Mercedes E250 Petrol 2012 - what are these fluid tanks?

[Jason1145]

Hi all just got this new to me 2012 Petrol E250 and would like your quick help identifying these two tanks… is the left one for coolant the right side for brake fluid or power steering fluid?
Sorry I can’t check the handbook waiting for a new one to arrive in post.
Yes the engine bay needs a clean too

 

[tonysmb]

I'm not familiar with that engine, however, the left one should be the coolant header tank. The right hand one looks like the power steering reservoir and a check of the part number appears to confirm that, see link:

https://www.amazon.com/Mercedes-Benz-000-Power-Steering-Reservoir/dp/B00KWEOZPA

A couple of points if you're not aware:
A. A 2012 car will probably be running on the older blue/green Mercedes coolant (can't recall the spec. number), with a 15-year change period. Later cars use the red coolant, with a 10-year change schedule. The two types are NOT interchangeable / mixable.

B. Power steering fluid; most (maybe all recent, so including yours) use a specific fluid, not the normal older type of atf-type fluid, again with a Mercedes spec number. It will be in your handbook, or somebody on here will update it. I think Fuchs supply the correct spec fluid, green from memory.

The above are my thoughts, not definitive answers as I don't know that model/engine - I say that after advising somebody who then proceeded to fill their coolant header tank with windscreen washer fluid after mixing the two up, which, fortunately, I spotted

 

[Petrol Pete]

And remember , if you are thinking about replacing the power steering fluid (which you should be contemplating after more than a decade) the expansion tank in your photo is a throw away service item.

The one and only filter in the system is moulded inside it , cost about £35. There are two types of fluid one for older cars , one for newer models. Make sure you get the correct one .

The colour of the stuff that is in your car if original (old) is no indication on the one you need .

Total volume is around 1 litre.

 

[MrGreedy]

The brake fluid reservoir is further back, directly behind the coolant reservoir. It has the white tank.

The blue and red coolants from Merc are apparently able to be mixed, but good practice would be to do a complete replacement.
Red and blue from other general brands are probably not mixable.

The 15 years/10 years only applies from new, due to the packet of whatever it is trapped within a new coolant tank to preserve coolant properties. I bet if you start swapping fluids around, or doing drain downs and refills, the people in the lab who developed this say the 15/10 years no longer applies unless you do a complete new fill with new coolant tank.

 

[SpikyMikey]

The 15 years/10 years only applies from new, due to the packet of whatever it is trapped within a new coolant tank to preserve coolant properties. I bet if you start swapping fluids around, or doing drain downs and refills, the people in the lab who developed this say the 15/10 years no longer applies unless you do a complete new fill with new coolant tank.

Do MB put Silica "T Bags" in expansion tanks? I only ask as it's a known issue with VW group cars that they can split and the contents block the heater matrix. I've not heard of that being an issue on Mercs. Maybe they use a better quality T-Bag

 

[markjay]

BTW, it's the M271 engine. Turbo, not Kompressor.

 

[MrGreedy]

Do MB put Silica "T Bags" in expansion tanks? I only ask as it's a known issue with VW group cars that they can split and the contents block the heater matrix. I've not heard of that being an issue on Mercs. Maybe they use a better quality T-Bag

Yes in VW. Yes also heard of splitting in VW.

Yes, bags put in Merc expansion tanks (I shook mine when I fitted a new tank in December and it was very apparent.

No answer regarding splitting in Merc tanks, but haven't seen any reports, unlike the more publicised issues with this on VWs.

 

[Jason1145]

Thanks all for the replies, this car was supposedly serviced in Dec24 which was only 500 miles ago.
I only got it home last night after driving it home from purchase and this morning I checked the oil level on the dipstick and it was black oil on the minimum level?

I then phoned the mobile mechanic from his invoice I found and he swears he recalls doing this service and said just to top up the oil and keep an eye on it.

The car doesn’t appear to be leaking oil as it is bone dry underneath and I’ll leave it parked up for a few days now to see if any drips out the bottom.

I’ve stopped at Halfords tonight and bought 4l of Castrol Edge 5W-30 oil, does anyone know how much it might need from min to max on the dipstick?

This oil specifies it’s for MB 229.31 / 229.51 and 229.52 so I believe this is correct spec.

Thanks for confirming yes it’s the M271EVO engine.

Looking through the MB history prior to 2023 it’s had regular brake fluid changes every couple of years so that looks fine until Sept this year.

ATF has been done twice in 2017 and 2022 so again that should be good until 2027, only on 59k miles now.

Air and pollen filters been changed a couple times so look good too,

Spark plugs have changed 3 times with the most recent being Dec24 on 59k miles.

Coolant - assume original from 2012
Power steering - assume original from 2012

If this was your car what would you consider next for some preventative maintaince after I’ve topped up the oil level?

Oh one last thing, this was in MB main dealers in Bedford last week having the airbag recall done, and last night on the way home the dash is showing an orange airbag warning symbol and saying Front Right Airbag - consult workshop or something… groan, now I need to return to MB once I get the log book in my name.

 

[tonysmb]

That oil spec is for diesel Mercedes engines, your correct spec will be 229.5, or the older 229.3. The diesel ones are low-ash for dpfs and normally additional additives. 229.5 is normally 5/40, not 5/30. Mercedes petrol oils have 1-digit after the dot, diesel spec oils have 2-digits.

Usually, it's 1-litre between low/high on dipstick, if on minimum, start by adding 500ml. Having said that, I wouldn't expect a petrol engine's oil to be black that quickly, so I might question whether it was it changed?

