water pump repair

[Dance87300e]

hello members a little help needed.
I am replacing my water pump w124 and I don't have a flx tool. Two questions?
where can I buy one? {Other than fastlane because of time considerations.}
can I get by without one?
Thanks
Dance

[deanyel]

What engine? 124 is a chassis number.

[Dance87300e]

Sorry
103.
I understand that MB has upgraded its wpump and a kit comes with the new ones. Is that a true statement?

[gmercoleza]

Just as an FYI the flex tool isn't absolutely necessary. I did mine without it and did not have to remove the power steering pump or tensioner. I did have to remove the tensioner bolts, but not remove it completely.

[brewtoo]

I used 1/4" u-joint. Broke one, too. Sears replaced it. The new one survived.

[J.HIDALGO]

but, I did not have something similar to it in my limited supply of tools. It made the job pretty easy to do...It has been a while but, I think it was in the $40-50 range. Not cheap!

[anthonyb]

I bought mine online from Snap-on. I had to pay for shipping, but since doing the job myself saved me a couple/few hundred dollars in labor, not too bad.

You can do the job without the tool, this one just makes it easier and involves less messing with extensions and U-joints. I had U-joints, and they just kept flopping in the wrong direction, so I just tossed them and got the Snap-On tool.

[antonino]

I just did the one on the M104 engine...the 103 that you are working on actually has more space to work. I used a 1/4 inch drive with a 6 inch extension and a swival 13 mm socket on the end. It takes a little doing but is possible once you realize where those bolts are hidden. It is much, much easier if you remove the belt tensioner and remove the bolts for the power steering and move it out of the way. On mine, I also removed the oil dip stick which made it easier to see the top right bolt on the pump. Just a tip on putting the bolts back in...put a little tape on the them befor you push them into the socket wrench...this will keep them secure so they don't fall off as you are fishing to find the holes they go in. Take your time, have a cup of coffee if you get frustrated and it will get done. I hand torqued mine as I was unable to get my large torque wrench in there, but they should be torqued to 17ft pounds (25 NM) about what you can put on a 1/4 in drive by hand...remember it the parts are alluminum so don't overtighten.