She's a gonna be for sale soon... - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

blackmercedes · #1 08-06-2002, 11:53 PM

Well, our 1998 E300 is out of commission again.

In the last few months this car has really tested our resolve. Over the weekend, the CE light came on (again!) and it started, but ran really rough.

It has new glow plugs.

It has lots of other new parts, too.

So, this morning it was "hooked" to the dealer. They have multiple codes, including a MAS and low voltage. The MAS is a month old. The battery is old, but the car seems to crank fine and the lights are bright.

Well, anyway, they are going to spend some time sorting it out (all under Signature Warranty, whew). We're taking off for three weeks, and the C230 is once again called to duty. As trusty as the E300 is not.

Anyway, when we get back I think we're going to sell the E300.

The Warden · #2 08-07-2002, 12:03 AM

Just wondering, what kinda problems have you been having with the car? Also, how many times has it been in the shop since you got it?

If you bought the car new, I'm wondering if you could Lemon-Law it...a diesel with as many problems as you're implying at 57K miles, something's up...that does not sound right.

Good luck! Sad to see you give up on her, but I can't blame ya...

speedy300Dturbo · #3 08-07-2002, 12:03 AM

As wonderful as the performance is in those E300 Turbodiesels, I've heard of many miscellaneous problems that seem to pop up. The W210 chassis doesn't seem nearly as trouble free as the W124 or W123.

blackmercedes · #4 08-07-2002, 12:13 AM

We have no lemon laws in Canada. SOL.

Also, the car has 57,000 kilometers (35,000 miles).

Problems?

MAS

Glow plugs

Front crank seal (Twice)

Rear crank seal

Final drive seals (all three, Twice!)

ACC blower motor

Steering rack

Front lower ball joints

Steering damper (Twice)

Belt tensioner & shock

If the car had not been under warranty, this list would have been THOUSANDS of dollars. I am at a crossroads on this car. Perhaps it will be completely sorted out, or perhaps it's time to give up and send 'er down the road. There is tons of warranty left, and depsite still owing money on the car, we've got tons of equity. More than enough for a hefty down on a new car, or outright buy an older one.

engatwork · #5 08-07-2002, 06:09 AM

It is amazing that you have had to replace the front/rear seals at that low a mileage. I'm wondering though, what is a "final drive seal"?

blackmercedes · #6 08-07-2002, 10:01 AM

Differential.

Cap'n Carageous · #7 08-07-2002, 10:04 AM

Sounds like that car has:
A: Speedo rolled back
B: Dogged out badly
C: Hitler's ghost (unless of course it's already in mine)

jcyuhn · #8 08-07-2002, 10:25 AM

I've owned a 1998 E300 for 4+ years now. I didn't purchase it brand new, but it wasn't very used, either. Mine has not been the most reliable car, but I think John's is worse

I've had some of the same problems as John, some he won't have, and some he hasn't had yet. Many of the early 210.025 cars had trouble with the transmission electronics - one owner I met had his fail in Austria during European delivery! Mine died in the much less exciting locale of Plano, Texas. This problem puts the transmission into "limp-home" mode - you're not stranded, but you can only manage 30MPH. I limped on over to the dealer - 2 miles away - and handed them the car. It was fixed under warranty, and has stayed fixed for three years. My main complaint here is that it hunkered down in the shop for 14 days while the part was manufactured in Germany, shipped to the US, had software installed, and finally wound it's way down to Dallas.

All was well for about a year. Then the car started running rough during cold starts and smoking a little bit. No other symptoms, and it only did it first thing in the morning. Being a diesel guy, I figured it was a glow plug on its way out, and ignored the problem. Eventually it set the check engine light. I dutifully hauled it into the dealer, where they replaced the glow plugs and the controller. Car was fixed right the first time, and has stayed fixed, but again squatted in the shop for ~10 days. They only had four glow plugs in Dallas, and had to ship in the last two.

Here's one which John needs to know about - he hasn't had this problem yet, but will. The car started surging on the highway - a little bit of power loss, then it would come right back. On our Christmas road trip last year, it didn't want to start after lunch. Finally got it going, though the surging was worse. Made it to our destination, and checked under the hood. Tons of air bubbles running around in the clear fuel lines. Promptly dropped the car at the nearest MB dealer. They replaced all the fuel lines and the MAS, which was throwing a code. (Deteriorated o-rings causing air leaks into the fuel system are a well known problem with the OM606 engine - at least to the indy mechanics, if not the dealers...)

Other than that, the CD changer died and was replaced under warranty, and I've had a burned out bulb or two. Soft issues such as alignment, brake pad wear, and tire wear have all been very good.

So it's now about five years old. In the time I've owned it, it's never failed to start and never failed to get me to my destination. It's been in the shop four times, which is a bit high. Of more concern is that three of the problems affected the utility of the car - they had to be repaired immediately.

Would I sell it? No, I don't think so. It's a great car in too many ways. It's under warranty for six more years, and it's paid for. Besides, what would I replace it with? Lexus doesn't make anything which interests me, the BMW 5-series has too cramped an interior. The only things which interest me are an E55, or perhaps an E430 with a Kleeman supercharger - and both of those are out of the frying pan, into the fire. Think I'll keep it.

searaypaul · #9 08-07-2002, 10:25 PM

Do a search using my screen name. I have a 1999 E300 and it was a real nightmare for awhile. Everything in the car broke. Most of the problems were electrical in nature and I was about to let someone else hold the car when I encountered a good mechinac In South Carolina where I live. One of the controllers was bad and he replaced it for a price but at least the car stopped giving me trouble. Since then I have loved my car.

