edd1e22

My car hit 78k miles and suddenly the check engine light starting flickering on and off. I took the vehicle in to Oakland MBZ and they informed me that I was losing compression on cylinders #1,2 and 3 and that it would cost $6,000 to fix as I was out of warranty. I took it to Smythe European and they concured the findings of Oakland. They offered to pay for the parts which were $2,700 but I would have to pick up the bill on the labor which is about $2,200. I THINK THIS IS BS........a car should last WAY longer then 80k miles before the motor needs work. This is clearly a manufacturers defect and I would like to have some data to back this up.

If you have suffered the same issue as I'm going through, can you please post the following on your vehicle:

Year:
Model:
Mileage when issue occured:
Resolution:
Dealership:

Please try and stay on topic so that we can have a concise neat thread about this manufacturers defect

I have a feeling that are quite a few members here that will have or have this problem and the info here will greatly assist them in reaching a just solution with MBZ. I am also forwarding this information on to the California Bureau of Automotive Repair.

BadAssC230k

STAY AWAY FROM SMYTHE!!!! they had my car for 30days and STILL didnt get it fixed. On top of the car left with mulitple other problems. I avoided MB of pleasnaton as well. thats where my problems started. I finally felt comfortable dealing with Stead in walnut creek. Honest and very effiecient.

I had something similar happen but it was a laundry list of stuff that went on. 7 services in 45 days by 3 diff dealerships.


best of luck


Year: 2003
Model: C230 SS
Mileage when issue occured: 61,800
Resolution: too much to write out. multiple issues
Dealership: MB of Pleasanton, Smythe European, finally ended at Stead in Walnut Creek



btw, you might some info in here, mainly with my case, as there were many problems.

https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w203/199047-help-rough-idle-check-engine-light-codes-p0301-p0302-p0303-p0304.html

edd1e22

Year: 2004
Model: C230 SS
Mileage when issue occured: 78k
Resolution: Pending
Dealership: Smythe European

1qikctr

try autobhan

mvC230

Year:2003
Model:C230 SS
Mileage when issue occured:First occured @25K and @40K
Resolution:@25K under warranty @40K out of warranty, but since the problem occurred again and not so long ago, they took care of it free of charge.
Dealership: Park Ave. Motors Palo Alto

RES

I wonder if it is really the compression or just them following Mercedes trouble shoting? When mine started acting up it gave a code for missing on cyclinders #1, #2, #4 and some other codes. When I first read the service info on there disc it talked about the problems you are facing. But doing more research I found it to be our favorite pcv hose for $12.00 and labor. It causes lots of the same problems. Loss of power and engine light with some noise to. I don't know if this could be it but I have 97,000 miles with no problems. I just did a compression test with perfect results across all four cyclinders. Some times you have to take the blinders off so you can see the real problem.

1001

this happened to me before but i only had 41000 miles or so. i have an 04' c230. the check engine went on once really quickly then went away. i brought it in to MBSF and they said cylinder #2 loss power/ compression and they fixed it under warranty but if i was to pay, it'd be around 4 grand.

p_gill

Here is the info that you requested

Year: 2003
Model: c230 sedan M271
Mileage when issue occurred: 50,100
Resolution: Fixed under extended warranty
Dealership: Smythe European (San Jose, Ca)

In my case the check engine light came on and it indicated that I had a misfire in all four cylinders. The ultimate fix involved a new cylinder head, new mass air flow sensor, another sensor maybe intake air temp, a new injector or fuel rail due to a small fuel leak and a new bypass hose and clamp for the supercharger. I had to go back more than once to get it all fixed but they did eventually fix everything.

I am not complaining they provided me with a free rental car each time (a newer C class then mine) and my car runs better now then it did when it was new. I have put 10,000 miles on the since the repair and I have no problems.

Hopefully this helps.

One last item I am so glad that I bought the extended warranty from Lisa in Chico. I think it was this forum that directed me to her.

Good Luck

Paul

p_gill

I noticed on another Mercedes site that someone had just replaced a hose and it fixed the problem that you are having.

