mgiara

Hey everyone
Just purchased a 2011 E550 4Matic and it seems smart to get an idea of how healthy my engine and transmission are before driving the car much.

I'm not entirely sure what all I should be doing to verify that she's healthy and safe to be driven without incurring any preventable damage.

I do hear some kind of a clicking noise that I do believe is coming from the engine. I also noticed there's a shoddy welding job done on the exhaust, so maybe I'm just hearing an exhaust leak?

I found this list on MotorTrend via Google but it's generic and I'm deeply confident you guys can guide me better / more specifically:
-Visual
-Dipstick
-Sounds
-Oil Pressure
-Compression Test
-Vacuum Testing
-Leak Down
-Timing Chain
-Cylinder Balance Test
-Radiator Pressure Check

I feel confident sourcing the parts, performing repairs and maintenance, and figuring out how to do tests, checks and inspect on my own if that makes sense to save money.

I do plan on either buying a really good MB-capable scanner (currently only have a cheap bluetooth OBD II dongle) or frankly I'm probably just going to get one of those knockoff Star / Xentry computers.

Can't wait to start working on this beauty. Thanks for reading and please leave your insights/recommendations!!
What should I check?

CaliBenzDriver

Congrats on your powerful V8, it's a very popular selection with great options like Airmatic, Distronic.... I don't see, what is your current mileage?

These cars really deliver. Perhaps now is a good time to deal with a few maintenance items :

• PCV breather, upstream O2/Lambda
• brakes disks/pads
• ignition plugs/coils
• fuel injection pump/filter
• Suspension, control arms, alignment
• fluids ATF/5W40/coolant/DOT4
• HVAC Sce: filter, charge, clean evap.
• batteries, alternator, starter, GND straps
• serpentine + tensioner + idlers
• OBDII fault codes: current + transient
• timing parts: VVT, Tensioners,
• Oil-in-harness: leaking sensors
• oil leaks: timing + valve covers, main seals
• 4Matic gear oils and bearings
• new radiator before mayo party!
• refresh driver seat skin
• Roof water leak in footwell !

Misc electricals & electronics need attention as well: radars, sensors, EIS, SCM, Speakers, Amps... all German goodness!

It will help you to learn the WIS procedures and torques associated with your car. Many fasteners are low torque aluminum assemblies.

Some engines are known to develop cylinders markings evidenced with bore scope when doing sparkplug job - Crank pulley bolt is a #27. Double check if your engine features a solenoid to disable piston squirters with low oil pressure.

Every single system requires maintenance - It's up to you to prioritize your efforts besides safety first.

mgiara

Thank you!!! I've been told this quite a few times now, makes me feel good about the purchase I'm between 89 and 90K miles.
Man I couldn't have asked for a better handbook. Cannot thank you enough; the time you took to make this post is appreciated beyond what I can put into words.

Where can I get started learning WIS procedures? I have a budget Harbor Freight torque wrench but plan on buying (very soon, within days, ordering tools now) a high quality one with Nm.

Just finished learning about compression testing and am going to watch leak down tutorials next. I'll probably buy a test kit tonight or tomorrow; any recommendations on which one(s) to get are welcome; I'm obviously going to research in the forums before purchasing.
Same thing with a boroscope. I want a good one and I want it soon so that's at the top of my list to research and purchase next to the other things I mentioned. Same as above regarding recommendations and research.

Again I can't thank you enough for your reply. You've given me a fantastic checklist with concise detail. Very well done and I look forward to going through the list and sharing what I learn!!!

CaliBenzDriver

These cars are super well built to be easily serviced by specialists. As owners who enjoy wrenching our purpose is very much different than a dealer shop.

​​​​​​> Pretty much anyone's can hang parts... the real opportunity for owners is to provide maintenance that prevent failures. This is what my maintenance list was geared for...

> Be proactive! Do not wait for catastrophic failures to materialize after 100kMi: plugs, belt, tranny, 4M, water pump, radiator,...

