Finally going to address some problems with vixen that I just haven't had time to fix:

[vixen_w202]

Tomorrow me and a friend from 190revolution I've known for awhile (he's got a 92 190e with the M103 3.0 swap) are going to do the following services that I just haven't had time to get around to until now:

1.) Full and thorough radiator flush. Gonna get all that brown dirty shit outa the radiator. Using Prestone radiator flush with pure distilled water. Gonna let that run for a bit, then replacing that after it's been drained out is some high-quality stuff:

http://i360.photobucket.com/albums/oo48/slyvia_altima/Cgosms_2013-05-1009-10-20_zps2cfb78bd.jpg (http://s360.photobucket.com/user/slyvia_altima/media/Cgosms_2013-05-1009-10-20_zps2cfb78bd.jpg.html)

Zerex coolant and a brand new thermostat with O-Ring

2.) Replace all spark plugs. I checked one about a month ago and it looked like it was about ready to lay down its life. I'm meeting with my friend early tomorrow morning so we can get a lot knocked out, so since everything was closed I went to Walmart for plugs. Was going to get the Bosch Platinums, but they only had 2 left. So I made a decision to buy the next brand down (autolite) but their premium line of plugs. Got all 6 for under 10 bucks, bought a spark plug gapper, and some spark plug sockets. P.S. What is the proper gap for spark plugs on an M104?

3.) Make an attempt with help mostly from my friend to get the shifts on my transmission smoother. My friend and I established that despite we have two completely different models we share the same transmission (the 722.424). He's said he's done some tweaks to his that have helped his jerky shifting problem a lot less intense, and he feels confident he can help mine calm down on the up and downshifts.


So, FINALLY....some things I just haven't had time to do because I've been so crazy busy are going to get addressed.




Wish me luck.

[jc1kz]

Good luck !!!

[Scary-Larry]

Sounds good, I have to start some work on my car too since school is out.

Good luck, let us know how it works out.

[vixen_w202]

I haven't had the time to do all the services yet, but I'm glad I stopped to ask some questions I failed to ask earlier in the beginning of this thread:

Where are the spark plugs located on the M104? It's been months since I popped my spark plug cover, but if I remember right...there are 3 under that cover and another 3 around the passenger exhaust manifold. Doing the ones up top should be really easy, but (if they are there) how do I remove the ones around the exhaust manifold without banging my head against the wall? Also, what is the proper OEM gap for the spark plugs? Unfortunately everywhere I went was out of the bosch platinums, so I just folded and got autolites.

Also, were is the fuel filter located and it difficult to replace? Is it something I should even worry about right now?

Thirdly, you saw in the pics all the stuff I got. I know I need all this to do the full flush, but honestly I've never done this before. Can someone give me a little mini tutorial based on the stuff you see I bought in the pics?

Thanks so much!

[jc1kz]

You have the same engine as in my W202 (inline 6 cyl) all the spark plugs are on top under the cover, three are visible and the other three are under the coil packs....watch this you tube video (yeah I know it's for a 4 cyl... but still useful)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f9DNQgIGrXA

OR

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LpBQfT2R55E

[vixen_w202]

Alright, couldn't really sleep so I decided to start some of the maintenance project tonight before I went to bed.

Now the reason why I am doing a full radiator flush is because I noticed when I added any type of coolant, it eventually turned this nasty orangish-brown. I bought a new thermostat and o-ring, since I figure if I'm going to do this might as well go the full distance.

When I drained all the contents of the radiator into the catch can, the color of the fluid made me a little concerned:

This is what came out:

http://i360.photobucket.com/albums/oo48/slyvia_altima/IMG_20130513_014938_zpsb562885a.jpg (http://s360.photobucket.com/user/slyvia_altima/media/IMG_20130513_014938_zpsb562885a.jpg.html)

It's hard to tell in the pic because I couldn't get good lighting, but the fluid is a hardcore brownish-orange color. Is this something I need to be worried about?

Going to do the flush tomorrow, but before I do that I have to remove the thermostat housing to replace the thermostat seal and housing. I need to get the bolts that make it come off. the side two were the same size, but no matter how hard I try I can't get the third one at the 12 o'clock position to free up. is it a different size?

[John Jones Jr.]

