300CE 24V Sagging rear

[Ade W124]

Hi all

new to forum, have recently acquired a very tidy 300CE 24V, 91, 51k.

Had it checked out by a MB indy before I bought it - it needed a new OVP relay and some minor work on the front suspension.

Since owning it (for 3 weeks and 1.5k miles) I have replaced a noisy belt and seized belt tensioner and damper.

The car is generally superb, its my first MB and I love it so far..

One query though - loaded the car up yesterday for the first time, wife and my parents (who are admittedly somewhat over 12 stone - parents not wife )

The car is squatting a lot at the back and was dragging (mudflaps I think) over speed bumps unless I crawled over them at walking speed..

In all other respects the car handled fine.

It has the 650 sport chassis option which makes it a little lower than standard.

Is this just due to overweight parents and nothing to worry about, or is it the sign of a bust spring, worn suspension...

I have a small amount of mechanical skill - any clues what I can look for?

Comments appreciated.

Ade

PS Pics of car here

http://mbca.cartama.net/showthread.php?t=16999&page=2

 

[television]

welcome and what a nice car, it came from a good home, it looks perfect in the pics for hieght, a mystery to me,any other views.

Malcolm

 

[Ade W124]

thanks for quick response - forgot to add, the car seems to have returned to normal height - was just surprised that when 3/4 laden (boot was far from fully loaded) it drags its undercarriage.


Ade

 

[Bolide]

If your car has hydraulic rear suspension it may need some work. Cars with hydraulic suspension have a fluid reservoir at the front of the front n/s inner arch beside the ABS distributor

Do a search for W124 hydraulic suspension and you'll find out all about it

Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk

 

[Ade W124]

thanks for replies..

do coupes have the hydraulic suspension? - haynes manual seems to think that the PAS pump also powers the suspension if it did..

Car doesn't seem to have a remote PAS reservoir, when I had a look in the PAS pump last week there wasn't a lot of fluid in.

Doesn't come up on VIN checker, 650 sports chassis does (then again neither does AC, and it describes the car as blue/black - looks pretty grey black to me...)

VIN
Model 300 CE-24
Chassis
Engine
Transmission
Order 0 0 537 16***
Approx. year 1990
Lights BOSCH
Wiper BOSCH
Cab 00695
Dealer Great Britain (537)
Interior leather grey / orion gray (268 )
Paint
199 metallic blue-black (с 01.01.1983 )
Options
221 left front seat, electrically adjustable (с 01.11.1978 )
222 right front seat, electrically adjustable (с 01.11.1978 )
341 additional lamp (с 01.09.1982)
362
412 electric sliding roof with tilting device (с 01.07.1983 )
425 5-speed automatic transmission (с 01.02.1988 )
430 headrests in the rear (с 01.01.1977 )
440 tempomat (cruise control) (с 01.09.1975 )
461 Unknown code
524 paintcoat preservation (с 01.01.1964)
570 folding armrest front w202/210 stowage box front with armrest (с 01.04.1970 )
front folding armrest w202 - housing at front with armrest
600 headlamp wiper/washer (с 01.08.1971 )
613 lamp unit, asymmetrical, l.h. traffic (с 01.02.1963 )
620 emission control system
vehicles with catalyst technique (с 01.03.1985 )
650 sports chassis with 15-hole light alloy rims (с 01.12.1988 по 28.02.1993 )

Will have a poke round in daylight...

Ade

 

[television]

code 362 is light Blue, 461 is instruments with molage reading and Englsh lettering.

Malcolm

 

[Bolide]

That car doesn't have hydraulics - there's no reservoir. If it's sagging excessively with a load onboard it has weak or broken springs but, then again, it could be meant to be that low

Strange, but good, spec - 5-speed auto and built-in car phone but no airbags. That's an early car to have a 5-speed auto. Blue Black is what Mercedes call that colour. The a/c may be aftermarket - the giveaways are sharp edges to the cutout for the switches and a sticker or plate under the bonnet giving the manufacturer (usually Diavia) and details on how much gas, by weight, the system takes

I'd change the gearbox oil (Mercedes fluid only) & filter asap unless it's been done in the last 18 months or so

Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk

 

[Ade W124]

Had another look today, took the car to Hammersmith & back. Its a pleasant way to sit in traffic

Re. code 362, what should be blue? there doesn't seem much blue about except maybe a slight tint to the glass and mirrors..

Re. AC, can't find a separate plate for an aftermarket kit and all the switch holes are nicely bevelled and rounded at the corners... so it looks OE.. most strange.

Re. Rear suspension, car looks fine when stationary and drives fine with 1 or two people - could be just a 'quirk' of the sport chassis?

Automerc checked the ATF when they did the front belt & tensioner and reckoned it looked fine.

Cheers

Ade

Cheers

Ade

 

[Bolide]

If Automerc in Hornsey looked at the whole car and said nothing about the rear suspension then I would suspect it's fine

Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk

 

[Craneboy]

Hi,
I saw this car recently on E Bay or Autotrader, i think you have bought a real beautiful car, look goods and looks as though it sits just right from the pics anyway, with this mileage only 51k your really lucky. Ive a 300sl 107 (1989) and been looking for a while for an example like this, well done and look after it

 

[Ade W124]

Cheers guys.

Want to make the most of the decent weather and go through the drains & then give it a clean, but packing is taking priority - house move wednesday


Ade

 

[Ade W124]

Quick update...

I have now removed all but one (off side front) mudflaps on speed bumps or going over curbs in London :roll:

The nearside front fell off on Saturday after mounting a curb (obviously at low speed) to get past a van on a narrow street.

Will remove the remaining front for appearances sake (once I've finished decorating the flat...)


Ade

leaving a trail of mudflaps around london...