CLS 220d X218 2015 - DPF? EGR? MAF?

[PaulD9]

Good afternoon All,

I am hopeful of some feedback and answers regarding my current issues being experienced with my Mercedes CLS 220d Shooting Brake 2015.

Before starting, I do not wish to consider any kind of "delete" or mapping out of these systems, but appreciate they are options.

Car went in for MOT and Service 6 weeks ago, and I was aware i had an amber engine light for Restricted DPF. The garage used, did a DPF removal and full DPF removal/clean, before reattaching to the car. Roughly 4 weeks after this clean, the engine light was back on, and the DPF Restricted code was back. Sorry, the car also had the exhaust pressure sensor changed at this time too.

Upon taking the car back in, the diagnosis that came back was it was being clogged up again by the EGR, Intercooler and Manifold all being clogged, and so was quoted to Replace the EGR Valve and EGR pipe, and clean up the Intake Manifold and clean up the Intercooler. And then another DPF Clean and regen.

First question, does this all sound about right, based on how these systems link together? I have seen EGR Valves and Pipes absolutely clogged to the max in images and videos and so I suppose is all a possibility. Strange this was not suggested upon the first visit? And nothing ever been reported to date on the OBD reader on these parts.

Due to the cost of the quote for all of the above, and the timing of the year when you have kids, I chose to take the car back from the garage until I had the funds required. As apart from the light, the car performed normal, although appreciate was not optimal.

I picked the car up on Saturday, and almost immediately upon accelerating, I could hear a strange noise from the car. Almost as the revs increased, it sounded like a whoosh of air coming from the engine bay. The car also felt under powered, although not much. I stopped shortly after and turned the car off. I then started again to return home and the engine light returned, which I expected and assumed it was the DPF.

During that next drive, the car was borderline un-driveable. The loss of power was significant. It was changing gear at really high revs (3000 - 3500+). If I got it onto a slight incline, it literally would not increase speed at all, and it was not a nice drive. With all of these issues, the whooshing of air sound seemed to stop. Upon getting it on the drive, the car would not exceed 3000 revs when in Neutral.

Plugged in my cheap OBD reader, and as well as the Restricted DPF, it is now saying (p010) MAF Sensor problem. Again, I appreciate this is all in and around the same area, but keen to get your feedback and experience on this? Of course the new issue (P0101) makes the car un-driveable, so will remain on my drive. I am awaiting a call back from the garage regarding this issue, and the fact the car went in with one issue, and came out with more.

Thoughts? Experience?

Thank you in advance

 

[SpikyMikey]

The 'woosh' and under-performance sounds like maybe they've left some intake ducting disconnected somewhere allowing a loss of boost pressure.
Re your point about revving in neutral; I'm not sure about Mercedes, but a lot of cars have a 'soft limiter' which restricts the revs in neutral.

 

[BlackC55]

You have a boost leak.

I would certainly take it back asap. Did they not road test it?

Find yourself a MB specialist in your area. They will be used to this engine and its common issues. A blocked DPF is usally caused by:

1. Too sedate driving
2. Poor quality fuel
3. Boost leaks
4. Transducer failure
5. Vacuum leaks

Its also worth checking the DPF to see if its complete. I've seen a few with holes through the middle of them.

 

[PaulD9]

Thank you both for your replies and feedback/advice.

The car is going back in today due to the issues detailed below, although do not expect a lot out of the visit.

As a side note and request, what should I expect from the garage upon my visit today? As in, my car went in for an diagnosis and investigation into the root cause of a problem, which was diagnosed and quoted for. Due to cost, I could not afford at this time and so took the car back. The car now has more issues, than when I took it in, which is impacting my ability to drive. I appreciate the diagnosis is what has created these further issues. Should I expect the car back in the same condition I dropped it, or does the garage have a stance that this was caused in diagnosing the issue I took it there for?

Thank you. Any further feedback and experience on my original issue is appreciated

 

[keith of kent]

Is the garage a Mercedes specialist? If this is not the case I fear that you are wasting your time and money.
My E Class Bluetec will only rev to a certain level in neutral and this is normal.
You have not said how long/mileage you have done with the car?
Are your journeys long or short? Is the car getting a frequent drive with the revs at 2000 or more? I put mine in manual and drive in 3rd or 4th gear at 2500 revs for 20 miles on the motorway every few weeks to clear it out.
What sort of fuel are you using? Supermarket fuel doesn't have have all the cleaning additives of a premium one. (Although there are some who swear its all the same.)Their choice. I make mine
If you furnish this information I'm sure that you will get some worthwhile replies

 

[PaulD9]

Hi Keith,
Thank you, and yes I have left out some key details there.
It is not a Merc specialist, and agree that is most likely where I will need to end up. The car has done a little over 100,000 miles. For the last 2 years my daily commute is around 35 - 50 mins, and includes the M6 and M69 for most of the journey, where the car is doing 70mph for an excess of 30mins. Regarding the fuel, historically I have used regular diesel, but for the last 6 - 9 months I have used the premium pump for 75% of the fills. I think that answers all?
Thank you

 

[DSM10000]

Is the garage a Mercedes specialist? If this is not the case I fear that you are wasting your time and money.
My E Class Bluetec will only rev to a certain level in neutral and this is normal.
You have not said how long/mileage you have done with the car?
Are your journeys long or short? Is the car getting a frequent drive with the revs at 2000 or more? I put mine in manual and drive in 3rd or 4th gear at 2500 revs for 20 miles on the motorway every few weeks to clear it out.
What sort of fuel are you using? Supermarket fuel doesn't have have all the cleaning additives of a premium one. (Although there are some who swear its all the same.)Their choice. I make mine
If you furnish this information I'm sure that you will get some worthwhile replies

I thought that we had finished with the description of "Supermarket fuel"
There is no such thing. All fuel be it petrol or diesel is made to the same British Standard and from 6 or 7 refineries
Base fuel is the same no matter where it is sold from.

 

[toteimerced]

True, but the fuel companies do put in their own additives, before resale.

 

[sautah]

This sounds like a classic case of the garage being idiots.

Cleaning your DPF without curing the reason it is blocked is a waste of time and your money.

I can say from experience that there are several reasons why the car would not regen. Sometimes a boost / intercoller pipe leak etc. Your "whoosh" is almost certainly boost pressure escaping BTW.

I would hazard a good guess that all of the work done to your car was pointless. When I first had a EML and restricted performance the garage I went to wanted to remove and clean the DPF etc at a cost of over £600 This is when I decided to look at the regen status with my basic AUTEL 200 dongle and the reason for the failed regen and 400% fill level? "Low voltage"

A new AGM 12v battery and cleared codes the next day and the car was back to normal and did it's regen on the next drive. I would imagine you have paid out a fortune now for a misdiagnosed job.

I did it with very basic OBD tools and my huge brain power and internet research. A lot of garages have better diagnosics kit but don't know what to look for in terms of sensor readouts etc, combined with lack of brain power.

Hope you get sorted as the shooting brake is a nice machine.