Another valeo victim to add to the tally - MB

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A work collegue has had the head gasket and two water pumps in 60k on his Lexus.
I think you hear less about their problems as they deal with them efficiently and there are not many of them on the roads compared to other brands.

From all reports Lexus have their own problems but the owners are provided with more goodwill gestures than most other marques....resulting in the "problem" customers not shouting so loud in public...
 
From all reports Lexus have their own problems but the owners are provided with more goodwill gestures than most other marques....resulting in the "problem" customers not shouting so loud in public...

thats because the customers are still happy even though they have had a problem - MB could learn from that sometimes.
 
thats because the customers are still happy even though they have had a problem - MB could learn from that sometimes.

It's completley true that problems are opportunities. If you have a car that's completely trouble free then you're never testing the dealership. The real test is how effortlessly they sort out any problems that do arise.
 
Valeo, am I affected

Really sorry to be a nuisance and I hope I am posting in the right place. I am in the process of buying a 270cdi and have sourced the following details from my vin number of wdb2112162a382859 with engine number 64796130077707.

I have tried to find the affected cars list but cannot see my VIN number on most, however on some others it would appear it may be affected. I am having an RAC check done on Thursday but can any-one please help me identify if I am likely to be affected.

Again sincere apologies if posted in worng place / I have missed something obvious

:confused:


Mercedes-Benz / VIN
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Brief version VINWDB2112162A382859ModelE 270 CDIChassis2112162A382859Engine647961 30 077707Transmission722640 04 725362Order0 3 537 42981Delivery date14.08.03DealerGreat Britain (537) Interiorleather anthracite (831) Paint744brilliant silver metallic (с 1991)OptionsM27capacity 2,7 litre (с 19.01.1996)
U15Unknown codeU16Unknown code053aej. 02/2 (с 22.09.1997)
249automatically dipping inside rear view mirror (с 01.06.1990)
280steering wheel (400 mm dia.) and gearshift lever in leather trim; on W202 390 mm dia. (с 01.05.1984)
287ski inboard loading facility
through-loading feature (с 01.10.1990)
4235 speed automatic transmission / nag (с 01.03.1994)
461instrument with mileage reading and english lettering (с 01.04.1990)
500outside rear view mirror left and right, folding (с 01.10.1993)
525Unknown code543sun visor with vanity mirror, illuminated, left and right (с 01.11.1978)
551anti-theft/anti-break-in warning system with anti-towing system (с 01.04.1998)
600headlamp wiper/washer (с 01.08.1971)
613lamp unit, asymmetrical, l.h. traffic (с 01.02.1963)
668
690blue heat-insulating glass all round, rear window (laminated safety glass) (с 01.10.1995)
744UUnknown code803Change of year of model, last figure shows new model year
830AUnknown code831AUnknown code882passenger compartment protection/towing-off protection (with anti-theft warning system only) (с 01.07.1993)
91014V/65A alternator
alternator with increased capacity (с 01.11.1990)
915fuel tank, 70 liter (с 01.05.1988)
955extension tube on the roof, front
equipment package elegance (с 01.11.1991)
984elimination of ownership certificate but with coc papers (с 01.06.1993)
989identification label under windshield (с 01.10.1997)
205BUnknown code221BUnknown code250BUnknown code5XXLUnknown code537LUnknown code
 
Really sorry to be a nuisance and I hope I am posting in the right place. I am in the process of buying a 270cdi and have sourced the following details from my vin number of wdb2112162a382859 with engine number 64796130077707.

I have tried to find the affected cars list but cannot see my VIN number on most, however on some others it would appear it may be affected. I am having an RAC check done on Thursday but can any-one please help me identify if I am likely to be affected.

Again sincere apologies if posted in worng place / I have missed something obvious

:confused:


Mercedes-Benz / VIN
1x1.gif

1x1.gif

Brief version VINWDB2112162A382859ModelE 270 CDIChassis2112162A382859Engine647961 30 077707Transmission722640 04 725362Order0 3 537 42981Delivery date14.08.03DealerGreat Britain (537) Interiorleather anthracite (831) Paint744brilliant silver metallic (с 1991)OptionsM27capacity 2,7 litre (с 19.01.1996)


It's very likely that this car has a Valeo radiator.

Model series 211 up to production date 9/2003 with M271/113/OM628/647/648 and automatic transmission 722.6

Info taken from this thread:

LINK
 
As the OP for this thread I would advise *extreme* caution going ahead with this purchase.

