2003 C230K Coupe Camshaft oil leak
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
2003 C230K Coupe
2003 C230K Coupe Camshaft oil leak
Hey!.. Am new to the forums, so hello everyone!
I have 2003 C230 Coupe and today while am doing the regular check up i saw that the camshaft is leaking , i found couple of oil dropps on the rubber coating of the O2 sensor wire (the O2 sensor itself is dry). the camshaft itself had some/alot of oil all over it. the mechanic (independent but he is decent) said that all we need to do is change the gasket. i know that this model suffer from this issue and that MBUSA had a recall campagin for it (sadly MB canada isnt so generous).
The car doesnt suffer any preformance issues, the engine light didnt come on.
what should i do to prevent the oilfrom ruining the harrness , O2 sensor the ECU
any help will be very very appreciated ! thanks
!
I have 2003 C230 Coupe and today while am doing the regular check up i saw that the camshaft is leaking , i found couple of oil dropps on the rubber coating of the O2 sensor wire (the O2 sensor itself is dry). the camshaft itself had some/alot of oil all over it. the mechanic (independent but he is decent) said that all we need to do is change the gasket. i know that this model suffer from this issue and that MBUSA had a recall campagin for it (sadly MB canada isnt so generous).
The car doesnt suffer any preformance issues, the engine light didnt come on.
what should i do to prevent the oilfrom ruining the harrness , O2 sensor the ECU
any help will be very very appreciated ! thanks
!
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 5,054
Likes: 11
From: fort worth, tx
06 C230 SS 6spd
Replace the CPS and the magnet thats usually a cause of the leak, and replace the gasket. You should call mb directly and complain that this is a recall and should be fixed free of charge since its a mb recall and its their issue to fix it. Some dealers dont say they do it but if you call mb headquarters they usually straighten it out.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,434
Likes: 4
From: Raleigh, NC
2005 C230K, 2019 Honda CR-V, '74 Lotus Europa
To keep the oil out of your harness, you can get the isolation wires. Do a search and you should be able to find the part numbers. I'd send you mine, but when they took care of my recall (like they ought to do for you), they didn't give my isolation wires back. rmeuropean should have them.
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
2003 C230K Coupe
Is there a recall for that in Canada ? i thought it is only in the USA
Would it be problem if i just replaced the gasket for now, and then did the isolation wires and replased the cam magnet ? or is it ginna be risky ?? cause i have to leave the city on monday and i have no time to do the isolation wires/magnet before i leave
Thank for the info folks!
Would it be problem if i just replaced the gasket for now, and then did the isolation wires and replased the cam magnet ? or is it ginna be risky ?? cause i have to leave the city on monday and i have no time to do the isolation wires/magnet before i leave
Thank for the info folks!
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 5,054
Likes: 11
From: fort worth, tx
06 C230 SS 6spd
Gasket will be a short fix but if you're going to remove it anyways I'd just replace it all while its a part cause you never know if the magnet is gonna go bad and leave you stranded on the road and having to get a new ecu.
Super Member
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 947
Likes: 0
From: Las Vegas, NV
I drive a Toyota Hybrid...
Replace the CPS and the magnet thats usually a cause of the leak, and replace the gasket. You should call mb directly and complain that this is a recall and should be fixed free of charge since its a mb recall and its their issue to fix it. Some dealers dont say they do it but if you call mb headquarters they usually straighten it out.
Member
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 129
Likes: 0
From: Ottawa, Ontario
Mercedes C230 2005
So this finally happend to me.. went and found out, 2 cps, oil all over the place, including both o2 sensors as well as the wire harness... Waiting for the estimation.. quote around 3k.. Holy *@$%&
First time in 2 years i have to put cash.. and it's not cheap.. The price you pay i guess.. Thanksfully ECU is still intakt
First time in 2 years i have to put cash.. and it's not cheap.. The price you pay i guess.. Thanksfully ECU is still intakt
Trending Topics
Super Member
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 904
Likes: 22
From: Toronto, Ontario, Canada, eh!
