Fuel filter summary - Page 3 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Q · #1 02-04-2005, 06:41 PM

Wish me luck. I am going to make an appointment with 2001 TSB in hand for my next B service. Before the service I'll ask them if they have performed this item under warranty as suggested by the TSB. If not, then why not. We'll see what happens. I'll keep you posted.

Q · #2 02-23-2005, 09:58 PM

Well, got a quote today from Ewing in Plano of $700 for the fuel filter swap. Not budging on any sort of warranty or discount or anything.

They said the TSB was a "guideline" from MB, not a recall. Also told my wife that she really only needs to change the filter if it's giving her problems. With that sort of logic, I should not change my oil filter until the engine siezes or my coolant until the radiator is plugged up.

Oh yeah, almost forgot. Add a power steering pump to my running list of failed parts on this vehicle. I need to go find my thread and update that list again.

azinn · #3 02-24-2005, 08:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Q

Well, got a quote today from Ewing in Plano of $700 for the fuel filter swap. Not budging on any sort of warranty or discount or anything.

They said the TSB was a "guideline" from MB, not a recall. Also told my wife that she really only needs to change the filter if it's giving her problems. With that sort of logic, I should not change my oil filter until the engine siezes or my coolant until the radiator is plugged up.

Oh yeah, almost forgot. Add a power steering pump to my running list of failed parts on this vehicle. I need to go find my thread and update that list again.

Time to try a different dealership if you have one in your area. They are not created equal. Been there, done that.

#4 07-05-2004, 04:02 PM

Quote:

Gilly:
MB will pick-up the expense IF & only IF a dealer is performing a 60K maint service at the same time.

Gilly,

I owned a 1999 ML 320 and just had a B service done at 64K with a MB dealer and the dealer charged me $300 extra to upgrade the fuel filter. How can I show the dealer that MB supposed to have picked up the cost. I'd like to request a reimbursement for that. BTW, I also have MB extended warranty so my ML320 should be covered for another 3 years.

16ue

Ron in SC · #5 07-08-2004, 06:54 PM

Quote:

dealer charged me $300 extra to upgrade the fuel filter

I thought when they update the filter it involves putting in a new fuel pump too. Am I mistaken? Could they have maybe just charged you for the pump or labor or something like that. I thought if they did the pump, filter and new lines on a vehicle not under warranty it would cost more like $1K or more.

When they put in a new fuel pump in my ML 320 under warranty they put in that updated filter too. My pump was replaced because the gas gauge was not accurate when the tank was full.

#6 07-10-2004, 11:08 PM

Apparently this dealer does not require the replacement of the fuel pump. My fuel pump was replaced at least once back in 2000 for the fuel gauge problem. I did ask another dealer about a year ago to provide me with a quote of changing the fuel filter and they did come back with an estimate of $900, which included the fuel pump.

16ue

Gilly · #7 07-10-2004, 11:52 PM

I should have also mentioned earlier, there is an "effective serial number range" for this modification:

163.154 (ML320) up to A266446
163.172 (ML430) up to A265965
163.174 (ML55) up to A266484

16ue, are you the original owner?

Quote:

I was told that the fuel filter update will be done under warranty if the job is being done on-schedule (as Doc said) AND if the truck is owned by the original owner.

Furthermore the job more than likely was NOT being done on schedule, as it is due every 60,000 miles OR 4 years (truck is a 99 so in the very least should have been done last year at some point, unless it is a 98 build date, in which case it was due in late 2002. So you were at least a year overdue, probably more.

The pump replacement isn't a requirement for the filter upgrade. MB lists different warranty times based on if the pump and filter is being replaced/upgraded, or if it's just a filter upgrade.

Gilly

#8 08-03-2004, 06:47 PM

Gilly,

I am the original owner. The last 7 digit of my VIN is A122483 and I guess that is the serial number you provided in your post. I even purchased the Mercedes extended warranty for 3 more years.

This ML is my first Mercedes and I found that, in general, Mercedes service centers are not customer originated; there is no set rules as to what are covered by the dealers because that varies from dealer to dealer. Furthermore, because there is no set rules from MBUSA, I cannot go back to the service center that performed the fuel filter change and asked for my money back. Do you have any MBUSA tech bulletin that I can cite as a reference for the filter upgrade under warranty?

16ue

Gilly · #9 08-03-2004, 07:46 PM

Well, got a few supporting documents, and also a passage to quote from a bulletin. On service information bulletin T-SI-47.10/13, the first few sentences read as follows:
"As part of Mercedes-Benz's (sic?) on going (sic again?) commitment to quality, the fuel filter with pressure regulator will receive a product enhancement. Please perform this retrofit procedure on all vehicles within the Effective Serial Number Range table on page 2, at the vehicle's next service visit. .
So in my mind, what I had been told before wasn't exactly true, although certainly more time and cost efficient, and you'd get the maximum use out of the original filter using the procedure I was told (replace filter at 60,000 miles). But it seems evident to me by this bulletin that there is no excuse to not get the filter update done under warranty.
Oh, I also have some vague reference to Star Bulletin T-B-47. 20/19

Gilly

ML320 · #10 08-03-2004, 10:14 PM

Thanks Dan. Here's a copy of that TSB.

http://www.nhtsa.gov/TSBScans/sb621564.pdf

Gilly · #11 08-04-2004, 08:58 AM

Yep, dat's the one!
Anything on that other bulletin, or isn't that the same type of TSB?

Gilly

slowdriver · #12 08-04-2004, 10:03 AM

I tried to get this upgrade done a while ago and the dealer told me it was part of the 60K service so, no go. I only have 38K on the truck but it is nearing 4 years old so armed with the service bulletin (thanks for the link) I will give it another try. I have been in for service under warranty about 4 times now to take care of problems I read about in this forum but the dealer has of late become rather reluctant to perform the fixes I bring to their attention.

kenyee · #13 08-04-2004, 10:37 AM

having the actual TSB numbers helps a lot! :-)

I wish there were some way to get a list of all TSBs for the ML instead of only the ones the nhtsa puts on that site...

ken

Gilly · #14 08-04-2004, 11:22 AM

I think that there is, I think the manufacturers are required to do this, hopefully someone with more experience in this area can chime in, what does an ex-dealer tech know about it?? Very likely there is info in the owners manual about it, I think they're required to put this info in there somewhere, maybe I can check out an owners manual for you.........

Gilly

ML320 · #15 08-04-2004, 12:24 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Gilly
Anything on that other bulletin, or isn't that the same type of TSB?

Can't find it. But looking at the numbers, it's related (Truck W163, star Bulletin, fuel system group 47). Could be an advisory about the outdated ML fuel filters and pointer to the Service Information you already found. Thanks again!