Replacing the Bull's Balls on my Mercedes S210

Replacing the hydraulic accumulators/spheres on my very bouncy Mercedes Benz S210 with self levelling suspension.
Check out ‪@JustFixIt99‬ for great DIY content!
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/ involvod
Merch' can be found here;
www.etsy.com/shop/involvod/

[@JustFixIt99]

Hey man, Thanks for the shout out. Glad it’s coming together. While the SLS suspension in these is more complicated than standard shocks, it’s super reliable. Those spheres are likely the only time the system will give you trouble during your ownership. You will appreciate it the first time you throw a red block in the hatch and drive away with the car perfectly level. Don’t let the idiots get you down about a little alternative content. I came for the old Volvo stuff, but am more than happy to watch you reach out a bit, as are most here. If a few close minded individuals left, they were likely replaced by other car heads that found the merc videos and stayed for the other stuff. Also, congrats to you and Mrs. on the baby :) P.S. all I’m going to be able to think now when I see those spheres is “bull balls” LMAO.

[@Involvod]

Thanks! I'm really excited for that. After driving it a bit more it's a super silky ride, very enjoyable. Thanks again for the info on the job 👍

[@JustFixIt99]

@@Involvod any time man, feel free to reach out.

[@jbeef1289]

I remember Changing the spheres on my old Citroen Xantias and the difference it made. Although my first attempt (I was young) I got frustrated that it wouldn’t budge so drilled through it in an attempt at removing it. The Citroen owners forum banned my post and told me I was lucky to still be alive 😱

[@Involvod]

Haha 😂 That's part of the reason I don't like forums 🤣

[@jameskyle380]

I like the merc content, makes a nice break from the Volvo's. Looking forward to more.

[@Involvod]

Thanks 🙂👍

[@timbre7999]

Love how you managed to get this almost scrap whale to look like this and to stay on the road. Most of us here aren't merc fans but this is a nicely ragged old stationwagon and it's on your lovely channel which makes it fun to watch!

[@Involvod]

Very kind words, thanks! Glad you're enjoying it

[@jeffsabatini]

W210 owner (E55), former 240 owner. So of course I think this car is great for the channel! It can't all be Redblocks. Maybe your next car should be a 5-cyl Volvo.

[@Involvod]

Hopefully one day!

[@Schatzjaeger2]

I don't really care that much which brand you are working on (my 940 probably hates me for that statement). I just love your explanations and mechanic expertise and humour.

[@Involvod]

Thanks I appreciate it 😄

[@Parknest]

Sledge, I don't understand why people feel the need to hate on the Merc. I own both a Volvo and a Merc and they both have their merits. Don't let the bar-stewards grind you down.

[@Involvod]

Thanks mate 👍

[@nikosuoa]

These old luxury cars suffer from severe lack of maintenance and this is a reason they have a bad reputation, good job replacing the balls :)!

[@Involvod]

This is very true! Thanks 👍

[@blackbirdmark495]

I excellent work on the merc & just ignore the merc haters. A car channel is fun to watch no matter what vehicles are being worked on. Keep up the good work 👍.

[@Involvod]

Thanks, agreed! 👍

[@worldhello1234]

Why would someone hate a Merc? I had a Taxi ride in a S210 when it was new. It is a really nice car but you have to be either picky and spend a little bit more money for a restored rust free example or must be a DIY guy.

[@wilbobagins]

Missed opportunity for blue balls joke

[@CrazyBalt95]

Funny to be mentioned with one of the haters :D I enjoy the vid no matter the car you struggle with. Good luck! it was nice hearing the bells again

[@Involvod]

Thanks! 👍

[@nickjohnstone9939]

Mr Involvo'd, please don't listen to people not happy with Mrs Involvo'd Mercedes. It is a beautiful car. As previously mentioned to you, you'll come to love this car (maybe not as much as the Volvo's, which is fine) but you'll come to like it none the less. Keep up the great work on the Mercedes. I live in wait for new Mercedes content!! PS. Wow the Merc starts so well for a high mile-er.

