210 spring perches again.Beginning of the end..
 

It seems no matter how much you sympathise with others and worry about their safety one never imagines it could really happen to you.

Well,here we are....always gave myself some credit for keeping my car in excellent condition and I have checked the perches twice a year since I learned about this manufacturing stupidity/shortcut.

Yesterday a slight squeak prompted me to remove the tire and check the lower ball joint,time for replacement.

I also noticed the rubberised coating had a slight separation on the front left perch which was not apparent 6 months ago.Pried it off with a screwdriver and here we are.Bad,but does not seem to have spread underneath to any great extent,I rapped it upward with a maul,even took some hooked prybars and floorjacked the car up by the perch alone so perhaps I have say,4-5 months before armageddon?

My question,since replacement seems imminent,where do I obtain replacement perches?and has anyone else on the east coast had luck with getting the repairs done either free or 50-50.
Should I start at the top?{MBUSA}or the bottom,{dealer}.I am the 2nd owner and the car has,except for some electronic and fuel O ring glitches proven very reliable with an unsurpassed level of driving comfort so I'm prepared to stick it out.

I have read here the replacements are riveted on,why could I not mig-weld them with additional gussets added over and above?
Anyhow enough blather,here are the pics.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y18...DSC00002-1.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y18...e/DSC00007.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y18...e/DSC00005.jpg

I'd start by seeing your dealer and showing them what it looks like and see what they say MBUSA will do. The riveted fix is superior to welding...that's why it is an upgrade. The original design is inherintly poor...

The thing I have heard is that MBUSA is much more likely to chip in for the repairs if it actually fails instead of having it brought to their attention that it is about to fail...so this may actually work to your disadvantage...

The replacement part can be ordered at any dealer and any good body shop ought to be able to replace them. There is a published procedure on the WIS which gives a step-by-step instruction for the rivet replacement method.

Normally, I'd start at the dealer because it keeps you out of the labyrinth of MBUSA. If the dealer fails to fulfill, then you go to MBUSA.

They did one side on my car after it collapsed. Split the charges, $1500, 50-50, supposedly. I later found that most people were charged $750/side. I hate to say it but this deception on top of MBUSA's continuing denial of the perch problem has forced me to decide not to buy any MB vehicles in the future. :(

Thanks fellas. Funny thing is I have no dealer,never bought a new car nor a used one from one.

I've simply done practically all my own maintenance,repairs,etc, and only have gone to the dealer for certain parts so I really have no relationship with one{not entirely a BAD thing}.

Suppose that puts me in an unenviable position,huh?

how the F##K is MB USA getting away w/ not issuing a recall on this??! imagine the consequences when the perch disintegrates at 80MPH on the highway.

Safety & quality #1 in MB my ass!!! :eek::behead:

I have been extremely surprised and disappointed by MB's determined denial of a number of undeniable serious problems.

:behead:

Sadly,,, I will probably never own a Benz newer than 95. Although they have their issues also, they can usually be dealt with and are not life threatening. I love our currant stable.

Carleton, does winter happen where you live? Exposure to salt?

Somebody started a compliant file with NHTSA. You need to participate in the written complaint process if you haven't done so already.

I agree, this is inexcusable.

Long Island,little place called Lloyd Harbor.

If you or anyone could direct me to the aforementioned complaint file kindly do so.

just search this forum for "spring perch". there was request for input from folks
who have been involved in an accident as a result. but, they weren't asking
if you've not. still, worth reading. OP occured about 2-3 months back.

Carleton: NHTSA thread

Unfortunately if you want MBUSA to get involved they are going to tell you to bring the car to the nearest dealer for an inspection, so you will have to develop a relationship now if you want them to be involved. The cost of the part is trivial...on the order of $25, it is the labor involved that is costly. I have heard on average $600 to $1,200 per side. More if the main rail is badly rusted (the part to which the perch is attached).

I'd stop by the dealer, talk to the service advisor and gauge their reaction. What have you got to lose? Every dealer knows about this problem, they will not be surprised to hear you have trouble...just see what they offer. They can also tell you if they have been repairing them in-house or sending them out. If they send them out then go directly to the shop they use and see what they charge directly for the cost. I suspect those who pay the top prices are paying for the dealer's markup on an outside shop's work, much like the dealers charge for windshield replacements (that almost none of them do themselves).

Carleton Hughes : my '96 E320 had the same problems @ 67K miles, very severe problem, car almost collapsed, not drivable... I contacted MB dealer , they fixed both sides free of charge (sure they charged MB)... This is a real safety issue and I am disappointed that MB did not have a recall... It lost a customer, my next car is a Lexus, period.

Thanks to all you guys!!!
 

The only MB service manager I'm familiar with is a fellow who knows my interest in old cars and calls me when they have something from the '60's or '70's in for service so perhaps I'll take him to lunch and sound him out.What do I have to lose,right?

Meanwhile some beadblasting and POR 15ing have bought me some time as this is still my daily,dare I say beater?you'd never know it by the condition I keep it in though.
Odd,yesterday morning in the diner parking lot I saw the most immaculate '56 Plymouth Suburban wagon,bronze and white,270 V8 and 3 speed with overdrive! Owner's getting divorced and the price I can live with,gonna wring it out on the Parkway today so who knows......Meanwhile I have to install those lower ball joints on the front end of the 210 diesel today.