From owner-diesel-benz-digest@digest.net Sun May 16 17:58:48 2010 From: diesel-benz-digest diesel-benz-digest Monday, May 17 2010 Volume 01 : Number 3284 Forum for Discussion of Diesel Mercedes Benz Automobiles Derick Amburgey Digest Coordinator Contents: [db] 500E - Should I do it! Re: [db] Jag R.I.P. RE: [db] 500E - Should I do it! Re: [db] 500E - Should I do it! [db] Verdict on steering Re: [db] Verdict on steering RE: [db] Verdict on steering RE: [db] Verdict on steering RE: [db] Verdict on steering Diesel Benz Digest Home Page: http://www.digest.net/diesel-benz/ Send submissions to diesel-benz-digest@digest.net Send administrative requests to diesel-benz-digest-request@digest.net To unsubscribe, include the word unsubscribe by itself in the body of the message, unless you are sending the request from a different address than the one that appears on the list. Include the word help in a message to stag-digest-request to get a list of other majordomo commands. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Sun, 16 May 2010 09:23:16 -0700 From: "Nick Eckert" Subject: [db] 500E - Should I do it! Ok, so yesterday morning I was down at my favorite hand car wash and at the lot next door was a 500E that had just come in Friday. Has only 60k on it, all service records from Phil Smart M-B. I have lusted after a 500E since the days of the AMG Hammer. It is cherry inside and out, not a single, dent, ding or scratch anywhere. It has a Renntech chip and first gear start. Looks like it came off the lot yesterday Their asking 24k, I could trade in my 1991 W124. I have two other diesel vehicles......... Should I do it........ I am 42, is this a mid-life crisis I will get over..... I could die tomorroww.....I should get it...... I am glad I am single..... Nick ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 16 May 2010 09:24:05 -0700 (PDT) From: "Jerry Kaidor" Subject: Re: [db] Jag R.I.P. > Yikes. Glad she's ok, wish she had nailed the bastard. > > Any chance a collector might want to buy it and fix it up? *** A collector bought it, pulled the engine and transmission, and will be sticking them in his car. - Jerry ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 16 May 2010 12:15:36 -0500 From: "Alec Cordova" Subject: RE: [db] 500E - Should I do it! All dressed up and serviced at Phil Smart? Sounds like a rare opportunity. You could die tomorrow. I say double check what the insurance rates would be, and jump all over it. It's not a Corvette convertible ("not that there's anything wrong with that"), so even if it really is a mid-life crisis, very few people would recognize it as such. But you should probably also look through those Phil Smart service records and see if maintenance costs are likely to be much higher for a limited production vehicle like this. Maybe even check Rusty's site to look at prices for things like filters and brake parts. Remember that Rusty's now at buymbparts.biz. Good luck with your decision, Alec Cordova Taylor, Texas 08 smart fortwo, 30K > -----Original Message----- > From: owner-diesel-benz@digest.net [mailto:owner-diesel- > benz@digest.net] On Behalf Of Nick Eckert > Sent: Sunday, May 16, 2010 11:23 AM > To: diesel-benz-digest@digest.net > Subject: [db] 500E - Should I do it! > > Ok, so yesterday morning I was down at my favorite hand car wash and at > the > lot next door was a 500E that had just come in Friday. Has only 60k on > it, all > service records from Phil Smart M-B. I have lusted after a 500E since > the > days of the AMG Hammer. It is cherry inside and out, not a single, > dent, ding > or scratch anywhere. It has a Renntech chip and first gear start. > Looks like > it came off the lot yesterday > > Their asking 24k, I could trade in my 1991 W124. I have two other > diesel > vehicles......... > > Should I do it........ > > I am 42, is this a mid-life crisis I will get over..... > > > > I could die tomorroww.....I should get it...... > > > I am glad I am single..... > > > > Nick ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 16 May 2010 12:18:50 -0700 (PDT) From: john Subject: Re: [db] 500E - Should I do it! I would if I could so you should.... can I borrow it sometime? I will top off the tank and replace the rear tires:) ----- - ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Snohomish, Washington -o|||||o- where Jeeps don't rust, they mold http://AMSOIL.com/redirect.cgi?zo=283461 si vis pacem, para bellum http://johnmeister.com http://wagoneers.com http://fotomeister.us - ------------------------------------------------------------------------ On Sun, 16 May 2010, Nick Eckert wrote: # Ok, so yesterday morning I was down at my favorite hand car wash and at the # lot next door was a 500E that had just come in Friday. Has only 60k on it, all # service records from Phil Smart M-B. I have lusted after a 500E since the # days of the AMG Hammer. It is cherry inside and out, not a single, dent, ding # or scratch anywhere. It has a Renntech chip and first gear start. Looks like # it came off the lot yesterday # # Their asking 24k, I could trade in my 1991 W124. I have two other diesel # vehicles......... # # Should I do it........ # # I am 42, is this a mid-life crisis I will get over..... # # # # I could die tomorroww.....I should get it...... # # # I am glad I am single..... # # # # Nick # ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 16 May 2010 16:09:49 -0400 From: Subject: [db] Verdict on steering Ed, wondering whether you tackled the repair in the meantime. Tempting to buy a complete LCA but concerned about the quality available. A couple of members on the peachparts.com forum rent out a coil spring compressor for $ 40.00 - not sure how much time you get. You can watch the whole procedure on a video on Klann's web site - -http://www.klann-online.de/Englisch/Filme_E/KL-0369-30K_E.htm . A Kinderspiel with the right tools. My concern is to get the ball joint R&R without having the proper presses. Also doubt that suspension shops have the acceptable tools and do a 4 wheel alignment. Spreader bar mandatory?? Wiard Date: Mon, 10 May 2010 18:22:33 -0400 From: Edward Pomeroy Subject: [db] Veredict on steering Back from the stealership. The 300D has developed a twich, sometimes wants to steer a bit left, sometimes a bit right. I checked all that I could and found the drag link, tie rods and ball joints pretty solid. Dealership reports that the lower front A arms have perished bushes - cost of parts 527, cost of labor 450, alignment 200 and tax = about 1240 bucks. Not in the budget. SO - has anyone replaced the lower A arms? How hard is it? I can purchase complete new arms, with new ball joint in place and bushes in place for 130 each, free shipping. Or if real brave, and want to buys some MB special tool !!, can press new bushes into the old arms, those cost 40 per set. Tool $?? unknown. They recommend doing the ball joint if you are taking off the A arm anyway. those are about 80 each. Over the transom to the list for comments... Edward ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 16 May 2010 20:29:58 -0400 From: Edward Pomeroy Subject: Re: [db] Verdict on steering Wiard I purchased the Lemfoerder complete lower A arms LH and RH from autopartswarehouse.com at 172 each in round numbers - free shipping. I ordered them Thursday 3PM and they were delivered Friday by UPS next day air. I can't beat that with a stick and my local indie quoted me 250 to install both and 99 to align. That means that my total outlay would be _half_ what the MB stealership wanted. These have the ball joint already pressed in and the bushes already installed. Looks to me like a fairly straightforward job. I plan to hoist the car next weekend, take off one wheel to see just how hard it would be for me to do the job and whether it can be done with a standard spring compressor. I am not familiar with McPherson strut suspension in that I have not had to deal with it before. I understand how they work but not sure if they can be compressed with standard tools. If it looks beyond my tool set, I will get it done by the indie. Thanks for the link. I am heading over there to look at it. If you need parts - check out autopartswarehouse - I can't fault their service and price was fantastic. Edward On 5/16/2010 4:09 PM, wmpless@iprimus.ca wrote: > Ed, wondering whether you tackled the repair in the meantime. Tempting to buy > a complete LCA but concerned about the quality available. A couple of members > on the peachparts.com forum rent out a coil spring compressor for $ 40.00 - > not sure how much time you get. You can watch the whole procedure on a video > on Klann's web site > -http://www.klann-online.de/Englisch/Filme_E/KL-0369-30K_E.htm . A Kinderspiel > with the right tools. My concern is to get the ball joint R&R without having > the proper presses. Also doubt that suspension shops have the acceptable tools > and do a 4 wheel alignment. Spreader bar mandatory?? > Wiard > > Date: Mon, 10 May 2010 18:22:33 -0400 > From: Edward Pomeroy > Subject: [db] Veredict on steering > > Back from the stealership. The 300D has developed a twich, sometimes > wants to steer a bit left, sometimes