1995 Mercedes E320
Mileage: 128,000


We're having a problem with our 1995 Mercedes E320. It's seemingly an intermittent problem with exhaust-like fumes entering the cabin. The fumes were so noxious that we've had terrible headaches and neckaches. It's so bad that neither of us is willing to drive the car.

Our regular Mercedes shop and the dealership service department have told us that they cannot duplicate the problem. They have assured us that we do not have an exhaust system leak and that our emissions system is functioning properly. Further, they've told us that given the way the car is designed there's almost no way for fumes to get into the cabin.

We're at our wit's end and need help from someone.

Here's a summary of what's been done to the car recently:

7/25/08 - Regular Mercedes shop drove the car for several days, but could not duplicate or detect the problem with fumes. Read and cleared codes, cleaned MAF sensor, cleaned intake and added fuel treatment to tank.

8/14-20/08 - Regular Mercedes shop drove car for several days, but again was unable to duplicate or detect the problems with fumes. Replaced mass airflow sensor and air filter.

8/23/08 - Girlfriend drove the car on a short morning trip, and while stopped at a stoplight was suddenly overwhelmed with what could be described as exhaust-like fumes coming from the front of the cabin and exceptional heat radiating from the front floorboard and center console area. Girlfriend became ill with symptoms including headache, muscle ache and extreme nervousness. I drove the car on several trips around town later that afternoon, but did not observe any further problems. We parked the car outdoors overnight.

8/24/08 - I drove the car with girlfriend in the passenger seat hoping to duplicate and observe the same condition she had observed the previous day. We drove the car on several stop-and-go trips. During the third trip, the check engine light came on after about five minutes. Though no other symptoms were observed, we decided to drop the car off at regular Mercedes shop, hoping the codes would offer some insights into the problem.

On the way, suddenly the overwhelming exhaust-like fumes came flooding into the cabin and exceptional heat began radiating from the front floorboard and center console area. I stopped the car and had girlfriend get into the car to confirm that this is what she had experienced the previous day. Driving the short distance of less than a mile made me ill with immediate symptoms including headache, aching muscles, difficulty concentrating, and irritability--despite that I had opened the windows and sunroof at the first sign of a problem and turned off the air conditioning.

8/25/08 - Regular Mercedes shop said they could detect no fumes. They reset codes and used Power Clean fuel cleaner. Regular Mercedes shop said that if this didn't work, that we should take the car to the dealership service department.

I have put no more than 50 miles on the car since picking it from regular Mercedes shop. Each time I have driven it since, I've experienced noxious fumes and the symptoms outlined above.

The Mercedes dealership has had the car for observation and diagnostics for a week and cannot duplicate the problem.

Clearly, this problem is intermittent, but it is very serious.