Self maintaining newer MB cars

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OJLane

Active Member
Joined
Jul 3, 2014
Messages
76
Location
Holbury, Hampshire
Car
E350d, E350 CDI sold on at 357,000 miles, C270 is sadly no longer with us, chewed a glow plug :-(
Hi all, I am currently running an 03 C270 which I generally maintain myself and have done inlet manifold modification, alternator, high pressure fuel pump seals, and a few suspension components plus other bits.

I am having to change the car due to my job and do roughly 40,000 miles per year, I am looking at either 2009 E280/320cdi, 2009 or newer C350cdi or E350cdi.

My question is do any of you maintain your own 350cdi or would I be better off with the older 280/320 for self maintenance?


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In my experience the newer you go the more complex they get. Depends how skilled you are I suppose. I think with the newer stuff then good diagnostic equipment is the key. Star is perfect but there are other good ones out there. On the newer stuff I still maintain my own but would put it to a specialist if I found anything outside of my comfort zone.
 
Is there a diagnostic tool you could suggest for the newer cars?


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Is there a diagnostic tool you could suggest for the newer cars?


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That is the problem with the newest cars where components are attached to the car's canbus systems. Replacing of said components may well require the new component to be " coded" such that the canbus controller recognises it otherwise it throws a fault code. I have yet to hear of an after-market diagnostic tool that can " access all areas" as successfully as the latest MERCEDES Star system. I believe this now so proprietary that users "lease" rather than buy these units. There are many systems that can part access some of the engine electronics via the OBD2 PORT but this has limited functionality afaik. If anyone has knowledge of a cheaper aftermarket system that can match Mercedes STAR we would all like to know! :dk:
 
I don't have a newer MB but if you search on here its been discussed a few times. STAR or a clone is the ultimate but people use Carsoft, Launch etc.. so will let others with more experience than me advise on that one.

I tend to use a Snap On Solus Pro which does a good diagnosis job on most vehicles but expensive and not really DIY (I inherited it)
 
Hmmm, Solus Pro or a new car for my wife... :-D (just looked at prices!)

Thank you both for your replies, would seem that the days of 400,000 mile 20 year old Mercs are numbered...

I suppose if I do get a newer 350cdi I may have bite the bullet and send it to a specialist for any electronic items.

Am I crazy in expecting a later car to get to 300,000 miles if looked after?


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Possibly the main engine and transmission will last that long but its likely you will have replaced several rather expensive ancilliaries along the way. Variable inlet induction flaps/actuators, EGR, Turbo/s, injectors, DPF,Catalytic convertor, possibly gearbox internal control electronic/solenoids to list but a few components that regularly appear on here requiring replacement at the post 100K miles mark. As a rule of thumb cars that achieve high mileage with regular use and driven fast and hot over motorway miles appear to fair better than cars that achieve the same high mileage BUT in a series of short slow speed journeys where the engine never really reaches optimimum operating temperature.:dk:
 
Is EGR delete possible on these? Shame DPF removal is now illegal! Also how about flap removal like my old 270? How easy is it to remove and clean the inlet msnifold? Are they plastic like the 270? Don't seem to see as many threads regarding these on the V6.


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Just gut the Dpf and leave the can in place with no internals problem sorted.
 
Hi all, I am currently running an 03 C270 which I generally maintain myself and have done inlet manifold modification, alternator, high pressure fuel pump seals, and a few suspension components plus other bits.

I am having to change the car due to my job and do roughly 40,000 miles per year, I am looking at either 2009 E280/320cdi, 2009 or newer C350cdi or E350cdi.

My question is do any of you maintain your own 350cdi or would I be better off with the older 280/320 for self maintenance?


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

What do you mean by maintenance - brakes, fluids, filters, plugs? It gets more expensive the more cylinders you have but essentially it's all the same, be it E220 or 63.

For code reading I use Solus Ultra which was a run out model last year and could be had on the cheap, by SO standards anyway.
 
As flango said "the newer you go the more complex they get"

So that means more expensive to maintain.

The Merc i have at the moment is in excellent condition and have owned for 14 months but of course i got the MB bug and so i see others and wanted to upgrade but i have gone into it and see a lot of problems with "water contaminated" ECU`s and quite major problems even at 34,000mls so i would have to pay more for another later model just to get more bills for breakdowns.

Because i do like my model which is 2006 although older it has been tried and tested for longer and also at 45mpg so why do i want to change?

The value of mine also seems to have slowed right up so that is another plus for me also buying it private and £2000 under list.

I have always preferred Preventative Maintenance so i am gradually going to get the more expensive items which are cause for concern replaced as in the long run it is cheaper and less frustrating although i do understand breakdowns can happen anytime.

Just giving my own opinion as i have been there in my mind and decided to stay with what i have.

Good Luck
 
What do you mean by maintenance - brakes, fluids, filters, plugs? It gets more expensive the more cylinders you have but essentially it's all the same, be it E220 or 63.

For code reading I use Solus Ultra which was a run out model last year and could be had on the cheap, by SO standards anyway.


I also do slightly more in depth things like alternator, inlet manifold modification (preventative), a pain on c270 with no ramp!, seals on high pressure pump plus usual suspension components, would also attempt turbo, water pump, injectors etc. Doubt I would undertake dismantling the engine its self as this would be a working vehicle and not a toy.

If it were something I did not rely on for day to day work I would attempt pretty much anything given the space and equipment however I think spending anywhere upward of £400 on diagnostics may be false economy if I'm only doing mine and my wife's car, thank you however for the suggestion.


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