Ouch is Resolved

Air Spring with expansion tankWhat started out as a potential OUCH!!! that could/would develop into substantial sums of money developed into a reasonable repair. 

As you can see from the photo the car has air springs (bellows) that hold up the car in the rear, in addition to shock absorbers. Needless to tell you that the air springs are in the same price range as the shock absorbers...it takes your breath away. 

Notice the hose going from the bellow to the aluminum tank, we had a leak were the hose connects to the tank (red arrow), this tank is under the car, the clamp is at the lowest point, its a 10 year old car...something will corrode and start leaking. 

Fortunately the clamp/fitting is easily accessible from under the car. 

In hindsight it had probably been leaking for some time until it deteriorated to the point of the bellows no longer holding air, and the car becoming a low rider. 

A word about our friendly mechanic, when we bring the car to his shop, we never ask for an estimate, its always a case of fix the car and tell me how much after its done. We have known each other for enough years, and we both know how much it costs to service and repair these cars.

Back in the day of old school mechanics when cars were repaired with initiative and imagination, parts were repaired if possible and not simply replaced. In this instance the joints (hose to tank) were repaired/resealed, although it would have been easy to turn it into a make work project quickly escalating into 4 figures. 

In our case we do not have time to do searches, review forums to see what is probably wrong with the car, we have our own knowledge base, while relying on our friendly mechanic. Our priority is to have the car repaired, we have absolutely no patience for a car that does not perform as it should, and as we expect it to perform. 

We were anticipating an ouch accompanied by a bruising, it turned into a minor irritant. The intricacies of the suspension on the E500.

The left outside rear view mirror was replaced (finally), and we had the oil changed did not need an oil changed, but fresh oil attenuates the lifters noise (remember the lifters?) especially in winter. 

The video provides a "hands on" view of the bellows, the aluminum tanks, the hose from the bellow to the tank, the hose clamped to the tank, how it all fits together, the amount of labor that is involved, and the DAS to tell the car to refill the bellows.

We will continue...during the year

Ouch!!!!

Perhaps you are probably not familiar with the "Intellectual Process" of a 10 year old car with an air suspension, and at some point "something" happens to the air suspension.

The front suspension has been an ongoing process of replacing suspension arms, and ball joints. 

The rear suspension we replaced a shock in 2011, and lately it seemed that it was gradually losing air.

To start 2013 on a positive note the rear suspension acts up on New Years  day, and decides to remain a permanent low rider. Not only is it a low rider, the huge red warning "Stop car too low" comes on in the middle of the dash to really raise a level of alarm. 

A call to our friendly mechanic is in order...the conversation went as follows..."the rear is very low, the center of the speedo is red, could it be the pump, the air shocks, something is losing air, and something else is no longer pumping air".

Obvious that flatbedding this @#$% to your place is going to cost some money, and then some. 

After a spin around the block, still refuses to raise itself, and rides like a "hard tail chopper", we left a message to our friendly mechanic..."forget the flat bed...we are driving this @#$% over to your place tonight". Yes highways are smoother than surface streets. What is the worse that can happen? Not much...its not rubbing anywhere, do not hit bumps/wave that will flex the body too much, and go.

Once we reach our friendly mechanic his question "how low is it?"...our reply "there is no suspension travel in the back, how low is that?"

The conversation continued "Do you need the car? Tomorrow is Thursday, if we need parts it might be Friday" our reply "We could have used the car for the next few days, now its here, next week we don't need it...just fix the thing".

As we always say being amused, bemused, and at times aggravated with an older car is not for everyone. 

We are waiting for the OUCH!!!! 

More Service in 2012

Road Trip December 2012As you have probably concluded 2012 developed into a year of "service", we had the feeling that it would require more, than less service. 

Come June returning from a road trip, its getting progressively warmer in the car, yes its the air conditioning system which again lost refrigerant. The visit to the friendly mechanic elicited the "just fix the @#$ air conditioning" and tell me when its done, and it blows cold again.

The remainder of the summer was quiet on the service front, the car runs good, and spends less time parked, by now we are parking another car, although this one is often used sparingly. 

Agreed we also wonder how long it will take to reach 200K at this rate of usage. 

By mid September the rumbling noise in the front is aggravating, yes we dislike any car that does not run well. It seems like the bearings, there is a road trip on the horizon, a visit to our friendly mechanic is in order. Check the car, especially the rumbling noise in front!

128,000 kms December 2012This develops into another ball joint on the left side, after a comprehensive check of the front wheel bearings our mechanic concludes that its the tires. While replacing a ball joint, checking the bearings, the front brake pads are worn and replaced. 

The rumbling sound it could have been the bearings or tires, it seemed to be more bearing oriented than tires, and checking further since front wheel bearings are sold complete with the hub for a high price, and checking twice is not a bad idea to confirm that its the bearings.

A word on tires...having 2 sets of tires mounted on wheels, when we installed the summer tires in the spring, they were showing signs of wear at about 50%, instinctively one concludes that they will do another summer. Although high performance tires worn at 50% are not the ideal...since they lose their edge. 

The front brake pads seamed to have a shorter than longer life, although in our case we know why...when you stand on the brakes hard to scrub off speed negotiating turns there is a higher wear and tear factor than just braking. Obvious to same applies to tires. 

December 2012 Service Center 401 EastLingering on how much money we have invested in the car this year is not productive...agreed it would have made lease payments on a new vehicle or very close.

Why keep, and persist with a 10 year old car that requires upkeep. 

Its a V8, you know that we enjoy V8's, the 3 valve 5.0L  engine has appreciable low and mid range torque. Great highway cruiser with an impressive sound system, and reasonable fuel economy. Its rear wheel drive...we do not appreciate AWD cars. Still drives well...too.

