2010 ML350 Bluetec fuel system corrosion - huge problem!!
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mercedes ml350 deisel
2010 ML350 Bluetec fuel system corrosion - huge problem!!
2010 ML350 Bluetec fuel system corrosion - huge problem!!
I have been searching to see if this happens often with the bluetec Mercedes and have found it does. Our insurance, as of yet, has not been willing to pay the nearly $11,000 for what New Country Motor Cars in Hartford says needs to be done. We bought the car new (actually it was a demo so they didn't give us the 100K warranty for used cars) - had about 9000K +/- miles on it. It now has 70,000 on it and started getting difficult to start. It also ran rough, bumpy. We brought it to Mercedes who first said it was a $500 repair - said OK - than $3200 - than $6000 than said to call insurance as it will be a little over $10,700. We are beyond upset over this repair. We are now having fuel samples done to see if there is any bad fuel, however we always buy it at the same place and would be surprised if it was that. We are also having the fuel in the tank checked. We are looking for advise on how to proceed. Our insurance company 21st Century has looked at it but as of yet not willing to cover the damage (should have gone with Chubb as they covered it for another member - "Garage is empty"). New Country Motor Cars - Mercedes said we need $6717.80 in parts plus another $4500 in labor. Also that the cost of just taking the car home in parts" "as it is now" will be $2252 plus tax. Is there any help or advise out there??
Last edited by mercamino; Today at 08:57 PM.
I have been searching to see if this happens often with the bluetec Mercedes and have found it does. Our insurance, as of yet, has not been willing to pay the nearly $11,000 for what New Country Motor Cars in Hartford says needs to be done. We bought the car new (actually it was a demo so they didn't give us the 100K warranty for used cars) - had about 9000K +/- miles on it. It now has 70,000 on it and started getting difficult to start. It also ran rough, bumpy. We brought it to Mercedes who first said it was a $500 repair - said OK - than $3200 - than $6000 than said to call insurance as it will be a little over $10,700. We are beyond upset over this repair. We are now having fuel samples done to see if there is any bad fuel, however we always buy it at the same place and would be surprised if it was that. We are also having the fuel in the tank checked. We are looking for advise on how to proceed. Our insurance company 21st Century has looked at it but as of yet not willing to cover the damage (should have gone with Chubb as they covered it for another member - "Garage is empty"). New Country Motor Cars - Mercedes said we need $6717.80 in parts plus another $4500 in labor. Also that the cost of just taking the car home in parts" "as it is now" will be $2252 plus tax. Is there any help or advise out there??
Last edited by mercamino; Today at 08:57 PM.
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Joined: Dec 2007
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From: Woodstock, IL
His 2019 RAM Cummins Turbo Diesel Laramie; Her's 2007 ML320 CDI P3; Mine BMW R1200R
It's not a huge problem. It's just your problem.
The car did 70000 miles in 3 years and suddenly you have corrosion in the fuel system?? You realize diesel fuel is oil based, and the vehicle has a water sensor in the fuel filter right? When was the last time you replaced the filter?
From what you wrote, this is not a MB engineered issue, but an owner operator issue. The thousands of CDI/Bluetec owners worldwide that has never heard of this issue will support me on this. As for me, 138000 miles since 2007, and you guessed it, never a fuel issue.
The car did 70000 miles in 3 years and suddenly you have corrosion in the fuel system?? You realize diesel fuel is oil based, and the vehicle has a water sensor in the fuel filter right? When was the last time you replaced the filter?
From what you wrote, this is not a MB engineered issue, but an owner operator issue. The thousands of CDI/Bluetec owners worldwide that has never heard of this issue will support me on this. As for me, 138000 miles since 2007, and you guessed it, never a fuel issue.
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mercedes ml350 deisel
Thank you for your advise. We've owned 7 diesels (all Mercedes). We always maintain them properly including having the filters changed. We are having the fuel tested - may have caused the problem.
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1986 VW golf diesel
It is not your problem, it is a Mercedes and Dealership problem. The fact that New Country Motors used a dart board, $500 to initially fix your problem, then $3,200, $6,000 and finally $10,000 tells me that someone needs training in the use of diagnostic equipment. I spent 35 years working as an engineer for a company that made and sold fuel injection pumps, nozzles, filters, and additives. If you changed the filter on your car as required (I believe Mercedes uses a 10 Micron [0.0003937 inches] filter) then you did your part. As for the water separator, in the 33 years I have owned diesels, I never removed more than a shot glass of water from the separator. Also, the CEL should have alerted you to any impending problems, obviously it did not. Having worked with Mercedes, BMW, Volkswagen, and Opel Engineers, they have a mindset that they all make the perfect car, they don't, its a machine. Some will seemingly last forever and others of the same model will have problems. Example: Mercedes recall "7,000 Diesels 2011-2012 defect with leaking diesel fuel filter M-Class Jan 2010-March 2010". They have also had problems with their piezoelectric injectors as well as other issues. Since there is a lack of responsibility and cooperation from Mercedes my suggestion would be to drop the Mercedes line of cars if New Country Motors is your only source for service. I would also drop 21st Century since they are unwilling to do what Chubb did for the individual with your same problem. FYI a 2013 Ram Cummins turbo diesel may be a wanna be Mercedes, but it isn't. Apples and Oranges.
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Joined: Oct 2012
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From: California
2010 GL350, 2005 BMW X5 4.8is, 2015 BMW 328d
My apologies for a late bump. I've recently gained lots of experience in diesel engines and water problems. I had water problems in my 2010 GL350 BTC even after buying from branded suppliers. Luckily I learned my lesson the inexpensive way, with 3 DIY filter changes, and a tank drain/line flush from an independent shop. Yes it was bad fuel. While draining the fuel into a clear plastic container as I watched I could see brown algae, water and black flecks pouring out of the tank. It took 2 power washes to clean it out. You may want to look into taking your oil burner to an Indie shop to get your car back on the road. The dealer will just stall until either you give up and pay them or your insurance pays them. Either way the indie shop will get you on the road sooner.
Last edited by drgeeforce; Feb 24, 2014 at 06:50 PM.
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sprinter
I own several diesel vehicle(12) one of them being a 2013 sprinter with a bluetec.These new high tech diesels are great when they work but very unreliable and sensitive: engine will shut down for any out of range sensor in the middle of the road i would call that dangerous, the engineers have to revise this.Also dealers don't know how to fix the problem they start pulling parts random and at the owners cost.Also warranty really sucks for an expensive vehicle(commercial). I own a delivery business and what i need is a vehicle that never stops. Except for the great fuel millage this technology is not appealing to me.
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Mercedes-Benz ML 350 Bluetec disel
ML 350 Blue Tec diesel
Starting the car is not a problem, but when I stop it for one to 15 min it is hard to start it. When it stops for 15 to 30 min no problem to start it.
What causes this problem?
Starting the car is not a problem, but when I stop it for one to 15 min it is hard to start it. When it stops for 15 to 30 min no problem to start it.
What causes this problem?
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