Urgent notice. 03-06 E55's that were involved in the fuel sender recall are bombs.

If we start costing them money in sales they may want to hurry up and shut us up with a repair.





If we start costing them money in sales they may want to hurry up and shut us up with a repair.
NHTSA will have to make them fix the cars. Even then, they will probably try to substitute some 10 cent part for a band-aid and proclaim that it's fixed.
I really hope this is fixed before someone is hurt or killed from the leaking fuel. It's a real possibility and is very scary knowing that the leaking fuel tank is right under your childs car seat. Fuel and fuel vapor fires spread so quickly that you would not have time to get your child out of the car.
Last edited by BlownV8; Oct 11, 2012 at 02:39 AM.
There is no fix and nothing in the wings. Bring on Facebook and spread the news.

If we start costing them money in sales they may want to hurry up and shut us up with a repair.
Nasty job. Requires draining fuel tank, removing rear seat, and extracting fuel filter/fuel pressure regulator combination.
Are you aware that there is a voluntary recall campaign on this item?
It is possible this can be replaced for free by your Benz dealer.
Reference:
Campaign No. 2008020001, March 2008
http://answers.edmunds.com/question-...lem-52818.aspx
The 2008 recall campaign had nothing to do with the e350 / e500 cars. It was a very directed recall for the E55 and the 2006 CLS55 only. Only around 8000 vehicles were covered by that recall.
As much as I sympathize with the non-E55 members with fuel leaks, you guys are really at an enormous disadvantage. The total number of ODI#s filed are a small fraction compared to the 250,000+ vehicles produced...
In contrast, the E55 platform has 50+ ODI filings on a population of ~10,000 vehicles.
-G
As much as I sympathize with the non-E55 members with fuel leaks, you guys are really at an enormous disadvantage. The total number of ODI#s filed are a small fraction compared to the 250,000+ vehicles produced...
In contrast, the E55 platform has 50+ ODI filings on a population of ~10,000 vehicles.
-G
NHTSA will have to make them fix the cars. Even then, they will probably try to substitute some 10 cent part for a band-aid and proclaim that it's fixed.
Ever see fight club... If not then read the quote below...
Narrator: A new car built by my company leaves somewhere traveling at 60 mph. The rear differential locks up. The car crashes and burns with everyone trapped inside. Now, should we initiate a recall? Take the number of vehicles in the field, A, multiply by the probable rate of failure, B, multiply by the average out-of-court settlement, C. A times B times C equals X. If X is less than the cost of a recall, we don't do one.
Business woman on plane: Are there a lot of these kinds of accidents?
Narrator: You wouldn't believe.
Business woman on plane: Which car company do you work for?
Narrator: A major one.
I would think X in this case is more than a recall.
Mine was leaking at 4years old and 50k. It has never stopped leaking for more than a year each time its been repaired since.
Ethanol may play a role. IMHO But Iam not a chemical engineer.
I thought about getting a new seal and trying it out and see what happens. In my case I only have a leak on the drivers side. Not the passenger side. I've read about the ethanol theory too, but if that was the case I'd have the leak on both sides not just one if the seal was not compatible with ethanol. But then again who knows, the seal on the passenger side could be the original seal and resistant to the ethanol. I just hope what every happens with MB and the NTHSA happens soon. I'm sick of waiting.
The Best of Mercedes & AMG
I feel a good portion or majority had the level sender assm replaced at the time of the warranty due to the fact they showed signs of failure or even leaking. Mine was leaking at the time the 2008 recall and the level sender had to be replaced.
What generally happens after the sensor is replaced.....tank stays sealed for a time period. 6months, 1yr, 2yr. But the leak almost always comes back. And when it comes back its a pain in the **** to get it sealed again. This theory has proven itself time and time again with members on this forum. The leak comes back.
Could the tanks be warping from heat or breaking down? Making it difficult to attain a seal from the seal and clamp around the sender? Why is it happening worse on E55s?
I have actually given some thought to scrap the whole intank setup and run a true fuel system with return line and fuel pressure regulator on the engine. This would eliminate much of the added pressure in our fuel tank. A couple of members have done this over the years for performance and fuel volume increases.
I thought about getting a new seal and trying it out and see what happens. In my case I only have a leak on the drivers side. Not the passenger side. I've read about the ethanol theory too, but if that was the case I'd have the leak on both sides not just one if the seal was not compatible with ethanol. But then again who knows, the seal on the passenger side could be the original seal and resistant to the ethanol. I just hope what every happens with MB and the NTHSA happens soon. I'm sick of waiting.
I have actually given some thought to scrap the whole intank setup and run a true fuel system with return line and fuel pressure regulator on the engine. This would eliminate much of the added pressure in our fuel tank. A couple of members have done this over the years for performance and fuel volume increases.
FWIW, my 2006 was "not eligible" for the recall per the VIN. I also have the larger (stock SLR) injectors on my car, so clearly there are differences year to year and VIN to VIN.
