Debunk my myth!
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Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2015
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From: Northern Seattle, WA
1997 Mercedes Benz C36 AMG
Debunk my myth!
I have a 1997 MB C36 AMG.
The salesman who sold me the car said these cars aren't meant to idle for longer than 2minutes. Because "they fill up with gas and if not burned off right away it can act funny"
I've never heard of a vehicle doing this nor would I expect MB to design a vehicle to do this!
Is there any truth to this? Let me know!
The salesman who sold me the car said these cars aren't meant to idle for longer than 2minutes. Because "they fill up with gas and if not burned off right away it can act funny"
I've never heard of a vehicle doing this nor would I expect MB to design a vehicle to do this!
Is there any truth to this? Let me know!
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Joined: Apr 2006
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From: Bay Area, CA
98 C43, 15 Alfa 4C LE, 18 Tesla Model 3 DM Perf, 08 Duc S1000, 02 Duc 998, 98 Duc 748, 01 Miata
That says it all right there. Straight to the File 13 (trash can) with that information. I don't own a C36, so I don't know either way, but perhaps they run a bit rich at idle and in his car salesman mind, that information transformed into what he told you. That's the best excuse I could come up with for him saying that.
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From: Land of mountains, cheese, chocolate and watches
12' W204 C63 AMG coupe "T-Rex", 12' W451 Smart Fortwo Pulse (99' W202 C43 AMG + Ultima Can-Am sold)
The salesman is probably talking about his need for a glass of bourbon. After two minutes he starts feeling "funny"... Total bull****.
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Joined: Mar 2005
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From: America
1999 C43 AMG, 2005 E55 Wagon
That is laughably, utterly, completely flat wrong in every single way. There is absolutely no way in Hell MB or AMG would let a car past the earliest stages of design if that were true.
Absolute horse-poop to showcase his utter lack of knowledge or he's covering up for a technical failure on a car he wants to keep secret.
Absolute horse-poop to showcase his utter lack of knowledge or he's covering up for a technical failure on a car he wants to keep secret.
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2014 E63S; AMS 100 octane ECU dyno tune; EDOK TCU tune; BB intakes; sprintbooster
I have a 1997 MB C36 AMG.
The salesman who sold me the car said these cars aren't meant to idle for longer than 2minutes. Because "they fill up with gas and if not burned off right away it can act funny"
I've never heard of a vehicle doing this nor would I expect MB to design a vehicle to do this!
Is there any truth to this? Let me know!
The salesman who sold me the car said these cars aren't meant to idle for longer than 2minutes. Because "they fill up with gas and if not burned off right away it can act funny"
I've never heard of a vehicle doing this nor would I expect MB to design a vehicle to do this!
Is there any truth to this? Let me know!
Senior Member
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 407
Likes: 10
From: Walnut Creek, Cali (sf bay area)
(For Sale 03 G55), 08 G55K, 99 C43, 04 E55, 05 E63, 91 BMW E30, 05 BMW M3, 05 Audi USP Avant
I'll note that an Audi shouldn't idle too long for that exact reason. Warming up a car longer than 2 minutes shouldn't be harmful but its also not very necessary. I usually fire up and wait for the idle to drop (roughly 90 sec on cold start) and then I go really easy until I feel the car open up. I have noticed that with my C43 it does take a bit longer to open up than I'm used to but I never drive hard on a cold motor, ever .
ps - for what its worth my MBZ Cert Mechanic suggested the same with my W211 E500 and my W208 CLK, said don't idle too long its pointless and
a waste of gas, plus build up.
ps - for what its worth my MBZ Cert Mechanic suggested the same with my W211 E500 and my W208 CLK, said don't idle too long its pointless and
a waste of gas, plus build up.
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Joined: Jan 2015
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From: British Columbia
2002 F-350, 1999 E55 AMG, AMG Orphans Club International Member #118
Fully warm is a lot better than "just warm". If your car is not fully warm and you drive away with even a skim of snow on the hood, your windshield will frost heavily and instantly on the inside. If your car is not fully warm, you will be uncomfortable, ie, distracted driving; you may drive with one finger on the steering wheel, your windows won't be clear, you may even drive so slowly as to create a hazard to other drivers. Having said this, I am assuming we are talking about winter time. Summer is different: oil pressure and go.
Senior Member
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 407
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From: Walnut Creek, Cali (sf bay area)
(For Sale 03 G55), 08 G55K, 99 C43, 04 E55, 05 E63, 91 BMW E30, 05 BMW M3, 05 Audi USP Avant
Extremely - it also takes a lot longer for the car to warm up at idle opposed to just calm driving for about 5-7 miles . You're causing build up inside and wasting gas -
Super Member
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 949
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From: San Diego
2004 E55
Yeah, it does take forever haha, but I thought it was more beneficial to warm it up. I don't mind wasting gas, but what build up is developing when it idles for more than a couple minutes?
