nikobimmer

2014 E250 Update

If you’ve read my previous posts, you know I have a high mileage commute.

Rolled over 170,000 miles last week.

No new issues to report, just regular oil/filter changes, added some adblue, cabin/engine air filters and replaced the tires last month.

Still getting 42mpg on the hwy and have averaged 38.6 mpg over the life of the car.

ChrisB

I have only been in this forum since Oct 2018 .. I see you have owned since new - right?

You could post on the Combo Stats thread I started - you would be high miles & high miles per year.

ghlkal

Amazing. It's good to hear it is doing so well.

nikobimmer

Owned since new, correct.

Petrocelli

How much do you think you have spent on maintenance (other than regularly scheduled maintenance) since you got the car?

mfab

I just turned over 75K miles on my E250 4matic. Routinely do 44mpg on the highway, a little less (~41 mpg) in the winter or at higher speeds. I was keeping a book with mileage, but it was very consistent so I stopped.

I've been doing some of my own maintenance on the car:
- Fuel filter at 50K (easy) - $60
- Air filter at 25K miles (literally 5 screws) - $40
- Brake fluid at year 2 ($12)
- Add my own DEF every 15K miles or so ($12)
- I have the dealer do the oil every 5K miles - $120

I've owned the car for 3 years, and have done 25K miles per year. So far this has been among the best cars I've ever owned. Utterly boring on the highway (in a good way). Once you get up to speed the car almost never shifts out of 7th gear (uphill, acceleration, etc), so you just idle along. The car is very poised in the snow/wet.

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kajtek1

They have been reports, that dealer used motor oil from barrel they had, not the oil approved for Bluetecs.
I'd check on this. When I follow FSS, I am buying Motul with 229.52 spec for my E250
Enjoy the drive.

drdantheman1

Slightly off topic, but is there a pdf or something on how to change the fuel filter? The last time I had it changed at my 40k service, it cost a pretty penny in labor and parts from my indy.

Also, can agree with everyone above. My E250 has been fantastic as well, I'm at 65k miles. 42-25mpg on hwy depending on wind/speed. The only diesel specific issue I've had was the adblue heater that failed.

GuestFromTampa

very easy, here is a video that will provide you enough information for DIY -

mfab

Fuel filter was literally that easy. I had to fiddle with the clamp to release it, but once you see how it works it's pretty straightforward. The fuel filter itself is easy access, you don't even need to stretch to reach it.

I cycled the car on and off without starting it a few times to load up the filter. I think he's doing that in the video.

@kajtek1 - I've always assumed a dealer would get oil right, but you're right it's a risk. I haven't changed my own oil mostly because it's a pain to do the clean up an recycle it. But, maybe I should to ensure my car gets the right oil (I would upgrade the oil if I change it myself).

I do believe the biggest issues with these cars will be sludge build up in the engine over time. We combat that with clean oil, clean air and clean fuel.

Good luck.

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kajtek1

Read in diesel section, how dealers "maintained" several OM642 engines into seizure and MBUSA washed their hands on the issue.
talking about oil disposal, in California garbage co would collect it from me and even deliver container for it. In Las Vegas I have PepBoys taking it from me.
Oil extraction pump cost about $29 and if you save couple of milk jugs, or older 5l oil containers, you can "almost" do it with white gloves.
Still some sheets of plastic and few grocery bags to put old filter in makes it easy enough.
Never run stop watch, but oil change takes me 10-15 minutes, what include checking other stuff under the hood.
It looks hard at the first time, just like fuel filter replacement, .. till you see somebody doing complete job in 6 minutes

mfab

Thanks. Good advice, and I think I'll look into it.

What frequency are you changing your oil? 10K miles?
How about air filter and fuel filter?
Have you serviced your transmission?

Congrats on the 175K miles. Thats impressive. Do you have a goal for the car?

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kajtek1

1st of my E250 BT has over 180k miles, 2nd is closing on 130k.
Servicing 7G is scary only 1 st time.
Obviously having lift makes it much easier, but than you don't have to do gimmick with pilot bushing, what is required on 5G.
I use FSS for oil changes.

mellonc

regarding maintenance........ our ad blue solution container is in the trunk. I've never added the DEF fluid myself in the fear that perhaps I may overfill the darn thing. Because the bottle is upside down when you fill the container and the whole bottle goes in at a time, what happens if the last bottle of fluid exceeds the container's max capacity. Does it stop going in by itself or does it simply overflow??? Also, if it does stop on its own at the tank's max capacity, is there a way to stop the flow from a bottle that is upside down??? Finally, is there some kind of the gauge that tells you how much is in the trunk by simply looking at it? How do you know how much should go in?

mfab

Adding the DEF is pretty easy, maybe a little harder than adding windshield washer fluid, but way way easier than an oil change or anything like that.