That looks like typical water from any coolant system. I doubt there was any or much coolant in the system. Good job you are putting in new coolant but before you do that I'd disconnect the heater pipes and flush the the core/matrix (garden hose would do the job), back flush the radiator (run the garden hose the opposite way to the rad flow) and if you can locate the engine block drain and flush block with that open.

[vixen_w202]

Just to confirm, where is the drain plug for the engine block?

[John Jones Jr.]

It's a longtime since I've looked at M104 engines but from memory it should be below the rear exhaust (header). Maybe it's 17 or 19mm bolt head. Very possible you'll need to get at it from below. Worth doing all the same.

Somebody else might confirm this.

[Denlasoul]

Fuel filter is located under the car (about where the right rear passenger sits). If you look under the car from the rear bumper, it is on the right side just past the rear differential. It is in an open cover that hangs down.

This is from my C43, I would believe it is rhe same location. Remove the right rear wheel for better access.

[vixen_w202]

Okay I am having a MAJOR problem. Club202 was down most of the day so I kind of went off my own intuition, the instructions on the things I bought and just elbow grease.

Just as a side note, I decided since I was doing this it was probably a good idea to replace the thermostat. I wasn't thinking it was having issues but I felt if I was this serious about doing a full hardcore flush I might as well replace with a new one. The old one I pulled out had Made in Germany stamped on it so I figured it was the original and had never been replaced.

First off , I attacked the legit radiator flush early in the morning. Filled the overflow catch with prestone flush and about 18 cups of distilled water (little over 1 gallon). Would have added more but I filled it to capacity. Did the 1st phase of the flush by running the car with the heater on HI with both front and rear defroster on for 10 minutes. Then let the car cool down a little, proceeded to open the draincock and drained out all the flush water. Resulting fluid coming out was still orange-ish and brown but not nearly as bad as when I straight drained it. Did the 2nd phase of the Prestone flush instructions. I filled the overflow catch purely with water up to capacity (I think 16 cups of distilled), ran another 10 minutes on HI with both defrosters on. Let engine cool down, coolant drained out a hardcore green for 5 minutes with the remainder of it being clear.

Here is where things got sticky. I am using Zerex 50/50 no add. Filled the overflow almost to capacity with the new stuff, turned the car on HI with both defrosters on, left the overflow cap off. I let the car run for almost a half hour, but the engine temps seemed ok at about 80 but the new coolant was just staying static in the overflow catch. Let it run another hour in my garage at idle with the garage door let open a little, the fluid just wouldn't drain in. I have 2 more bottles of this stuff I gotta inject into the car....what am I doing wrong? I would drive the car some to see if I can get it in there, but I am nervous since I drained the radiator fully there's not enough or no coolant to keep temps normal.

Can someone PLEASE help me? I'm stuck

[John Jones Jr.]

From what I read you seem to be implying you've got an air lock? Any heat from the heater? Start the car get it to normal temp then increase the rev's to 1500-2000 and see if the rad header tank level starts to drop. Other than that try and bleed the system by running the engine with the outlet heater pipe slightly open.

You could forget all about the above and just take the car for a drive keeping an eye on eng temp and rad header tank level.

[hvmercy]

I totally agree on opening up the plug from the engine block to fully drain the existing coolant.

Location of the plug in my C230 is below the exhaust towards the firewall. I just can't recall the exact size of it.


It's a longtime since I've looked at M104 engines but from memory it should be below the rear exhaust (header). Maybe it's 17 or 19mm bolt head. Very possible you'll need to get at it from below. Worth doing all the same.

Somebody else might confirm this.

[vixen_w202]

Wanted to let everyone know spark plug install was a success. scaringly enough, I think the plugs in there were factory original, as in original from assembly. Bosch platinum a were kinda out of budget, but I got some autolite copper plugs from Walmart and I think they'll do the job nicely.


Slight deviation from my official overhaul plans, but once I took off all my intake plumbing, I FINALLY discovered my oil leak. It was screamingly visible with all that junk covering it up not concealing it. It was the result of multiple bad seals that had gotten hard or rotted out. THANK GOD IT WASN'T THE HEAD GASKET! So I took off all the bolts that held it down and inspected it. The entire cover with all it's old gaskets was causing a slow but progressive leak. Went online and ordered a new gasket set with spark plug galley rings. I also need to find where I can get some rubber grommets for the tie down bolts, as the bolts themselves have a metal washer and underneath there's a rubber seal. Those are worn too and need to be replaced.

