^Tire kingdom did NOT have the alignment specs built in for my 201. They gave me an alignment for a 210, and when I pointed this out to them they said they did not have any way to align it for a 201. Needless to say I got my money back and took it to an indy who was able to do it.

At any franchise that I've gone to, they've had all the specs available. The only problems I ever had were knucklehead managers, and maybe a tech who had never done one before and was afraid to try. Otherwise, I've had good luck getting my alignments done, and was always fast once they put in on the alignment machine. Also, I've purchased 3 and 5-yr alignment policies so I could go in every 4 to six months, get my tires rotated and the alignment done. I've generally done it at a place that had no problems with the idea of aligning an MBZ and purchased my replacement tires. Then I just brought a crossword puzzle to occupy my time while they did free balancing, rotating and alignments, without worry. I always received the printouts, which had the specs on it.

__________________
1983 300D, the "Avocado"
1976 240D, 4-spd the "Pumpkin", SOLD to Pierre
1984 190D, 2.2L, 5-spd, my intro to MBZ diesels, crashed into in 2002

I still have an item that would probably be considered an antique these days. It is a curved level in a triangular shaped gauge. You can get caster and camber angles from it. If fits on the spindle behind the spindle nut. For old school, poor boy tricks, use pieces of sheet metal with grease smeared on them for turn plates. This will get the job done.


Scribing the line on the tires with the nail and jackstand means clamping the nail firmly to the jack stand as a solid point. With the wheel off the ground, get the nail positioned on the tire and turn it to make a mark like using a lathe.

Some cars can simply be set back on the ground and measure, but the 123 must be rolled about one tire revolution to let the camber settle out for an accurate measurement.

wouldn't it be a lot easier and less time-consuming to take the car to a tire store and pay $59 for the alignment, which with their equipment would be done in 20 minutes? Plus all the adjustments would be made, not just one.

IMHO, and my 2 cents worth,

Torie

__________________
1983 300D, the "Avocado"
1976 240D, 4-spd the "Pumpkin", SOLD to Pierre
1984 190D, 2.2L, 5-spd, my intro to MBZ diesels, crashed into in 2002

Colin, if someone had called the 800 MBZ technical hotline, the techs would have been happy to give the specs. The again, I had the 190D, 240D, and 300D for them to play with. They didn't have any trouble with those models. And, was the tech there doing it long enough to feel comfortable in the first place to tackle an MBZ? Did he have experience with them? The Tire Kingdom down the street from me was very unfriendly towards my car, told me an alignment would run somewhere around $300. I won't get into my answer to him. Also, he was unwilling to let me provide the oil and filter for an oil change. So . . . I went back to the one in Palm Harbor, where they quoted me $59 for the alignment, and they would gladly use my oil and filter. Just depends on the crew at the one you go to. As a result of their friendliness at Palm Harbor, my roommate bought a set of Hydras (Michelins) for the SUV. I learned a long time ago to grab the yellow pages and call first, hear their confidence level, before I make an appt and drive over. But usually, I get good service. Sorry you got the wrong one.

Torie

__________________
1983 300D, the "Avocado"
1976 240D, 4-spd the "Pumpkin", SOLD to Pierre
1984 190D, 2.2L, 5-spd, my intro to MBZ diesels, crashed into in 2002

Colin,

I am not stuck on Tire Kingdom. I also used Winston Tire on the West Coast, and even (shudders to think), Discount Tires. There are lots of tire chains and repair shops that have the equipment and can do it. Some of them are independent, some of the techs are just experienced enough to take it on. And some are even brighter and know who to call for the specs they need.

BTW, which car is the 201?

Torie

__________________
1983 300D, the "Avocado"
1976 240D, 4-spd the "Pumpkin", SOLD to Pierre
1984 190D, 2.2L, 5-spd, my intro to MBZ diesels, crashed into in 2002

Each time I call around to the tire shops to get an alignment I get different answers. And when I point out that they have done it before they are always shocked and adamant that I must be mistaken.

I finally found an old-school alignment guy who seems to do a pretty good job. I rebuilt the front end on the 79 300D last week and had him do a full alignment yesterday. $100 and about 2 hours.

__________________
84 300D 255K "Mr B" ("Mr Becker")
79 300D 265K "Mrs B"
85 300TD 175K "Mali" (Sold)
74 Ford F-100 74K "Bonnie" (Sold)
67 Jeepster Commando (Sold)

Got it done today, man was it off. Much easier to have the pros do it then me. I dropped it off, went and got lunch, came back and picked it up. Drives straight as an arrow now.

The 201 chassis is the 190E/D.

who did it?

__________________
1985 300TD Turbo Euro-wagon
1979 280CE 225,200 miles
1985 300D Turbo 264,000 miles
1976 240D 190,000 miles
1979 300TD 220,000

GONE but not forgotten
1976 300D 195,300 miles
1983 300D Turbo 175,000 miles

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e3...e485-1-2-1.jpg

Local place, Rickers automotive. About a mile from my house.

The guy with the white 300TD with monoblocks works there, ran in to him accidentally.

My W115 needs an alignment pretty bad, drives straight but the inner part of tires wear on the front. I think im gonna try a local tire place, the dealer wants 130.

__________________
1985 300TD Turbo Euro-wagon
1979 280CE 225,200 miles
1985 300D Turbo 264,000 miles
1976 240D 190,000 miles
1979 300TD 220,000

GONE but not forgotten
1976 300D 195,300 miles
1983 300D Turbo 175,000 miles

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e3...e485-1-2-1.jpg

Taking it to someone vs. do it yourself is determined by personal attitude. A common phrase in alignment shops is: "Set the toe and let it go." I'm not very enthused having someone touch my car that has such an attitude. I would rather do it myself and know that it's right than get taken for almost $60 and take the chance of having it done by someone with such a shoddy attitude. If you KNOW the person you're taking it to and have confidence in their work and attitude, that's a different situation.

