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I have a 1979 Mercedes 450Sl that pulls to the right whenever I brake. Any idea what the problem could be.

Hi,

 Your brake pull could be caused by a number of factors all that need to be checked out.  You did not mention the mileage, but on a car of this age it is possible that the suspension bushings or anything else on the front suspension is worn. Additionally you could have a sticking caliper on one side that is making one brake engage first, or a failing caliper on the left side which is not transfering as much pressue to the pads/rotors as the right side. This is an issue that needs to be dealt with soon by you or a quailifed repair shop.

 Thanks and good luck with your repair!

James

Hi,

 I have a 1990 Mercedes Benz 260E, with 125k miles on it, would it be ok to switch to Mobil 1 Synthentic ATF?

Hello,

 As long as the Mobil 1 Synthentic ATF fluid you are looking at is on that meets Dextron Type II, or Dextron Type III, your should be okay. One thing to keep in mind is steering clear of a fluid that contains any sort of friction additive, as these can changes the working pressures inside the transmission. Additionally a synthetic fluid will do more to protect mechanical parts, which in your transmission should not be much of an issue. The point of failure is normally as friction points, like the bands, and clutches and these will wear with time.  In short it is probably not worth the extra money to change to a synthetic fluid in this car, but I cannot see the fluid doing any damage as long as it is the proper type and does not contain any additives.

 Good Luck with your Car and Repair!

 James

The Mercedes-Benz W164 M-Class SUV was introduced in 2005. It is a midsized unibody truck with seating for 5. The W164 replaced the body-on-frame W163 M-Class for the 2006 model year.
ML63 AMG
The AMG version of the W164, the ML63 AMG, was introduced at the 2006 North American International Auto Show as a 2007 model. It features a 6.2 L V8 naturally aspirated engine producing 503 hp (375 kW) and 465 ft·lbf (630 N·m) of torque. Mercedes-Benz’s 7G-TRONIC seven-speed automatic transmission is standard. It can go from 0 to 62mph in 5 seconds flat.

The Mercedes-Benz W163 M-Class SUV was introduced in 1998. It is a midsized body-on-frame truck with seating for 5 or 7 with an optional third-row seat. The W163 was replaced by the unibody W164 M-Class for 2005.

The Original ML Class SUV was released in the US as a 1998 model as the ML320. Though the G-class Later, in 1999 a V8 option became available with the familiar Mercedes-Benz 4.3 Liter V8 under the hood, the ML430 which added more punch and pulling to the Mid-Size SUV.

Many believed that this vehicle had sub-par quality and fit and finish, and many argued that it felt much more trucklike than its BMW competitor, the X5.

Navigation was added as an option in the model year 2001

Later an AMG version, the ML55 was released, using the corporate 5.4 Liter, 349 Horsepower V8, bringing the 0-60 Time below 7 seconds, best of any SUV in its time.

One can identify 1998 ML320s very quickly as they do not have color-keyed bumpers.

Though a 3rd row seating option was offered, anyone who has sat in one could tell you that is practically zero leg room in the third row, though headroom is somewhat plentiful. Also entry/exit are nearly impossible, and when you want to use the cargo area, the 3rd row seats “flip” up and stow by the rear windows, a rather unusual way of stowing the seats when not in use.

Mercedes W-163 M Class Manuals

The Mercedes-Benz C215 is a coupé produced by the German automaker Mercedes-Benz between 1999 and 2006. It was sold under the CL-Class model name. The C215 replaced the previous Mercedes-Benz C140 CL-Class/S-Class coupés after 1998.

The Mercedes-Benz W209 cars have been produced since 2002. They are sold under the CLK-Class model names. The W209 is based on the W203 C-Class. It replaced the C208 CLK-Class after 2004 which were the first car to carry the CLK moniker.

