320 CDI Turbo Goosed?

[ringway]

Hi everyone,
My 02 E320 CDI has lost all turbo power. 0-60 in 14 seconds and no power to speak of.
Bought the car in May with 131,000 miles and full history and have had 6 new injectors, B service brake discs...

Car is still a bit smoky - the smell make you feel a bit sickly.
I was told by local MB dealer that glow plugs would need changing, but when I took car in to have the work done I was told that the glow plugs were ok and that a faulty wire to the glow plugs (which they say they have fixed) was the problem.

If it is the turbo does anyone know the cost.
Should I take it to my local MB dealer or go to a turbo specialist?

Any advice would be interesting and very much appreciated.

 

[Ian B Walker]

Just had a 270CDi turbo refurbed at a cost of £250 + vat. Will dig out the invoice and post the company name tomorrow.

 

[ringway]

Many Thanks Ian.
Does the car go ok after the refurb?

 

[Ian B Walker]

Oh yes

 

[Dieselman]

The turbo not producing boost isn't an indication that it is duff.
Normally when one talks of a knackered turbo it's because the bearings and oil seals have gone so it's passing oil into the intake.

Your car sounds like it's either in 'limp home' mode, has a split intake pipe or the turbo vane ring has jammed.

You need to have the car inspected and the codes read to know what's going on before shelling out on having the turbo reconditioned.

 

[poisas]

OOO congratulations you are slower than meee i made about 13.6s but with "turbo" ON

Hi everyone,
My 02 E320 CDI has lost all turbo power. 0-60 in 14 seconds and no power to speak of.
Bought the car in May with 131,000 miles and full history and have had 6 new injectors, B service brake discs...

Car is still a bit smoky - the smell make you feel a bit sickly.
I was told by local MB dealer that glow plugs would need changing, but when I took car in to have the work done I was told that the glow plugs were ok and that a faulty wire to the glow plugs (which they say they have fixed) was the problem.

If it is the turbo does anyone know the cost.
Should I take it to my local MB dealer or go to a turbo specialist?

Any advice would be interesting and very much appreciated.

 

[ringway]

The turbo not producing boost isn't an indication that it is duff.
Normally when one talks of a knackered turbo it's because the bearings and oil seals have gone so it's passing oil into the intake.

Your car sounds like it's either in 'limp home' mode, has a split intake pipe or the turbo vane ring has jammed.

You need to have the car inspected and the codes read to know what's going on before shelling out on having the turbo reconditioned.

Many Thanks Dieselman!

The car smoke really does stink and I though having new injectors would cure the problem (a garage used by the last owner couldn't get two of 'em out - I hope my local MB garage got 'em out 'cos I paid for SIX!)
The smell from the car is like burnt oil and treacle!
I feel like taking off the rocker cover, looking inside and cleaning out any tar that may be in there.
The car has never really felt like it is putting it all in and has only actually "kicked down" a few times when I have asked for maximum effort.

 

[ringway]

OOO congratulations you are slower than meee i made about 13.6s but with "turbo" ON

Heeee! Your car will probably run forever. Probably not got as many electrics as mine.....

 

[Dieselman]

The car smoke really does stink and I though having new injectors would cure the problem (a garage used by the last owner couldn't get two of 'em out - I hope my local MB garage got 'em out 'cos I paid for SIX!)
The smell from the car is like burnt oil and treacle!

It sounds like the fault is being fixed by parts swapping. You need a proper diagnosis carried out before going further.

At a guess look for leaking boost and stuck EGR valve, both of which will cause over-fuelling and smoke.
Another thought might be the cat being blocked so causing excessive back pressure.

 

[ringway]

It sounds like the fault is being fixed by parts swapping. You need a proper diagnosis carried out before going further.

At a guess look for leaking boost and stuck EGR valve, both of which will cause over-fuelling and smoke.
Another thought might be the cat being blocked so causing excessive back pressure.

Many Thanks for that.
Do you think I would be better going to a diesel specialist or my local MB garage?
I kinda get the feeling the MB garage don't have as much time as they need sometimes and maybe they think I'm loaded too which I'm not!

From what I have read looking at turbo specialist sites this weekend I am wondering if the whole set-up needs a good clean out.

The car was stood for about 12 months before I bought it and I'm wodering if that has any bearing on matters.

Any thoughts greatly appreciated

 

[maddog]

Question is "Why was it stood" .

I wouldnt be too quick to condemn the turbo but parts swapping can be an expensive way to diagnose a fault

 

[ringway]

Question is "Why was it stood" .

I wouldnt be too quick to condemn the turbo but parts swapping can be an expensive way to diagnose a fault

1st owner 4 years, 2nd owner 1 year. part ex to stratstone at doncaster then went in to trade. the rust on the 2 front wings was bad and the black door/window strips were corroded also which looked a lot worse that it was.
I bought the car at 6 years 2 months old and MB changed the 2 front wings and to my surprise the rear tailgate which had just a little rust around the top brake light.

