mvC230

I have a '03 C230 Sport Sedan, about 40k on it. My check engine light goes on had a shop check it out and they are telling me one of my cylinders is misfiring. They gave me code P=0301 Cylinder #1 Misfire. Anyone have this problem with their cars if so know how much it'll cost to fix? Thanks

eddymoussi

Is the car under warranty?

I had my car done under warranty and the total check was around 3500$ at the dealer. Good that it was under warranty.


Good Luck!!!!!!!!

mvC230

Im going to call the dealer tomorrow. Just read my warranty 4 years or 50,000miles. Hopefully its still covered!!

Buellwinkle

2003? Probably not under warranty. A misfire is caused when fuel or spark or air is not right. I doubt it's air as a vacuum leak would affect more than cylinder 1, so it could be fuel (dirty, clogged, weak fuel injector), or spark (weak, cracked, malfunctioning spark plug or coil pack). Swap coil pack and spark plug with another cylinder and see if problem moves to that cylinder. If it doesn't then swap fuel injectors and try it again. If that doesn't do it then you need professional help.

SteveAustin

I've had this trouble every year since 2005 (and I am pretty sure it was cylinder 2). I was told at first it was carbon build-up on valve stems. The cylinders were borescoped and sparkplugs replaced. I think they make you go through various troubleshooting steps since it was done again in 2006. Then it happened in spring 2007...I think they may have finally fixed it by rebuilding cylinder 2, replacing all spark plugs/rings/seals. To say the least, I won't be surprised if this happens spring 2008 (hopefully not).

I'm no mechanic, but I've read so many similar stories. The last time I went they told me to use Chevron with Techron as this will keep it cleaner. I've never put anything but premium gas in this car and only have 26K miles. So, maybe it's just not getting enough highway miles or hot enough to keep it clean. I just commute a short distance to work everyday.

I know one of the procedures to maybe cleaning it all out can be to put in some techron and run the engine at a high rev for 10 minutes. Again, I just remember reading something along those lines and it might be worth a try. Also, I think you have the M111 engine (don't quote me) and mine is the M271, either way this problem is mentioned a lot in the forums.

Please do post on the cost to repair this, my warranty runs out next June and I am a bit nervous to find out what this would cost outside of warranty. Good luck.

mvC230

Ok so this morning i took the car to the dealer (Park Ave. Motors, Palo Alto CA.) So I get a call from him about 230ish and he tells me the engine light is on, because i'm loosing compression in my cylinders (#1 and #3) and they would need to replace them and it since my warranty ran out in May '07 it would cost my $5756 to fix. I was like WOW ok!! I'm the second owner of this car, purchased it from a friend of mine who had a similar issue with this car when he owned it. He got it fixed from the same place. He was under warranty so no out of pocket cost. So I ask the service adviser if he has any record of that issue on his computer. He researches it and confirms that it was the same problem (cylinder #1) but now its cylinder #1 and #3. He tells me he was going to have Mercedes pay for the parts and all i would have to pay for is labor which would cost me $2934. So i tell the SA i would have to think about it. Got off the phone with him and he calls me back less then 5 minutes later and tells me he is going to have Mercedes pay for the whole thing so it wouldn't cost me anything. I ask him why, he says after reviewing that it has only been 16k and about 2 years since the same problem occurred he was going to have mercedes pay for the whole thing. I'm thinking this guy went from $5756 to $2934, and now $0. Don't get me wrong im happy that i dont have to pay for it to get fixed but im just wondering if i should just sell this car. I dont want to get stuck with this car if the problem occurs again.

skylineawd

Sounds like you got lucky that the SA checked up on the issue and saw it had a previous issue not long ago.

SteveAustin

I'm glad they did the right thing, good to hear that you won't have to pay for it. I hope my car lasts another 75K miles since it's only a few months and I'll have it paid off. I would definitely consider selling it or trading it if I was quoted $5K for a repair like this.

iAladdin

you are one lucky person. That would never happen to me

I would sell the car if i was you though. same problem as before same mechanic fixing it this time. The chances are, it will happen again. I am not sure they will handle it the same way next time.

mvC230

My thoughts exactly, this has left a bad taste in my mouth for mercedes benz (aka Daimler Chrysler). Im considering going back to japanese autos