> Your best bet is to group maintenance items together to prevent duplicate busy work.
Good OEM certified parts are cheap when saving on overhead charges.

> WIS procedures are often made available on fleaBay.

++++ Plastic cooling pipes!
Recently it was made evident by @S-Prihadi that plastic coolant pipe should be replaced before they have a chance to split and warp the overheated heads.

Also I forgot 2Pcs. engine mounts + 1Pc. tranny mount (+ 2Pcs. propeller shaft rubber couplers).

Zynthe

From that list above, which jobs would you group together to save on labor and double the work?

CaliBenzDriver

100kMi preventive maintenance campaign GROUPED - Concider the scope of what needs to happen, decide what you want included then group the work items.

I propose the following groupings as example:

> ENGINE TOP:

• timing: intake VVT /cam sensors /tensioners /Mg seal!
• ignition plugs /coil /boots
• PCV kit /HPFP /roler
• Intake air filter
• (empty engine oil from intake plenum)

> ENGINE COOLING:

• coolant drain
• cooling pump
• serpentine kit with tensioner/idlers
• thermostat with housing/seal
• radiator itself (insurance against death by mayo)
• plastic coolant hoses at rear /front
• expansion tank + cap.
• Vacuum airlock from system

> ENGINE BOTTOM:

• All 3 mounts
• clean oil leaked in ALT
• GND strap chassis-tranny

> MISC ITEMS:
O2/Lambda, Tranny ATF, wipers, ...have no natural grouping that save time.

Because you know which cheap part maintenance is required, you can schedule items together.

Eg: PCV requires HPFP removal, you then replace it 20k before it fails.


neighboring parts with shared PITA labor


If you pay to get this worked done, make sure individual jobs prices are not bunched regardless of grouping.

Like a dealer invoicing a combined [PCV & HPFP] job as if labor was done twice separately!
I call that fraudulent charges, yet done everywhere all day long

You'll have more chance dealing with a honest specialist shop than a busy dealer.



​​​​​

mgiara

I’m going to target this list and work through it while also addressing the things I noticed when doing the PPI with that shop (they invited me to join them after chopping it up a bit with them)

Bought about a grand in essential tools that I didn’t have:
- long and short torx and hex, lug nut and spark plug sockets, e-torx
- good digital impact with Nm and rotation angle
- quality compressor and OTC leak down test kit
- NT530 and OpenPort 2.0
- cordless impact and drill
- multiple sets of extensions and universals
- couple hundred in worklights 😅
- online shop manual software and a surface pro (need a case)

Fixed half of the errors that were on the dash, the rest parts will be here this week. 90% of features working perfectly. Interior and engine bay detail done, oil topped up.

Appointment scheduled with Independent Motorcars in Miramar San Diego for an inspection and to address the coil overs poor ride quality, new tires should be on with new TPMS sensors by that appointment for an alignment. I’m scared because I figured out which kit they put in and I’m not super optimistic at first glance.

Going to continue research on a C4/5 mux, prepare to buy a couple service/maintenance packages on FCPEuro, maybe buy a broscope as I continue engine health testing.

I’ll feel like I’ve earned the right to drive it more after i’ve addressed your list and whatever else the shop finds.
Having the Nissan as a spare car I think gives me great flexibility until it’s CVT fails further.

mgiara

I don't know if you guys are in to this kinda thing but this is the report generated by the Snap On scan tool the PPI shop pulled.

CaliBenzDriver

This makes good sense!

You won't have many repairs bills if you personally stay on top of the maintenance schedule - Some shops are happy to follow your request because they understand what these car need -

CaliBenzDriver

There is not a lot of smart deployed in providing you this report - You can do a similar scan yourself any day once you are equipped ** without handy printout **


fault summary

From there, you reset all then rescan couple days later to see what significant faults have returned.

We'll help you prioritize remediation when you're ready.
ESP/Brakes will be near the top.

We note the solderless modules are materializing faults in EIS, DCU, AAC, OCP...