Ad Blue

[Teeny1988]

Hi everyone,

I am new to here so please excuse me if I have missed this post issue being mentioned elsewhere but I feel I need to ask if anyone else has experienced this issue.

Basically I have a 2017 C220, I filled up and blue not long after “no start after 500 miles ad blue message appeared” I topped up not knowing about the faults on these forums and it didn’t clear.

I realised these faults after reading online and also noticed that my car was one they wanted to recall for the update.

I booked the car in at Mercedes’ they said they would take a look at the car, for £144 diagnostic check. I agreed, by the time the car had come round to arrive at Mercedes’ the 500 mile had run out so the car wouldn’t start as it wouldn’t recognise the ad blue was in. So had the no start ad blue message on the dash.

The car was recovered and taken to Mercedes’ on the day it was booked in, I expressed to them it was urgent, I need to car to work. I don’t have a partner or a back up plan. They have so far had the car for 3 days.
They came back to me today and said that they had drained the ad blue tank, checked the wires and the nox sensors and they can’t find a fault and the car still won’t start.

They asked for permission to continue working on the car at a cost of £144 per hour and estimated it needed another 3 hours of work to diagnose a fault.

They are calling me back tomorrow with a breakdown of what they think needs to be done, which is what I requested as I wasn’t happy and expressed my concerns, it’s going to be £600 before anything is even diagnosed.

Has anyone else had this problem? I had mentioned to them that I knew there was a fault with this system and they said it’s not the nox sensors. I also said that I would be hoping they would contribute to some of the cost the car is out of warranty, it’s just gone 5 years old.

I’m just at a loss as to why they can’t fine the fault after 3 hours surely the system isn’t that complex, they work in these cars day in day out I’m wondering if it is a money making thing. Or is it genuine. Iv rung round a few other garages (merc specialist) and a few have agreed it’s a bit strange.

I am a woman but have researched quite a bit so I’m trying to have a good understanding buts usurped £600 before they have even diagnosed anything is wrong.

Thanks

 

[Wearsthefoxhat]

I too would be baffled if the Mercedes expert couldn’t find the fault, especially at £144 an hour. I would also be in the dealership and talking very loudly to the service manager and asking why.

Probably a good idea to find yourself a decent and trustworthy independent Mercedes guy for any future problems. I am sure there will be recommended ones on here..

 

[Smiley]

The usual fault that causes this message is the sensor in the adblue tank. It is not available to buy without the tank itself. The cost of the tank is about £1000 +VAT and I think they are also in short supply. It is an expensive enough repair without large "diagnostic" fees on top.
The MB Star diagnostic system is pretty good when used by experienced techs and those techs are seeing these adblue problems every week so it is very surprising that they have not been able to find the fault - not sure why they would have drained the tank either.
A message that "we estimate it needs another 3 hours of work" would ring alarm bells with me. If the star diagnostics has not picked up what is wrong with the car and it is a genuine "one off difficult to diagnose" then it could be 5 minutes or it could be xx hours - so why 3 hours?
I would get the car out of there. I would argue that they originally offered a diagnosis for £144 - they have failed so you want your car back and ask them to put the adblue back. Go to the dealer yourself, get the key (or take your spare) and go and get in the car and see what happens when you put the key in.....it could be that the original fault code has been cleared during the investigation and the car will start.
Then find a recommended MB independent in your area and book it in there.

 

[Teeny1988]

they have called me back to say that they will charge me £432 and will come back with an answer, apparently they are having to strip the wires back further, take the carpets up in the car to access other wires. If it’s true I do kind of understand it’s a lengthy job, they said everything is indicating it isn’t the tank as it has shown an accurate reading of what is in the tank it’s just not registering so the car still won’t start . Fingers crossed I get some answers today. If it is the tank after all this I certainly won’t be paying for the extra labour. They have given me a break down if everything they have checked so far, so will be keeping tabs on that when they finally give me the diagnosis, I just hope they can get it started, so strange.

 

[MBrummm]

they have called me back to say that they will charge me £432 and will come back with an answer, apparently they are having to strip the wires back further, take the carpets up in the car to access other wires. If it’s true I do kind of understand it’s a lengthy job, they said everything is indicating it isn’t the tank as it has shown an accurate reading of what is in the tank it’s just not registering so the car still won’t start . Fingers crossed I get some answers today. If it is the tank after all this I certainly won’t be paying for the extra labour. They have given me a break down if everything they have checked so far, so will be keeping tabs on that when they finally give me the diagnosis, I just hope they can get it started, so strange.

Hi,
Sorry to hear you had issues. I too have had an ad blue sensor issue come up on my E220d (can’t read ad blue level) only to be told it’ll cost me £1500 to get a new tank just to replace the level sensor inside the tank. As it’s not a result of wear and tear I don’t see how I should be responsible for Mercedes substandard part manufacturing. My car is a 17 plate and has done a little over 50k so highly disappointed considering it’s supposed to be a high end brand. Apparently the local dealer isn’t able to get a discount/ token guesture from Mercedes head office towards the repair which is bang out of order/very poor customer service.
Interested to hear what was the outcome of your shenanigans, and anyone else who may have experienced similar?

 

[Smiley]

Hi,
Sorry to hear you had issues. I too have had an ad blue sensor issue come up on my E220d (can’t read ad blue level) only to be told it’ll cost me £1500 to get a new tank just to replace the level sensor inside the tank. As it’s not a result of wear and tear I don’t see how I should be responsible for Mercedes substandard part manufacturing. My car is a 17 plate and has done a little over 50k so highly disappointed considering it’s supposed to be a high end brand. Apparently the local dealer isn’t able to get a discount/ token guesture from Mercedes head office towards the repair which is bang out of order/very poor customer service.
Interested to hear what was the outcome of your shenanigans, and anyone else who may have experienced similar?

You are one of a very very large number of people who have had this fault. Just google Mercedes adblue tank or adblue fault and you will see. The last price I saw for the tank was £1200 +VAT + labour. MB must be making an absolute fortune selling these tanks by the thousand. Is the tank available - it was on back order last I heard.

 

[Smiley]

Sorry to tell you but the next time the EML comes on it will most likely be for a (adblue related) nox sensor or two at £400 each plus diagnostic fee and fitting.
It's a real shame that the modern diesels are saddled with this quite simple but unreliable and expensive troublesome solution that MB see as a profit maximising opportunity.