S350CDi Blue Efficiency - 2010 - Car destroyed by fire due to wrong fuel

[CTU]

I was the owner of a S350CDi Blue Efficiency, registered in 2010.

I accidently filled the tank with petrol instead of diesel one day.
Yes, I know this was a stupid thing to do but I know understand that it is quite a common occurrence among motorists.

I did not realise what I had done and proceeded to drive the car. After about a mile the car jerked and white smoke started to come out from under the bonnet of the car. The car was driving fine until this point and there were no warning lights on dashboard.

I immediately pulled over, at which point a pedestrian came running over and said that the car was on fire. The car was subsequently destroyed by the fire. The fire brigade attended and when I told them what happened, they said they had never heard of a similar story.

The car was picked up by Mercedes and they refused to investigate the cause as I had told them about the incorrect fuel. They referred me to the handbook which states that you run the risk of fire if incorrect fuel is used. I asked Mercedes whether this has happened to any other S Class or in fact any other Mercedes and they refused to answer, stating that they have to "Protect their position".

I have spoken with a number of car specialist and mechanics and no-one has heard of this happening to any car before. Most people believe that there must have been a fault with the car.

Has anybody experienced something similar and do they recommend that I take Mercedes further on this matter?

 

[Sp!ke]

I've not heard of this sort of thing before personally.

What is the position of your insurance company regarding this? Surely it is up to them to pursue Mercedes if they think there is a valid case? I assume the car is insured and you have made a claim?

[edit] you said you told the firebrigade what happened.... how did you know at this stage you had misfuelled given you had just pulled over not knowing the cause of the problem?

 

[flango]

Yes this is true if you fuel a diesel with petrol you run the risk of a major fire as in the OP. I can remember we recovered an Audi A6 with a massive under bonnet fire due to misfuelling and I think the other was A BMW 320d which fired and damaged the wiring.

The Audi was a write off and the insurance company refused to pay because they said the owner was negligent and that in the policy it contained a misfuelling exclusion (There are a lot of policies like this so check yours). Most Insurers will cover it under the accidental damage category but if you have driven any distance having knowingly misfueled then again you may invalidate your claim.

If you have misfuelled then the manufacturer is under no obligation to investigate the cause as you have clearly gone against the advice given in the owners manual.

Hope it all works out OK

 

[Pittsey]

While it's possible, it's not something I have come across.

But.. You should never admit anything.

 

[Borys]

^^^^
True
Never admit, act like stupid....if missfueling would come up still stupid....really I did not etc
Hopefully it will work out for you in the end
Good luck

 

[jotter22]

^^^^
True
Never admit, act like stupid....if missfueling would come up still stupid....really I did not etc
Hopefully it will work out for you in the end
Good luck

How will he convince anyone he never did it with a full tank of petrol?

Tony

 

[Borys]

Act dumb lol

 

[jotter22]

Sir your Diesel car is full of petrol!...Well i dont know where that came from?

HHhmm.
Tony.

 

[Borys]

^^^^^
That's it he he

 

[xkillz]

Won't insurance. Cover misfueling

 

[Dieselman]

^^^^
True
Never admit, act like stupid....if missfueling would come up still stupid....really I did not etc
Hopefully it will work out for you in the end
Good luck

Wouldn't that be deception, an imprisonable offense.

One day you'll get caught out and they will be asking you whether you take sugar on your porridge.