cheshireE220
Senior Member
- Joined
- Dec 4, 2012
- Messages
- 55
- Reaction score
- 39
- Location
- South Cheshire
- Your Mercedes
- E220 CDI / 2003 / 2.2 turbo diesel
I have a 53 plate E220d CDI W211. It is on 138k miles, full MB main dealer history from new.
It drives perfectly - till now. The car pulls to the left within a count of 3 seconds if I hold the wheel very lightly. There is a slight steering wheel wobble at 30mph but wheel balance is fine.
I took it to a local fast-fit tyre outfit. They said the Caster and Toe and Camber are all out - both axles. This is probably wear and tear with coming to 17 years and 138k miles. Then proceeded to tell me it needed camber bolts from MB and the rear bushes through which the bolts go could be seized and take time to remove. Something about a bush at the end of the trunnion? I left the fast-fit outfit. Explained the dialogue to the MB dealer who said it could be a 1 hr job por 5 hr job if the bush/bolts are seized. I totted that up at £100/hr labour rate as £100 - £500 to sort out the geometry on a car not worth very much. To chop it in for a 3-4 year old E220 (obviously the latest generation) is gonna be very expensive - they start around low £20k's and I'm guessing the part-ex for my car going off we buy any car is around £600 before they inspect it and knock it down on that valuation.
How do I get the tracking and geometry sorted cost-effectively? Kwik-Fit say over the phone they have the latest Hunter Laser Alignment system and can adjust Mercedes and have the camber bolts if needed and anything else such as track rod ends they can order.
A MB indy specialist cannot say without looking at it - and I would have to pay at £84/hr - likely to be half and hour to check it out and advise what is required, if things are seized and estimate how much to put right.
A local garage that looks after old BMWs and Mercs and Audis has a labour rate of £36/hr. he can probably diagnose and change parts of the suspension and geometry with new parts at a much cheaper price.
But I'm throwing money at a car that is worth not a lot. Anybody suggest a way forward or should I stop paying anything and chop it in and buy a newer e-class? Mine runs like a dream. The next service is at least 12 months away. The only advisory on the MOT was front tyres starting to crack on sidewalls due to age but legal. So October could see 2 x new tyres for the front. Otherwise there is nothing wrong with the car - its just old and not as modern as the newer e-class. last year the SBC unit packed up (end of serviceable life) and was replaced at a cost of £1500.
So I need a cost-effective fix to sort out the geometry and any bits needed - parts may be required due to age, I'll pay for those. But a £500 bill for geometry at the MB Dealer and potentially £300 at a MB indy are high for the cars valuation. Kwik fit have fixed cost front axle £60 and £30 rear axle adjustment + parts i required.
It drives perfectly - till now. The car pulls to the left within a count of 3 seconds if I hold the wheel very lightly. There is a slight steering wheel wobble at 30mph but wheel balance is fine.
I took it to a local fast-fit tyre outfit. They said the Caster and Toe and Camber are all out - both axles. This is probably wear and tear with coming to 17 years and 138k miles. Then proceeded to tell me it needed camber bolts from MB and the rear bushes through which the bolts go could be seized and take time to remove. Something about a bush at the end of the trunnion? I left the fast-fit outfit. Explained the dialogue to the MB dealer who said it could be a 1 hr job por 5 hr job if the bush/bolts are seized. I totted that up at £100/hr labour rate as £100 - £500 to sort out the geometry on a car not worth very much. To chop it in for a 3-4 year old E220 (obviously the latest generation) is gonna be very expensive - they start around low £20k's and I'm guessing the part-ex for my car going off we buy any car is around £600 before they inspect it and knock it down on that valuation.
How do I get the tracking and geometry sorted cost-effectively? Kwik-Fit say over the phone they have the latest Hunter Laser Alignment system and can adjust Mercedes and have the camber bolts if needed and anything else such as track rod ends they can order.
A MB indy specialist cannot say without looking at it - and I would have to pay at £84/hr - likely to be half and hour to check it out and advise what is required, if things are seized and estimate how much to put right.
A local garage that looks after old BMWs and Mercs and Audis has a labour rate of £36/hr. he can probably diagnose and change parts of the suspension and geometry with new parts at a much cheaper price.
But I'm throwing money at a car that is worth not a lot. Anybody suggest a way forward or should I stop paying anything and chop it in and buy a newer e-class? Mine runs like a dream. The next service is at least 12 months away. The only advisory on the MOT was front tyres starting to crack on sidewalls due to age but legal. So October could see 2 x new tyres for the front. Otherwise there is nothing wrong with the car - its just old and not as modern as the newer e-class. last year the SBC unit packed up (end of serviceable life) and was replaced at a cost of £1500.
So I need a cost-effective fix to sort out the geometry and any bits needed - parts may be required due to age, I'll pay for those. But a £500 bill for geometry at the MB Dealer and potentially £300 at a MB indy are high for the cars valuation. Kwik fit have fixed cost front axle £60 and £30 rear axle adjustment + parts i required.