Not impressed with german engineering so far! E55 AMG on tow
Discussion
Bought a W211 E55 AMG a week ago. Gave it the usual test drive, everything seemed ok. However the next day when driving down the motorway the power from the car seemed to be pulsing in/out. Phoned the dealer I bought it from and was given the usual "well it was OK when we had it".
Next day the car starts bucking when trying to pull away slowly. Shortly followed by and engine light with the following codes:
P0505 Idle Control Malfunction
P0410 Secondary Air Injector Malfunction
Seemed quite plausible that the idle control malfunction could have been related to the bucking/pulsing issues, so I call the dealer back and he agrees to pay to have it looked at and repaired.
On the way down to a Merc specialist this evening I pull out of a junction only to flung into the back of my seat by the car accelerating ON ITS OWN! I jam the brakes on and the car starts bucking like a bronco and then there's absolutely no response from the accelerator pedal at all!
I manage to get the car into a side road with it bunyhopping all the way, get out my code reader and get the following codes:
P0444 Evaporative Emission System Purge Valve Open
P0638 Throttle Control Range
P0105 Manifold Absolute Pressure Circuit
Car is idling like mad going from 600-2000rpm on its own. Also I noticed quite a lot of smoke rising from the left-rear of the engine possibly from the exhaust manifold!
So yeah, my first week of owning my first German car hasn't been too awesome
Next day the car starts bucking when trying to pull away slowly. Shortly followed by and engine light with the following codes:
P0505 Idle Control Malfunction
P0410 Secondary Air Injector Malfunction
Seemed quite plausible that the idle control malfunction could have been related to the bucking/pulsing issues, so I call the dealer back and he agrees to pay to have it looked at and repaired.
On the way down to a Merc specialist this evening I pull out of a junction only to flung into the back of my seat by the car accelerating ON ITS OWN! I jam the brakes on and the car starts bucking like a bronco and then there's absolutely no response from the accelerator pedal at all!
I manage to get the car into a side road with it bunyhopping all the way, get out my code reader and get the following codes:
P0444 Evaporative Emission System Purge Valve Open
P0638 Throttle Control Range
P0105 Manifold Absolute Pressure Circuit
Car is idling like mad going from 600-2000rpm on its own. Also I noticed quite a lot of smoke rising from the left-rear of the engine possibly from the exhaust manifold!
So yeah, my first week of owning my first German car hasn't been too awesome
PJ S said:
I'd be handing ths keys back, and rejecting it. Even if they fixed it, I'd have continuous niggling doubts as to when it's going to act up with something else.
The thought had crossed my mind. However, I've told the specialist its with to check absolutely everything over and quote for anything that is likely to go wrong/going wrong/gone wrong. Ill then present the dealer with the quote and see if he's willing to pay it. If not, he'll be getting the keys back.I'm expecting the quote to include....
- New MAP sensor
- New Throttle Sensor
- New secondary air pump
- New valve cover gaskets ( i think this is where oil is leaking onto manifold)
- New engine and transmission mounts
As an on-the-side question: if a car has an engine check light on, but the fault is not critical to the functioning of the car. Should the dealer still sort it?
jimxms said:
As an on-the-side question: if a car has an engine check light on, but the fault is not critical to the functioning of the car. Should the dealer still sort it?
I would have thought so.Sorry to hear about your bad luck, hope it all pans out well. Maybe try some of the Merc specific forums for any hints?
carreauchompeur said:
What sort of dealer?
Not a main dealer/specialist. But they've got a decent sized forecourt, a service bay and about 30 cars. They haven't said/done anything _yet_to give me bad vibes about them, other than trying to say that my car bunnyhoping down the road was because it was in 'limp home' mode.Obviously I quickly corrected them on the fact that limp home does not actually mean it rides home feeling like its got two wonky wheels.
You may have made a mistake taking it to a specialist to look at rather than rejecting it straight back to the dealer.
Was the Engine Mgmt Light on when you bought the car? If so, dealer could argue that you purchased the car with knowledge that there was a fault. On the other hand, you could take the position that the fault was there when they sold you the car.
Take a look at the CAB website. Seems to have some useful views on buying 2nd hand cars from dealers.
http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/index/your_world/con...
Was the Engine Mgmt Light on when you bought the car? If so, dealer could argue that you purchased the car with knowledge that there was a fault. On the other hand, you could take the position that the fault was there when they sold you the car.
Take a look at the CAB website. Seems to have some useful views on buying 2nd hand cars from dealers.
http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/index/your_world/con...
i would say get rid of that car, it sounds like its going to be no end of trouble and is sounding like its going to cost you more than its worth to repair it. my mums renault megane was bought for £450 and it has never broken, and has sailed though 2 mot's and has ticked over 130'000 miles! true bangernomics 
Tbh broken throttle position sensor was my first thought too, that would explain the bucking and involuntary acceleration and it's probably caused all of those other faults too.
Sounds a bit of a nightmare, tbh with a car like that the bills could really hurt in the long run. I'd be asking for my money back.
Sounds a bit of a nightmare, tbh with a car like that the bills could really hurt in the long run. I'd be asking for my money back.
syncro. said:
Do you really think an 05 plate with 127k on it should be constantly breaking down....
my thoughts exactly, what mileage is that with fsh these days, nothing, I know old diesels/petrols that do much more with much less problems, just wear and tear. Seems to me that cars have got to technical and parts have been made badly.Ford you say, isnt there a thread about the ford engines in range rovers blowing turbos at low mileage, shouldnt happen.
t...saladdodger said:
I dont disbelieve you, ive not owned one, but to hear this about a merc AMG is heartbreaking
what do you drive now dude
Have a Z4 and a fabia VRS....what do you drive now dude
Nowts gone wrong at all on these two...
The merc had an amazing engine...but I just gave up....replacing the gearbox was the last straw. Proper Friday car....
For some reason Merc let the w211 be crap. From what I remember they were built in South Africa...
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