[NITTY77]

I am getting redy to buy a s420 1998. Only problem the front seats don't move. I have checked the fuses all are good. Any suggestions

 

[NITTY77]

The seller is asking $2000. The car has 130000 miles and runs good. Just a little rattle coming from under the car. The seller told me he had it checked by the mechanic and he told him it was the catalyst converter and it was nothing to worry about.

 

[Jayare]

I am getting redy to buy a s420 1998. Only problem the front seats don't move. I have checked the fuses all are good. Any suggestions

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[MAVA]

I am getting redy to buy a s420 1998. Only problem the front seats don't move. I have checked the fuses all are good. Any suggestions

Welcome to the W140 Benzworld Forum.

I'm one of the moderators here, and I felt you should have your own thread.

Here is the scoop, The seats:

A) If both do not move, then my guess is you have a power problem: Fuse/power to the fuse/bad floating ground. Each seat has its on power controller module, or someone took the seats to have them upholstered, and did not connect the power connector to the front bottom of the seats.

The rattle. It is serious as the catalytic converters are required for emissions testing in a few states in the USA, but you have not filled your profile, so we do not know if the converters really matter.

Fill out your profile.....

Check with your state(providing you are in the USA) as you may not pass the safety test, or emissions. The converters may be a easy fix, but may be a serious engine problem too, so understand that too.. For this to be a California car, I would run away as the emissions testing will expose that demon in the car...

Another problem with all these cars is at the moment key-fobs are not easy accessible, so I hope you get the two key fobs with the few spare keys these care came equipped with. A new key fob is around $300 to $400 each...

When you buy the car, you need to replace the heater tee as you could destroy the engine in under a minute.

I'd try to find another as these cars are in abundance on both coasts of the USA.

Alll the best,

Martin

 

[NITTY77]

What is a heater Tee for theW140

 

[Steve_B]

This, inless you're considering RHD car

 

[NITTY77]

Thanks for the pic, but I am newbie to the forum and some of the abbreviated term I don't get.(RHD car) what is this?..i was prompted to change the heater Tee as soon as I get the car, why is this?

 

[Steve_B]

some of the abbreviated term I don't get.(RHD car) what is this?..

RHD = right-hand drive

was prompted to change the heater Tee as soon as I get the car, why is this?

The search button in the upper right corner of the page will be your best friend.
1000's of posts on this subject alone....

Good luck,
Steve

 

[Jayare]

RHD = Right Hand Drive

The heater tee is a known weak spot in the cooling/heating system of the car. Early models had metal Tee's, then there was a change to a plastic. Age and heat deteriorate the strength of the material​ and the plastic breaks.

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[MAVA]

What country are you from? Fill out your profile... Left hand drive cars have this problem. +94 cars have plastic tee's, and they are good for 70k to 80k miles, yet after that rupture the engine will stop in under a minute on the highway, and weld it together, so when you acquire a +94 W140 the first thing to do it replace that tee... Read the stories below...

http://www.benzworld.org/forums/w140-s-class/1320788-evil-lurks-under-hood-really-devil.html

http://www.benzworld.org/forums/w140-s-class/1719760-another-coolant-fitting-breaks.html

Buy only a Rein(brand) Tee or an actual tee from the Mercedes dealer. No used/ Craiglist/ Ebay deals...

AutohauzAZ sells the actual Rein which is the actual Mercedes tee..

http://www.autohausaz.com/pn/1408301696

Martin

 

[NITTY77]

thanks this is a very helpful site. I also noticed that the passenger front side window has some kind of whitish stain appears to between the two glass plain. bulletproof glass.
are these windows hard to find?

 

[jal1224]

Not hard to find in wrecking yards. Btw, they aren't bulletproof at all. Just double pane, insulated.

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[NITTY77]

Ok thanks, I haven't purchase the car yet just still checking things over. The factory radio is asking for a CODE. Is there a bypass for this?

 

[NITTY77]

I got the seller down to $1500 for a 98 W140 with 135000 on the Odom. These are just a few minor things that I have noticed. Seats won't move, stain in glass, code on radio, keyless entry and lock don't work but he does have two key fobs. May just need reprogram. The car been sitting at a storage building for 2 years.

 

[nhzruthless818]

White stain in the glass means you will need a new window it has a leak in between the glass, if you go to a dealer they will give you the code to the radio and they shouldn't charge you for it, Seats issue is most likely the fuse is blown due to the mirrors having a short not a big deal to fix if you know how to replace wires. The locks is most likely the pse pump or blown fuse (look to see if the front mapping lights turn on). $1500 isnt bad considering these were over $70k when new. From that car the only thing i would consider a challenge is the locks from what you have explained. If you live in a state where emissions is not required you can install universal high flow cats in the front and take the rear cats out. If you do the work yourself i would say you are looking at about $500 in repairs but that is assuming that everything goes smoothly. I got my 99 s500 for $1000 last year, and spent about $800 on repairs (new driveshaft, spark plugs, coil boots, throttle body gasket, all oem intake hoses, new filters, new fluids, new brakes, new cam oilers, new timing guides and valve cover gaskets) but then again I did all the repairs except driveshaft.

 

[NITTY77]

I finally purchased my Benz I've been talking about. I got the seats workin, just a fuse that was missing that I was sure I checked maybe not. Got the code from the dealer in Raleigh NC. Radio worked fine for one day, then all front speaker stopped working, the rear still works fine. Any suggestions? Radio or Amp? I need to purchase a owners manual it was missing from glove box. I like to be very familiar with my ride....Are the cam oilers and new timing guides preventative maintenance ?

 

[Jayare]

I wouldn't do cam oilers until one blows. You'll know when one does. The plastic oilers are no different than the aluminum ones except in the longevity department.

Spend your upfront money on something with a greater need.

Jayare

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[NITTY77]

What yall think about the radio situation? Maybe the amp?

 

[NITTY77]

I got my Heater T on order now. Shiuld be here next week.

 

[MAVA]

What yall think about the radio situation? Maybe the amp?

Glad you got a car, and are making progress with it..

From repairing many of these amps ,the sound system on +94 has a little bitty problem that occurs from time to time, but requires an inspection of corrosion at the amp connector in the trunk by the antenna. The inner antenna seal hardens, and breaks its seal. Water will find its way to the antenna power connector and the amp connector at the bottom...

I would pull the inside trunk drivers paneling, and check for corrosion, yet cycle the amp connector a few times, but it is easier to un-bolt the amp off the bracket.

Now, you say you lost " A" front door speaker(their are two per door), or lost both front door speakers(passenger and drivers speakers)?

Hope this helps,

Martin