CoogAMG

My 2002 C32 has been idling roughly for the past few weeks, and once or twice has even died in traffic at low rpms... I usually just start it right back up. The car has also been sounding like a deisel as of late... It also leaks a bit of oil when inclined... The car has ~112k, but was regularly serviced at the dealer and any repair work was done there under warranty up until 100k...

Anyway, I finally took it to a local mechanic and here's what he just quoted me:

$1900- change ALL coils, plugs, and wires (12?)
$210 - manifold pressure sensor
$395 - service B (cheaper than dealer on this at least)
$374 - leak from some gasket
$880- leak from rear main seal (minor)
~$500 - some other leak (minor)
----------

~$4300!?

So my questions/concerns are:

• am I getting ripped off?
• if so how bad?
• I don't have this kind of money, should I just buy a new car?
• any other advice?

Thanks so much in advance. If you need any additional info, please let me know. Long time lurker (2-3 years) and first time poster btw, not a DIY type though, unfortunately...

Gramma_Benz

Sounds expensive to me. Where are you?

King320

coils/plugs/wires work seems a bit steep to me. Not as bad as the $3K (i think it was) i had to shell out to replace my entire wiring harness.

The valve cover gaskets and rear main seals on the C32 tend to leak. I would get those fixed.

Your call on the fix/new car route.

CoogAMG

Thanks for the replies, King and Gamma, it sounds a bit expesnive to me too. I'm in Houston, fwiw... Ah what to do...

loungn14

your getting robbed.

send an email to jerry@eurocharged.com We are in houston, and can setup motorwerks to help you out with that for a lot cheaper.

JonMBZ

Here are the prices for the parts. I dont think these cars have a MAP sensor

000-158-78-03-64 IGNITION 150.00 QTY6
112-150-01-18 IGNITION 46.00 QTY6
112-150-02-18 IGNITION 37.00 QTY2
112-150-06-18 IGNITION 26.00 QTY2
112-150-07-18 IGNITION 27.00 QTY2
Q-1-09-0142 MOBIL 1 E 10.00 QTY9
000-180-26-09 TS FILTER 15.00 QTY1
112-997-02-46 SEAL RING 27.50 QTY1


$1618.74

MTLdude

I think this guy doesn't really know what the problem is. He's offering a lot of things that could help but maybe it will not solve the real problem. That'a a lot of dough too.

loudandheard

Definitely check out eurocharged, they should definitely be able to help and motorwerks is a great shop.

Viet_Amg408

Lol...Seriously all coil...Stupid Mechanic

ask the mechanic if he can figure out which coil is bad? if not...run away ...

91RS

Why do all the coils need to be replaced? I highly doubt all 6 coils are bad.

RES

+1 on Motorwerks, Sunil will take good care of your car.

MACHC5

Replacing all 6 coils is known as a Shotgun repair. (just replace everything)

kindafast

Oh my god!!!
Sounds like one of the horror stories I have experienced while I had my C32. Great car. Horrible reliability and ridiculous upkeep costs.

PS: you can change the coils, plugs and wires yourself. First time I did it it took me several hours, but I did it nevertheless without and mechanical background. It's a fairly simple process.

ohlord

check engine light on?
Any codes?
12 plugs $48
Wires set(which you don't need) $136
Coils(which you don't need) $360 for all 6
A simple tool kit
The special 17mm spark boot tool
and a few hours of your time.Priceless
Service B is an oil and fleece filter change and a inspection of fluid etc.
If fluid flushes are indicated by time or miles you perform them.
You can do those simply and reset the service indicator.
A bad coil will throw a code 6 bad coils 6 codes.Any codes?
Post them.
An obd2 scanner is 50 bucks get one and read the codes if you have a cel.
Run as fast as you can from that shop.

JUAN CASAUS

+1 Autozone will read your codes for free. Coils, plugs and wires are easily diy. Follow the others advice and run!

i_am_amused

Buy a car you can own, and repair, without worrying about ever having to say "I don't have this kind of money"

Might be another AMG with extended warranty, might be a Civic Si, but get the worry out of your life, you'll enjoy your car much more. Have fun!

back on the real topic:
I'd take the advice to run from this mechanic just one step further: I'd run to the consumer advocates of your local news channels and turn them on to this guy. They'll have a field day and you'll help save others from his incompetence/theft. A win-win.

loudandheard

What was the name of the shop? That way can warn people not to got there.

Budget Baller

This is a bit steep. With the exception of your gaskets the rest seems easy to do. I'm a software guy and I just did a ton of maintenance on my car for an 8th it would have cost at a shop thanks to all the tutorials on here. I would order the parts from Euro Charged and get cracking

CoogAMG

Wow, thanks so much for the thorough responses!!!

So I'm going to take your collective advice and just run from this mechanic... Not going to mention the shop however, as they still have the car...

Moreover, I'm seriously now considering just giving the repair a go myself, but if I decide not to, I will definitely try Sunil's Motorwerks...

Either way, will update this post with the outcome. Really appreciate the help everyone!

reflex92

+1 that's rough....

BHeart

Anybody have a good website to look on or web link for guidance on changing out the plugs/coils/wires for a 2005 C55 AMG? Figure I better learn now, before I need it.

Zeppelin

Whatever you decide to do I would not replace all 6 coil packs. If all the other parts have been replaced and the problem still exists you can buy one coil and put it in the #1 location. If the problem is fixed then your done. If the problem still exists then put the original back in the #1 location and move the new coil to the #2. Keep repeating until the problem is fixed or you have tried all 6 coils.

ohlord

will throw a code. A misfire will throw a code. No need to buy even 1 coil in those cases. You just move a coil not throwing a code to the coded one and see if the symptoms jump with the coil. Easy simple diagnostics.
M112 spark plug change
You need the 17mm boot tool a 16mm or 5/8 in spark socket some extensions and a ratchet plus the plugs and a small set of torx bits to remove the coils. Leave the wires attached to the coil end.
Most if not all v6 v8 mb modular engines follow the diy used on places like the w210 forum on benzworld.org in their extensive diy section.
Still no reply as to whether you have any check engine codes and what they are.

CoogAMG

So the shop's name is Eurocar-Werk...

I went to pick up my car and asked for codes on the estimate, and Eric (I think that's his name) said "the mechanic didn't list them," and just showed me the "detailed notes" he made...

Then he charged me $150 on the way out, for diagnostics and "oil clean up." I didn't complain because I just wanted to get my car back without any drama....

Drove the car home without any issues, even the idle behaved ok, but didn't know if the fair weather was a contributing factor...

Backstory FYI: I did scheduled maint at this shop once about 1.5 years ago, then had them change my pads several months ago... I guess after having a few opps to size me up, he (Eric) figured he'd roll the dice for a big payoff...

Anyway-

@OhLord: the check engine light was on, but not anymore. Will stop by Autozone within the next few days to see if I can get codes anyway, and post them. In the meantime, which OBD-II do you recommend? There seems to be a lot of choices...

And where do I order that MB socket tool from? I see the part number, do I just order it from MB directly? Also I couldn't tell if a torque wrench would be necessary here or not, your thoughts? Sorry for all the questions...

@BHeart, don't know if this will help you, but it's what I'll be going by: https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w...lug-r-r-2.html

Guys again, thanks for all the comments/advice, they continue to inspire confidence that I can do this job myself!

BHeart

Thanks, CoogAMG. I hope things work out in your situation as well.