Is it possible to replace the plastic oil tubes on 1997 E420 with aluminum ones?

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2008 S550
2010 GLK350
1997 E420 (retired)
2005 CLK500 (retired)

If you haven't read this: http://www.peachparts.com/Wikka/M119OilGuides
then, once you do, you will see the reason they don't make them out of metal anymore.
Many thanks btw to Greg, for that dyi article!

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It is a truism that almost any sect, cult, or religion will legislate its creed into law if it acquires the political power to do so. Robert A. Heinlein


09 Jetta TDI
1985 300D

That's interesting. But if there have been failures of the metal ones, that would be known, I think. Also I do not use any thich oils (synthetic only). So would it be possible to fit the metal ones on so I don't have to ever do this again... To me, b/c I am way too cynical, it just seems like a cost saving measure. But I should probably be kinder

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2008 S550
2010 GLK350
1997 E420 (retired)
2005 CLK500 (retired)

Hello apb,

It's somewhat amusing to read that someone else also had this idea. I planned to do the same while fixing a valve cover gasket leak on my 119.975. Contacted the local mechanic (you know, the guy with 30+ years experience) with the idea, and he began researching the issue.

What he found is that Mercedes switched to the plastic material because the oil tubes do fail under high pressure (by design), sending bits of the parent material all over the place. Flying metal shards tend to score the lifters and get caught in other inconvenient places. In other words, you're introducing a potential problem Mercedes "fixed" by choosing an easily breakable tube material.

Worth it to check and change once every millenium in my humble opinion.

-DM

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1995 E420 SE black/black
2004 Volvo V70R AWD