C-Class (W203) 2001-2007, C160, C180, C200, C220, C230, C240, C270, C280, C300, C320, C230K, C350, Coupe

$765 for a fuel filter?!?!?!

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Old Jun 12, 2009 | 01:08 PM
  #1  
sleewell's Avatar
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From: Haslett, Mi
2011 E350 4matic
$765 for a fuel filter?!?!?!

is this an super outrageous quote or for real? i went to a highly recommended indy shop here in nashville and not only did they lie to me over the phone about how much an oil change would be and ended charging me 20 bucks extra but they said the fuel filter would be $765 bc "it was hard to get to". then the guy sitting next to me with an 05 C230 said the local dealership quoted him 400 for his fuel filter but they were nickle and diming him with other unneeded stuff so he was taking it there for a 2nd opinion.

I told the guy that I would do some research and get back to him but his bait and switching me on price of the oil change was not a good way to earn my business.

what have other people paid for this?

and again, i am asking/begging for a shop recommendation in the nashville area!!
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Old Jun 12, 2009 | 01:36 PM
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2005 W203 SS
buy the filter at the dealer and take a stab at it.... diy
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Old Jun 12, 2009 | 01:58 PM
  #3  
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Hold up. I’d have thought the COL in Tennessee to be less than that in Costa Mesa.
Any Porsche or BMW enthusiasts in your area who might be able to recommend an honest maintenance and repair facility?

Our OEM 002 477 30 01 Mahle-Knecht fuel filter has a street price of ~$40.
A competent technician can complete the R&R in well under half an hour, although some shops have a minimum labor charge regardless of how long a task actually requires.

It’s a relatively easy DIY if you’re mindful of the attendant fire hazard from breaching the fuel system.

Last edited by splinter; Oct 6, 2010 at 07:02 AM.
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Old Jun 12, 2009 | 02:00 PM
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Where is the filter located? Can't imagine it being "$700" hard to get to...
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Old Jun 12, 2009 | 02:14 PM
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wow, that is outrageous! I thought me paying about $360 to have the dealer do it was a lot. I would definitely not pay that much. good luck
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Old Jun 12, 2009 | 02:21 PM
  #6  
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Originally Posted by splinter
Hold up. I’d have thought the COL in Tennessee to be less than that in Costa Mesa.
Any Porsche or BMW enthusiasts in your area who might be able to recommend an honest maintenance and repair facility?

Our OEM 002 477 30 01 Mahle-Knecht fuel filter has a street price of ~$40.
A competent technician can complete the R&R in well under half an hour, although some shops have a minimum labor charge regardless of how long a task actually requires.

It’s a relatively easy DIY if you’re mindful of the attendant fire hazard from breaching the fuel system.
Great schematic and instructions...do you know if the location is the same for the W204?
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Old Jun 12, 2009 | 02:28 PM
  #7  
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c240
760$ is a huge rip off. Fuel filter is located on bottom of the car with 5 clamps. I had my local indy do it for $120 parts and labor.
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Old Jun 12, 2009 | 02:39 PM
  #8  
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Okay... wow.

The part is 40 bux. I replaced the fuel filter in less than an hour and no its NOT "hard to get to." Its under one cover and is barely held down... There is a DIY on here. or on install university.
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Old Jun 12, 2009 | 02:41 PM
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From what I've found about my '06 C55 the fuel filter is combined with the pump and level sensor. $765 seems to fit that scenario.
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Old Jun 12, 2009 | 02:53 PM
  #10  
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w203 m112
I am pretty sure, all w203s have their fuel filter in the same spot on. Under the back seats on the driver side close to the rear sway bar. I would imagine the c55 to have it in the same place considering the c55 is a w203 w/ a w209 front end!
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Old Jun 12, 2009 | 03:06 PM
  #11  
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Originally Posted by TruTaing
I am pretty sure, all w203s have their fuel filter in the same spot on. Under the back seats on the driver side close to the rear sway bar. I would imagine the c55 to have it in the same place considering the c55 is a w203 w/ a w209 front end!
I sure hope so, but when I checked the EPC it didn't show a part number.

I haven't checked, as I'm not at home, but there's been a trend lately to bundle things back there. I understand that on California-registered BMW 3-series require you to change the entire fuel tank to replace the filter. Something about evaporative emissions.
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Old Jun 12, 2009 | 03:27 PM
  #12  
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From: Haslett, Mi
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thanks for all the input guys, i will ask around a bit more. finding an honest mechanic is really hard find. i know there are a few out there but its guys like the one i saw today that ruin it for the good ones.
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Old Jun 12, 2009 | 03:53 PM
  #13  
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From: SE PA
2001 C320
Originally Posted by splinter
Hold up. I’d have thought the COL in Tennessee to be less than that in Costa Mesa.
Any Porsche or BMW enthusiasts in your area who might be able to recommend an honest maintenance and repair facility?

Our OEM 002 477 30 01 Mahle-Knecht fuel filter has a street price of ~$40.
A competent technician can complete the R&R in well under half an hour, although some shops have a minimum labor charge regardless of how long a task actually requires.

It’s a relatively easy DIY if you’re mindful of the attendant fire hazard from breaching the fuel system.
Thanks for the .pdf Splinter. I have a fuel filter for my car which has been sitting around due to the fact that I don't know if you can reuse the goofy hose clamps Mercedes has on there, and if you can, do you need a special tool? If you can't reuse them or you do not have the special tool, what size hose clamps do you want to go with? I know there are different sizes on there and there are a total of four. Any help would be great, thanks.
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Old Jun 12, 2009 | 04:50 PM
  #14  
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Please do a search...the C55 is different! For many reasons...