[@Involvod]

Thanks, I appreciate it! It runs lovely so hopefully we can get it over half a million km 💪

[@nickjohnstone9939]

@@Involvod ...Oh yeah!! Let's do it!! Over half a million KMs...You can do it!!

[@RichieRouge206]

People are just miseries sometimes. I’m not a particular fan of these granted and I’m a Volvo man through and through but I love lots of other cars too 😂 The old girl is fun and it’s still great content and anyway I do have a soft spot for any car that’s a battle scarred survivor! Far more interesting than videos of supercars! G

[@JustFixIt99]

100x this. It’s fine to have a car preferences but when people are blind to all else that exists it makes no sense.

[@Involvod]

Thanks guys, agreed!

[@ianchalklen1047]

It’s slowly all coming together 😊My 23yr old V70 went straight through its MOT today and the tester said the emissions were nigh on perfect …happy days…and she’s a barely got any rust to worry about. I used to live near a church but those bells are really something else.

[@Involvod]

Perfect, sounds like you've got one that's good to go for a long time! 👍

[@Paul-fx4hb]

This is much better than Volvo content!

[@Involvod]

Glad you enjoy it!

[@fannycraddock99]

Sledge on a pogo stick! I nearly died laughing. It's your channel and so your rules. I just like watching you make things work. I only ever broke things.

[@Involvod]

Haha thanks 🙂

[@michaelheimbrand5424]

Nice to finally see how MB SLS looks. Besides being a 240 guy, I also like old Mercs, but most of all I´m a Citroën guy. I´m not really impressed with how Mercedes made it. I mean, that conventional coil spring is completely redundant and is probably there to not getting sued by Citroën for patent infringement. On Citroën´s you just have the hydraulic ram and the spheres itself screws to the ram, kind of like an oil filter. Very easy to work on. And these kinds of systems are usually very reliable. The only service item is the spheres when they lost their gas pressure. Thanks for a really interesting video and congrats on the baby.

[@Involvod]

Thanks! Yeah that's what people say, usually just the spheres give out but the rest of the system is reliable, I'm relieved it's all mechanical at least

[@franco992]

Great work. I’m loving the Merc videos.

[@Involvod]

Glad to hear it!

[@worldhello1234]

It has pretty much the largest boot of its time and class. The rarest combination is as far as I can tell manual transmission and full leather interior. The later can be fixed as a DIY project with used seat covers. The hardest part is to find a rust free or properly restored example.

[@Involvod]

Agreed!

[@cheharrison7107]

Hey man, interesting stuff. I like working on lots of different makes of car, and who knows one day i might end up buying a cheap, tired, rusty ol' Merc and be glad i kept watching your stuff man. Thanks for taking time to make the videos, hope everything's going good with the new edition buddy.

[@Involvod]

Thanks man, much appreciated 👍

[@richardbartholomew7924]

I love this mercedes it will be a beautiful car when done it's not a wreck

[@Involvod]

Thanks 👍

[@Vaino_Hotti]

I don't care what others think, I'd watch you work on a lawnmower! Variety is great.

[@Involvod]

Thanks man, I feel exactly the same about the creators I watch! Ps what's the car in your profile pic? Looks great!

[@Vaino_Hotti]

@@Involvod Thanks, it's my '85 Mercury Grand Marquis! A couch on wheels. Haven't yet seen another one like it here in Finland. I like the MB 210s, I had a E430 4matic a couple years ago, a great winter car.

[@Involvod]

@@Vaino_Hotti oh very nice!

[@W210Garage]

I had first generation E240 (From Switzerland), before my E430. That was good car, 2.4 V6 quite good engine. Make more videos about this old lady 😉

[@Involvod]

Nice! Agreed, they are a lovely engine, I'm surprised how well it still runs at 442,000km!

[@W210Garage]

@@Involvod Proper care and it will cover much more km's.

[@RichieRouge206]

Those spheres are just like the Hydrogas or the Citroen units!

[@charlie225]

Hey man kinda sucks when ur merc balls wear out, nice repair and congrats on the new family member!

[@Involvod]

Thanks Charles!

[@branislavnedic8173]

Well done! I have a Merc of the same model year and will do similar repairs once the snow had melted. Thank you for your insights.

