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  #1  
Old 01-17-2005, 12:02 AM
Hatterasguy's Avatar
Zero
 
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Location: Milford, CT
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2004 maintaince records.

For the "Money pit"

Mercedes 300SDL Service Record's

Purchased on January 22, 2004


March 3, 2004
Mileage-233,668

Oil+filter
Replaced all 6 injectors with Bosch rebuilt units.
Replaced all 6 glow plugs with Bosch units.
Replaced delivery valve seals and copper washers.
Replaced secondary and primary fuel filters, Mann units.
Replaced all drip lines.
Replaced broken throttle linkage with Mercedes unit.
Air filter done by previous owner, new at 233,000, Heignst unit.
EGR blocked, intake manifold cleaned, gasket replaced.
Cross over gasket replaced.
Shut off valve replaced, Bosch unit.
Antenna seal replaced, Mercedes unit.
Trunk seal replaced, Mercedes unit.
Oil cap gasket replaced.
Oil filter O-rings, all 3.


March 14, 2004
Mileage-233,668

Power steering filter replaced, Heignst unit.
Power steering fluid replaced, Febi by Bilstein
Drivers inside door handle replaced, Mercedes unit.
Rear left door; inside handle replaced, Mercedes unit.
Rear door widow slide replaced.
Plastic inside doors replaced. (Clear)
Drivers seat, switch cleaned. (Seat back wasn't coming forward)


March 28, 2004
Mileage-233,668

Rear brake disc's replaced, ATE units.
Rear brake hoses replaced.
Rear brake pad's replaced, Textar units.
Mercedes anti-squeal past applied to back of pads.
Rear differential fluid changed, Mobil 1 75w-90
Rear hard fuel and brake lines replaced.
Fuel tank screen cleaned, o-ring replaced.
Soft inlet and outlet lines on bottom of tank replaced.
All rubber fuel lines replaced in engine compartment.
Fuel tank cap seal, replaced.
Parking brake shoes replaced.
Parking brake pedal pad replaced.
Parking brake adjusted.
Rear brakes flushed.
Washer line that goes to hood nozzles replaced.


April 18, 2004
233,888

New front brake brake discs, ATE power discs
New front brake pads, Textar
Mercedes anti-squeal paste applied to pads.
New front brake lines
Repacked front wheel bearings
Flushed front brakes.
Replaced throttle peddle
New transmission fluid + filter.
New serpentine belt, + idler pulley
New Mercedes Battery.

May 8, 2004
234,025

Oil+Filter
Updated all fuses in fuse box to copper ones.
Power steering return lines replaced.

May 20, 2004
234,380

New oil cooler lines, Mercedes OE
New oil cooler
New rear sway bar links.
New rims + tires
New lug bolts x 20
New spare tire
New Mercedes floor mats.
2 new keys made


June 5, 2004
234,864

New upper radiator hose.
New lower radiator hose.
New expansion tank, OE.
New expansion tank cap.
New oil fill cap, OE.
New thermostat.
New serpentine belt, Gates.
(previous one showed funny wear)
New pre-filter.
(Previous one leaked air)

June 21, 2004
235,355

New radiator, Behr
New fan shroud, OE
New radiator clips.
Clear corners, used.
Trunk matt, used.
Replaced drivers side headlight, used.
Replaced headlight surround on passengers side, used.


June 30, 2004
235,598

Oil+filter, Mobil 1 15W-50/ Heignst filter
New spin on fuel filter, Mann
Air filter, Heignst
New oil pressure sending unit, VDO
Rebuilt Kilma relay.
New Bilstein steering damper.

July 16, 2004
236,000
New Pioneer head unit
4 new Pioneer speakers
New parts tray in center console
New carpet in center console
New passengers side fender well plus gaskets
New pre-filter (They keep leaking)
July 28, 2004
236,701
New power steering filter, Mann filter
New power steering fluid, Bilstein
New power steering cap gasket


July 30, 2004
236,800
New AC condenser
New AC condenser clips + bushings
New O-rings that go between condenser and lines.


August 15, 2004
237,350
New engine shocks
New engine mounts

August 20, 2004
237,500
Changed oil filter because of synthetic oil switch; 2k miles on current change. Also because of quality concerns with the OE/Heignst filters. Apparently wood pieces are being found in the bypass part of all the German filters. I will use Fram CH4536 from now on until the quality of German filters improves, or Wix.
4 new jack pads
2 new glove box spacers

August 22, 2004
237,518
Trans fluid plus filter.

