Ball Joints + Tie Rod Cost on W123

[TotallyImpractical]

I just took my newly acquired 1985 230 E in for an alignment since it is drifting to the right...not pulling per se, just drifting.

Garage tells me that they can not do the alignment adequately because of the wear to the tie rod ends and tell me the car definitely needs one inner/outer ball joint and new tie rod. 100 for the "bad side" + tie rod; 145 for both. Otherwise, it isn't worth attempting to align the car.

It's an indie garage but am wondering if the "miss" factor is involved and if this is a reasonable cost and repair assumption.

Many thanks!
MCA

 

[TotallyImpractical]

Gentlemen and Ladies,

Any comments please? I'm new to all this, i.e. this is my first car purchase in the UK and my trusted Mercedes garage is in the US so I can't ask them.

Thanks!
MCA

 

[television]

Sorry that no one has seen your post, they can get missed on a weekend.
You can price up the parts from GSF and Euro car parts

Another indie should se your post now.

Where are you in the UK

 

[TotallyImpractical]

York garage needed

Thanks! I'm in York and can't find a garage in York that specialises in Mercedes.

I don't know what it is like here in the UK but in the US one tends to avoid the dealership. I've always used independent MB specialists although I have asked the York MB dealership for a quote.

To be fair, this is a small, independent garage and they have been most helpful but it's my first in what will be a long string of repairs for my new W123 so I'm not sure about what is a good price and who is a good mechanic.

Thanks again,

Marian

 

[simon_wall69]

It sounds a reasonable price. If there is more work to do to the car though I would seek out a decent independent as other repairs may require more specialist knowledge than a ball joint and rod end. Independents can be quite hard to find sometimes, so I would ask any work colleagues if they know of one if you get no info from here.

There used to be a list of indies on here but it seems to have got lost.

 

[stever]

Thanks! I'm in York and can't find a garage in York that specialises in Mercedes.

I know a good merc specialist in Scarborough. Is that any good to you?