Smell of diesel and leak from underneath

[nickiandboris]

I was wondering if anyone has any advice.

We've just returned from a 200 mile trip from Cornwall, got out of the car to find it stinking of diesel. Had a quick look underneath and in the middle, directly under the engine, an oily clearish substance is dripping quite consistently.

I'm a bit of a novice (girl!!) when it comes to these things and suspect it's probably diesel. I've had a look with a torch in the engine bay and I can see it's quite wet at the bottom too.

Anyone want to guess what the problem is and how much it's likely to set me back to fix? Going to ring the dealers tomorrow and see if I can get it in.

Thanks in advance and Happy New Year to you all!

Nicki

 

[Stratman]

Car?

 

[nickiandboris]

By the way it's an E220 S211.

 

[Stratman]

Have a look at this thread.

I followed Olly's advice and it did the trick.

 

[nickiandboris]

Ah thanks, what sort of costs are you talking at a main dealer to fix this? The reason i need to use a dealer is because i urgently need a replacement vehicle while my one is fixed and because I'm not sure I trust myself to do it without breaking my car! lol

 

[Stratman]

I did it myself. The parts (two pipes and four clips) were about £35, and it took me less than an hour. I'm guessing a dealer would charge something north of £150-£200.

 

[nickiandboris]

GAH!! Merc have just come back to me and quoted £450+. They reckon it'll take them 3 hours to replace 3 fuel hoses. Does this sound right?

 

[jay1983]

3 hours is a bit 2 long. Have a look for a local indie.
It shouldn't take that long so what I usually do when I take my car in for a small job is have somethin to eat and browse the local shops. Can kill a few hours easily.
I would avoid main dealers for a job like that, I took mine in and they came back with a sheet of stuff that needed doin. Total cost to do all the work from them £1400! Total cost from indie £250.

 

[Stratman]

Like I said, I did it with my Woolworth's toolkit in under an hour.

 

[nickiandboris]

Like I said, I did it with my Woolworth's toolkit in under an hour.

I took it to Olly at Prestige and he's done a fabulous job for a very good price! What a nice man!

Thanks everyone for your advice!