I appreciate your input on this Glyn. The C320 has a nice engine compared with the I4, but quality is where it needs help in. (lucky for me, i got most all of the problems fixed on it now).

Oh and about that delay, thanks for clearing that up. Its the ECU, i always thought it was part of the ESP or something that was restrainning me.

 

Oh yeah see I thought you knew it was an ECU rather than an ESP thing, which was why I was having a hard time understanding your side of the dyno mode thing... I understood that dyno mode would not solve that delay and thought you knew that.

The M271 scares me a little, but I wonder if all of it is justified provided I maintain it properly. Scottisha on here has an 05 C230K with 180,000 on it and no major engine issues ever. I have pigtails fitted to prevent the oil in the wiring harness issue, and it runs on name brand premium fuel and a regular shot of Techron concentrate. I see the V6s having their issues as well. That said, if I could have found a 2005 C320 Sport or had I been willing to pay what the 06-07s were fetching at that time I would have bought it. I was just unwilling to buy a pre-facelift and/or non-sport car because I like the updates and the appearance of the sport.

As for the 135i.. I'm not the type that keeps cars too long. We had a 08 Infiniti G37 bought in Sept. of 2007 that was traded for the 135i with just 24k miles. So long-term reliability is meaningless to me as the 4/50 warranty and free maintenance keeps me from paying out of pocket in what will likely be the entire time I have it. The Benz will be the exception. I will have had it a year on July 19th and I love it just as much as ever. Usually I'm bored by now. I don't see myself getting rid of the Benz for at least three more years.. That's about 90,000 more miles. So about 140,000. *fingers crossed*

 

Oh no, thats what i was trying to figure out from the beginning. I always thought it was part of the ESP or something. Now i see its a whole different module.

I had a choice between chosing a 05 c230 or a 01-03 c320. The c230 looks awesome, engine has a supercharger, great handling lil thing, and was fuel effecient, but I ended up getting the c320 primarily because of its engine and the fact that it wasnt a base model Benz therefore I got the extra luxuries the c230 would never have (FULL leather interior, power everything, Bose, ect.) Your MB is a nice car, sounds like your doing everything there is to keep it running for another 140k mi.

I wonder is it OK to add the Techron concentrate (on my car)???
In my owners manual, it says not to add any fuel additives or something like that.

 

At 5'2" it sounds like the ideal car for her & it's fun to drive.

 

You can use Techron - It's approved & recommended by Benz & made by my old company.

 

I add the Techron in my car regularly based pretty much solely on Glyn's word that it is good for keeping the system clean. Probably every 10 tanks or so for me. I wait and add it to the tank at 3/4 full since it says it is capable of treating "up to 12 gallons" and at full our cars have 16.4. Not sure if it really makes that much of a difference.

I know what you mean about a lot of C230 cars being base. I got the power package that added power/memory seat and a few other options with mine.

 

hmm, sounds good to me. I will be filling up at Chevron at my next stop and add a shot of Techron concentrate. According to chevron, with those two combined, i should get the best cleaning action my engine needs and finally fix my semi faulty fuel guage.
dont get me wrong, i always use premium fuel (not brand name though) and always thought of adding fuel system cleaners but after reading my manual (it says dont add any fuel additives) I didnt bother with it.

 

Techron is sometimes a hard sell because inlet system deposits build up slowly & you don't realise you are loosing driveability until its too late & you have huge thick deposits on the inlet valve tulips etc. Then it becomes a slow process to remove them if you don't want to pull the head off & physically clean everything. We are selling a cleanup - keep clean system. Injector deposits can build up quickly & be removed quickly giving you quick differences in driveability. If you go onto the Porsche & VW/Audi forums & take one look at the problems they are having on the direct injection CGI vehicles where you have no fuel detergeant to clean the intake system & closed circuit crankcase ventilation & valve guide oil to contend with. Heads are coming off at between 15,000 & 20,000 miles to clean up the mess. Then you realise just what a good job Techron & similar products do.

 

Glyn, how often do you suggest running Techron if I just started it around 45k miles?

 

If you run on Techron laced fuel then once every 6 to 12 months as a belt and bracers approach. with concentrate is fine. If you run on non additised fuel then every 4 tankfuls.

 

No Chevron stations in my town since the one that was here went under. I live sort of between these two towns, so I need to check and see if a Chevron station exists in the other one.

 

holycow, i didnt know any of this!
i have 88k mi on my car and it has never been treated with any fuel detergents! (stupid manual said otherwise!)

Now i gotta wait until my tank empties so i can refill with that "holy water"!

 

The M271 engine is real bad news for fouling its inlet to the degree that valves stick open & building carbon in the combustion chamber leading to misfires etc. The M112 is not as bad but also runs a dirty inlet system due captive crankcase ventilation. See pic of of ichibans13.5's inlet system on Techron. He sent me this pic when we were tracking down gremlins on his car. These valves are spotless but you can clearly see where the fuel does not get. This is a M271

 

I see the valves are clean.. is there anything wrong in the pic you posted, Glyn?

 

No - that's about as good as it get's - The black area in the pic is deposit upstream of the injectors where the Techron can't clean but it has no significant depth so that's OK

 

Look at this mess on a very low mileage Porsche Cayenne DFI. At that rate it won't be long before the valve tulip is completely clogged.

 

And Techron prevents deposits from forming inside the piston chamber?

 

Yes - Keeps combustion chamber deposits to a minimum

Here is another nice valve from a car run without Techron - Excuse the resolution - or lack thereof

 

GAH!
those pics are an eye sore.
I think I'll even add techron to the other cars in my garage. Hopefully I should feel a difference and have piece of mind.

 

hey peeps,
so for the past few days i've been trying to find where to buy the Techron concentrate. I went to Chevron, the autozone and even target; I cant find anything. Going to places just to find something small like this is driving me crazy!! Obviously there are cites i can buy it from off the internet, but i dont wanna wait for shipping! Where can i find this concentrate???

lilbenz where did you get it?

 

I got it at Wal-Mart.

 

ohh, Walmart.
why didnt i think of that!! thanks!

 

holy - apart from Chevron & Texaco service stations - also available at Costco - LILBENZ has given you Walmart/Sams

 

hey guys,
just a lil update, i put in a shot of techron concentrate and added premium chevron gas last night.. and WOW, there was a significant amount of difference while driving. This is my own first personal experience i felt right away; engine throttle response is way better, feels a bit faster, and when listening to the engine while idling, its a lot quieter, its overall a LOT smoother.
I highly recommend this to anyone!!!

It was a cold night out, so maybe thats why my car felt faster (cold air=more air ppm=more combustion).

 

Placebo effect, maybe? I've ran Techron concentrate about 3 times in the last month and I can't feel any difference.. but it feels good knowing that it is keeping the internals clean.