Hey Waldo! I live in Germany right now, ironically in the city Mercedes is headquartered in. If there’s German stuff you want let me know and I can ship it to you USPS.
Grab your popcorn and sit back. Good grief that was an excellent video. Better than a 2-3 hour $15 dollar action movie at the movie theater. It had drama, intrigue, ...I'm not sure it had a joke, but had a gaffe (gasoline in the mouth), it even had a rodeo, then calamity, AND it even started with a cliff hanger. Absolutely EXCELLENT video. Much kudos. 5 stars!
I hope your wallet is urged enough to handle the cost too 😄 I reckon even at an independent specialist you're looking at no less than $5000 for a similar service.
Having worked on BMW and Mercedes vehicles over the years they are well engineered and sometimes unnecessarily complex but over all not hard to work on. It was interesting to see you tackle it and I appreciate your methodical approach. Sometimes people feel that because these cars are expensive they are not able to repair them DIY but you can if you do a little research up front and you are prepared to acquire a couple of special tools. Thanks Waldo.
Mercedes was at one time the best engineered car but it has been so over engineered for NO GOOD REASON. Failure points out number anything good from long ago. I would never own another after 22 years exclusive MB.
You are prolly 1/10th of 1 percent that would attempt all servicing..good for you and the respect for your bank account..plus you are gaining knowledge on this beauty..what a tech marvel..
@@wolleyreikivalley That and hours upon hours ff research on the internet. What parts needed, what exact model do i have, in what configuration... It´s kinda fun though, especially if it doesn´t explode when you flip the switch^^
@@wolleyreikivalley The feeling when it works is incredible though. Added bonus for me was also that i didnt kiss the pavement, cause my first work was on my superbike. Very happy that didnt go Kaplunk under me^^
Truly a car for the wealthy elite. The dealer prices are mental. 800$ for a transmission service, 1300$ spark plug job, 1200$ ignition coils, 200$ just for air filters, 400$ coolant drain and fill, 2000$ ABC service, where does it stop!
@@WeeShoeyDuglessonly bland for those who have 0 driving skills, which would be about 90% of America. Any vehicle can be fun, provided you actually have the skill and balls to drive it hard. For most people though, yes a German car will be plenty
Unfortunately that's even on the cheap end for Mercedes dealership work. My local dealer is now $410/hr for labor, if they would even work on the car (their standard response is that they don't work on cars more than 10 years old).
Thank you for the videos you make, looking forward to part 3. Also 3k service is brutal but compared to the dealer 8.3 it's a steal,and you know the jobs been done properly, also the car is stunning.
Fun fact: Mercedes does not have a subdivision where a group of garden dwarfs go down a mine in the Black Forrest to extract genuine or OEM car parts. They pick up the phone to call sales from Bosch (or walk around the corner), INA-Schaeffler or Febi (Bilstein), etc. So it can be considered as OEM exept the label on the packaging...
@@n.ull. Well, if one is able to get some premium parts brand, there will be a surcharge, but very likely we get the same quality as from the dealer. Bosch - electrical, lights, VDO - instruments, Ate - Brakes, Continetal - tires, INA - mechanical, Febi - shocks, rubber seals, hoses, Liqui Moly - oils and fluids, Herth + Buss - wiring harnesses...just to name a few. These were the original subcontracting enterprises.
@@maxberres1701 The surcharge may have reasons behind it, if the differentiating factor is just a logo sure, it makes no sense to "overspend" , but if the differentiating factor is less durability a flimsier part or just overall a lower standard of quality then that is simply asking for double displeasure. There's OEM , then come the reputable brands which you mentioned , they are on par or sometimes solve issues the manufacturer doesn't bother with because the model is discontinued, but the parts manufacturer does and slightly improves old design, and then there's other brands no one knows about ,that try and undercut the market for a quick payday, people are quick to spend thousands on tv phones hairdriers, but a set of good Nokian winter tyres with tungsten studs??? nah, better get that discounted linglong set, that's a good saving right there, that's smart. I'm almost certain that if you share this part of youtube you would have surely seen a channel called "Just rolled in" and if you haven't oh boy you're in for a good belly laugh, and questioning the morality of letting a certain % of people drive , vote, or even be in civilized society, it makes you realize the sub room temperature iq of some people, now apply that same sub zero iq to buying and "saving" money on parts that are integral to steering or breaking, that we know are most probably out there on the market that should not be, but there's so many of them , that authorities can't take em out fast enough. In essence what you understand and what Waldo is saying and what people with common sense know, is to use quality parts, whether OEM or reputable parts manufacturers , he is using OEM because he can afford it, and is probably what was available or it gives him piece of mind, some other reason he has.
What a trip this was to watch!! Owning a 221 S550 has been a dream and this has a lot in common with it underneath all of the 600 upholstery. Been sweet to see you worth on both & compare them to each other. Thanks for making outstanding content!
Entertaining to watch, reminds me of the 80K service I did on my 2002 BMW M3 years ago, appreciate that you show a DIY is achievable for those who want to maintain these. Many German makes including Mercedes and Porsche just do engineering at higher precision, they define quality as manufacturers!
Being someone who appreciates your videos and has watched all of them at least two or three times, I really like how you put the cost breakdown of the service vs dealership/DIY. That is really helpful and a great addition to your videos. Thanks @WaldosWorld
Waldo this series has been absolutely fantastic! Please keep giving us this most enlightening entertainment. I almost cried when I saw the metal in the oil filter and then thought "that means more great content" when you do the bearings. Hopefully no cylinder wall damage from the metal!
