Parts that may need replacing?... - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Cal Learner · #5 05-17-2010, 11:17 AM

Richard, interesting question. I assume what you are after are suggestions for what would likely be needed now on a 23 year old car to return it to optimum performance. The things mentioned so far make sense to me, but we don't know anything about the history of the car or of its past maintenance. Clearly, normal maintenance items are the place to start. Beyond that, there are subsystems that might need serious attention:

1) coolant system (pump, radiator, thermostat)

2) airflow system (magnetic and electric fans and related sensors/relays/resistors)

3) A/C system (compressor, condenser, drier, evaporator, expansion valve, vacuum pods for vent control, CCU, and related sensors/relays/switches)

4) vacuum system (hoses and pumps), and

5) fuel system (evaporative emissions bits, fuel distributor, IAC valve, fuel pump/accumulator/check valve, pump relay, pressure regulator, injectors, control unit)

6) transmission/suspension/running gear.

Updating the A/C system alone will run over $5,000 if done by a knowledgeable indy. So it sort of depends on what your plans are for the future of this vehicle.

For those of us who have decided to hang on to our early 124s for the rest of our lives, all of the things I mentioned above are regularly attended to so that they don't pile up on us (it could get scary real fast). Beyond that, for the past 5 years, I have been accumulating OE parts that I reckoned would deteriorate (plastic, rubber, fabric) and would get scarce sooner or later. By now I have two giant Rubbermade bins with snap-on lids full of MBz parts still in their packaging, waiting for the day that a call to Fastlane Phil or the Classic Center comes back with the dreaded, "no longer available" response. Then I can go to my "restoration parts" bins. But I digress!

I think it would be worth your while to take it to a reputable Mercedes indy and have him hook it up to the SDS and give it a thorough systems checkover, just as one might do in a pre-purchase inspection. Then, if money is no object, you won't even have to prioritize his list of repairs.