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  #1  
Old 11-10-2002, 11:11 PM
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Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: northeastern PA
Posts: 437
best fixes list?

Anyone assembled a "biggest bang for your buck" list? I'm thinking of a list of things that you've restored or upgraded that just made you say, "Wow, wish I'd done that a long time ago!" Things like steering dampeners, and Bilstiens and purge -- and of course the pesky noise that is solved by the rear stabilizer links. I'm curious to know what everyone else thought were best, in the hopes that there are lots of things I've missed!!


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2004 E500 4matic; 72,000mi
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  #2  
Old 11-11-2002, 08:28 AM
dweller
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For me, it was engine & tranny mounts on my 300CD. Turned the beast into a whole new smooth-running machine!
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  #3  
Old 11-11-2002, 12:07 PM
HGV HGV is offline
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Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: San Francisco
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I have two sets of lists, one for mechanical and one for annoying problems.

For me the biggest bang for my buck on mechanical front end work. On my 87 300TD I had a front end shimmy so bad that it would almost shake my fillings out of my teath. Changed everything on the front end. Tie rods, Lower Control Arms, Drag link, steering stabilizer shock and shock tower mounts. THe car drove like new after it was done. Next big job will be the rear suspension. I see how that works out.

My all time favorite simple fix for annoying problems is the drivers side front door strap. Evertime I opened the door I would hear a big pop and bang. After half hour of work, I had it replaced and all was quiet.

Henry
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63 190d (sold)
69 220D (sold)
69 280SL (sold)
76 BMW 2002 (sold)
86 190E-16v (Demised at Laguna Seca Turn 9)
87 300SDL (sold)
87 300SDL 135k
87 300TD 280k (sold)
95 E320W 211k
95 E320w 111k
05 C320 4matic
06 E320 CDI 90k (Totaled by a texting 19 year old girl in a nissan)
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  #4  
Old 11-11-2002, 12:42 PM
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Thermostat!
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  #5  
Old 11-11-2002, 03:02 PM
lrg lrg is offline
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Location: San Francisco
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Vacuum pump on 603 engine. It was leaking oil and making a bit of an odd noise so I replaced it. It was not a cheap part but a satisifying project as it went smoothly and ended my oil leak. Cost/Benefit ratio was huge when cost of pump is balanced against cost of a potential new engine. If I weren't so anal about fixing leaks and tracking down odd noises I'd probably be looking for a new engine about now.
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1987 300D Turbo 175K
2006 Toyota Prius, efficent but no soul
1985 300 TDT(130K miles of trouble free motoring)now sold
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  #6  
Old 11-12-2002, 12:41 PM
123c
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I would have to say the battery, not having a good battery can cause starting problems.
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  #7  
Old 11-12-2002, 12:51 PM
surfblau's Avatar
neue Dieseler
 
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: san francisco - immer kalt, immer windig, I want to move
Posts: 382
sagging seatback nets

Tightening up the sagging nets on the seatbacks, or replacing the cord is a really easy 30 minute job that really improoves the look from the back seat. And cost less than $5.
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  #8  
Old 11-12-2002, 01:10 PM
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Location: Chevy Chase, Maryland
Posts: 62
I'd have to say replacing the decomposed foam tubing under the dashboard that brought interior air to the temperature sensor. Finally, heat when needed.

Also, removing the golf ball that kept rolling back and forth in the hollow square metal section in front of the driver's seat was much more cost-effective than replacing the front suspension to get rid of that pesky noise when making sharp turns.

Dan
1985 300D
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  #9  
Old 11-12-2002, 01:10 PM
LarryBible
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233,000 mile original alternator on 300E wore out the brushes. Everything else good, slipring surface very slightly worn, bearings smooth as silk. $14 voltage regulator, five minute installation time and it was like new again.

Went through a half million miles in 123 sedans with lakes in the rear floor boards before finding mercedesshop a few years ago. I found out here from someone in a Scandinavian country that the fix was five minutes of prodding around with a piece of baling wire below the hood hinges. I've never seen a drop of water inside since. I've even forgotten where I put the huge sponge I always used to clean it up.