a bit right. I checked all that I > could and found the drag link, tie rods and ball joints pretty solid. > Dealership reports that the lower front A arms have perished bushes - > cost of parts 527, cost of labor 450, alignment 200 and tax = about 1240 > bucks. Not in the budget. > > SO - has anyone replaced the lower A arms? How hard is it? > > I can purchase complete new arms, with new ball joint in place and > bushes in place for 130 each, free shipping. > > Or if real brave, and want to buys some MB special tool !!, can press > new bushes into the old arms, those cost 40 per set. > > Tool $?? unknown. They recommend doing the ball joint if you are taking > off the A arm anyway. those are about 80 each. > > Over the transom to the list for comments... > > Edward ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 16 May 2010 20:42:32 -0400 From: Steve Morelen Subject: RE: [db] Verdict on steering Rusty has a spring compressor for rent. It has the same appearance as the Klann tool. A W124 spring compressor video (Klann) can be seen at: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=3614495583838776006#docid=61533643372 53605768 //Steve Morelen > Date: Sun, 16 May 2010 20:29:58 -0400 > From: ejpomeroy@qtm.net > To: wmpless@iprimus.ca > CC: diesel-benz-digest@digest.net > Subject: Re: [db] Verdict on steering > > Wiard > > I purchased the Lemfoerder complete lower A arms LH and RH from > autopartswarehouse.com at 172 each in round numbers - free shipping. I > ordered them Thursday 3PM and they were delivered Friday by UPS next day > air. I can't beat that with a stick and my local indie quoted me 250 to > install both and 99 to align. That means that my total outlay would be > _half_ what the MB stealership wanted. > > These have the ball joint already pressed in and the bushes already > installed. Looks to me like a fairly straightforward job. > > I plan to hoist the car next weekend, take off one wheel to see just how > hard it would be for me to do the job and whether it can be done with a > standard spring compressor. I am not familiar with McPherson strut > suspension in that I have not had to deal with it before. I understand > how they work but not sure if they can be compressed with standard > tools. If it looks beyond my tool set, I will get it done by the indie. > Thanks for the link. I am heading over there to look at it. > > If you need parts - check out autopartswarehouse - I can't fault their > service and price was fantastic. > > Edward > > > > On 5/16/2010 4:09 PM, wmpless@iprimus.ca wrote: > > Ed, wondering whether you tackled the repair in the meantime. Tempting to buy > > a complete LCA but concerned about the quality available. A couple of members > > on the peachparts.com forum rent out a coil spring compressor for $ 40.00 - - > > not sure how much time you get. You can watch the whole procedure on a video > > on Klann's web site > > -http://www.klann-online.de/Englisch/Filme_E/KL-0369-30K_E.htm . A Kinderspiel > > with the right tools. My concern is to get the ball joint R&R without having > > the proper presses. Also doubt that suspension shops have the acceptable tools > > and do a 4 wheel alignment. Spreader bar mandatory?? > > Wiard > > > > Date: Mon, 10 May 2010 18:22:33 -0400 > > From: Edward Pomeroy > > Subject: [db] Veredict on steering > > > > Back from the stealership. The 300D has developed a twich, sometimes > > wants to steer a bit left, sometimes a bit right. I checked all that I > > could and found the drag link, tie rods and ball joints pretty solid. > > Dealership reports that the lower front A arms have perished bushes - > > cost of parts 527, cost of labor 450, alignment 200 and tax = about 1240 > > bucks. Not in the budget. > > > > SO - has anyone replaced the lower A arms? How hard is it? > > > > I can purchase complete new arms, with new ball joint in place and > > bushes in place for 130 each, free shipping. > > > > Or if real brave, and want to buys some MB special tool !!, can press > > new bushes into the old arms, those cost 40 per set. > > > > Tool $?? unknown. They recommend doing the ball joint if you are taking > > off the A arm anyway. those are about 80 each. > > > > Over the transom to the list for comments... > > > > Edward _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail is redefining busy with tools for the New Busy. Get more from your inbox. http://www.windowslive.com/campaign/thenewbusy?ocid=PID28326::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL :en-US:WM_HMP:042010_2 ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 