Kompressive

I just found out this morning that my 2004 Kompressor sedan is going to need a $5000 repair. Apparently, the heads on the 271 engine are prone to carbon build-up and valve spring wear. From what I was able to gather, this problem is not an uncommon one for these engines in particular.

I started noticing a really rough idle in the morning when the car was in reverse or drive with the brake depressed. I mean, it was really jumping. After having my mechanic replace or check almost every other thing (I think he was actually hoping it wouldn't turn out this way), he had no option but to break the bad news.

My car has 130,00 miles on it and has been trouble free mostly all of its life. I know most people would say I was crazy to drop that kind of repair money, but what choice do you have? If I try and sell it with the engine the way it is, I'd probably be recouping scrap money for it.

In the end, I'm putting faith in MB, my personal mechanic and the car that I'll be able to drive it for another 100K or so. This is my 3rd Benz, and I've always enjoyed longevity as far as miles go.

It'll hurt for a while, but I'll get over it.

That's all for now.

TruTaing

Ya sure its not the cam shaft position sensor issue? :x

bigspender101

I would get a third opinion if I were you! Have you had the motor mounts checked. You could get a decent used engine installed for that kind of dough.

Midnight Koop

That's painful...I also highly recommend a second opinion...no mechanic is flawless.

I had a problem somewhere in my exhaust once and my mechanic didn't know my cat was aftermarket...and he recommended to replace it thinking the ceramic internals broke down. Little did he know it was steel and impossible to breakdown unlike oem....and I didn't find that out until looking into it further on my own.

ncmudbug

Every situation is different. Mine involved my Ford Probe GT that had lost its A/C compressor. It was going to cost $2000 to fix it and I think it had something like 150K to 180K miles on it (it's been a few years). Well, I went to Hertz car sales where they sell rental cars and got a Chevy Malibu to replace my Probe. It was really inexpensive (26K miles at $8000) but for years I had wished I had paid the $2000 to have my Probe fixed. The Malibu got me where I wanted to go with no drama, but it wasn't much fun.

Maybe you're in the same position. $5000 seems like a lot (and given the advice from others, it may cost less), but you have to weigh that against what you'd do if you have to get a new car. If it is an opportunity to upgrade to something you might like better, then spending the money probably wouldn't be well spent, but if you're going to pay more for something you won't enjoy as much, that is a more difficult decision.

Good luck and I hope you're able to get out of this situation with less pain in the wallet. FWIW - IMHO, it doesn't sound like a problem with valve springs or carbon in the head. I think another opinion is called for. Maybe somebody with a borescope can show you the carbon that's supposed to be in there... Normally valve springs don't "wear". They might "lose spring" (they shouldn't even do that, but that would affect the engine at higher revs not when you're starting out in the morning).

Keep us posted.

Carsy

I would like to see the results of a compression test before spending $5000 .

Does the car run well other than at idle ? Good performance /pulling power ? Good fuel consumption ? If it does there would not be too much wrong with it.

I would not be surprised if it was some minor fault. Strange it happens with the brake applied ... vacuum line leak ?

Another opinion would be useful.

anonymousmoose

I agree, 2nd opinion. If your mechanic is above board, he should agree its a good idea.

Mercedes Benz didn't even get a wheel alignment right on my car. Just goes to show its good to have a 2nd set of eye look at things.

I work in a technical field (not cars). If I cannot resolve a problem, I commonly ask one of my staff to take a look and every now and they the see something I missed.

zmcmil2121

You guys are all pulling towards these deep seated problems. The thing that I think should be looked at and/or fixed first is the idle pully. Mine just got replaced, and now it runs more than tops. I was a little shakey, and then the gear on the pully broke, and now it is absolutely perfect... exept that it is still a c320 and has no real power...

Glyn M Ruck

The head is a known problem on the M271 running crap fuel. i.e. other than Euro 4>

However - do not pull it without a compression or leak down test.

Midnight Koop

slightly off topic... is there a list of the "known" problems with the m271? that would be great to refer/look out for to as mine ages...

Glyn M Ruck

It's really head fouling on earlier cars, leaking cam sensors & the electrohydraulic bush in the transmission.

LILBENZ230

Like everyone else said, get a third or fourth opinion! Did it ever have a CEL? Obviously that's not the be-all-end-all thing, but a lot of the cars with head problems do have CELs related to misfiring cylinders. The head issue was fixed, according to various sources, by late 2004 - though we have seen a couple of 05s have this issue.