Daught

I am looking to purchase a R350. I found one with very low mileage but when I scanned it with my universal OBD reader I got the following codes. There's not check engine light. I am aware a STAR reader is much better, and I will get one if I end up buying a Mercedes. Still I would really appreciate some feedback on these codes. The descriptions I found were pretty vague.

P16CF(00)
(ECU: 7EB)
Status: Test failed since last DTC clear


P131E(00)
(ECU: 708)
Status: Test failed since last DTC clear


P15FF(00)
(ECU: 7E8)
Status: Test failed since last DTC clear


P109A(00)
(ECU: 7EB)
Status: Confirmed, Test failed since last DTC clear

efzauner

have you tried looking up any codes? https://www.engine-codes.com/p16cf.html

Daught

I did look them up.. For example that code references "Intake Rocker Arm Solenoid". I can't find anything about a Intake Rocker Arm Solenoid on the om642 engine.

ygmn

Did it complete a driving cycle?

Or did owner Reset all codes recently to hide issues?

Maybe take to delaership for a PPI?

hyperion667

I've often been told that the code readers on MB's will usually give some sort of generic code and not always the right one.....unless you have the specific MV reader.

chassis

Gas or diesel? Avoid the diesel. If gas, be aware the M272 engine may have a balance shaft concern: https://mbworld.org/forums/e-class-w...nce-shaft.html

Codes read with other than a STAR reader can be dubious and inconclusive.

A reliable combination for the R350 is the M276 engine and 7G-Tronic transmission. Later model years have the M276, which replaced the M272.

The V8 M113 and M273 versions seem not-too-unreliable.

Daught

If I get a R it has to be diesel. All the readiness monitors are passed so the car has been through a full drive cycle. I tried using torque app and no codes come up.

My Audi vag-com can do generic obd but it won't connect to the R.

chassis

Daught, how familiar are you with M-B vehicles, specifically recent model year diesels, in the Bluetec era? Have a read through the Diesel forum on this site, and also in the R-Class section, where this thread resides. M-B has had similar experiences as VW, regarding the emissions equipment used with the OM642 diesel engine.

Supporters of M-B diesels are quick to mention "it's not the engine". Technically this is correct. There is nothing fundamentally flawed with the compression ignition cycle. The unreliable bits are mainly with hardware attached to the engine. Nevertheless, the problematic hardware has a 1:1 correlation with the OM642 of certain model years.

Search specifically for these keywords:

Bluetec
oil cooler
DEF
EGR
turbo
DPF
NOX

Daught

I read quite a lot about these cars, but I dont have any experience with MBs.

These are the main concerns I found with the W251 OM642:
- "Black death". Realistically a reasonably easy DIY.
- Transmission "Conductor Plate Sensor". Again easy.
- DPF/EGR/swirl motor. That;s the big one. If they give me too many headaches I can get a tune which deletes those.
- Air suspension. I dealt with the Audi C5 allroad. Easy fix and they can be replaced with Grand Cherokee non air parts.
- Floor control modules water damage from water leaks. This can be a bad one. I am very careful to check for a musty smell and other sings of leaks.

My biggest concern is with it's suspension, I find them too soft. I really feel I would like a much bigger sway bars and stiffer suspension all around, without dropping height. It does not look like there's anything for the W251. I found some stiffer sway bars for the grand cherokee, I wonder if those are compatible.

efzauner

What is the Black Death? Oil cooler leak? You call that an easy fix?

Daught

Black death is injector seal leak.


I found an AMG R350 with airmatic suspension. I am wondering if it's worth the hassle. How much ground clearance can be gained over the regular R? Does the Adaptive Damping System offer considerably better handling?