Mercedes-Benz E320CDi Avantgarde W210
Discussion
135,712 miles. Picked up the Krakow taxi on Friday after a week with it at Alex Crow MB specialist in Stowmarket.
EGR shunt refitted but it was still running lumpy occasionally. This turned out ot be the EGR valve not closing properly so as a belt and braces job, he made up and fitted a blanking plate. Full power restored at last and black smoke almost all gone!
Also noted was a diesel leak from the pump at the front of the engine so while he had it, he fitted new pump seals and a new V-belt as the old one was contaminated with diesel. All told, £285.60
Now that I know I don't need an engine ECU, I can look forward to some other jobs requiring attention.
A big recommendation for Alex Crow if you have a Mercedes.
EGR shunt refitted but it was still running lumpy occasionally. This turned out ot be the EGR valve not closing properly so as a belt and braces job, he made up and fitted a blanking plate. Full power restored at last and black smoke almost all gone!
Also noted was a diesel leak from the pump at the front of the engine so while he had it, he fitted new pump seals and a new V-belt as the old one was contaminated with diesel. All told, £285.60
Now that I know I don't need an engine ECU, I can look forward to some other jobs requiring attention.
A big recommendation for Alex Crow if you have a Mercedes.
Unfortunately last week it would not start, just turned over but wouldn't fire. Had it recovered to an MB specialist who diagnosed the high pressure pump leaking. This was replaced and now starts on the first turn as before
Recovery: £93.00 (will claim £65 for recovery from insurance)
Injection pump fitted: £413
Refund for pump seals and labour: -£197
Hopefully that's all my breakdowns done for winter!
Recovery: £93.00 (will claim £65 for recovery from insurance)
Injection pump fitted: £413
Refund for pump seals and labour: -£197
Hopefully that's all my breakdowns done for winter!
Have really enjoyed following the labour of love your having with your E320. I myself have a 2000 E320 cdi elegance has done 61000 miles but while changing her rear brake pads have noticed the suspension spring cups are pretty rotten and will require cutting off and new ones welded. Also the sway bar bushes are pretty perished so have a fair bit to be getting on with i enjoy doing the work myself and think mercedes are great cars to work on.
Headlamps were pointing to the floor (factory xenons) so I suspected a levelling rod had come adrift. Booked in to AutoMerc of Newbury and sure enough it was broken. Caused by the rear spring snapping in half. New spring and rod and £222 later, all back up and running.
Oddly the car didn't seem to ride any differently. Next up: a road-speed related grumbling noise, possibly a hub bearing.
Oddly the car didn't seem to ride any differently. Next up: a road-speed related grumbling noise, possibly a hub bearing.
tobinen said:
2 x Continental SportContact 3 (MO) for the rear: £211.24
The Michelins they replace only lasted 12,000 miles which is very disappointing, so I hope these fare better.
Front 2 will need replacing next month.
Love the car OP, very nice. Those Continental tyres should do fine, I've a set on the back of my V60 Volvo that have been on since new, 2 years old and 53,000 mainly motorway miles later and they are doing fine. Replaced the fronts at 34k miles with a pair of the same! The Michelins they replace only lasted 12,000 miles which is very disappointing, so I hope these fare better.
Front 2 will need replacing next month.
I've had a large crack in the windscreen lengthen to about 20 cms and the MoT is due next week so Auto Windscreens is coming (weather permitting) on Monday for a new screen. In other news, all the speakers powered by the amp have stopped working though the amp power light is on. Not sure on that.
Just past 143,800 miles now.
New screen fitted today. Bloke seemed pretty good, definitely experienced anyway. £80 fee for my excess. I think the time may be drawing close where I will move this on after a few more jobs on it. Flat hunting at the moment and two cars is a definite hindrance in my searches.
Edit: mileage correction
New screen fitted today. Bloke seemed pretty good, definitely experienced anyway. £80 fee for my excess. I think the time may be drawing close where I will move this on after a few more jobs on it. Flat hunting at the moment and two cars is a definite hindrance in my searches.
