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Last year I bought an 05 S430 4matic with 155k miles on it. With 158k miles on it I'm not sure where to focus on the maintenance. I have a big trip coming up next year with two 700 mile drives and being away from my tools for 3 months . In preparation for this, I was hoping to get some advice about how to keep ahead of the issues in this milage range.
I've had it now for 1 year and 3k miles. It has needed some love, mostly rubber issues with the front suspension bushings. The 2nd owner of the car had it from 30k miles to 155k and it appears to have been maintained at a dealership and garage kept. However, the maintenance is unknown.
Since I owned it, it has new tires, new passenger lower control arm and air spring (defective dampers), new pads/rotors on the front, new front sway bar links, new engine/interior/airpump air filters, used climate control unit (sampler fan noise), and new glove box latch.
Remaining known issues are: oil seepage on those smaller top covers, whine when shifting into and during 3rd gear (made a separate post for that), a delay in the accelerator when taking off from a stop in comfort mode (not in sport), the one license plate light is out (probably broken wire in harness), and I get a low coolant warning when I park on uphill spots. Otherwise, it is a dream car!
Doing research, I'm somewhat concerned about the flex disks. I got under there and they are not new but I also don't see anything wrong with them. Would there be any symptoms?
My plan of attack it to try to fix the license plate light for inspection (PA), change the engine oil, Possibly change the front driver and both passenger air struts (seem to be originals), possibly change the coolant, possibly drop the pan on the transmission change the fluid, possibly change differential/transfer case oil, possibly replace the flex disks. My time is limited so I need to focus on what's most important to avoid getting stranded. Thanks for your help!
'00 S320 W220, '98 A160 W168/ sold in 2005 '86 260 E W124 '90 260E W124
License plate light failures are mostly corroded contacts. Engine oil change is always good. In the Airmatic works well, leave it alone. My Airmatic struts are original for 18y and 180.000mls, and no issues. If the automatic transmission is noisy, an oil change may be advised. Coolant change not necessary, but the failure issue needs to be addressed. The oil seepage is where? If it is only a kind of sweating, no problem. The flexi-discs show cracks If they are worn out. Additionally the drive shaft is vibrating and creates low frequency sounds during driving
Last edited by bamberger_1; Dec 6, 2018 at 02:27 PM.
Checked the trans fluid with a dipstick I ordered. The fluid level is right on and it is clear. However, the fluid is not red at all. The replacement fluid I bought is red. Weird... Searching around reveals the fluid looses the red color as it ages. Guess she is due for a change.
Clear enough to read through it, but no longer red in color
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