Decoy Carver

My new 2005 C230 sport sedan with 20,000 miles on the odometer began to idle roughly early in April. The car was scheduled to be serviced for regular warranty repairs (trip pieces) in 3 days so I added this problem to the "list" of items to be reviewed. Then the Check Engine Light came on and the rough idle turned into rough driving and a pronounced loss of power. Car went to dealer "A" and was returned 4 days later with a replaced coil pack, spark plug wire and spark plug.
Two days and less than 100 miles later, the car strands me 75 miles from home with the same problem - Check Engine Light is on, rough idling and loss of power. Dealer "B" has now has had the car for 13 days. When I called them today I was told that they have replaced one injector and since a "missfire" code is present they have removed the cylinder head, looking for a burned valve seat! I asked what tests they had performed "i.e. compression" and was told that their shop lead mechanic was sure as the cylinder head problem is common to most W203 cars with the supercharged engine.

What opinions do the members of this forum have on this? Any and all advise is appreciated!

Buellwinkle

I've never heard of anyone on the forum complain for head problems with any 4 cyl MB motor. That doesn't mean you don't have that problem but I would hardly call it comon.

Decoy Carver

When I had heard enough from the dealer I called MB Roadside assistance and talked to a technical specialist. He called the dealer and got the same service director on a conference call. The Dealership said they were sure that MB knew that this was a weakness on all W203 cars, at which point the MB technician said he had never before heard of this as a problem. Must only affect cars sold in the Mid Atlantic states???

Any idea on how to INSURE when the car is returned its "right"?

Decoy Carver

The dealer just called and informed me of their recommendations:

1. Replace all 8 exhaust valve guides.
2. Replace all 8 exhaust valve seals.
3. Re-machine 1 exhaust valve seat.
4. Replace 1 exhaust valve.

All this on a 8 month old 2005 C230 Sport Sedan with 20,000 miles? Anyone else had luck with forcing MB to replace rather than remanufacture a cylinder head?

I would appreciate any comments as I'm fed up by this situation.

benzmodz

Generally what happens more and more these days is that Mercedes gives dealers the authority to "work" on parts rather than throw them out. After all it may be something simple.

The only way to see that problem is to put a boroscope inside the piston and determine the condition of the valve seal. They do this by taking the spark plug out.

Service advisors are generally not mechanics. I heard a story of one such person who disconnected the clients battery to solve a fault. So what happened is that the rear fuse box blew when he put the battery terminal back on. The dealer had to pay for that.

I guess not everyone reads MBWORLD.

SteveAustin

I have had similar issues...cause: cylinder head 2, replaced spark plug due to misfire. I just turned the car off and restarted it when it first happened. It would eventually clear. After the 4th time I took it in and they found it was a bad spark plug.

Anyway, unbelievable on a car with 15,000 miles. Last year at 7,000 they told me I had carbon build-up when the CEL first came on and had replaced the spark plugs that year as well. So, next April I should expect something else to go wrong and some new spark plugs, can't wait!

patrick_y

Wow, that's terrible. I've just lost a lot of confidence in the car's performance ability.

Decoy Carver

The dealer called with more information.

The parts required to remanufacture the head on the C230's engine are not available separately - so a new head has been ordered for my car. ETA is late next week (5/12/2006). This will mean 24 calendar days the car has been out of service for this problem!

This is my 4th Mercedes and if I knew quality issues were this bad, I would have stopped at three! It is embarrassing to have a coworker bring in the 2006 Car issue of Consumer Reports that lists Mercedes as the lowest in quality, well under Hyundai and all the other cars usually perceived as of lesser quality.

Current
2005 C230 Sport Sedan (current)
Previous MB's
1984 300D (drove for 460,000 miles)
1980 300E
1975 230

patrick_y

Well, my service manager was telling me objectively that he wouldn't be surprised if some of the older Mercedes vehicles start lasting longer than the newer ones. ???

I'm done with Mercedes, however, i still say that it shouldn't be a bad car. Then again, I've still got some 2003 and 2004 E Class owners who are screaming in my ear.

Keep in mind, if you bring it into the dealership 3 times for the same problem, you might be able to declare the car a lemon.

Decoy Carver

I am subject to the Lemon Law in Delaware and it states:

4 instances where the car has been returned to the vendor ........

OR

30 calendar days the car has been out of service for the same defect.

I will be at 24 days next Friday........and that's just when the head come into the dealership...

Jkw

Good luck w/ your repair, that sux!

patrick_y

In California, our lemon law is three times I think.

Kristen

That sucks.

Looks like I'll be hunting down a new or used head.