I think the rust put people off the car.
I saw it for sale at the non MB garage I bought it from in chester at around 2K more than I paid for it a few months earlier.

The said that occasionally they get a car that just won't sell.

Great nick and no sign of anything dodgy.
Spent it's life having B services.

 

[ringway]

Started the car in frost this morning. has regained power though not 100%. Took it to my local MB dealer and they said new thermostat required. The temp gague hardly gets to a quarter (40) even after an hours driving. I took the advice from Dieselman and had a diagnostic test which revealed that the car is not running near to it's optimum. The MB garage say that the thermostat will sort out a lot of the problems.

The guy I deal with at MB Macclesfield is pretty clued up so I will see if the thermostat brings about a seachange!

 

[ringway]

It sounds like the fault is being fixed by parts swapping. You need a proper diagnosis carried out before going further.

At a guess look for leaking boost and stuck EGR valve, both of which will cause over-fuelling and smoke.
Another thought might be the cat being blocked so causing excessive back pressure.

Replaced thermostat, glowplugs, and mass air filter and the stink has gone and the car seems to run a lot better now. The heat from the heater is incredible now.

I didn't mention that the car was reaching only around 40 degrees on the temp guage even after 20miles driving.

I'm not sure which part/s cured the problems but they did.

I still don't feel the car is putting it all in sometimes though, but maybe I'm expecting too much. My other car Omega 3.0 petrol elite feels faster, although the MB reaches the speed in a smoother way so maybe there's not much in it.

 

[timskemp]

My other car Omega 3.0 petrol elite feels faster, although the MB reaches the speed in a smoother way so maybe there's not much in it.

It is faster isn't it? The 3.0 elite is 214bhp and about 1.7 tonnes. The W210 320cdi is only 195 bhp and about the same weight.

 

[Nobby Clarke]

Earlier this year I had terrible problems with my 2002 E320CDI with the engine continually switching into safe mode. It also gave out a lot of smake and soot in the engine compartment and smelt terrible. My local mechanic eventually traced the problem to a stuck EGR valve. The problem was caused by a build up of carbon on the bore of the valve causing the plunger to stick. He opened up the valve and with the use of a cleaning fluid and pushing the plunger backwards and forwards managed to free it up. It has worked perfectly since then. Hope this helps,
Happy New Year from cold Germany!!

 

[Dieselman]

It is faster isn't it? The 3.0 elite is 214bhp and about 1.7 tonnes. The W210 320cdi is only 195 bhp and about the same weight.

They are both maximum figures at peak power output revs. What are the respective outputs at lower loads and revs.
I bet the CDi thrashes the pants of the Omega, it's just that the Omega is lower geared so passes more torque to the wheels at he expense of fuel economy.
Also as the petrol engine revs more quickly it gives the impression of quicker acceleration. Proper in gear times would probably disprove that illusion.

 

[ringway]

0-60 Speed Testing

It is faster isn't it? The 3.0 elite is 214bhp and about 1.7 tonnes. The W210 320cdi is only 195 bhp and about the same weight.

Yep, you're probably correct.

The thing that has cast doubts in my mind is:
I've had my Omega 9 years in March.
When I used to buy What Car? magazine I would look at the 0-60 figures for 320cdi against my omega and the 320cdi figures suggested it was quicker than my Omega.

This is one of the reasons I started a new post yesterday about 0-60 figures.

In What Car? magazine the figures quoted for my Omega were too slow.
I ask the question, when an auto car has a sport button on the gearbox, do they test it in sport or standard mode?

You would think that they would test the car at its fastest, but the figures don't show that with my omega which I should think gets to 0-60 in around 7 seconds. the official figures say 9 seconds!

Someone said that figures for the CLK32 are understated to avoid putting off those who might buy a more expensive model that in truth, is around the same performance wise. I would think that this is a credible argument.

 

[timskemp]

They are both maximum figures at peak power output revs. What are the respective outputs at lower loads and revs.
I bet the CDi thrashes the pants of the Omega, it's just that the Omega is lower geared so passes more torque to the wheels at he expense of fuel economy.
Also as the petrol engine revs more quickly it gives the impression of quicker acceleration. Proper in gear times would probably disprove that illusion.

That's the joys of automatic gearboxes though, and IIRC the MB should have a 5 speed and the Vx a 4 speed, so the MB is probably better at keeping near peak power.

One thing I will say about omegas, after destroying two of them, they don't appreciate being driven hard constantly. Not built anything like the mercedes (mine were a 2.6 and a 2.2). Amazes me how the police still run some, they must have been hand built and the upkeep must be horrendous.