Yet another blinded by the hype of the 'Lexus fanboys'!!😂😂 Just ask my neice and her husband whos Lexus needed a new cylinder head (cracked), new gearbox (failed big time) and ate brake rotors for breakfast😂😂 To anyone who thinks they are bombproof, just go to any Toyota/Lexus workshop and see how full they are with vehicles in all states of disassembly for repair. It'll blow your bubble!!
@@WeeShoeyDugless Funny, considering I, and many people I know who own Lexus's, have confidently abused our Lexus's with 0 issues. Aka, abuse them in ways the average American (aka 90% of all American drivers) will never be able to because no skill. We're talking full on backroad sends, jumping it in empty plots of land, several road trips, several dirt road sends. And yet 0 issues. Seems like it's still an owner issue
S600 is one of those amazingly crazy cars which you want your uncle to have so you can enjoy frequent drives without having to own one. I think we can enjoy 90 percent comfort of a S600 in S500 with significantly lower running costs.😮
Hi Waldo not checked all comments but the tensioner that was closest to the belt tensioner was ribbed and you replaced with a smooth pulley. Not sure if it’s been mentioned but couldn’t hear anything mentioned in the video 👍 And loving the videos. Mechanic from the uk 👍
I bought a similar w221 S600 a few years back and it came with a whopping 45k in dealer invoices of the last 3 years! I bought the whole car for half of that. Indeed pretty easy car to work on, and in terms of ride quality one of the best cars ever.
I'm actually surprised at how easy a lot of the things you did were as well. Mercedes, VW, Audi, bmw are not very well known for doing things the simplest way. I put a new turbo on the wife's VW Passat and it wasn't the hardest thing in the world, but I was swearing at a lot of thing at just how stupid they were and how tight things were to get to. And I'm a mechanic by trade, I got all the cool nice snap on tools and 20+ yrs of experience-pertise at a GM dealer and dodge/ Cummins diesel which don't get any easier or simple to work on! As far as the metal in the oil filter, it's all right! Drive it! It'll be fine! Don't worry about it. Your a lot like me and panics as and plans a full engine rebuild and new motor for something just as soon as the littlest sign of the smallest little failure of something lol, maybe it's just the ocd in me or the professional auto tech and perfectionism where everything has to be nasa level of precise. Remember your dealing with a 100k mile engine here, they build a cushion of extra bearing material in. They expect the onto wear! That all could just be break in bearing material that's coming out over time in the oil filter. You mentioned the auction house started the engine with a crack in the oil pan? While that's not good practice, what it could be is that the pickup tube sucked a lot of junk that was on the bottom of the pan, residual bearing junk and particles that were sitting stuck on the bottom of the pan since they are heavier, the oil pump sucked all that junk up due to snow oil level and the filter captured it. A lot of residual glitter and metal junk stays in the bottom of the pan! It all dosent get picked up when the engines pull of oil, hence why drain plugs have magnets, but not all bearing material is magnetic. Actually none of it really is, a lead/ copper babbit bearing material isn't magnetic. Did you run a magnet across the glitter that was in the oil filter? Did the magnet pick it up or no? There's your answer on where it came from! But not nessicsrly means there's damage to the mains or cam bearings. Again it could have just been residual materials from 100k miles of engine break in and normal driving the pick up tube sucked up when the oil level was low. A quick start with low oil wouldn't necessarily hurt anything as oil galleys and bearings have stagnant oil stuck in them, and will be lubed enough for a short start. It's not a good practice to start something without oil, but not a death sentience! Runnit! Drive it! If it ain't making any noise then don't worry about! Run the proper weight oil with a quart of Lucas! Thatttl take up any excess bearing clearances. If it starts knocking and clanking around then you'll know. But I think you're being kind of a Karen about it and worrying to Much! That motors and the bearings are a lot tougher than you think, it's a Mercedes not a brigs and Stratton 5 horse mower engine on a go cart! German engineers put some thought into stuff, that's what you're paying all that extra money for! That fuel filter service was kinda icky, I could imagine some a car breaking like gas after something like that and spilling all Over the seat and the floor! I dig the coolant vacuum filler. We didn't have cool stuff like that back in the days at the dealer. We had a pressure bleeder for breaks and stuff. That suspension system looks Like a nightmare.
I would have thought to change the hydraulic ride syatem fluid before replacing the spheres. But you have the specs and it is amazing how intricate the system is. Awesome.
Judging by your yard containing several Mercedes Benz vehicles in varying states of repair and watching you in action here- I'd say working on a Mercedes Benz vehicle is like cotton candy for your brain. I really enjoy your channel. You underscore how fascinating it is to be man. I don't mean that to be sexist. It's just what we do.
