Mercedes W124 E300D estate - progress, or not...
Discussion
I'd be tempted by the used box route. Cost should be sub-£500 and I can't see a rebuild giving you change from twice that.
Vacuum is pretty simple. The vacuum modulator is clagged on the side of the box and gets its vacuum from the front of the engine. Often the pipe at the engine end comes loose. It is easily disturbed when monkeying about in that region. I do not think a new modulator is very pricey at all, £50 maybe. Adjustment looks easy enough once you get access (from under the car): http://www.mercedesdismantlers.com/722.3and722.416...
Vacuum is pretty simple. The vacuum modulator is clagged on the side of the box and gets its vacuum from the front of the engine. Often the pipe at the engine end comes loose. It is easily disturbed when monkeying about in that region. I do not think a new modulator is very pricey at all, £50 maybe. Adjustment looks easy enough once you get access (from under the car): http://www.mercedesdismantlers.com/722.3and722.416...
Right then. I've got a new box lined up, awaiting sorting of the details.
What should I replace while it's apart? The modulator would seem worth doing, as I suspect it's problematic right now with this box (Kent Bergsma coming up with the goods - https://youtu.be/gM4KZvwsCW0).
1262709379 is the part number I've culled, but I'm not 100% it's right as the part looks different to the one Kent is demonstrating with.
I presume the transmission mount is worth doing, as is the front flex disk. Any vacuum lines to the box are worth doing, although I'm not sure on spec, part number, quantity or nay of the details that would actually useful.
New gasket and filter, of course. What else? May as well try to do a decent job of it.
Incidentally, I forgot to mention yesterday that the specialist stethoscoped the running gear before pronouncing the gearbox on its way out. The centre bearing and diff are quiet, which is good.
I'm still hoping the gearbox problem is a bearing, but I guess a box replacement is the sensible thing to do. I can then get the box looked at (possibly by Krikkit?) at my so-called leisure.
What should I replace while it's apart? The modulator would seem worth doing, as I suspect it's problematic right now with this box (Kent Bergsma coming up with the goods - https://youtu.be/gM4KZvwsCW0).
1262709379 is the part number I've culled, but I'm not 100% it's right as the part looks different to the one Kent is demonstrating with.
I presume the transmission mount is worth doing, as is the front flex disk. Any vacuum lines to the box are worth doing, although I'm not sure on spec, part number, quantity or nay of the details that would actually useful.
New gasket and filter, of course. What else? May as well try to do a decent job of it.
Incidentally, I forgot to mention yesterday that the specialist stethoscoped the running gear before pronouncing the gearbox on its way out. The centre bearing and diff are quiet, which is good.
I'm still hoping the gearbox problem is a bearing, but I guess a box replacement is the sensible thing to do. I can then get the box looked at (possibly by Krikkit?) at my so-called leisure.
Someone will - it certainly won't be me :-)
I've just messaged my local Man to see if he'll do it. While he doesn't have the same level of MB experience, he's within walking distance rather than a walk, two trains and a lift. My other option is being investigated - a chat with a mechanically-inclined neighbour (who was replacing air suspension bits on a RRS at the time) revealed that he's now working with a local outfit that works on expensive classics & racers in addition to more mundane work. He's going to see if they would be interested, but they have a 2 month waiting list, which is both bad and good.
Box has been bought - £235 delivered for a 722.435 box from (they say) an 87k mile car. So far the transaction has been painless, but I'll await the end result before enumerating any poultry. It comes with a 3 month warranty, too, and was half the price of the next-cheapest box I was offered. There are a couple of boxes on ebay, but they've been advertised for months and are pictured lying on the ground, so they don't fill me with confidence.
One of the upcoming challenges is to figure out how to store 150kg of gearbox & torque converter when it arrives, and then load it into the car when the time comes to get the work done. Heath Robinson awaits!
