PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum - View Single Post

haasman · #19 08-15-2002, 03:21 PM

Here's my experience:

Took the old 280SE for the "full-service" right before a family trip from California to Oregon. Loaded up the family, luggage and off we went. Everything seemed fine, except when we stopped at Kalamuth Falls Oregon for the night, I kept saying hmmm it certainly smells a lot like differential oil around here (sulfurous smell). My wife said :Of course it does, there are logging trucks all over the place". Satisfied with that we spend the night and continued on.

At a relief stop the next day out in the middle of nowhere, I then noticed the differential lube all over the back bumper!

I limped into the first little town, drove up to a gas station, put in on a lift and yep! No fill plug in the differential. The mechanic and I tried to find a plug, but nothing would even come close.

Finally, after re-filling with diff oil, we used a short piece of garden hose, an old lug bolt, and get this: bailing wire to hold it together until we could get to Bend where a MBZ dealer is.

When I tried to pay the mechanic and he said: "Oh yeah sure. You take it to the fancy Mercedes dealership with bailing wire all around the differential and they'll laugh you out of the place. No charge buddy". I slipped a couple of twenties under his phone when he wasn't looking.

Long story short: I return to the infamous fast change oil place with the bill for the new plug and the oil, and they said: "oh sir that is impossible". I wrote the headquarters, presented them the bill and they paid it. They also sent along several Free Oil change coupons. I DON'T THINK SO!