When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Hey BetterDaze good to see you over here.
Fuel tanks are gonna be tricky to find locally, over here the junkyards always punch holes in the tank.
If you don't mind paying shipping, we've got a lot of MB dismantlers here in CA. This yard always seems to have a lot of parts. https://www.mbiparts.com/search?manu...enz&model=190e
Great to see you too 355, thanks for that link. Didn’t see any tanks for 201s on there but will stay on the lookout.
i did check LKQ, they crushed the one 190e I used to scavenge earlier this year and they rarely ever get any Mercedes. Hopefully I’ll find someone parting out a car on Craigslist at some point.
No shop will help remove and clean my current tank.
Last edited by BetterDaze; Sep 10, 2021 at 03:50 PM.
190E 2.6L 1989, 190E 2.6L 1988, BMW 535dXdrive 2014, BMW 428i 2015
Welcome to this forum Betterdaze! I tried to remove a tank at a Pick and Pull a couple years ago. The only difficult part is removing the fuel line from the tank to the fuel pump assembly. That one is frustrating and seems may need a special wrench.
I was just going to remove it because the JY forgot to punch a hole in it to remove the fuel. It is hard to get them here in CA because they are all punched.
Unfortunately, I had trouble removing the fuel line, went home to get a more suitable wrench, 2 days later the car was crunched before I could get back to it.
Otherwise I would have one for you.
Never seen a tank that is not punched already since ....
Good luck with the search.
Thanks dolucasi! There is a specific tool for that but do you think channel locks can get it off like with the nut on the fuel sending unit? I’ve never bothered to look further up to see where that fuel line connects.
I may just save up and buy a new tank if I can’t find a decent used one. I was able to get the part number from the dealer (2014700801). They seem to be going for $450-$650 across different sites.
Last edited by BetterDaze; Sep 11, 2021 at 10:02 AM.
190E 2.6L 1989, 190E 2.6L 1988, BMW 535dXdrive 2014, BMW 428i 2015
It is a big nut that secures the hose. I recall something like 22mm but maybe bigger and it is in a very tight spot where a channel lock has no chance.
Unfortunately the tank would not come out of the trunk with the hose on. Easy to remove with the trunk out I'm sure. And it is very tight just like the sender unit nut.
I could have cut the hose but then again I was really after the hose which is NLA and the tank was just a bonus.
A plumbers wrench (which I have and was going to bring along in the next trip) would do it. The one that is used to tighten kitchen faucets with the swivel head.
Surprised the tank is not NLA already, at least you have a last resort. Only $36 + $6 core at the pick and pull but then you have to clean it.
Last edited by dolucasi; Sep 11, 2021 at 11:14 AM.
Okay, I’ll be patient and see what I can find considering the cost difference. Leaning more towards a new tank since I don’t really have the space to clean one. If mine checks out with no pin holes I’ll sell it to recoup some cost.
Not sure if you remember all I’ve done to the car since you help so many different users….but I’ve replaced almost all critical fuel components and the car starts to buck and stall at half a tank specifically. No other issues with starting, idling, nor driving. Old fuel pumps were noisy and clogged with rust and the new ones make noise at half a tank so I think addressing the tank itself is the logical next step.
In your guys’ opinion, is it worth it to try and put in a new strainer first? My mechanic won’t do it and advised that I don’t touch it but I honestly can’t imagine why not?
That one you have will not work, it has to be 90 degree angled swivel in my opinion.
Yes I remember your problem. I'm not sure why you are having fuel pressure/flow problems at half full tank. I'm sure you tried to open the gas cap to see if it helps.
It is a gravity fed system but maybe yours need some extra fuel pressure that is natural with a full tank.
The strainer must be in the end of that main fuel line. My parts book does not even show it for some reason. I suspect that may need changing too in your condition but seems like a difficult job to me.
Hi Betterdaze. Glad you've made the move to MB World. At this point a strainer is probably moot if the rust in your tank is at a significant level. You might try shop.milermbz.com as they're supposed to have hard to find MB parts. Of course there's always the MB Classic Center. Maybe their price might be better than the MB dealer?
I would say to just go ahead and replace that tank, that way you can keep your fuel system clean.
The tool Dolucasi recommended from harbor freight works great. Never done the fuel strainer w/ it, but I use it for plumbing purposes.
Let me know what price that MB recycle quotes you on a tank too. It seems like with most MBs as long as their driven, the tank is fine.
There is a shop in Greensburg Pa. that cuts them open, cleans, coats and welds them back together. Might be worth looking into. I had two done by them.
Went ahead and ordered a brand new tank. With shipping a used tank would of only been 100 dollars less. Can’t wait to install it hopefully this puts an end to my cutting out issues, will update once I finish this project.
Other than a new strainer are there any other parts I might need?
Last edited by BetterDaze; Sep 14, 2021 at 09:00 PM.
190E 2.6L 1989, 190E 2.6L 1988, BMW 535dXdrive 2014, BMW 428i 2015
I assume you already replaced the filter at the inlet to the FD? You might want to replace it or clean it after the tank replacement.
Same goes with the fuel filter.
I can't think of anything else that can be cogged up (other than injectors)
It's getting pretty scary to look at all of the W201 parts that are NLA. Glad captruff has a tank that'll help Betterdaze. BTW, captruuf has a magnificent W201 15v that I've seen in person. It's one of the nicest 16vs on the planet. He's also real expert on W201s. Glad to have him in this forum.
Believe it or not, we had a 16V in the local junkyard and the high capacity gas tank was still intact! I grabbed the front bumper and some other misc things off it.
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Slideshow: A one-of-one U.S.-spec Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster became even rarer after a factory-backed transformation at McLaren's headquarters.