I don't know what your budget or circumstances are, but it is my understanding from people in the trade that early W211's are treated with a very large health warning. If you can possibly stretch to a facelift car (2006+), even with higher mileage, then I would consider this a better option.

Of course the valeo problem does not necessarily happen, but if it does it can financially write off the car.
 
As the OP for this thread I would advise *extreme* caution going ahead with this purchase.

I don't know what your budget or circumstances are, but it is my understanding from people in the trade that early W211's are treated with a very large health warning. If you can possibly stretch to a facelift car (2006+), even with higher mileage, then I would consider this a better option.

Of course the valeo problem does not necessarily happen, but if it does it can financially write off the car.
Thanks Ratz, I am prepared to get a new radiator put on the car / bypass the cooling system if you know of anyone who can do this ( i note you also live in Cheshire). I am having an RAC check done on Thursday and triing to get an independent dealer local to the area to do a Glycol test before paying balance of deposit. I have also already signed up to Warranty Direct on top warranty package just in case.

Do you know anyone who can visit the car and take a ATF test before purchase (say within 10 days)
 
Thanks Ratz, I am prepared to get a new radiator put on the car / bypass the cooling system if you know of anyone who can do this ( i note you also live in Cheshire). I am having an RAC check done on Thursday and triing to get an independent dealer local to the area to do a Glycol test before paying balance of deposit. I have also already signed up to Warranty Direct on top warranty package just in case.

Do you know anyone who can visit the car and take a ATF test before purchase (say within 10 days)

MB Tech Warrington are a good specialist. Google them....:thumb:
 
Valeo bypass

Fragtastic - I just had a similar experience to one of the earliest posters leading to me fitting a recon box and cooler which bypasses the rad. I used Martin Lowe - Auto Transmissions - Lowes, based in Barnsley for just shy of £2k fitted. The work was done just before Christmas 09, and after 6k miles around France, Spain, Portugal, Andorra, and back to France everything is holding together and working perfectly.
On the subject also raised by earlier posters, I too am an old timer MB user from the early 80s, and have never used any other marque for my own car since then. I still have my old W126 bought new in 1989 (244,000, and still perfect, now registered French), and my parents' 1984 W123 bought new, and kept as a Sunday car. The worst I had was a 1998 200CLK which I sold after 2 years. It was reliable but plastic. The W211 I had the box in was bought at auction with 111k miles on at a price which allowed largely for the above work. Took a bit of a flyer in buying it, but when you look at the dealers' margins and depreciation it makes a lot of sense. You'll do well to beat the trade though. All you can hope to do is not spend silly money on a depreciating item. Good luck with your purchase.
 
Had the RAC check today and it came back pretty good, with nothing unuusual / noises etc from the autobox etc... I am going to get a mobile servicing company based in Bicester, where the car is currently to check for cloudiness of the ATF, hopefully tomorrow. They have quoted me £350 + vat for fitting a new radiator, which I am likely to do as a precuationery measure, should the radiator by our "friend" the Valeo.

I am guessing prevention is better than cure?

Thanks to all for the advice to a newbie!
 
Guys, a mechanic local ot the car has told me the intercooler is a Behr, does this make it more likely the radiator is a Behr?
 
I think im right in saying that if its a Behr it'll say so on it, certainly does on my C class.
 
Oh well. +1 for the tally. Is with my independent now.

162k miles, 8 yr old car - it's almost uneconomical to repair...
 
Bad luck Tim, sorry to hear of this.


MB know about this problem. Why oh why didn't they just recall all the cars.

IIRC the problem was only on cars built up to 09/2003?

It would cost MB money but it's a drop in the ocean to them and they wouldn't be hacking off customers and damaging their reputation. :wallbash:
 
I'm reasonably philosphical about this, the bill is going to be less than 1p/mile on the car so bearable, yes it's a stupid design issue and to be fair I should have pre-empted it by having the rad changed anyway. I think I'd recommend that to anyone who has one, or fit a transmission cooler.

Makes me want to dump the car soon after repair but financially not a good time to do it and I'd promised myself a W212 which means waiting until 2012 really for them to drop into my pricerange.
 
Oh well. +1 for the tally. Is with my independent now.

162k miles, 8 yr old car - it's almost uneconomical to repair...

To keep the cost down when customers have asked I have used nissens radiators.

The torque converter can be re-furbished too rather than a new one.

The main cost is the gearbox re-build.
 
To keep the cost down when customers have asked I have used nissens radiators.

The torque converter can be re-furbished too rather than a new one.

The main cost is the gearbox re-build.

It's being estimated as £1500 +vat so I'm assuming it's going to be a refurb.
 

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