The NTHSA was able to give me the VMI info for my vehicle. They said the campaign was performed in 2008. During that time the whole assembly was changed.
O3RSTT, did your E55 leak before or after the campaign ?
My car started leaking or was leaking at the very time the recall was issued in 08. And I live in AZ and the car was mostly driven a short distance to work. 2 miles or so. The exact stipulation outlined in the recall. So if it were to happen to anyone....it would be me. Lucky me.
Which also gives credit to the reason why my leak comes back faster every time. Where it may take another member 2 or 3 years for the leak to come back....mine is back every 8 months. Lucky me.
The NTHSA was able to give me the VMI info for my vehicle. They said the campaign was performed in 2008. During that time the whole assembly was changed.
O3RSTT, did your E55 leak before or after the campaign ?
2004 mandate eliminated the fuel return line.
Many fuel system problems have surfaced after that 2004 mandate.
The primary reason the US did not get the 2004 RS6. Audi said FU to the mandate and produced 2003 RS6s up to December of 03 and sold them all as 03s during 04. My RS6 has no problem with too much pressure developing in the gas tank.
Its a crappy design to leave the fuel pressure regulator in the gas tank. The end result is a rats nest of fuel lines inside the tank and the chance of too much pressure to develop inside the tank.
FWIW, my 2006 was "not eligible" for the recall per the VIN. I also have the larger (stock SLR) injectors on my car, so clearly there are differences year to year and VIN to VIN.
2004 mandate eliminated the fuel return line.
Many fuel system problems have surfaced after that 2004 mandate.
Its a crappy design to leave the fuel pressure regulator in the gas tank. The end result is a rats nest of fuel lines inside the tank and the chance of too much pressure to develop inside the tank.
Is this really all there is to the issue.... internal tank pressure from an unvented tank?
How hard would it be to run a tank vent of some sort, or would the absence of tank pressure cause the car to throw codes?
Obviously we could fix this pretty easily ourselves if it were that simple.
-G
Yes, it will throw a gas cap code. Can that code be bypassed? IDK
There is a rats nest of lines inside the E55 tank.
There are no such lines and no fuel leaks in older W210 E55s.
2plus2equals?
Can anyone find the threads where a couple of owners here took out this crap and installed fuel pressure regulator on the engine with a full return line setup? How did they get around star and SES lights??? It was part of a high hp fuel delivery project that a few members have done.
How hard would it be to run a tank vent of some sort, or would the absence of tank pressure cause the car to throw codes?
Obviously we could fix this pretty easily ourselves if it were that simple.
-G
Last edited by 03RSTT; Oct 12, 2012 at 12:42 PM.
I guess the test would be to pull the inspection covers off, and fill my tank to the top the same way I did before and park the car.... except this time I could disconnect the fuel cap so that the tank is fully vented and has no internal pressure.
Obviously, with a cracked fitting there is still a chance that fuel would leak and puddle but without any pressure to drive it outward the leak should be a lot slower and less dramatic??? Maybe.
-G
I dont think the 210 has the problem.
I think the 210 still had the fuel return line and thus did not have the rats nest of lines inside the tank.
I dont think the 210 has the problem.
My theory
GregMB-as with your specific problem. Once a seal point has failed due to ?pressure in the tank? its too late to vent the tank and reduce pressure. The leak point has already failed and I doubt it will seal even if you vent. It is worth a try however
Last edited by 03RSTT; Oct 12, 2012 at 01:15 PM.
Never exactly found out the cause, but it appears that my tank blew up like a balloon so badly that the drive shaft actually ground a hold through the tank.
was investigated by MBZ and they replaced my whole tank... that tank was previously leaking from somewhere high on the tank, but since it stopped with the new tank, i never pursued.
I was actually hoping for an insurance car-b-que after my dealer sent me home for the 3rd time with a leaking tank... told them when my house burned down, id be coming after them.. that's when they called corporate.

Last edited by ryan0; Oct 12, 2012 at 09:03 PM.
Every magazne publication has published all sorts of recall investigations and notices. Ive sent letters to every one of those publications. They are not interested. You know why?
My theory is MB commits so much money to those advertisers, they wont touch the story.
If you have a 03-06 E55 that was involved in the fuel level sender recall back in 2008 you still may have a problem.
The recall did not seem to fix the problem and several E55 owners are now reporting that the replacement part is starting to leak. Ours broke this last weekend and literally gas was pouring out from under my car. This is a fire and bomb hazard and had I not noticed this and drove the car on the hwy....I would not be writing this post.
I have reported the condition to the NHTSA and filed a claim.
http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/ivoq/index.cfm
I have called MB USA and started a notice and case file.
I have 4 other E55 owners with the same problem. One has said MB USA denied any assistance in fixing his car because "we completed the recall in 2008 and that was it."
How stupid of MB USA.
Just over 2years and 12,000 miles. The assembly is cracked and fuel is pouring out just sitting there.

Good Luck!