September 3, 2004
238,000
Belt shock, and plastic part above shock, both OE.

September 9, 2004
238,400
Oil Mobil 1 Delvac 5W-40/OE filter

October 1, 2004
239,500
Replaced L/R tie rod assembly's
Replaced center link
Rebuilt Idler arm
Replaced L/R rear sub frame bushings
Alignment done
Replaced the 2 rear muffler doughnuts.

October 15, 2004
240,123
Injectors tested, the pop pressure is ok but the spray pattern is bad on 5. Covered by warranty will try to get good replacements.
Replaced cross over o-ring and gasket

October 23, 2004
240,420
Replaced steering gearbox with used one, out of a 1988 420SEL with 174k. Eliminated some steering play.
Replaced pitman arm seal on above gearbox.
Replaced block heater cord with OE one.

October 27, 2004
240,727
New OE engine vacuum pump
New OE vacuum pump gasket
New OE power steering filter
Flushed with OE power steering fluid
Installed 3 tested good injectors with new seals.

November 10, 2004
241,390
Bilstein comforts shocks front and rear.

November 15, 2004
241,597
Oil Mobil 1 15w-50
Bosch filter
O rings on filter housing shaft
New pan drain plug

December 10, 2004
242,663
New passengers side guide rod mount.
New wiper cages left and right
December 12, 2004
New tail light gaskets

December 19, 2004
242,794
New drivers side guide rod mount
Winter tires installed on car. Firestone all seasons on oe wheels.

December 21, 2004
242,794
Bosch remain alternator.

January 8, 2004
243,111
New water pump, OE
New rear windshield gasket, OE
Used rear window
Rust spots under the window fixed.
Rust spots under rear seat body plugs fixed

It has been an active year! Next service at 245k oil+filter.

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  #2  
Old 01-17-2005, 06:06 AM
skydivetoday's Avatar
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My 1983 300sd is at about your miles and this list has me worried. There are things still oringinal in my daliy diver that you changed. I wonder if its because of the climate ? Just in case I will start saving.
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  #3  
Old 01-17-2005, 07:51 AM
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Location: Kansas City, MO, USA
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What a list

WOW!! That's a lot of work!! For Hattie to have done all those replacements, the previous owner must have abused it (I remember reading somewhere he stated the transmission fluid wasn't changed for many years and miles). Hattie, did you perform each task by yourself or did you pay some mechanics to do part of the tasks on the list?
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  #4  
Old 01-17-2005, 01:08 PM
Hatterasguy's Avatar
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I have done everything myself, with the help of my dad. But I had someone charge up the AC after I changed the condensor.

Well the #$%^& po was a hands off kind of guy. He wouldn't let little things like maintaince bother him. This car is a perfect example of how not to buy a MB, every wear part on this car was shot, brakes, battery, tires, all fluids, ect.

Yes I am very sure that the po never changed the trans fluid. So figure between 80k-233k the fluid wasn't done. Still the tranny is strong I can probably get a few more years out of it. The PO did nothing to this car, I replaced a lot of tired old original stuff. The only normal W126 stuff I am running into now is some of the front end suspension parts are getting tired. But thats to be expected at this age and mileage. Upper control arms are next.
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  #5  
Old 01-17-2005, 03:52 PM
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You only put 10,000 miles on that car man yet you spent all that money and time on it already? I have no doubt in my mind that right now the car is in tip top shape, and also you have learned enough about the car that you can self proclaim yourself to be a "Mercedes-Benz Diesel Specialist" (except you may not know how to perform the valve adjustments since you don't need to do it on your engine ). No wonder you call the car a 2004! I don't have the ability to perform even 10% of all the stuff you did with your dad, so your car probably wouldn't have lasted in my hands at all... with all those expenses, I would have gotten rid of it a long time ago.

So give me the figures: how much did you pay for the car upfront and how much did you spend on all those parts? And why did you block your EGR?
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  #6  
Old 01-17-2005, 04:12 PM
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This vehicle is a very good example of a machine that had been simply driven for its entire life. No maintenance was ever done to it and no repairs were ever done, other than those repairs that would stop it from moving.

It would have been interesting to see what "Lemon Busters" would have said about this vehicle if they had reviewed it prior to purchase. Many of the repairs that you performed would not have been obvious upon the initial inspection prior to purchase.

Repairs such as the rear window glass, vacuum pump, rear subframe bushings, alternator, water pump, steering gearbox, radiator, and a/c condenser would not have been noted by "Lemon Busters" as they were (presumably) in operating condition when you purchased the vehicle. If there was a maintenance history on this vehicle, you could have determined that none of these items were every replaced.

