Reconditioned turbo

[ss201]

My 2005 C320CDi V6 diesel (mileage 134k) was booked into my trusted indie last week for a service and to report what I suspected was a fault on the turbo, as the engine was not pulling as powerfully as usual. On inspection, my indie reported a faulty turbo actuator and from his experience he recommended a replacement/ refurbished turbo. He has looked after my Mercedes cars for 15 years plus and I trust him implicitly. My annual mileage is only about 3k per year these days. The car suits my requirements well, and has always been properly maintained. I prefer to keep it, on the better the devil you know, basis. Unfortunately. my indie is struggling to find a refurbished turbo from a reputable source, and a new one is £600 before fitting, which is about 25-30% of the car's value.......

Can anyone recommend a source for remanufactured/refurbished turbos for a V6 engined C320 diesel, please.

 

[unclebuck]

My 2005 C320CDi V6 diesel (mileage 134k) was booked into my trusted indie last week for a service and to report what I suspected was a fault on the turbo, as the engine was not pulling as powerfully as usual. On inspection, my indie reported a faulty turbo actuator and from his experience he recommended a replacement/ refurbished turbo. He has looked after my Mercedes cars for 15 years plus and I trust him implicitly. My annual mileage is only about 3k per year these days. The car suits my requirements well, and has always been properly maintained. I prefer to keep it, on the better the devil you know, basis. Unfortunately. my indie is struggling to find a refurbished turbo from a reputable source, and a new one is £600 before fitting, which is about 25-30% of the car's value.......

Can anyone recommend a source for remanufactured/refurbished turbos for a V6 engined C320 diesel, please.

Essex turbos, my new one with no exchange off the shelf was £250.

 

[ss201]

Thanks unclebuck - I'l pass on the info to my indie.

 

[clk320x]

Why not just replace the actuator

 

[DSM10000]

My 2005 C320CDi V6 diesel (mileage 134k) was booked into my trusted indie last week for a service and to report what I suspected was a fault on the turbo, as the engine was not pulling as powerfully as usual. On inspection, my indie reported a faulty turbo actuator and from his experience he recommended a replacement/ refurbished turbo. He has looked after my Mercedes cars for 15 years plus and I trust him implicitly. My annual mileage is only about 3k per year these days. The car suits my requirements well, and has always been properly maintained. I prefer to keep it, on the better the devil you know, basis. Unfortunately. my indie is struggling to find a refurbished turbo from a reputable source, and a new one is £600 before fitting, which is about 25-30% of the car's value.......

Can anyone recommend a source for remanufactured/refurbished turbos for a V6 engined C320 diesel, please.

Who quoted £600 and did that include an actuator?

MB want over £1800 for a new unit!

 

[johnsco]

I've used Esssex Turbos for my E280 cdi .
A very good company.
Would recommend.

 

[ss201]

Who quoted £600 and did that include an actuator?

I didn't ask that question, so I don't know.

 

[clk320x]

Who quoted £600 and did that include an actuator?

MB want over £1800 for a new unit!

I did think £600 sounded cheap (in comparison)… if that’s for a Garrett and I was keeping the car for the foreseeable future then I’d go for it!

 

[Larkone]

Just replace the turbo actuator for around £120 Genuine Electronic Turbo Actuator for Cars | Turbovanes.com Takes about 1 5minutes and is a really simple job

 

[ss201]

"Just replace the turbo actuator for around £120 Genuine Electronic Turbo Actuator for Cars | Turbovanes.com Takes about 1 5minutes and is a really simple job"

That was my initial thought, but my indie - who's repaired a good number of Mercedes with this problem - told me this was not a good idea, and explained why. This was confirmed when I checked the information/fact sheet on the Essex Turbos web site - see extract below:

We get asked regularly if the electronic actuator is available as a separate component because the diagnostic equipment has identified a fault with the actuator. (Ref: Error Codes present).
Unfortunately the answer to that is ‘no’ on two counts:

• Having investigated this request we have been told that the electronic actuator was designed to be set up on the turbo and never designed as a separate ‘plug and play’ component.
• Also we have found from our experience that the vast majority of error codes are generated as a result of carbon build-up around the variable vanes found inside the turbochargers’ exhaust housing. Sooty exhaust gases create a carbon build-up which restricts the full range of movement of the variable vanes.

