Hi, I have my 2002 c-230 coupe (Auto Transmission) since Dec 2001, it now has 2881 mileage on it, I have took my car to the service department 3 times (In fact it is at the service at this moment), the first problem was the Sunroof, It do not close sometime (happen once in a while), so I took it to the service and they found a little parts inside was broken, so they have replace it and reassemble the sunroof, but few weeks later, I opened it and now it do not close at all, and also about a month and a half ago, I experienced some difficulty when first start my car in the morning, the car was shaking (Crank), and you can hear the engine is very very weak, it sound like the engine is going to shut off, so I have to restart it, sometime it take 2-3 times to start the engine normally, but it only happen when I first start the car in the morning, after it had started once, it has no problem during the day.
So I bring my car to the service department last Friday, I got my car back on Mon, the roof is working now, but when I start my car in the next morning (Tue), the same thing happened, I looked at the paper work, they have replaced some Plugs but it did not fixed the problem. so I took my car back to the service department yesterday (tue), the service advisor told me he do not know what is wrong with it but will have a close look at it and will give me a call to update me.
I received the call from him few hours later asking what type of "Gasoline" I put in my car, I told him I use "Premium Unleaded Fuel" as what it said in the operator's manual, he told me may be that is the problem, he suggested I should use "regular unleaded Fuel" after he talked to the technician people. but he also said he will give me a call to update me after they check the car.
This morning, he gave me a call asked me where do I pump my Gas at, I told him I don't have a preference, but I pump gas at "Safeway", "76", and "Texico", he also asked if I have any receipt, I answered no cause I pay cash (I still don"t know why he asked for receipt)
In the afternoon, I received his call again, he said they have removed all the gasoline from the tank, and they have filled with "regular" gasoline, and will give me a call tommorow to see if the problem is fix, he also stated the "Premium Unleaded" gasoline from safeway or 76 is not that good, and they may be the problem????
I asked him if I put "regular unleaded" from now on (I am not even sure if I do that will fix the problem, but that is what they assumed the problem are), if there is anything wrong in the future, is my warranties going to be cover because the operator's manual clearly said "Premium unleaded Only". they say they will check with MB.
I am asking anyone of you who can please give me advise on this, and also if anyone have the same starting problem (I wish not), what was the problem? how was it fixed, or not fix.
please post you answer here or email me at
Thank you for your time and help

ben28@peoplepc.com

 

paragraphs: good

coupe problems: bad

i have yet to have any trouble

 

honestly? i think you need to take it somewhere else... maybe mbtech can comment on this but i am highly highly dubious of the gas solution...

 

I don't see how it could be that a lower octane would solve this problem. Take it to another dealer.

 

Lower octane ignites at a lower temperature. That's great for starting the engine. But as the engine warms up it'll try to detonate under load. The computer will "hear" the pinging and compensate to prevent engine damage resulting in lower performance.

That is not a good solution. The rest of us can run Premium with no problem and you should be able to as well.

BTW: Lately, my car takes a little longer to start than it did when it was new. A few times I released the key before the engine started (manual trans) because I was used to releasing it after a certain time. I don't know what this means.

 

As to the gas, to eliminate this issue with the dealer, try a "name" station like Exxon Mobil, Shell or Chevron for a while.

Also, ask your dealer if they would not mind if you put some Chevron Techron in the tank to clear the internals a bit. My Audi dealer said they didn't mind and it seems to not do any harm. (But DON't put any additives in your engine crankcase). You might also want to check the weight of your Mobil 1 Oil. Too heavy an oil can sometimes cause a flooding problem believe it or not. Since it's spring, you might want to try Mobil 5W-30. Ask your dealer.

 

Thanks for all your advise, I just received the call this afternoon (They said they were going to call me in the morning, but never did, so I left a message and got the call back an hour later).
Now they have determined the problem was caused by Gasoline, they said because I got my gas from safeway, texico, shell, they are not quality, even I used the premium, and he told me if the car still have the same problem in the future, they will charge me for the repair because it is not under "warranty"..
Remember they told me I suppose to use regular unleaded instead, now they have changed their mind after they talked to MB, MB told them "Premium Unleaded" only. and now they are blaming the problem on me not having the good gas????
To be very honest, I do not know which brand is good, I am not a car guy, I don't know anything about the car, I drive 400 Miles per month only, I got my gas from safeway, texico, shell, because they are arround in the area where I normally go, if the gas are not good, why MB didn't warn the owner about this.
I forgot to mentioned before, my car was damage the last time I got back from the service, there is a "dent" inside the driver's side door look like caused by a screw driver.
IN case you wonder, my car was bought at Mercedes-benz of Bellevue, WA (A Barrier Motors Company), at MSRP, PLus the car had few hundreds miles on when I first got it, not to mention they took my 98 altima for 7K (Trade in value at near 9K)
I am planning to call MB after I got my car back (They say it should be ready at 5:00 P.M), Cause I still don't think the problem was caused by the gas even I don't know anything about the car, so may be I am wrong.

 

First of all, I'm not a Car Techy kind of guy either, but I find it hard to believe that
gas from Texaco or Shell would be considered "bad gas"! I know that some "mom and pop" type gas stations I would say are questionable. I would continue to put your premium gas in it, and if the problem is not fixed, bring it back to them and DEMAND that they fix it under warranty. You have done nothing wrong.

Couple of questions for you: Did you point out the damage to your car? I would have been in there the very next day screaming!

Why did you pay MSRP for a car that was obviously used?

Why did you take 7K for a trade in if the trade in value was 9K?

 

Sounds like complete BS... Any premium fuel should be just fine - all brands that are sold commercially are certified!

