PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum - View Single Post

StevenB · #7 06-06-2004, 11:23 PM

MrCjames and Gentlemen,

Wow, thanks for the replies. I posted that one a long time ago.

You guys are right, the problem is related to the resonance flaps.
It seems that Mercedes, in their infinite wisdom, decided to plumb both the crankcase vapors and the EGR gases into the intake manifold. Let's see, oily vapors mixed with hot exhaust gases......what might that cause? Carbon? Or the "gunk" that you have described in your intake manifold? Probably.

Mercedes' solution is to remove and hot tank the intake, and clean or replace the resonance flaps - over and over, again and again. If this weren't problem enough, this has to occur quite often. My car isn't weak or sick. It doesn't use or leak oil, and does still achieve very high fuel mileage. But this regularly occuring service practice is unacceptable.

I complained as far up as I could find someone willing to listen, but the reply was usually the same B.S. "You are the only one that seems to be having this problem, and no, we don't have a way to solve it." Yeah, I'll bet I'm the only one having this problem.....sure. And you could solve it, but you won't.

I thought about complaining to the EPA against Mercedes, planning on employing the idea that their emission control system is neither robust nor reliable enough to function for a reasonable lifespan, but this move would not fix my car so that it would not have it's own parking space at the local dealership so I abandoned this idea.

My car (and it's problem) is now fixed and has not been back to the dealership for this problem in quite a while.

How do you fix this, you ask? Well, one thought might be that between the hot exhaust gases and the oily crankcase vapors, one (or both) of them has to go. Of course, I cannot recommend modifying or changing your emission system. And no shop would touch a modification like the one I just described. So, get your thinking caps on and get creative.

I guess the aggravating part is that Mercedes just seemed to "shrug their shoulders" and give me the "that's the way it is" type of answer. Building a car with a recurring service problem is stupid. It's also stupid of Mercedes to think that people who have experienced what I have will continue to buy their product based on brand recognition, reputation, or the "status symbol" that many think the car affords them. I bought this car after owning an earlier model that was "dead on" reliable. You can see in my signature that "status" is not my thing. My cars are older and used, usually. I just need them to be dependable, comfortable, and efficient. My next luxury sedan might have to be a Lexus or Infinity. I'm sure that they can solve any problem that might happen (heavy on the MIGHT HAPPEN) with one of their cars.

Well, thanks again for the reply and advice. I love this website.
I'm going to jump down off of my soapbox now.

Steven