16 May 2010 17:58:26 -0700 (PDT) From: john Subject: RE: [db] Verdict on steering don't most napa and mcparts outfit also rent them? I've borrowed one from my mechanic when needed... ----- - ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Snohomish, Washington -o|||||o- where Jeeps don't rust, they mold http://AMSOIL.com/redirect.cgi?zo=283461 si vis pacem, para bellum http://johnmeister.com http://wagoneers.com http://fotomeister.us - ------------------------------------------------------------------------ On Sun, 16 May 2010, Steve Morelen wrote: # Rusty has a spring compressor for rent. It has the same appearance as the # Klann tool. # # A W124 spring compressor video (Klann) can be seen at: # # http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=3614495583838776006#docid=61533643372 # 53605768 # # //Steve Morelen # # > Date: Sun, 16 May 2010 20:29:58 -0400 # > From: ejpomeroy@qtm.net # > To: wmpless@iprimus.ca # > CC: diesel-benz-digest@digest.net # > Subject: Re: [db] Verdict on steering # > # > Wiard # > # > I purchased the Lemfoerder complete lower A arms LH and RH from # > autopartswarehouse.com at 172 each in round numbers - free shipping. I # > ordered them Thursday 3PM and they were delivered Friday by UPS next day # > air. I can't beat that with a stick and my local indie quoted me 250 to # > install both and 99 to align. That means that my total outlay would be # > _half_ what the MB stealership wanted. # > # > These have the ball joint already pressed in and the bushes already # > installed. Looks to me like a fairly straightforward job. # > # > I plan to hoist the car next weekend, take off one wheel to see just how # > hard it would be for me to do the job and whether it can be done with a # > standard spring compressor. I am not familiar with McPherson strut # > suspension in that I have not had to deal with it before. I understand # > how they work but not sure if they can be compressed with standard # > tools. If it looks beyond my tool set, I will get it done by the indie. # > Thanks for the link. I am heading over there to look at it. # > # > If you need parts - check out autopartswarehouse - I can't fault their # > service and price was fantastic. # > # > Edward # > # > # > # > On 5/16/2010 4:09 PM, wmpless@iprimus.ca wrote: # > > Ed, wondering whether you tackled the repair in the meantime. Tempting to # buy # > > a complete LCA but concerned about the quality available. A couple of # members # > > on the peachparts.com forum rent out a coil spring compressor for $ 40.00 # - # > > not sure how much time you get. You can watch the whole procedure on a # video # > > on Klann's web site # > > -http://www.klann-online.de/Englisch/Filme_E/KL-0369-30K_E.htm . A # Kinderspiel # > > with the right tools. My concern is to get the ball joint R&R without # having # > > the proper presses. Also doubt that suspension shops have the acceptable # tools # > > and do a 4 wheel alignment. Spreader bar mandatory?? # > > Wiard # > > # > > Date: Mon, 10 May 2010 18:22:33 -0400 # > > From: Edward Pomeroy # > > Subject: [db] Veredict on steering # > > # > > Back from the stealership. The 300D has developed a twich, sometimes # > > wants to steer a bit left, sometimes a bit right. I checked all that I # > > could and found the drag link, tie rods and ball joints pretty solid. # > > Dealership reports that the lower front A arms have perished bushes - # > > cost of parts 527, cost of labor 450, alignment 200 and tax = about 1240 # > > bucks. Not in the budget. # > > # > > SO - has anyone replaced the lower A arms? How hard is it? # > > # > > I can purchase complete new arms, with new ball joint in place and # > > bushes in place for 130 each, free shipping. # > > # > > Or if real brave, and want to buys some MB special tool !!, can press # > > new bushes into the old arms, those cost 40 per set. # > > # > > Tool $?? unknown. They recommend doing the ball joint if you are taking # > > off the A arm anyway. those are about 80 each. # > > # > > Over the transom to the list for comments... # > > # > > Edward # # _________________________________________________________________ # Hotmail is redefining busy with tools for the New Busy. Get more from your # inbox. # http://www.windowslive.com/campaign/thenewbusy?ocid=PID28326::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL # :en-US:WM_HMP:042010_2 # ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 16 May 2010 20:50:52 -0400 From: Steve Morelen Subject: RE: [db] Verdict on steering Oops...the link didn't paste-in quite right. I'll try