have been minor with the exception of an engine replacement, which was caused by a freak occurrence where the gear on the high pressure fuel pump began to wobble and took out the head. Miraculously, the timing chain never jumped time!!!

Anyway, my gold one has about 150k miles on it and the only two issues I had were 1 cylinder had black death and the alternator failed, which was a you know what to replace! All and all it has been pretty much bulletproof!

My silver cdi, the one that I replaced the engine in has 22oK miles and runs very good but my front end and headlights need replacing, the headlights have melted wires but they still work.

My question is how much do you think it will costs to replace the upper and lower control arms, ball joints which are creaking and the headlights?

Is it worth it?...... I do love both of my CDIs and I am just wondering!

Thank you!

__________________
Currently Driving
2006 E320 CDI
1999 E300 Turbo Diesl
2002 ML500
1995 E320 Station Wagon


MBs I've owned
1997 E320 Assassinated by Pine Tree
1987 300E Wife Killed Engine
1981 300D Stretch Limo Total Loss
1970 250 Coupe 212,000 mi.
1974 450sel 184,000 mi.
1974 240D 377,000 mi.
1977 300D 204, 000 mi.
1979 280se God Only Knows!
1983 240D 130,000 mi.
1972 220D 280,000 mi.
1983 300SD 244,000 mi.

On the silver 220K unit, what is the mileage on the engine? Don't know if you bought that used, rebuilt, etc. Not sure if that engine is available on a crate.

If the engine is way younger than 220K, I'd say yes, redo the front end. But that's hard work, beyond a lot of shade tree guys. I used to replace the control arms on my E30 Bimmer but my w126 front end intimidates me, I hate to say.

I think the headlight replace might be doable, wouldn't cost too much to have it done I would think, $2 or $3 hundred maybe. Might be naive on that score ...

__________________
1986 300SDL, 362K
1984 300D, 138K

The replacement engine has about 160K miles on it!

__________________
Currently Driving
2006 E320 CDI
1999 E300 Turbo Diesl
2002 ML500
1995 E320 Station Wagon


MBs I've owned
1997 E320 Assassinated by Pine Tree
1987 300E Wife Killed Engine
1981 300D Stretch Limo Total Loss
1970 250 Coupe 212,000 mi.
1974 450sel 184,000 mi.
1974 240D 377,000 mi.
1977 300D 204, 000 mi.
1979 280se God Only Knows!
1983 240D 130,000 mi.
1972 220D 280,000 mi.
1983 300SD 244,000 mi.

OEM or knock off headlights? DIY or farming out? If you buy knock off and do it yourself then $300 is ok. You need to remove the fender to replace the light. It is a royal pain in the butt. You can do it super cheap if you just replace the Len cover like I did, under $50.

__________________
Not MBZ nor A/C trained professional but a die-hard DIY and green engineer. Use the info at your own peril. Picked up 2 Infractions because of disagreements. NOW reversed.

W124 Keyless remote, PM for details. http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/mercedes-used-parts-sale-wanted/334620-fs-w124-chasis-keyless-remote-%2450-shipped.html

1 X 2006 CDI
1 x 87 300SDL
1 x 87 300D
1 x 87 300TDT wagon
1 x 83 300D
1 x 84 190D ( 5 sp ) - All R134 converted + keyless entry.

I don't have any experience with that engine, but I've read good things about it, I think, that's the inline 6? Going with some ass-u-me about inline MB diesels running forever would probably not be accurate. But maybe 300K is doable. If so that's a lot of life left.

__________________
1986 300SDL, 362K
1984 300D, 138K

We should start a club. I have two CDI's as well. Both 2006.

__________________
14 E250 Bluetec "Sinclair", Palladium Silver on Black, 153k miles
06 E320 CDI "Rutherford", Black on Tan, 171k mi, Stage 1 tune, tuned TCU
91 300D "Otis", Smoke Silver, 142k mi, wastegate conversion

19 Honda CR-V EX 61k mi
Fourteen other MB's owned and sold
1961 Very Tolerant Wife

I, like many other impossible dreamers, have fantasized about dropping one of those motors in a W123. Would be fast as hell, and approximately as difficult I think.

__________________
1986 300SDL, 362K
1984 300D, 138K

I had ball joints and control arms replaced on my 2008 E320. Aftermarket parts guaranteed for as long as i own the car. Replaced at 250,000 miles. $944 parts and labor. Repaired in 2019

211 front suspension not that difficult, it's easier than the earlier models as they use the combo spring/shocks. You don't have to worry about discharging the huge body to control arm spring.

Unfortunately you do need specialty tools.

The ball joints are pressed in and there's a special pressing tool for this.

And if you're replacing the shocks you'll need the proper spring compressor tool to remove the spring from the old shock and put it on the new one.

Other than that you just need the common ball joint separator tool to remove the stud of the ball joint from the arm and normal mechanic's tools.

If you're interested in pursuing this, I do have the ball joint press and strut spring compressor I am willing to rent, pm me if interested.

__________________
The OM 642/722.9 powered family
Still going strong
2014 ML350 Bluetec (wife's DD)
2013 E350 Bluetec (my DD)

both my kids cars went to junkyard in 2023
2008 ML320 CDI (Older son’s DD) fatal transmission failure, water soaked/fried rear SAM, numerous other issues, just too far gone to save (165k miles)
2008 E320 Bluetec (Younger son's DD) injector failed open and diluted oil with diesel, spun main bearings (240k miles)

1998 E300DT sold to TimFreeh
1987 300TD sold to vstech

In all honesty, I am quite pleased with the E320 CDI, it's acceleration is incredible and I'd wager to say that it is actually faster then the average gas powered cars. I was trying to find a 3rd one to invest in because they appear to be increasingly rare. I often wonder just how many were sold in America for years 2005 and 2006. I suspect that I'm a little salty because I had to replace the engine which cost $900 bucks with free shipping, but it runs strong now and has no issues other than the front end. I'm thinking about changing the upper and lower ball joints because when I hit a bump I get that God awful CREAKING sound that is unbearable!!!....Please, if you guys think I'm heading direction let me know and if there is more that I should replace on the front end I would appreciate your input!!

Thank you!

__________________
Currently Driving
2006 E320 CDI
1999 E300 Turbo Diesl
2002 ML500
1995 E320 Station Wagon


MBs I've owned
1997 E320 Assassinated by Pine Tree
1987 300E Wife Killed Engine
1981 300D Stretch Limo Total Loss
1970 250 Coupe 212,000 mi.
1974 450sel 184,000 mi.
1974 240D 377,000 mi.
1977 300D 204, 000 mi.
1979 280se God Only Knows!
1983 240D 130,000 mi.
1972 220D 280,000 mi.
1983 300SD 244,000 mi.