A really esoteric tool.

[Shvegel]

So I was re-assembling my instrument panel when I realized I had a factory tool for a job that I had never done and probably will never do again.  The time was ripe to try it out.

[Dave H]

Wish I’d had one of those a few weeks back, would of saved me scratching the dash when the screwdriver slipped 👍

[Aaron h]

These are still available new for very little money.  Each end of the tool has different sizes, too!   

[Shvegel]

Aaron,
Nice to know.  I have always kept and eye out for tools on eBay but lately the pricing on some of it has become ridiculous. I have a few I might turn over to the club after my car is done. 

Puller for ATE brake pads:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Mercedes-Benz-Special-Tool-116-589-04-33-00-116589043300/223822873484?hash=item341ce2038c:g:9jQAAOSwp2deCTRe

[Aaron h]

Aaron,
Nice to know.  I have always kept and eye out for tools on eBay but lately the pricing on some of it has become ridiculous. I have a few I might turn over to the club after my car is done. 

Puller for ATE brake pads:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Mercedes-Benz-Special-Tool-116-589-04-33-00-116589043300/223822873484?hash=item341ce2038c:g:9jQAAOSwp2deCTRe

Well, the world is full of dreamers.  I have to assume that when people get a hold of any tool related to a Mercedes they get dollar sign in their eyes imagining how much they could sell it for.  I realize these types of tools are unique to certain models of Mercedes, but when we realize how little demand there is for them the current prices on ebay are very disconcerting.  Lest we forget that even fewer know what the tools are or how to use them.  I've noticed the same thing regarding service and factory literature as of late, too.  $300, $400. and even $600 for an owners manual?! Those are definitely people you don't want to buy from.  I've said it before, and I'll say a million more times before I die......."Greed is a very ugly thing, and no one wears it well".

[MikeSimon]

I second these remarks, Aaron. All over the vintage vehicle market, both cars and motorcycles, certain buzz-words light up the $$$$-sign in some people's heads. Just browse through the offerings on BaT or watch other specific forums and you will find that anything with a certain name on it, is offered in the equivalent for it's weight in gold.

[stickandrudderman]

Most of this stuff is way overpriced.
There is one special tool that that seller linked above has which I have had and used for 40 years. That is the 5mm allen key T bar tool (I also have the 6mm). They're made by Hazet and both of mine are flattened in the middle of the handle where they've been hit by a hammer as a means of ensuring positive location and helping to shift stubborn screws. I've been through many snap-on allen sockets that are like plasticine compared to these tools and if you can get some I would highly recommend that you do.

[mdsalemi]

Yes, yes, yes. A lot of things for "Mercedes-Benz" are seemingly overpriced. Why, take my book Pagoda Style for example. Someone was trying sell one on eBay a while back for well over $1,000. Today, there are two listed on eBay, one for $497.50, the other for $350.00. Monthly payments of just $42.50 with eBay credit! One on Amazon is over $600. As a reminder, there were those that THOUGHT about participating in the Pagoda Style project then bowed out. Those that stayed paid $190. They received two books...and $221 back, meaning the net cost per book for the original participants was just -$15.50 each. Yes, MINUS $15.50 each. Just like the price of oil that went negative a few weeks ago...but I digress.

OK, all joking aside, ANY German made tool is going to be costly. A Hazet "water pump pliers" which is pretty much a Channel Lock pliers, sells for over $80; an equivalent Channel Lock is $18 (Made in USA) and a Gedore (Germany?) is $38.  A WiHa (German) screwdriver set is $80; A Klein (USA) is $60; a Craftsman is $40. There are a lot of German tool manufacturers and you can get, if you look, most of them in the USA.

I do have four complete full sets of Proxxon tools, made in Germany. I got them when a friend was travelling back and forth and the dollar was high and euro was low. I figured that German nuts and bolts prefer German tools. 

[ja17]

Yes, "Pagoda Style", was an excellent value, excellent quality and excellent all around experience! Thank you again Michael!

[Shvegel]

Michael,
When I taught for BMW I always told my students the European screwdrivers fit European screws.  I met a design engineer a few years ago that there actually is 3 standards for the angles etc on a standard Phillips head screw Asian, US and European.   I am a big fan of Wiha screwdrivers particular the heavy duty line (available on Amazon) and used to bring in a European slotted screw to school and wave it around atop a Wiha screwdriver to show how tight the tolerances were. 

[MikeSimon]

Cross-slot (Philips) screwdrivers and screws are to be dealt with carefully. The most common mistake is to use a US Philips on a JIS (Japanese Industrial Standard) screw. You will mangle it.
The US style is designed to "cam out" when a certain torque is reached, thus the terrible performance. The German DIN "Kreuzschlitz" is closer to the US, because it originally derived from that design, but still not quite the same. That's why German manufacturers quite some time ago change to Torx and 3-Square (12-point) heads.
Working on Japanese motorcycles (currently 12 of them in the fleet) required me to make conscious picks about tools. Working on modern German cars, reuires me to do the same.

[mmizesko]

Michael, 

The water pump pliers are Heyco 300's and if findable are currently going between $125 and $200 each, depending on condition.  I haven't seen any with the Mercedes star for over a year.

Complete tool kits are going for $1500 - $2500 on ebay.

Oh well, I'll keep my dozen for now.

Mike

[mrfatboy]

Last week there was a early set (diamond  jaw) with star of pliers on eBay for $14. Several of us were watching them for a week until the bidding closed.

They were $14 until the last 15 seconds. They went for $68.

Beware of eBay snipers 🤣

🤣🤣🤣

[mdsalemi]

Michael, 

The water pump pliers are Heyco 300's and if findable are currently going between $125 and $200 each, depending on condition.  I haven't seen any with the Mercedes star for over a year.

The Mercedes-Benz Star logo on a Heyco tools says a lot about "original to an MB tool kit" and nothing about functionality. Our friend at Authentic Classics has new Heyco 300's for $50. (with a great review from JonnyB!) No, they do not have the star on them. But if function is what you are after they'll be fine. So will Channel Locks, or any number of other quality tools.

Back a few years ago, I changed the water pump on my 280SL. I did not need the slip joint pliers, and wonder why they are called that...I did use a couple of esoteric tools I had...but not those pliers.

I'm well aware of the price of tool kits. Thank goodness I put mine together years ago.

[mmizesko]

As Fernando Llamas said... "It's not how you feel, It's how you look"

Apologies to Billy Crystal.

Mike

[wayne R]

With tool prices,we have alot of catching up to get to Ferrari prices,
example   ebay  item number--172633050694--,one red phillips screw driver-$995.00
and the seller has a Ferrari  365 tool kit for $32500.00,he has 100% feedback and over ,
6311 sales.----So perhaps our Pagoda tool kits are a bargain.