However, if it is NOT a C55 and the OP has a C230, than this is a 45 minute job, because of the clamps...

SEARCH UNDER MY NAME - I POSTED A LOT ON THIS IN DIY...

The OEM filter is more in the $100 range...

Label the filter ends, to the correct hose and cross mark the labels to your NEW filter...BEFORE you disassemble...when the tank LOW LIGHT is on - it is time to get to work!

Pull off the gas cap...this maybe a good time to replace your gas cap seal and prevent a CEL in a few months!

CUT THE OEM CLAMPS WITH A SLIGHT TWIST, in my images you can see how they are over travel clamps.

The FUEL FILTER HAS A BUILT IN FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR, so all pressure will be down line...open the inlet, bleeding the system more - cap it and move on.

Reinstall...prime the engine a few times, then fire it up!...go check the hose connections, make sure it is all good...shut off car and put it back on the ground!

You saved $600 dollars!
Jake
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Old Jun 12, 2009 | 04:54 PM
  #15  
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https://mbworld.org/forums/c32-amg-c...el-filter.html
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Old Jun 12, 2009 | 06:36 PM
  #16  
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Originally Posted by PA_Pete
Thanks for the .pdf Splinter. I have a fuel filter for my car which has been sitting around due to the fact that I don't know if you can reuse the goofy hose clamps Mercedes has on there, and if you can, do you need a special tool? If you can't reuse them or you do not have the special tool, what size hose clamps do you want to go with? I know there are different sizes on there and there are a total of four. Any help would be great, thanks.
No, I’ve never been able to figure out how to reuse those clamps lol.

Bought a variety of hydraulic hose clamps from the local boating supply store.
Was able to return (unused) those that were too big or small with no trouble.

Don’t recall their size offhand, but two were pinky sized and two were ring finger-ish.


photo credit mtnman82
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Old Jun 12, 2009 | 06:38 PM
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Go here.

http://www.trademotion.com/storefron...&siteid=214660

contact them it's 86.25 plus shipping and tax.

Then change it yourslef.

It's not that hard. although I have not changed it on the w203 but I have on other cars it shouldnt be that hard.
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Old Jun 12, 2009 | 07:00 PM
  #18  
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From: SE PA
2001 C320
Originally Posted by splinter
No, I’ve never been able to figure out how to reuse those clamps lol.

Bought a variety of hydraulic hose clamps from the local boating supply store.
Was able to return (unused) those that were too big or small with no trouble.

Don’t recall their size offhand, but two were pinky sized and two were ring finger-ish.


photo credit mtnman82
Snap! Oh well. Thank you for the fast reply! Now I know to get some clamps (I too was thinking about going with SS) before I even start the job. I do know that it needs to be changed, it's more than likely the one that came on the car from new and I now have 74,XXX miles.
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Old Jun 12, 2009 | 07:18 PM
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dude,
i paid 200$ CDN for mine installed at an indy
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Old Jun 12, 2009 | 08:35 PM
  #20  
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Relieve the pressure in the system before taking off the hoses to the fuel filter. There's a valve (looks like a tire valve) on the fuel rail. Put a rag around it and push the pin in the valve. I would just buy the part on line and take it to any mechanic if you don't want to DIY. Discard the old clamps unless you are a glutton for punishment. You need four clamps of two different sizes ("two were pinky sized and two were ring finger-ish" is pretty accurate )
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Old Jun 12, 2009 | 08:38 PM
  #21  
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The land of the rip off!
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Old Jun 13, 2009 | 02:25 AM
  #22  
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wow.. thats sad how local shops rip you off when they mercedes.. i used to have regular shop to go to coz it was a friends but after a few months not soming over to him he charges me 170 EACH to change shox. i said in a joking way **** you ********! hahaha. he laughed with me i just left. haha!

i paid 100 installed.. local mb specialist.. plus its home service. just gave him a few beers after.. lol.
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Old Jun 13, 2009 | 01:44 PM
  #23  
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It's a pure titanium filter with 24K gold clamps with diamond inset.
Don't have to change it for the next 30 years.

And it comes in a soft velvet pouch.

With Certificate of Authenticity from The Bull$h!t Exchange.

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Old Jun 15, 2009 | 03:08 PM
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the '05 filter had two 5/16" hoses, one 3/8" hose, and one 1/4" hose so a assortment of hose clamps is needed. They should be refered to as fuel line hose clamps at the parts store. I was pretty impressed with the different hose sizes that MB used, it made it more difficult to put in wrong.

As far as the pressure relief it did not seem very helpful. I still had about 1 pint of fuel spill out. I would recommend gloves also. That gas on bare skin starts to burn after a few seconds on the skin. It was pretty hard also working on the floor without jack stands. No impossible but a lot harder.
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Old Jun 15, 2009 | 03:26 PM
  #25  
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We should have a special sticky, like a contest, that shows a running
total of the like the top 10 or 20 Mercedes dealer or mechanic ripoffs of all time. $2,000 + alternator replacements, and 750 + fuel filters could certainly be in there.
Along with verifiable non-replacement of items listed on the invoice and paid for by either you or MB on warranty.
A dead pool of poor dealers and mechanics.

These unscrupulous behaviors certainly do not benefit MB as a brand.
In order to prove it to be true, a copy of the invoice should be posted,
with the customer's name deleted if needed.
Then call MBUSA and tell them about the thread, so they can track these people and take action if needed.

This is ridiculous.

I paid $35 for a fuel filter, and as stated it was a 45 minute job tops,
because of the stupid clips.
I could do it in 20 minutes now.

Last edited by C230 Sport Coup; Jun 15, 2009 at 03:30 PM.
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