maverik259

Faulty ESP message came over the console over the weekend so I took it in knowing my "extended warranty" covers my traction control. :cough cough:

Of course I come to find out that they actually don't cover the particular steering yaw sensor that is malfunctioning and that it costs $675 for the install + $187 for the diagnostic. FML

Then he wanted to tell me about everything they wanted to do since it was about the 5 year mark...56k miles btw.

$105 for new air filter (just replaced to K&N filter for $36 and 10min of labor, which they obviously didn't check)
$68 to replace one fog light bulb (first its a loose wire, second its a $dollar bulb with 5 minutes of labor)
$282 for fuel filter
$282 for radiator flush
$187 for spark plugs
$50 for screw in tire (reasonable)

Again, FML...I obviously declined all the above and am contemplating the ESP repair...

Any thoughts as to these charges and should I drop the $800 on the ESP? Truth is I really don't have the cash and this will be a credit card smash

samaritrey

what extended warranty do you have?

TemjinX2

just install it yourself...i believe the steering yaw sensor is in the rear trunk.

https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w...on-sensor.html

XenonBenz

Do it all (or most of it) yourself. Even if you aren't mechanically inclined, most of the stuff is actually quite simple. There are DIY guides for almost all of the maintainence items you mentioned. Ask a mechanically inclined friend to help and buy him beer. I am mechanically retarded, but actually did most of the major service items myself, with a little assitance from a friend.

Order the steering yaw sensor online and replace it yourself. I'm not sure how hard this is, but I can't imagine it being that hard as long as you can find where the sensor is located.

Change the fog light bulb yourself.

Fuel filter is VERY easy to replace. OEM filter can be ordered for $40-50 online. There is a DIY step by step guide with pictures. This was very easy. There are 4 hose clamps to remove, and 4 clamps to put back on.

Radiator flush for $282 is RIDICULOUS. My local MB dealership did mine for $80. The other MB dealership in my area also only charges $80. Call around to different dealerships in your area. Even a reputable Indy shop would be fine as long as they use the correct coolant.

Spark plugs are easy too. Bosch OEM plugs can be purchased at Advance Auto or Auto Zone for $9.99 each. There is a DIY guide for this too.

$50 to fix tire is RIDICULOUS. Most major chain tire shops repair tires for free, or $9.99.

One thing dealer didn't mention to you that I would highly recommend is a Automatic tranny Transmission Flush. Although the manual does not recommend this at this mileage, the tranny fluid in M271 is TORN UP at 60K miles. My dealership has had many cars come in with toasted trannys at 100K miles with people who did not do this flush. Dealer in my area charges about $375. The killer on this is that the flush requires 15 qts (or maybe it was 12qts) of MB synthetic tranny fluid, at $14 per quart.

W203E35

You better not let the dealer Change the YAW Sensor!!!!!!!!!!!!!! DO IT YOURSELF!!!!!!!!!!!! You see how easy it is? Save your money



If you need any more instructions on other parts and how to..Let me know (fuel filter)

Glyn M Ruck

Excellent Karo - Do it youself - It's dead simple.

They can also be repaired

http://www.modulemaster.com/en/index.php
http://www.bba-reman.com/us/index.aspx



https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w...ol-module.html

SeaCoupe

Having done all of the maintenance items listed myself, here is my input from the easiest to the more difficult to perform. Since I have not needed any maintenance from my YAW sensor, I'm staying out of that one. (but it does look easy.)

$282 for radiator flush - Too easy. Take off overflow bottle cap, get the car up, remove the bottom protective covers. Find the red petticock at the bottom of the radiator. Open it up. Drain to a container. I'd flush the system, then drain again. Now refill with Distilled water and MB spec radiator fluid.

$68 to replace one fog light bulb (first its a loose wire, second its a $dollar bulb with 5 minutes of labor) This can be done during the rad flush.

$282 for fuel filter - Only danger here is that you are dealing with gas. No smoking, no ignitable sources of flame. Better to do this outside. Buy new fuel injection clamps, because the MB spec ones are ****e. There is a DIY on here somewhere. Heck, if you are an avg sized guy, you don't even need to remove the whole rear pan.

$187 for spark plugs - doable, but DON'T over torque! May want to have a car guy over for this one. Again, DON'T over torque the plugs.

$50 for screw in tire - Take this one to a independent shop. You'll also want to re-balance the tire if it has an appreciable amount of tread left. Likely to be $25.00

bigben320e

Good posts guys. This should be a sticky for all cars, some of these items on just about any MB can be done pretty cheap. Some may require a little more inclination than others, but are relatively easy.

The air filter game is one of the biggest rips period, and $187 for spark plugs?

acr2001

I know this is going to sound like a broken record, but with an 05 you shouldn't need to flush your coolant yet. Check it to see if it looks clean, and check that it's still good to low temp with a refractometer. MB recommends it be replaced every 15 years from 05 on up!! This is because they redesigned the system and it includes a special gel pack. Would I wait 15 years? No. But you can go beyond 5 if the coolant looks good and has not been contaminated with anything.

motioneffects

The sensor is easy to replace, but how are you going to initialized it without a SDS. Goodluck and $187 for diag + install sounds very reasonable.

acr2001

^^ He works for MB (no offense to you motioneffects).

I feel like $187 is "reasonable" compared to any other MB dealer.
But in reality, it's still up there for a job that takes under 30 minutes. This is why I avoid the dealer at all costs (well, plus my dealer does absolutely abysmal work and leaves damage behind 75% of the time).