So what appears to be an electronic actuator only problem does in fact, with further investigation on the turbo, turn out to be a variable vane issue as well.

Common reasons for failure

The vehicle experiences power (boost) issues which can show up on a garage’s diagnostic machine as error codes. It is generally assumed by the user as an electronic actuator problem only, and that the turbo is mechanically sound. The next question to ask would be ‘what might have caused the error codes to be generated in the first place?

Larkone - to cure the problem, have you successfully fitted a replacement actuator only ?

 

[Spyros777]

Some member mentioned turbo vanes. Its a Uk based company. But I have found numerous companies that do refurbish turbos but as well sell new actuators.

 

[Larkone]

We get asked regularly if the electronic actuator is available as a separate component because the diagnostic equipment has identified a fault with the actuator. (Ref: Error Codes present).
Unfortunately the answer to that is ‘no’ on two counts:

• Having investigated this request we have been told that the electronic actuator was designed to be set up on the turbo and never designed as a separate ‘plug and play’ component.
• Also we have found from our experience that the vast majority of error codes are generated as a result of carbon build-up around the variable vanes found inside the turbochargers’ exhaust housing. Sooty exhaust gases create a carbon build-up which restricts the full range of movement of the variable vanes.

Remember your garage, who you have indicated is not a MB specialist, will go with the 'safe' solution that they can guarantee there is no comeback and that is no different to MB garages so they always replace both regardless.

1) you just need to ensure that the new actuator is the same model and number as the one you are replacing, they are not individually matched to the turbo otherwise mine, nor the other forum members who have replaced them, would not have worked. They do work - call Turbovanes or any other actuator refurb company and ask them. They would not sell them if they did not work as this is not a good business model.
2) If you disconnect the actuator arm you can then move the turbo vanes to see if they are sticking, if they are not then you can change the actuator. If they are sticking then the turbo is at fault and needs changing.

It's your money to spend how you like but your garage is playing safe at your expense. I have now done 20K miles (160K on the clock) on my refurbed actuator and the car is running perfectly and giving over 40mpg on a run.

 

[XJ600]

Try these, I.T.S. 0113 285 4922. First class service, good price. Very knowledgeable. Refurb, repair or replace.

​

 

[DSM10000]

Try these, I.T.S. 0113 285 4922. First class service, good price. Very knowledgeable. Refurb, repair or replace.

​

A Web link is always helpful

New, remanufactured and exchange turbo specialists

ITS Turbochargers are an independent distributor of all turbocharger brands to the UK. Same day, next day or local collection available. Call 0113 285 4922.

www.itsturbos.co.uk

 

[ss201]

Larkone - thanks for the heads up, and I do appreciate your input. Perhaps I didn't make it clear in my original post, but "my trusted indie" was a Mercedes dealer technician for more than 10 years before establishing his own independent business more than 15 years ago, .specialising in Mercedes. On numerous occasions he has saved me forking out for unnecessary repairs (including those recommended by my nearest main dealer). He has looked after my 320CDi for 10 years and other Mercedes I've owned before that. He is a wealth of knowledge about Mercedes (and cars in general) and I only have the highest praise for the way he conducts his business.

He was struggling to find a source of remanufactured turbos that actually had one in stock for my engine - there apparently is a shortage of parts for many vehicles at present - his parking area is chock full of vehicles awaiting parts. I will pass on your experience of fitting a replacement actuator from Turbovanes and see what he says.

 

[ChrisEdu]

I've used Vehiclo on eBay previously for a refurbished turbo - good service.