2003 C230 Sports Coupe, Paprika Metallic Red, Auto, Pano, Leather
Is your car still behaving well? If its acting up then oil might have gotten into ECU,... but from your post that doesn't seem to be the case.
Anyways, at this stage it seems to be mainly a cleanup exercise,... cleaning off the leaked engine oil. So why spend around $3,000 on repairs when most of it is for shop labour,... replacing most of these parts are fairly straightforward and there's numerous DIY instructions here if you search for them. Personally, I would get most of these parts online or dealer (if urgent) and then just replace them myself,.... anything you have difficulty doing or don't feel comfortable doing then let the shop do it. And with all the money you save,.... put it into mods!
Anyways, at this stage it seems to be mainly a cleanup exercise,... cleaning off the leaked engine oil. So why spend around $3,000 on repairs when most of it is for shop labour,... replacing most of these parts are fairly straightforward and there's numerous DIY instructions here if you search for them. Personally, I would get most of these parts online or dealer (if urgent) and then just replace them myself,.... anything you have difficulty doing or don't feel comfortable doing then let the shop do it. And with all the money you save,.... put it into mods!
MB World Stories
The Best of Mercedes & AMG
Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Verdad Gallardo
8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine
Verdad Gallardo
Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction
Verdad Gallardo
Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes 300D Has Pushed Well Past 1 Million Miles and It Ain't Stopping
Verdad Gallardo
10 Most Reliable Mercedes-Benz Models You Can Buy Used
Verdad Gallardo
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,105
Likes: 11
From: Toronto, Canada
2019 C300 Wagon; '75 Triumph TR6; previous: 2004 C230 6spd sold after 17 years of driving
My camshaft position solenoid was starting to leak, it was just a little damp but completely dry on the ECU end. Being in Canada and MB Canada refuses to acknowledge that there is an issue so I replaced the faulty unit and put in isolation wires on both sides. As SunnyRay said, replacing the parts is not hard and there is easy access to all the parts (not like the M272 engine where replacing the O2 sensors are near impossible to get to).
For those in Canada with the M271 engine, don't wait for the worst to happen buy the isolation wires immediately and connect them, it's the best $100 that you will ever spend on your car. It is a very simple repair that even the least capable person when it comes to working on things can do this.
For those in Canada with the M271 engine, don't wait for the worst to happen buy the isolation wires immediately and connect them, it's the best $100 that you will ever spend on your car. It is a very simple repair that even the least capable person when it comes to working on things can do this.
Super Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 573
Likes: 1
W203
So this finally happend to me.. went and found out, 2 cps, oil all over the place, including both o2 sensors as well as the wire harness... Waiting for the estimation.. quote around 3k.. Holy *@$%&
First time in 2 years i have to put cash.. and it's not cheap.. The price you pay i guess.. Thanksfully ECU is still intakt
First time in 2 years i have to put cash.. and it's not cheap.. The price you pay i guess.. Thanksfully ECU is still intakt
Disconnect every connector you can find, if there's oil, spray the hell out of it with electrical contact cleaner until it doesn't drip dirty oil.
Changing the O2 sensors too would help, yet they are $100 each and you want to be sure you've gotten all the oil out first, so I wouldn't.
For those in Canada with the M271 engine, don't wait for the worst to happen buy the isolation wires immediately and connect them, it's the best $100 that you will ever spend on your car. It is a very simple repair that even the least capable person when it comes to working on things can do this.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 1,101
Likes: 5
From: Toronto, NYC
2002 Mercedes Benz C230 Coupe
Can someone put up labelled pictures of what I should be looking for as symptoms of this issue on an M111 engine? Ive read a lot about this issue, but have no clue where the O2 sensors or the cam harness, etc are. :S.
Much appreciated guys!
Much appreciated guys!
Super Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 573
Likes: 1
W203
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 1,101
Likes: 5
From: Toronto, NYC
2002 Mercedes Benz C230 Coupe
Thanks.
