craig001

I am not trying to tweak noses here since I am a newbie, but are oil leaks a common issue with W209's?

Several of the CarFax's I have looked at on cars I have/had an interest in have had the valve cover gaskets replaced in the 40k range.

The 350 I will be checking out this afternoon shows the following: camshaft seals replaced at 38297 and valve cover gaskets at 41715. It also shows other work at 44454 including brake pads F&R. Is it safe to assume that a dealer would replace rotors at the save time? I have read around here that the rotors are soft and should not be turned. The car has cross-drilled fronts (so I assume it has the Sport Package) and I don't know, but these may be a harder materal?

All the work done while the car was under CPO warranty males the car more interesting to me, even though it is black. It currnetly has 47600 on the clock.

TIA

From CarFax:

09/30/2011 38,297 Plaza Smart Center
Creve Coeur, MO
314-301-1700
Maintenance inspection completed
Air filter replaced
Camshaft seal(s) replaced
Tire(s) balanced
Oil and filter changed
Brake fluid flushed/changed

01/25/2012 41,715 Plaza Smart Center
Creve Coeur, MO
314-301-1700
Maintenance inspection completed
Front turn signal/parking bulb(s) replaced
Tail light bulb(s) replaced
Valve cover gasket(s) replaced
Engine timing/front cover gasket replaced

04/27/2012 44,350 Plaza Smart Center
Creve Coeur, MO
314-301-1700
Maintenance inspection completed
Steering damper replaced
Safety inspection performed
Emissions inspection performed 05/01/2012 44,454 Dealer Inventory Vehicle offered for sale 05/02/2012 Tri-Star Mercedes
Ellisville, MO
636-458-5222
tristarmercedes.com Vehicle offered for sale

05/22/2012 Tri-Star Mercedes
Ellisville, MO
636-458-5222
tristarmercedes.com Oil and filter changed
Air filter replaced
Four wheel alignment performed
Interior trim repaired
Washed/detailed
Antifreeze/coolant flushed/changed
Brake fluid flushed/changed
Two tires mounted and balanced
Front brake pads replaced
Rear brake pads replaced
Cabin air filter replaced/cleaned
Front wiper blades/refills replaced

05/22/2012 Mercedes-Benz Certified Pre-Owned Dealer
Ballwin, MO Offered for sale as a Mercedes-Benz Certified Pre-Owned Vehicle

Rudeney

Answered over on benzworld...

"USA CLK350s have the M272 engine which is not known for valve cover gasket leaks like the older M112/M113 engines. It was, however, known for oil leaks from the camshaft solenoids. Also, if this is a MY2006, I'd stay away from it (search: "balance shaft") and even MY2007 'd have us check the engines serial number (via the VIN) to make sure it's not int he affected range."

craig001

Hi Rodney,

Thanks for answering. It is a 2008. Well optioned. No Keyless Start or Power Trunk shut, 47500 miles. It's black over tan/capechino P3, Nav and they are asking $26900. Black is not my favorite color for cars as I am one of those who hangs their arm out the window and it get hot. Well got to get home and finish taking my 993 back to stock for an afternoon trade-in appraisal and test drive.

Craig

Glyn M Ruck

The Cam bore plugs at the back of the heads on M272/273 powered cars were the common leak point. Redesigned ~ cheap & easy to fit.

Gary C

Does the 04 clk500 have cam bore plugs? I ask because I changed the valve cover gaskets a few months ago, they are not leaking, but I still smell burning oil. I cant for the life of me see them, or feel them. No drips on the floor. Would love a cheap easy fix!

craig001

Would these bore plugs be the same as the cam shaft seals that the carfax says were replaced?

user 823908234

My M113 valve cover gaskets have been replaced 3 times in the past year. (only paid one time...warranty) 41k miles now. Indy says the valve covers warp, and he showed me one he had in the shop.
Seems like it leaks one side or the other, randomly, sometimes not at all.
I've gotten to kinda liking the smell of burning Mobil1 while sitting at a light. I rarely use a/c, and have driver's window open with the blower on, so the aroma wafts into the cabin. Actually overpowers my cigar aroma. Mmmm! Indy wants $400 to put new covers on. I'm dragging my feet. And I keep a fire extinguisher handy.

Rudeney

The M112/M113 engines don't have the same type of "cam plugs" as the M272/M273. As for valve cover gaskets leaking, there is a known problem with the Victor Reinz (and other) aftermarket brands. They are too small in cross-section diameter to properly seal. Replace the seals with genuine MBZ gaskets. It will cost maybe $10 more, but they do seal properly. I went through this on the C240.

craig001

Well I have the extinguisher I had mounted in my 993. Is there a brand mount mount that people prefer around here? I will check Brey Krause - they make very robust prooducts in the Porsche world.

craig001

Well, TriStar MB did the work so I would assume they used OE parts. If I get the car I will take it out there and see if I can get copies of the maintenance records for the cars book.

SBundlez

driving down the highway today looked in the rearview only to see that i was trailing smoke .... popped the hood and seen oil all over the the passenger side
could this be my gasket? i drive a clk350 2006

SBundlez

these are the pics i took when i got out of the car...... i just changed my oil yesterday and today the low oil indicator came on..... uber pissed!

SBundlez

attched

Rudeney

The valve cover gaskets on the M272/M273 engines don't seem to leak as readily as the M112/M113. My guess is that you did not properly install the oil filler cap.

Fatz

I had some leakage from my filler cap awhile ago. Not as much as SBundlez. I order a new cap and got some seals for the cap as well, since they were less than a $1, i think, and their was no change in the shipping charge. I actually just changed the cap seal.

SBundlez

that wasn't it. that was on. i had to change the valve cover seal... thankfully it didn't have a gasket and all i needed was some sealant.

HETPE3B

I had(ve) some oil leak from under the oil cap (M113). I replaced the seal on the cap with brand new original - leak continues. Oil cap is bad?

Fatz

The cap could be bad/worn. I have replaced the seal before. Sometimes this works and sometimes not. I think those metal tines used to secure the cap also serve as a pressure relief. You can sometimes twist them slightly if in a pinch but it is better to just replace the cap.