Oil on One Wheel (photo)
 

1987 300SDL-
What's up with this? All other wheels are clean and fine. This is the passenger front- http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a2...1wheel0017.jpg

There is no noticeable oil or wetness on the inside area of the wheel and related gear. I'm sure a car wash would be a cheap fix :) The car drives fine, though it does seem the front end is a little "clunky" on rough pavement. I do lots of hwy driving though and it's good out there. Thanks!

Oil on Wheel!
 

Looks like you have some leak coming through the front hub. Better have someone look at it before you burn something up.

I had a similiar leak on my Jeep on the rear axle. Turned out to be a bad seal allowing differential oil to leak out very slowly over a period of months. I burned up the rear differential at a cost of $2,400.

Looks like leaking wheel bearing grease.

better take the wheel off and look. YOu may be short a dust cap.

You may also have an overpacked bearing with grease.

Tom W

If the latter, would it be doing any harm? I have the same thing going on with my w123, and it doesn't seem like it would really be an issue (other than dirty rims), but I just want to be sure...

it's wheel bearing grease. it's common on these 126 cars. the grease cap may be loose but it's probably seeping out around the cap. you can take the cap off and put some permatex #2 around the edge but it will make it difficult to remove the cap later.

No harm, until the bearing runs dry and the wheel falls off.

The wheel bearing seal is blown, have it fixed before it fails.

Wheel bearings need to be re packed every 100k miles. If there are no records have all 4 done.

There is not a seal on the outside. only the dust cap. grease there would seem to not likely be from the inner seal.

Tom W

Thank you to all who posted comments- needless to say, I'll be having it checked out asap! I believe it is the wheel bearing business too.