I think the main bearings are fine! It could of just picked up all the normal junk in the bottom of the pan that collects over normal 100k miles Of driving and engine run time. With a low oil level the oil pump and the pick up tube could have sucked up some junk on the bottom of the pan and the filter stopped it from going any father like it should. I wouldn't fret. Your like me. When there's the tiniest noise your first thought is panic and to plan a full engine overhaul! Just drive it and run it! If it starts knocking and clanking around then it's time to worry! Run a quart or 2 Of Lucas oil additive with the recommended oil. Lucas is good stuff and makes oil actually stick to things. A bit thicker oil will take up and excess bearing clearances. Again, if it ain't making any noise or clanking, then don't stress! It's fine! The German engineers build a cushion of extra bearing into everything! Even if the motor got started for a secound then it didn't hurt anything, there's still oil on the bearings and bearing surfaces! It's not a good habit to get into starting engines your not sure don't have the proper oil level but it's not a death sentence for the motor. Don't stress so Much. Keep driving it! Takenitmon your cross country road trip! Put some around town miles on it before hand so that if any major issues or noises are going to come up then arose and come up before your trip, but if everything's sounds good, then I wouldn't worry! That all could of been normal engine break in 'glitter' that was on the bottom Of the pan from the last 100k miles of engine break in and normal wear and tear! And the oil Pump and pick up tube just happened to pick it up when the one was low because there was less oil in the pan! Immmore curious it the stufff in the filter was magnetic or not. Did a magnet pick it up off the filter media or no? Normal lead, Copper and babbit Bearing material isn't magnetic. Maybe the backing plate of the bearings but not the bearing wear surfaces themselves! If the stuff in the filter media is picked up by a magnet then it's not bearing! Also, with a magnetic drain plug, bearing material that collects in the bottom of the pan is not going to get removed and picked up by the drain plug mag and removed on regular pool changes, it's going to collect in the bottom of the pan over say 200k miles! Some may get flushed out during an oil service and drain. But there's nothing to remove it really From the bottom of the pan, and the pickup tube can suck it up when the oil levels low, and then it gets caught in the filter like it should! Your to worried! I don't think new Main bearings are gunna be an easy job like the 100k service items you just did. It's gunna be a little more complicated, and require some special dealership and Mercedes special fixtures and tools to do!
Hey Waldo if you’re worried a fastener is going to strip, tear off the finger dip of a latex glove. Place the finger tip into the socket, or over the driver head. This will substantially reduce the likelihood of rounding off the fastener.
Looks like an excellent vehicle to work on. I had the misfortune to drive a Mercedes SUV (can’t remember the model number) for work and I was shocked at how difficult it was to operate. I found it impossible to change the seat position while on the move - as a driver who’s never driven a Mercedes before. I gave up on trying to change the radio channel or volume, so I had to listen to loud talk-back the whole way. Then the car went into ‘limp-home’ mode 170 kms from home. Turned out it was a NZ$280 sensor which cost the owner nearly $6000 to replace (car had to be trucked to and from the dealer). I returned to the owner’s Toyota Prado to work with pleasure and relief. I could move the seat and change the radio easily and logically. I could also repair it myself - in the unlikely event it needed repairing.
I done the same gearbox oil change on a sl55 apart from the torque converter and I collected the fluid in a measuring jug and replaced the same amount 3 litres app like you I was concerned that I would have the correct amount so I bought a dipstick and had to purchase another more expensive stick to allay fear of over/under filling ,later I found out there is an electrical connection with o ring I should also replace ( damn) good vid ,you are a brave guy!
Ah that's a pity Waldo, no trip. A Mercedes specialist in Ireland will charge €95 (EUROS) an hour. I hope the bearings are not too damaged, but happy holidays.and we all look forward to your next video. You are a very presentable chap.
Just did this stuff on my old 2006 BMW 530xi with 256k miles. Runs and drives great after new Bilstein`s and Springs. Thanks to FCP euro, Bimmerworld, and a slippery Pete fluid pump.
Hey waldo on 19:05 one of the idlers is ripped because the inside of the belt runs on that you changed to 2 flat ones, it could theoraticly damage the belt or rather increase wear.
This tracks with my own estimate rule: 4x parts for a shop to do it. I wish more people worked on their own cars. Not only do you get the knowledge and accomplishment of doing the job, you save tons of money, you usually end up with some cool tools (even though you're still saving money), and you can take the time to do it right (like that hose clamp or cleaning out the air box). Plus, when you're in there tinkering, you see other thing you might want to fix that a shop might not think is worth telling you about.
What an amazing car. Though it does put the statement "there is nothing more expensive than a cheap mercedes" into perspective, even though it seems shockingly easy to work on for such a sophisticated vehicle.
Hi Waldo, great video, really interesting. I hope the motor is OK, even if you need to end doing the bearings. What a beautiful car. Everything looked really clean underneath, most bolts seemed to come off easily enough and none of them snapped. This car is fron a time when the Engineers ruled Mercedes. Regards from Scotland🏴
sorry to hear about the damage to the engine, here is to hoping that it is repairable and no lasting damage was done. At least it will make a great video... Silver linings
27:00 The ABC is the bane of my existence. My W220 has had 2 replacements already, and the second one has continued acting up. I'm at a point where if it works, it works, and i'm not willing to spend 2 grand to get it replaced another time
Nice video and loads of good advice for those of us with simpler cars. Also goes to show that you need a scan tool / laptop to do many things on today's cars (or those like here). Ouch on the oil change and a cliffhanger for next time. Gulp!
I used to own a 2006 Go Mango Daytona which is basically a Daimler. I had the car religiously serviced at the dealer including the carrier bearing because that was the only big deal drive train part that needed to be replaced. When I sold her she had 118,000 in 2020 and drove basically like showroom. I also kept the car bone stock. And on 75 North that car could do 80 all day and night and never break a sweat. Great Videos Thank You 🙏
Oh man, that was heartbreaking to see that filter. Sad thing is the guy at the salvage yard doesn’t know or doesn’t care what he did it could’ve been damaged before hand, but certainly running it without oil doesn’t help.
I take a wild guess here and say that this is the 722.6 5 speed transmission because it was the only one that could take on the V12s torque until very recently I think. That said this is probably the most bulletproof AT ever made. Its not the fastest shifting, but then again, it can drive from 0 to about 120km/h in second gear, which is more than good enough for anything but racing.
Looking forward to the oil test results and the bearing job as I have to do that soon on one of my cars. My filter had no metal (yet) but I did see some sparkles in the old oil.
