SUPERBenz619

Hey Everyone,

I'm new to the forum, but I did want to get people's opinion on something. I just bought a 2007 S550, and have had it for about a month. It was from a used-car dealership, and I think I got jerked around pretty good, but that's a whole other story. So about 30 days later, the check engine light goes on. I take it to MB, and they're saying that there's no oil pressure to the #3 cylinder on the right side of the engine. Quoted me a $8K job. The good thing is that I did buy a 3'rd party warranty from the dealership.

The warranty states that the cylinder block, heads, barrels are all covered. Yet, they say if the adjuster comes out and states the cylinder head doesn't work because of negligence of maintenance or abuse, even if it was the owner before me, they won't cover it.

My question is, has anyone seen this type of problem in the engine, and what might cause it? Could it be a mechanical failure because of the way the engine was built? Car has 50K miles, not that bad, I wouldn't expect this to happen in this type of car.

JonMBZ

Never heard of the issue, just fight with the company or pay the bill and take them to court. Make the company public give them bad PR etc. There is no way they can hold you accountable for the last owners negligence. They took your money willingly up front, now it's time they held up the end of their contract.

jagata

Sorry to hear that, I would fight them all the way. Reinforces my belief that warranty co. are a scam, I hear many bad stories over good stories about claims getting denied. They have many fine print clauses that protect them from paying such as the weasel excuse they are giving you.

SUPERBenz619

I plan to try to fight the warranty company if the claim is denied, but it would give me peace of mind if I knew what would cause a cylinder to go bad other than racing, or negligence of maintenance. I guess I'll find out soon enougn, MB is tearing down the engine next week, and the cause should be determined at that time.

platt-deutsch

I wonder how they read the oil pressure on just one cyclinder? I would believe they could read the compression but never heard of reading oil pressure on a certain cylinder. I dont even know how you would find any oil pressure to read on a individual cylinder.. If its compression they are talking about, Maybe its just a stuck valve or somthing simple..

SUPERBenz619

I'm not sure how they read the oil pressure on one cylinder. That's what the service advisor told me. I have a buddy who I was able to get ahold of who's a certified MB mechanic, but now works for Audi. He said that this is a problem due the geometry of the engine, and how it was built. I'm hoping that's what it is, so my warranty will cover it.

Diesel Benz

What does oil pressure in one cylinder mean to start with? I can only think of oil pressure at the connecting rod bearings and perhaps the camshaft parts for one cylinder.

I'd bet the dealer was actually referring to the cylinder compression measurements, this they can do easily with the diagnosis tool without opening the bonnet.

I hope the issue turns out to be small or will be covered by this third party warranty anyway.

MBS430

negligence of maintenance!?

What kind of maintenance can you do on cylinder head?
even with service A, B, C & D ... the closest maintenance on the cylinder head is just oil change, is it not?
what more can you do on cylinder head?

Quadcammer

this thread is a disaster.

Go back to the dealer, and get a word for word statement from him.

Oil pressure to one cylinder does not exist. Most likely the guy said cylinder pressure, i.e. compression.

marthyh

Oil-pressure for one cylinder would be very hard to measure..

Unless they mean the oil-pressure of the hydraulic tappet; that would be reflected by the compression of that cylinder bc one valve would not open,also, that would be clearly audilble I guess.

Yes, have a good reliable MB-dealer look at it with star-diag.

Quadcammer

even with a bad tappet, the valve would still open, but it would make a hell of a racket.

marthyh

Yup, hopefully the OP finds out ,its something simple and especcially that the warranty covers whatever it is....we are here to help !!And learn of course...

Atcpup

Really? Not heard of any design problems from this engine. Maybe that's why he is working for Audi now.....

SUPERBenz619

UPDATE: MB said the return code is P-0303 which he says is a general mis-fire code for the cylinder. Since the engine has now been opened up he said it's due to a faulty exhaust valve moving around not creating a proper seal. So it sounds like the warranty company should cover it. The adjuster will be coming out in a couple of days. I'll keep everone posted. Thanks for the feedback so far!

SUPERBenz619

UPDATE: MB said the return code is P-0303 which he says is a general mis-fire code for the cylinder. Since the engine has now been opened up he said it's due to a faulty exhaust valve moving around not creating a proper seal. So it sounds like the warranty company should cover it. The adjuster will be coming out in a couple of days. I'll keep everone posted. Thanks for the feedback so far!

SUPERBenz619

Well. Some good news. The warranty company said it's covered, but now they're saying MB is requesting 22 hours for the work, and the Mitchell labor guide the warranty company goes by only specifies 14 hours. I have to pay the difference, still better than paying for the whole thing - $8000 job. Has anyone had this type happen before? If it's covered, the warranty should pay the whole thing except for my $75 deductible!

WEBSRFR

Well, tell them Mitchel Labor guide is wrong. And you go by the actual labor guide presented by Mercedes.

Wow what a bunch of scam artists. Wish someone could unleash an attorney at them and screw them over with a class action lawsuit. You paid the warranty in good faith with the understanding that the deductible is all that will cost you and now they are trying to fleece you when it is time for them to pay up. Their "labor guide" is BS. You did not subscribe to some labor guide, you bought a warranty for your car to fix problems. If Mercedes claims it takes 22 hours, that is what it takes to get the car to factory standards. I'd threaten to sue them in small claims court and even follow through on that. You just can't go by some arbitrary "Labor Guide." What if their labor guide said 10 hours? They need to stand behind their "warranty" and get the car fixed for you with the $75 deductible.

This is why I'd be weary of buying any non factory warranty... I feel for you. It is ridiculous what they are putting you though.

State Farm once tried to push this Labor Guide thing on me when my car needed some bodywork after it was keyed and they did not want to pay what the Mercedes Certified body shop said would cost. I did not stand for any of the BS and got them to pay the bill of the body shop in full when they tried to get me to cover the difference between the actual cost and their "payment schedule."