[@villejussila1599]

It is a royal piece of runny excrement but it has to be saved nonetheless. :) Not only because the color is perfect but because in Finland those things are called "Väyrynen"... Whoever knows, knows. 😅

[@AstraWerke]

The day a brit taught me the german nickname for a Mercedes. And what a Nickname it is! xD

[@GF_00231]

Love watching your videos even though there are not volvos!

[@Involvod]

Glad you like them!

[@patrickphippspa584]

Hope that church doesn't make a claim on "copyrighted" content with those bells. Love your persistence and ingenuity. I was sitting here yelling "wire brush!" just waiting for that fitting/line to give way. Man I'm DONE with rusty old MBs. I have a '93 245 that I'm working on and I'm AMAZED how flawless that wagon is. Just dropped fuel tank yesterday and not a speck of rust, yet all my MBs and VW literally dissolved away in my yard before I even caught onto how bad they are/were. The VW bug, unfortunately, went straight to the junk yard and two 300tds are probably next. My Volvos never rust and I'm done playing with those German cars for good. Thanks buddy. Love your channel. You have the baby yet?

[@Involvod]

It's good to hear from the joint Volvo and Mercedes owners! I've found this thing to be about as bad as a 240 of the same age that has seen some salt and not been undercoated. That's underneath though not the body panels 😂 We had the baby, all happy and healthy 👍

[@Tobi-ln9xr]

Churches are constantly ringing in German villages.

[@chrispersclassics]

Just noticed your licence plate says Donut. You should sell it to those guys. Lol

[@ALINUED]

Mate I never understand people who see some content in this free area and can say "no thanks, unsub." just because the car brand is changed or anythgin like that. I remember the day when I saw your channel by algorithm, I subbed ASAP and I don't even have Volvo or I want to have one. I subbed becuase we all do the kinda same things to our 90s 80s cars and this is mutual and i'm interested. I believe those who did those toxic comments needed to go anyway and we should be happy for losing those toxicicty.

[@Involvod]

Thanks man, I agree! I'm not into any of the cars the creators I watch own or work on! With the exception of Vice Grip Garage and those American land yachts. Try a redblock Volvo if you come across a great deal, they're amazing I promise 😂

[@ALINUED]

@@Involvod thank you! I will do for sure, after watching all these good videos made by you :))

[@tompas11A3n52KkX]

The best rust penetration oil there is you make yourself. Mix 50 % of each of acetone and ATF oil, shake well before use.

[@Involvod]

Thanks, I still need to try that!!

[@RichieRouge206]

I’ve just realised the number says ‘Donut’ 😂

[@williamwales6619]

Had a big Citroen DX back in the day. It had (Magic carpet) self levelling suspension too. 2 BIG balls on the front (shocks) Had to use a chain wrench to loosen and tighten. What a difference when i replaced them. weren't expensive as i recall. Later 👍

[@Involvod]

Thanks for sharing, the ride was completely transformed on this car too. It's so silky smooth!

[@leoademayyyne4979]

I'm french, and this scares me 🤣 Must be really good now that it works though!

[@Involvod]

It's really silky smooth, you guys sure know how to make a suspension 😀

[@DaveBenson]

Have you tried heat on those connections? Seems like man's best friend for the really rusty spots.

[@realvolvofreak]

Job well done. 👍

[@Involvod]

Thanks 🙂

[@gerardbosvonhohenfels1866]

When it's not working with the penetrating oil, try to heat it up. Mostly it will come loose.

[@Involvod]

Thanks

[@chrispersclassics]

Hold the part that the lines screw into with a pair of slip joint pliers or adjustable wrench

[@KamajiVehicles]

I couldn't imagine being so petty that I'd unsubscribe entirely simply because you got a car I didn't like... How strange of them. Regardless, I love the Volvos and the Mercedes, keep it up 👍

[@Involvod]

I did find it weird, all of the KZbinrs I watch I don't like any of the cars they own or work on 😄 Thanks, glad you enjoy it 👍

[@DaylyDriver]

Make Sure the oil you used is MB 344.0 certified. Otherwise your steering will die. Pentosin TITAN CHF 5364 B is one of the few oils I know which is compatible with MB standards.