Somewhere in any given area is an instrument lab that calibrates instruments. They can calibrate those cheap Chinese torque wrenches. If the wrench can’t hold the calibration, they will catch it and fail the wrench. All torque wrenches (and any other instruments you have) should be calibrated annually. Unnecessary deep dive: NIST maintains standards for all measurements. For instance, the last time I checked, the standard for length was a silicon sphere of a specific weight and temperature. It gets really complicated. These standards are NIST 1. Regional labs send their instruments to NIST for calibration. The standard deviation is .+/- .02%. These instruments are NIST 2. Local labs send their instruments to the regional labs. Once again, the standard deviation is .02%, for a total of +/- .04%. These instruments are NIST 3. Your instruments go to the local labs for calibration. Total deviation +/-.06%. NIST 4. If you are an instrument tech like I was, you are using your instruments to calibrate gauges and such to NIST 5.
@@1leggeddog And a car without rust. This would all look much different (lots of heating, impact, hammering, welding, etc...) if this car spent the last 13 years in european road salt.
Man this was interesting and i learned a lot. Currently shifting from working on superbikes to cars so this i gold content for me, thank you so much! The laptop/tablet and software needed to make the mercs little "happy dance", can you tell me what those were?
Great video and your work is exceptional however there is NO way I would undertake this job or even buy this car. Mercedeses were great cars back in a day but too complicated for some time now, old MBs used to make 500k miles while new ones I doubt you'll see half that with this one without replacing many parts and or services. This MB is perfect for YT channel, never ending supply of material.
A myth that folks seem to perpetuate!! Modern Mercs, properly maintained, will sail over 500,000 miles without sweat. The Germans didn't suddenly become bad engineers overnight you know!
What makes me so mad about dealerships isn’t just the fact they rip off the customers but also the employees. Out of $218/hr labor cost, how much of that goes to the technician? I worked with a master tech at Audi and his top pay was $52/flag hour. The second highest paid tech was only getting paid $32/flag hour. So happy I got out of that industry when I did. I’m thankful for the training they provided but that’s about it.
Underbody damage from Copart recklessly picking up vehicles with forks
add in the auction fees and wow.
That’s the signature copart touch . 😂
I like your prices. Can I set up a service appointment? 😂
They did it with mine and I had purchased it back
Hey Waldo! I live in Germany right now, ironically in the city Mercedes is headquartered in. If there’s German stuff you want let me know and I can ship it to you USPS.
i want in on this deal as well
How is it ironic?
@@lptomtomit's coincidental, not ironic.
Grab your popcorn and sit back. Good grief that was an excellent video. Better than a 2-3 hour $15 dollar action movie at the movie theater. It had drama, intrigue, ...I'm not sure it had a joke, but had a gaffe (gasoline in the mouth), it even had a rodeo, then calamity, AND it even started with a cliff hanger. Absolutely EXCELLENT video. Much kudos. 5 stars!
The filming of your videos is simply the best.
Your level of knowledge and expertise is breathtaking, wonderful.
strong urge to buy a v12 mercedes now
Me too 😊
Get one while u can 👍
They are starting to climb in value.
I'm using the mercedes m120 V12 for my project 😎
Did anyone see the guy in Germany who put one in his MOTORBIKE??
With how fairly easy the work is on these, the urge is strong 😂
I hope your wallet is urged enough to handle the cost too 😄 I reckon even at an independent specialist you're looking at no less than $5000 for a similar service.
Having worked on BMW and Mercedes vehicles over the years they are well engineered and sometimes unnecessarily complex but over all not hard to work on. It was interesting to see you tackle it and I appreciate your methodical approach. Sometimes people feel that because these cars are expensive they are not able to repair them DIY but you can if you do a little research up front and you are prepared to acquire a couple of special tools. Thanks Waldo.
whats the hardest car to work on in your opinion?
Mercedes was at one time the best engineered car but it has been so over engineered for NO GOOD REASON. Failure points out number anything good from long ago. I would never own another after 22 years exclusive MB.
How do you feel about the i8?
That's a scary amount of metal in the filter... hope the bearing job goes smoothly
Why do the engine oil last?????
@@Carado5150He already changed it once when he replaced the oil pan. The O/C in this video is the second change he did.
With all the money he saved on these German luxury cars you’d think there would be a concrete floor in that shed by now.
😂😂😂 My thoughts exactly😂😂😂
There are some real benefits to a dirt floor in the shop! ... say those of us who cannot afford or cannot be bothered to pave.
And a cable / hose tidy, but yes. Maybe also a new shed? It must be biting cold will those slatted sides.
You are prolly 1/10th of 1 percent that would attempt all servicing..good for you and the respect for your bank account..plus you are gaining knowledge on this beauty..what a tech marvel..
the hardest part has believing in yourself i did my cars timing belt kit with no mechanical background and saved well over a grand
1/10th of 1 percent is just 0,1% dumbass
@@wolleyreikivalley That and hours upon hours ff research on the internet. What parts needed, what exact model do i have, in what configuration... It´s kinda fun though, especially if it doesn´t explode when you flip the switch^^
@ mine didnt explode luckily but yes i researched for about a year
@@wolleyreikivalley The feeling when it works is incredible though. Added bonus for me was also that i didnt kiss the pavement, cause my first work was on my superbike. Very happy that didnt go Kaplunk under me^^
I had a cream puff mint 190e from the early nineties... It was a pleasure to work on. Also a great introduction to Mercedes
Truly a car for the wealthy elite. The dealer prices are mental.
800$ for a transmission service, 1300$ spark plug job, 1200$ ignition coils, 200$ just for air filters, 400$ coolant drain and fill, 2000$ ABC service, where does it stop!
Yep. I will stick with my Toyota.
