My 6.9's

[rumb]

I think I may have finished this one finally.  Had to get a new overflow tank as the old one cracked, then wait 2 weeks for the plug (from Germany) since the new one if from a W126  and it has a level sensor hole that has to be plugged. you also have to adapt the main hose as the new tank has a bigger fitting. 1/2" copper coupling inside old hose, old hose inside new hose and clamp.

recore radiator - original MB Behr tank!
new fan clutch
new thermostat
new overflow tank

Seems to be setting at 90 degrees now!  That's just a test in the garage, still need a road test.

Now need to pull trans pan and install new gasket with non hardening sealer on the gasket to pan side. plus I'm swapping the one off my other trans that I know didnt leak before.

[rumb]

Went on a 80 mile road trip to Cheyenne WY this morning. Hit and easy 100mph for a short distance. very smooth.  5300 ft elevation up to 6000'.  car ran at 98 degrees steady. I guess that is pretty good. Dont seem to be leaking anything, though I need to go out later and double check.

Unfortunate about 15 miles from home my left rear wheel fell off! Guess I didnt torque that one?   Hagerty Insurance, got towed home.  damaged the wheel, lost lug nuts, bent upper rear bumper and did a mild number on the rear fender.  car dragged on the anti dive link mostly, some scrapping on the lower A arm. bent brake backing plate.   I'm guessing $1500-2000 damages, of which a lot of I have replacement parts and I may be able to get my body shop to fix some of the rust on the rear fender as part of it.

Need to figure out all the MB parts needed and cost.  I know replacing that link is a bugger that a MB shop may have to do, but it needed replacing anyway.   All in all I may come out slightly ahead by the time it is done.

I did learn that my tool kit has 2 spark plugs sockets and no lug bolt wrench! 

car drove very well on three wheels.

[daantjie]

Holy cow   Good thing that wheel did not come off @ 100 mph, otherwise you would not be here typing this message my friend   Yup those anti - squat parts are pricey as hell if you can still find them.  I think I saw some on ebay.

[nathan]

a wheel fell off?!?!
come on, I want to see a pic, thats crazy!
least you didn't slide off the road and do more damage to the car or yourself

[slfan]

.

[floyd111]

Guess the silver lining here is that we now know it'll drive on 3 wheels. 
Quite a streak of bad luck there, hope it won't end up too costly.
Post the part numbers and (your) prices here if you want. Maybe there's members here that can help finding them (cheaper)

[karmann_20v]

Morale of the (wheel falling off) story: W116 is not made by Citroen! Glad to hear it wasn't worse.

[ptashek]

What's important, you're OK. The car can be fixed.

My dad and I had a wheel fall off once, driving an Audi 80 Quattro on the autobahn, at 80km/h. The wheel went under the car, turning it into a flying saucer for a split second. Then it was a hard landing, belly down luckily.

I make a big fuss about checking all wheel bolts regularly since then.

[rumb]

thanks for your concerns.  I always attempt to correctly tighten every bolt when I install it. not put in loose and go back later.  at my  age I try  and make things fool proof, but this time I must be the fool. somehow I must of forgotten to torque that wheel wheel I put the new set on.  First time in 50 years wrenching I make that mistake. 

parts required:
108 400 10 02   wheel  NLA  - a very nice one on ebay
107-350-05-38   caliper bracket   NLA - one one ebay
126-401-06-70   5 lug bolts
   fender patch panel ?
116-730-03-80   side molding LR door
107-420-04-44   brake shield  - I have
116-880-07-71   upper rear bumper  - I have
126-352-04-04   lower cntrl arm RL  NLA  - I have

Look like I either have the extra part myself or I see them on ebay available.

Will probably need a Mercedes mechanic and the body shop.

At 82 mph, I was in left lane and was very easy to steer over to shoulder.  I saw the wheel pass me rolling down the shoulder.  took a while to find as there was a ditch with cat tails and about 12" of water.  wheel bolt hole are elongated and big groove cut in inside.

I wonder if dragging car like that would have put anything out of alignment on left rear suspension areas?

[rumb]

Looks like I need this spark plug wrench handle.  I have the socket part.

100-581-00-67

need part circled in red, or entire if that's what it takes?  anyone have this?


I found a lug wrench on fleabay for cheap.

[TJ 450]

That's quite unfortunate, I made that mistake once before as well but got to it before the wheel fell off. I needed a new hub though!

FWIW all these parts are the same as on the W126 with anti squat rear end, it maybe easier to get the whole trailing arm assembly with wheel carrier and swap it out with the subframe dropped if you can.

Tim

[rumb]

So back to question that may have got lost in conversation.  Do you think 98C is acceptable running temperature?

I keep squeezing the lower radiator hose.  I know there must be water in there, but it hardly feels like it.  It is very easy to squeeze. I heard air gets trapped in that hose?  If so how do you get the air out?

[TJ 450]

The upper hose usually has air in it, but I don't find it causes any issues in practice. Around 100C you would likely see on a hot day in stop- start traffic or higher ambient temps at highway speeds, so it depends on how you're using the car. Also after hot soak, but it should drop in once coolant circulates.

My blue car generally ran at 80-90C, silver one at 90-100 with original radiator.

Otherwise, I would just drive the car and monitor.

Tim

[daantjie]

I would tend to agree with Tim.  Trying to chase a few degrees on the gauge is folly in my opinion. These motors tend to run a bit hot.  Unless you go up and stay in the red I would not worry too much.

[rumb]

Any ideas on how I can get this shipped to me in the USA and not cost a fortune?

http://www.ebay.de/itm/Mercedes-W116-280S-280SE-350SE-450SE-450SEL-Kotflugel-hinten-1166370109-/132355290298?hash=item1ed0fd74ba:g:FusAAOSwKytZFMD8


trans global freight wants $1449!