I do not think that any of the repairs that you have performed are out of character with a vehicle that has nearly 250K on the clock.

Many W123 and W126 M/B that are currently rolling with this mileage also need all of these items (unless they were done previously). Whether the owners of these vehicles will aggressively address the issues, as you have done here, is questionable.

In my own situation with the SDL, which I have owned for 10 months, I have not had the level of repairs that you have experienced. I am probably at 40% of your efforts, based upon costs. However, this vehicle has at least 100K fewer miles on the clock and there was some maintenance performed in those miles. It is noted, however, that this SDL had a purchase price nearly three times the cost of the higher mileage vehicle.

In the end, the total invested cost (about $10K) is nearly the same.

But, I will say, that my back is more thankful for the newer vehicle.
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  #7  
Old 01-17-2005, 04:29 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Brian Carlton
This vehicle is a very good example of a machine that had been simply driven for its entire life. No maintenance was ever done to it and no repairs were ever done, other than those repairs that would stop it from moving.
While I agree with you Brian, stuff like the condenser, water pump, alternator and radiator aren't items that require maintenance as such, so even if the previous owner performed all maintenance as he should have, those items still would have required replacement. Unless not performing your cooling system flushes regularly can deteriorate the water pump, radiator or the condenser.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Brian Carlton
...If there was a maintenance history on this vehicle, you could have determined that none of these items were every replaced.
My 300SD and my Euro 500SEL are sharp contrasts... both cars are of the same age, have the same mileage, but the 300SD's service history shows just about nothing major had been replaced in it. The 500SEL on the other hand, has had so many parts replaced it isn't even funny (it even had a transmission that was slipping in 4th gear and has a headgasket that leaks a little, an indication that it may have been overheated at some point). Of course when you include the parts I have already replaced on my 300SD (master cylinder, alternator, driver's window motor), it then starts to kind of catch up to the 500SEL, though it is still behind it in repairs. So when I look at both of these cars, I really wonder if the general belief is very true. Seeing the service history of the 300SD, I should have anticipated many items would be requiring replacement soon, and seeing the service history of the 500SEL, I should have sort of relaxed, knowing that many items had already been replaced. But my 300SD has already overtaken the 500SEL in mileage and is still behind in repairs. The 500SEL meanwhile, is still demanding even more repairs!! And to think it was the 300SD that was just a city vehicle and never driven on long highway trips!! I guess all in all, the 300SD was taken care of much better than the 500SEL. The fact that it had the proper M-B coolant when I went to purchase it told me it was going to be a good car.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Brian Carlton
In my own situation with the SDL, which I have owned for 10 months, I have not had the level of repairs that you have experienced. I am probably at 40% of your efforts, based upon costs. However, this vehicle has at least 100K fewer miles on the clock and there was some maintenance performed in those miles. It is noted, however, that this SDL had a purchase price nearly three times the cost of the higher mileage vehicle.

In the end, the total invested cost (about $10K) is nearly the same.

But, I will say, that my back is more thankful for the newer vehicle.
The initial purchase price on my 300SD was over four times that of the 500SEL. But then it didn't have a small headgasket leak, a slipping transmission and it also didn't look as crappy as the 500SEL did with its torn leather seats and stuff. So far it isn't a money pit and I thank God for that. I guess what you save at the initial purchase, you might end up spending down the line.
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  #8  
Old 01-18-2005, 10:58 AM
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The way I look at it is any old car is going to require updating. Nothing lasts forever, radiators last 10-15 years, same with alts, water pumps, trans ect. It seems everything has a 10-15 year or 200k service life, after that flip a coin. If you have a W126 with 250k on it and no suspension work, you are due. However I did do a lot of the repairs because I want the car to be nice and not a beater, the rear window for example, floor mats, sound system, wheels ect. So I probably put $1500 into nice upgrades. Like the shocks and guide rod mounts, you can ignore stuff for a long time the car will drive like crap but it will get you around.

