I have a 96 E300D and within a year(between 70 and 80,000 mi) both rear window regulators have been replaced(my own time and money). Do I need to save up for the front two?

P.S. The power steering pump went out at 30,000

Have replaced 10 to 1 rear lifters to front on this model, doubt that you will see the front ones fail!

MBDOC,
With that kind of ratio and the amount of lifters that go bad on this model, would these parts be considered defective? Also, are recall items limited to parts that are safety issues?
Matt

I feel your pain 96 E300D!

My right rear regulator on my 300E just let go last night...I had replaced the left rear one last year!

Both had failed in the same manner...the track housing that holds the spring loaded cables in place wears out and allows the metal cover to loosen and freely move about while the mechanism operates. It starts off by getting in the way (i.e., window doesn't fully close) until the spring retaining clip falls off (kaboingggg) and the cable then gets tangled in the gear housing.

Fortunately the assembly w/motor isn't too terribly expensive (around $130 - $140), and it is a DIY fix. The hardest part of the job is getting that door panel off (after years of having the panel cure and form itself to the metal.

Yours might be different, but it would have saved me a lot of grief if I had known that the fasteners require lifting the panel vertically FIRST, then out! I'm used to yanking out VW door panels, I guess...

guilio,
I'm sure there are a few more out there who have experienced our pain. On my year and model, the panels do just pop out and then lift vertically, fortunately, because that's the method I used. And you're right, it is a DIY project, I think the whole process took about 30 min.
Matt

Hope you were successful in your regulator replacement...got my regulator yesterday afternoon, but layed around most of the evening.

About 10:30PM, my wife came to get me to go to bed, and I suddenly remembered that I had to reinstall the new regulator. So instead, I told her good night, and went into the garage (with another beer in hand) to finish the job. Took my time, so I got finished and cleaned up by 11:30PM.

I did notice that the new assembly has a different track housing than the old stock unit...perhaps the manufacturer knew about the problem?