Yeah, the only way to own an old merc is to work on it yourself 💪 well built cars tho 😎
@@michaelblair5566
Toyota is a reasonable choice car to drive, fairly reliable but.... pretty bland.
@@WeeShoeyDuglessonly bland for those who have 0 driving skills, which would be about 90% of America.
Any vehicle can be fun, provided you actually have the skill and balls to drive it hard. For most people though, yes a German car will be plenty
Unfortunately that's even on the cheap end for Mercedes dealership work. My local dealer is now $410/hr for labor, if they would even work on the car (their standard response is that they don't work on cars more than 10 years old).
Hey, we want to see Aspen more often. :)
Been waiting for this video for a while!
I love V12's 😍
@@UKBUILT
The Merc V12 is the pick of the crop in V12s, silky smooth❤❤
@@WeeShoeyDuglessyeah 100%😍 I am using one for my V12 supercar build 😎
Thank you for the videos you make, looking forward to part 3.
Also 3k service is brutal but compared to the dealer 8.3 it's a steal,and you know the jobs been done properly, also the car is stunning.
Fun fact: Mercedes does not have a subdivision where a group of garden dwarfs go down a mine in the Black Forrest to extract genuine or OEM car parts. They pick up the phone to call sales from Bosch (or walk around the corner), INA-Schaeffler or Febi (Bilstein), etc. So it can be considered as OEM exept the label on the packaging...
Yes but they have some specification requirements and tolerances , other parts manufacturers might not be so keen to follow.
I really appreciate the group of garden dwarfs in the Black Forest hired by Bosch.
Or ZF-Sachs
@@n.ull. Well, if one is able to get some premium parts brand, there will be a surcharge, but very likely we get the same quality as from the dealer. Bosch - electrical, lights, VDO - instruments, Ate - Brakes, Continetal - tires, INA - mechanical, Febi - shocks, rubber seals, hoses, Liqui Moly - oils and fluids, Herth + Buss - wiring harnesses...just to name a few. These were the original subcontracting enterprises.
@@maxberres1701 The surcharge may have reasons behind it, if the differentiating factor is just a logo sure, it makes no sense to "overspend" , but if the differentiating factor is less durability a flimsier part or just overall a lower standard of quality then that is simply asking for double displeasure.
There's OEM , then come the reputable brands which you mentioned , they are on par or sometimes solve issues the manufacturer doesn't bother with because the model is discontinued, but the parts manufacturer does and slightly improves old design, and then there's other brands no one knows about ,that try and undercut the market for a quick payday, people are quick to spend thousands on tv phones hairdriers, but a set of good Nokian winter tyres with tungsten studs??? nah, better get that discounted linglong set, that's a good saving right there, that's smart.
I'm almost certain that if you share this part of youtube you would have surely seen a channel called "Just rolled in" and if you haven't oh boy you're in for a good belly laugh, and questioning the morality of letting a certain % of people drive , vote, or even be in civilized society, it makes you realize the sub room temperature iq of some people, now apply that same sub zero iq to buying and "saving" money on parts that are integral to steering or breaking, that we know are most probably out there on the market that should not be, but there's so many of them , that authorities can't take em out fast enough.
In essence what you understand and what Waldo is saying and what people with common sense know, is to use quality parts, whether OEM or reputable parts manufacturers , he is using OEM because he can afford it, and is probably what was available or it gives him piece of mind, some other reason he has.
Absolutely love this! More Mercedes content! Your videos are always top notch. Can't wait for Part 3!!!
A Waldo video to start my weekend as I sip my coffee. It's gonna be a good weekend ☕♥️
Exactly what I'm doing. 😊
What a trip this was to watch!! Owning a 221 S550 has been a dream and this has a lot in common with it underneath all of the 600 upholstery. Been sweet to see you worth on both & compare them to each other. Thanks for making outstanding content!
Entertaining to watch, reminds me of the 80K service I did on my 2002 BMW M3 years ago, appreciate that you show a DIY is achievable for those who want to maintain these. Many German makes including Mercedes and Porsche just do engineering at higher precision, they define quality as manufacturers!
Youve been killing it with the recent videos. This one was a joy to watch as well!
Being someone who appreciates your videos and has watched all of them at least two or three times, I really like how you put the cost breakdown of the service vs dealership/DIY. That is really helpful and a great addition to your videos. Thanks @WaldosWorld
Waldo this series has been absolutely fantastic! Please keep giving us this most enlightening entertainment. I almost cried when I saw the metal in the oil filter and then thought "that means more great content" when you do the bearings. Hopefully no cylinder wall damage from the metal!
I’m glad you got that 600 and have so many videos to make. If you had purchased a Lexus you have nothing to do.
Lexus needs fluid changes too.
OK, you do have a point, just not in regards to this video.
V12 💪
A Lexus isn't a Benz, it's a glorified Toyota in the States. And a Lexus of this era can't touch this car in what you get.
Yet another blinded by the hype of the 'Lexus fanboys'!!😂😂
Just ask my neice and her husband whos Lexus needed a new cylinder head (cracked), new gearbox (failed big time) and ate brake rotors for breakfast😂😂
To anyone who thinks they are bombproof, just go to any Toyota/Lexus workshop and see how full they are with vehicles in all states of disassembly for repair.
It'll blow your bubble!!
@@WeeShoeyDugless Funny, considering I, and many people I know who own Lexus's, have confidently abused our Lexus's with 0 issues. Aka, abuse them in ways the average American (aka 90% of all American drivers) will never be able to because no skill. We're talking full on backroad sends, jumping it in empty plots of land, several road trips, several dirt road sends. And yet 0 issues. Seems like it's still an owner issue
What a cliffhanger! Awesome car. The ease of access for maintenance on this vehicle is amazing.
