How often should the brake fluid be changed on a 124? I have a '93 300E 2.8 with 159K that I bought a few months ago and I don't know when the brake fluid was last changed. It needs new pads which I'm going to replace myself; I thought it would be a good idea to change the fluid as well.

Also, can the system be completely flushed (along with abs) without any special equipment? All my other cars are non-MBs with Dot-3 fluid and no abs systems; I've done all brake pad and fluid changes myself. I change the brake fluid on my other cars by opening the bleed valve, having an assistant pump the pedal to drive out fluid, and keeping master cylinder topped off. I'm not yet familiar with the MB abs system or Dot-4 fluid used in these cars.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

P.S.: I couldn't find the answers I'm looking for through the search function.

Brake fluid should be changed in ANY/ALL cars every 3 years! Dot 4+ is the recommended fluid for all MB's.

You should bleed a liter(qt) of fluid thru the system. NO special tools needed for that car!

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MERCEDES Benz Master Guild Technician (6 TIMES)
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MB technical information Specialist (15 years)
190E 2.3 16V ITS SCCA race car (sold)
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Retired Moderator

If you are going to do this yourself, I strongly recommend you spend $40 or so on a power bleeder. Forcing the fluid out with the pedal does a bad thing -it extends the MC piston all the way into the cylinder repeatedly, which is bad for the seals.

And no need for an assistant.

Just opening the bleeders and letting the fluid drain is a better method IMHO.

Also recommend that whatever way you do it, siphon off the old fluid in the resevoir and refill with fresh rather than running the old dirty stuff through the MC and the calipers.

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Chuck Taylor
Falls Church VA
'66 200, '66 230SL, '96 SL500. Sold: '81 380SL, '86 300E, '72 250C, '95 C220, 3 '84 280SL's '90 420SEL, '72 280SE, '73 280C, '78 280SE, '70 280SL, '77 450SL, '85 380SL, '87 560SL, '85 380SL, '72 350SL, '96 S500 Coupe

I think that I recently demonstrated this concept. My master cylinder sprung a leak while I was bleeding the brakes, using the "pump & hold" procedure. Lesson learned.

Can anyone recommend a power bleeder? I can imagine some are better than others. I don't know where I would find one of those.

Mike

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1998 C230 330,000 miles (currently dead of second failed EIS, yours will fail too, turning you into the dealer's personal human cash machine)
1988 F150 144,000 miles (leaks all the colors of the rainbow)
Previous stars: 1981 Brava 210,000 miles, 1978 128 150,000 miles, 1977 B200 Van 175,000 miles, 1972 Vega (great, if rusty, car), 1972 Celica, 1986.5 Supra

Here's a nice one A little pricey though. Do a search and you'll come across a guy who made one from a $10 garden sprayer. You can see the resemblance from the picture in the link. All you'd need is a brake m/c cap and a couple pieces of hose. The guage is a nice touch, but probably unnecessary. That's what I'm planning on doing this spring, when I do an "all fluids" change for the first time.

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Norm in NJ
Next oil change at 230,000miles