M103 owners - check the throttle linkage plastic retainer
 

Mine broke and left me stranded on a freeway onramp. One more upshift and I would have been standed on the freeway. I was able to back down the ramp at idle speed to a parking lot, and a friend rescued me. I cut a piece of sheet metal (about a half-inch square with a slot) and tied it to the bracket with a couple of cable ties, and that got me home.

Funny thing is that I've known about this problem for over 20 years. People were talking about it at Starfest '92, but they said it was 300Es only, and my 190E 2.6 was not effected. I should have done more research.

Much to my surprise the local dealer has the part and the parts guy knew exactly what it was, but I bought two from Pelican since I also needed a steering center link and both tie rods (clunk in the front end due to three worn joints, one each on the center link and both tie rods.)

The part number is 202-301-00-93. It's definitely used on 300Es according to Pelican's catalog, and I expect all other models that have M103 engines.

Interestingly, in the ten years I've been on this forum I don't recall anyone ever reporting the same failure, but it's definitely waiting to happen, and if it does you will be stranded with nothing but idle speed.

A two-bit plastic part should not strand you in the car that's "engineered like no other car in the world", so I'm back to calling it the "Mercurial Benz". The last car that stranded me was my '72 Vega GT in 1974 with a dead fuel pump.

Duke

Recall Campaign RC-93-0613 issued 7/15/93 for model 124, 1987 thru 1992. Did a million of 'em. :)

Got a pic?

I'm the original owner of my '88 190E 2.6, and I never got a recall notice. Your post said "124". Did they not include 126s and 201s with the M103 engine?

Like I said, the Pelican catalog shows the same part number for my car and 300Es.

BTW, was there an observable change in material on the new retainers you installed? A dealer parts guy told me that the originals were "rubber" and the new one is hard plastic.

Also, since the part number begins with "202" was this part used on the C-class follow-on to the 201?

Here's a link to the Pelican page that has a pictue:

Pelican Parts - Product Information: 202-301-00-93-M22

Duke

... installed the new plastic part, today. The original is rubber.

I did a Google search for that recall number including the NHTSA database, but came up blank, searching under 300 series models

I still can't believe that 126s and 201s with M103 engines were not included in the recall, assuming that's the case, but I never got a recall notice.

The only '88 190E recall listed was the one about replacing the parking brake lever cover.

Duke

...did another seach and found the complete file on this recall with all the NHTSA and Mercedes-Benz documents.

The recall was only for 124 models. It's utterly amazing that the 190E 2.6 and 300SE were not included since they use the same part.

Mercedes estimated that 50 percent of these retainers would fail in 100K miles. My 190E 2.6 has 83K miles.

http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/acms/cs/jaxrs/download/doc/ACM47683/RC-93V095-NN.PDF

If you have a 190E 2.6 or 300SE I strongly recommend that you inspect this part, but since it's difficult to inspect without removing, which will probably destroy it, just buy a new one, 202-301-00-93.

It's a genuine Mercedes Benz part, so the Peach price ($3.50) is about the same as dealer retail. The phone price I got from a local dealer was $3.58.

Duke

I'll have to check this out. I have 240K on my car. I wonder if its been replaced?

I replaced this on my 190E 2.6 (1989) along with a new throttle cable.

My indy said they had problems when new and yes it was part of a recall back then. So I stocked up with 2 extras in the glove box.

I'm assuming this is the clip at the end of the throttle cable...

It's the rectangular retainer/bushing that holds the end of the throttle cable to the steel throttle lever, and it takes the force of the return spring.

Look at the NHTSA link in post #6. The 190E 2.6 was NOT, repeat NOT included in the recall even though it had the same part as all M103 engines in W124 chassis models that were recalled - nor was the 300SE, which might, but I'm not sure, use the same part.

The original part was polyurethane-elastomer, a synthetic rubber. The replacement part is polyoxymethylene-high, a high strength, abrasion resistance plastic - the same material as the M16 rifle stock.

I doubt this new material part will fail in normal service.

Likely most of the remaining 190E 2.6s have high enough mileage that the orignal rubber part failed some time ago and was replaced with the new plastic part. Mine only has 83K miles, but then it's still 26 years old.

I'm just sayin'... you might want to check this out if you own any model with a M103 engine.

Duke

If I'm not mistaken, this applies to the M104 too. I had exactly the same problem and, yes, I bought a spare to keep in the car.

RayH

My '91 300Se does not use a throttle cable. It has a Rube Goldberg series of levers, rods, and Heim joints to actuate the throttle. So, I assume it doesn't use the evil part.

DG

Interesting observation. I've always been somewhat in awe of the throttle linkage - all the levers and joints and cam and microswitch..., but couldn't they have made it simpler..., and cheaper?

An "elegant" design is always the least complicated and expensive that does the job!

I guess it might have something to do with Mercedes' desire to have very smooth (i.e. slow) throttle tip-in, but on a sport sedan I'd like it to be more aggressive.

Duke

Throttle cable plastic retainer
 

I replaced the one in our 91 300e with 280000 miles on it. Broke on a,backroad Got it home with 2 zip ties. New part was under $3.00 at dealer. Recall had been done so part that broke was the new improved part

This is interesting. I'm still not sure where this part is though. Is it under the air cleaner?

Yes, you have to remove the air cleaner housing to see it.

I should have titled the thread "throttle cable bushing/retainer". The cable end piece pulls against this part to actuate the steel throttle linkage.

If the part fails the, throttle cable moves, but the steel linkage doesn't, so the engine will only idle.

The recall documents package linked to in post #6 has illustrations that show the part and its location.

Duke