1999 E320 questions
 

OK got her here to look her over . http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/tech-help/334241-1999-e320-100-000-miles-buy-sell-2.html#post3098554

Everything seems in order
except for this item just by the washer fluid unit ( pictured)
marked MOT with a line - it is ticking loudly like a time bomb, goes up and down , looks vacuum related ? Electrical to it as well - any insight?

Also no CD player or tape player, no heated seats, so a little under optioned i guess
headliner issue as noted
but this this "ticking" and she seems a little louder under the engine bay than I am use to ( lexus big car) Never have dealt with an MB 6 cyc.
and.... a very slight smell of burning oil , cant see were it is coming from

ideas oh new MB gurus??:)

Purge valve (MOT) is a solenoid so it should tick (open/close). Some are louder than others. I don't think loudness is a sign of pending failure.

Pull it out and spray it out with some aerosol carb cleaner, contact cleaner or MAF cleaner. Tapping is normal, but it shouldn't run all the time, just for a few minutes when you start it up.

Yep, that's the purge valve. "MOT" simply indicates the side of the valve that gets it vacuum supply from the "MOTor". It's job is to suck the fuel vapor from the gas tank. If the ticking noise is too loud, make sure that the valve and vacuum lines are properly mounted, stress-free, and not touching anything that they shouldn't be.

Thanks
Ill check it out. Thanks

if it runs all the time =??

what are the options for upgrade to CD player/changer - MB brand to keep the looks?

Any MB cd players that would be remove and plug and play?

I installed in dension icelink ipod cable in my car, which takes the CD changer port.

I wanted the option to also play CD's, which the factory U.S. radio does not.

I also wanted to lose the telephone buttons.

I bought an MB Audio 10, which is the factory radio offered in Europe. I had to send it out to get the frequencies changed to the U.S. frequencies.

This one on ebay already comes ready to go for U.S. radio stations:

Mercedes Audio 10 CD R MF2910 Car Radio Alpine Becker Original CD Tuner | eBay

FYI - MB switched from wired to optical cable on the cd changer in FY2000. So if you decide to get a used changer take note of the year/model. IMO, an MP3 player is preferable to a changer both in quantity of music and convenience. Also, older cd changers tend to have issues with jamming, etc.

more questions
trunk lid does not close real tight on one side, are these adjustible?

are these engines known to burn oil, dipstick level was way down. Any common head gasket issues?
this engine just seems to have aloud valve train , or perhaps it is the big serpintine belt.

oh the the Harmonic balancer is good , not the part in the recall

front rotors/pads - easy DIY? it needs them

Not sure on trunk lid issue.

No on oil unless there is a problem. Most of us use Mobil 1 0W-40 European Formula which is Spec 229.3/229.5 approved. You also need to use a polyester media filter such as Mann HU 718/5x.

Never heard of anyone replacing a M112 head gasket so not common.

The serpentine belt does wear out so inspect regularly. Idler pulley and tensioner pulley are sometimes problems and cause noise and vibration.

Have you measured the thickness of the pads and rotors?? OEM rotors are cast iron and not designed to be turned. Replace at min. thickness or when you would reach minimum thickness before next pad change. Most people get 2-4 pad changes for each rotor change. Pads have wear sensors so you should see error on instrument cluster. But you can drive quite a ways before doing them. So no panic. Fairly easy DIY if you've done brakes before. Rear rotors can hang on emergency brake shoes. So back off just like any drum brake. There are several good DIY articles here and at the benzworld.org site on brakes, etc.

Thanks. Great info. Yup I have done a lot of brakes. So good to know its a basic job. I do think the belt may need replaced. Just about done with my inspection and then decide

For the W210 sedan the rotor thickness specs are:

Front - 28mm new, 26mm service, 25.4mm min

Rear - 9mm new, 7.6mm service, 7.3mm min

You can usually confirm thickness when new by mic-ing the outer edge since a lip forms there.

Serpentine belt is sold by length and varies by engine accessory options. It's in the OM if you have one.

Wear sensors (2 in front/1 in back) are cheap (~$1.00) and easy to replace. MB makes a spec grease for the backing plate/pad interface and the guide pins. Little foil packet. Again cheap (~$2.00). I usually use one per wheel

No heated seats or tape player? That is a bare bones '99. You've got what sounds like an oil leak - somewhere on the car. May be more difficult to locate on a V6 configuration though. Best find/source that oil smell/leak before arriving at a final price point. If you can't find the source, I'd still make it a negotiating point.

Have you negotiated a price on this car yet? Or do they not have a price in mind, or you haven't made an offer yet?

trunk: if you open trunk and look up along the bottom edge of the trunk lid, you
will see 1" threaded round plastic plugs. these serve as adjustable door stops.
also, on the floor of the trunk is an easily adjustable strike plate with locking
mechanism.

richard: the D2b fiber optic was introduced with the 99 model year here in US.
plug and play fiber compliant models have been covered in the AUDIO forum.