New Owner with minor niggles

[Stebbo47]

Hi Guys, I hope someone out there can help a fisrt time Mercedes owner ? Have just bought a 1987 TD250 estate, which is pretty tidy and only has 133k on the clock. Unfortunately it enevitably has one or two minor prolems.
1. The seats have had their day and offer virtually no support. My wife, Pam even gets a bad back sitting in the passengers seat and driving it is out of the question. I've freed them up and adjusted them to the most promising position but still no good. Are there any other seats that are more comfotable from a newer model that would fit or could easily be adapted ?
2.Neither of the rear electric windows work ! Any pointers as to where to start looking ?
3.About to carry out an oil change. Do I really have to remove the large plastic cover to access the sump plug ? Can I either leave it off altogether or possibly cut a hole in it for next time ?
Fingers crossed for any replies.
Thanks

 

[Bolide]

I'd expect the front seats to be knackered by now. Buy a new pair at a breakers. Later seats won't have the same material - the latest you can go and get a match is probably 1992 but you could transfer the covers if they're good

Non-working front windows are almost always knackered regulators and rears are normally dud motors. Whip the door cards off (search this forum for instructions) and test for volts at the terminal block on the door when you operate the switch. If there are volts and the motor doesn't move get a new regulator & motor from a breaker. If there are no volts do standard fault-finding. The wires can snap as they pass through the rubber tube by the hinge

Remove the sh1t shield to get at the sump plug. It's always interesting to see what's under there

The 250TD is possibly the best W124 ever built. If it has electric rear windows you're spoilt - it's a high-spec one!

Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk

 

[Stebbo47]

Thanks for all the info Nick. Can't wait for daylight to have a look. Can't beleive I've got a high spec. model. It doesn't have headlamp washer/wipers or leather. Do the door panels come of easily as the drivers door handle has pulled out and needs to be sorted from the back and I was reluctant to just pull. The heater fan squeals in all but position 1. Sounds like a desperately dry bearing.! How do I get the WD 40 in?

 

[wireman]

Dont get rid of or mod the under shields they keep it quiet and clean.
Get hold of the haynes book of lies it shows how to take the door to bits, there is a 10mm hex head behind the top of the door handle and a 4mm cross head on the lock plate remove them and the mirror handle/cover, fiddle off the latch handle then the door card lifts off.
The heater fan is awkward to access, you cant just squirt and hope to lubricate it it needs taking out to do it. If you are going to take it out use a proper lubricant and never wd40 boge in a can.
Find a local car trimmer and ask what they can do to mend your seats, new foam perhaps?

 

[Stebbo47]

Thanks wireman, got myself a 'book of lies' coming (any port in a storm) but have had a look following your info. Think someone had been there before judging by the number of plastic hooks that had been bodged back on.
Removed the under shield for my first oil change. Not as fiddly as I thought and anyway more than made up for by the sheer joy of changing the filter !
Take your point about a proper lubricant. I guess the whole of the centre consul has to be removed to access the heater fan ??
Good thinking about the seats. I think I know just the man. Thanks again.

 

[wireman]

To get at the heater fan you take off all the clutter under the bonnet, its an out side job with all sorts of bits in the way i.e. the wiper assembly. Lift the bonnet up into the vertical position and have a real good look at what's in the way, it will come to bits and go back together but will also take a while to do.

Your rear windows problem may be the wiring in the door pillar broken (most likely) or the motors grease dried up and sized or the lift cable jammed, the only way to tell is take it to bits but do check the fuses first. I have had one motor in which the internal thermal trip had failed, this was bodged by soldering a link over its terminals eliminating the over temp protection.

 

[Stebbo47]

Heater fan - from under the bonnet ?? I even looked at the date to see if it was April 1st ! Remove windscreen wiper motor ? Has to be a new owners initiation test, I thought ! Joking aside, thanks for advice, I'll have to wait until the weekend if it's that involved and take a rug if it turns cold in the mean time. As for the window motors I'll certainly check the fuses first. Thanks again !