PLEASE help me with 97 E420 issues!!!!! - Benzworld.org

ArthurL.,ESQ. · 01-13-2007, 02:11 AM

EVERYBODY,ANYBODY,SOMEBODY, (STORM ESPECIALLY) I NEED HELP!
Guys, this site is amazing-- I REALLY hope you guys have a minute or two to help out this 1st time MB owner--- I'd be AMAZINGLY grateful !!!! Thanks for at least checking this post out ....

I think I may have been taken; I bought a 1997 E420( 86,000mi.)-- black exterior/gray interior... I love the car in many respects and got head nods when I drove it the first time--- but problems are there that are making me worry.

****Please Let me know if I am damaging my car driving it as is****

1. the Check Engine Light "Electronics" is on. The car shakes like it was on hydraolics on the westcoast ! Basically feels fine while driving, but when stopped at a light, it shakes--- shaking is slightly reduced in park or neutral. Sometimes though, often when the car is first started the shaking doesnt happen even when stopped at a light. Sometimes the Check Engine light doesnt come on for a couple of minutes...I went to a shop and they told me something about maybe a cylinder misfire or potentially a fuel injector issue--- is this going to cost me an arm and a leg ?! Is there anything I can do myself?

2. The rear window does not roll down. All the others do though. I bought this car used and was aware of this, but I do not know if its the regulator that people have spoken about or if its a computer chip or something--- how do I find out , again can I do this myself?

3. The A/C backlight does not come on, so at night I have to turn on the interior lights to see what I'm doing--- expensive fix? Do I need an entire new headunit?

4. The Rearview mirror won't stay in place, apparently broken? Expensive? DIY repair?

5. Exhaust is rattling,(spoiler), think bracket is broken to hold it in place.... Expensive/DIY?

6. I think the mechanic said something of rust on the rear brakes or differential or something of that nature.... is that expensive? ( They refused to give estimates on some of this)

7. Mechanic said the Oil Seal should be replaced, $2.47 for the part, $512.00 for the labor--- all I can say is WHOA and can that be right?

8. Headlights and taillights-- When I turn off the car sometimes one headlight goes out before the other and if I get back in the car and play with the heaslight switch they will alternate going on and off-- if I turn the engine on, all the lights work right--- should I worry????

9. The Front Headlights are WICKED cloudy, is there something I can so/use to clean them-- tried windex, but did not work in the least--- do I need new bulb housing? Does MB lights only come with housing? What expenses am I looking at?

OTHER QUESTIONS--- is is expensive to put in heated seats if they aren't already there? What about parctronics?

I live in Westchester, NY.... bought for a little over $9,000. 86,000 mi.

AGAIN YOU GUYS ARE THE BEST !! THANKS FOR ANYTIME AND ADVICE YOU OFFER ME, MAYBE ONE DAY I CAN RETURN THE ADVICE TO SOMEONE ELSE, OR EVEN OFFER YOU LEGAL ADVICE !!!

ArthurL.,ESQ. · 01-13-2007, 09:47 AM

im counting on you guys!!! Too many gurus around here for no replies!!! --
art

**Matt L** · 01-13-2007, 10:51 AM

1: Who knows. Check the engine suspension in any case.

2: Almost certainly the regulator. When I got my '96, one of the rear regulators was broken. The window was secured in the up position and the motor unplugged.

3: There's an inexpensive bulb on the bottom of the unit.

4: Depends on where it's broken. Mine broke where the head attaches to the top mount. I fixed it, and it's holding so far.

5: Spoiler? Fixing a broken bracket may be pretty cheap. If your converters are rattling, there is no cheap fix.

6: Who knows.

7: Depends on where the seal is. I don't think you'd get a rear main changed for $500.

8: This makes no sense. Please explain this one further.

9: Plastic polish may help. I replaced mine with lamps out of a '98 which were not cloudy (probably spent more of their time in a garage). Otherwise, you have to get the whole unit; the lenses are not available separately.

