Thanks BC928! Sounds scary.

Looks like my E55 just joined the club. I filed complaint number 10785798 on the NTHSA site and take it to the dealer on Monday. The fuel smell inside of the car is unbearable...


https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...80d022a1d1.jpg

Just know you need a new tank, new sender, and new pump. If they want to do a partial fix, follow up your NHTSA complaint with that info.

Car was at Smythe for 2 days, the service advisor ran the VMI and my car was flagged for the extended warranty campaign. They installed a new complete pre-assembled tank with new internals and cable harness and delivered the car back to me today and charged me absolutely nothing. The new pumps are much louder and the car is way more responsive, it's quite evident that the old pump(s) were plugged and not flowing at full capacity. My car is an absolute beast again and so glad to have this problem fixed, big props to Mercedes for owning up to this problem and doing the right thing on an out of warranty E55. The service advisor even threw in a complementary detail job, I will be filling out an online survey and giving him the highest possible review. Car runs amazing again and no more gas fumes :-)


https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...42f32132b7.jpg


https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...a970ab37df.jpg


https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...b77bcbd166.jpg


https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...48a3e3d9e4.jpg


https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...bda2238714.jpg

2/27/2016
 

Just to update on this thread,i had the fuel leaking under my passenger rear seat in my 04 e55.
I took it to Mercedes of Fort Lauderdale.and they replaced the fuel tank etc in 5 days free of charge.

I started smelling the fumes about a week ago in m 2004 E55. Took the car to the dealership, and the dealership is currently taking care of it free of charge.

Hi, I have the same problem with my 04 E320. If I fill the NHTSA form and go to the dealership would it be free of charge? Does anyone know it?
Thanks.

I'm not sure if the recall extends to all w211 and w219 or just AMG's, but you can enter your VIN and check the open recalls here: https://www.mbusa.com/mercedes/recall

If you find that you qualify for the recall, get it done ASAP. It's my understanding that the extended warranty is just about to expire for the 04 MY. I had mine done immediately when I bought the car last year.

Mine is an 03 and I bought it 4 yr ago. It went in for this issue under warranty within the fisrt month. The dealer replaced the entire tank assy, not just the sender. That was 80k ago and no gas smell. Hopefully that is the end of this issue for this car at least, and maybe that's what anyone else that has this problem neexs to push for.

Thanks for the all response. Finally, no gas odor inside my car :). MB service changed my fuel tank and both fuel pumps under warranty.

Well crap, I purchased my E55 about a year ago from a relative, and while I have heard of this issue I never thought anything of it since I didn't have this problem, however now I am getting the gas smell in the cabin.

Just spoke to the previous owner and he did not get this issue fixed through the extended warranty, so I called the local dealership, and they told me the warranty is only good for 15 years from the manufactured date, it is a 2003 MY. So it is effectively expired for my car.

I'm assuming I need to replace the entire fuel tank and both senders, do I also need to replace the fuel pumps?

Can anyone send me what part #s I need to replace?

Thanks in advance.

Did you ever get a parts # list for this?

Hi, all. I've read most of this thread and it's my understanding that there are two categories of symptoms: Fuel smell inside of the cabin and fuel smell outside of the cabin.

I have a new-to-me 2003 E55 and I topped off yesterday and idled for a long time waiting for takeout to be prepped. We couldn't smell fuel inside the cabin, but it was very rich outside of the cabin, particularly on the passenger side. When we returned home, the garage filled with the smell as well, but when I opened the cabin, it smelled normal inside.

After several hours later, I removed the rear bench and the cover from the driver side well and didn't see or smell anything unusual. I noted a sticker in there with a "Fertigung Datum: 29.04.15" (manufacturing date April 29 2015), so I assume that there has been work done since 2003.

Can someone share what the consensus is when the fuel smell is only outside of the car. I'm 3 years outside of the 15 year warranty window, so I doubt I'd get any love from the dealership. I'm pretty good at following instructions and I can do most jobs that don't require special tools or equipment.

Any help will be appreciated.

Replying to my own message...

I checked the passenger side well under the rear bench, and it was also dry with no signs of fuel. Product labels were also stamped with 2015 dates. So, I think I'm good for now.

I had an experience mechanic take a smell...to him it's post-combustion. Like the a seal in the exhaust system is broken or there is a hole in it somewhere. It's not gasoline.

Also, the night my garage had the strong smell, I did back in slowly...which probably gave the exhaust leak time to spew plenty of fumes.

Replying to my reply (if anyone is interested):

My problem was the Vapor Canister Purge Valve: https://mbworld.org/forums/w211-amg/...rge-valve.html

While your at it check the connector for burned/melted pins
 

If you get in there to check for leaks, you should also pull the plug and check for melting/corrosion. Apparently the current load increases with car age and can eventually produce enough heat to melt the connector. Probably not a good mix if you also have gas fumes in the same area.