Here's my procedure:

- Go to Mercedes and by a single one liter container of DEF ($18? or some crazy amount). You are not buying the DEF so much as the bottle. The bottle is set up that you can turn it upside and nothing comes out. You have to screw the bottle on the blue DEF container in your car (in the trunk), and you have to push it down for fluid to go in. No spills.
- Then, I go to Walmart or Napa Autoparts, or anywhere, and buy a larger box of DEF for $12. This is 2.5 gallons.
- I refill the Mercedes liter bottle and put it into the car. Repeat until your DEF is used up (usually 4 or 5 times).
- If you wait until the car is low in DEF (you get a warning light), then the car can take a full box of DEF.
- Save the bottle in your trunk near the tools for re-use in another 15K miles or so.

- I think DEF has a shelf life, so the best move is to let the car get low before filling it. I don't keep any in my garage. Use it up.

- Wear gloves and keep a paper towel around, but this isn't messy.

Give it a try and let us know how it goes.

Good luck.

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kajtek1

Truck stop have pumps with DEF for ca $2/gallon.
Save the DEF jug you bought at Walmart, or other place and refill it at truck stop.
Canadian have nicer DEF jugs, so if you have a chance, buy it there. Price difference is minimal.
Ditto on DEF having short shelf life. My garage stays 80-90F year around and from top of my head that gives DEF 6 months on the shelf.
However my truck had DEF in its tank, who was well over 1 year old and no issues.
For filling up MB tank, I have wood stick for measuring the level. You pour 2 gallons and measure the difference, That will give you rough idea how much you need to top it off.
I prefer not to top it however.
My first W212 has dried DEF under whole carriage, so that's is where overfills go.

mellonc

Thanks for the helpful suggestion. I think your procedure will work out fine for the most part.

Let me more carefully explain what I mean. The capacity is of the DEF tank is 3.8L. Let's say we are down to about 1.5 liters after driving 10K miles and I bought 3 liters of DEF. when I proceed to pour the bottles in the tank, I will have gone through 2 bottles with no problem and no spill because I'd be right at 3.5 liters (1.5 L + 2 L). Now let's say, I proceed to pour in the last liter bottle and reach the max capacity of 3.8 liters of the tank. This would still leave me with 0.7 liters of fluid in the bottle that is sitting UPSIDE DOWN. At this point, what happens to my bottle???? Does it stop like a gasoline filler at the fuel station? Or does it spill??? Will I even know that I reached the max capacity by looking at the tank somehow?

kajtek1

I think you have your DEF tank capacity wrong.
I never used MB bottles (even this is not big expense - paying 10x more that it is worth doesn't work with my principles), but from what I read they have vacuum, or float stopper.
Once you buy it - you should be able to see it.

mfab

I wait until the car gives a warning a low DEF warning so it's substantially empty.

If you lift up on the Mercedes bottle the flow will stop.

Honestly, you're overthinking this a little. Give it a go, it will work out!

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mfab

Correct. Capacity is 6.7 Gallons (25.5 liters). If you wait until the warning light comes on, then I've never had an issue adding the 2.5 Gallons DEF box. I believe I could add two boxes, but I never have. I typically go 15K miles so it hasn't been an issue.

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konigstiger

kajtek1

IMHO MB went overboard with DEF tank size in order to make fluid lasting between scheduled services.
My Ford Monster, with 440HP engine has 5 gallons tank that last +- 3000 miles.
Than fill neck is next to fuel neck, so no problem to fill it at truck stop pumps.
I actually ask for DEF delete when I did DPF delete, but UK tuner butchered the job and I still have to have the tank. Not enough miles to say if it is using DEF, but my spare wheel takes valuable space in the trunk
One more thing that engineer from country, where it takes 4hr to drive from border to border could not figure out for market where you can have 1500 km between MB dealers.

mellonc

You people are super helpful. I guess MB really made the tank uselessly huge. I found out it only uses up about 1 gallon per 10K miles.

mellonc

about the fuel filter,.... there are a bunch of choices out there including the OEM ones and the ones on amazon? Do you think it's OK to buy aftermarket? What's your take? Here are the choice:

https://www.idparts.com/mercedes-om6...17-p-6165.html

GuestFromTampa