I just picked up a wagon whose rear "Self Leveling System" seems pretty much non-functional. I want to begin troubleshooting this system, but I am unsure what kind of oil to put into the resevoir (@ left front engine compartment).

I understand the stealer may have what I need for $15US per liter. Is there a lower cost alternative while I troubleshoot the leaks? I'll be happy to put what's "ideal" into the system once it's functioning, again.

TIA.

You can find the correct MB fluid from any number of online vendors such as FastLane on this forum...try calling Phil.

Even if you have to buy it from the dealer at $15/liter, considering the cost of the individual components it would be wiser to use the correct fluid to begin with. Besides, if you use something else you'll have to purge it completely before you refill with the correct fluid anyway.

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Glen Tokuhara
Beauty & the Beast and the wagon that could!

Only the MB fluid, please, that's a high pressure pump and toasting it will cost MUCH more than the fluid....

What's wrong with it? Drooping in the rear is bad, usually a serious leak or bad struts (EXPENSIVE, but used ones are almost always OK), rock hard with no suspension travel is bad accumulators (not a bad repair), no leveling at all with normal suspension travel is a missing actuator link.

Various other ills, but those are the worst.

Fill with correct fluid and check for leaks first -- usually what happens is that the accumulators go bad and the owner keeps driving it, bouncing like crazy, until the impact loads blow the seals out of the struts. The fluid then leaks out and the rear end droops -- new fluid will bring it back up, but will leak out the struts again pretty fast.

Peter

Peter

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1972 220D ?? miles
1988 300E 200,012
1987 300D Turbo killed 9/25/07, 275,000 miles
1985 Volvo 740 GLE Turobodiesel 218,000
1972 280 SE 4.5 165, 000 - It runs!