Hi Nudge, it's been a long time between drinks, but that doesn't mean that your learned and knowledgeable post is not appreciated. In fact, it would appear that you are pretty well hands-on, and it is always handy to get more than one opinion.
The Regulators on 116s have to work hard - the motors are fine, but the sheer angle of the actuating arms, especially on the front, place great stress on the alloy base plates. They can be straightened to some degree, but one needs to be super careful not to damage them further, or in fact break or crack them. Quite frankly, I have seen better designs, but then again we shouldn't forget that some units are likely to be as old as the car itself. Regards Styria