KADE · 01-13-2007, 11:31 AM

Wow lots of questions

Headlights you should check the detailing forum here, I've heard that you can take out the headlights and clean the inside with a fine grade of sandpaper, and glass polish; as far as the lights turning on and off, did you try looking at your wiring to see if maybe the wiring is loose or burning out? Need new bulb for A/C unit and tool to pull A/C area out to replace bulb.
As far as the price that sounds about right to me, but when in doubt= check Edmonds or Kelleys used car value, they will give estimate for trade in/private sale value. Do you have a indie you can take the car to who knows about benz's, If not I can recommend one in The Bronx, to hook up to computer and run codes it will be a little over $100...like $135 or so. If its just the muffler/exhuast loose that shouldn't be a major fix...but if its your catalytic converter that is $$$$ fix about over a grand by dealer $1400 or so.

1. Indicator light comes on while driving.
What it might mean:

A. Your fuel tank is empty.
What to do:

Refuel your car, turn your car off and restart the engine 3 or 4 times. If the indicator light goes out, you do not need to have your vehicle checked.

B. There is a malfunction in one of the following: fuel management system, ignition system, emission control system or other systems affecting emissions.
What to do:

Visit your indie or stealership

Asap

C. A loss of pressure has been detected in the fuel system. The fual cap may not be closed properly or the fuel system may be leaking.
What to do:

Check that the fuel cap is closed properly. If the light remains on visit indie or stealership

Asap.

Hope this helped a little.

ArthurL.,ESQ. · 01-13-2007, 01:23 PM

THANKS A LOT SO FAR GURUS !!!! I see who the true experts/enthusiasts are !!!

1.Well the the mechanic said that it would fail inspection, because after putting the computer to it, it showed that there was a cylinder misfire, i guess that causes the shaking and some sort of "air" code on the computer......... Am I damagining the car by driving it this way? ( Mind you the shaking is gets to an obnoxious point after a while) How expensive of a repair should this be?

2.Also in terms of the rattling muffler, I looked at it and you can see the pipes are not attached to anything at the tail end, so they hit the body of the car in movement causing the car to sound like a junker.........

3.The oil seal leak didnt sound like something I had to get replaced right away, it sounded like it was cosmetic or something--- need I fix this ASAP?

4.Do I need to fix any of this stuff asap?

Kade & everyone, what are the labor rates of your mechanics? What should I be spending?

THANKS A MILLION AGAIN GUYS..SO FAR I'LL OWE 2 BENZ GURUS FREE LEGAL ADVICE LOL !

KADE · 01-13-2007, 01:50 PM

The indie I use charges about $85hr or so. What was the price that your indie gave you? And did he think that you needed to have these problem fixed asap? Sounds like he's not giving you much explaination or your holding out

You should shop around first if you don't think his prices are good.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ArthurL.,ESQ.

THANKS A LOT SO FAR GURUS !!!! I see who the true experts/enthusiasts are !!!

1.Well the the mechanic said that it would fail inspection, because after putting the computer to it, it showed that there was a cylinder misfire, i guess that causes the shaking and some sort of "air" code on the computer......... Am I damagining the car by driving it this way? ( Mind you the shaking is gets to an obnoxious point after a while) How expensive of a repair should this be?

2.Also in terms of the rattling muffler, I looked at it and you can see the pipes are not attached to anything at the tail end, so they hit the body of the car in movement causing the car to sound like a junker.........

3.The oil seal leak didnt sound like something I had to get replaced right away, it sounded like it was cosmetic or something--- need I fix this ASAP?

4.Do I need to fix any of this stuff asap?

Kade & everyone, what are the labor rates of your mechanics? What should I be spending?

THANKS A MILLION AGAIN GUYS..SO FAR I'LL OWE 2 BENZ GURUS FREE LEGAL ADVICE LOL !

ArthurL.,ESQ. · 01-13-2007, 03:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KADE

The indie I use charges about $85hr or so. What was the price that your indie gave you? And did he think that you needed to have these problem fixed asap? Sounds like he's not giving you much explaination or your holding out

You should shop around first if you don't think his prices are good.

Same deal, $85 an hour...........He seems to know what he's talking about with a lot of customers, but I didn't know if he was extra expensive at $85 an hour. He said in regards to driving it, that it was drivable but he didn't suggest to continue driving with it in that repair; moreover, I am not crazy about driving it like that because I go from looking like a lawyer to looking like a kid with a broken mercedes-- which is worse than if I was driving a civic with the same problems lol ! My main question that he wouldn't seem to answer ( out of liability fear I believe) is if I am further damagining the engine with a cyliner misfire.... what do you think?

ReZzZ320 · 01-14-2007, 01:04 AM

well someone has an obsession with the forum editing tools here