Any decent MB restorers in the Herts area?

[mj2k]

Before they fall off altogether I figure it's worth getting the front spring hangers on my W210 rewelded.

I could do the job myself but it's a safety-critical area, and besides if I get them slightly wonky it'll affect the wheel camber / alignment and therefore the handling.

I don't want to trust this to any old arc-eyed oily-rag merchant (I'd do it myself if repair quality wasn't so vital), so does anyone know a decent, experienced MB car restorer in Hertfordshire or the surrounding counties?

Or should I entrust this to MB themselves since they should have the correct workshop procedures / body jigs?

 

[Scott_F]

I doubt that your average MB dealership does welding of any sort or would have a clue where to start on a repair of this type.

They will usually send paint and body work repairs to "approved" third parties in their area.

 

[mj2k]

I doubt that your average MB dealership does welding of any sort or would have a clue where to start on a repair of this type.

They will usually send paint and body work repairs to "approved" third parties in their area.

Mmm, you have a point there. Still, though my local MB dealer is quite 'sniffy' about older Mercs, they did a thorough job inspecting my W124 estate when I took it in and did an OK job rebuilding a 190e's front suspension, so I'd trust them more than a back street random.

 

[Scott_F]

They will be extremely "sniffy" about an old W210 with rust problems and in the extremely unlikely event that they agreed to do the work themselves the cost would be prohibitive.

 

[mj2k]

I do trust them - they've done a pretty good job on my previous Mercs overall, though they did used to park the near-immaculate S124 round the back after it's service, and when I asked their publicity girl if she wanted any pics of how MB servicing can keep a v old car in tip-top condition she looked like I was handing her a bag of manure

I called round all the local unfranchised MB specialists and they all farm their welding out to 3rd party back-streets, so if my local dealer can't do it (I'm currently waiting for a callback from them) I might as well do it myself

 

[a111r]

Thing is, the WIS gives riveting as the repair method.
You'd need a pneumatic rivet gun.

 

[mj2k]

Thing is, the WIS gives riveting as the repair method.
You'd need a pneumatic rivet gun.

Yuk! I very much doubt the back street jobbies I'm being offered would do anything other than seam weld it (or say "scrap it, mate").

So my thinking was do a seam weld repair like in Mercedes E Class W210 Front Spring Perch Failure and maybe a few plug welds once it's firmly in place if I can't find a proper repairer or repair panel with the spring cup already mounted on it.

Guh, shame the spring hangers didn't fail back when they were supposed to, when the car was only a few years old

 

[horatio]

MB sell the spring perches for about £20ea. I think MB Newcastle have them listed on ebay. Cars with stars in muzzie hill might be worth a call?

 

[mj2k]

MB sell the spring perches for about £20ea. I think MB Newcastle have them listed on ebay. Cars with stars in muzzie hill might be worth a call?

Thanks, will give them a call tomorrow.

Local MB agent never got back to me, presumably they thought "Oh no, he's bringing yet another wreck to clutter up our pristine forecourt" and did the phone equivalent of hiding under the desk until I went away...

 

[a111r]

As your latest 210 seems sound, just scrape back and check them over... and cover in your favoured rust prevent waxy oyl?

I had similar geometry based reservations about their replacement but when you look at the suspension, they are unfounded.

 

[mj2k]

As your latest 210 seems sound, just scrape back and check them over... and cover in your favoured rust prevent waxy oyl?

I had similar geometry based reservations about their replacement but when you look at the suspension, they are unfounded.

Makes sense, one of them is starting to peel hence why they're high on my 'to do' list but it does seem pretty sound, so just bending it back into place and seam welding it may be all I need to do.

 

[horatio]

To check them properly you need to scrape back the mastic sealant. They fester away behind it unnoticed and the rust you see at first glance is probably the tip of the iceberg. I say this from experience!

I had new perches fitted by a local mechanic. He did a great job (if anything the welding was total overkill) but didn't have the proper MB spring fitting/removal tool. He got them out & back in by dropping the lower arms using a piece of wood and jack, it looked bloody terrifying! I couldn't ask him to do the job again purely for his own safety!

 

[mj2k]

To check them properly you need to scrape back the mastic sealant. They fester away behind it unnoticed and the rust you see at first glance is probably the tip of the iceberg. I say this from experience!

I had new perches fitted by a local mechanic. He did a great job (if anything the welding was total overkill) but didn't have the proper MB spring fitting/removal tool. He got them out & back in by dropping the lower arms using a piece of wood and jack, it looked bloody terrifying! I couldn't ask him to do the job again purely for his own safety!

Mmm, I did an emergency lower balljoint repair to a 190 using the same procedure - v scary! But not a scary as using poorly seated spring compressors - I was bench dismantling the front struts on my Alfa 156 and one of the compressors came off, sending the spring hurtling missile-like across my garage. Luckily the only casualty was the end of my thumbnail (and that hurt enough!) but it could have been a lot worse...

I'm v tempted to take the W210 into that place mentioned above in Muswell Hill - I've found rust where the rear wheelarch meets the sill on one side, and I'd like to get it undersealed and waxoyled (which is a job I hate) so it'd make sense to get it done all at once.

 

[Gaz74]

Maybe give A&A Merctech in Hoddesdon a call, they're good lads there and know their stuff.

Mercedes Specialists in Hertfordshire | AAMerctech of Hoddesdon

 

[BlackC55]

We have done plenty of them in the past.

 

[mj2k]

Turns out the Merc took things into it's own hands by snapping a spring, so I'll be doing it myself after all since it's now off the road.

But thanks for the advice all

Might have to give A&A Merctech a call (or take it into Prestige if I'm ever down on the south coast) though - I'm going to need to underseal / waxoyl it once the welding's done and that's a particularly unpleasant job if you haven't got a car lift