Additionally there are some folks who don't have $60 for such a job.

And you will know you have found just such a shop when the alignment job is finished in only 20 minutes.

LOL . . . since finding out that the 201 is the 190D/E . . . am shaking my head (while slapping my head for not immediately realizing the 190D/E). Someone at Tire Kingdom was blowing smoke up your butt after using the 210 specs to align it. It is in their computer and it is one of the easiest to find the specks for and one of the easiest for a competent tech to adjust. How do I know? My first MBZ was an '84 190D. The tech in Los Alamitos Winston Tire (no longer in existence) told me that himself, and after I found him, I kept him until I moved to Montana.

There seems to be something extremely intimidating about the grill and MBZ emblem when one pulls in the shop to request work. I learned on that car not to inquire about the cost of getting something done, but to buy the parts in advance and ask what they would charge to do the R & R. For some reason, gen'l mechanics seem to think everything will cost 5 to 10 times more than other cars. And their eyes display $$ after going "Ka-ching" upon seeing the grill and Emblem.

And yes, it normally takes about 20 minutes to do any of my cars . . . most of the time, due to the fact that they are usually only making one adjustment . . . toe usually off by 2 mm on one wheel, with everything else being right on the mark. But in the case of replacing front end parts, it would probably take longer on my car also, and has. As I said earlier in a previous posting, when I found a place that wasn't intimidated by the emblem and grill and happily did the alignment on my car, I purchased a five-yr alignment policy from them, as well as all my tires. I figured since they charged thru the nose for all the extra warranties, I would take full advantage of the free services and about 3 or 4 times a year, took my 190D in for full rotation, balance, and alignment. Due to the meticulous maintenance by the PO, followed by my followup on the 190D, I never had to replace any front end parts, my alignment was never off by more than 2 mm on anything after they called up the specs, checked the present alignment, and only had to do the one adjustment to bring into spec. I wish I had the money the last couple of years to maintain my 300D the same way, which is why am not driving it that much.

I feel bad for you, Colin, getting jerked around by so many with this problem. Am glad you finally found someone to align it correctly. What shop finally did it for you? Nice to have another reference in FL. I am jealous that you have the 190 . . . I had the '84, 5-spd and loved that car until it was crashed into, 6 yrs later. It was the most reliable car I had ever owned, and only broke down twice . . . once when I first bought it (tensioner pulley dropped to the pan after bearings froze and dropped out) and 6 yrs later when the alternator bracket broke from the pressure of the 134A conversion (I do not recommend the conversion to anyone now as a result of that). After that fix, I found an old mechanic with a machine shop who was very confident on rebuilds, and had him replace the clutch and do a valve job, which was overdue. (all for $1400). I would still be driving the car if the frame weren't bent by 15-yr old who crashed into it with daddy's suburban in Montana.

Colin, feel free to call me, or PM me with any questions about maintenance on that car, if you need. I wils also hunt around for any parts I may have lying around from those days for you. I did initially look to replace it with same after the insurance settlement, and eventually wound up with the 300D, as I was not able to find another 5-spd available. In fact, Colin . . . . now that I've met you at the GTG, I might consider a swap if yours is the Diesel and in at least good mechanical condition as my 300D. I miss the 37 mpg I religiously got. Do you have the auto tranny (which would make me suicidal) or the 5-spd? In either case, am drooling and jealous (you lucky dog).

In any case, am glad you finally got the alignment issue settled. Good luck with your 201.

Torie (the "Old Lady", truckdriver)

__________________
1983 300D, the "Avocado"
1976 240D, 4-spd the "Pumpkin", SOLD to Pierre
1984 190D, 2.2L, 5-spd, my intro to MBZ diesels, crashed into in 2002

I agree with you. I have met many such techs/tire shop managers in the past, and they were not allowed to touch my car, except under duress (being broken down in BFE, for example). And I have never had the alignment done, where they didn't have the computer specs printed, along with the changes made printed, provided to me with the receipt, so I could see the job was done.

And, yes . .. understood on the money issue as I am in the situation right now, of needing an alignment and not have the $60 in pocket to get it done. Consequently, the Avocado is sitting in the driveway, and not going any further than to the Doctor or the corner store. But as soon as I get a paycheck, It's going first for an alignment and the installation of the tires and then driven to Titusville to Pierre's shop for a complete inspection and upgrade of anything needed. I may have to lay on the ground and do some of it myself. But basically my car is still in great mechanical shape . . . just needs some rubbing compound and detailing (in other words, in need of TLC), and I do my regular oil/filter changes, whether or not its been driven. I had the car up in Fargo, ND for two years, and winters there were very hard on it. But now it does have an OEM block heater installed (and yes, just like stated on this site, a torch had to be used, which the locals didn't believe until they did the job). I now need glow plugs replaced. And my odometer quick working about 3 tankfuls ago. But I may tackle that myself, as I have a spare instrument cluster, with a working OD.

Anyways, enough said . . . and have always liked and trusted you folks on this site, which has pulled my fat out of the frying pan/fire on several occasions in the past. I feel indebted and therefore, anything I can do to help a fellow member out, thru advice or stuff I have laying around, will gladly give.

Torie
(the "Old Lady" trucker)

__________________
1983 300D, the "Avocado"
1976 240D, 4-spd the "Pumpkin", SOLD to Pierre
1984 190D, 2.2L, 5-spd, my intro to MBZ diesels, crashed into in 2002