 

[Jason1145]

That oil spec is for diesel Mercedes engines, your correct spec will be 229.5, or the older 229.3. The diesel ones are low-ash for dpfs and normally additional additives. 229.5 is normally 5/40, not 5/30. Mercedes petrol oils have 1-digit after the dot, diesel spec oils have 2-digits.

Usually, it's 1-litre between low/high on dipstick, if on minimum, start by adding 500ml. Having said that, I wouldn't expect a petrol engine's oil to be black that quickly, so I might question whether it was it changed?

Ahh shoot, I didn’t know about the oil for Petrols needing a single digit after the 229.

Thanks for the measurements between min to max that’s very helpful too.

I’ll return it to Halfords a buy an official MB oil 22.5 in 5W-40 like this cheers

 

[Jason1145]

Now to remember to photo that dash error message re airbag and call MB to look at it.

 

[W1ghty]

Now to remember to photo that dash error message re airbag and call MB to look at it.

Not saying your car is the same (your manual will say ) but my petrol CLK normally takes 5w40 229.5 but in the manual it can also take 5w30 229.51 .

 

[Jason1145]

I’ve now chucked that 1L of 5W-40 229.5 in and it’s brought the oil level up to within 2mm from max

 

[tonysmb]

I've now seen various threads you've started and thought you might be interested in the following link, which shows the various approved fluids for each 'specification'. Your handbook will show the relevant spec recommended for each fluid, you can then look on the attached to find the various suppliers.

Mercedes-Benz Operating Fluids

Publication platform for approved operating fluids from Mercedes-Benz

operatingfluids.mercedes-benz.com

One to be aware of is windscreen washer fluid; many people will say they're all mixable, however, they aren't. There have been many examples of blocked systems due to mixed fluids coagulating and, in some makes of car, fluid level sensors not working. Having compared the make-up of numerous fluids, the only one I've seen that was similar to MB's was Volvos.

Congratulations on your car, a good looking model.

 

[markjay]

Now to remember to photo that dash error message re airbag and call MB to look at it.

It will most likely be a faulty Front Passenger Seat Occupancy Sensor, or the connector under the seat, or the seat belt buckle.

Unless the car has some sort of dealer warranty, I wouldn't take it to the dealer, but to an independent specialist .

 

[Jason1145]

I've now seen various threads you've started and thought you might be interested in the following link, which shows the various approved fluids for each 'specification'. Your handbook will show the relevant spec recommended for each fluid, you can then look on the attached to find the various suppliers.

Mercedes-Benz Operating Fluids

Publication platform for approved operating fluids from Mercedes-Benz

operatingfluids.mercedes-benz.com

One to be aware of is windscreen washer fluid; many people will say they're all mixable, however, they aren't. There have been many examples of blocked systems due to mixed fluids coagulating and, in some makes of car, fluid level sensors not working. Having compared the make-up of numerous fluids, the only one I've seen that was similar to MB's was Volvos.

Congratulations on your car, a good looking model.

Are you joking? Windscreen washer fluid?

Thank you for that link much appreciated I will refer to it first when I have a question it looks very helpful.
I only just today filled up the windscreen washer fluid with some I had spare in my shed, it was a ready mixed formula from Halfords, only opened about 5 months ago and the car took about 3-4 litres of it I was surprised as it must’ve been quite empty.. not sure of the reservoirs capacity.

Does this E Class C207 have a sensor detecting low windscreen washer fluid then?
None of my previous cars have had this,

 

[Jason1145]

It will most likely be a faulty Front Passenger Seat Occupancy Sensor, or the connector under the seat, or the seat belt buckle.

Unless the car has some sort of dealer warranty, I wouldn't take it to the dealer, but to an independent specialist .

I know, they want to charge me £234 for an hours diagnostics.

This car went to MB Bedford on 27th Feb fur the airbag recall.. the previous owner did this for me before I bought it from her and it was completed and I’ve got the paperwork from MB saying front passenger airbag was replace.
So now this error message points to that same passenger front airbag having a fault ( front left) so I hope they will fix it free of charge, whatever they did has likely caused this only 2 weeks later.

I have booked it in to MB Heathrow next Thursday so I wil update once they have had a look at it.. I hope I don’t get fobbed off with “it’s a different unrelated fault” and charged the £234 fee.

 

[tony gee]

nice looking motor Jason, i nearly bought one myself but wasn't keen on the beige interior !!!! so ended up with a C204 coupe (baby E207) in silver with a black interior

 

[W1ghty]

I know, they want to charge me £234 for an hours diagnostics.

This car went to MB Bedford on 27th Feb fur the airbag recall.. the previous owner did this for me before I bought it from her and it was completed and I’ve got the paperwork from MB saying front passenger airbag was replace.
So now this error message points to that same passenger front airbag having a fault ( front left) so I hope they will fix it free of charge, whatever they did has likely caused this only 2 weeks later.

I have booked it in to MB Heathrow next Thursday so I wil update once they have had a look at it.. I hope I don’t get fobbed off with “it’s a different unrelated fault” and charged the £234 fee.

You could buy your own code reader for a lot less than that diagnostic fee or go to an MB specialist

 

[Jason1145]

nice looking motor Jason, i nearly bought one myself but wasn't keen on the beige interior !!!! so ended up with a C204 coupe (baby E207) in silver with a black interior

I spent ages looking at getting either an Audi A5, BMW E92 or Mercedes C Class Coupe but then I suddenly thought to look up the E Coupe and saw they were in the same price range so that made my decision, such a handsome car.

I still admire the C Coupe as my neighbour 3 houses down has the silver one and it was always the 2nd choice ahead of other brands.

I viewed an Audi A5 with a beige interior and it was just too much in the flesh so I understand!

If this C207 is based on the C Coupe does it just have longer overhangs front and rear over the C Coupe if the wheelbase is the same?