The part number that was listed was A23B 271 018-12-82.

According to a MB Tech in FLA he has replaced several of these hoses with good results.

If this works for you please post here so that others will know.

RES

Thats the one I was talking about. It gives you all the same problems.

edd1e22

They did a compression test on my motor and I was losing compression on cylinder #1 which was showing 115 hot. Normal is 150. I wish it was just the hose.......

Anyone else that has had their head replaced?

edd1e22

Update....MBZ has offered to cover 100% parts and 25% labor. They informed me that the head failure is not UNUSUAL which is why they are only covering 25% of labor. Anyone else encounter this BS?

Adi_V

cl203 2002 model
I had something like that happen to mine with 50,000km on the clock. It was still under warranty at the time.
I never knew what had happen to it as i didnt care cause i had warranty.
The engine fault sensor went off while i was at the lights.. i continued to drive and only had a misfire, then at the next lights, as i took off it stalled.
Mercedes had the vehicle in for 5 working days and had apparently given the engine a 'refurbishment'.
But i dont care.. i've had so many problems with the car.. if anything else happens im more that happy to drive it through the dealership.

MBHustla858

this is intresting, i was talking to a tech from MBSD yesterday saying they were pulling heads on cars w/ mileage in the teens due to valve failiure.

good luck!

C230 Sport Coup

Happy to have M111....tried and true.

KIRA

what the difference lol?

btw why is smythe that bad??

edd1e22

MB USA attitude is if it breaks under warranty.....we're stuck fixing it and we will. If it breaks after....**** you....you fix it. The long drawn out battle to get to the partial payment has involved threats of litigation, countless emails and also threats of contacting the CA BAR(bureau of automotive repair). I am never buying a fuking MBZ again.

Oh yeah...the kicker.....my AC is failing now too. It constantly turns off and fails to turn on again. Aparently this is another MBZ issue. Fuking QC on these cares rivals Kia. At least with a Kia you get a 100k warranty.

Adi_V

same prob here in australia.. nothing different
i called up the head office.. the d**khead said.. look, your out of warranty, i'm not getting into a discussion, i dont even know why im talking to you..
and then hangs up.

thats the prestigious aftersales care the brochure must have been talking about.

aspett

A couple of months out of warranty my 2003 C 230 Kompressor Coupe (49K miles, automatic) has started to give me a CEL with a P301 (Cyl 1 Misfire) only when the engine is warm and I put it in neutral or park. I can drive it all day, it idles fine in gear, but if I take it out of gear it will misfire noticeably and the CEL light will come on. If I drive it, the misfire continues (rough RPM, loss of power), but if I turn off engine and restart, the problem goes away. I have tried swapping the Cyl 1 Ignition Pack and Spark Plug, but the problem remains on Cylinder 1. My non-dealer MB tech spent a few hours looking for cause, but appears to be valve failure. I have an appointment this Monday at dealer, expecting need to do battle. Any further ammunition (service bulletins, etc)

max_benzo

edd1e22; you have a PM

scottisha

2005 with 118,000 miles and no issues like that. I sure hope it doesn't happen either.

RedC230K

2004 C230K Coupe
50,00 miles when it started misfiring and wouldn't idle
Dealer said the valve springs were faulty and allowed engine to carbon up so bad it wouldn't run.
They replaced the valve springs under warranty.

aspett

Year:2003
Model:230 Kompressor Coupe
Mileage when issue occured:50K (9 months out of warranty)
Resolution: Dealer replaced that troublesome vacuum hose for $350, all was fine ......... for around 25 miles. Took car back, was advised that borescope revealed excess buildup on exhaust valve and required head to come off and replace valves and guides. Guess what, they said without prompting that there would be no charge to me.
Dealership:Atlanta Classic Cars

aolsen

Get that guy fired...

edd1e22

I ended up footing the bill on the 1/4 of the labor. I paid using my amex and wrote bull**** on the receipt. After I left the dealer, I called amex immediately and disputed the charge. I informed them I had been coerced into paying as they had my car. You guys should all give that a try next time they screw you.