Hiya. I own a 2012 e350. I purchased it in May 2018 at 36,000 miles with full service history. It was due an oil service in July 2018 which was inadvertantly skipped. The mileage is now 52,000. A couple of weeks ago the engine managment light came on. It was due for it's MOT inspection anyway and so I drove it to my local gagage which I've been using since the '90s. I asked for it to be MOT'd, new discs and pads and an oil change. The car failed the MOT inspection due to having a visible fuel leak and the engine managment light being on. I was advised that the light was on because the DPF was dirty and needed to be regenerated and that the cats were very diry/ blocked. I was also advised that it needed a new oil cooler as it was leaking. The gagrage put some cleaner in the fuel in an attempt to make the engine managment light go out and although they drove it to attempt a regenaeration, the light stayed on. The garage then passed the car's MOT and advised going for a long fast drive to regenerate the DPF. After this the car stalled a couple of times during the day and in the early evening I detected a rattle when revving. I took it back to the garage and the owner advised me to come in on Monday so he could examin it. I asked if it was okay to drive and was assured that it was.After taking it back on Monday I received a call to say that the turbo had play in it due to pressure caused by the blocked cats. The cats were removed and cleaned. Once replaced I received a call to say that the car was running very badly which may be caused by the timing chain or tensioner being damaged, again as a result of pressure etc caused by blocked cats. I gave the go ahead for the garage to say they could strip the covers off and examin them. I was also advised that the bottom end of the engine could be at fault. I then received a call to say that the car was now not running, couldn't be driven and needs a new engine. I've mentioned the the engine managment light was on when I first took the car into the garage but it was running and driving fine, not smoking, running smoothly, not getting hot, no strange noises, not down on power atall. just fine. Now the garage tells me I have a worthless oiece of non running scrap. Can a dirty cat really do all this or do you think I'll end up taking the garage to small claims court? Thank you for reading and also any help that can be given.

 

I don't have any experience with diesel engines, but based on what you described in your post it sounds like you are being taken for a long expensive ride by your mechanic. I would have it towed to another shop that specializes in MB before your mechanic tells you that you also need a new body, tires and anything else he can think of.