[@Involvod]

Thanks for the heads up! I ended up using Febi ZH-M oil which seems to be the right one

[@AnderOtxoa]

I've got a beautiful 850 estate one that I deeply love. Funny thing it is the worst car I have ( I have 8 old ones )and the one I love the most... Hope you get one in your channel one day.

[@Involvod]

Haha nice. I'd love one to be honest, I just don't see many for sale at all

[@drfc94]

A little blow torch does wonders on little lines lie, that

[@Involvod]

Thanks

[@Bassalicious]

8:02 Yeah, I would not want to service the suspension on a DS or something like that. The only thing worse than that would be 1960s Mercedes S-classes where everything is hydraulic, even the powered windows and boot lid.

[@MichaelFullagar]

Check out Citroen independants , you can get these refilled/ upgraded.

[@Involvod]

Thanks 👍

[@bodgymechanic9948]

Love the Merc and the Donut number plate, its just a shame that it looks like the previous owners used sea water to clean it, i think you have your work cut out doing rust repairs.

[@Involvod]

😂😂😂 At the moment it seems to be ok, but we'll see if the German inspector has other ideas

[@bodgymechanic9948]

Just wanted to add that the content of the channel is still great no matter what car is being shown.

[@Involvod]

@@bodgymechanic9948 thanks man I appreciate it 👍

[@Phiyedough]

I don't think a wire brush will do much on those pipes as it is right in the very edge that the pipe corrodes to the fitting. Something like a needle file might work better, or some heat.

[@Involvod]

Thanks for the tips!

[@DeanofMachines]

Atleast it was an easy fix. Hydraulic suspensions like that seem like a huge mess.

[@Involvod]

Yeah man, I would rather a standard set up but you can load these things full and the ride height stays the same which is cool. Plus it's smooth as silk on the road

[@DeanofMachines]

@@Involvod i bet it does ride super smooooth.

[@einfeldt777]

Great video as always, it is nice to hear the “bells of doom”, as you are working hard massaging your German balls free. 😆🤣

[@Involvod]

Thanks 😂

[@winandd8649]

I don't get it: German MOT is so strict, but this car has passed last years MOT (there are new hoses) but without working shocks on the back axle?

[@Involvod]

I think the previous owner must have had a good relationship with the inspector. But the last inspection was 2 years ago and I think if these units fail they probably fail fast once the fluid can leak into the gas part of the sphere

[@tommcl8548]

👍👊

[@shusui9665]

have fun with your car. the w210/s210 are very good cars. we had 4 of them. 1 sedan and 3 s210. if you change oil every 10.000km of the m112 engines theese will last very long. bit valve covers are leaking on theese engines.

[@Involvod]

Thanks! I heard they were a strong engine, hopefully we can get this one to 500tkm!

[@shusui9665]

@@Involvod easy!! have fun with your car.

[@Kalleankasbarn]

Love this gen of mercedes, sad about the rust issue tho, they never survive here in Sweden where I live due to salt 💀they're all rotted beyond belief

[@Involvod]

Yeah they're getting rare now and I haven't seen a rust free example for sale yet!

[@razvanpop366]

de ce nu mai postezi ?

[@mattiasrichter1895]

You would have bought a Volvo V70N with real shock absorbers without those problems! 😅👍

[@trueg66]

Never understood why people are fascinated by accidents, and this is what I'm watching now...

[@vladekas5539]

👍

[@Buffalobulltofta]

Jah man Sledge, love a good W210 and the content but this thing is one crusty canoe and is keeping even me up at night. The old cliche about a cheap Mercedes being an expensive Mercedes etc. Have you thought about importing a P80/P2 from Sweden? Prices are a lot lower than in Germany and we are many here that could help you out.

[@Involvod]

Thanks, maybe one day! 👍

[@Buffalobulltofta]

@@Involvod just let us know! Might be a good way to find a bargain. I saw a mint cond. dark green S210 the other day which of course is very rare up here, beautiful car, sure has a lot of presence and they drive great if sorted.

[@mayflowerlash11]

You're a bit keen Sledge, I think that MB is a bit too salty. Cuedos for persistence.