Even if you put regular gas (of lower octane number), the ECU should compensate for it by retarding the ignition. The only consequence would then be reduced power output of the engine - that's it!

They must be pretty bold to say things like this to a customer... There's no way on earth they can prove it, anyway.

I had a case of bad start once in January - the car was shaking, misfiring heavily, but worked fine after shutdown and subsequent restart.

Turned out one of the coils was bad - it was replaced under warranty along with respective spark plug. Has been fine since.

My suggestion would be - try a different dealer.

 

Thanks, regarding of why I paid MSRP for the car already had hundreds miles on it, because I was shopping for car in Dec, I was choosing between BMW 325I and the 230 Coupe, It turned out that the BMW cost 3000.00 more than the 230 Coupe, (The C230 I have cost nearly 30K with optional equipment, The BMW will cost nearly 33K). so I choosed the c230, I emailed to the dealer, they said there are only one in stock (All others are alreadi being sold), if I want to order another one, there will be a 4 months waiting, so I checked out the one they have, it look nice, they told me this is the one they display in the Auto show in Seattle, that is why it had some miles. I am ok with that.
In term of the deal, he told me the car is hot, everyone paid MSRP for it, I have never own a benz before, one of my friend bought a e320 for MSRP elsewhere (Actually the dealer gave him a CD Player as discounted), so I assumed that paying MSRP is not too bad, plus the salesman told me even I paid MSRP, he would only make about 700.00 for it, so I am OK with that.
as for the trade, he told me 7K is all they can give me because they do not sell Japanese car and they will just hand over to other dealer, and 7k is what the other dealer will pay for.
I still don't think the deal was bad even I now know I should have a better deal (I wish I found out this board before I buy it so I know what the real deal is, but if I don't have the starting problem with my car, I won't be searching place for help , consider this is a benz for arround 30K (even this is the cheapest benz in U.S), the look, the performance, are much better than what I have own before, so I am very fine with it. (but I am pretty sure I will get rid of it before the warranty expire, I think I could afford another car but I cannot afford to any other repair .
BTW, they gave me a Internal Retal car to drive (From enterprise), it is a 2002 Ford Focus, like I said before I am not a car guy, but I can tell it is sucks, I look at the MSRP of this car, 14K??, it is too much for a car in this quality.

P.s. as of now, I am still waiting for the call from the service to see when my car is ready, but everytime they said they will call end up I have to call them.

 

I have the same problem starting my car in the morning., but the problem no longer exist.

I got my car in January, and when I had about 3000 miles I have the same problem as what you described. I figure it might be the reason that A/C is on auto when I start the car, so I make sure that A/C is always turned off before I start the car in the morning and the problem did not appear again.

I now have 5500 miles on my car, whenever I start in the morning I still make sure that my A/c is turned off before I start.

I know how scary the engine sounded when it is not starting up. I been there. I did not take my car to the dealer because I figure they probably does not know what the problem is. I best guess is that on the 4-cylinder car with supercharger the starter might not be able to push the engine to start with A/C on the load. Any person into racing knows that A/C robs away a lot of power.

So, try my suggestion first and see if the problem will ease up. It will get better in time.

 

benneb, I don't think that the deal you got on your car was bad. If you did not want to wait for an ordered one, then I guess a few hundred miles is not bad. As far as the dealer making only $700 though, I think this was a lie! Edmunds.com lists the invoice on this car as $23,204 and MSRP as $24,950, so that's $1,746 right there. Options may even have a larger margin of profit. However, with that being said, I don't think too many people were getting the car for much below MSRP back in December (I know a few savvy ppl on this board were able to negotiate a little
though). Getting a deal on the CD Player was great! I myself paid the full price for which I kick myself for everyday.

As far as the trade in, I really think that they made out on this deal. Even if they don't sell the car there, they can still offer the trade-in value and wholesale the car. Some companies (I know that Carmax does this) will even take your car at trade in even if you don't buy the car there.

Oh well, we have all made mistakes. Best we can do is try to learn from them (I learn something everyday ). I still think that the gas problem is total BS. If your car is still having this problem, and you take it in and they will not honor the warrantee, I would call MBUSA and complain about them. If you are doing everything right, then how can it be your fault?

Good luck, and let us know how you make out.....

 

One time a few years back, I filled my tank up with BP gas and it stalled on the freeway. I had to call a tow truck because the engine would not turn over. The mechanic pulled the fuel filter out and it was covered in sludge! It was bad gas. I never used BP again....

 

I have had the same issue in the past. I have not had the same problem for a few months now but it has been warmer in the mornings. My SA also advised me to use regular fuel. Being quite new to supercharged motors, I tried it. It never failed to start with regular. The next tank I bought was for the plus grade. It studdered and sputtered as if it wasnt getting either enough fuel or air. Regular on the next tank, no problems. Then I started reading here that anything but Preimum fuel was not such a good idea. I started to buy only the good stuff from 76, Chevron, or Shell. I have not had any problems with the motor since. It was 40 degrees (F) at my house this morning and it started right up without any problem.
I am the second owner of my 2002 coupe. When I bought it in late June, or was it early July, it had 20K miles on it. I now have 28.5K miles and my next scheduled maintance keeps growing, 4.1K miles left until the car wants service. I had the 20K B service done at 21K.
/off topic a bit/
I only use good fuel (name brand) with the exception of BP/Mobil and ARCO. In fact I seem to recall that my chainsaw manual stated specifically not to use ARCO fuel.

 

i only use Chevron 95% of the time. unless there isnt one around, then i use Shell or some other name brand.