drdantheman1

So far, I've been very happy with my E250 bluetec. Good power, great mileage, and really no big issues. Only big things covered under warranty were a replacement brake booster, sound amplifier, and full wood trim replacement (after some back and forth).

Unfortunately, my factory warranty expired last October and at the beginning of this month, I had a CEL. A local shop scanned it and said it was the adblue tank level sensor. Finally had some time to take in to the dealer and they diagnosed it with a bad adblue tank preheater. Boom, hit with a $2100 quote. After a few days of haggling with the dealer to determine if it's covered under the Mercedes federal emission warranty (8 years, 80k miles), they determined that it was SPECIFICALLY not a covered emissions item. I rang up Mercedes customer service and opened a case, and that fortunately took about a grand off the repair for "goodwill".

So after doing the math with the fuel savings since March 2018, as compared to my previous 16mpg supercharged range rover sport, I pretty much broke even.

Granted, I could have purchased an "OEM" repair kit myself for the adblue heater for about $6-700 and taken it to a local indie, but the dealer gave me a new loaner for the week and they had goodwilled/"warrantied" a couple of previous complaints that I had, so oh well.

So for those looking at diesel w212, be wary of the adblue tank preheater. MSRP on the genuine part alone is $1350.

TeeEl

Lesson learned. Just buy a V8 to begin with.

kajtek1

I wonder if the preheater requires SCN coding?
New cars are not cheap. I will not even try to check how much camshaft sensor for V8 cost.
But as few of us are doing,for about equal money you can do tune who will delete DPF and DEF.

jonUF02

Should have just bought a 550 and had a fun car

drdantheman1

Per the invoice that I got today, it looks like they did do some time of computer coding after the installation of the preheater. The next time I have ANY issues with the adblue system, I would greatly consider doing the dpf/def delete. At least it would free up some room in the trunk for a spare! lol

drdantheman1

Lol, if I wanted a fast V8, I would've picked up another range rover sport supercharged. The bluetec is more of a sensible daily driver that I can pile the miles on and not worry about resale value, and get 800 miles between fill ups. I've already done near 15k miles in the past 10 months. Making rounds at hospitals sometimes an hour apart or more on a daily basis takes its toll on both the car and myself. In a few years, I'll probably pick up something with a V8 as a third car.

deanhE350

Can you share what you know about dpf/def delete? Im looking for a kit if there is such a thing. Thanks

kajtek1

All in diesel section

drdantheman1

I took a look in there and searched around online, I couldn't specifically find the dpf delete hardware for the 2.1L OM651 engine, only some tuners. There are plenty of kits for the OM642. Do you have any links kajtek1?

kajtek1

There is no DPF delete hardware. It is all in programming. Once you have ECU reprogrammed to ignore DPF sensors, you drill/chisel the ceramic insert and put back empty shell.

SEC1939

I know who make these heaters in Germany. I have seen them made. Cost at the OEM level under $20.00.

wins76

I used to work for pharmaceutical company. We made Cialis under 0.62 cents but selling to CVS @ $30+ and in turn they sold it to end user @ $ 70 a pill without insurance. The point is irrelevant

ChrisDavis

I am looking for a step by step guide for the DPF removal. Anyone know of one? My research has shown that a new down pipe for our W212 with a OM642 is not available. I am at 110k miles and have not had a problem since my NOX senors and adblue heater was replaced at 55k miles. I want to be prepared for when I do have a problem.

DubVBenz

I've owned my W211 E320 Bluetec for 9 years and have put 105K miles on it during that time. Love love love that car, even with the DPF that I've promised to remove when it fails (at 132K now and no issues). Well, it's time for me to buy another daily driver, and while I'm going to keep my OM642 powered W211, I can't bring myself to buy any Urea/SCR era diesel as a replacement. I've read horror stories about the OM642 and OM651's urea sensors and tank heaters and have decided that my love of low-end diesel torque and fuel economy are just not enough to justify the hassle added hassle of those exhaust treatments. A shame too, because the final W221 OM642 powered cars are quite powerful as well.

For a little while I considered a BMW F10 535d, but add all of the BMW electronic issues plus the diesel and I'd probably switch to ubers after I was done.

I just signed the paperwork for a CPO 2015 E400 today. After a tune or JB4 it'll have comparable torque to my OM642 and a lot more HP while the fuel economy won't be that much worse (in the last 3 years I only do about 6-8 miles a day so the diesel benefits are negligible ). Hoping the TTM276 turns out to be a decent replacement and will never forgive the EPA for taking away diesel cars as an option in this country (and ultimately the world).

deanhE350

I had the same problem with my w212. and decided instead of buying the new heater I did a DPF delete. I look for a down pipe for several months and was told by many tuners that there is nothing out there. I found a custom exhaust fabricator who gutted the DPF and welded it back together. Had the ECM reconfigured and picked up approximately 30hp and slightly better gas mileage. I was thinking about having the fabricator gut the cat also but did not pull the trigger on that mod. I kinda wish I did. Ive been told that I need to rebuild the oil cool soon because it is going to leak and that is a $$$ job also. Good luck

kajtek1

I don't see separate cats on bluetecs.
Usually it is 2 in1.
Front of the unit has catalitic elements, when rear DPF
It is all ceramic-like honeycomb, what took me about 1 hr to drill and chisel out.

drdantheman1

Is that for OM651 or OM642?

deanhE350

The OM642. I was told the cat was on top the engine and at the rear. I did not see it myself so I could be wrong.

ChrisDavis

DeanhE350 - Did you take the exhaust off the car or did you take the car to the shop and they did all the work? I am trying to plan out the logistics of doing the delete and sending the ECU in for re-programing.

Does anyone know what the exhaust is? I have the ability to weld at my shop but I have never welded stainless.

deanhE350

I had an indi diesel shop that services my diesel trucks take the exhaust off and delivered it to the fabricator. He gutted it and welded it back together. kajtek1, is the DPF and CAT in the same cannister, may he did gut both and I am not aware of it. Wouldnt I hear an exhaust note change??

kajtek1

It was on OM651 engine and it is on OM642 in pre-DEF version.
Right now we have 1 of 651 with DPF delete and 1 original. I can't tell anything different while driving. They are both very quiet.
But bare in mind those cars and those engines have dozens of variations, so taking sample from one MY might not apply to another.
I was removing DPF on OM642 engine, but that was when replacing the engine.
From what I remember getting on the back of turbo on this engine is a *****.
Pretty easy on OM651

mellonc

I'm still a bit lost as to DPF delete procedures in CA. I don't think people here can do it. Rather, they would get caught during the biennial inspection.

kajtek1

CA diesel smog is a joke as they don't put a probe and whole inspection is only visual.
When DPF drilling is not detectable, ECU tuning only makes a note at DPF "N/A"
Some technicians only check for CEL and open the hood "trying to look smart" and that is the end of inspection.(beside checking tire pressure)
So IMHO you have good chance to pass, but that might depend on technician.

mellonc

any names of good diesel tuners who can do the job in So Cal would be greatly appreciated.

kajtek1

Why not ask for this weekend Lottery numbers as well?
Good luck.