Thermostat Price Insanity?
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Joined: Mar 2025
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There is nothing "performance" oriented about plastic parts on the engine. At best you save a few grams on weight, have a mal-adjusted heat cycling part that will fail sooner, all because there was a meeting between finance supervisor and engineering team that realized they could save $19 dollars across xx,000 units equaling y amount of savings and sell w more engines, gaskets and housings because of said decision. NOTHING about plastic is performance oriented and in fact shortening the life expectancy is the complete opposite...; heat cycles.... leaks... you get the picture.
Last edited by BBBAAUTO; Apr 29, 2025 at 03:00 AM.
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2001 S600 V12 Sold, 2011 Jaguar XFR Sold, 2017 S550 4-Matic, 2018 S63 AMG Sedan
There is nothing "performance" oriented about plastic parts on the engine. At best you save a few grams on weight, have a mal-adjusted heat cycling part that will fail sooner, all because there was a meeting between finance supervisor and engineering team that realized they could save $19 dollars across xx,000 units equaling y amount of savings and sell w more engines, gaskets and housings because of said decision. NOTHING about plastic is performance oriented and in fact shortening the life expectancy is the complete opposite...; heat cycles.... leaks... you get the picture.
My hope for the OP is that he will get his OVS replaced at the same time since they will already be that deep into the engine, the thermostat housing is in between the OVSs onthe front of the engine. The parts are "relatively cheap", and if it only cost a couple hundred dollars more it would be more than worth it.
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2010 E350 4Matic
What you have to understand is this car (and every other car like it) is designed for performance first, and repair and maintenance cost second. It's not designed for you to buy it when its 5 years old and drive it until its 15 years old and not have to pay for any repairs. That's a Lexus ES. You can't even expect that with a Lexus LS (I know, I've had 4). If you are concerned about maintenance cost, no car like this is for you that's just the bottom line. Just get a warranty, or just be happy with a much less complex and more reliability focused car.
Last edited by MBNUT1; Apr 29, 2025 at 01:39 PM.
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2024 S580
This car has been a lease machine for 30 years, and thats the model that makes sense for the manufacturer.
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From: Scottsdale, Arizona
2001 E55AMG
I have a 2020 S560 sedan. I'm getting a check engine light, which when read, is code P0128. I'm guessing this likely means the thermostat is going bad? Is there a way to tell if it's just the sensor instead? I went to look for where to order a new thermostat and pricing, and it seems like the thermostats are only sold as the whole housing? Is that right? Wondering if there's an aftermarket option for just the thermostat, but haven't found one yet. I was floored to see a $745 price tag for a damn thermostat housing, with no option seemingly to order just the thermostat by itself. Anyone have any experience with this and recommendations?
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11 E550, 16 AMG GTS, 13 S550
they fail at the gasket before they fail at the plastic housing, the transmission pan being plastic sucks though but those things rusted/became porous over time all the time anyway
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2010 E350 4Matic
Was hoping that the W222 had fallen in the footsteps of the W212 and returned to old school robustness. IMHO the V8's don't meet that standard.
Last edited by MBNUT1; Apr 30, 2025 at 06:59 AM.
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From: Maryland
2024 S580
I would have kept my S560 and driven it to 100k miles without hesitation, but I would have kept it under warranty.
Would I keep my S580 to 100k miles? Probably not.
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It’s a very robust car with surprisingly few major faults, but like any such complex car it’s not going to be perfect and there will be big bills as they age. It just is what it is.
I would have kept my S560 and driven it to 100k miles without hesitation, but I would have kept it under warranty.
Would I keep my S580 to 100k miles? Probably not.
I would have kept my S560 and driven it to 100k miles without hesitation, but I would have kept it under warranty.
Would I keep my S580 to 100k miles? Probably not.
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From: Maryland
2024 S580
MBWorld Fanatic!
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From: Maryland
2024 S580
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From: Cincinnati
2010 E350 4Matic
It’s a very robust car with surprisingly few major faults, but like any such complex car it’s not going to be perfect and there will be big bills as they age. It just is what it is.
I would have kept my S560 and driven it to 100k miles without hesitation, but I would have kept it under warranty.
Would I keep my S580 to 100k miles? Probably not.
I would have kept my S560 and driven it to 100k miles without hesitation, but I would have kept it under warranty.
Would I keep my S580 to 100k miles? Probably not.