again. Hopefully, this will work better. http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=3614495583838776006#docid=61533643372 53605768 //Steve Morelen > From: smorelen@hotmail.com > To: ejpomeroy@qtm.net; wmpless@iprimus.ca > CC: diesel-benz-digest@digest.net > Subject: RE: [db] Verdict on steering > Date: Sun, 16 May 2010 20:42:32 -0400 > > Rusty has a spring compressor for rent. It has the same appearance as the > Klann tool. > > A W124 spring compressor video (Klann) can be seen at: > > http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=3614495583838776006#docid=61533643372 > 53605768 > > //Steve Morelen > > > Date: Sun, 16 May 2010 20:29:58 -0400 > > From: ejpomeroy@qtm.net > > To: wmpless@iprimus.ca > > CC: diesel-benz-digest@digest.net > > Subject: Re: [db] Verdict on steering > > > > Wiard > > > > I purchased the Lemfoerder complete lower A arms LH and RH from > > autopartswarehouse.com at 172 each in round numbers - free shipping. I > > ordered them Thursday 3PM and they were delivered Friday by UPS next day > > air. I can't beat that with a stick and my local indie quoted me 250 to > > install both and 99 to align. That means that my total outlay would be > > _half_ what the MB stealership wanted. > > > > These have the ball joint already pressed in and the bushes already > > installed. Looks to me like a fairly straightforward job. > > > > I plan to hoist the car next weekend, take off one wheel to see just how > > hard it would be for me to do the job and whether it can be done with a > > standard spring compressor. I am not familiar with McPherson strut > > suspension in that I have not had to deal with it before. I understand > > how they work but not sure if they can be compressed with standard > > tools. If it looks beyond my tool set, I will get it done by the indie. > > Thanks for the link. I am heading over there to look at it. > > > > If you need parts - check out autopartswarehouse - I can't fault their > > service and price was fantastic. > > > > Edward > > > > > > > > On 5/16/2010 4:09 PM, wmpless@iprimus.ca wrote: > > > Ed, wondering whether you tackled the repair in the meantime. Tempting to > buy > > > a complete LCA but concerned about the quality available. A couple of > members > > > on the peachparts.com forum rent out a coil spring compressor for $ 40.00 > - > > > not sure how much time you get. You can watch the whole procedure on a > video > > > on Klann's web site > > > -http://www.klann-online.de/Englisch/Filme_E/KL-0369-30K_E.htm . A > Kinderspiel > > > with the right tools. My concern is to get the ball joint R&R without > having > > > the proper presses. Also doubt that suspension shops have the acceptable > tools > > > and do a 4 wheel alignment. Spreader bar mandatory?? > > > Wiard > > > > > > Date: Mon, 10 May 2010 18:22:33 -0400 > > > From: Edward Pomeroy > > > Subject: [db] Veredict on steering > > > > > > Back from the stealership. The 300D has developed a twich, sometimes > > > wants to steer a bit left, sometimes a bit right. I checked all that I > > > could and found the drag link, tie rods and ball joints pretty solid. > > > Dealership reports that the lower front A arms have perished bushes - > > > cost of parts 527, cost of labor 450, alignment 200 and tax = about 1240 > > > bucks. Not in the budget. > > > > > > SO - has anyone replaced the lower A arms? How hard is it? > > > > > > I can purchase complete new arms, with new ball joint in place and > > > bushes in place for 130 each, free shipping. > > > > > > Or if real brave, and want to buys some MB special tool !!, can press > > > new bushes into the old arms, those cost 40 per set. > > > > > > Tool $?? unknown. They recommend doing the ball joint if you are taking > > > off the A arm anyway. those are about 80 each. > > > > > > Over the transom to the list for comments... > > > > > > Edward > > _________________________________________________________________ > Hotmail is redefining busy with tools for the New Busy. Get more from your > inbox. > http://www.windowslive.com/campaign/thenewbusy?ocid=PID28326::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL > :en-US:WM_HMP:042010_2 _________________________________________________________________ The New Busy think 9 to 5 is a cute idea. Combine multiple calendars with Hotmail. http://www.windowslive.com/campaign/thenewbusy?tile=multicalendar&ocid=PID283 26::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en-US:WM_HMP:042010_5 ------------------------------ End of diesel-benz-digest V1 #3284 **********************************