Common W210 failure items? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

m1tch · #1 11-24-2015, 02:39 AM

Hi all,

I have an MOT coming up in March next year, looking at the MOT history on my car I can see a few bit that might need addressing. I have noticed that the car wanders slightly on the motorway and I believe this might be due to the lower ball joints - apparently they are quite common to fail on these?

Just wanted to ask anything else that might crop up on the car that I can either get parts for or fix myself over the next few months (cars only need work when its winter/cold and wet).

Thanks in advance!

Saber · #2 11-24-2015, 03:37 AM

The LCA failed on my 1999 E300 just 2 inches from the ball joint, had I been going at highway speeds it would have ended rather catastrophically. Only after it broke could one really see it was rusted from the inside.

m1tch · #3 11-24-2015, 07:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Saber

The LCA failed on my 1999 E300 just 2 inches from the ball joint, had I been going at highway speeds it would have ended rather catastrophically. Only after it broke could one really see it was rusted from the inside.

Thanks for that, I will be checking the car over this weekend for anything like that, generally my car is in good condition, however I am thinking there would be some age related issues for the bushings.

Jeremy5848 · #4 11-24-2015, 11:17 AM

The only W210 failure item I remember reading about is the front spring perch, which can fail if it has rusted badly. Dirt can accumulate on top of the spring perch, where it traps water like a sponge and the perch rusts.

The original owner of our '96 E300D (OM606NA) got to replace the a/c blower and controller but that problem should have previously been fixed in these cars now 20 years old. Owner #1 also got to replace a couple of window regulators.

The NA 606 engines can have problems with their intake manifold tuning flaps but since yours is a turbodiesel you are exempt from that hassle.

There is no requirement in any Mercedes service to change/flush the power steering fluid, only "check and top up." At 250,000 miles our car still had the original fluid, black with age. The reservoir in these cars lacks a filter, too, so changing the fluid (~30,000 miles?) is a good idea.

Bushings and other suspension components including the steering links age gradually; sometimes you don't even realize how bad they've gotten until something starts clunking. I have not had LCA problems but others have; rust-enhancing climates make that problem more likely.

Our '96 E300 at 300,000 miles has been otherwise boring.

Jeremy

Stretch · #5 11-24-2015, 01:01 PM

What other than rust?

jay_bob · #6 11-24-2015, 01:05 PM

front wheel bearings, if you don't know when they were done, I would do them proactively before they seize and ruin the spindle.

Check those front wheel bearings

also check this
Attn OM606 - inspect under the engine cover

m1tch · #7 11-25-2015, 02:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stretch

What other than rust?

Mines rust free thank goodness, will be ensuring that its all undersealed as well!

Stretch · #8 11-25-2015, 09:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by m1tch

Mines rust free thank goodness, will be ensuring that its all undersealed as well!

From what I've heard the major MOT failures happen because of the spring perch. Consider also the condition of the lower control arms. Someone recently had one snap off (I think it was W210) - it all looked gucci from the outside.

Whilst a W202 isn't a W210 those buggers in particular seem to rust from the top down! I've never seen anything like it before - Mercedes really buggered about with corrosion and paint in that era (it was the introduction of water based systems and the effects of letting accountants have a bit too much power)

To keep yours rust free I recommend cleaning and examination rather than randomly spreading more gunk on the underside. Cavity waxes are on the whole a good idea - Dinitrol in particular make really effective stuff if you get there before the rust starts - but make sure who ever applies the stuff checks that the drains are free to run clear afterwards.

Stretch · #9 11-25-2015, 09:57 AM

Oh yeah - I forgot to say. If you can aim for a 13 month MOT. Take the car in a month early and see what the tester says. You then have a month to sort out any trouble before you run into any grief with the fuzz...

...if it passes first time - great - if not no drama you're still legal (and you know what needs to be fixed)

Saber · #10 11-26-2015, 03:29 AM

The spring perches were/are ok, but when the LCA was replaced it was discovered both springs were broken. My brother, who has a gasser of the some year, had both LCAs replaced as there was some evidence of rust on the inside. Upon examining the broken LCA, after it was removed from the car, you realized the entire weight(or half) of the front end of the car is resting on the ball joint, and the ball joint is supported by basically several layers of sheet metal stamped together that form a hollow piece which is the LCA, wow!