Everything under the sun was replaced under warrenty. With about 51000 miles the A/C went south while I was in Atlanta. I had a miserable drive home to SC. When I took the car in Mercedes paid only a portion of the bill even though the car had been in repeatdly for error codes relating to the a/c. That was not right since the car was barely out of warrenty.

They will never see the car again. I hope that your problems get go away and that you will get to enjoy the car.

Paul

rickjordan · #10 08-07-2002, 11:46 PM

I think this is going to be more and more of a problem for all car companies. As cars become more complex, electronicly, the more problems you will get. Can you imagine what these cars with gps/navagation systems are gong to be like in 15 years?

The Warden · #11 08-08-2002, 02:58 AM

Rick, repeat after me:

123's are our friends.

Seriously, sorry to hear about all the problems...and good luck with whicheve ryou choose! Sorry I can't help much; I know very little about electronic stuff; that's why I stick to pure mechanical vehicles...

P.E.Haiges · #12 08-08-2002, 08:46 AM

I would keep it until the warranty ran out. Maybe everything will be fixed by then with parts that don't have bugs in them.

P E H

blackmercedes · #13 08-08-2002, 09:38 AM

Oddly enough, only the blower motor failure is "electronic" in nature. Practically all the problems with this car have been mechanical.

The steering damper and lower front ball joints are probably due to our terrible roads. But a new steering rack? And all those oil leaks! The real thing that is making us dislike this car is it's propensity to NOT start and run. This is not the first time the car has been towed to the dealer.

treetrimmer · #14 01-11-2012, 01:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jcyuhn

I've owned a 1998 E300 for 4+ years now. I didn't purchase it brand new, but it wasn't very used, either. Mine has not been the most reliable car, but I think John's is worse

I've had some of the same problems as John, some he won't have, and some he hasn't had yet. Many of the early 210.025 cars had trouble with the transmission electronics - one owner I met had his fail in Austria during European delivery! Mine died in the much less exciting locale of Plano, Texas. This problem puts the transmission into "limp-home" mode - you're not stranded, but you can only manage 30MPH. I limped on over to the dealer - 2 miles away - and handed them the car. It was fixed under warranty, and has stayed fixed for three years. My main complaint here is that it hunkered down in the shop for 14 days while the part was manufactured in Germany, shipped to the US, had software installed, and finally wound it's way down to Dallas.

All was well for about a year. Then the car started running rough during cold starts and smoking a little bit. No other symptoms, and it only did it first thing in the morning. Being a diesel guy, I figured it was a glow plug on its way out, and ignored the problem. Eventually it set the check engine light. I dutifully hauled it into the dealer, where they replaced the glow plugs and the controller. Car was fixed right the first time, and has stayed fixed, but again squatted in the shop for ~10 days. They only had four glow plugs in Dallas, and had to ship in the last two.

Here's one which John needs to know about - he hasn't had this problem yet, but will. The car started surging on the highway - a little bit of power loss, then it would come right back. On our Christmas road trip last year, it didn't want to start after lunch. Finally got it going, though the surging was worse. Made it to our destination, and checked under the hood. Tons of air bubbles running around in the clear fuel lines. Promptly dropped the car at the nearest MB dealer. They replaced all the fuel lines and the MAS, which was throwing a code. (Deteriorated o-rings causing air leaks into the fuel system are a well known problem with the OM606 engine - at least to the indy mechanics, if not the dealers...)

Other than that, the CD changer died and was replaced under warranty, and I've had a burned out bulb or two. Soft issues such as alignment, brake pad wear, and tire wear have all been very good.

So it's now about five years old. In the time I've owned it, it's never failed to start and never failed to get me to my destination. It's been in the shop four times, which is a bit high. Of more concern is that three of the problems affected the utility of the car - they had to be repaired immediately.

Would I sell it? No, I don't think so. It's a great car in too many ways. It's under warranty for six more years, and it's paid for. Besides, what would I replace it with? Lexus doesn't make anything which interests me, the BMW 5-series has too cramped an interior. The only things which interest me are an E55, or perhaps an E430 with a Kleeman supercharger - and both of those are out of the frying pan, into the fire. Think I'll keep it.

Reviving a really old thread here, does anyone know which O-rings are being referred to here IRT the fuel system? TIA.

connerm · #15 01-11-2012, 02:53 PM

I know what o-rings they're talking about. I replaced all my fuel delivery pipe orings two weeks ago on my 95 606. There are two sizes (I have the part numbers at home). I think that there are about 8 or 9 total orings not counting the oddball that fits on the fuel prefilter.

A couple of the fuel pipes have metal fittings (with crush washers) on one end and plastic fittings (with orings) on the other. I only replaced the orings - not the crush washers. This job was a snap with the intake manifold and cossover pipe removed.

A key piece of information to changing orings on a 606 is to know that you have to push the white horseshoe shaped plastic clip onto the pipe to remove the fitting. The horseshoe must make a ringer. (learned that on this forum years ago) Clip stays on the fitting. Try to remove it and you'll break it.