W124 rattler

[Bathbluesman]

My 1991 230ce
Have had a terrible rattle and rumble all over the back of the car and took it into Merc specialist garage -not named yet - to have a look. After 9 days and other costly jobs which they found the car was finally road tested and I was told that the rattle was probably caused by worn bushes on the subframe and that because they are likely to all fall apart when the subframe is taken out they will all need renewing and that job is likely to cost me £1000!
Does this car have a subframe? Is this a fair price for this job? Is it likely to be these bushes?
Have had the exhaust checked by Quick Fit.
Exasperated Dave

 

[roofless]

yes your car has a rear subframe & the bushes are a common fault but £1k is over the top to do the job your best bet is to use a mercedes indie as i am sure that price will be cut by a fair amount

 

[Bathbluesman]

Thanks,
this garage is a mercedes indie and is recommended on one of the forums.
Will keep you posted.
Dave

 

[kth286]

Bathbluesman

If you want to travel to Berkshire I will replace all 4 subframe bushes for you for only £150 beer money as a service to forum members with 124 generation cars.

I have the special tools and do not need to remove the subframe.

Done my own car and several other cars as well, so well versed with the proceedure and always do all work according to the Mercedes workshop manal work instructions.

If interested you will need to buy the parts and if you give me the VIN I can tell you the cost of parts for your.

There are several different bushes depending car model and they vary by hardness of rubber etc.

The cost of the 4 subframe bushes will be approx £140 in round numbers.

You can contact me on : kth286@aol.com

 

[Bolide]

The leading subframe bushes are the usual suspects. They are available in a kit including bolts from MB for about £70. Fitting will take 1-2 hours

Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk

 

[kth286]

I would say that whilst some of the rear of your car is dismantled to enable the subframe to be lowered it would be shortsighted not to do all 4 subframe bushes at the same time.

It is the rear subframe bushes as opposed to the front subframe bushes that do most of the controlling whilst cornering and provide that finese for which Merc are famous for.

Afterall Mercedes tune the rear of the car by differentiating those rear bushes by having different bushes for sportline chassis and standard chassis for example, whereas the front subframe bushes are the same part, so clearly do not have the same impact on the driveability of the car.

 

[LNM]

This rattling then... was it a light metallic clatter that happened on bumps and could be made to go one side or the other depending on which side hit the bump... ?

I have no rumbles, but rattles during movement.