I'm back (the bloke with the small nuts). I was going to post a reply when I completed the job, but it has been frustrating getting parts (at a reasonable price) and so the job is still a work in progress.

I did send back the passenger side Lemforder control arm with the stripped bolts and ordered a new genuine Mercedes control arm. I have attached a picture comparing the torsion bar bolt heads of the two brands. The new Mercedes bolt head has markings and serrations around the diameter of the head. The Lemforder has nothing. The genuine Mercedes bolt head looks more legit to me. How about to you?

I wanted to purchase new pinch bolts and torsion bar nuts since they didn't come with the new genuine Mercedes control arm. And then I decided that at the same time I would order a genuine Mercedes control arm for the driver's side to replace the Lemforder since I don't trust it even though I didn't strip the bolts. And that's when I ran into another delay. The parts company said that part was obsolete and unavailable from Mercedes - none in Germany! I will resume my quest on Monday, calling other on-line part suppliers.

Attached Thumbnails

 

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1995 E300D

You're best placed to make an assessment as to quality with both items side by side, if it's any consolation I went through the same sort of process when overhauling my S124, not easy to make a compromise.

Out of all of the parts replaced (and there were lots) only three items had issues, as follows:

Track tie rod arm x 2, these were TRW but much lighter than the ones removed, no problems as yet but couldn't help notice the difference (maybe a new lighter design?)

Meyle center bearing, burnt out within a few weeks, oddly enough actually made by a very reputable company and not Meyle.

Exhaust back box and mid section, made in Germany, took two months of backwards and forwards checking compatibility, item eventually arrived - fitted, sounded dreadful, emailed company gave 2/3 refund immediately (not sure what to make of that).

Some of the Meyle parts are indistinguishable from MB originals, the other thing worth pointing out is kits, these tend to be more complete - rubber center couplings are a good example, 3 bolt washers included, bolts of very high quality.

..just my opinion of course, don't really do the miles or have very harsh weather conditions here.

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David


1996 Mercedes S124 E300TD - 129k - rolling restoration project -

1998 Mercedes W210 300TD - 118k (assimilated into above vehicle)

Crappo Chinese hardware that's dangerously soft can crop up anywhere ~ we got some of it from Bell Helicopter when I was with L.A.P.D. Air Support .

Luckily the guys caught it before installation .

The welds on the M - B part look better too .

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-Nate
1982 240D 408,XXX miles
Ignorance is the mother of suspicion and fear is the father

I did then what I knew how to do ~ now that I know better I do better