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From: Maryland
2024 S580
These cars are incredibly complex and expensive to repair with expensive parts. Its not a Camry or even an E Class. You have the potential for engine repairs obviously but then you have all the technology, air suspension etc. If you want to drive one of these without a warranty you have to be prepared for the potential of a $5k repair at any time.
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2014 - W212.065 - E400 ( M276.820, 3 liter Turbo) RWD not Hybrid
M177 engine for thermostat is the King of Nightmare labor wise.
M278 or M157 will seems like a walk in the park for the same job.
M177 being a hot Vee is hot on the wallet too, for thermostat replacement and too bad Master Tasos seems to do a lot of it...meaning it is not that reliable , the thermostat.
.
.
Non MB specialized techy, but a very senior and capable techy.
-----
Naked engine walk around. Good to visualize the challenge of doing X-Y-Z job on it.
.
Happy maintenance boys.......
M278 or M157 will seems like a walk in the park for the same job.
M177 being a hot Vee is hot on the wallet too, for thermostat replacement and too bad Master Tasos seems to do a lot of it...meaning it is not that reliable , the thermostat.
.
.
Non MB specialized techy, but a very senior and capable techy.
-----
Naked engine walk around. Good to visualize the challenge of doing X-Y-Z job on it.
.
Happy maintenance boys.......
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From: Cincinnati
2010 E350 4Matic
Then this caliber of car is simply not for you. I wouldn't have owned my Lexus LS sedans without an extended warranty either and they are firmly regarded as the most reliable cars in the segment.
These cars are incredibly complex and expensive to repair with expensive parts. Its not a Camry or even an E Class. You have the potential for engine repairs obviously but then you have all the technology, air suspension etc. If you want to drive one of these without a warranty you have to be prepared for the potential of a $5k repair at any time.
These cars are incredibly complex and expensive to repair with expensive parts. Its not a Camry or even an E Class. You have the potential for engine repairs obviously but then you have all the technology, air suspension etc. If you want to drive one of these without a warranty you have to be prepared for the potential of a $5k repair at any time.
Last edited by MBNUT1; May 1, 2025 at 03:13 PM.
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2020 S560, 2014 SLK55 (Prev. 2016 S65, 2013 SLK350, 2008 CLS63, 2006 E350, 2006 CLS500, 2005 C230K)
This thread seems to have taken a detour so I want to clarify.
The electric assisted thermostat is not new, it has been in use by MB for over 20 years. Failures are very rare as lifetime far exceeds traditional thermostat.
There is a manufacturing defect on a specific batch of M177/176 thermostats that makes them very likely to fail open due to a component coming loose (some countries will have extended warranty for this).
The electric assisted thermostat is not new, it has been in use by MB for over 20 years. Failures are very rare as lifetime far exceeds traditional thermostat.
There is a manufacturing defect on a specific batch of M177/176 thermostats that makes them very likely to fail open due to a component coming loose (some countries will have extended warranty for this).
MBWorld Fanatic!
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From: Pacific Northwest
2001 S600 V12 Sold, 2011 Jaguar XFR Sold, 2017 S550 4-Matic, 2018 S63 AMG Sedan
I'm showing $712.00 for the Thermostat Housing and 6.3 labor hours to remove and replace.
Trenton O. Gibson
tgibson@highline-autos.com
Highline Autos
Direct: 602.909.9216
Office: 480.348.0777
Trenton O. Gibson
tgibson@highline-autos.com
Highline Autos
Direct: 602.909.9216
Office: 480.348.0777
This thread seems to have taken a detour so I want to clarify.
The electric assisted thermostat is not new, it has been in use by MB for over 20 years. Failures are very rare as lifetime far exceeds traditional thermostat.
There is a manufacturing defect on a specific batch of M177/176 thermostats that makes them very likely to fail open due to a component coming loose (some countries will have extended warranty for this).
The electric assisted thermostat is not new, it has been in use by MB for over 20 years. Failures are very rare as lifetime far exceeds traditional thermostat.
There is a manufacturing defect on a specific batch of M177/176 thermostats that makes them very likely to fail open due to a component coming loose (some countries will have extended warranty for this).
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 9,062
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From: Maryland
2024 S580
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 9,062
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From: Maryland
2024 S580
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2002
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From: Cincinnati
2010 E350 4Matic
