Trying to decide whether to put in the $700 replacement or get a used one. What would be a reasonable amount to pay for a used one.

Also which replacement is recommended. The one from Performance or Unwired tools?


Heat and a/c don't work.
A/c used to work, but when I press the ON button, it now will not stay and will go back to off. Then it worked occasionally on bi-level setting but that eventually stopped, too.

Tech says it's the servo.

I went thru three from the junkyards before I got one that worked properly (on my departed 1980 wagon). $700 is better spent somewhere else. Ask junkyardjim or other members on the parts forum with a WTB (want to buy) thread asking for a used one- people will respond and you'll get one cheap.

I would say it's a better use of money to buy a working used one for around $100, and when it breaks in a few years sell the core and buy another used one. In an hour and a half, I replaced by cracked and broken servo with a used working one I bought for $125 from a member here, refilled and burped the cooling system, took out the glove box and found+plugged a broken vacuum flap, and now I have a 100% working automatic climate control system, restored function of blower speeds and temp. wheel. With the cost of around $100 for used working ones on eBay and here, and you can sell the broken one as a core, it makes more sense to go the used way. If you are uber-rich and don't have time to replace it every few years go with the $450 rebuilt one or the $700 digital replacement.

On a side note my mechanic used to work on these system when they were put on Mercedes 30 years ago. He said hitting them with a hammer would sometimes get the motor working again (un-stick it) And, they were half the cost at the Chrysler dealer rather than the Benz dealer (I think he said $68 dollars for one at Chrysler) Benz bought the company that made the servos, then the prices went way up. Typical Mercedes-Benz .

__________________
1980 240d
1999 SL500

That's interesting; maybe I'll try hitting it with a hammer.

Tech said there is a crack in it.

Does it also solve the heat problem or is that a separate issue.

Is there a way to tell if it's working or not when buying on the forum or ebay/junkyard?