Hello Dave,

I thought we were the customers . Under the circumstances of the complete lack of trust between dealer & customer ,I would have thought they would make an exception to the rule & escort you in to see the drain plug out.

If all else fails there is the camera & this days newspaper in the background or a stat dec.

PS. Illegitimi non carborundum

 

Doesn't matter. OSHA safety regulations and insurance policy rules will prohibit customers in shop-areas.

 

That is the standard sign that can be just bs. I visited a nuclear reactor to see the blue glowing water. Much more restricted or secure area than taking a look at your own car.

 

I signed an indemnity with my MB owned dealership years ago & 4 cars back. I witness all servicing of my car. I know more about it than any MB trained tech with his silver star studded certificate on the dealership wall and ensure things are conducted to the WIS or my preference.

 

My local dealer in Georgetown Texas allows me in the back when my my Sprinter is on the lift, they are actually very gracious about shop visits. This may be because they know I also own a Motorsports business or it may be normal policy. All their diesel work is done in the back separate service area mainly used for Sprinters. Hell, last time I was stuck there for five hours of warranty work they let me test drive a used Audi A8L and a used SL65 too. I also got to nail a diagnosis on a customers OM648 e320 CDI giving their techs a fit, they seemed genuinely shocked that I was right but, after 110,000 miles in last 6-7 years with OM648 I'm getting to understand them pretty well.

 

Yup, I've helped techs with transmission diagnosis, Auto Bix level learning, How to align Benz models that pull with the camber of the road. Borescoping M272/273 chain sprockets & the list goes on & on. We have a nice friendly relationship.

 

Not to derail too badly, but I'm looking for a new bore scope, any suggestions? I work on everything from small cc motors to turbines, got an interesting option, digital and record able? I'm using a dental scope right now...which works but, there have to be far superior not insanely priced options?

 

My personal favourites are from Olympus. They cover everything.

http://www.olympus-ims.com/en/rvi-products/

I'm still using this old banger for my private purposes.

 

I have a rather pricey Olympus metallurgy microscope...will look into this!

 

Got my 2009 e320 blue tec back from a local indy.

Said that oil filter needed is not ox380D (too narrow of center hole) but needed a ox345/7D and asked if anybody changed oil filter housing. My EPC has oil filter as 642 18 0009 that is the ox380D. Has anybody else come across a such a change from the EPC and what actually fits?

He did the transmission service and noted the oil tranny filter was disconnected (was in the pan), AFT quite clean (only 30,000 miles from 58k to 85k miles), and very little metal on the magnets (no copper seen). Hopefully no damage to the tranny from filter disconnected and low ATF (noticed at

 

My trans filter was also in the pan when I serviced my own 09 gl 320 bluetec...not much difference after service so I guess the filter was in enough
Steve

 

Dave find a new Indy they don't know what they are talking about the 7d filter is for one of the gas engines M112 or maybe M272. They obviously don't realize that you have a diesel and I would worry they would put the wrong oil in. Also I would recommend the Mann filter

 

I supplied the 229.51 oil and filter (ox380d) and all the other parts. I am concerned about the oil and ATF. That's why I supply them. The indy said the ox380D inner hole was too small to fit and used the other filter. The ox380D appears to be paper without any metal.

Is there a Mercedes part number on the filter housing? From there I can check for the proper filter.

From Internet

in mm ox345 HU821x ox380d
height 115 95 95
OD 64 72 72
id 1 31.4 31 24.4
id 2 31.4 31 24.4

May be picked up the wrong used box. The HU821x differs from the ox380d on the ID.

Dave

Update: The ox380d's 24.4 mm i.d. felt opening is to stretch to the 31mm on the motor oil filter. I will replace the oil filter myself to test this theory at mid-OCI.

Steve, if the ATF filter is disconnected, will air be suck up the tube or is the ATF level well above the filter's connector? Maybe that's why my tranny was having problems

 

I'm pleased to see how this thread has grown since I started it in early 2015. Since that time, I traded in my 2010 ML350 Bluetec after the engine seized at 80K miles after routine MB dealer services. Also since that time, because of the way I was mistreated by MBUSA, I've pledged to never again own a Mercedes. Recently, several sources reveal mounting lawsuits against Mercedes / MBUSA. I'd like to bring this thread back to focus, please, to assist anyone seeking legal recourse against Mercedes from occurrences similar to mine. Please feel free to add any advice and direction here for those of us interested in participating in valid legal remedies from MBUSA mishaps.

 

Dave
I noticed no difference after the service so I assume the filter was in enough
I wouldn't expect much if any difference
Steve

 

Would you mind to summarize technical aspect of your misfortune?
I read it all first time yesterday and got lost in side topics at the end.
From what I got - it was unclear if the engine seized due to design flaw, or due to the dealer neglecting proper oil change.
I drive cars long enough to know that motor oil will not gel without extreme reasons. Just bought Bluetec with 160k miles and the few records I have, it was filled with older 229.51 category oils.
This way, or the other, thanks for taking your time to let us know.