But I'm hoping replacing all of the old season the valve cover will end my constant embarrassing battle with having to top off a quart to a quart and a half halfway between every oil change.

Does anyone know where Ai can get those bolt grommets? Can't find them anywhere.

Also would like some opinions, I have the M104 valve cover off and I am in the process of cleaning off years of gunk and oil. For some dumb reason MB painted these things an off white or cream and to me it just looks totally ugly. I'm tempted to paint it or powdercoating it while I have the chance to do it, and give the engine bay a little pop. Yea or nay?

[Scary-Larry]

I am so happy to hear that the head gasket wasn't leaking! And yea, paint that stuff up, sounds like it looks the same color of a used SNES.

[vixen_w202]

Update:

As I've dug deeper into the engine of my vehicle....it has become apparent that the prior owners before decided to do almost no servicing whatsoever. When I pull a part off, it looks believable that the part was the original one installed in Germany. Now I'm starting to see why my car while it has been reliable has had some moderate bugs during ownership. Now I'm going to have to replace all the spark plug boots and connectors for the coil packs, as ALL of them have rotted out and cracked. Now I understand why I was having a minor starting issue every now and then.

Just as an added thing while I am doing this, I'm going to replace the oil pan gasket, order a mercedes benz oil cartridge removal tool. Do a slow but thorough flush of the transmission by adding and dumping 4 quarts of Dex/Merc 3 times, driving 2 days on each add...then finally fill it completelywith some high mileage tranny stabilizer.

Since I have a spare car to drive the burden of having my car down for awhile has been so much thankfully easier. I miss driving vixen though, it's going on a month since I've gotten behind the wheel of it. And I'm still fighting a ticket I got preventing me from registering it...jeesh.

If you look in this same section, I have a specific question about the 722.4 tranny and how to adjust the shift points. I know in a sticky someone sent me a link to another forum....but I'd like it if someone would reply back to me with advice within club202.

[John Jones Jr.]

Did solve you the coolant concerns, maybe I missed an update? Also, if reckon the car wasn't serviced have a look at the fuel filter very possible it's original.

[vixen_w202]

Did solve you the coolant concerns, maybe I missed an update? Also, if reckon the car wasn't serviced have a look at the fuel filter very possible it's original.


See above posts. My basic repair has transformed into a full-blown deep and in-depth full service on some things that I realized were causing some other problems. Also figured since the car was gonna be down for awhile I'd replace some gaskets that were causing an oil leak, so it's why my car is apart quite a bit and the valve cover is off for now. Also gotta replace all the spark plug connectors and slave connectors as they were all cracked and damaged.

By the way, about to order a 2nd wave of new parts from autohausaz.com, but I have not taken a physical look at what the fuel filter looks like. On their website they are designating different style filters depending on which chassis serial number you have. They are selling a push on style, a hose style and a style that is threaded on both size for I guess some type of threaded line.

On the 1996 (mine was made in 12/95) how do I determine what style I need?

Also, I am not 100 percent sure since our cars are older if they ever used a cabin style air filter. That has probably not been replaced in years and years, and I have pretty bad allergies. Fram's application search designates they make one for my car, but I am unsure where it even is and if it is difficult to replace. Could someone clarify on both if possible?

[vixen_w202]

Alright, so ordered my last wave of parts from autohausaz.com and they will be here on Tuesday. I'm going to replace the transmission filter and gasket, oil pan gasket as well as the fuel filter.

I was curious if someone could explain how the filter comes off once I drop the pan. Also, I ordered a fuel filter, and my car takes the hose bib style filter. Where is it located and how difficult is it to replace?

[anf6789]

yes there is a cabin filter.. passenger footwell below glovebox
transfilter just pulls off i believe
fuelfilter is in front of rear wheel passenger side, next to fuelpump, above shield
rubber grommets are available on FCPeuro.com

[thegame]

how to replace fuel filter https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YfxwqWVoDSc
how to change transmission fluid and filter http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WAa_wRvV4y8
My w202 didn't not come with a transmission dipstick so you might want to look in to that also