PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum - View Single Post

ykobayashi · #7 05-21-2025, 10:29 AM

Haven’t quite figured out the fan thing yet. AC is cold so maybe the thing is programmed to come on only when the temps get really hot. The fan does come on when I manually trigger it from the PBU. So all the circuitry is there.

I was driving yesterday to get some gas and the vibes are so minimal now I’m able to feel a last subtle vibration that hits at about 2100 rpm in all gears. It seems to go away above that. I figure this is collapsed engine mounts. I will order a set and install them. Hopefully it won’t be too hard. I’ve checked the shop manual and it says just raise the engine remove the mounts so I don’t think it is that hard. But a lot of stuff is really packed in on this car. It has me missing my 123 and 126 in terms of ease of maintenance.

I can only think the design philosophy changed and the computerized cad tools allowed them to pack things in tighter configurations. You can barely reach the fasteners. I’ve had to bend a lot of special tools with my torch and cut down shorty wrenches. I find myself stacking u joints and wobble extensions on my sockets.

In terms of replacement parts I started thinking it was for the most part wear items that I replaced in my 123/6 cars. Ball joints, engine mounts, tie rod ends, vacuum actuators, bad solder joints, steering damper, bushings. This is all the same stuff that an old MB needs swapped out. It’s just harder to get to. Also the online community of people doing things and posting them up is just so much smaller than the diesel crowd. I guess your typical 1997 C280 buyer isn’t your 1982 300D buyer. Most posts online are about taking the car in and having the dealer shoot the parts cannon at the problems.

Anyhow it is coming together. It is super smooth. Hopefully the engine mounts will iron out the last wrinkle in the vibes.

Yesterday I noticed the Balljoint in the upper control arm was squeaky. I split it and greased it. It wasn’t worn enough to replace. It was just a bit dry. Saved a few dollars on that one. Also the control arm bolt on top is a pain to get to. Airbox, radiator reservoir and fuse box need to be removed to make room. Apparently the V6 is even worse for access. Luckily I have the m104 variant. It gets worse mpg but it seems to be a more robust engine on the average.

I must say the C class handles really well compared to my 300D and 300SD. It reminds me more like my uncle’s w124 back in 1987. It is really planted in the turns.

I’ll keep adding to this thread as things come up. They inevitably will. It’s a thirty year old car. Reminds me that my 123/6 cars have needed a steady flow of maintenance on mostly the same parts over the last decade. These are great cars as long as they are maintained properly. It’s interesting how we get them cheap from owners who don’t want to skink any more money into fixing them. My cars have all been totalled by repair work by the time I get them. I put in sweat equity and I can get some of the feeling back of when they were new wonderful cars.