W221 S550 hunt

[kevm14]

Provided nothing about the hose or nipple adapter is cracked

Good news: this part is 2108690224.

S550 washer hose adapter.JPG

And it's still available from MB - with a W210 P/N. For under $5.
https://www.mercedesbenzpartsshop.com/o ... 2108690224

It might take a little wrestling to slip the hose off the barb of the adapter but it may make sense to get a new adapter thing, and replace that plus the O-ring on the washer. It would be nice to finally fix this. Kind of a nuisance that it's done since I've owned it.

[kevm14]

The new part is white now. I don't know if that matters.

[kevm14]

I installed this but I think all it needed was a new O-ring on the washer nozzle nipple. The O-ring was very compressed. I just used a green one from my assortment.

[kevm14]

So lately it's been all about wheels. It's not that I have money burning a hole in my pocket but that I have assessed that certain wheel expenditures are worth it.

For the S550, I have never been satisfied with these base model 9 spokes. They are just so bland. But, they are 18s so they have the optimal amount of sidewall. There are quite a few 19s used across the W221 lifecycle that I love but I refuse to run 19s. That's just what they'd expect, right?

So I went in search of a factory 18" that I could borrow from something.

Good news: all Mercedes basically use the same 5x112mm bolt pattern so I only have to match up the offset (43mm if I stick with an 8.5" wheel). Yes wider wheels look better but 255s are wide enough and screwing with the offset to shift the whole rim outboard just messes with the steering geometry. Hard pass on that.

I looked at some W220 stuff but realized that in 2007 there was an optional wheel: the classic monoblock!! Check it out.
https://www.originalwheels.com/mercedes ... 07rims.php

However, they are meant to be used in RWD configurations I guess so the rears are 9.5" wide and have wider tires. Mine is symmetrical 8.5" so I can rotate. So I'd need four of the front 18x8.5". The part number for that is 2214010502, I believe. I THINK the part number for the rears (which I don't want) is 2214010602.

Check out some of these brochure shots. Really nice.

Screenshot_20241112_075221_OneDrive.jpg

Screenshot_20241112_075242_OneDrive.jpg

Screenshot_20241112_075255_OneDrive.jpg

I also have several data points that these are actually forged which drives up my want even further. I couldn't ask for a better scenario - reasonably sized, perhaps reasonably priced if I can find them, distinctive but tasteful and forged.

This style was used at least as far back as the W140, as well as infamously on the W210 E55.

1000020856.jpg

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It is so timeless and really gives a classic Mercedes look that can't be mistaken for anything else. The fact that Mercedes intended these for some 07 S550s and S600s is even cooler. They have less dish than the older ones but I trust the designers as far as matching the W221 body lines (the traditional monoblocks come from the Bruno Sacco era and the W221 is post-Sacco).

[kevm14]

Treated select areas underneath with Surface Shield. Didn't take much to cover basically every exposed steel thing I could find. Much of the underbody is not really exposed steel which is fancy.

I also lubricated my variable intake manifold control linkages. There are actually two systems.

One is a variable length runner control valve - long and short. The other is a "tumble valve" and I guess there is one per bank in the manifold somehow. This one seems to create an artificial restriction in the manifold to increase air velocity during lighter load conditions.

I tested my stuff via DAS and everything looks 100%.

[kevm14]

So if I ever need a conductor plate again, putting this here to remind myself that I do NOT need to spend $1000 plus programming to repair it.

https://circuitboardmedics.com/mercedes ... cm-repair/

These guys do a reman service that requires NO programing for only $400. That's more like it. 1 year warranty. But it has to be a speed sensor issue. Codes for something else I guess require another solution.

Other info: http://www.mercedesmedic.com/must-read- ... tor-plate/

There are three conductor plates for the Mercedes-Benz 7-Speed 722.9 automatic transmission. The conductor plates are designated as models:

VGS 1 – Requires Replacement of Valve Body and Conductor Plate
VGS 2
VGS 3

The early 722.9 transmission (MY 2004-2007) identified as VGS1 on top of the TCU required that you replace both the valve body and conductor plate.

In newer units, second generation (VGS2) and third generation (VGS3) can be repaired by replacing the conductor plate and TCU unit only. The new TCU unit needs to be virgin and be married to the vehicle using SCN coding.

These transmission problems may start developing as early as 50,000 miles.

Yeah mine had a reman conductor plate (0002702600) in August of 2013 with 60k so there you go.

Oh look, a right to repair issue.

Unfortunately, Mercedes-Benz declined to sell replacement valve bodies to independent repair shops claiming that these components were related to the security of the vehicle. Yet they will sell complete transmissions. Mercedes-Benz claims that they will not sell the valve body because it could aid in automobile theft. In reality, all that was happening is that dealer had the unfair advantage of being the only one who can repair these cars, while independent repair shops were limited at being able to fix these cars.

Here's something that really sucks.

The problem is usually the speed sensors located in the conductor plate. The conductor plate bolts on top fo the vavle body located inside the transmission. If you scan your Mercedes-Benz with a diagnostic scanner you may get several error codes that point you to speed sensor faults. You can not replace the speed sensors themselves and therfore you need to replace the whole conductor plate. Luckily, the transmission does not need to be removed in order for you to replace the conductor plate.

Speed sensor. That is exactly what causes all the conductor plate failures on the 5G in my E55. I have a brand new conductor plate sitting on a shelf (that I don't need) for that car. But the thing that sucks is, it's bad enough that the 5G requires conductor plate replacement. Fortunately that plate is only $160. Problem is, the design of the 7G integrates way more shit on the plate (plus requiring valve body replacement on the early ones) AND it also includes the TCM. Yet it's still just a speed sensor issue. That's pretty awful.

Not trying to jinx anything but just putting this here but hope I never need it:
https://www.benzworld.org/threads/722-9 ... tby=oldest

I do have a VGS2 valve body/conductor plate. But because I have VGS 2, that could mean my valve body is original after doing the conductor plate during previous ownership (meaning original solenoids and such).

[kevm14]

Wipers (a pair): A2218201300