Is it wasteful to replace bushings just out of principle?
 

I just got a 1985 300D with 174,000 miles. The car is nice and straight. It will go 80 without any vibration. My main complaints are that the front end tends to pop or clunk at low speed and the rear end sags a little bit. I often feel a clunk in my left foot, leading me to suspect that something is wrong with the strut rod (if that is the right name).

I am considering replacing all of the bushings and ball joints throughout the car. My thinking is that I intend to keep this car for a long time and would enjoy having it nice and tight. If that means new bushings every 18 years, then why not?

Am I wasting my time and/or money?

Those cars are bullet proof. If one is satisfied with them as transportation why not keep them road worthy.

not at all. if you can afford to replace them, you should go ahead and do so since then you will know the condition of those components. the alternative would be for them to fail at inconvenient and unexpected times

I'm doing the same thing with my 18 year old 190E :)

no better way to travel then in a benz :)

xp

I've been slowly replacing every rubber piece underneath for the last year...since I bought the car.

The latest repair are the guide rod mounts....they were TOTALLY shot. Making all kinds of noises up front.

I plan on keeping the car until the wheels fall off.....then I'll put some new wheels on it and drive it some more. So, it's worth it to me to just go ahead and replace them all because if they're not worn out by now, they soon will be.

When I've done them all, I'm golden for another 15 yrs :D

Not a waste at all. I recently spent about $500 and replaced nearly everything in the front end of the 560. Money well spent.