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What broke in your car today?

Started by ptashek, 10 July 2013, 07:26 AM

ptashek

A cheeky topic title, but with a purpose - let's face it, our cars are old, and they're not getting any younger either. Things break, and will break even more with time despite more or less regular maintenance. I'd see this thread as a source list of all the things that commonly go bust on our W116s which are in daily or at least regular use ("show cars" and "trailer models" need no apply).

Let's start with my 450SE with M117.985, 66k miles on the odo now. It covered close to 6000 miles in the last 11 months, and is driven almost daily except winter which it spends in storage. What broke? Gearbox pressure rod socket disintegrated top-side; fixed with genuine parts for <20EUR. One brake calliper bleeder sheared off. And that's it.

So, what broke in your car "today"?
1993 "Pearl Blue" W124 280TE
1988 "Arctic White" W124 200T
1979 "Icon Gold" W116 450SE

TJ 450

A few weeks back, it sounded like something "fell off" my 6.9 whilst cruising at 110km/h. In reality, it was probably something that was flicked up off the road, but it sure didn't sound like it.
A few weeks have past, and I still haven't seen anything missing, nor has the car caused any trouble.

One of life's mysteries perhaps?

Tim
1976 450SEL 6.9 1432
1969 300SEL 6.3 1394
2003 ML500

samuli

I have had my 1976 280SE for 6 years now. Currently 110000km on clock. The previous owner had replaced the fuel pump during the last years he owned the car. I bought it at 104000km. The fuel pump failed recently and I had to repalce it. The mechanic said the fuel tank is dirty inside and the loose dirt that goes through the pump accelerates its wear. Makes sense.

ADV_rider

A couple of weeks ago I put myself to replace the brake pads ... found that the Front left caliper is in really bad shape bought one and replaced it ... found some rust due to master cylinder leaking. When replacing MC i found brake fluid inside Booster! lots of it. i just got a Brake booster yesterday and a Front right caliper which is also shot. also new rubber brake lines.

I must add that tits a low mileage car but did seat for long time before I got it. It's pretty amazing how things go bad when the car is not used.
W108 1972 280SE 4.5
W116 1977 450SEL 4.5

w116john

hi guys

not quite broke but something curious, i was fixing the pressure control rod ( thanks Lucas for the info)
and when i opened the drivers door there were 3-4 toffee coloured blobs on the sill, and on the drive i thought someone left some sweets in the drawer.

no believe or not it has been so hot in ireland the heat has melted cavity wax in the door and it has come out the drain holes

nothing broke today  one day at a time

john

adamb

It's a funny old world when it gets hot enough to melt old sealants in a car in Ireland!!

gf

my budget! due to time constraints the mechanic replaced the drag links for me.

WrightSounds

I heard some more-than-normal rattling under the hood and discovered the air filter housing had finally broken off from the mounting bar on my 1980 300SD. Caught it just in time as the edge of the housing was chewing into the side of my battery  :o

Apparently this is yet another common problem with the high compression diesels. Here's a recent video from MercedesSource about it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=190vxFy-iY4&feature=c4-overview&list=UU7Kz01PM-xoDnqsiuwTn5og

Here's some pics and how I fixed it: http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/100572-jumpy-air-filter-housing-2.html#post3166825

spacecommander

Nothing broke, but I replaced the power steering filter on my 1979 300SD and it and the fluid appeared original. Reddish black fluid with super tiny metal flakes and an old three piece filter. The pump housing was caked with black goop. Next up is to lower the hot idle by about 100 rpm or so. Still have about 1" of play in steering even after adjusting the power steering adjuster out. Don't want to overdo it and bind it up.
Tom

Bandolero

My numberplate lights were dim because of dirt under the lenses. (I live on a dirt road.)

I decided to undo the screws to clean the lenses and bulbs and of course a couple of the screws break off.  >:(

So I went to the wreckers to get a good numberplate light assembly (don't know what it's called) that had good screws and thread.....mmmmmmmmm! :'(

Hard to get!!

I had to repair the old one by tapping the holes.

Of course to get the assembly off you first have to remove the plastic "panel" on the boot lip, then remove the boot lock from the body. (Watch out for the circlip.)

Next remove the thin chrome strips between the taillights and the body.THEN you can remove the centre section that has the lights in it.

ALL BECAUSE I WANTED TO CLEAN THE BULBS!!!!!

Nothing is easy!!!!!! >:(

But hey.......the lights are nice and bright now! ;D
Russell Bond - (Adelaide, South Australia)
1978 450SEL 6.9 .... #5166 .... 12/78 (Sold.) [url="//www.ezycoat.com.au"]www.ezycoat.com.au[/url]

Squiggle Dog

My Blaupunkt Bahamas CD deck is starting to act up, probably from the heat. It's been as hot as 119F (48C) here, 110 degrees on average (over 100 even at night), and the air conditioning doesn't work, so I think the unit is getting overheated.
Stop paying for animal cruelty and slaughter. Go vegan! [url="https://challenge22.com/"]https://challenge22.com/[/url]

1967 W110 Universal Wagon, Euro, Turbo Diesel, Tail Fins, 4 Speed Manual Column Shift, A/C
1980 W116 300SD Turbo Diesel, DB479 Walnut Brown, Sunroof, Heated Seats, 350,000+

mswcpt

Starter motor packed up week before last - was repaired. s class sending down bunch of stuff now - new upper control arms, engine dampeners etc., to be installed soon.

littlefin

Fuel pump failed today - on the way to a Show  :(

Good job I replaced the starter motor last month though - the old one would never have put up with the patrolman trying to work out what the problem was: "Try it now?" , " And again?" , "And again?" etc etc etc



At least I managed to tick off loads of cyclists by breaking down in the cycle lane  ;D
110011 1967 230
108057 1972 280SE3.5
116024 1979 280SE
126037 1983 500SEL
124030 1989 300E

gavin116

Hi Phil

Always disappointing when they breakdown, but she looks great even so.  ;)  I remember when my fuel pump started to overheat on longer journeys, it too failed outside my house.  The breakdown man done the same, crank, crank, crank... then he finally cracked one of the lines to a fuel injector, to confirm what I had said in the first place, it's DRY.

On another note, I replaced a lot of my air hoses on and around the auxillary air vale, including the valve itself.  I think the car is driving better.  I may yet break down and get the WUR and fuel distributor cleaned and rebuilt.  I do long for the time when the car idles smoothly. ::)

Regards.

Gavin
1979 450SE "Mrs White"
2022 Touareg-R 3.0TSi Hybrid
[url="http://forum.w116.org/test-drive/my-first-w116-here-at-last/"]http://forum.w116.org/test-drive/my-first-w116-here-at-last/[/url]
[url="http://forum.w116.org/the-org/british-near-london-meet/msg97613/#msg97613"]http://forum.w116.org/the-org/british-near-london-meet/msg97613/#msg97613[/url]

Tony66_au

Yup, agreed.

I bought a set of D jet AAV hoses and swapped them with the originals and the difference was tangible, then the car toasted the bottom end so I swapped the new hoses to the 350SLC and again it had a nice impact.

Bit of a bugger the old girl failing like that Phil but I always look at breakdowns as a reminder that you forgot to anticipate a service item.

BTW My fuel flow quit on me a while ago, found the fuel filter was choked so unless you have check it that may also be worth a look in as is the tank sediment filter.

Tony