Depends a bit on the individual I would think? Some have ten thumbs, som can do magic. Some don't even have the common sense to put out their cigarette when repairing a fuelpump - and go off in a spectacular way?
But - if you have a repairbook at hand an experienced DIY'er can do quite a lot. Without it I personally would stop at servicing - that is changing the different fluids and filters at correct intervals. And of course changing lightbulbs and so on.
But with the proper manual the only thing to stop you is the need for special tooling for some repairs and of course, sophisticated measuring devices needed for inst. when changing parts in the injection system, ABS etc.
Depends a bit on the individual I would think? Some have ten thumbs, som can do magic. Some don't even have the common sense to put out their cigarette when repairing a fuelpump - and go off in a spectacular way?
But - if you have a repairbook at hand an experienced DIY'er can do quite a lot. Without it I personally would stop at servicing - that is changing the different fluids and filters at correct intervals. And of course changing lightbulbs and so on.
But with the proper manual the only thing to stop you is the need for special tooling for some repairs and of course, sophisticated measuring devices needed for inst. when changing parts in the injection system, ABS etc.
There's something wrong with this forum for the moment? I get all sorts of errormessages, and this posting is not "counted"? But it's there when the thread is opened?
I agree that it depends on the individual and skill level. Here are the repairs that I made:
Spark plugs, plug wires, cap&rotor, air filter, oil&filter, trans fluid&filter, cam, timing chain&guides, alternator,belts&hoses, radiator&fan clutch, bulbs and some switches, motor and trans mounts, driveshaft, axle shafts, brakes, front suspension. Overall, I find the car easy to work on. Still runs good after 221,000 miles.
Hey Greengiant. Did you have to use a lift or any other special tools to perform most of your work. I'm pretty knowledgeable about autos and can follow directions quite well from manuals. Just trying to get a gauge on things since the weather is about to change here in Philadelphia. I will be picking up my first Benz within the next few weeks. Any information whether it be postings or website links will be very helpful. [;)]
The 126 Mercedes are among the easiest cars to work on that I have owned. You can perform many of your own repairs with a simple floorjack, jackstands, and common hand tools. If you don't already have a toolset, I suggest investing in a quality metric socket set and wrenches, large breaker bars, and a click-type torque wrench. There are some jobs that require specialized tools, but you can rent many of them for free w/ deposit at most AutoZones or PepBoys. Finally, before you jump into any project, the most useful resource is the factory service library CD-ROM. All other shop manuals (Chilton's, Haynes, Alldata) pale in comparison.
I agree about the CD manual and what’s been said so far but there’s no substitute for experience, even with good reference material. I think we need to get serious about posting details about various repairs we’ve done that are not in the manual: tips, heads up, things to look out for, and so on.
Autootter, yes – not just the forum but the entire site has been running poorly – the server is having issues. [V]
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1991 300 SE (w126.024/M103.981) 140,000 miles
I have a cheap floor jack,and some basic jack stands. Most of my tools are crap. The only speciqalized tool I have for the Merc is the valve spring compressor. Experience is what counts. Knowing what I know now, I would have saved quite a bit on repairs for the Merc. I had the car for about 2 years before discovering the forum. The forum helps A LOT!
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