Brake pads on every Benz I've ever owned can be replaced on all four wheels in less than an hour. I used to buy them for about $11 an axle. The rotors on my latest 240D went almost a half million miles before I replaced them. Before my first Benz, in the drum brake days, I set aside a whole day to go through the brakes.

When the pesky hood is in your way, you simply pull on a lever on each hood hinge and put it in full vertical position. When you have no natural padding on the top of your head like me, that's a really big deal.

When some kid manages to break off the hood star, $15 (used to be $12) five minutes and it looks like new again. Some hood ornaments for other brands can cost as much as $200.

On top of those that I can think of above, I would include the SIMPLE things to keep going because they have NEVER given trouble. An example that comes to mind is the rear half shafts. I've never seen one fail in any way. Another example is the manual transmissions. I've NEVER had to take one apart. A clutch every few hundred thousand miles and I'm back on the road.

My $0.02,
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  #10  
Old 11-12-2002, 02:13 PM
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Location: central Texas
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Drivers seat spring box with reinforced springs....wonderful....
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  #11  
Old 11-12-2002, 04:00 PM
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Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: st paul, mn
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Transmission fluid and filter were a big one for me. easy (relatively) and cheap. It made a big difference in the shifting, much smoother and no hesitation between shifts or when going into reverse.
I can also recommend snow tires if you happen to live where they could do you some good. I have the nokians, and between them and the weight and lack of power I cannot get the rear end to break free if I want to.
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'78 300d
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  #12  
Old 11-12-2002, 05:18 PM
123c
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I also forgot alternator bracket, if the bracket is bad it causes problems with the alternator staying in place and the belt coming loose.

Another thing is cleaning out the drain holes, doing this will help drain water in problem areas will collect if drains are plugged.
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  #13  
Old 11-12-2002, 05:32 PM
jcd jcd is offline
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Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Northern New Jersey
Posts: 1,102
My list

In order....

1. New Bilsteins - all 4 corners
2. New Hella H4's - blowtorches
3. Dash light upgrade - I can see
4. New ACC Servo, actually a used one from Mike Mover - heat
5. Motor Mounts & shocks - smooth

Jim
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  #14  
Old 11-13-2002, 01:06 PM
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Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Puyallup, Washington
Posts: 57
Best Bang for the Buck Fixes

New Bilsteins
Cleaning drains of debris
Tightening Steering Box
Toyo Z-800 tires (Les Schwab)
Removing 4 yrs of oxidation inherited by the previous owner
Removing accent stripe that had nicks and cuts in the material
New injectors
New glow-plugs

Need to re-paint bundt cake wheels
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Elliott Fager

1977 240D Hell Blau (Verkauft)
1981 240D Weiss (Gestorben)
1984 300D Dunkel Rot (Verkauft)
1982 240D Dunkel Blau (225k) "Panzer Wagen"
1981 300SD Beige (175k) "Kampfwagen"
1981 300SD Beige (205K) "Panzerkampwagen"

Last edited by Elliott Fager; 11-13-2002 at 01:39 PM.
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  #15  
Old 11-13-2002, 01:31 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Puyallup, Washington
Posts: 57
Best Bang for the Buck Fixes

New Bilsteins
Cleaning drains of debris
Tightening Steering Box
Toyo Z-800 tires (Les Schwab)
Removing 4 yrs of oxidation inherited from the previous owner
Removing accent stripe that had nicks an cuts in the material
New injectors
New glow-plugs

Need to re-paint bunt cake wheels

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Elliott Fager

1977 240D Hell Blau (Verkauft)
1981 240D Weiss (Gestorben)
1984 300D Dunkel Rot (Verkauft)
1982 240D Dunkel Blau (225k) "Panzer Wagen"
1981 300SD Beige (175k) "Kampfwagen"
1981 300SD Beige (205K) "Panzerkampwagen"
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