I am going to try to fix this leak this weekend. From underneath the car, I can see drips of dried coolant on the starter, tranny housing and steering shock. My MBZ M104 manual shows 2 steel lines with rubber "o" rings leading to the oil filter housing from the water pump. My MBZ parts book shows just the one steel line and another small "V" shaped hose to the oil filter housing. A fellow board member stopped his leak with new "O" rings here and I am hoping that this is all it is.

Anyone familiar with this repair?


Thanks,

glenmore
1991 300CE

Update.

Bad news. I found the leak and it doesn’t look good. At the oil filter housing there are two coolant lines. The steel one from the water pump attaches thru an “o” ring and from a fellow members experience, it is a doable but akward repair from underneath. The leak is on the other line, a small “v” shaped hose from the filter housing to the engine block. The leak has started to increase now that I have poked around the damaged hose. An MBZ dealer quoted $1200 for this job because it involves pulling the intake manifold. The hose is directly underneath the second inlet of the intake manifold.

Is this a task for the DIYer? I don’t think I can handle dropping the intake manifold. What I’m hoping is that there is a way to wrangle the hose off and put a new one on, by working from both above and below. From above I can probable get the standard screw hose clamp off from the block. The spring clamp at the filter housing looks accessible only with the intake manifold out of the way or possible from underneath? Is this possible maybe with the starter motor removed? Is pulling the manifold the only way to do this repair?

TIA,

glenmore
1991 300CE

At dealer that should take 4-5 hrs to repair(including intake R & R) & parts should be $100 or less, SOUNDS like they are charging double!!

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M.B.DOC,

I'm now contemplating the R&R of the intake manifold to get at this leaking hose. Is the R&R of the intake manifold a straight forward bolt on, bolt off procedure? Anything to replace besides the gasket? I have the MB 104 service manual and it looks doable. What makes me apprehensive are these steps:

1) check and adjust throttle control if necessary
2) check and adjust idle speed if necessary
3) read out DTC memory abd erase if necessary.

If I am able to replace everything as it was will any adjusting be necessary?

Thanks,

glenmore
1991 300CE