We enjoy fooling around with the car, having it serviced by our friendly mechanic, with the convenience of having other cars while this one is serviced. The reason we always mention that its not for everyone.

Since its an early production, built in October 2002 the car has a sophisticated folding rear seat (had to order the rear seat to get a car from the factory, it was over 1K for the option), not only do the seat backs fold flat, the seat cushions are removable to gain additional space. This car hauls stuff that would not fit in a CUV. 

The December Road Trip...with huge clouds and almost dark in mid afternoon...

Before we forget...there is a corrosion "blob" that is developing on the right rear quarter panel...it will be annoying come spring 2013.

We will continue...

Service in 2012

As you have concluded by April 2012 the car requires a level of service, as usual we visit our friendly mechanic. 

We provide a list of items that require attention, which elicited the comment "Do you want a new car?" we know about the rear brakes, more ball joints or something else in the front suspension, some bracket is lose in the exhaust system, the BAS light is on, some sort of rumbling in the front, it probably needs spark plugs, air filters, and an oil change. 

It was a relatively long list, with "here is the car, just fix it" was our comment. 

Front Upper Control ArmThe front suspension is the continuing story of most components having undergone a cost saving process with abbreviated durability. More ball joints, and an upper suspension arm and the current issues are resolved. By now we have literally replaced over 50% of the front suspension components on this car. There is a wear and tear reality, and there is a cost saving effort by M-B (we hope the folks that worked on the front suspension of the car all got a promotion for saving a few Euros).

The rear brakes are normal wear and tear, with the discs and pads replaced. On the E500 the rear discs are ventilated similar to the fronts. The ABS/BAS light which might have been a simple sensor, turned into the sensor on the axle, the price of an axle will take your breath away. Obvious that you cannot "just buy the sensor" you need to buy the axle shaft. As you can imagine the sensor on the axle shaft is over one thousand dollars, and a great forum discussion subject. Wow this light turned on, the sensor is on the axle shaft, its "big money" to repair.

Rear AxleThe reasonable price solution is to locate a used axle shaft, at approximately one third of the price of the new part.  

The spark plugs were replaced, all 16 (yes 2 per cylinder). although they are supposed to last for 160,000 kms, we concluded that after almost 10 years and 120,000 kms it was time. 

New spark plugs make a difference, the engine is crisper, more responsive.

The exhaust is a spot weld on a bracket which has "unspotted" itself; its tack welded back, and the minor ratlle at idle in gear is gone.

The rumbling sound is a front wheel bearing (more cost saving on the front of this car, hopefully the entire department that engineered the front all received deserved promotions by being exceptional spreadsheet jockeys). Lets cut a bit here, shave a few thousands there, while making certain that it lasts longer than the warranty. 

Rear Brake DiscEmulating the spread sheet jockeys (engineers) we conclude that there is still some life remaining in the bearing, lets see how much longer, and how the slight rumble magnifies in sound, and when can we say that the bearing is gone. The car has 120,000 kms now lets see how much longer.

Now the car has new rear brakes, all the lights in the dash are off, the engine is crisp, and we are good to go for a while. 

Until something else rears its head, since it seems that this year (2012) this car will need more attention that we probably planned or anticipated....stay tuned.

How much did it cost...what do you think? Yes over one thousand....

If you do not enjoy servicing cars, having fun diagnosing what is amiss, having your own alternate transportation while the car is serviced/repaired. Having a friendly mechanic that understands you, and that you understand and trust.  Playing around with an older car is not for you, and we do not suggest or encourage you to "play" with an older car. If you enjoy older cars, there is a fun factor.

So far this year we have resolved the cracked wheel in February, rear brakes, ABS/BAS sensor on the axle shaft, ongoing front suspension parts, spark plugs, air filters, oil change, exhaust bracket, and front wheel bearing (postponed).

We will continue.....

The Car in 2012

We start 2012 with air dissappearing from the winter tires on the original alloy wheels. Its another riddle like the mirror, first time it was ..."Did we forget to check the air pressure?"....to "Something is up". Not a big deal, we have a compressor, tire pressure gauge in the door pocket, easy to replenish the air and check the pressure. 

In hindsight if air is disappearing from alloy wheels, it could be a big deal, have the tires dismounted from the wheels and take a look (inspect) at what is "going on". 

We did a road trip in early February, having done a previous road trip in January with another vehicle, its was exciting to embark on a road trip with this car, and obvious at some point deal with snow, inclement weather, salt, while using industrial quantities of windshield washer fluid. 

During the road trip, we were very lucky to crawl to a gas station for air in the right rear tire, instead of having to install the spare tire. Subsequently discovering a cracked alloy wheel while getting quite disturbed that a wheel would crack. As per the manufacturer wheels crack when one hits a bump, we remain with our version of the incident. Put it this way its not unusual for wheels to crack, without hitting a bump. 

We are thankful that nothing untoward happened, we solved the problem, and as usual "there is nothing that money can't fix on a car".  We went from rather ugly corroded original alloys to a set of 5 spoke (M Class) aftermarket alloys that look good on the car. 

A few times during the winter the traction control light would come on for no reason, it could be the cold. 

In late February/early March the "visit workshop brakes" light comes on...yes must be the rear pads, and by the time the light comes on there is little friction material remaining. One thing leads to another, and about a month goes by, in the meantime the ABS/BAS light is on...the dash is starting to look like an illuminated billboard.

By now its early April, its time to visit our friendly mechanic with a list of things that need to get done. 

Obvious that the year is not complete we will do a later entry to complete the year.

We will continue...