S600 is one of those amazingly crazy cars which you want your uncle to have so you can enjoy frequent drives without having to own one.
I think we can enjoy 90 percent comfort of a S600 in S500 with significantly lower running costs.😮
Why do I got to pay for everything?
Uncle Bill
Hi Waldo not checked all comments but the tensioner that was closest to the belt tensioner was ribbed and you replaced with a smooth pulley. Not sure if it’s been mentioned but couldn’t hear anything mentioned in the video 👍
And loving the videos. Mechanic from the uk 👍
I saw that as well
I miss my Mercedes and it was nice to see you working on one this morning
I bought a similar w221 S600 a few years back and it came with a whopping 45k in dealer invoices of the last 3 years! I bought the whole car for half of that. Indeed pretty easy car to work on, and in terms of ride quality one of the best cars ever.
Outstanding and awesome content as always.Thanks for sharing and taking us along.
Finally the video I've been waiting a while for
There was a Gooseneck Trailer in exactly zero scenes of this video.
Brakes looks amazing. Wish I was mechanically included to do stuff like this. Enjoy watching and learning :)
Great job on the full service Waldo. Mercedes knows how to build cars. Bummer about engine metal. I’m curious to see what the sample says
I'm actually surprised at how easy a lot of the things you did were as well. Mercedes, VW, Audi, bmw are not very well known for doing things the simplest way. I put a new turbo on the wife's VW Passat and it wasn't the hardest thing in the world, but I was swearing at a lot of thing at just how stupid they were and how tight things were to get to. And I'm a mechanic by trade, I got all the cool nice snap on tools and 20+ yrs of experience-pertise at a GM dealer and dodge/ Cummins diesel which don't get any easier or simple to work on! As far as the metal in the oil filter, it's all right! Drive it! It'll be fine! Don't worry about it. Your a lot like me and panics as and plans a full engine rebuild and new motor for something just as soon as the littlest sign of the smallest little failure of something lol, maybe it's just the ocd in me or the professional auto tech and perfectionism where everything has to be nasa level of precise. Remember your dealing with a 100k mile engine here, they build a cushion of extra bearing material in. They expect the onto wear! That all could just be break in bearing material that's coming out over time in the oil filter. You mentioned the auction house started the engine with a crack in the oil pan? While that's not good practice, what it could be is that the pickup tube sucked a lot of junk that was on the bottom of the pan, residual bearing junk and particles that were sitting stuck on the bottom of the pan since they are heavier, the oil pump sucked all that junk up due to snow oil level and the filter captured it. A lot of residual glitter and metal junk stays in the bottom of the pan! It all dosent get picked up when the engines pull of oil, hence why drain plugs have magnets, but not all bearing material is magnetic. Actually none of it really is, a lead/ copper babbit bearing material isn't magnetic. Did you run a magnet across the glitter that was in the oil filter? Did the magnet pick it up or no? There's your answer on where it came from! But not nessicsrly means there's damage to the mains or cam bearings. Again it could have just been residual materials from 100k miles of engine break in and normal driving the pick up tube sucked up when the oil level was low. A quick start with low oil wouldn't necessarily hurt anything as oil galleys and bearings have stagnant oil stuck in them, and will be lubed enough for a short start. It's not a good practice to start something without oil, but not a death sentience! Runnit! Drive it! If it ain't making any noise then don't worry about! Run the proper weight oil with a quart of Lucas! Thatttl take up any excess bearing clearances. If it starts knocking and clanking around then you'll know. But I think you're being kind of a Karen about it and worrying to
Much! That motors and the bearings are a lot tougher than you think, it's a Mercedes not a brigs and Stratton 5 horse mower engine on a go cart! German engineers put some thought into stuff, that's what you're paying all that extra money for!
That fuel filter service was kinda icky, I could imagine some a car breaking like gas after something like that and spilling all
Over the seat and the floor! I dig the coolant vacuum filler. We didn't have cool stuff like that back in the days at the dealer. We had a pressure bleeder for breaks and stuff. That suspension system looks
Like a nightmare.
I've been waiting for this episode for sometime... and here it is. Thanks Waldo! The comfort in the benz is near unmatched IMO.
I would have thought to change the hydraulic ride syatem fluid before replacing the spheres.
But you have the specs and it is amazing how intricate the system is.
Awesome.
Ah, i've been waiting for this video since last month, and i am not disappointed. Great video!
I am very impressed on how easy the fuel filter & brake parts are to replace...big snaps to Mercedes engineers for that!
Judging by your yard containing several Mercedes Benz vehicles in varying states of repair and watching you in action here- I'd say working on a Mercedes Benz vehicle is like cotton candy for your brain. I really enjoy your channel. You underscore how fascinating it is to be man. I don't mean that to be sexist. It's just what we do.
You never cease to amaze me! Thanks Waldo!
Waldo, congrats on finally getting all of the service done to ur Mercedes S600 car.. should be great on the trip..
I think the main bearings are fine! It could of just picked up all the normal junk in the bottom of the pan that collects over normal 100k miles
Of driving and engine run time. With a low oil level the oil pump and the pick up tube could have sucked up some junk on the bottom of the pan and the filter stopped it from going any father like it should. I wouldn't fret. Your like me. When there's the tiniest noise your first thought is panic and to plan a full engine overhaul! Just drive it and run it! If it starts knocking and clanking around then it's time to worry! Run a quart or 2
Of Lucas oil additive with the recommended oil. Lucas is good stuff and makes oil actually stick to things. A bit thicker oil will take up and excess bearing clearances. Again, if it ain't making any noise or clanking, then don't stress! It's fine! The German engineers build a cushion of extra bearing into everything!
