1994 E320 Wagon (W124, M104), Where Is...??? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Michael K · #1 07-08-2004, 11:52 PM

Would really appreciate any help you all can offer.

I'm doing one of those DIY days at the local dealership (the techs guide/assist as you to do your own work) and have decided this is the time to learn how to change the fluid and filters for the power steering and self leveling suspension systems.

I have the necessary instructions, parts, and fluids.

My problem is I am not sure/don't know where the reservoirs for these systems are located and don't want to look as clueless as I really am. Can someone help me out, please?

I'm pretty sure I see the power steering reservoir. Standing in front of the car facing the engine bay, is the power steering reservoir at the far right corner area (kind of in line with the steering wheel)? If so, man, that's a small tank.

Where in the heck is the fluid reservoir for the self leveling suspension? I have a couple of guesses but am not sure at all.

Any help really appreciated.

Best,

Michael K · #2 07-09-2004, 11:36 AM

Thank you very much. I'm still confused, though. Looking at the picture below, what are the three areas that I've circled? I'm pretty sure I see the power steering tank, but where in the heck is the self leveling fluid tank? Please help me out.

Thank you. Best regards,

Michael K · #3 07-09-2004, 02:03 PM

Thanks!!!

dtf · #4 07-09-2004, 02:19 PM

Nice and clean too! How many miles on your wagon? Are you doing your own oil changes?

Michael K · #5 07-09-2004, 03:26 PM

Thanks, but I copied that picture from e-bay. Mine looks just like the picture but not quite that clean.

Yes, thanks to this great forum, I learned how do my own engine oil and oil filter changes for the E320 and the C230. In addition to the satisfaction and savings of doing it myself, I love not having to trust jiffy lube and not having to drop off for the day at my tech's.

About every other or every third oil change, I also do the engine air filter, the climate control cabin filter, wiper fluid, and wipers blade inserts all around.

I'm taking the wagon to tomorrow's MBCA-sponsored "tech session" and hope to add to my repertoire. I plan to learn how to change the steering damper, power steering fluid/filter, and self leveling fluid/filter. In addition, I hope to have a couple niggling questions answered like how to lubricate the side rearview mirrors and why my fairly new gas cap recently failed.

Time allowing (I'll probably leave these to the nest session), I hope to find out about changing the break fluid, changing the engine coolant/thermostat, and replacing various suspension rubber bits.

Our wagon has a mere 115,000 miles on it. We got it about five years ago with 65,000 miles. We made good use of its Starmark warranty and had lots of "free" work done to it (wiring harness, head gasket, radiator, throttle actuator, and numerous other smaller things).

I like my 202 OK, but I absolutely love the 124 wagon. It works tremendously well for us as a family utility vehicle (two boys and all their associated gear) and is a pleasure to drive. The best is cruising at 70 or 80 mph... the M104 simply purrs and seems to be begging me dip further into the throttle.

About a month ago, heading home from Home Depot (VA-50 Eastbound) with about seven hundred pounds of cargo piled up and tied down from the dashboard way back to the tailgate, I pulled up next to young gentleman driving, from outward appearance, what he thought was an exceptionally sporty Japanese made car. I never looked directly at him, but I could hear and see that he was itching to have a go. The light turned green. He jerked into motion, front wheels chirping and engine buzzing. I calmly applied power and left him behind. The next light was two or so miles down the road. From his posture waiting for the light, he appeared surprised and humbled.

Did I say I love the 124 wagon?

Michael K · #6 07-09-2004, 03:55 PM

DTF, very impressive milage you have there. Do you do and of the maintenance work yourself?

dtf · #7 07-09-2004, 04:08 PM

Michael, I don't have a garage (yet) so all I do is the oil changes with a topsider and periodically go to a friends' house and put it up on floor jacks to look underneath (also an excuse to drink beer). I regulalry have my dealer keep up with the maintenance items like the 30,000 transmission services and such. I check fluids daily and top off power steering, brake and hydraulic fluids myself. These cars seem happiest about 80+ mph and handle quite well in corners. I've hauled every thing from wood to pallets to appliances in my car. It is my daily work horse. Your next 'expected failure' for your car is the fan clutch bearing about 200,000 miles. Mine went about 198,000. Have fun at the tech session - I'm a MBCA member but my dealer offers 'free' inspections, not DIY forums. I wish they would offer DIY sessions. They do offer 20% discount on all parts and 25% on filters so I shouldn't complain too much.

Michael K · #8 07-12-2004, 11:53 AM

Replacing the steering damper was simple. Having the car on the lift made it very safe and convenient. Remove the plastic tray under the engine (Six 4 mm, I think, bolts). Look up in the middle of the engine area, and there it is between the two front wheels. Remove two easily accessible bolts (one regular size 17 mm wrench to hold the nut and the 17 mm lug nut wrench that came with the car to loosen the bolt) (note the right side only takes one wrench). Take out the old one and pop in the new one. Dramatic handling feel improvement, especially highway tracking and going over bumps while turning. The old one looked pretty new (probably about five years old from when the car was Starmarked), but it was VERY worn out, offering almost zero damping.

Self level suspension and power steering fluid reservoirs are located exactly as show above. Replacing the fluid and filters are as described elsewhere on this site. The only trouble I had was removing old the self level filter. Thanks Jim(?). He kind of popped it off the to-be-reused filter cap using a medium sized flat head screw driver. The replacement filter pops right on.

My niggling questions were addressed:

First, why does the gas filler tank (the part you can see when filling up the tank) have light corrosion on it, and what can I do about it? After taking a look, both the shop foreman and a club member let me know it's normal for a car of this age and neither would do anything about it. Replacing the fuel filter at the normal interval is more than sufficient to accommodate any minuscule flakes that make their way into the tank. To help insure that the gas cap plastic that touches the very top of the gas tank (and I think does the actual sealing) does not get messy or dry (causing the gas cap to actually fail), I'll probably replace the gas cap once a year and put a light film of bearing grease on the plastic part of the gas cap.

Second, what's the best way to clean and lubricate side rearview mirrors (at about 70 % to 80% of their widest travel (just where I like to set them), mine start to sound very un-lubricated)? Adjust glass so little 4D-40 hose goes to where the glass holder ball plugs into its socket thing (right in the middle of the mirror). Shoot a little in there being sure to catch any drips. Same little hose to shoot in a few drops of graphite liquid like white lightning. Nice and smooth now.

Thanks to everyone who helped me. The MBCA Washington Chapter folks were great. Special thanks to American Service Center for making their facility and extremely professional staff available.

Best,

Michael