Someone help me stop buying W209's :) Got another with seized engine.
12-15-2019, 10:20 PM
#1
Member
Thread Starter
Someone help me stop buying W209's :) Got another with seized engine.
Bought sight unseen 2008 CLK350 Convertible with 125k miles (or so) from the auction that was listed as run and drive. It had a front end damage, where the impact, that wasn't too strong, went above the crush bar right through the radiator and condenser (both of them still weren't leaking, however been bent) and damaged the oil filter housing, so the oil escaped through it. When driver deliver it to me he started it and engine stalled in a few seconds and since then it was seized. I couldn't even turn it over with 25" breaker bar 
Will it run?
Will it run?
12-15-2019, 11:53 PM
#2
Member
If that vehicle's engine has ever ingested water at any point, then a complete disassembly is essential. I also bought a CLK550 from Copart, fully aware that it was listed as water damaged. When the vehicle arrived, I had the engine oil drained and replaced THREE times, wrongly assuming that the only place water could sit in that engine, was in with the oil in the sump, while blissfully unaware that the intake manifold was FULL of water.
Satisfied that the water in the engine had all been drained via the sump, the mechanics then decided to run the CLK550's engine for a half hour, and bring it up to operating temperature. The car ran smooth as silk with the air-conditioner running perfectly, for about fifteen minutes, before suddenly shutting off. Turned out that the water in the intake manifold had worked its way into the combustion process, and silently blown a gaping hole in the side of the engine block, thereby utterly destroying the car's motor beyond any hope of repair.
The upshot of this tale, is that even if a running engine just stalls, with no audible bang, there could be MAJOR damage that has occurred, and therefore EXTREME care needs to be taken, by way of a meticulous check for the presence of water in any of the cylinders, BEFORE any further attempts to start that engine. Now, my suggestion that the CLK350 you just acquired might have water damage, is pure speculation, but given that quite a few cars sold by the Copart auction ARE water damaged, this is one possibility well worth investigating thoroughly, BEFORE any further attempt it made to fire up that car.
Satisfied that the water in the engine had all been drained via the sump, the mechanics then decided to run the CLK550's engine for a half hour, and bring it up to operating temperature. The car ran smooth as silk with the air-conditioner running perfectly, for about fifteen minutes, before suddenly shutting off. Turned out that the water in the intake manifold had worked its way into the combustion process, and silently blown a gaping hole in the side of the engine block, thereby utterly destroying the car's motor beyond any hope of repair.
The upshot of this tale, is that even if a running engine just stalls, with no audible bang, there could be MAJOR damage that has occurred, and therefore EXTREME care needs to be taken, by way of a meticulous check for the presence of water in any of the cylinders, BEFORE any further attempts to start that engine. Now, my suggestion that the CLK350 you just acquired might have water damage, is pure speculation, but given that quite a few cars sold by the Copart auction ARE water damaged, this is one possibility well worth investigating thoroughly, BEFORE any further attempt it made to fire up that car.
Last edited by Merc Mania; 12-15-2019 at 11:57 PM.
12-16-2019, 12:50 AM
#3
Member
Thread Starter
Thanks for the feedback. This particular one was not a subject for a flood. Just a minor front impact. Engine was seized because it ran dry without an oil.
12-16-2019, 04:44 AM
#4
Member
There being no water in that engine's history is good news for sure. You may luck out with a simple refill of the engine oil, in which case this car would be a great buy, even with the minor repairs needed.
12-16-2019, 11:35 AM
#6
Member
Thread Starter
FCP - thanks for fixing the issue with the wrong radiator for that car! Went above and beyond! It wasn’t so urgent to ship the correct radiator overnight
This is something I call a real customer service.