Even if the motor got started for a secound then it didn't hurt anything, there's still oil on the bearings and bearing surfaces! It's not a good habit to get into starting engines your not sure don't have the proper oil level but it's not a death sentence for the motor.
Don't stress so
Much. Keep driving it! Takenitmon your cross country road trip! Put some around town miles on it before hand so that if any major issues or noises are going to come up then arose and come up before your trip, but if everything's sounds good, then I wouldn't worry! That all could of been normal engine break in 'glitter' that was on the bottom
Of the pan from the last 100k miles of engine break in and normal wear and tear! And the oil
Pump and pick up tube just happened to pick it up when the one was low because there was less oil in the pan! Immmore curious it the stufff in the filter was magnetic or not. Did a magnet pick it up off the filter media or no? Normal lead,
Copper and babbit Bearing material isn't magnetic. Maybe the backing plate of the bearings but not the bearing wear surfaces themselves! If the stuff in the filter media is picked up by a magnet then it's not bearing! Also, with a magnetic drain plug, bearing material that collects in the bottom of the pan is not going to get removed and picked up by the drain plug mag and removed on regular pool changes, it's going to collect in the bottom of the pan over say 200k miles! Some may get flushed out during an oil service and drain. But there's nothing to remove it really
From the bottom of the pan, and the pickup tube can suck it up when the oil levels low, and then it gets caught in the filter like it should! Your to worried! I don't think new
Main bearings are gunna be an easy job like the 100k service items you just did. It's gunna be a little more complicated, and require some special dealership and Mercedes special fixtures and tools to do!
Awesome, excited to watch. These are some of my favorite videos.
Hey Waldo if you’re worried a fastener is going to strip, tear off the finger dip of a latex glove. Place the finger tip into the socket, or over the driver head. This will substantially reduce the likelihood of rounding off the fastener.
Looks like an excellent vehicle to work on.
I had the misfortune to drive a Mercedes SUV (can’t remember the model number) for work and I was shocked at how difficult it was to operate. I found it impossible to change the seat position while on the move - as a driver who’s never driven a Mercedes before. I gave up on trying to change the radio channel or volume, so I had to listen to loud talk-back the whole way. Then the car went into ‘limp-home’ mode 170 kms from home. Turned out it was a NZ$280 sensor which cost the owner nearly $6000 to replace (car had to be trucked to and from the dealer). I returned to the owner’s Toyota Prado to work with pleasure and relief. I could move the seat and change the radio easily and logically. I could also repair it myself - in the unlikely event it needed repairing.
I’d loved to watch you rebuilding the motor, can’t wait.
This generation of Mercedes are fun to work on. I have a 2011 GL550 I do everything myself on
I loved my 2013 CL600 car. It had 510 HP and very comfortable to drive.
I done the same gearbox oil change on a sl55 apart from the torque converter and I collected the fluid in a measuring jug and replaced the same amount 3 litres app like you I was concerned that I would have the correct amount so I bought a dipstick and had to purchase another more expensive stick to allay fear of over/under filling ,later I found out there is an electrical connection with o ring I should also replace ( damn) good vid ,you are a brave guy!
Ah that's a pity Waldo, no trip. A Mercedes specialist in Ireland will charge €95 (EUROS) an hour. I hope the bearings are not too damaged, but happy holidays.and we all look forward to your next video. You are a very presentable chap.
23:50 that’s excellent engineering right there from Mercedes. Super easy and simple job!
Just did this stuff on my old 2006 BMW 530xi with 256k miles. Runs and drives great after new Bilstein`s and Springs. Thanks to FCP euro, Bimmerworld, and a slippery Pete fluid pump.
Really really great content. Ive owned a S600 W140 and currently drive a 4.4 TDV8 Range Rover, so yea, DIY maintenance is essential . Ireland
Hey waldo on 19:05 one of the idlers is ripped because the inside of the belt runs on that you changed to 2 flat ones, it could theoraticly damage the belt or rather increase wear.
I noticed that also
I think those are just wear markings. I looked at the video frame by frame and they seem to be flat
This is from india huge fan of your videos and it is very informative
The ABC guild swap there is an OEL dipstick, that you use with a slim funnel to make refilling easier. Great job!!
This tracks with my own estimate rule: 4x parts for a shop to do it.
I wish more people worked on their own cars. Not only do you get the knowledge and accomplishment of doing the job, you save tons of money, you usually end up with some cool tools (even though you're still saving money), and you can take the time to do it right (like that hose clamp or cleaning out the air box). Plus, when you're in there tinkering, you see other thing you might want to fix that a shop might not think is worth telling you about.
Loved this video! I am now waiting for an update on the E320 bluetec!
Your content is so damn good brother. Keep up the phenomenal work!
“The smell of gear oil in the morning!” ROTFL
Another thrilling episode as usual 👍🏻
The idler pully closest to the crank pully was not smooth originally, it was ribbed
Yeah, I noticed that too.
What an amazing car. Though it does put the statement "there is nothing more expensive than a cheap mercedes" into perspective, even though it seems shockingly easy to work on for such a sophisticated vehicle.
Hi Waldo, great video, really interesting. I hope the motor is OK, even if you need to end doing the bearings. What a beautiful car. Everything looked really clean underneath, most bolts seemed to come off easily enough and none of them snapped. This car is fron a time when the Engineers ruled Mercedes.
Regards from Scotland🏴
Damn you Waldo. Now I want a Mercedes like this.
