Maintaining a 10 year old MB?

[timreid]

I'm going into new territory maintaining a 10+ year old Mercedes (92,500mi). And I'm wondering what items and if certain parts need serviced/replaced as a preventive measure. No one wants to have a highway breakdown at any time and of any kind, such as a old cooling hose, and when you turn sixty a break down seems to be more worrisome.
Want items do you recommend in replacing/servicing, etc? One item I'm concerned about is electrical, such as the original fuses, and maybe replacing certain relays?
Appreciate your advice; enjoy your drive, timreid

[J.HIDALGO]

However, OVP and fuel pump relay are a big concern with these vehicels. I would suggest to buy new ones and keep them as spares IN your car. Alternator brushes and O2 sensor are two more items. Other than that, just continue normal maintenance and change all fluids as needed i.e. oil, transmission fluid, differential fluid, power steering, etc.
These cars will last for ever with good maintenance!

[MTI]

10 Yrs and 92K, I'd say your Benz is just about broken in!

Obviously, if you're the original owner you'd be in a good position to know what the car needs, but I'm assuming this is a new member of the family. Knowing how many previous owners is a good place to start. I find that most original owners pampered their cars, did the regular maintenance and generally did it at the dealer, instead of Quickie Lube or Sears/Montgomery Ward/Etc.

My priority goes like this: Life safety first (Brakes, steering, tires and wheels and lights); then big ticket items (anything that touches oil or coolant); then the niggly stuff (climate control, interior) that can wait for the first two.

If the engine is behaving (good start, idle, temp, no fluid loss, gas mileage) and the transmission is shifting well, you might want to focus on all the rubber bits that make up the Mercedes steering and multi-link suspension. How is the ride and do you notice any vibration in the car? Ball joints, engine mounts, flex discs, shocks, steering damper and links are all rubber and pneumatic parts that should be inspected.

I've never been able to get one broken in as early as 92,000 miles. My 240D had something like 300,000 miles before I even carried a toolbox. My 300E has just hit 240,000 and I wouldn't be afraid to take off on a multi-thousand mile trip.

It wasn't that long ago when 100,000 miles was par for even a well taken care of car. Now 250,000 is well within reach for most any car if its reasonably well taken care of. For a Benz, that point is far beyond even that 250,000.

Nothing really changes with your preventive maintenance schedule. The most important thing is to keep changing the oil, filters and vital fluids. If you're getting underneath and changing oil frequently, then you have the opportunity to look around and inspect things underneath.

Good luck,
Change oil hot and change oil often,

Hi,

I would only add that you should replace all your fuses. Even if they look good.

Clean the contacts as well. A pencil eraser or a spray electrical contact cleaner is fine.

Fuses start to go around now and they can be the cause of a number og gremlins.

Cheap at $10.

Good luck,

chicago124

[timreid]

I did not mention but I’m the original owner, and I'm glad I found this forum, I do like you do, take very good care of our MB's, and that why the info is also very good here.
I know there is a long life to MB components, and I finding the parts of wear from you, that I might not think about as mention in this post.

How about the life of the coolant hoses?

And that dreaded timing chain **##? I asked the service tech that does the technical/extensive jobs on my car and service manager, they said that they know of no problems or reason to change the timing chain and guides in the 119975 engine???? If I'm reading the forum post correctly about this issue, I should change this out before 100,000mi?

Thanks, enjoy your drive, timreid

The chain itself is not usually the failing item. What happens is that a guide rail or other component fails, binding the chain, causing it to snap. Changing the chain is not enough. Close inspection of the rails and associated components is the key.

If the dealer is telling you not to worry about it, then it could be that the later V8's are not at as much risk as the earlier V8's.

Best of luck,

[bobbyv]

what about those plastic radiator parts? They seem to self-destruct after some time. Almost left me stranded on a winter day. And expensive too ...