Senior Member
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 407
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From: Walnut Creek, Cali (sf bay area)
(For Sale 03 G55), 08 G55K, 99 C43, 04 E55, 05 E63, 91 BMW E30, 05 BMW M3, 05 Audi USP Avant
Well to each his own especially when it comes to his car, but carbon build and faulty 02 sensors, smelly catalytic converters is usually the case when using bad gas and or warming up for ever. Hence why shirt distance commuter cars break down faster than long distance cars. All the parts are moving more and in a car usually whatever is moving the most in proper circumstances last the longest .
Just try it - on cold start just warm it up until the ideal drops usually 60-90 seconds and then drive real mellow . If you live close to the highway then I don't suggest this but if you can cruise for a few miles before you have to get on it, then try this method.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Sep 2007
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05 c55 silver, 98 Imperial Red C43
I'll note that an Audi shouldn't idle too long for that exact reason. Warming up a car longer than 2 minutes shouldn't be harmful but its also not very necessary. I usually fire up and wait for the idle to drop (roughly 90 sec on cold start) and then I go really easy until I feel the car open up. I have noticed that with my C43 it does take a bit longer to open up than I'm used to but I never drive hard on a cold motor, ever .
ps - for what its worth my MBZ Cert Mechanic suggested the same with my W211 E500 and my W208 CLK, said don't idle too long its pointless and
a waste of gas, plus build up.
ps - for what its worth my MBZ Cert Mechanic suggested the same with my W211 E500 and my W208 CLK, said don't idle too long its pointless and
a waste of gas, plus build up.
Ive owned my 43 for almost 100k miles now and i dont think i have ever started driving it until the revs dropped. Even if im in a hurry
I normally baby it at least until the temperature gets half way up to where it sits when its fully warmed up
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Joined: Mar 2010
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From: Land of mountains, cheese, chocolate and watches
12' W204 C63 AMG coupe "T-Rex", 12' W451 Smart Fortwo Pulse (99' W202 C43 AMG + Ultima Can-Am sold)
I don't use my 43 in winter... In summer I will always get everything warm before giving it the beans!
Super Member
Joined: Dec 2011
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From: Oregon
'97 c36
As others have stated, what the sales guy said is complete non sense. My 97 c36 has no issue with idling for however long as you want to let it and no manufacturer is going to make a car that cant idle in traffic.
Now a engine with a long duration camshaft may have this type of issue due to the intake charge getting dirty from the exhaust gasses due to valve overlap and "load up" at an idle. But your m104 doesn't have this issue.
As far as warming up, to each their own but my thinking is when it's real cold the oil is thick, the pump pressure is going to be up, metal is more brittle and the heated seats aren't warm yet. I like to give it a little bit of time for the oil pressure to come down and the trans fluid temp to come up.
as far as carbon and stuff and the cat... Egh that's what the air pump is for. It Blows some air into the rich exhaust and gets the cat upto temp faster. But one thing I don't like about our cars is how they programmed the transmission to hold 2nd gear on a cold start to help heat the cat. The big lurch into 3rd gets old when your just trying to take is easy and let the engine warm up on the go.
Now a engine with a long duration camshaft may have this type of issue due to the intake charge getting dirty from the exhaust gasses due to valve overlap and "load up" at an idle. But your m104 doesn't have this issue.
As far as warming up, to each their own but my thinking is when it's real cold the oil is thick, the pump pressure is going to be up, metal is more brittle and the heated seats aren't warm yet. I like to give it a little bit of time for the oil pressure to come down and the trans fluid temp to come up.
as far as carbon and stuff and the cat... Egh that's what the air pump is for. It Blows some air into the rich exhaust and gets the cat upto temp faster. But one thing I don't like about our cars is how they programmed the transmission to hold 2nd gear on a cold start to help heat the cat. The big lurch into 3rd gets old when your just trying to take is easy and let the engine warm up on the go.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,418
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From: America
1999 C43 AMG, 2005 E55 Wagon
If I have time, I let my car warm up to at least 40C. If not, I at least give it 2-3 minutes to let the idle drop and the cats to warm up. I'm very careful with these old, beat up girls. They've had long hard lives with previous owners, and I want to get them right again.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 5,890
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From: Land of mountains, cheese, chocolate and watches
12' W204 C63 AMG coupe "T-Rex", 12' W451 Smart Fortwo Pulse (99' W202 C43 AMG + Ultima Can-Am sold)
This is correct. No need to wait, but drive slowly until everything is nice and warm.
