That's right. $54,000 and change. All because of some nasty weather (and some poor judgement). I've been with MB for nearly twenty years, but I've never seen a repair bill like this.

Here's what hapened. One of my clients' drove his 2007 SL600 through some "standing water", during a torrential downpour back in September. The engine started running rough, then stalled. It re-started but didn't sound right. He called MB Roadside Assistance to ask what to do. The Roadside Tech (from my dealership), has heard this story before, so he sent out a flat-bed to haul it back to the shop.

The next morning we went out and started the engine. It had a noticeable knock, but still ran on all twelve cylinders. There were obvious signs of water ingestion, so we advised he owner to contact his insurance company. Later that day, an insurance adjuster came in to have a look. He gave us the OK for a few hours of diagnosis, so we did a borescope inspection. We found a nice scratch on the #10 cylinder wall, and what looked like a small chip on the edge of the piston. We reported our findings to the insurance guy and he agreed to pay the bill to remove the cylinder head for a closer look. Unfortunately, the cylinder wall was indeed ruined.

Normally under these circumstances, we would write an estimate for a complete, new engine from the factory. As it turns out, the M275, twin-turbo V12 engine is not available as a replacement part, so we had to build one. We wrote an estimate for a new engine block (two-piece, bedplate construction), a new crankshaft, all the bottom-end bearings, connecting rods, fitted pistons w/rings, both turbo-chargers, catalytic converters, and all the O2 sensors. Oh yeah, I almost forgot. We rounded off the labor time to one-hundred hours. The insurance company never even blinked. They approved the job, so we ordered the parts. That's when the problems started.

Most of the parts arrived within two weeks (everything was on back-order). The engine block showed up about a week later. We looked over everything closely and discovered that MB sent us a block for a right-hand drive car! We re-ordered the block, and two weeks later the correct one showed up. Finally, nearly six weeks after the car arrived at the shop, we had everything we needed (minus a few incidentals) to start the job.

Everything went smoothly, and three weeks later , we lit it up. Nothing leaked, it didn't throw any fault codes, and it ran like a beast. We drove it around for three more days, re-checked everything, got it detailed, and returned it to the owner.

He told me he was going to pay closer attention to the Weather Channel in the future, and if necessary, drive his GL.

WOW!!!

That is mental. I'm guessing everyone insured under that company is getting a quiet, blanket 0.002% increase in their policies to cover this?

That is crazy. What a set or circumstances.

Does make me feel slightly better about potentially having to do some minor engine repairs myself (in comparison).

Thanks for sharing.

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Chris
2007 E550 4Matic - 61,000 Km - Iridium Silver, black leather, Sport package, Premium 2 package
2007 GL450 4Matic - 62,000 Km - Obsidian Black Metallic, black leather, all options
1998 E430 - sold
1989 300E - 333,000 Km - sold
1977 280E - sold
1971 250 - retired

"And a frign hat. They gave me a hat at the annual benefits meeting. I said. how does this benefit me. I dont have anything from the company.. So they gave me a hat." - TheDon

amazing.. You would think they would have turn key crate engines for events like this

so what did you do with the rest of the "junk" engine..

Did you re use anything off of the original engine?

For once,, insurance did what it was supposed to do. Can you divulge the insurance company ?

__________________
95 SL500 Smoke Silver, Parchment 64K
07 E350 4matic Station Wagon White 34K
02 E320 4Matic Silver/grey 80K
05 F150 Silver 44K

It was Geico. FWIW, I have very few problems with insurance companies. They rarely nickle-and-dime us.

The crank couldn't have been polished? What was wrong with the rods?

__________________
Jim

I guess I'll be expecting a slight rate increase next month

Actually, the crank didn't have a mark on it. The #10 rod was bent.

In cases of water ingestion, no chances are taken. If there's the slightest possibility of unseen damage, the entire engine is scrapped. The insurance companies don't want to become the warranty provider in cases like these. That's why the catalytic converters, turbos', and O2 sensors were replaced. Any parts that may have suffered water damage are replaced.

And what happened to the old parts?

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2009 E320 Bluetec 117,000
1995 E300D 306,000 Sold
1996 Ford Taurus LX 130,000 Sold
1985 300TD Still 225,000 Sold
2016 Ford Fusion 24,900

Unless Geico wants them, they get left at the shop.

Personally I had a $11,000 ticket before- on a 1986 420SEL. I believe biggest one at our shop in the 4 years it's been open was $21,000 on a ML. 54K is insane!!!!!

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1980 500SE/AMG Euro
1981 500SEL Euro
1982 380SEL
1983 300TD
1983 500SEC/AMG Euro
1984 500SEC
1984 300TD Euro
1986 190E 2.3-16
1986 190E 2.3
1987 300D
1997 C36 AMG
2003 C320T 4matic

past: 1969 280SE 4.5 | 1978 240D | 1978 300D | 1981 300SD | 1981 300SD | 1982 300CD | 1983 300CD | 1983 300SD | 1983 380SEC | 1984 300D | 1984 300D | 1984 300TD | 1984 500SEL | 1984 300SD | 1985 300D | 1986 300E | 1986 560SEL | 1986 560SEL/Carat | 1987 560SEC | 1991 300D 2.5 | 2006 R350

I call dibs.........

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Thank You!
Fred
2009 ML350
2004 SL600
2004 SL500
1996 SL600
2002 SLK32
2005 CLK320 cabrio
2003 ML350
1997 C280 Sport

might I be able to have a piston/rod as a souvenir ^_^

Would a V12 block fit into a W210 chassis?

__________________
Chris
2007 E550 4Matic - 61,000 Km - Iridium Silver, black leather, Sport package, Premium 2 package
2007 GL450 4Matic - 62,000 Km - Obsidian Black Metallic, black leather, all options
1998 E430 - sold
1989 300E - 333,000 Km - sold
1977 280E - sold
1971 250 - retired

"And a frign hat. They gave me a hat at the annual benefits meeting. I said. how does this benefit me. I dont have anything from the company.. So they gave me a hat." - TheDon

Thats just plain crazy How high was that water?!!!

Your service advisor's missed their chance to use one of the funniest lines from the movie "Risky Business".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ncCMLeunx4c

__________________
Jonathan

2011 Mazda2
2000 E320 4Matic Wagon
1994 C280 (retired)