The car has been earning its keep today - with Lockdown2 galloping over the horizon, and having given my 14 days notice on Saturday on the storage place (great timing), I've been toddling back and forth with considerable loads in the car, trying to drive around the jerky changes and tiptoe over the speed bumps. First load was ~300kgs of slabs of wood, which was a little interesting, but it got done.
Milestone passed today:
I'm hoping the 317s will be kinder to me than the 316s - I don't think I've done more than a thousand miles in the last year with the gearbox noises. Almost ran out of diesel this evening, and I cannot remember the last time I put any in.
I've been concerned that the car has had a front-up rake for the last few months - whether due to the new front shocks or impending rear suspension doom I don't know - but this evening's unloaded fuel stop looked okay. Maybe it's just that I've had a bunch of parts in the boot for months.
And on we go.
I've just messaged my local Man to see if he'll do it. While he doesn't have the same level of MB experience, he's within walking distance rather than a walk, two trains and a lift. My other option is being investigated - a chat with a mechanically-inclined neighbour (who was replacing air suspension bits on a RRS at the time) revealed that he's now working with a local outfit that works on expensive classics & racers in addition to more mundane work. He's going to see if they would be interested, but they have a 2 month waiting list, which is both bad and good.
Box has been bought - £235 delivered for a 722.435 box from (they say) an 87k mile car. So far the transaction has been painless, but I'll await the end result before enumerating any poultry. It comes with a 3 month warranty, too, and was half the price of the next-cheapest box I was offered. There are a couple of boxes on ebay, but they've been advertised for months and are pictured lying on the ground, so they don't fill me with confidence.
One of the upcoming challenges is to figure out how to store 150kg of gearbox & torque converter when it arrives, and then load it into the car when the time comes to get the work done. Heath Robinson awaits!
The car has been earning its keep today - with Lockdown2 galloping over the horizon, and having given my 14 days notice on Saturday on the storage place (great timing), I've been toddling back and forth with considerable loads in the car, trying to drive around the jerky changes and tiptoe over the speed bumps. First load was ~300kgs of slabs of wood, which was a little interesting, but it got done.
Milestone passed today:
I'm hoping the 317s will be kinder to me than the 316s - I don't think I've done more than a thousand miles in the last year with the gearbox noises. Almost ran out of diesel this evening, and I cannot remember the last time I put any in.
I've been concerned that the car has had a front-up rake for the last few months - whether due to the new front shocks or impending rear suspension doom I don't know - but this evening's unloaded fuel stop looked okay. Maybe it's just that I've had a bunch of parts in the boot for months.
And on we go.
Wah. I've had contact from the box supplier today, asking for confirmation before shipment. Which is good.
Unfortunately, the box looks to have been stored on grass and in the weather, and appears to be a 722.6 box from a W210. Which is bad.
To add annoyance, this morning I rushed around like a BA fly to get stuff I'd need to store and load the box into the car. And I don't need that now, because I don't have a box.
Wah.
Unfortunately, the box looks to have been stored on grass and in the weather, and appears to be a 722.6 box from a W210. Which is bad.
To add annoyance, this morning I rushed around like a BA fly to get stuff I'd need to store and load the box into the car. And I don't need that now, because I don't have a box.
Wah.
Try Mercedes Mark up in the Wirral, he's bound to have a 722.4. https://mercedesmark.com He's got a 722.400 out of a w201 for £269. I don't know how different that is from the 722.435 in our cars.
I also think Mercman has one; they've certainly got the diff from the other end of an E300 diesel: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mercedes-124-e300-Diese...
The 722.5 needs all sorts of whizzbang electronics to make it work. It only really teams up with a M104 petrol six.
I also think Mercman has one; they've certainly got the diff from the other end of an E300 diesel: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mercedes-124-e300-Diese...
The 722.5 needs all sorts of whizzbang electronics to make it work. It only really teams up with a M104 petrol six.
Edited by r129sl on Thursday 5th November 21:53
So far as I can tell, all 722.4s are identical: the difference between, say, a 722.400 and a 722.435 is in the torque converter.
