Here's my experience on the steering box adjustment. When I first bought by 240D, I brought it to an independent who was not experienced with Mercedes, and he told me you have to turn clockwise to tighten it, and mine was as tight as he could get it. It still had about 1 to 1 1/4 inch slack as measured on the steering wheel...too much for me.

So I brought it to someone who had real Mercedes experience, and he tighten it by turning it counterclock. He made it near perfect...and charged me about $100 for it.

After about 6 years of driving, it got somewhat loose again, so this time I attacked it. I held the allen screw stationary and loosen the locknut a full turn. Then I turned the allen screw counterclock an eighth of a turn and locked the nut back down. Off for a test drive. I did this about 3 times, until it was too tight and the wheel wouldn't return properly after a turn. Then I moved it clockwise to loosen it maybe 1/16 to 1/8 a turn... and it's perfect again.

It took me 2 or 3 hours of playing, but I think they can be adjusted, at least until the whole box needs replacement.

PS The first adjustment was at 155kmiles, and the second at 240kmiles. Hopefully, the box will outlast the car.

HTH

Joe