Like so many people in this forum, I have been having issues with the climate control system in my 1980 450SL, specifically with my servo (which cracked a while back). Since then I have been trying to figure out what I can do to best improve my current situation without sinking a lot money into the car (digital bypass), while also trying to avoid repeating past mistakes (namely, installing a rebuilt servo).

I have finally realized that in an ideal world, the best thing for me to do is purchase a replacement servo and amp, reinstall it, and get the climate control working without having to worry about too much more.

I have seen posts and people offering remanufactured servos and amps for around $200. To me, this is a lot of money, but it is a much better than the $600 I'd drop for the digital replacement, and I wouldn't mind spending it if I KNEW that it wouldn't be broken within a couple of years. I know a couple of people offer a year warranty on their products, but with my luck, it will get a crack on day 366.

So here's my question. What, if anything, can one do for preventative maintenance on the servo unit - if I spring for one, what can I do to ensure that it won't be broken in 2, 3, or even 5 years? Or, am I just SOL?

Any thoughts or advice is greatly appreciated!