105K mile Mercedes service sticker in door jam- means? - also "SLOW" cassette player - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

86560SEL · #1 12-13-2005, 01:03 AM

Sorry, this may sound like dumb questions, but I will ask anyway.

#1 -
In the front part of the driver door jam, there is a red sticker on there with 105,000 on it and a symbol of a wrench on it. It apprears to be a tag that is typically already typed up, as if it was something that was supposed to be done @ 105,000.

Other than a timing chain, was any other maintainence due @ 105k that this sticker may represent? I do not have manuals to it yet, so not sure what it could be. I am sure it could represent an array of things, but thought someone may know what typically was done at 105K.

#2 -
I did a search, with no results. My cassette player is original in my car. I put a new tape in it and it plays, but very slowly. It "drags" the song out. Is it likely that it is simply worn out, or could a head cleaner possibly solve the problem? I plan on buying a cleaner tomorrow and run it through there, but wondering if it would be a waste of time.

Thanks in advance!

420 SE · #2 12-13-2005, 02:53 AM

The sticker is a service sticker - meant a service was due (B service) at 105k miles.

If it had an oil can symbol then it would be due an 'A' service.

It may be the last time it was serviced by an MB dealer - it doesn't nessecarily mean that was the last time it was serviced if it was done at an indie and they didn't use the stickers - rather a paper sticker on the windsrceen.

Your tape player sounds stuffed - I doubt a head clean will fix it. It may be as simple as the little elastic bands inside which drive the tape spindles - you would need to open it up to find out.

If there is an old electrical fixit shop they may be able to do something with it, however the cost of aftermarket units being so low and with so mny other features (CD), I would just replace it.

Cheers

Hatterasguy · #3 12-13-2005, 01:44 PM

Throw away the old pos head unit and install a nice modern one. I have a Pioneer that is great, I think next year I will buy the XM antenna and take advantage of that feature it offers. Also the stock speakers are junk if you want decent sound those need to go as well.

I don't know about the sticker I havn't come accross one of those before. Anyway it doesn't really matter that was 160k miles ago.

Larry Delor · #4 12-13-2005, 10:19 PM

The trouble with the radio is, it is so darn close to the ashtray. Ashes have probably mucked the thing up. If you want, you can take it out and apart and maybe give it a shot or two of canned air, and clean the rollers really well. They used to sell cassette cleaners that would clean your rollers and things...if they still sell them, you can try that too.

However, if you have the money, I would go along with getting a new radio (and speakers) instead. You will find a vast improvement.

davestlouis · #5 12-13-2005, 10:40 PM

I wonder why M-B used such crappy stereos...I have Becker Grand Prix's in several of mine and no matter what I do, they sound horrible and tinny.

Hatterasguy · #6 12-13-2005, 10:59 PM

MB sound systems were crap until Bose came along. A W140 with Bose is the first MB that has a good stock system.

The new ones have awsome sound systems.

I guess for its day Becker was pretty good, back in the 80's people didn't expect the kind of sound that cars today are putting out.

The problem with the older cars is they only have four speakers!

So you have to work a bit to get modern S class sound out if.

Nate · #7 12-13-2005, 11:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hatterasguy

The problem with the older cars is they only have four speakers!

So you have to work a bit to get modern S class sound out if.

Ur spoiled with your 4 speakers... The 114/115 has one 4x10 in the center of the dash

Sounds ok because it resonates through the dash... but STILL...

No tech to add to this post, just kinda had to say something
~Nate

86560SEL · #8 12-13-2005, 11:26 PM

Four speakers? Try ONE speaker in my 1973 Pontiac Grand Ville and it was the top of the line model!

It still has the factory AM radio, but being a old, all-original car, I want to keep it that way. FM radio was an option in this car, but my car lacked it. In fact, even AM radio was optional back then. The "FM" option added two rear speakers and dual front speakers, but one in the front center of the dash only with the "AM" radio. If you really wanted to go all out- you could even get the tape player option- yeah, it was an 8-track! The 70s!

It does have a lot of other options though, just FM was not one of them. I have seem loaded models lack the FM radio, but bare optioned models with the option. Back in the 60s and 70s, you basically got what option you wanted. You did not have to get "option packages" back then. Pretty neat when you start looking at the old 60s and 70s cars- especially General Motors cars.

My 69' Caprice has FM radio option and three speakers it also has the rare power door lock option, as well as power windows, tilt wheel, A/C, vinyl top, power disc brakes (yeah, they were optional in 69'), hideaway headlights w/washers, 396 engine, turbo automatic, lights group option, etc. Still, a lot of options it lacks.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hatterasguy

The problem with the older cars is they only have four speakers!

So you have to work a bit to get modern S class sound out if.

86560SEL · #9 12-13-2005, 11:34 PM

Thanks. There is also a sticker under it, that is yellow in color, but I cannot see it, because the other is over it.

Thanks for all of the replies about the cassette player. I bought a head cleaner anyway, went to try it, but the cap to the alcohol that goes in the tape was "plugged" and I did not have time to open it. The radio still works fine and sounds good, so I hate to remove it because of the cassette. I have a portable cassette player I could just carry when I wanted to listen to cassettes I suppose as a cheap alternative now.

Quote:

Originally Posted by 420 SE

The sticker is a service sticker - meant a service was due (B service) at 105k miles.

If it had an oil can symbol then it would be due an 'A' service.

It may be the last time it was serviced by an MB dealer - it doesn't nessecarily mean that was the last time it was serviced if it was done at an indie and they didn't use the stickers - rather a paper sticker on the windsrceen.

Your tape player sounds stuffed - I doubt a head clean will fix it. It may be as simple as the little elastic bands inside which drive the tape spindles - you would need to open it up to find out.

If there is an old electrical fixit shop they may be able to do something with it, however the cost of aftermarket units being so low and with so mny other features (CD), I would just replace it.

Cheers

Hatterasguy · #10 12-14-2005, 10:51 AM

If I had a car with only one speaker I would add one of those hidden sound systems that you see in Hemmings. Driving old cars is fun but I don't want to give up the modern stuff like Bose quality sound, XM, and MP3's.

Just wait I am going to install a Navi in my W126 after the body work.