 

Hi kajtek1,
Thanks for your note and question. My MB debacle was, I suppose, a perfect storm of factors including defective MB materials (engine components with flawed designs), bad and/or incorrect oil used by the MB dealer, missed opportunity(ies) for oil changes by the dealer, and inability to reach any resolution via MBUSA. I submitted prior in this thread almost all supporting claims, documents, and images. MBUSA never accepted any accountability but instead fired off a "cease-and-desist" to me demanding I not contact them again, to which I obliged. I'm sorry the thread has become so voluminous with my prior submissions and those of others, but I know it's been helpful to many and I'm pleased for that. I've moved on from any dealings with MBUSA on the matter, and have pledged never to drive a Mercedes again. The only way I would ever reconsider this stance is if MBUSA apologizes to me publicly and gives me a new Mercedes to win me back as a life-long customer. I'm not holding my breath, however.
Meanwhile, please keep following this thread in the hopes that we see input from others seeking resolutions from similar experiences as mine. I just recently received notice of yet another lawsuit against MB as found here (even though this suit appears to be in limbo):
http://www.courthousenews.com/CNSNEWS/Story/Index/90117

Also, I'm still curious of others' feedback to the 2015 public relations effort of MBUSA, in a "book review" thread I started here:
https://mbworld.org/forums/collectib...rated-yet.html

Finally, I see yet another engine issue similar to mine has been posted this week in another thread found here:
https://mbworld.org/forums/diesel-fo...c-motor-2.html

I hope this additional information helps.
Thanks again, and good luck with your auto experience!

 

What I could not understand is that UBUSA refused to talk about the case on base you exceeding the oil interval by 7,000 miles.
You are saying the dealer did the oil change during a repair, but forgot to reset the counter.
That would mean that for 7000 miles at each engine start you had warning about service due.
Am I correct?

 

I agree with you on the peculiar silencing treatment from MBUSA I experienced. As for the last oil change mishaps of my doomed engine, that debacle was part of the rapid unraveling of my dealings with MBUSA and my local MB dealer starting in 2014. Here is key data from the last dealer service invoices I'm looking at (outside of my prior regular dealer services occurring at least at 10K-mile recommended intervals), which may answer your question:

Service date: 4/22/2014
Mileage: 67,418 (beyond 50K mile MB warranty, naturally)
Complaint: CUSTOMER STATES OIL LEAK ADVISE
Correction: OIL LEAKING AT REAR OF ENGINE FROM DRAIN PIPES IN VALLEY. ENGINE OIL COOLER SEALS LEAKING. RESEAL OIL COOLER. REPLACE ASSOCIATED SEALS. PERFORM LOF. SEE ESTIMATE. RESEALED ENGINE OIL COOLER. REPLACED ALL SEALS. CHANGED ENGINE OIL/ COOLANT. LEAK CORRECTED. CLEANED OIL FROM ENGINE.
Several hundred dollars in repairs.

Service date: 11/10/2014
Mileage: 76,094
Complaint: C-CS CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON
Correction: PERFORM QUICK TEST. FAULTS FOR ADBLUE TANK HEATING ELEMENT. CHECK RESISTANCE, HIGH RESISTANCE. 12.2 OHMS. SPEC 1-2 OHMS. REPLACED ADBLUE TANK HEATING ELEMENT. CLEARED CODES. NOTE: SERVICE 7000 MILES PAST DUE
($1,579.80 bill for this repair, which I was getting used to. It's erroneous of the dealer here also to note that my service was 7000 miles past due, as the prior 4/22/2014 service clearly covered the oil change. In fact, if the dealer had done their job correctly, they would have changed my oil again at the 11/10/2014 service. Instead, my Check Engine light illuminated again sometime after that 11/10/2014 service, and the dealer technician simply met me at my car in the service lane and triggered the light to turn off without reading the codes- yet another missed opportunity for an oil change (and that technician soon stopped working at the dealership after my ML's engine seized). The engine soon after seized in April 2015 at 82,000 miles. It's also important to note, as we pointed out to the dealer and MBUSA, that the dealer shows they used Mobile 1 5W-40 ESP at every oil change, which ceased being an approved oil for that 2010 ML350 Bluetec. Thank you.

 

Thanks for additional explanation.
I made my mind well over 20 years ago that even I make much more than grease monkeys do, I perform my oil changes because you are not the first one who had a problem with "professional" service.
Even I have record that oil on my newly acquired Bluetec was changed 3000 miles ago, I just send its sample to Blackstone Lab.
Better be safe than sorry.

 

Some of you may appreciate this recent update... my non-Mercedes dealer friend who accepted my "immobilized 2010 ML350 Bluetec with a seized engine @ 82K miles" on trade when I replaced my car just reported this to me: the engine replacement ALSO seized after just a few hundred miles after professional install. The engine was also an OM642 and had approximately 80K miles. This was his prognosis on that engine:

"OM642; Cause of failure: oil pump failure, thrown rod, broken block. It had not been remanufactured. Prior to shipping the engine to us, they pulled the oil pan to inspect and then did a compression and leak-down test."

 

I wonder why the oil pressure warning light didn't come on in either of these two instances. Their purpose is to prevent catastrophic failure as described above.There must be more to this puzzle...

 

There is always more to the story as I don't believe motor oil that suppose to be changed regularly just turn into jello, but MB made couple of engines with no oil sensors and even when there is one - from what I know, the warning comes with some delay. Add that not too many drivers pay much attention to dashboard warning and you have pretty clear scenario.
Than why oil pump would broke? I had oil pump chain broke on 603 engine due PO leaving bearing ***** in the pan, but other that that, another scenario hard to imagine.
Than s**T just happens.
My 2008 Bluetec just crossed 170k. So far, so good.

 

i often wonder about top side oil changes on these

maybe leaving sludge in the motor?

i always drain from the bottom, hot

the speed at which the oil flows out seems to me would carry anything in the pan out

with topside suction the flow is kinda slow maybe leaving sludge

my brother has a diesel boat and they do topside oil changes but once a season does not have many hours on it

10,000 miles and topside oil changes seem risky to me

just my opinion

Steve

 

I had 603 engine pan removed and did some testing with water in it.
Dipstick with right car lever will remove more oil than side-mounted plug.
Than we are talking less than 1 oz left in the pan this way or the other, when you have couple cups of oil trap in cooler and engine cavities.