Is my Merc unique?

[ljs1701]

Hi Everyone.

I have a E320cdi Advantgarde estate, with factory lowered suspension, on 03 plate (previous model) and has done 57K miles (mostly motorway) with full MBSH. It will be 3 years old next week. I put it in for it's first MOT today, and to my utter shock (and the testers) it failed, the problem being very badly worn suspension ball joints, this may well explain the cars desire to eat front tyres, now on it's third set. I voiced concerns about tyre wear when car went for it's first service, only to be told that everything was ok with car. Has anyone else had similar problems with this model ?. Hopefully MB will pick up the bill under warranty, time will tell.

 

[Blobcat]

The Avantgarde is lower as standard.

 

[malcolm E53 AMG]

At that mileage I'm pretty sure the dealer will be prepared to negotiate a reasonable replacement price. Like you I would be disapointed with only 57K out of them. I hope mine last a bit longer (46K at present).

 

[Blobcat]

Track rod ends are starting to wear on mine at 105K
Replaced anti roll bar bushes at 75K no other suspension work required so far.

 

[jibcl500]

Are you sure yours has only done 57k!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


jib

 

[jberks]

The C had problems on the front bushes but aside from that, I haven't heard of anything. It does depend on where you drive though.

I rarely got more than 10-12k out of a set of tyres either on my C or E when I did 99% town driving, so 3 sets in 57k would have been good for me. I then switched to a 100 mile per day commute and having lived on the motorway, my E270 (avantgarde + sports suspension like yours) is still happily on the original front set at 30k.

Interestingly I find the rears wear prematurely! I'm on my second set, fitted in October. 5 months and 10,000 miles later they were being flagged as well worn on the service report. They'll certainly need replacing again before Autumn though I suspect the fronts will be close by then too. That said, they will have covered close to 40k by then so thats fair enough.

Also, town driving means pot holes, speed bumps etc and that will wear the front suspension quite heavily. Still 57k is a bit poor.

 

[ljs1701]

I have owned the car from new, so can confirm mileage is correct at 57K.

 

[AdrianDW]

Not unique I'm afraid - one of many of us!! I have a 2000 E240, currently on 65k. It had one ball joint done at the last A service in the stealer (59k), due to excessive play - I'm thinking about getting the indy to do the other one at the B service (about 5k away), and I'm about to do the ARB bushes and drop links myself. I think there's a couple of threads somewhere on the site that relate some of the horror stories about this apparently very common issue (collapsing front ends etc)... welcome to the joys (and expense) of W210 ownership!!

 

[philharve]

... one ball joint done at the last A service in the stealer (59k), due to excessive play - I'm thinking about getting the indy to do the other one at the B service (about 5k away) ...

Interesting. My indie informed me that MB insist that ball joints are replaced in pairs. If one is worn, the other will also need replacing pretty soon.

REGARDS Phil

 

[clive williams]

Interesting. My indie informed me that MB insist that ball joints are replaced in pairs. If one is worn, the other will also need replacing pretty soon.

REGARDS Phil

In a perfect world I would agree with MB as it is better to have all components in each or any system of equal quality. However, in the real world ball joints fail generally due to specific conditions, the most common of which is kerbing. Hence the prevalence for the failure of the near side joint first. Even under careful driving conditions the nearside ought to wear at a faster rate than the off side due to the amount of highway obstacles (drainage covers and the like).

As most of us on this forum are obviously interested in the maintenance of our vehicles it should be of little consequence to change individual ball joints as and when they fail. Most MB owners I suspect, would not realise there was a problem until the next B Service possibly in 25K mls! at which point the vehicle would be dangerous to drive.

Clive

500E
E320CDIT210

 

[ljs1701]

Well that was a turn up for the books.Today I took my car to be inspected at the dealers, and good new's they agree 100% that this is premature wear and is unacceptable and will be fully covered by warranty.
They sent me home in a taxi (at their expence) and car will be ready tomorrow lunch time.
Mind you cabbie who took me home told me his Skoda had over 150k on clock still with original ball joints, really cheered me up, but what the hell, all sorted now, but for how long is anyone guess.

 

[piestore]

211 ball joint

HI

average life of 211 ball joint 30-40 K when quetioned mb tec told ball joint service item. Very poor to say the best

 

[jberks]

His was a 210 (I assumed 211 too). Anyway, I assume if 211 ones only last 30-40k and my 18 month old one already has 30k on it, they will replace under warranty when they go ?

 

[OlafMaxwell]

I had the ball joints replaced at about 95k. Drop links were done at about 50k and again when the ball joints were done. Front tyres were replaced at about 24k and 50k. Hope thats ok, you got an ok deal gettingt he ball joints done considering my exhaust went after 4,000 [yes 4k, not 40k] and MB refused to replace calling it wear and tear.