Edit: I have clocked it and that is the one you need. He is reliable. He'll probably knock £50 off. Do you want his number? I can WhatsApp it to you.
Edit: I have clocked it and that is the one you need. He is reliable. He'll probably knock £50 off. Do you want his number? I can WhatsApp it to you.
Edited by r129sl on Friday 6th November 07:25
Thanks.
I'm feeling a little disgruntled this afternoon. The box was advertised for £360 plus shipping. I put in a slightly cheeky offer for £300 plus shipping, which was promptly refused. While that's fine, and the refusal was on the basis that he's now VAT registered, the pricing has been upped to £420.
I'll ponder.
I'm feeling a little disgruntled this afternoon. The box was advertised for £360 plus shipping. I put in a slightly cheeky offer for £300 plus shipping, which was promptly refused. While that's fine, and the refusal was on the basis that he's now VAT registered, the pricing has been upped to £420.
I'll ponder.
A few things done today.
First of all, the manky old number plate light lenses have been swapped for nice shiny new ones.
Barring some fiddling, a nice easy job.
I tried unscrewing the trim that the lenses sit in, to tidy up the rust bubbles, but the trim didn't loosen when the screws were removed so I'll come back to it.
Next up, I used the new-to-me ramps for the first time to get the front upwards:
They're very useful, albeit a bit of an effort to do. By taking the bottom of the tyres to almost knee height, access under the car is made much easier. Of anyone in the Reading area would like to borrow them, ping me.
I was hoping that the jerky shifts would be due to the vacuum modulator and, if that can be resolved, the car would be more drivable until the gearbox gives up the ghost. So the undertrays came off, and I drove underneath.
First off was to put threadlock onto the bolts holding the steering damper - I didn't do it at the time. That went smoothly enough.
The modulator.... Well. The vacuum line is attached okay, and the modulator looks okay albeit that's not proof of anything. I don't (yet) know where the vacuum line goes off to, so I haven't been able to check (yet) that it's in good condition and plumbed in.
The sheath around the - I presume - wiring to the box is looking past its best.
And this exhaust clamp isn't looking very clampy.
My Man has cable ties the front edges of the lower front wheelarch trims, and now they're not flapping around I'm not getting any crunchy noises. They do tidy up the arches nicely, so it's a worthwhile mod.
Lastly, I found out that one of my neighbours is a currently-underutilised airline pilot. He works on cars as a sideline, and has a good daily rate. I imagine there'll be more to come from The Pilot.
First of all, the manky old number plate light lenses have been swapped for nice shiny new ones.
Barring some fiddling, a nice easy job.
I tried unscrewing the trim that the lenses sit in, to tidy up the rust bubbles, but the trim didn't loosen when the screws were removed so I'll come back to it.
Next up, I used the new-to-me ramps for the first time to get the front upwards:
They're very useful, albeit a bit of an effort to do. By taking the bottom of the tyres to almost knee height, access under the car is made much easier. Of anyone in the Reading area would like to borrow them, ping me.
I was hoping that the jerky shifts would be due to the vacuum modulator and, if that can be resolved, the car would be more drivable until the gearbox gives up the ghost. So the undertrays came off, and I drove underneath.
First off was to put threadlock onto the bolts holding the steering damper - I didn't do it at the time. That went smoothly enough.
The modulator.... Well. The vacuum line is attached okay, and the modulator looks okay albeit that's not proof of anything. I don't (yet) know where the vacuum line goes off to, so I haven't been able to check (yet) that it's in good condition and plumbed in.
The sheath around the - I presume - wiring to the box is looking past its best.
And this exhaust clamp isn't looking very clampy.
My Man has cable ties the front edges of the lower front wheelarch trims, and now they're not flapping around I'm not getting any crunchy noises. They do tidy up the arches nicely, so it's a worthwhile mod.
Lastly, I found out that one of my neighbours is a currently-underutilised airline pilot. He works on cars as a sideline, and has a good daily rate. I imagine there'll be more to come from The Pilot.
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