Damage After Service to This…

[xrm88]

So it may have been the first garage after all that did the damage, they would have had to change the oil and filter after replacing the oil cooler and water pump ?
That’s why the second garage (still following ?) washed their hands of this car.
And if it is the oil cooler still leaking after replacement, then they are the guilty party.
Did they replace it or just try the fix it ?
Plot thicken

I don’t think he did the oil filter to be honest as it’s not on my invoice.
Even IF second garage didn’t do the damage to the PS reservoir then they would have seen it and so why didn’t they flag it up? The leak happened after they did their work and not after the first garage replaced oil cooler and water pump.
I think it’s just unlucky coincidence that the oil cooler is now leaking after the second garage have fixed the PS reservoir.

 

[philnewmerc]

No it’s was one of those “in and out” centres

I had an old w202 serviced at a quick tyre change place.... Went to check the oil (about an inch over full) and found i could see the floor when looking into the engine bay- they had chucked the under try away! Never again

(I made them put it back)

 

[xrm88]

Ok so garage that replaced oil cooler and water pump has had a quick look under bonnet and can’t see how it’s the oil cooler that’s leaking but have left it with him. Feel like I’m having my pants pulled down

 

[BlackC55]

I would probably walk away from them and find a good independent.

 

[ChrisHGTV]

I would probably walk away from them and find a good independent.

I was about to say the same. If it was me i would cut my losses - ignore any work performed to date and just take it to a reputable independent to get it sorted and draw a line under it.

 

[xrm88]

I was about to say the same. If it was me i would cut my losses - ignore any work performed to date and just take it to a reputable independent to get it sorted and draw a line under it.

We can’t afford to unfortunately and I’m too stubborn to allow this to just slide.

 

[Smiley]

Looking at the damage to the oil filter cap it looks like someone has used a chain wrench around it and that has slipped into the PS reservoir housing. You will get away this time relatively lightly; the idiot who did this could have done something much more catastrophic - if I were you I would take it as lesson learned. I am guessing it was a Kwik Fit type operation that you went to. By all means take it back to show them the damage that they have 100% definitely caused. But I would also explain to them that this sort of butchery (and not admitting to it) means that you do not consider that they have the right level of skill and you will be taking it elsewhere for repair and sending them the bill - I would not even ask them if they will pay - just tell them and pursue them if they don't pay.
Find yourself a decent MB independent for your servicing - you will probably pay a bit more but you will avoid this sort of problem. Get the independent to fix this mess and ask them to email you a report of how the damage occurred to help with your claim. Btw if this is the sort of f*** up that they are capable of I would have less than zero confidence that they have even used the correct spec of engine oil - have they told you or does the receipt just say oil change?
You should be OK to drive the car but keep an eye on the PS reservoir and if you can clean up the area around it and put some strong tape over it that would help. Go to your nearest main dealer and get a litre of the correct fluid; the last thing you need now is the wrong spec of fluid in there.

I know you say that you can't afford to find an independent specialist.....imho you can't afford not to. You are just going to get your pants pulled down by A blaming B and vice versa and both blaming you or baffling you with BS - and all the time possibly without a real understanding of what is really wrong.
These cars are good cars until they either don't get maintained or they get maintained by unskilled mechanics; then they turn into real pita cars; not the car's fault really they just don't stand abuse like a Toyota would.

 

[xrm88]

Morning guys,

Another update!
Garage who replaced oil cooler and water pump have rang and said he’s found the leak and it’s coming from the oil filter housings o rings. He finds it hard to be believe it’s coincidence that they’ve now failed straight after getting the car back from the in and out centre cowboys but can’t prove it.
He’s fitting new o rings for me and should be good to collect later this week

 

[geoffus]

0 rings?
I thought there was only one o ring on the housing, I would have thought that even if they had left the old one on it wouldn’t leak. Or am I missing something?

 

[xrm88]

This is the pic the mechanic sent me…

 

[geoffus]

This is the pic the mechanic sent me…

I see, thought you meant where the filter fits.

 

[BlackC55]

That's been leaking a while. They are very common to leak. All the 651 engined cars ive owned have leaked from there.

 

[xrm88]

Picked the car up this afternoon and went straight to the in and out centre to try my luck with getting them to reimburse me but they were having none of it - as expected.
At the end of the day I’ve had 2 major leaks after work they’ve done to the engine and find it very hard to believe it’s all just coincidence that the o rings on the oil filter housing failed the very day I collected the car from them after they replaced the power steering reservoir and pump.
What’re your thoughts guys? Am I being unreasonable or am I missing something?

Thanks!

 

[StMarks]

Picked the car up this afternoon and went straight to the in and out centre to try my luck with getting them to reimburse me but they were having none of it - as expected.
At the end of the day I’ve had 2 major leaks after work they’ve done to the engine and find it very hard to believe it’s all just coincidence that the o rings on the oil filter housing failed the very day I collected the car from them after they replaced the power steering reservoir and pump.
What’re your thoughts guys? Am I being unreasonable or am I missing something?

Thanks!

Fwiw I think you have to draw a line now, and move forward with the costs involved put down to "the cost of learning".