I paid to much for the car that was my only mistake, $2,500 + dealer bs and tax=$2,970. It was a $1200-$1500 car. I have probably what Brian has into his, but he has a little better body on his car. Their are a few dents I need to take care of on mine. Also my front fenders are shot. My paint is pretty good now though. If I keep it (leaning that way) I will probably do 1/3 of the stuff I did last year, I only need a few more things to perfect it. Then in 06 I will cherry the body out.
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  #9  
Old 01-18-2005, 11:40 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Hatterasguy
I paid to much for the car that was my only mistake, $2,500 + dealer bs and tax=$2,970. It was a $1200-$1500 car. I have probably what Brian has into his, but he has a little better body on his car. Their are a few dents I need to take care of on mine. Also my front fenders are shot. My paint is pretty good now though. If I keep it (leaning that way) I will probably do 1/3 of the stuff I did last year, I only need a few more things to perfect it. Then in 06 I will cherry the body out.
It is rather interesting. This one has a perfect body and an 8.5 repaint and my total investment after one year will be about $10K. Next year will probably cost another $2K or so because I need to do the windshield, the rear springs, and a proper window tint.

So, is it better to buy one of these vehicles for $3K, do all the work, or pay $11K for a vehicle that is nearly perfect with about 110K on the clock? It's an interesting discussion. I wonder how much you would spend in repairs the first year on the $11K vehicle?
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  #10  
Old 01-18-2005, 11:52 AM
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Well the problem with buying say a perfect 300/350SDL for $10k-$15k is that while you may not have to do much you will lose a lot in depreciation once you start putting on the miles. I think it depends on if you can and want to do the work yourself and to what level you want to bring the car up to. I am picky I work hard and want a nice car, I don't want a beater. Another aspect of this is if you do spend tons of money on a mint W126 driving it in winter would be kind of stupid. I for one wouldn't want to sacrifice a mint southern CA car to the road salt.

I don't think either is a better deal, it depends on what you are looking for and what you want. You have $10k to spend either you perfect a $2k W126 or buy a perfect $10K W126. Either is going to cost money to run but at least with the $2k car you know exactly what you have and what has been done. It is nice knowing a car from top to bottom.

Having said that if I was to buy another MB I would pay top dollar for a perfect CA car.
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  #11  
Old 01-18-2005, 12:00 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Hatterasguy

Having said that if I was to buy another MB I would pay top dollar for a perfect CA car.
If you did that, I'm quite sure it would cost you more. A "perfect" CA car might have 110K on the clock and sell for $12K. This vehicle has probably not had any repairs such as front end, alternator, water pump, hoses, belts, shocks, springs, radiator, etc. So, you, as the buyer, are going to face these repairs. Now, how long you can go before they start to creep up on you????? That is the question.

I do think, however, that you will enjoy the "perfect CA car" to a greater degree because the frustration of fixing it every day is not present.

Hattie, you are a perfect example of how every vehicle has it's limits. If they force too many repairs on us, in a small time period, the satisfaction with the vehicle is lost and it soon needs to depart.
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  #12  
Old 01-18-2005, 02:24 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Brian Carlton
Hattie, you are a perfect example of how every vehicle has it's limits. If they force too many repairs on us, in a small time period, the satisfaction with the vehicle is lost and it soon needs to depart.
How true, I would take a big hit selling the thing at this point. I am at the point where if I could sell it for $6k and take a hit or keep putting money into it. Because it will be a $20k car in another 2-3 years, with a book value of just under $5k. I keep running into problems, why just today I found two more. I have to decided if my efforts would be better spent on a 1999 or newer W210. Sure the upfront cost would be greater but long term I think I would come out ahead. Also time is an important factor, I can't get nice Saturdays spent under a car back.
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  #13  
Old 01-18-2005, 02:28 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Brian Carlton
Hattie, you are a perfect example of how every vehicle has it's limits. If they force too many repairs on us, in a small time period, the satisfaction with the vehicle is lost and it soon needs to depart.
Realistically, Hattie spent more than he admits because he did all the work. I don't have time to be able to accomplish all that he did with his dad (I don't have the skills either and I can't quite make out enough time to learn them) so he really should factor in all the time spent and what it would have cost if he paid someone else to do it. Afterall, it is time he could have spent doing something else.
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  #14  
Old 01-18-2005, 02:30 PM
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My wife would make me get rid of mine if it took that much to keep it running adn in good shape.
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  #15  
Old 01-18-2005, 02:32 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Hatterasguy
How true, I would take a big hit selling the thing at this point. I am at the point where if I could sell it for $6k and take a hit or keep putting money into it. Because it will be a $20k car in another 2-3 years, with a book value of just under $5k. I keep running into problems, why just today I found two more. I have to decided if my efforts would be better spent on a 1999 or newer W210. Sure the upfront cost would be greater but long term I think I would come out ahead. Also time is an important factor, I can't get nice Saturdays spent under a car back.
You might be able to get a little more than $6,000 for it given all the new parts it has now.

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