Drove the new E350 CDI Coupe

[johny5_uk]

Lately my mpg seems to hover around 42 to 46mpg on a run to and from London every other week. came back today and hit 45 with a total of 200 miles. That is driving very very carefully tho.
It is however sounding the worst it ever has, like an 18 wheeler!

My SM is at Grimsby and is very helpful, he is collecting my car this Monday so should have an update then (and hopefully a quiet engine!)

 

[mbenz76]

My MPG round town used to be mid to high 20's in full blown rush hour. However, the last month or so I have been getting low 20's.

A good motorway run down to London still gets me high 40's like it always has.

 

[johny5_uk]

Confirm with Blu_s2, car came back today delivered by the SM, no major software update out.
There were technical notes informing the dealer to reset my car injectors and other software "zeroing out" but no long term fix.
Car is once again nice and quiet, still has the dreaded lag on comfort set off but the SM is filing a report for HQ to show that mine has been reset 3 times now and there doesn't appear to be a permanent fix.
Hopefully hear something back within a week.

 

[mbenz76]

I do wonder if this pinking is actually causing any damage to the valves in the engine, or anything else for that matter.

 

[johny5_uk]

it seems to be a widespread issue with the V6 350 Bluetec engine, even the C350 sport estate that he loaned me for the day with 6000 miles on the clock sounded like a 120,000 mile diesel Renault!
This had its injectors reset a couple of thousand miles ago but the noise was back and very apparent on tickover and low revs and he proved this before leaving.

 

[Schuey]

Can someone explain this pinking noise and kind of describe how it sounds please.

Also how do they go about resetting the injectors? As I have not had any of this work done and my car has covered 6000 miles now.

 

[mbenz76]

The noise is almost like a tired old black cab sounds. A rough diesel sound that you associate with old diesels.

Mine didn't start sounding bad until about 2-3k miles. On almost 5k now and it sounds vey rough when cold or idling.

 

[johny5_uk]

Funnily enough it was a post from mbenz76 that prompted me to check the noise of mine because mine was fine at the time and a few weeks later i could then tell mine had the issue!
You should ask someone else to listen, someone who doesnt even know anything about cars and if you have the fault then they will say that it sounds like a truck on tickover and when you rev it stood still.
Almost sounds and seems like its struggling to fire properly too.

 

[Schuey]

I used to have a 07 CLK320 CDI Sport before I upgraded to this car and it was much smoother and quieter. Couldn't even tell it was a diesel. My one now you can tell until it warms up to normal temp. Sometimes I can hear a fast tick tick noise too when I give it some gas..... Is this normal?

Also the injector reset, does it involve simply a software update or is it a manual adjustment by the mechanic?

 

[Aoraki]

Yesterday my 350 went in for s/w updates. 2 for the ECU and 1 for the fuel pump apparently, however, not had a chance to see how it is now performing. Will keep a eye on fuel consumption over the next few weeks, I can't say it seems quieter though.

 

[steve_acp]

Mine still running best ever, no degradation as yet after update 2 weeks ago.. Will keep you informed.

 

[Gaiex]

Mine is not so much tractor noise (though that is definitely there) but high tickover revs and growling noise.

Usual tickover is 600 (ish), but every now and then, sometimes from start, other times it starts mid-journey, the tickover revs climb to 900 (ish) and the car sounds VERY throaty and growly (not a bad thing as it sounds very sporty indeed). As a result of the high revs though, going from D to P or R creates a clunk.

Turning the engine off makes it go away for a few minutes but it comes straight back. Leaving it parked for a while usually cures it or just keep driving and it goes away on it's own!

Very odd, and I suspect part of the injector/ECU glitches so hoping they can sort it.

My 2009 CLK320cdi sport does the same thing, specially in Summer hot days.
Also in August was released a new ECU and TCU update for my car, that I received.
Noticed that in C mode the car have better response and looks like it have a bit more power, but the rest kept the same!

It looks like the OM642 engine have some major software issues related to hardware problems (DPF not good enought)

I don't think that Ecoupe have a version without DPF, but my CLK have, and I'm going to remove the DPF exhaust tube and replace it with the non DPF version, and get the ECU reprogramed for more Hp

 

[mbenz76]

So has anyone had any news on software updates yet? It's been a week or two now.

 

[steve_acp]

Mine still running best ever, no degradation as yet after update 2 weeks ago.. Will keep you informed.

Over 3 weeks now, and no degradation. So far so good, I am starting to like my car again.....touch wood!

 

[docman]

It`s been over 1 month now since software update - engine seems fine - no worsening of noise levels etc as with temp fix.

Been -1 in Scotland this week and on startup enginge was clearly a diesel but did not sond like a truck as before - so far so good!!

 

[johny5_uk]

I dont know how mine sounds like a truck again as it is in the dealers every 2 to 3 weeks now.
SM picking it up again tomorrow as MB would like to take some diag info from it (probably just a sound recording!?). Since the last time it was in for minor updates 2 weeks ago the sound didn't disappear like it did before when they reset the injectors on their own (I was told this was also done on the last visit) and also it has gone back to being sluggish again with poor throttle response. When you set off you here a knocking and its almost like one of the chambers isn't working properly (not quite that bad).
Also having its first service tomorrow too.

 

[steve_acp]

Hi Johny5,

Mine is still a little "dieselly" when started cold at low revs, but warms and quietens fast, and knocking and pinking completely gone. Over 2k miles now since update. It is the best it has ever been.

The service manager at my dealer is now very familiar with this issue, as he is now driving a 350 with 6k miles, and it has got noisy. He has given me permission to put his email address on the forum, so if you want it fixed, and can get to peterborough, drop Simon an email on [email protected]

 

[mbenz76]

Last time I spoke to my dealer (MB Sheffield) about 4 weeks ago they ran my VIN through the computer over the phone and said there were no new updates for my car.

I will give them a call again this week and see if anything has changed, but with almost 6k on the clock it is very loud when cold and at low revs.

It isn't the end of the world for me if it's a bit noisy as long as a fix comes soon. However, I am seeing a drop in MPG slightly and it is no doubt related.

 

[steve_acp]

Here is the Merc Technical number for the permanent fix that cured my car (so far anyway).
(Technical Info) G107.16 - P - 048656

 

[johny5_uk]

Steve, thank you very much for that bit of info, couldnt have come at a better time as the SM picked my car up this morning at 8:00am so I have emailed him.