First off, hi! Love this website. I got my first Mercedes about a week and a half ago. A 1988 300E. I hadn't even driven it more than 35 miles before something had to be replaced (radiator). After constant research, diagram reading, part finding, and maintenance decisions, I went to my local Mercedes dealer to see if they had any receipts. They gladly obliged with three records. The guy before me got the head gasket replaced, so yay for that. There was a 'courtesy inspection' done it seems after they were done.



The records indicate the head gasket, ball joints, shifter bushings, and brake flush were done. The guy replaced the motor mounts himself and bought the flex disc which came with the car and I'll need to install that.

So, my questions are:
Would a new steering rack be cheaper than a reseal?
Where are the supporting joints on the rear axle? Is this something I should do myself?
What does it mean 'clip is missing'? Should I get this ASAP?
There is a clicking sound that seems to emanate from the rear of car when in reverse. Could these axle replacements fix it?

I can show the full RO's if needed.

I would get a second opinion, lately these courtesy inspections are just a way to make more money. There are two MB dealers in my area owned by the same cprprate group. I had my 92 sel in some months ago for an alignment and they basicly found nothing. I developed a fuel leak and I took it to the other dealership, in addition to fixing the leak, they found I needed sway bar bushings, control arm bushings, and links. I also had an intermittent oil pressure switch, they replaced the sender, which did not fix it. They then told me it was the inernal (engine) oil level sender, which required the pan to come off, which did not fix it. The next was a lower engine harness which cured both and also solved my itermittent alt light. They also tried to sell me an upper harness, telling me if the lower was bad the upper one would be also, never checking that they had done it previously.
PS
the oil pan leaked and they had to re-do the job, I never needed an alternator nor the "oil" switches, just a lower harness. The mechanics are paid by the job and the more they "load on" the more they make, each job is priced individually.
I am going to drive the exta miles and use the previous dealership, I thing they exported the poor mechanics.

Take the inspection to a good independent mechanic you trust; I had a full check-up done last year at the dealership just to keep the Mercedes Roadside Assistance ($240 bucks ) and all they were able to muster was I needed brake rotors and pads, guide rod mounts and rear springs.

After taking this to my indy, Turns out the only thing I needed was the guide rod mounts (My front end clunked while braking).

Other than my experience with inspections at the dealer, I'm not too knowledgeable on the W124...

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1987 560SEL (210,000 miles)