Excellent job Waldo. I enjoyed this video greatly.
sorry to hear about the damage to the engine, here is to hoping that it is repairable and no lasting damage was done. At least it will make a great video... Silver linings
Great work really enjoy your videos and the way you explain the repair process 👍👍👍 cheers Phil
Please consider becoming a full time youtuber, we need more of your videos, and it would be awesome to see you build your own garage
27:00 The ABC is the bane of my existence. My W220 has had 2 replacements already, and the second one has continued acting up. I'm at a point where if it works, it works, and i'm not willing to spend 2 grand to get it replaced another time
Are you going to do a coil swap? I bought my CL55 AMG with the coils already installed.
Such a fine piece of machinery. Even with the high cost of parts it is worth it, especially if you compare it to it's modern equivalent.
Always worth the wait for your videos!
When I service any transmission, I measure the exact amount of fluid I have drained, then add that exact amount back as a starting point. Safe option.
Nice video and loads of good advice for those of us with simpler cars. Also goes to show that you need a scan tool / laptop to do many things on today's cars (or those like here). Ouch on the oil change and a cliffhanger for next time. Gulp!
sensational vid to watch while eating dinner thx for the banger once again waldo
I couldn't imagine tackling a car of this complexity without it being an AMG.
16:22 bought a new trailer instead of finishing the gooseneck 😂😂
Been waiting for a while for this video. Finally 😎
Hey Waldo can't you just buy S classes at auction and just make video's on them. Become the s-class god.
Best video I've seen in a long time!!!
I used to own a 2006 Go Mango Daytona which is basically a Daimler. I had the car religiously serviced at the dealer including the carrier bearing because that was the only big deal drive train part that needed to be replaced. When I sold her she had 118,000 in 2020 and drove basically like showroom. I also kept the car bone stock. And on 75 North that car could do 80 all day and night and never break a sweat. Great Videos Thank You 🙏
Oh man, that was heartbreaking to see that filter. Sad thing is the guy at the salvage yard doesn’t know or doesn’t care what he did it could’ve been damaged before hand, but certainly running it without oil doesn’t help.
I take a wild guess here and say that this is the 722.6 5 speed transmission because it was the only one that could take on the V12s torque until very recently I think. That said this is probably the most bulletproof AT ever made. Its not the fastest shifting, but then again, it can drive from 0 to about 120km/h in second gear, which is more than good enough for anything but racing.
Man every car you service you want to take around the country🤣 Keep going Mercedes man👍
Excellent video! Very detailed and well put together.
Well done M Waldo, very well done
Great video, happy to see another great video keep up the great content.
Looking forward to the oil test results and the bearing job as I have to do that soon on one of my cars. My filter had no metal (yet) but I did see some sparkles in the old oil.
Somewhere in any given area is an instrument lab that calibrates instruments. They can calibrate those cheap Chinese torque wrenches. If the wrench can’t hold the calibration, they will catch it and fail the wrench. All torque wrenches (and any other instruments you have) should be calibrated annually.
Unnecessary deep dive:
NIST maintains standards for all measurements. For instance, the last time I checked, the standard for length was a silicon sphere of a specific weight and temperature. It gets really complicated. These standards are NIST 1.
Regional labs send their instruments to NIST for calibration. The standard deviation is .+/- .02%. These instruments are NIST 2.
Local labs send their instruments to the regional labs. Once again, the standard deviation is .02%, for a total of +/- .04%. These instruments are NIST 3.
Your instruments go to the local labs for calibration. Total deviation +/-.06%. NIST 4.
If you are an instrument tech like I was, you are using your instruments to calibrate gauges and such to NIST 5.
Regarding the transmission fluid. I'm surprised you didn't just put back in as much as came out. Seems like a safe way of doing it.
Gee you make it seem so easy but I know it's not really.... enjoy your videos
It does help to have a lift, ton of tools, knowledge of all the systems...
@@1leggeddog And a car without rust. This would all look much different (lots of heating, impact, hammering, welding, etc...) if this car spent the last 13 years in european road salt.
At 20:20, wasn't one of those idlers supposed to be ribbed?
Wera 👌 One of the best german tool brands in existence.
Waldo, love all your work and content .. Are you able to speak on computer/diag. that you use for troubleshooting? Star ?
20:00 shouldn’t one of those smaller idler pulleys be grooved? The original one was…
Actually Waldo the cost at the dealer would have been 2.858996244452031 times the cost of your DIY, Still a huge savings.
Man this was interesting and i learned a lot. Currently shifting from working on superbikes to cars so this i gold content for me, thank you so much!
The laptop/tablet and software needed to make the mercs little "happy dance", can you tell me what those were?
Great video and your work is exceptional however there is NO way I would undertake this job or even buy this car. Mercedeses were great cars back in a day but too complicated for some time now, old MBs used to make 500k miles while new ones I doubt you'll see half that with this one without replacing many parts and or services. This MB is perfect for YT channel, never ending supply of material.
A myth that folks seem to perpetuate!!
Modern Mercs, properly maintained, will sail over 500,000 miles without sweat.
The Germans didn't suddenly become bad engineers overnight you know!
What makes me so mad about dealerships isn’t just the fact they rip off the customers but also the employees. Out of $218/hr labor cost, how much of that goes to the technician? I worked with a master tech at Audi and his top pay was $52/flag hour. The second highest paid tech was only getting paid $32/flag hour. So happy I got out of that industry when I did. I’m thankful for the training they provided but that’s about it.
Wild how mid 2000's mercedes were well designed to be super easy and cheap to work on. Unlike anything new from mercedes
The king is back
Trying to fill that suspension fluid while the car literally danced around making it difficult was pretty funny to watch.