny leak..... messy job but rather an easy one. Seal & hose are cheap compaired to the damage that could come from the leak getting worse and hurting the tranny. Why chance it.
Makes > 1992 Mercedes > 400SE > Steering System > Steering Damper
Part Number Brand / Description / Restrictions List Core Your Price Qty Select
1404630332
Stabilus-Boge
Steering Damper
1 per car. $65.17 $41.95
http://www.autohausaz.com/
As for the Tranny leak..... messy job but rather an easy one. Seal & hose are cheap compaired to the damage that could come from the leak getting worse and hurting the tranny. Why chance it.
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 455
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From: Fl
92 500sel/01 320e wag
Here is the deal Andy, and welcome to the 140 fraternity. 92 to 95 140 bodies had either a vibe issue or not. This typically ocurred at 45 mph and was worst when the tires were cold. I had my 92 looked at by three dealers and they all changed some thing (it was a known issue) they did drive shaft, steering damper, upper control arms, rear end, new shocks and struts and balancing, the tires were replaced with Michelins since it shipped with Pirellis. The best ever was, with new tires (Mich), balanced on the machine and then on the car while spinning the wheels, of course I should never have rotated them. On my own I have done lower control arm bushings, sway bar links, motor mounts, steering damper, and balancing. The second best was with Bridgestone Turanza tires, balanced on a Hunter road force balancer, and 30/32 in the tires, I have had brake jobs done and they replaced the rotors no change. The interesting fact is that in 95 they lowered the car, changed springs and pads and I have never heard of the isuue after that. I hope the AC evaporator has been replaced its a $5000 experience, Bose amp, accumulators, window regulators, completes the list. If you get stumbling or stalling check the rotors and distributer caps.
They are great cars but can damage your wallet!
They are great cars but can damage your wallet!
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thank you guys
Yes, the evaporator was replaced so everything shoud be good with the car.
As far as the transmission leak, I took a picture to show where it is leaking. It looks like the vaccum modulator, actually the hose or wire that is attached to it is the piece that is cracked and leaking tran. oil................................I took a picture, but the jpe is too big to upload.
As far as the transmission leak, I took a picture to show where it is leaking. It looks like the vaccum modulator, actually the hose or wire that is attached to it is the piece that is cracked and leaking tran. oil................................I took a picture, but the jpe is too big to upload.
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1967 Morris Cooper "S", 1983 911SC, 1997 Toyota Tacoma, 1999 HD FXSTB, 1998 C43
+1 on autohaus - got a steering dampener from them for like $25 more or less and was a ten minute job. You'll need a sixteen millimeter socket - at least on my C43.