I wonder if having this part coded is necessary? Honestly I have no idea so I cant say either way. I would install it and see if everything works properly. If not, the coding shouldn't cost that much.

W203E35

Well in the WIS document doesn't state anything about coding. Usually other documents state coding. I'm with your acr2001, change it and if it does need coding then take it.

Glyn M Ruck

To my knowledge - no adaption is required.

acr2001

I think you should post pictures of your $400 hamster cage

W203E35

I got different themes. It's couple of them put together with tubes. Then there is this one where the tubes go around walls.

Here is space station: (I got this at a good price-it was discontinued)


Then I got one which is strickly cage area. I got a botanical one too (it's grass, real grass and on top of cage it has special light with water where you can grow herbs-NO not that kind of herbs lol) Then with pipes you mount by the celing modlings they get to go around all corners. The most expensive were the toys. The wheels, bedding, bottles (so bedding doesn't get into water). It's going to look crazy once I get it done. I just now need ot find a place to lease loool

They are basically 4 cages and you connect them through tubes. Then the last end has tubes that go around walls (so you can mount them up top) and have the hamsters roam around the room.

I'll get a pic once I set these up. For now I got them in a smaller cage (haven't setup the cages yet).

mleskovar

There are two sensors in the trunk that affect the ESP failure. One is cheap, like $120 (forward motion sensor) , and the other is expensive, like $600+ (yaw). I'm unaware of any software updates required after installation of either. SDS hookup/reading is a rip off. It should be free if you get the work performed and maximum 1 hour charge otherwise. Think about it...."we're going to make a car so easy to diagnose that a single connector and computer controlled diagnostics will locate the failure within 5 minutes.....then charge you big $ for the privilege of being a captive audience to the process."

W203E35

Who knows maybe with all this piping experience that I am going to gain I might be able to do the piping for the rear mount turbos myself

motioneffects

When the yaw sensor is replace, initialization if required. Its not the same initialization like a new control module, its in adaptation. the SDS will guide you thru it. I've done maybe 5 in the past 3 years, its not a common thing to go wrong like a stop light switch.

Moviela

I was led to believe that most ESP failures were because of a bad steering angle sensor that is mounted on the shaft behind the steering wheel. Guessing what is the problem is never fruitful, so a trip to a Star Diagnostic station is required to pinpoint the offending part.

I am not sure the technology used in the rear mounted Yaw sensor in Mercedes, but in aircraft they are usually strain gauges, probably the most reliable moving part made by man. I would be sure to have accurate diagnosis before chunking that much change on the sensor.

acr2001

Very cool. I used to have a couple of hamsters, and then one day there were 10 of them!!

I'm imagining going to a business meeting and seeing one of those tubes coming out of the wall and around the ceiling of a room with a hamster making his way through. It would make for some great discussions

splinter

Competent independent technicians ‘round here charge upwards of $90 an hour. Most dealerships are substantially more.
Note that the gentleman driving into the service bay with his new S63 pays exactly the same rate; there’s no discount for our sub-$10k Cs.

Never had enough upstairs - or worked hard enough - to become a wealthy professional.

Damned pleased I figured out how to tackle most mechanical challenges.
Likely an odd twist of fate that they’re enjoyable for some here.

C230 Sport Coup

Lets See:
675
187
282
282
187
50
-----
1381 Dealer-
Now lets look at DIY-
Not sure on the price of the Yaw sensor, but I'm sure it's not 675.
Ask for the pn of the sensor- then Check parts.com and then
getmercedesparts.com
Now then, you have the 1.8 so only 1 air filter not 2...
so maybe $20 tops? And 5 minutes labor?
$15- Foglight bulb- 5 minutes DIY
Fuel Filter- $30? $40 tops....
Radiator flush- 1 bottle Zerex G-05 - $15
1 bottle distilled water $1. 1/2 hour.
Spark Plugs? $30 for NGK's. maybe 30 minutes, just to be careful, not rush things....don't want to strip any threads (use some anti-seize)
Screw in tire ( patch not plug) $15.

So thats.....
Sensor (?)
20
15
40
16
30
15
-------
136 + sensor..... I had checked for my coupe once and the sensor was like
$70 ?

I had my car in so many time for ESP issues, and now after the extended warranty is dead,
it's on all the time, but doesn't seem to effect the car at all.
I wouldn't spend a dime on it.
It can be bushings, alignment so many things....
probably not the yaw sensor at all.....

yaw rate sensor, c230, c280
02-07 $119.00 $89.25 + ship say 10.
Brakes - Anti-lock brakes - Stability control - Yaw rate sensor

Holy crap! $90....not 675.....basturds!

So your total is maybe $236 + an afternoon of not so hard work.

BTW- Thats the online price from Annapolis.

acr2001

getmercedesparts.com (MB Annapolis)

Is the one dealership that I am happy to give my business to. They seem to price their parts as reasonably as possible. I feel like they deserve the business so they can prove to other dealers that treating your customer fairly results in better profits through more business. I wonder if they give walk-ins the same prices.

W203E35

+1 that's where I get my parts too. They have the best deals (most of the time) on Genuine Parts

OneOfaKindTrini

Ahahahahaha. $185 to change spark plugs.. FmL. I'd never go to the dealer to have anything done that isn't for free.