The W209 is available in two body styles, a coupe and a cabriolet, and with three engines available, a V6 (CLK320 in ’04, CLK350 thereafter), V8 (CLK500), and naturally aspirated 5.439L V8 (CLK55). The cabriolet (Designated with an A, as in CLK500A) features a fully automatic retractable soft top covered by a metal tonneau that can be raised and lowered from outside the vehicle using the key fob

The Mercedes-Benz W208 coupes and convertibles were produced from 1998 to 2002. They were sold under the CLK-Class model names. The W208 models were the CLK 200 4-cylinder, CLK230 4-cylinder, CLK 320 V6, CLK 430 V8 and CLK 55 AMG. All models were available in both coupe and cabriolet form.

The CLK introduced a new market niche for Mercedes-Benz. Although the W208 used components from the E-Class and had a specification level higher than the E-Class, it was in fact based on the C-Class platform.

The CLK features a number of innovative accessories and systems, such as tow-away protection and an emergency transmission mode.

The CLK 430, although not branded as such, is in fact also an AMG model.

The W208 was succeeded by the W209, also called the CLK.

Mercedes W-208 Manuals

R171 represents the second generation of Mercedes-Benz SLK. Compared with the R170, R171 is larger.

The Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class is a luxury roadster built by the German manufacturer Mercedes-Benz since 1997. The name was chosen to reflect the company’s intentions for the car - that it be Sportlich (sporty), Leicht (light), and Kompakt (compact). There have been two generations of SLK cars from Mercedes-Benz.

The vehicle is perhaps most famous for its retractable hardtop. While it did not pioneer it, the SLK revived its usage in modern automobiles. It was soon followed by the Peugeot 206cc, Lexus SC 430 and the Mercedes-Benz SL-Class.

The SLK was updated in 2004 with a new Formula One-inspired appearance and serious performance. The new R171-platform SLK was again on Car and Driver’s Ten Best list for 2005, and it won the Canadian Car of the Year Best New Convertible award. Highlighting its potential appeal to women, New Zealand’s Lucire magazine announced it as its ‘Car to Be Seen in’ for 2005. The current SLK is also built in Bremen, Germany.

The Mercedes-Benz R170 is an automobile platform for sports cars produced since 1997. R170 models were originally sold as the SLK-Class and was based on the W202 C-Class. It was replaced by a new SLK-Class platform for 2005, but the basic R170 chassis lived on as the Chrysler Crossfire. R170 and R171 chassis production is handled by Karmann of Germany.

Vehicles:

1997-2004 Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class
2004-2006 Chrysler Crossfire
1996 SLK 200 R170.435 engine: M111.946

1996 SLK 200K R170.445 engine: M111.943

1998 SLK 230K R170.447 engine: M111.973

2000 SLK 200K R170.444 engine: M111.958

2000 SLK 230 R170.465 engine: M112.947

2000 SLK 230K R170.449 engine: M111.983

2000 SLK 320K R170.465 engine: M112.947

2001 SLK 32K R170.466 engine: M112.960

The Mercedes-Benz W220 sedans (and similar C215 coupés) started production in 1998 and went out of production in 2005 when it was replaced by the W221 S-Class. They were sold under the S-Class and CL-Class model names, respectively. The W220 replaced the W140 S-Class after the 1999 model year.

The W220 was available with more engine options than the W126 or W140. The range started with smaller 3.2L 224hp V6 motor, which was superseded by an enlarged 3.7L 245hp V6 in S350.

The S430 was powered by a 4.3L 279hp V8 in S430 and the S500 was powered by a 5.0L 306hp V8. The S55 AMG was outfitted with a supercharged 5.4L 493hp V8 motor. The S600 was outfitted with a 5.5L 493hp V12 engine.

For one month in 2001, AMG produced S63 AMG, which was sold in very limited numbers. The S63 was powered by a 6.3L 444hp V12. An undisclosed number of were sold exclusively through AMG in European and Asian markets.

The S65 AMG was introduced in 2005. Powered by a 6.0L 612hp V12 motor, the S65 was the most powerful S-Class, as well as the world’s most powerful five-seat sedan.
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