Edit: mileage correction
Edited by tobinen on Friday 16th October 08:17
Had mine 5 years now (never had a car more than 12 months till this one) and must say I love it. IMO best diesel engine ever made. Regularly returns 40mpg and if I am very careful have seen 48mpg!! And bury your foot and there is not much that will keep up.
Downside is the rust. 2 new front wings when I bought it because I could poke my fingers through them!!Not good for any car at 10 years old let alone a Mercedes. Since then its got worse. Last MOT involved £160 worth of welding on the cills.
Still, there isn't a car on the road that does what it does for the money so I will keep on welding.
Don't sell it,you'll be sorry.
Downside is the rust. 2 new front wings when I bought it because I could poke my fingers through them!!Not good for any car at 10 years old let alone a Mercedes. Since then its got worse. Last MOT involved £160 worth of welding on the cills.
Still, there isn't a car on the road that does what it does for the money so I will keep on welding.
Don't sell it,you'll be sorry.
I had the Kenwood head unit and Hertz speakers and amp removed yesterday - £150. Somehow they've manged to not restore the operation of the steering wheels controls and the central display so it will have to go back.
I've decided that to fit the head unit into the C140 is just not practical. There was a larger than double-DIN console facia made for the Japan market but it's no longer serviced, plus I heard rumours they were upper three figures in price.
Therefore I have an 18 month old Kenwood DNX5230DAB up for grabs.
I've decided that to fit the head unit into the C140 is just not practical. There was a larger than double-DIN console facia made for the Japan market but it's no longer serviced, plus I heard rumours they were upper three figures in price.
Therefore I have an 18 month old Kenwood DNX5230DAB up for grabs.
I applaud your efforts to keep this thing going, but I can't help but think that for a very expensive car that is only 13 years old and has not really done a particularly high mileage it really does have a lot of problems. I thought rust was the only issue with the W210 but it really doesn't seem to be a very well designed and built car at all.
Considering how much time and money you are pouring into this might it not be worth starting again from a slightly more robust starting point? I've run loads of older and higher mileage cars and none have been nearly as big a money pit as your W210.
For example my OH has a 2003 Volvo V70 T5 as the family snotter that we picked up in 2011 for less than £5k and have taken from 70K to 150K with absolutely no mechanical sympathy of any sort (she drives it like she has stolen it ALL the time). Total non service repairs in that time have amounted to £1k and that was to fix a fault that was present when I bought it, and was allowed for in the price. Even my much despised S-Type Jaguar diesel wasn't this much trouble to get to 150K. The V70 is still on original suspension, exhaust, all engine components/ancillaries and even the battery. I'd expect no less from any other decent modern car. That Merc seems to be more akin to running a Rover 800 from the 80s (I did that too).
Considering how much time and money you are pouring into this might it not be worth starting again from a slightly more robust starting point? I've run loads of older and higher mileage cars and none have been nearly as big a money pit as your W210.
For example my OH has a 2003 Volvo V70 T5 as the family snotter that we picked up in 2011 for less than £5k and have taken from 70K to 150K with absolutely no mechanical sympathy of any sort (she drives it like she has stolen it ALL the time). Total non service repairs in that time have amounted to £1k and that was to fix a fault that was present when I bought it, and was allowed for in the price. Even my much despised S-Type Jaguar diesel wasn't this much trouble to get to 150K. The V70 is still on original suspension, exhaust, all engine components/ancillaries and even the battery. I'd expect no less from any other decent modern car. That Merc seems to be more akin to running a Rover 800 from the 80s (I did that too).
Edited by dme123 on Tuesday 20th October 11:01
Alternator has packed up and with that my brother has had enough maintaining it, so its days are numbered. He's spent about £1,000 since the new year and I don't blame him. I gave to him to use as he wishes as long as he paid for the upkeep as he didn't have a car when he came back from working abroad.
Time to get rid I think while it still has some months left on the MoT.
Time to get rid I think while it still has some months left on the MoT.
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