MelbMerc

Hi all,

firstly I'm not actually a newbie, I cannot for the life of me remember my password, but I havent been on here for some time.


My W203 C200k has been on loan to a family member all this year and has come back to me in shocking condition; filthy, front bumber bar half pulled off, scrapes, scratches, gutter marks on the rims, and NO Coolant!

Anyway, like spilt milk, its done now, so best to get it fixed.

I've sent it straight to the mechanic for a report and the top of the list is head gasket replacement, air mass sensor (check engine light is on as a result apparently) and coolant sensor.

I've always been of the understanding that the M111 engine is as tough as nails, i'm not disputing my mechanics report at all but I do wonder what has caused the head gasket to go.

I'm wondering if running a Kleemann pulley kit has caused it to go?

It has been on the car now for probably 3 years, and about 50,000 km's.

Can anyone point me in the right direction here, because if my guess is right, then I will have the mechanic take the pulley kit off to avoid future issues I may have.

For the record I have had a look around the site already, havent seen anything already posted, but if this topic has been posted already, I'm keen to view the thread.

Thanks,

Phil

slammer111

Damn, whoever you lent the car to should pay for this. Got pics?

MelbMerc

yeah I have actually, my partner was out with the camera as soon as she saw it!!

I'll pop some pics up tonight when I get home.

Was actually loaned to my brother, big lesson learnt.

Phil

slammer111

^ What was your previous username?

Sorry to hear. Yeah, my mother damaged my car several times too. Family seems to have this thing where "I don't have to pay for damage because I'm family". It's lame.

04mbc230

Head Blown - Per your mention of no coolant. That is probably the cause. Overheat of the enginee.

You might want to check why there is no coolant. Is there a leak or was the water pump leaking or need change? Leaking radiator? Leaking pipes?

I remember when I had an Acura, I had issues with the radiator and a few times where the water pump failed and pipes burst. With the enginee getting overheated a few times, the head had end up failing. Lost of issues trying to get the head corrected.

I think it's just rough driving with no maintance that cause what you have there.

slammer111

^ Still, that's weird. Cars don't just magically start leaking coolant. Something sounds fishy here.

MelbMerc

Previous name was My sons name, DamonAnthony.... just looked through some of my old old posts, my god I had some stupid questions, thanks for everyones patience!

Phil

laneshift

I think your loaned vehicle may have been in a small fender bender.

Nonetheless, hope your Benz makes a full recovery! I would check the seals, etc, on the engine. Overheating=over-expansion of oil.

MelbMerc

Hi thanks and yes I hope it makes a full recovery too, yes it was in a small fender bender some years ago, thank god for insurance!

Have checked with mechanic, they have said the collant most likely leaked from the back of the head.

I'm confident too that no coolant caused this, I'm still worried though that the added boost from the pulley kit may have put excess strain on the head gasket, if that makes sense. In which case, I will remove the pulley and return it back to standard to avoid any other damage.

Phil

Glyn M Ruck

The engine has overheated. Hope it was minor or you will have soft rings as well.

MelbMerc

Hey thanks for the input there bud, quick question though, I've been quoted $2k minimum for the head, may be more once they pull it apart and inspect.

I have no problems with the bill I trust the workshop, but, It has been in the back of my head there may be more damage to the motor and that $2k could easily double.

Once they start work that car is commited either way as far as I'm concerned.

Is it worth taking the plunge or could it work out cheaper pricing a motor from a wrecker?

maybe i'm stressing for no reason, who knows, but i'm keen to hear your thoughts...

Phil

MelbMerc

Hey slammer111, havent forgotton, trying to find the cable for the camera to the computer!

Glyn M Ruck

Tell them to compression or leakdown test the engine before removing the head. You are probably stressing unnecessarily. Sometimes better the devil you know than a wreckers engine.

I lived in Aus for 6 years on assignment with Caltex. $2K is not bad for a head job there.

MelbMerc

In some areas here $20 is the norm lol.

Where in aus where you?

These guys only work on Mercedes although not officialy a service centre. I think every one in my area takes their Mercedes too them, they are usually pricey but always get the job done. I have tried over the years to get them to modify the merc but they won't have a bar of that, i quite respect that.

Glyn M Ruck

Wollstonecraft Bay, Sydney - office AIG building in town.

MelbMerc

found the cable, 4x go at uploading

TemjinX2

over heating engine would've blown your head gasket if you were stock or with the pulley. Honestly, i would suggest you just swap in a newer used engine. From personal experience its not worth rebuilding over heated engines. Heads get warped and don't form a proper seal.

The heat from the engine over heating damages other components that do not seem immediate but will eventually fail well before its designed specification.

My buddy spend $2000 rebuilding his over heated civic. The car ate oil like koolaid and ran like crap. Parts started breaking gradually every few days. He took my advice and bought a used civic motor for $750 installed and it ran like a champ with no problems.

MelbMerc

Ok while I wait for the fifth go at uploading I'll update too
popped down to the mechanics to pay alittle off the bill.
The heads off the car and its just waiting on parts by the looks.
They say there is no engine damage, and no sign of it being overheated.
They said that this a common problem on the M111 motor and it started at the back of the head.
They said the pulley kit wouldnt have caused it either.
They where very polite but bassically said that **** happens.
The only damage they noted was coroded head bolts, something that suprised them... why they told me this I have no idea, because it makes no sense to me, bit like talking turkish to me.
Not disputing my mechanic, I trust their work but I find it abit far fetched that a car can go for so long needing just service a's and service b's, with the odd brake rotor or sensor etc needing replacing then all of a sudden in 7 months of someone else driving it and all up I have a $5k bill just on mechanical, and its "general wear and tear"...
Keen to know if these are renowned for doing heads or not?

Phil

MelbMerc

Ok I keep getting errors trying to upload photos, maybe my pc is a Mercedes too!

phister

have you tried loading it up on imgur or flicker?

Glyn M Ruck

No - for us distant people the forum has become more & more difficult to manipulate with all the frills added. If you are using Firefox you can see all the servers & crap that is being read on both the outbound & inbound links - Then google make it worse with their ads & analytics. Also see attachment size limitations.

The M111 is inclined to suffer head gasket failure from the rear if it's going to fail.

Good luck!

MelbMerc

I've tried by just clicking on add attachment, I'm guessing the file size is too big. I'll have a better look in the morning when I can keep my eyes open.

MelbMerc

http://s794.photobucket.com/home/phil083/index here she is

Glyn M Ruck

Nice colour & wheels. Was she built in South Africa? The majority of your W203's came from here.

slammer111

Oh wow, how do you damage the A pillar like that? Almost looks like someone used the car as a skateboard ramp.

Couple of dumb questions.
a) I just realized your car is RHD, yet it looks like your turn signal is on the LEFT of the stalk. Am I looking at the pic correctly? (I only drove RHD once and the turn signal was on the RIGHT)
b) What is that curly cable that's to the left of the tray under the radio? Clean install btw, I like it.